Hallo!
Once again, it's been a few weeks. Last time I updated was in the middle of April, and now it's the beginning of July. I'm very sorry for the wait. A few things have happened that have prolonged this chapter, and not just Writer's Block but real life distractions as well! I guess the block is real life if you think about it…ah well. The main distraction is that I have started dating for the first time for a few years. And you guys know when you have a new relationship or even an intense crush, you become just a little obsessed with them and other things blur out of existence. I'm still in that phase, mostly because he's out of town for the summer and most of our time together has been online. (He might come over this weekend, though, so squee!)
The second thing is that I have been trying to go back to school. Or classes. It's not through college, though. Nor am I continuing my history degree (yet). It's for Certified Nurse's Assistant. I was going to go back to an old job as a caretaker but mom said that I would make more money if I was certified. In a way, she was right, because I will get paid to go to these classes so that's cool. What wasn't cool was the process dragging on for months and I'm still scrambling to get everything done for the class. Just like regular college…
And finally, my mental health had taken a toll and I just felt so tired. Yes, the previous things are positive but most of my days have been slow. I've been suffering from insomnia for the past month or so and I nap during the day, which throws me into a loop but I can't survive on only 3 hours of sleep during the night. I've also looked more into ADHD/Autism symptoms and I've realized that even though I'm not officially diagnosed I know I have something. And even if I do get diagnosed I probably won't be able to afford the meds, nor will I take them. I've had something for anxiety once and I hate how slow my brain felt.
Anyways, I should stop rambling now before these don't fit in the AN on Ao3 again.
Earworms!
"Keep It Moving" by Gold Midas.
"Final Round" by Lé Real feat. Seiun & Kickflamez.
"Icon" by Jaden Smith. (Both the original and the lofi mix.)
Enjoy!
Round 2, Start!
As soon as her bedroom door closed beside her, Megumi lost the last bit of strength she had in her body. If it hadn't been for the protective hold Isami had on her, she would have hit the floor.
"Easy." He murmured as she collapsed into his arms. Megumi barely registered his voice, though. Her head was spinning with incoherent thoughts and her body was being assaulted by many feelings.
It was overwhelming.
Isami must have caught on to her state because he shifted the both of them until he was able to pick Megumi up safely bridal style. He walked the short distance to her bed and carefully placed her down on one side of the bed. As he walked to the other side, she adjusted her body until she was facing him when he came into the bed. They stared at each other for a bit. Megumi noticed that his expression looked as troubled as she felt. The urge to say something, anything bubbled up inside of her. However, Isami reached out and tugged at her. She obliged to the silent request and moved towards him until her forehead was against his bare chest. He pulled the covers over them.
"Sleep." She could her the faint rumble in his chest as he whispered to her. "It's hard to solve problems when you're half-awake like this." One of his hands enclosed one of hers as well and he ran a thumb over the fist she had made.
Megumi wondered how Isami could take such calm control after all that had happened. Was he still too tired to understand the storm they were in? Or was he trying to squish his own panic down to comfort her? Remembering the expression he had on his face earlier, it was probably the latter. The bluenette took a deep inhale and, on the exhale, unclenched her hand to thread her fingers through his. He needed comfort as well. He was the one most likely feeling for two, after all.
She had been doubtful that she could listen to his suggestion and sleep. But the combination of the tight embrace around her, the quiet and repetitive sounds of Isami's breathing, and the darkness of the early morning unwound her just enough for her to rest. When she opened her eyes again, sunlight was filtering through her curtains.
Megumi also noticed that she was not as close to Isami as she had been when she fell asleep. It was very common for them to separate during sleep. She hadn't moved too far, as their limbs were still touching. But now she was able to see his face clearly in the morning light. She really loved watching Isami sleep, as it was those were the only times that he seemed totally relaxed. And when he was relaxed, Megumi felt so much better. She stayed perfectly still as she watched him, not wanting to shatter the semi-peace that had fallen over the two of them.
But then, his alarm went off, shattering the near silence with its soft jazz.
She watched as he moved his arm on instinct to turn it off. He didn't even open his eyes until the music was off.
"You're awake." He commented as he started to stretch.
"I wasn't for long." Megumi sat up.
