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Over the years, Gojo learned how to read Megumi like a book. If he thought the kid was interested in something, something he found embarrassing, all Gojo had to do was tease him about it. Whether Megumi was actually interested or not, he always responded with the same insistent denial. However, when Megumi actually was interested, he'd blush—everything from his cheeks to the tips of his ears turning bright red.
It was as cute as it was telling.
That's why, when Megumi and Yuji got together a few weeks after the Shinjuku incident, Gojo wasn't the least bit surprised. He'd already figured out months before that Megumi had a crush on Yuji. We're talking a few days after those two kids first met. Of course, Gojo had relentlessly teased Megumi about it the second he had his suspicions. As for Yuji, anyone with a functioning pair of eyes could see how in love with Megumi the boy was—like a love-sick puppy, but cuter.
Gojo couldn't have been happier when he heard the news. Truthfully, Gojo had hoped that being in a relationship would make his little sea urchin a little less prickly. It was wishful thinking, of course, as Megumi remained as stubborn and grumpy as ever. He would still smack Yuji upside the head when he said or did something ridiculous, and gave him grief for acting recklessly on missions.
Megumi was never one for PDA, and that certainly didn't change—not that Gojo expected it to—but the two of them did hang out alone more often, much to Nobara's annoyance. Whether or not Megumi was more affectionate in private was a complete mystery—one that Gojo knew better than to go snooping for answers. Even as a kid, Megumi was rather closed off emotionally, never really showing how he felt. It's just how he was.
Yuji, on the other hand, left no room for questioning.
Whenever he was around Megumi, Yuji's bubbly and cheerful demeanor seemed to amp up a few notches. He reminded Gojo of a golden retriever with the way he'd greet Megumi whenever the pair was forced to be apart. Megumi always put on a show of huffing and acting annoyed, but Gojo never missed how the corner of his lip would twitch into the briefest of smiles.
What was surprising was how easily Yuji seemed to adapt to Megumi's level of comfort. Gojo never once saw them kiss outside of Yuji giving Megumi the occasional peck on the cheek, and only caught them holding hands when they thought no one was looking. Every time Gojo caught them, it was like catching a couple of kids with their hands in the cookie jar.
Gojo thought it was adorable; other people seemed to have their own thoughts.
He heard the rumors and gossip—everything from innocent curiosity to questioning whether Megumi actually loved Yuji at all. The latter, well, Gojo didn't even get the chance to say his piece before Maki, Panda, and Toge pounced on them with the ferocity of a pack of lions. Gojo didn't feel bad at all. It was their mistake for having the nerve to say something so stupid.
Sure, Megumi wasn't as flashy as Yuji, but he had his own, more subtle ways of showing he cared. Like how he'd not only listen to Yuji's long-winded ramblings, but also encourage him to keep going by asking questions—questions he really didn't care for the answers to. Megumi had no interest in cooking shows, horror movies, or manga, but Yuji did, and that was enough for him.
Once they got together, Megumi asked to use Gojo's credit card more often—so frequently, in fact, that Gojo eventually just gave him his own card linked to the account. Admittedly, Gojo did snoop. He couldn't help himself, and it wasn't like Megumi wasn't aware that Gojo could see his purchases. Purchases which, more often than not, turned out to be movie tickets, lunch for two—sometimes three—and flowers. Flowers, which became a constant in Yuji's dorm room.
Of course, not everything Megumi did was as subtle. Whether they were in the middle of class, on a mission, or just hanging out, Megumi would suddenly lean in close and whisper in Yuji's ear—secrets meant only for him to hear. Without fail, Yuji would always break out into the biggest grin, sometimes accompanied by rosy cheeks. On occasion, Yuji would whisper something back and sneak in a little kiss on Megumi's cheek. All cute shit that made Gojo smile and Nobara gag.
However, Gojo would never forget the time Megumi made Yuji choke on one of his meatballs, whatever Megumi whispered having caught him by surprise. Like any good father and sensei, Gojo refused to let them live it down, going as far as to jokingly tease Megumi about whispering dirty things into his boyfriend's ear. The level at which Megumi blushed left Gojo with numerous questions—like whether he and Megumi needed to have the talk.
