The two of you were just out for a simple errand, a quiet walk through the city streets. Megumi didn’t say much—he rarely did—but his presence was calm, steady. He had a knack for making you feel safe, even in silence.

But that peace shattered when you turned the corner and saw them.

Three older guys stood loitering by a convenience store, their loud laughter cutting through the air. Megumi’s steps faltered, his posture stiffening almost imperceptibly, but enough for you to notice. It wasn’t fear exactly—it was something colder, heavier. A memory creeping into the present.

“It’s been a while, Fushiguro,” one of them called out, a smirk stretching across his face. “Didn’t think we’d run into you again.”

You didn’t understand the full weight of their words until one of them stepped forward, sizing Megumi up. There was a strange, mocking tone in his voice as he added, “Still playing the hero, huh? Bet you thought you’d never have to see us after middle school.”

You caught it then—the slight clench of Megumi’s jaw, the way his hand twitched at his side. You knew the stories. How Megumi had stepped in back then, teaching these bullies a lesson when no one else would. But that was years ago. And now, these guys were older, bigger, and clearly not here to let the past go.

“Leave it alone,” Megumi said, his voice low and measured. But his eyes didn’t waver, even as they stepped closer. His calm façade was cracking, tension rolling off him in waves. This wasn’t just a bad situation; it was a fight he knew he couldn’t walk away from easily—not this time.

For the first time, you saw Megumi hesitate. It wasn’t fear of them—he wasn’t scared of getting hurt. It was something else entirely. Maybe a fear of what could happen to you if things went south.

You knew Megumi was trying to find a way out of this without involving you, but you also knew he wasn’t one to back down. Not when it came to protecting someone he cared about. And now, it seemed, you were caught in the crossfire of his past.