Chapter Text
The clock on the wall striked noon as Satoru lifelessly spun around on his chair, sighing inwardly. Kicking his legs up on the table, he grabbed a lollipop out of his candy jar, popping it into his mouth as he let his glasses fall over his eyes trying to subdue the throbbing headache that’s been awfully persistent the last couple of hours. Gosh he couldn’t wait for the day to end so he can clock out.
Today has been the absolute worst, and that’s ignoring the fact that it’s a Monday. Him and Suguru have woken up like forty minutes late, causing them to skip breakfast, which led him to getting a shitty coffee from the staff lounge- only to spill it a few minutes later all over a bunch of papers on his desk when he accidentally knocked it over.
Now he is sleep deprived, hungry, and has to remake a bunch of damn papers. This day couldn’t get worse.
However, the universe had enough of him apparently, and the reason his day would get worse just knocked on his door.
He immediately spun on his chair as he dropped his legs, mind reeling as he remembered the reason he went to bed late. A little meeting with some kid who kicks up a fuss. Now, a meeting with a kid is his everyday- that's nothing new. It's the fact that this ‘some kid’ isn’t just some kid. One look at the name on file and his insides churned viciously, keeping him, and by courtesy Suguru, up all night. In his third year at this school, he figured he'd be fairly seasoned, fairly familiar with the names and faces he’d pass everyday.
Of course it just so happened that this one name slipped past his view.
“Come on in!” he chirped, his practiced cheery voice ringing with ease. All things considered, he needs to stay professional. This is just a kid, after all , as Suguru told him. Yes his dad is a dick, but he is a kid, Satoru. In hindsight, obviously Surugu was right. He wouldn't go and unleash his boatload of pent up anger on some kindergartener, though the urges surged when a head identical to the one he loathed peeped into his office, seemingly being escorted by some teacher.
The teacher bowed as she ushered the small gloomy looking kid in, and hurriedly shut the door as she left, leaving Satoru with an awkward ball of what looked like pure disdain, scowling in the corner of his office. Satoru wasn’t even offended, since he himself currently was feeling the exact same way. Unfortunately for him though, he was the adult. And the authority. He cannot sit and pout in the corner. So he sucked up his tension and took off his sunglasses, grinning wide.
“Hey! Megumi Fushiguro, right?” Satoru rolled his chair slightly out from behind his desk, waving his hands at the kid. He was promptly ignored. “Well, since you aren’t in the mood for introductions I will go first. I am Satoru Gojo, so you can call me Gojo-sensei, sensei, Gojo-san- whatever. I don't really have a preference.” Satoru spoke, placing a hand over his chest as he addressed himself. The kid was as stiff as he was a minute ago, so Satoru decided it was time to do what he was best at- which is of course pestering.
Getting up from his chair he stalked over to the kid, and crouched down in front of him. He had to physically keep the repulsion from showing as he took in the kid's features up close. Toji really was an awful man. From his actions to his damn genetics. The brat’s attitude didn't help either. Despite his aversion to the kid, he frowned slightly as he took a closer look at the kid- at Megumi, he has a name! As weird as it is.
His jet black hair was no doubt greasy and unkept, spaying out in every direction, limp oily strands clumping at his scalp lightly. His uniform looked like it was overdue for a wash- various stains here and there. A bit of patch work might help as well, given by the loose threads and small holes at the sleeves.
As shitty as Toji was, Satoru had the gall to give him the benefit of the doubt that at least his spawn would be treated well, though he can’t help but let the doubt grow.
“Hey, I know this is probably the last place you want to be and you probably want to go and play with your friends or go to recess or whatever. So the faster we get friendly the faster we can end this, alright?” Finally the boy made some movements, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. Satoru sighed inwardly, standing up and stretching his back, curling his hands as he motioned over to the rolling chair perched in front of his desk. “Cmon, sit down. Standing gets tiring”
Satoru flopped onto his chair, forever grateful for the impulse buy of ridiculously expensive office chairs he made, throwing out of the school given ones. However, he isn’t nearly as grateful as he is when Megumi finally shifts from his little corner, slowly shuffling over to the chair and propping himself up. Finally, a win for Gojo.
