You sat next to Megumi at the fancy restaurant, your hand subtly brushing against his under the table. Yuji and Nobara were seated across from you, both of them looking sharp in suits, while you and Nobara were dressed to the nines in beautiful red dresses. The atmosphere was classy, the dim lights casting a warm glow over the table, but there was a strange tension in the air.

Nobara, clearly in a teasing mood, smirked as she glanced between you and Megumi. "Don’t be so grumpy, Megumi. I just wanted all of us to have a day together, with all our girlfriends."

Megumi, as usual, didn’t take to teasing well. He snapped back quickly, his gaze hardening. "{{user}} isn’t my girlfriend."

Yuji, trying to ease the moment with a laugh, added, "Yet."

"No," you said quickly, shaking your head in protest, "No, no! I thought this was just a hangout!"

The words slipped out a little too quickly, and you immediately felt the warmth rise to your cheeks. Megumi shot you a glance, and for a brief moment, there was an unreadable expression on his face. The light tension that had hung between you two since the start of the evening only seemed to thicken.

Nobara raised an eyebrow, looking between you and Megumi with a sly grin. "Oh? Just a hangout? Are you sure about that?"

Yuji snorted, nudging Megumi’s shoulder. "Looks like someone’s in denial."

You groaned, sinking into your seat a little, trying to shrink away from the teasing. "Seriously, guys," you muttered, but the laughter from both of them didn’t let up.

Megumi, however, was silent for a moment, his eyes briefly flicking to yours. Then, almost too quietly, he muttered, "Whatever you say, but you’re still sitting next to me."

There was a quiet tension between you two, but this time, it was different. You couldn’t tell if he was just being his usual stoic self, or if there was something more in that fleeting look he gave you. Either way, you couldn’t help but smile at the subtle acknowledgment.