Isami nodded, looking at her for a long moment. She stared back at him, feeling the mood start to shift as she remembered what had happened just a couple hours ago.
"What are we to do, Isami?" She suspired.
The brunet let his chin drop into his palm. He frowned in thought.
"I think we should play this by ear for now." He suggested. "I honestly don't know what Takumi and Yukihira will do now, and I don't want to jump to conclusions just yet."
"Soma won't tell." Megumi adamantly said. "We told him not to specifically and he will follow that through."
"Okay." Isami replied. "But Takumi can become unpredictable when he's upset." Megumi noticed that his frown deepened. Slowly, Megumi placed her hand over the hand that was supporting his head. Cerulean looked into honey, and neither of them needed to say anything to each other.
Whatever happened, they would go through it together.
Isami soon left the room, leaving Megumi alone. She let out a breath, thankful that it was not a school day. Honestly, she wanted to do what she suggested when Isshiki had caught them, which was to hide in her room. But she knew the repercussions that would cause. She slid out of her bed and went to take off her shirt. It was only when she got it off that she remembered that this wasn't her shirt. The memory of Takumi pointing out that earlier made her freeze.
Was she really up to face him? Was she really up to face anyone?
She buried her face in the fabric, noticing that Isami's slightly minty scent still lingered on it despite her wearing it for most of the night. The smell soothed her, and she lifted her head up in determination.
No, she wasn't going to hide now.
After changing and putting her hair in its usual braid, she walked out of her room. Isami was already waiting by her door, dressed and forever-messy hair pushed back with a headband. Briefly, she thought that he was due for a haircut.
"Takumi's not here." Isami told her.
"You checked?" Megumi asked. "Or you can't feel him close by?"
"He's not nearby. And judging by the distance he's not around the dorm. I just hope Yukihira went with him because he's prone to danger when he's in a mood." He bit his lower lip.
"I'm pretty sure they are together. Soma's too stubborn to leave him alone." Megumi assured. Isami quirked a half smile before they headed downstairs.
Because it was nearing the end of autumn, almost all of the crops that Polar Star had were in the greenhouses. Since there was not as much variation in the climate in the greenhouse, the plants did not need to be constantly checked by as many people like in the warmer months. So, most of the dorm dwellers took advantage of that free time in the morning to do various other things like sleeping in and exercising. Megumi and Isami had taken long enough this morning that they were greeted by nearly the rest of their friends milling around. They separated to talk to other people until breakfast was served. When everyone had sat down, Megumi confirmed that Takumi and Soma were missing.
"Where's Yukihira and Takumi?" Shoji brought the observation to everyone else.
"Hold on. I'll text them." Yuki said, already pulling out her phone.
"They went out early this morning." Isami said as Yuki's fingers flew across her screen. "I woke up due to the noise that they made."
Megumi was surprised that Isami spoke up. But as she thought about it, it was a good idea that he did.
"Do you know if they are going to eat breakfast here?" Ryoko asked. Isami shook his head.
The answer came a few minutes into their meal, as a couple of chimes went off from their group text. Soma had replied that they were going to eat somewhere else for breakfast. Megumi was sure that they were doing that because of the events that had transpired this morning. Guilt started to fill her stomach, threatening to not leave any room for actual food. She glanced at her boyfriend sitting directly across from her. She wondered how the brunet was feeling. Was he feeling as bad as her? Was he shouldering Takumi's emotions as well? Either way. he was still eating, and the sight gave her incentive to continue her meal. She needed to act like nothing was wrong. And picked-at food was definitely a sign that something was wrong.
Other than her internal panic, breakfast went on as usual. As everyone started to go on with their separate agendas, Isami sent her a message privately.
Should we tell Isshiki?
Megumi thought about it for a few seconds. She would feel better if they told their senior what had happened. It would be one less person to hide her feelings about the situation and he may be able to help. She looked over at Isami and nodded.
Isshiki agreed to meet them outside about an hour later.
"I'm guessing that this has to do with your relationship." Isshiki presumed.
The other two nodded and explained what had happened this morning.
"You guys do know that all this could have been avoided if you guys had said something to at least Takumi in the beginning, right?" Their senior reminded them after he was caught up. Megumi lowered her gaze in shame.
