Chapter 1
Megumi froze when he felt the telltale squeeze and pop of his menstrual preheat beginning in his groin and immediately raised his hand while the biology teacher was midsentence.
"--Yes Megumi?" the teacher asked.
"Mr Kento, can I please be excused to use the restroom."
"You know we just had a school meeting, and the principal really wants us cutting down on hallpass time," the teacher started.
"Yes, but didn't we just learn a week ago that omegas are scientifically proven to need to use the restroom more often than other designations?" Megumi responded primly.
"Well, yes, but--" Mr Kento was interrupted by a student from the back of the class.
"That's cuz you dumb sluts cant stop getting knocked up! What're you going to do anyways, take a pregnancy test?"
Megumi whipped his head around, fixing the alpha who'd spoken up with an icy gaze. "Bold words from an alpha whose knot isn't even big enough to make sure the pups are really his."
"Hey--Megumi!" Nanami interjected as Megumi rose out of her seat and started walking towards the doorway with purpose.
Megumi whipped around, cold fury on his face. "Are you trying to impede on my rights as an omega, professor?"
Nanami Kento swallowed hard and grabbed the hall pass, concern underwriting his voice as he muttered, "Just be quick about it."
Megumi left the classroom to some booing that Mr. Kento had to quelled. Megumi hurried to the bathroom and found a stall, peeing quickly, before unpackaging and deftly inserting a tampon to prevent any menstrual fluid from leaking out. Then he dry swallowed a heat suppressant pill and preened himself in the mirror before returning to class. The rest of class was uneventful, but at the end, Mr Kento pulled Megumi aside to stay after class for a minute.
Once all the other students had filtered out, Nanami said, "Megumi, you're easily one of the smartest students in my class, but I'm really worried about your attitude problem. I understand that some of these guys are idiots and jerks but unfortunately there are a lot of people who think like that still control the world. I mean with your scores you could be getting a top university placement when you graduate."
Megumi sullenly looked at the floor. "Well maybe those guys are right. Maybe I am just a dumb slut who's destined to get pregnant and drop out before my senior year. Who cares anyways, right?"
"Megumi..."
"I should get going," Megumi said, hoisting his backpack and giving Nanami a quick look, "I dont need them making up rumors about me being hot for teacher."
Fast-walking to his next class, Megumi failed to escape the notice of the football player and total knothead Todo, who sidled up to him and said, "Where ya goin in such a rush, sweetheart?"
"Leave me alone Todo, I dont have the time today."
"Aww, you have a different football crush to talk to now?"
"I dont have any football crush, not that it was ever you, pervert." Megumi reached her locker and quickly began futzing with it.
Todo leaned an arm up against the wall and crowded Megumi in with his laconic posing. "I see you talking to Maki a lot."
"Oh, you mean my cousin? Jesus, you are a fucking idiot."
"You're so pretty when you mouth off like that. Don't you wanna come back to mine later? I can pick you up after practice. You know I love seeing you all hot and sweaty in your cheerleader outfit."
Megumi wrinkled his nose in disgust and slammed the locker shut, retorting, "I'm getting nauseous from the stench of all that slick you're producing, you know there's a medical treatment for that, right? At least buy a pad, man." A couple people nearby snickered and Megumi took that as his chance to flee to his next class.
"C'mon, just think about it!" Todo yelled after him.
The rest of the day went like that. Megumi was an omega, single, a cheerleader, and pretty to boot, which meant every alpha in a 50 mile radius was slavering at the jaws to get a bite of him. Generally, Megumi was good at ignoring or rebuffing the near-constant advances or thinly veiled sexual harassment but it was starting to grate on him today. Of course, none of the teachers (all alphas or betas) had ever done more than tell an alpha student to quiet down on her behalf. It was how it was.
Really Megumi was an outlier. It was long past the days of child bride omegas and 16-year-old betrothal ceremonies, but most parents kept their omega children home once they reached a certain age, or sent them to all-omega boarding schools to help "protect their innocence." That meant public schools like Megumi's had a much smaller percentage of omegas than any other population--alphas or betas. To combat the social odds stacked against them, most omegas Megumi knew were quite mousy, preferring to speak quietly, do their work, and go home. Many of them also had alpha boyfriends--whether it was truly a love match or something more predicated on necessity, Megumi didnt like to pry. At least what Inumaki and Yuuta had seemed to be special.
Soon enough the day was over and Megumi was huffing at his locker, collecting all the things she needed before heading off to cheerleading practice. Maki caught up with her as they approached the pitch, grinning in a sly way. "Tryouts were yesterday," Maki said suggestively.
"Gee whiz, I still have a team of knotheads to cheer for," Megumi muttered sardonically.
"Guess who made the cut?" Maki waggled an eyebrow at Megumi.
Megumi sighed. "I dont know, the regular losers? I already know Todo made it on the team." She rolled her eyes.
Maki wrinkled his nose briefly. "Ugh, yeah. He's a real lunk but we're never seeing the end of him I'm afraid. Boy's just too big. No, I'm talking about your favorite quarterback."
Megumi levelled his cousin with a gaze that could burn cities to the ground. "And who would that be, exactly?"