They didn't, for both his and Megumi's sake. Megumi was sixteen at that point and far more mature than most people, so Gojo didn't think he had to worry about them. If Megumi or Yuji weren't sure about something, they'd figure it out, and if it really came down to it, Gojo trusted Megumi to come to him for help.
In the end, they sure as hell didn't need his help. Gojo, unfortunately, learned that the hard way after dropping by their dorms unannounced to check on them after their latest mission. He didn't mean to barge in on them; he really didn't, but Ijichi had informed him about some complications during their mission that had Gojo worried—for no good reason, apparently.
Naturally, both of them spent the next couple of weeks avoiding Gojo like the plague, not that he could blame them. Gojo had debated frying his own brain, but didn't go through with it on account of Shoko making it clear she'd let him die if he did something so stupid. Right before she kindly reminded Gojo of the time that she had walked in on him and Suguru, all because Gojo forgot they'd invited her over that night. If she could live with it, so could he.
Gojo had wanted to argue that it was different. He and Shoko were friends; Megumi was Gojo's kid—what father wanted to see their kid in such a position? Knowing better, Gojo had kept his mouth shut and his complaining to a minimum. Eventually, the three of them moved past the incident, as Gojo dubbed it. They didn't talk about it directly, but Gojo had—as subtly as possible—made it clear that his door was always open if they needed anything. And that, as long as their doors were shut, Gojo would stay far away unless invited. From there, things carried on as usual for a few months.
That is, until about a week ago, when Yuji began acting strange.
It was small stuff at first. Nervous fidgeting, avoiding eye contact with Gojo, and spacing out during class. Things Gojo noticed, but didn't put too much stock in. When it started affecting his performance during missions, Gojo had no choice but to make it clear to Yuji that if he became a liability, Gojo would have to bench him. That, of course, meant Yuji wouldn't be allowed to join Megumi on missions—a fact that clearly didn't sit well with him.
Gojo had just gotten back from his latest mission and was settling down in his office for a much-deserved catnap when a sharp knock on his door roused him. Swiveling his chair around, Gojo sighed when he saw whose energy it was. It looked like that catnap would have to wait. Slipping off his blindfold, Gojo tossed it aside.
"Come in!" Gojo cheerfully called, smiling when Yuji nervously stepped into the room. "Yuji, what brings you here? Anything interesting happen while I was away?"
Yuji's usually cheerful demeanor was practically nonexistent as he gave a half-hearted shrug. The moment the door shut behind him, Yuji shoved his hands in his pockets, trying to keep Gojo from seeing the slight tremors he was too slow to hide. Whatever was weighing on the kid's mind, it was serious. Standing, Gojo nudged his chair toward Yuji.
Gojo's voice took on a much softer tone as he said, "Have a seat, kid."
It was the same tone he used to use on Megumi back when he was little—the kind of tone that made even that stubborn kid let his guard down. On someone like Yuji, it worked like a charm. After a moment's hesitation, Yuji crossed the room and sat down. The tension in his body gradually deflated as he sank into the soft cushion. Gojo sat on the edge of his desk, trying to formulate a plan to get Yuji talking.
"I want to propose to Megumi," Yuji blurted out, his face going comically red when Gojo just…stared.
Yuji wanted to…propose…to Megumi…
Gojo's tongue moved faster than his brain. "When?"
How pathetic. Yuji just confessed that he wanted to ask Megumi to marry him, and the best Gojo could come up with was asking him when? It wasn't as though Gojo had any objections to it, in theory. Yuji was a good kid, and truth be told, Gojo already saw him as part of the family—a second son of sorts. Knowing how happy he made Megumi, Gojo should have been thrilled, but…he couldn't help but wonder if it was too soon. They've been dating for, what, maybe a year, give or take. For Yuji to already be thinking about something as serious as marriage seemed a little rash.
"I mean, I don't really have an exact date or anything," Yuji explained, rubbing the back of his neck. "Honestly, I don't even know how I'd propose. All I can say for certain is that it would be while we're alone, since Megumi hates being put on the spot like that."