"You're the most cryptic person I have ever met." Isami countered. "You of all people do not have the right to chide us for keeping secrets."
"…Fair enough." Isshiki replied. "So, what do you guys plan on doing?"
"I...I don't know." Megumi admitted before turning to her boyfriend. "Is Takumi still mad?" Isami took a breath and seemed to focus on something.
"He's…more upset than mad." He said after a couple of moments. "But I can feel him a lot less now. Whatever he is doing, it's calming him down. But it might mean nothing once he gets back. He might get angry at the sight of us. Or apologize. Or just completely ignore us."
"So, we can't do much until we see them again." Megumi concluded.
Isami nodded.
"Do you still want me to keep your relationship a secret?" Isshiki asked.
"Please." Megumi requested. "I don't think we can handle attacks from anyone else right now."
"And I don't think that it would be a good thing for others to know about this now, anyways. It might piss off my brother even more." Isami added. "We could get away with saying that you and Fumio know because you guys always find things out. But anyone else would just make things even worse. Though we won't be able to stop him if he does say something about it to other people." Isami then suddenly inhaled. "Shit, our dad knows, too. I wonder how that might go down."
"Sounds like this might get a little messy." Isshiki observed.
Megumi could only sigh in agreement.
Soma and Takumi did not return until later on that morning. Megumi, wanting to be alone but not too idle to let her thoughts consume her, was working on a recipe she had come up with a few days ago in her small kitchen. She heard them through her door as they passed it to get to their own rooms. She couldn't make out their words, nor could she move away from the mixing bowl at the time to get closer to her door. Whatever they were saying seemed to not be for her ears.
She had no right to eavesdrop on their conversation, anyways.
Dinnertime was both too fast and too slow in arriving for Megumi. She had come down by herself this time. The first one from her floor, it appeared, because she didn't see any of the boys that she shared it with. She decided to pass the time by watching TV with Zenji and Shun on a sofa while Yuki and Shoji cooked. Eventually, Isami ambled into the den and decided to stand and lean over the sofa from behind. They had gotten to the beginning of the next show when a text from Shoji came through saying that supper was ready.
Dread and guilt started to collect in Megumi's stomach when she entered the dining room. Soma and Takumi were already there, though they were in different parts of the room. Her gaze lingered on the blond who had looked up from his phone to see who had come in. Their eyes met briefly and he quickly went back to the phone in his hand, his face unusually expressionless.
She wished that she could read his thoughts at that moment.
Megumi sat down in a seat where it would take actual effort for both of them to look at each other. Isami sat next to her, a seat closer to his brother. Everyone else took a seat as well. Megumi noticed that Isshiki sat on the other side of her and she could not help but feel a little bit better because of that. She also saw that Soma was still sticking around Takumi as he settled next to him.
The threat of Takumi exposing their secret was already high, but it peeked at a certain point when Yuki clasped her hands together and addressed him and Soma.
"So, how was your guys' date?" She said with absolutely no hesitation. Ryoko called her name in a warning tone from across the table as someone started to cough. Megumi turned her head towards their direction intentionally for the first time this evening. Takumi was turned away and coughing while Soma sat there somewhat confused by the question.
"Date?" The redhead asked slowly.
Yuki nodded.
"It…It wasn't…a date." Takumi wheezed.
"Oh." Yuki took a moment to think before asking another question. "Where did you guys go?"
"To a park." Soma replied. "Then we went to the fish market. I knew that it was too late to get anything good to cook with by the time we got there, so we had our breakfast from the food stalls. And after that, we just walked around until we got tired and came back to nap."
"Sounds like a date to me." Shun rumbled.
"It wasn't." Takumi argued. "I just had the strong urge to leave the dorm and he was nice enough to take me."
"Why did you want to leave?" Yuki asked.
Takumi glanced in Megumi's and Isami's direction for a second. Fear started to trickle into Megumi's body. Even though she and Isami had nearly come to terms if Takumi decided to say anything, she still felt scared.
"…I really don't want to talk about this anymore." Takumi answered as his gaze went back to Yuki. His expression clearly told her not to push it.
"…Okay." Thankfully, the game specialist got the message.