“So…how was your day?” Satoru starts off, again. This is maybe his third one sided conversation he tried with this kid. The kid, once again, didn't answer. “Well, mine was kind of wack, if I am being honest. Do you know Mr. Getou? Well, he is a second grade teacher, so I doubt it. Well, he and I woke up super late today and had to skip breakfast. I was starving the whole day! I can’t even have lunch today since Mondays and Wednesdays we have different schedules! It sucks !” Why is Satoru ranting to a random kid? Is he really reaching a new low?
It’s not like the kid is talking himself, so might as well fill the silence. And so what if he gets some steam off in the meantime. Sue him!
“Oh but that is not all! Since we skipped breakfast I had to settle for some shi- crappy coffee the staff lounge makes, and I didn’t even get to try to drink it cause I spilled it everywhere.” He pointedly shoves a finger on a brown stain on his sleeves. “I had to sit here for like three hours straight all morning redoing all my hard work. And I still have so many left!” Satoru finally ran out of steam for the time being, slumping in his chair in satisfaction as he let it out in a final sigh.
He feels like he was the one who got counseled. He sighed, feeling his headache start again, and put on his glasses once more, resting them on the bridge of his nose.
“So, I hope your day was at least better than mine…” He peeks at the kid, who sat in the chair in the same position for the past 5 minutes. Satoru almost thinks his rampage was in vain, until finally, the boy gave him a half shrug.
Oh wonders of the world, finally luck is back on Satoru Gojo’s side.
“Oh? Can you elaborate?” Satoru asked, placing his chin on his folded hands on the table, scooting closer, his glasses sliding down revealing his eyes. As he did however, the boy finally glanced up, dark green eyes meeting with bright blue ones.
The kid scowled, physically recoiling.
“Fix your glasses. It's weird. And back off.” The kid muttered, his first words insulting Satoru’s greatest assets. Satoru had a half a mind to- no. This is a kid.
“ Weird?! My eyes?! That is not very nice! I just poured my troubles out and you insult me?” Satoru scowled himself, scoffing as he sat back at the table. Some fucking kid.
The kid went mute again, frowning so hard at his lap Satoru knows for sure he’d have frown lines by the time he’s in his teens. “Don’t ignore me! You can’t have you insulting me as our only mutual conversation!” Unfortunately, Megumi decided to go mute once more, and Satoru resisted the urge to groan. He sat back in his chair, fixing his glasses . From the corner of his eyes he saw his bowl of candies he’d been munching on earlier, and gosh why didn't he think of this sooner!
“Alright kiddo, let’s try again.” Satoru grabbed the bowl, sliding it over so that it sat in the middle of them on the table. “Want some candy? A little treat to put behind our bad days.” Satoru was speaking of himself really.
To his relief, Megumi's gaze flickered up at the mention of treats, a hint of curiosity shining through the layers of gloom. But just as quickly as it had appeared, the spark vanished, and Megumi shrugged nonchalantly, as if the prospect of candy held no sway over him. All hopes of salvation left Satoru when the spark vanished.
“C’mon, don't be shy! These are the good types of sweets!” He pushed the bowl closer, a grin on his face.
The kid's eyes glanced up for a split second, but once again averted his eyes and grudgingly muttered a discontent “No thanks.” At least the kid had some manners, though what good are they when his tone is so harsh? Satoru once again resisted the urge to groan, slumping on his chair and popping a hard candy into his mouth himself, running a tired hand through his hair.
If his hair wasn't alright white, they sure would be by the end of this hour. Not once in his phD program did they teach you what to do when you have to talk to the kid of the guy you hate most, when the kid seems to be the most anti-social aloof brat in the world. Not only does he have to work through his personal issues, but also the brat’s.
