Chapter Text
JUNE 27TH, 2018
“What should we do later?”
Your whole friend group laid on the grass, facing up at the hot summer sun. Nobody answered Yuji’s question, everyone being too tired to think. The humidity had seemed to take over all of you.
“Guys..? C’mon, there’s no way you all are that tired yet!” Yuji looked over at everyone else; Nobara was asleep, back flat on the grass and drooling like she was in her own bed. Megumi was awake, but looked drained, giving Yuji an annoyed look. You seemed to be the only one with a little bit of energy left.
“Maybe we can get ice cream?” You suggested. “I think everyone needs a nap first, though.”
“That’s a great idea!” Yuji exclaimed. “Everyone wake up! Let’s go!” Yuji glanced at you and Megumi gesturing for everyone to get up. Megumi looked over at you and rolled his eyes in annoyance.
“Why would you say that, dipshit? Now we have to actually get up.” He mumbled, glaring at you with his dark eyes.
“Well I wasn’t just gonna ignore him!” You glared back at him, furrowing your eyebrows. “And I was the one who said we could take a nap first!”
“You’re so annoying. You knew he wouldn’t wait for us to take a nap.” Megumi shot back at you. He looked even more annoyed now. You never understood why he would get so upset with you specifically.
“It’s really not that serious, Megumi.”
You and Megumi’s bickering had woken Nobara, who was now also irritated.
“Damn guys, we don’t have to go if it’s that big of a deal!” Yuji said, “Just stop fighting for once please, you two.”
You and Megumi both shot each other menacing glares. He pissed you off to no end. It was like there was always an issue with something you were doing.
Nonetheless, after a little more arguing and convincing, you all still went to get ice cream. You walked to the nearest ice cream shop, sweat clinging your thin t shirt to your skin. The heat was dying down a bit though, with the sun slowly starting to set. Nobara walked beside you, yawning and stretching her arms to recover from her short nap. Yuji joyfully led all of you, he seemed happy that everyone gave in. Megumi walked a little bit behind you. You looked back; he had his hands in his pockets with a sour look on his face. His jet-black hair was covering his eyes a little. He hadn’t gotten a haircut since summer started. You kind of liked his longer hair though, even though he was a jackass to you, you can’t help but admit to yourself that he has pretty hair.
His eyes suddenly averted to you, catching you staring at him.
“What are you looking at?”
Your cheeks grew red in surprise to him calling you out. You must have zoned out gazing at him for a hot minute. You struggled to find an excuse to say so that you don’t look weird.
“Um … I was just looking at the trees, what’s it to you?”
That was such a terrible lie, you knew it. However, Megumi just scoffed and looked away. Per usual. You looked away too, deciding to look at the sky instead. It was incredibly beautiful that day, with hues of pink and orange painting the horizon as the sun sunk even lower.
You all had arrived at the ice cream shop. Yuji opened the glass door and held it for everyone to walk through. You smiled, knowing he was trying to be nice because he felt bad for convincing you all to come.
The tension you felt in your body released as you felt the cool a/c hit your skin. You sighed in relief along with everyone else, just glad to be out of the heat. Yuji walked up to the counter, immediately ready to order. You followed behind him along with Nobara and Megumi. He cheerfully told the cashier he wanted 3 scoops of strawberry in a cone. Nobara got cookies and cream, you got birthday cake, and Megumi… just got one scoop of plain vanilla. Per usual.
You all sat down to enjoy your ice cream in the cool air of the shop. Yuji and Nobara were laughing hysterically, talking about nonsense. You listened to their conversation and giggled along with them, but you couldn’t help but notice Megumi staring at you from the corner of your eye. It was almost like he was trying to pierce through your skull with his eyes. He just looked mad for no reason, but you decided to just let him be. He does have an RBF, after all.
You had noticed his mood change recently. He had always been kind of gruff and standoffish, but he had never been this moody towards you. It really was only towards you. He acted sort of the same way to Yuji and Nobara, but not nearly as aggressive and short tempered as he was with you. You couldn’t quite put your finger on the reason why. You thought that maybe something could be going on at home, he wasn’t the type to really open up about that kind of stuff. Or maybe you had done something? But you couldn’t think of anything you’ve done or said out of the regular. Whatever the reason was, it was kind of annoying. He had always been a close friend to you, so what’s with the attitude?
“Hellooooo? I’m talking to you. What’s the matter with you?”