Conversation did pick up again on different subjects, but it was obvious that Takumi was not as talkative as he had been a little earlier. Not that he had been much in the first place this evening. Even though she made it her mission to not look over there, she knew that the blond was still at the table by the way Isami kept moving his head.
Takumi surprisingly stayed for the rest of the time everyone else was there. He didn't even rush to get up once they started to break up for the night. Nearly everyone retired to their rooms, the ones who had to go on the higher floors went in a group. Megumi, Isami, Soma, and Takumi were left alone when the people who inhabited the second floor broke off. Once they reached the semi-privacy of the third floor, Isami tried to speak.
"Nii-chan-" He called out.
However, Takumi didn't even spare him a glance as he quickly walked to his room and firmly shut the door.
Takumi barely said anything Megumi and Isami as the next couple of days went by. No one really noticed the lack of interaction between Megumi and Takumi since they weren't as close as they were to other people. Takumi would also actively avoid Isami. He would sit quite a ways from him during meals, leave and/or avoid the rooms that he was in, and would blatantly ignore Isami unless he absolutely had to speak to him. Because of that, it only took by the end of the weekend and the first day of the week for the rest of their friends to know about the rift between the brothers. Thankfully, everyone was courteous enough not to bring this issue up to the table or any other group gatherings. Or at least they were careful to say something about this in front of the twins, making the atmosphere feel a little more fragile. However, this did not stop them from seeking out them individually. Isami had told Megumi that several of their friends had reached out to him. And Megumi had been pulled into some private conversations to where they would share if they learned anything about the situation since they were "out of the loop".
Of course, Megumi did not correct them nor added to their knowledge.
Everyone was right to suspect that Soma knew much more than he let on. After all, he was the one spending the most time with Takumi. But he was notoriously shit with getting back with people on the phone. And he had amped up the frequency of his terrible concoctions, so others tended to avoid him in person.
Megumi wondered if he did the latter just to get people to leave him alone.
At least Soma did not ignore her or Isami. He still came up to them and had normal conversations with them. Or normal in his sense.
"I'm thinking of taking Italian next semester." He had told her in the middle of the week. Both of them were hanging out alone on a bench at school, passing time since their shared class was not meeting today.
"Oh? I thought you were looking into French?" She replied, remembering how interested he had been when they came back from a joint trip from Shino's a little after they became second years.
"I did. But the want kind of faded away by the time summer came along, and I didn't put it for this semester. However, I really want to do Italian. Takumi starts speaking it when he starts telling me stories and I don't like interrupting him even though I really want to know what he is saying. And also I should learn some because we are going to Italy in a few weeks and I am taking the internship with Mizuhara so I should learn some more before then."
"You do realize we are going to Italy before the spring semester and that the internship is going to happen a month before we start official classes, right?" While classes would start normally for other grades, the second years would immediately report to wherever their mentors would be for the first month before coming back to the school to resume their classes. That is, if they don't fail the internship. Erina had kept the ruthless system of her grandfather.
"But I still want to take it." He turned his head towards her. "Hey, you should take it with me! That way we can both know what Takumi and Isami are saying. They won't be able to get away with names and insults soon,"
"Isami would never insult me." Megumi declared. "He would you, maybe. And Takumi always insults you to your face in Japanese so it would make little difference on that end."
"True." Soma chuckled.
"But it does seem like a good idea." Megumi continued, and could not help her smile as she noticed her friend perk up. However, the smile turned wistful as she remembered something. "I doubt that I'm going to be talking much to Takumi in Italian at this rate, though."
Soma didn't say anything right away. Instead, he grabbed a dead leaf off the bench and started to take it apart.
"I don't think Takumi's that mad at you guys." He said after he stripped it to the brittle stem.
"He seems to be, seeing how he sometimes goes out of his way to avoid Isami and I." Megumi exhaled.
"But he really isn't." Soma insisted. "Well, he is, but I think he's more sad than anything. I don't remember if he told me that, but I know because he acts different when he's mad because he's been mad at me several times and he's kind of acting like he was when he lost his mezzaluna to Mimasaka."
"I get what you are saying." Isami had said the same thing before a few times. "But if he's so sad about this, why is he ignoring us?"
"I don't know." Soma admitted as he dropped the leaf stem. "Takumi's weird like that."
