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Itadori looked around for a bit, letting out a grumble: feeling a tad bit agitated. Antsy even- and he never felt antsy! The black coffee he got froze the tips of his fingers as he waited. The doubt settled into his bones, gripping harder. What if he wasn't coming? What if Kugisaki just played a prank on him as pay back for dropping her clothes the other day?
"I told him to go get me a drink and then he'll find you!" She sat right in front of him, bottle of bright pink nail polish in hand. Itadori could only sit criss-cross apple-sauce and worry. "You sure? What if he doesn't show up?"
Kugisaki let out a loud, irritated sigh at his negative thinking and confessed that she had to promise to not bring him on another shopping trip for the week.
"See what I did for you and your dumb crush that doesn't seem to go anywhere??" She then took his hand and started painting. "So you better get your ass out there and show me my sacrifice wasn't in vain!"
"She wouldn't do that!" He was more trying to reassure himself then to save her character. His foot started tapping the ground without his knowledge and he cursed as he realised, immediately stopping.
Itadori crouched down in front of the vending machine to grab his own drink, replaying the events of the day. It was a good enough train of thought to distract him from his current woes and worries.
The missions, the curses that spat out garbeled words that he couldn't make out. The thrashing under him that could barely be considered a struggle...
His thoughts spiralled into a corner he found a bit strange; being a jujutsu sorcerer was starting to become easier. He'd never had much touble defeating them in terms of strength since he was insanely strong- but he was starting to do it cleaner. Starting to leave less bits of killed curses around before they evaporated.
Though, one thing never changed. He chuckled, a warm feeling making its way into his gut.
It was a constant that he appreciated keeping in his life. Ever since he ate that finger there was change he still hasn't truly adapted to no matter how well he played it off.
But this one unchangeable factor made it all the worthwhile.
"You're making that weird face again."
Itadori jumped in his skin and whirled around to meet a neutral-faced Fushiguro Megumi. The vessel stood up and almost stumbled. His thoughts quickly tried to line themselves up to make a coherent sentence.
"Huh?" He really should have died on that rooftop.
"Huuh?"
Fushiguro mocked his clueless tone and went to get Kugisaki's drink on the other vending machine.
After his heart quit its breakdancing and he could finally breathe, he grinned.
Itadori didnt miss how much more relaxed and "open" the boy of his dreams acted. Around him specifically. Progress! Or maybe it was because they were both boys of the same age.
He screamed internally at his dismissive thoughts. He wouln't be surprised if Sukuna was a part of them, ruining his life and his romantic exploration by the second.
The cold coffee drink in his hand started to bother him as the condensation ran down his hand. He made a face as he popped it open and stared at the dark liquid...he has to do this. He shifted his gaze to Fushiguro who leaned on the shitty vending machine not really caring that the drink he wanted got stuck.
Itadori followed his gaze and found his gorgeous green eyes cast to the scarred tissue right across his stomach, star-like in its shape. It was the scar from the fight with the Nature Curse.
The boy's vision slid lower before he forcibly shook out of it, reaching into the little compartement to get quickly grab his energized drink before getting up. His face flushed beyond what was normal, he thanked God that it was night.
'I didn't even notice his shirt was up?!'
In a step he was beside the boy and he immediately shoved the coffee between them. He watched as the other stared and blinked at the quick gesture and he swore internally. Itadori put his Gatorade in his hoodie pocket and brought his hand up to scratch the back of his neck.
"I wanted to try the coffee here for once but it was way too bitter. How do you even drink this stuff?" His tone was teasing yet there was genuinely curious.
His crush's lips quirked up into a light smirk and his insides went rigid. His sweat ran cold and hot and every temperature in between. Did being in love feel like coming down with a fever?
Itadori's expression soured at once when the boy haunting his thoughts took another sip of the black drink. In an instant he was able to feel the acrid taste coating his tongue. It reminded him of the night he'd stolen gramps' mug thinking it was pepsi and gulping it whole.
He was shook out of his nostalgia when he was nudged in the shoulder, words spoken quickly coming in one ear and leaving out the other without him having processed any of it. Guess gramps was right about there being absolutely nothing in his head.
"Wait-huh?" he turned to Fuhiguro, examining how his eyes softened and how he shook his head, taking another sip of his own drink. 'So this was what Kugisaki was talking about...'
The mean lesbian kept on telling him of instances where she'd catch Fushiguro staring at him with soft eyes when he wasn't looking.
"You're absolutely lying!" he'd screamed the first time she'd brought it up. But then she brought Maki, then Inumaki, then Panda.
Even Gojou had confirmed it and when he'd locked himself in his room to think about it, she dragged Toudo from Kyoto to make him accept it fully.
Never would he have believed her without all those witnesses because who would? Fushiguro? Staring at him? Pining over him the same way he did? He'd always thought it was one sided. Thought he'd just have to live with his feelings in silence.
"I know you waited for me."
Itadori snapped out of it and furrowed his brow, cheeks heating up. He took a large swig of the now warm Gatorade just so he wouldn't blurt out anything stupid. He had a sad habit of doing that.
Fushiguro emptied the last drops, clearly revelling in the cool drink. Itadori watched as his Adam's apple bobbed. He caught his eye behind the can and flushed at the stare.
"It's sweet." Fushiguro muttered, done with the can judging by the minimal sound of the fluid inside. Itadori hummed and clenched the bottle of Gatorade tighter. The exposed skin he wasn't used to caused his mind go blank.
"The coffee's bitter though?"
Fushiguro turned to him and even when he furrowed his brow and his eye twitched, he looked as pretty as ever. So pretty in fact that he flushed right to the tip of his ears. He could not keep blushing at him, it was getting embarrassing.
"The fact that you waited for me, you idiot."
"R-really..?" His hopes shot up at that and he easily admitted to waiting. 'Fuck! Am I this easy?!' Fushiguro threw the can into a near by trash bin and sent him a small smile.
The ground shifted beneath his feet and standing felt strange. Floating was a better way to describe this feeling.
"Yeah, feels nice being waited on."
Itadori could only send a shy grin back, mind screaming. This did not feel real. It felt even more fake than the curses he grew used to.
"So," Fushiguro nudged his arm, stealing his Gatorade and taking a sip. "You gonna come back here tomorrow?"
'Is he asking to meet up?'
"Y-yeah, if you're there- I MEAN- yeah.. I'll be there."
"Pfft..Real smooth man."
Fushiguro handed the Gatorade back to him, tapping the back of his head with his knuckles.
"I'll be waiting for you this time then."
"Huh..?"
Itadori's eyes widened and he watched him walk away, squeezing the bottle so tight it burst all over his hoodie. He paid it no mind as he ran to Kugisaki's room to tell her what happened.
--
"What the fuck happened?? Did you say something stupid and get coffee thrown at you?!" She screamed, pointing at the large stain on his hoodie.
Itadori pushed Kugisaki lightly into her room with the goofiest grin, beyond excited. Not even the King of Curses could bring him down.
"Just wait, you won't believe me!"