He looked all over his office for anything else that might interest the kid. What do kids even like? Why is he a guidance counselor? Why did he ever switch over from the high-school? Who let him make his own decisions? Why didn't he just stay a stay-at-home husband, living off the mountain of wealth his family has?
Stickers? Suddenly his gaze caught a gleam of a laminated package holding an array of cartoon animals. That’s right, he bought some stickers a few days ago that he was supposed to give to Suguru for his class. Well, he can buy more later. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
“Hey, dogs or cats?” Gojo leaned back on the table, making sure his glasses stayed fixed to not have his dignity insulted again. Figured he only got a shrug back.
“C'mon! I know you have a preference! Everyone does. I, for one, like cats. My husband and I have two! They are the cutest- '' Just as Satoru was about to go on another rant, about his cats this time, he caught a glimpse of an exasperated expression on the boy, his scowl lightly easing up into skepticism.
Oh? Bingo? Suddenly all hope for sa;vation came rushing back as Satoru caught glimpse of this opening.
“Dogs are better.” Bingo. A barely audible mumble was heard, and just like that, Gojo had another win. It took more restraint that he would like to admit, from jumping in the air with a victory fist. Without missing a beat, Gojo reached behind his desktop, his fingers closing around a colorful sheet of dog stickers from the pile. He held them out to Megumi with a triumphed grin that only he knew the significance of.
“Well! It just so happens I have a whole bunch of dog stickers right here! Take your pick.” And the joy he felt when Megumi’s eyes widened at the sight of the puppies on the paper, how his small hands reached tentatively to grab the sheet, was only second to the joy he felt on his wedding day.
Megumi’s eyes danced skeptically at Satoru as he eyed the stickers, but Satoru, still grinning like an idiot, motioned with his hands for the kid to pick some out.
Two stickers. One black and one white fluffy puppy.
Megumi’s small pudgy hands took off his awfully tattered backpack onto his lap, silently unzipping it and taking out his just as old of a pencil case. He carefully peeled off the protective film from the corner of each of the two dogs, sticking them side by side onto the middle of the case.
Despite his stoic face, Satoru could see the rare childlike excitement on the kids face as he finished his crafts, carefully zipping his backpack back up and putting it on again.
“Thanks.” And Satoru was handed back the rest of the stickers. Well, Megumi just kind of slid them across the table.
Still, a definite win for Gojo.
However, this win meant almost nothing when one glance at the clock tells him that their scheduled hour is almost almost. He had half a mind to just extend the meeting, considering they are finally reaching common ground. He had nothing else scheduled the rest of the day, and only had a few reports to redo. However, he figured he shouldn't overwhelm the kid with his charm on the first day. Plus, it was almost Megumi’s and his own lunch time.
“Looks like it’s almost time for your lunch,” Satoru pointed at the clock, an exasperated pout on his face. Megumi’s face twisted to where Satoru was pointing at the clock behind Megumi, and nodded. If Satoru was deluded enough he would think that was a solemn nod, that now with the knowledge that he had stickers at hand Megumi has finally left his reservations on Satoru behind.
But he wasn't that deluded, and alas calmly stood up from his chair, guiding the kid out of the student services office, out to the hall. Stuffing his hand in his pockets, Satoru flashed the kid a warm smile as he looked down.
“We’ve got another meeting scheduled tomorrow at the same time okay? Your teacher will bring you over again. If you play nice the rest of today and tomorrow morning, I’ll bring in more stickers for you. Sounds good?” His voice was light as he eyed the kid.
“Yeah.” Megumi murmured quietly, his face facing the floor so all Satoru could see really was a messy ball of black wild hair.
“Great! See you tomorrow!” Satoru ruffled the boy's hair, who scurried off without even turning back. Once the kid disappeared into the halls, Satoru turned back and walked back to his office.
His headache is gone, however he popped two pain relief pills anyway, since he knows the moment he gets to work his headache will come back full force.
Toji Fucking Fuhsiguro, the headache in the name himself.
If Satoru spends the next few hours of the day scavenging all the school files he has access to, well, that’s for him to know.