Unfortunately, the issue was not solved for a little while.
Megumi never made the effort to talk to Takumi first, but she had seen earlier attempts by Isami. However, each time he would try his brother would continue to not make eye contact with him or move away if he could.
"He doesn't act like this in class, though." Isami had told her. "He still sits next to me and we do group assignments together. It almost feels normal."
"I wonder why he does that when he acts so different at home." Megumi had commented.
"Probably because he doesn't want anyone else to know about our situation." The brunet guessed. "It gives me just enough hope that he wants to end this as soon as possible, but his pride won't let him."
Megumi hummed in response. These words were kind of similar to what Soma had said.
Despite that "hope" and how gloomy he was, Isami slowly back off from trying to initiate conversation with his twin. Isami's main distraction was training for the internship with Momo. Since he mostly made savory foods before, he felt that he was severely lacking in desserts. He spent a lot of time in the kitchen working on recipes. However, Megumi and Isshiki were the main taste testers for a few reasons. Main one was because he was still nervous on making more for everyone else. The reasons why Megumi was one could be summed up to "girlfriend privileges". And Isshiki was because he did not leave the vicinity of the kitchen if he knew sweets were being made. The senior had an insane sweet tooth. Everyone else was just lucky to get any. But if others caught him making something he shared.
Megumi also wondered if another reason that Isami didn't really want to share his creations was because of his feelings. Isami was a person who tried not to show how things were affecting him. He could not keep them out of his food, though, as Megumi and Isshiki had noticed that the music in his food had been melancholy as of late. It was obvious why he was upset, and it was obvious that he really did not want many others to bother him more than they were.
It felt like that this whole situation was at a standstill.
Until Friday.
As soon as Megumi stepped on the campus that morning, she met by Alice and Ryo. That was no surprise, as for the past day she and Alice had plans to work on experimenting after classes today, and Ryo was following her as usual.
What did surprise her was the letter that fell out of her locker as she switched out her shoes. Megumi just watched it land on the ground. Alice squealed and snatched it.
"A love letter?" The red-eyed female madly grinned. Meanwhile, her aide stared impassively through them.
"I-It can't be!" Megumi denied as she put her shoes on.
"Why else would there be a letter in your locker?" Alice swooned. "You caught the attention of someone!" She practically shoved the letter into Megumi's face as she stood back up. "Open it, open it!"
"Ah, yes!" Megumi took it and ripped the top of it. She felt Alice hovering over her shoulder as she read it quietly.
Tadokoro,
Please meet me in the northwest courtyard Friday afternoon after classes.
Megumi's hands shook. This was not Isami's handwriting. And if it was anyone close to her they would have called her by her first name. This was scary.
Meanwhile, Alice was squealing, oblivious to the bluenette's feelings.
"I knew that it was a love letter! Someone wants to confess to you! How romantic!"
"I can't…" Megumi mumbled. "I mean…I don't even know who this person is! And I have plans with you and-"
"No. You should go meet them! It might be the start of a new relationship." Alice then pouted. "I wonder why romantic things like this don't happen to me."
Megumi didn't say a word to that as she looked over to Ryo.
"Anyways, don't worry about our plans. I can just tag along with Ryo in his plans. Right, Ryo?"
"Yes, Miss." Came the monotone reply.
"We can hang out another time. This is more important! This is love, after all. And it isn't nice to keep them waiting in the cold."
And so, that was how Megumi was coerced to answer the letter in person.
She did not tell Isami of this earlier. She saw no need to worry him as this should be a quick matter. And she planned to tell him later on tonight, anyways. And it might not be a confession at all. Maybe it was someone asking for help and they were shy. She had read way too many plotlines based on misunderstandings.
Megumi slowed her pace as she neared the courtyard. Alice had been right about the temperature. It had dropped a little from this morning due to the wind picking up. It wasn't cold enough to faze the bluenette yet, but she could tell that most others were because there were so few people around. She could count the bodies on one hand at this point.
She wondered which one sent the letter. They just said to meet them there in the courtyard. Were they not even here yet? Should she walk around? The area was big, after all. But she could see across it, so would it be better to stand in one spot? She started to fiddle with her braid as she debated her choices.