Gojo couldn't help but smile at that. Yuji was right on the money with that one; Megumi always hated being asked important questions while other people were listening. If Megumi answered 'correctly', then people who couldn't mind their own business would make a bigger deal out of it than he cared for, and god forbid he answered 'wrong'.
Gojo's blood pressure still rises when he recalls the time Megumi's nosy teacher tried to scold him for telling Gojo he didn't want to wait for his sister's club to end before getting ice cream. Megumi had been having a rough week and was fucking tired; of course, the six-year-old didn't want to wait around for another hour. Besides, it wasn't like Tsumiki was going to get nothing just because Megumi was gonna get it sooner. Yeah, Gojo understood Megumi's disdain for being put under such ridiculous pressure.
"Sounds to me like you haven't really given it that much thought." Gojo figured being blunt was better than beating around the bush. If Yuji planned on proposing on a whim—
"Like hell I haven't!" Yuji shouted as he stood up, all that nervousness from earlier nowhere in sight as he rounded on Gojo. "It's all I've been thinking about for the past three weeks. I've never loved anyone as much as I love Megumi, and I know what you're thinking—that I'm rushing into this—and maybe you're right, maybe I am rushing because I don't want to live the rest of my life regretting having not married him if something were to happen!"
The room fell silent as Gojo let Yuji's words sink in. If something were to happen…unfortunately, Gojo knew all too well what he meant by that. In their line of work, there was no promise of tomorrow, no guarantee that you'd see those you love again. Knowing how many people Yuji has lost in such a short period of time, Gojo couldn't blame him for not wanting to risk the wait.
It made sense, but to hear it from Yuji was a little shocking. Usually, Megumi was the more cynical one while Yuji always tried to find the bright side of things, no matter how bleak the situation. That he had tried to extend an olive branch to Sukuna in his final moments was proof of that, but moments like this reminded Gojo that optimism didn't equate to naivety. Yuji knew better than most just how cruel and merciless the world could be.
"I'm sorry," Yuji suddenly apologized as he slowly sat back down. "For raising my voice," Yuji clarified as he looked at Gojo, his gaze determined. "I won't apologize for defending myself—not about this. I get where you're coming from, Gojo-sensei, but I would never take something as serious as this lightly."
This kid, Gojo thought fondly. "Trust me, you've made that more than clear, kiddo. I'm sorry I doubted you."
Just like that, the tension between them disappeared, leaving behind an awkward silence. Crossing his arms, Gojo tilted his head curiously as he finally broke the silence with another question. "So, anything else you want to tell me, or, I don't know, ask for my help with? 'Cause something tells me you didn't spend an entire week working up the courage to come talk to me just to tell me your plan and dip."
"Oh, right, about that," Yuji mumbled as he grinned nervously, once again rubbing the back of his neck. "I was hoping to get your blessing."
"My blessing?"
"Yeah, I mean, I know you're not usually one for following tradition—and technically tradition has you asking the bride's father, which, obviously, there's no bride—but I feel like this is important. He doesn't really show it, but you mean so much to Megumi, and I know having your blessing would mean the world to him. So—" Yuji stood and faced Gojo before bowing his head—"please, Gojo-sensei, may I have your blessing to marry Megumi?"
Gojo blinked slowly before he burst into laughter, startling Yuji, who looked a second away from panicking. "You're right, I really don't care about stupid traditions—" Yuji opened his mouth to argue, but was quickly silenced by Gojo holding up his hand—"but, since this is so important to you, I give you my full blessing."
Yuji's eyes lit up like a pair of fireworks as he broke out into the biggest grin. "Thank you so much, Gojo-sensei!"
With that, Yuji was flying out the door to who knows where. Though if Gojo had to wager a guess, he'd say poor Megumi was about to experience an all-new level of happy boyfriend. Settling back down on his chair, Gojo closed his eyes, smiling fondly as warmth spread through his chest. Even if he didn't care all that much for traditions, Gojo had to admit, it felt nice hearing how much his approval meant to those kids.