cursedappetite | [ Noctium Inbox ]

[ It almost looks like he’s sleeping.

Or to be more accurate, he is actually sleeping.

Itadori Yuuji has been sleeping for far too long. It started with him commenting about how tired he had been, that he was going to go to sleep and that Megumi should wake him a little while later. Megumi nodded in response, reading a book that he picked out the other day. It was late enough that Megumi didn't bother waking him up when he asked. Some extra sleep wouldn't be bad for Yuuji, and he had looked tired from Megumi's point of view.

Megumi regrets that now.

Megumi didn't realize how much weight Yuuji had been carrying. He knew that there were things Yuuji were holding onto, things that he didn't tell either him nor Kugisaki. That was fine. They all have their secrets. He knows he should tell Yuuji about how him eating the fingers was what the trigger was for the uptick in curses. It's not right, hiding that from his friend. But he knows how Yuuji is, how he'll add the weight of that knowledge to everything. He carries enough. Right now though, Yuuji looks at peace.

He looks at peace and all Megumi can think about is how he just wants him to keep looking like this. Megumi takes a deep breath as he reaches out to gently take hold of Yuuji's hand in his. Maybe generating Manna will work to get him awake. It's… awkward, holding onto his hand like this. It would be awkward holding his hand in the first place, but there's nothing holding back. Megumi watches his face, hoping that there's some stirring.

There's nothing.

He grits his teeth and squeezes his hand. Still no response.

Megumi doesn't know how long he's spent sitting there, watching Yuuji, trying to see any sign that he's going to wake up.

(Why does this happen? Why does this happen to everyone he cares about--?)

His mind races through so much, trying to think about what he can do to help. Instead, a painful smile of Yuuji's flashes through his head. He shakes his head, trying to dislodge it. It persists, taunting him. He waits for a moment longer before standing up. He leans over Yuuji's body, hesitating before he leans down, laying an ear over Yuuji's chest.

The steady beat of his heart calms him, reassures him.

He stays like that. ]

[ When Itadori told Fushiguro that he was going to sleep, he never imagined it would be more than a couple hours. All he thought is that he'd just need a nap to clear up the fuzz and that he'd be back on track for things. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he'd be asleep for a few weeks. Even then, he has no idea that much time has passed and for him, he feels like he'd just taken a lengthy nap.

Not only that, but when he starts to shift and stir a bit, he feels a body pressed against his. A head against his chest and a hand holding his own. When he realizes this, his eyes shoot wide open and he lifts his head enough to be met with that familiar head of hair, except a bit more unkempt than what's normally presented in public.

His free hand lifts and slowly moves to hover over Fushiguro's cheek, tempted to touch there for some unknown reason, before moving to settle on his shoulder. It's a gentle touch accompanied by a gentle shake. He doesn't even know if Fushiguro's asleep on him like this or not, but he figured it was the easiest gesture. ]

I didn't know I'd make that good of a pillow.

[ No comment on their position otherwise, but just a soft and playful tone. Light and warm, just like how the boy normally was in the best and worst of times. ]

[ Every day, Fushiguro does not remember falling asleep. He can't help himself as he lays his head onto Itadori's chest, wanting (needing) to listen to his heartbeat, remind himself that his friend is still alive. It kept the dreams from the first few days from happening again. He would dream, seeing Itadori standing there with his heart in hand before his face would change to Sukuna's, sneering at him.

His "pillow" shifting is enough to start wake him up. Fushiguro makes a small noise as he's pulled from sleep, about to say something when the hand rests on his shoulder. He stills, head lifting up to see Itadori looking at him.

He's awake.

Itadori's words go in one ear and out the other. He registers the words, but they're not processing. Itadori is finally awake, so Fushiguro does the first thing that comes to mind.

His free hand reaches up to Itadori... before it turns into a fist and slams into the side of his head. ]

Itadori!

[ Don't say anything about his other hand is still holding Itadori's, gripping it tight. ]

[ Itadori was going to ask what Fushiguro was doing in this position, but he's derailed by the hit. So, all that comes out at first is a soft whine and hurt puppy face. How could Fushiguro abuse this cute boy like that?? It's rude.

He looks at Fushiguro with a pout on his face. Given the fact that he has no idea that he slept away most of March, he has no idea why he's being hit like he is. ]

What did I do now?

[ Or, rather, what did Fushiguro think he did now? But he'll leave it at that question and not annoy him any more than he obviously is. Maybe after, he can get answers of their odd positioning. ]

[ The pout is normal. It looks just like it does after Fushiguro gives him a hit for doing or saying something stupid. It'll be easy to just think that things were normal, but he won't do that. He's upset, probably more upset than he has been in a while. Is it unfair to take it out on Itadori? Probably, yeah. But he can take it. ]

Do you know how long you've been asleep?

[ His voice is rough with disuse, but his focus is on Itadori. ]

[ This feels like a trick question. But Fushiguro didn't seem like that type to trap him exactly, but he honestly doesn't know how much time he spent asleep. For him, it felt like a very short amount of time, considering he wasn't fully refreshed and still had a bit of a sleepy feeling to him. Nothing terrible, but just lingering tired. ]

A couple of hours?

[ The answer is most likely wrong, but he'll take a shot at it. ]

[ Hits him again ]

Try almost a month.

[ This time triggers a bit more for a yelp. Not only from the hit, but from the amount of time he was asleep. That would explain some things of Fushiguro's position... and his lack of reaction to his initial comment when he woke up. That was quite a while. ]

Really? What date is it now?

Almost April... or I guess Diamil.

[ you missed your birthday!!! not that he knows. ]

Oh.

[ huh. that was a thing. but he is going to be a little shit and ask something ]

How would we celebrate birthdays here? Do we count what would line up from home or do we go by physical age?

[ don't mind the fact that he's not actually addressing the fact that he passed out for almost a month. it's no big deal, really! ]

Why are you asking about birthdays.

[ ITADORI YUJI I SWEAR To GOD-- ]

My birthday is in March.

[ BUT MOVING ON... ]

So what's your opinion? Does this make me older than you?

[ HITS HIM A THIRD FUCKING TIME ]

[ WHAT THE HELL, MY DUDE ]

What?!

You've been asleep for a month and the first thing you're worried about is if you're older than me?!

[ FINALLY LETTING GO OF HIS HAND ]

What did you do that caused you to hibernate for a month?

[ oh, hm. that kind of bothers him and he's not sure why. but he doesn't question it and just shrugs in response to the question. ]

I don't know. I just felt really tired and needed sleep.

So you didn't do anything extra? No extra training? Or playing around with flying?

[ he's insistent here, reaching forward to grab his shirt to show He Means Business ]

Not really...? Only what happened at the camp we went to, but nothing much since.

[ he's not sure why fushiguro is being so... serious about this, though. ]

So nothing, nothing at all?

[ he's frowning Heavily at this, but not making any move to put distance between them again ]

Nothing comes to mind.

[ he reaffirms what he said for fushiguro ]

[ looks in his face for a moment before pulling away a bit ]

Nanami-san looked it up. What happened to you happens when someone expends a lot of Manna.

[ that's... curious ]

I didn't do anything special, though. You seem fine and we've been doing the same amount of things.

I tried to help you generate more Manna while you slept.

[ yeah he's pissed at things not you now ]

I meant before I slept. Unless you've got other people you've made Manna with?

[ he's not implying anything bad, but almost hopes that it means fushiguro has more friends? hopefully? maybe?? ]

It's been pretty much just you.

[ i already have three friends: you, nobara, and doge. that's enough ]

happy birthday loser

forward dated a couple days, maybe?

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