"Tadokoro Megumi?" The sound of her name and the crunch of dead grass caused her to look up and her braid to slip from her fingers.
It seemed like standing there awkwardly between the walkway and the entrance to the courtyard was the right call after all.
"It seems that you got my letter." The male teen said.
"Hello." Megumi bowed her head in greeting. "Hara Tatsuo, correct?"
"You know me?" He seemed surprised.
"You're in a couple of my classes." She told him. What she didn't tell him is that she also had heard many of her peers talk about how "cool" he was. Hara was a suave person. He could make anyone attracted to him listen to nearly any request he had. And with his deep voice, black and short and spiky hair, dark eyes, and an athletic build he kept up with because of some school sport club he was in, there weren't that many classmates who weren't interested in him.
"Right." And by the charming smile he gave her, Megumi could tell that he knew just how influential he was.
She suddenly wanted to get his request out of the way as soon as possible.
"S-S-So what did you need?" The bluenette asked. "Did you need help with some classwork? Or you wanted to do a Shokugeki?"
"No, no." Hara laughed. "Nothing like that."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Megumi apologized. "It's just that your letter was so vague that I was trying to guess what it was." She knew the reply was a bit rude, but she really wanted to leave now.
"Ah. I just never called a girl like this before so I had no idea what to write." He explained. "Usually, people come to me first for love confessions."
"…What?" Megumi didn't know what she was more surprised about: the way he casually said that he was asked out enough to be categorized as "usual" or that he casually let out that that this was indeed the situation that she was dreading. He further confirmed it by formally bowing.
"I admire you, Tadokoro Megumi. Please go out with me."
It wasn't a hurried confession like she had seen dozens of times before in shows in books. This one was a respectable and calm one.
But still…
"No."
"What?" Hara snapped up so fast that Megumi felt a little concerned for his body.
"I'm sorry. But I must refuse." Megumi clarified.
"But- But why?" He asked.
"I already like someone else." She replied. She felt like she needed to give more of a reason than "I just can't." and this one did not go into too much detail.
"So you and that Yukihira guy are a thing." He grumbled.
"No. I do not like him in that way. Only as a friend." Why she felt the need to explain herself, she did not know. When Hara didn't answer for a few moments, Megumi decided to take that opportunity to leave. "If that's all, I-"
"Do you know how many people would have been ecstatic to get asked out by me?" He interrupted.
"Eh?" The bluenette paused in confusion.
"I mean, I have so many admirers to choose from, yet I chose to go after you." Hara then stepped up closer to her until he was in her personal space. Megumi didn't back away nor was she scared of this pretty boy. "You should feel honored that I asked you out." His tone wasn't angry but overconfident, which bothered Megumi more.
"I'm starting to feel that the standards for honor are much lower than I thought." She deadpanned. Her politeness was quickly fading as she grew more annoyed.
"So you have a snarky side." Hara chuckled. "I wonder how many other sides of you I can discover."
"However you find out it's going to be from afar, because I'm not going to be by your side." Megumi glared at him. "Now if you would excuse me-" She tried to leave again but this time Hara caught her arm. The strong grip on it was what finally made her flinch.
"I'm curious to know what that person has that I don't to make you reject me like this."
"Most likely the ability to accept a woman's decision and leave her be." A voice cut in from behind Hara. Megumi, despite facing the direction of the open-air corridor, had been too focused on Hara to notice anyone come through the walkway.
She certainly wasn't expecting them to be this person as well.
"Takumi." She mumbled in shock. The blond was staring at the two of them, arms folded.
"Afternoon, Aldini." Hara greeted nonchalantly.
"I was wondering why you were taking so long, Megumi." Takumi continued as he wasn't greeted. "It seems I was right to come check on you and your 'quick' errand." He gave a pointed look at Hara, who had the sense then to drop her arm.
"Oh, I had no idea my request had gotten into your plans, Tadokoro. My apologies." Megumi said nothing, but walked over to Takumi. She rubbed her arm on the spot where Hara had held a tight grip on her. She caught Takumi glancing at her before his steely gaze went back to the dark- haired male.
"I'm sorry. I was rude." Takumi unfolded his arms and bowed. "I didn't mean to butt in your conversation, uh…"
"Hara Tatsuo." The other male filled in. "And no worries. My request was last minute. I'm just glad Tadokoro made time for me. I didn't mean to keep her long."