You snapped out of your thoughts, Nobara waving a hand in your face.
“Oh, sorry.” You stammered. Why do you keep zoning out?
“You must be thinking about that new boy I saw you with.” Nobara smirked.
“New boy?????” Yuji chimed in, “TELL US TELL US TELL US!!”
Your cheeks grew bright red. “Guys… no it’s not what you think.” You thought back to when they would have seen you with him. He was new to the area, and you were just being kind and helping him around. Sure he was cute, but definitely not your type.
“Isn’t his name Inumaki or something? I’m pretty sure he’s a year older than us…”
You rolled your eyes at Nobara, still blushing at their teasing.
“Stopp I don’t even like him we’re just friends.” You poked at her shoulder, nudging her to just shut up.
“Just friends, huh?” Nobara smirked.
You shook your head in disbelief. Gosh, you cant even make a friend now without your own friends teasing you.
Megumi was oddly quiet, though. You glanced at him for a second and was genuinely surprised at how angry he looked. His whole face dark and almost scowling.
“Yo… you good, Megumi?” You asked, trying to figure out just what the hell was wrong with him.
His face softened just a little, but still clearly pissed off.
“I’m fine. I just have a migraine. I think I’m gonna head home.”
He got up quickly to throw his trash away and mumbled “See you guys later.” Before disappearing out the door.
You and your other friends looked at each other in disbelief. Everyone could clearly tell that there was something off with him.
Yuji broke the silence, “So… what’s Megumi’s problem guys? He seems way more pissed off than usual.”
You shook your head “I have no clue, he’s just been weird and I can’t figure out why.”
Nobara nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I’ve noticed that too. You know, I think I might know the reason why.”
She paused and smirked a little. Whenever she does that you know she’s about to say something dumb.
“I honestly think…” She looked over at you.
“I think Megumi has a little crush on you.”
You jumped back and your face turned a bright shade of pink, shocked that she would even say that. Nobara really went too far this time.
“WHAT? Are you serious? Megumi… has any type of feelings for me?” You scoffed. “Girl, have you seen the way he looks at me? I’m pretty sure he secretly hates me, if anything.”
Yuji looked shocked too. “Nobara, you’re honestly reaching at this point, that’s just crazy to say.”
Nobara chuckled “No, no think about it. Did you see the way he just reacted now? When I talked about you with another dude? He looked fucking livid, and whenever a guy tries to flirt with you, he gets mad too.”
Both you and Yuji just stared at her in confusion.
“Guys! Yuji, I know you see it too if not her. He totally likes her.”
You just shook your head, “Nobara… you know damn well Megumi of all people isn’t really capable of feelings. That honestly just doesn’t make any sense. He literally looks at me like he wants to kill me every day. I think he’s just going through something, maybe. Or he’s just tired of us.”
Yuji thought to himself for a second. “Well, honestly that could make sense, we’ve never seen Megumi like a girl before. I’m sure he would have a weird reaction to it. Especially with you.”
“Oh my god… you too? You guys are seriously just delusional if you think that. Megumi is just having another one of his moments. Don’t be weird.”
You guys decided to call it a night after a while and walked back to your houses saying your good nights. Even though you all knew you would be hanging out again tomorrow, just like every day this summer.
You laid in your bed that night with your eyes shut, trying desperately to get some sleep. But what Nobara had said earlier kept your mind awake. You couldn’t even fathom Megumi liking you more than a friend. Hell, you didn’t even think he liked you as a friend to begin with. He sure as hell didn’t act like it. You knew how guys acted when they’re interested in you. They usually try hard to impress you, giving you flowers and following you around. If a guy likes a girl, he tries hard to be nice to her, right? That makes sense. Somebody that likes you wouldn’t be trying to start problems with you every second or looking at you like he hates you. But then again, Megumi does get protective over you at times, because he’s your friend, right?
You’ve noticed it more as you both have matured over the years. You all have been best friends since childhood. But with puberty and growing up into a young woman, boys started to notice you, which made Megumi inclined to keep you away from them, right?
He was just being a good friend, right?
You can’t deny to yourself that sometimes you stare at Megumi a little too long. He may be kind of a jerk to you, but you can’t help but notice his well-structured face, and how his features fit together so beautifully. Even when he’s giving you dagger-like stares, his dark eyes just capture you. His hair just sits so beautifully on his head, jet black and unreasonably soft. But at the end of the day, he’s just your friend, who seems to hate you.