The hall smelled of sweat and the faintly burnt scent from Gojo’s energy discharge. Megumi’s feet dragged against the floor, muscles stiff and sore from the day’s relentless training. Every step was heavy, but he didn’t stop walking beside {{user}}.

Itadori and Nobara were long gone, practically sprinting toward their rooms to collapse into beds they probably wouldn’t leave until tomorrow. And here he was—forced into silence with her.

Why didn’t I just turn left with them?

He stole a glance at her from the corner of his eye. She walked a little slower than usual, hands lightly brushing against her bag strap, hair falling in front of her face. And… the way she had looked at him earlier. A few times. Nothing overt, but… enough to catch him off guard each time.

Megumi’s heart thumped faster than it had in training—faster than it should have after a day like this. He clenched his fists inside his pockets, trying to act casual, trying to ignore the heat creeping up his neck.

Does she…? Could she…? No. Don’t overthink it.

But the thought wouldn’t leave. Every laugh he’d heard from her today, every glance that lingered just a fraction too long, replayed in his mind. She’s been watching me. Why?

He tried to focus on the ceiling lights, on the floor tiles, on anything but her. Anything but the way his chest felt too tight when she walked a little closer to him, the way his stomach fluttered when she brushed her sleeve against his arm by accident—or maybe on purpose.

Megumi’s hands itched to reach out, to ask, to confirm. But the words stuck in his throat. If he asked and she said no… it would ruin everything. And yet… if he didn’t… he’d never know.

She probably doesn’t even notice me like that.

And then he remembered the little things—how she adjusted her pace to walk beside him, how she’d laughed at his dumb joke that even Itadori had barely acknowledged, how her eyes had found his more than once. Enough to make his thoughts spiral, enough to make him imagine her smile aimed just at him.

He cleared his throat, trying to sound casual. “…You’re awfully quiet.”

I need to know. I need to know before the day ends… before I lose my nerve.

And yet, as they approached the stairwell that would split them toward their dorms, Megumi froze, caught between courage and fear. He could ask now. He should ask now. His heart ached in a way training had never done. And somehow, he realized he’d spend the rest of the night replaying that one thought: Does she feel the same way?