"Right." Takumi replied. "I'm afraid we have to cut our conversation short. We have to do some work to do, after all." He then turned to Megumi. "Ready to go?"
Megumi nodded. Takumi then started to walk off and she followed, both of them ignoring the farewell that Hara sent them.
It was going to be a pain to see him in classes now. Fortunately, thanks to the alternating class day system that Totsuki had, Megumi only had to see him every other day. But it was an issue that she would deal with another time.
Right now, she had her hands full with this turn of events.
"…Why did you save me?" Out of all the thoughts that were circling her head, that was the most prominent one.
"I just did what any Student Council member should do: help a student in need." Takumi replied.
"But I know there were other ways you could have done it. You could have just sent him away before leaving yourself. You didn't have to bring me along."
"I have a feeling that he would have come back to you, so I took you along to prevent that."
"I'm surprised you went as far as that. I thought you hated me."
"I don't hate you…"
"Really? I know that we weren't exactly close in the first place but your actions this week seemed to really drive that assumption in me." Megumi had not meant to bring up anything about the situation they had been in these past days, but the sight of the blond had made her remember it. And with how tired she was from dealing with Hara, her brain decided to not care about the eggshells she had been walking around Takumi. And maybe the blond was surprised that she had said that, because he stopped walking and stared at her.
"And you don't think my actions are justified?" He said after a moment. "You think I would be happy or pretend everything is alright after finding things out like this?"
"Are you really that upset that I'm dating Isami?" Megumi asked quietly. "To the point that you would cut off nearly all communication with him?"
"I don't mind that you two are dating." Takumi said.
"Then what is it, Takumi? What is the reason that makes you avoid us so much?" When the blond failed to answer and turned away, Megumi let out an exasperated sigh. "I swear it's so hard to get answers from you brothers at times. But at least Isami doesn't do it out of spite." She also turned away, tired of arguing. "I'm going back to the dorm." She announced before she walked away.
Megumi hoped that the next person that she would have to talk to was Isami. His presence always made her feel better.
Plus, she had quite a few things to tell him.
First Section
-This section feels so soft, despite the shit I threw them in.
-I've read that a partner's scent can calm you down. I think I did that already on Isami's end so I decided to do it with Megumi as well.
-I think it is now the last week of November/ first week of December. It's a week where the month changes.
-I felt that Isshiki should be kept updated. And I know he'll tell Fumio later so assume that she knows later on.
-*spins wheel on who should be mentioned in the dorm*
-I feel like I should really change out Yuki as the ice breaker. But out of all the people in the dorm she seems the most likely to do things like this.
-And so starts the aftermath of the reveal.
Second Section
-Even though they were together a lot during the Central Arc, I don't really see Megumi and Takumi as close friends. They are friends in my mind, don't get me wrong, but I feel like the most they bonded over was a common goal and to make sure Soma didn't pose as a danger to himself or others. Other than that, they don't really interact. The same could be said about Isami and Soma since I'm talking about that. They are friends, but they've had even less interactions with each other. I plan to have them bond a little more in future chapters.
-This section was mainly written to bring Soma and Megumi together to talk. Despite being by Takumi's side, he's totally neutral.
-Also to sprinkle in some more of my ADHD Soma headcannon. I already do this in other chapters and stories, but I have been conversing about this concept much more recently and I needed to add more of it in here.
-I don't think I put who Megumi is going to intern with yet. Probably next chapter.
-Soma with the observations!
Third Section
-Once again,you can pry the one where Isshiki has a terrible sweet tooth out of my cold, dead hands. It's staying. I'm tempted to put it in my tags because I love it so much.
-Another reason why I took forever is because I came to the realization that I needed a character for the confession scene. And after contemplating and once again realizing that I like all the characters and did not want them to face the wrath of Takumi's glare nor mark them as a terrible person, I decided to make an OC. I am terrible at making them, as you can tell by the lack of detail on Hara.
-And finally, the confrontation between Megumi and Takumi reminded me of when I wrote Megumi yelling at Soma in another one of my stories. But she's just tired in this situation so no yelling for now.
Thanks for reading! See you guys next time!