Maki grinned deviously. "You know who. Flaming hair, dimples to die for, the only alpha to make you slick yourself."
"That was NOT related and you KNOW it!" Megumi shoved at Maki, which only made him laugh harder.
"Uh huh, sure sweet thing. You're just lucky he never noticed, or he'd be all over you like caramel on apples."
"Fuck off." Megumi pouted a second, before he had his own thought.
"Nobara is cheerleading again this year," he said blandly.
"Really?" Maki asked a little breathily.
"You still have a crush on her dont you," Megumi teased. Maki flushed a bright red and it was her turn to shove Megumi back.
"Fuck off. At least I can admit it. She's just so..."
"Uh-huh, right." Megumi re-shouldered his bookbag. "Well if you get the balls to talk to her this year, she usually waits with me to get picked up."
Maki grimaced, "How long are you typically waiting for Toji?"
Megumi looked askance, scratching the back of her spiky head. "They made him head foreman now, so he's been later than usual..."
Maki gave an aggrieved sigh. "Megs, you should've told me. You know I've got a car now, I can just take you to our house to wait for him--or home if you like."
Megumi toed the ground. "I just didnt wanna bother anybody."
"You're not bothering anyone, Megs. Text your dad, I'll pick you up today. And--" Maki hesitated a moment, "And maybe I'll come up and say hi."
"Okay," Megumi said, "I'll see you later then."
"Maki!" an alpha voice yelling had them both turning to see Yuuji jogging up, barely out of breath. His steps faltered as he saw Megumi, catching himself quickly. "Oh, hey Megumi. Been a while."
"Hi Yuuji," Megumi said, before he could stop himself.
Yuuji did a sort of nod and weird swallow before turning to Maki. "Coach was wondering where you were. You coming?"
"Huh? Oh yeah be right there," Maki replied.
"Okay," Yuuji said, turning to face Megumi while he started jogging backwards and saying, "Bye Megumi." Before he turned and started running back to the training field. Maki gave Megumi a look as if to say, *what the hell was that*, but Megumi just brushed it off and said. "You're late for practice. Byeeeee!"
---
The thing was, Yuuji *hadnt* been the one to make him slick, Megumi was certain of it. He knew because it was the first time it had ever happened, it wasn't a sigh of arousal, it was the beginning of his first ever menses. It was embarrassing enough that Megumi was such a late bloomer, it only double his annoyance whenever Maki tried to connect it to her supposed crush on Yuuji of all people.
Megumi wasn't a lesbian but certainly a crush on *any* alpha, let alone Yuuji, was completely beneath him. If Megumi thought about it (and he categorically, unequivocally, did *not* think about it), he could admit that there was a certain dopish charm about the musclebound freak, but Megumi had seen him on the field, and he knew how he'd earned his nickname...Sukuna. Once he'd sent someone to the hospital on his way to making a touchdown. He was exactly the kind of guy that Toji would warn her about.
Guys like Todo Aoi were gross, but they wore that on their sleeves. They made it clear that they wanted to tame Megumi and make him their submissive omega-pet-doll. Guys like Yuuji though? They were dangerous. All the hours they spent pretending to be docile flew out the window the second they were allowed to be the feral animals they were. And Megumi had *seen* Yuuji's ferocity first-hand while cheerleading, the snarling and growling, the way violence came to him with ease. So it wasnt even a passing thought for Megumi--Yuuji was a non-starter, as much as Maki would like to make it out to be otherwise.
Megumi greeted Nobara, who was in the grass, stretching. "Sup nerd. Saw your girlfriend today. Guess she's picking me up from now on. Maybe you'll grow a knot and finally talk to her."
Nobara levelled Megumi with a stiff glare, slapping his leg as he passed by, dropping into a squat to stretch as well. "You know good and well why I'm waiting for her to come to me."
"Yeah, yeah. I don't know whats taking her so long, it's at least clear to me that she's crazy about you, I don't know why its so hard for her to grasp."
"Probably cuz no one wants a bitched omega to be their girlfriend..." Nobara grumbled, picking at the grass.
"Dont say that, you know its not like that with her. I think she's just--"
"Just what?" Nobara interjected, "Afraid of what her teammates might think? Yeah, fuck that."
Megumi sighed. "I dont wanna fight with you on this. I only meant to tease you a little. Sorry, Maki did get me riled up with that stupid Yuuji thing again."
"Oh, yeah. What a weird kid."
"You're telling me," Megumi scoffed. When they finished stretching, Megumi extended a hand to help Nobara up. He tucked a strand of Nobara's hair behind her ear. "A real alpha worthy of your time isn't gonna be stressing over that mark on your neck, you know that right? You're a catch and everyone knows it, even if the knotheads here wanna posture otherwise."
"Don't go lez on me now Meg, I already have one Zenin that pops a knot whenever they see me. I can't handle two."
Megumi laughed and they joined the rest of the team for practice. It went by smoothly, everyone getting hot a sweaty. Megumi loved cheerleading because it was the one time of day he didn't have to deal with alphas whatsoever. The only people allowed on the team were betas and omegas, and the coach was a stern older omega, the kind from the generation of omegas who kept their mating marks hidden behind a tasteful silk scarf, and she barked out orders like they were in the military. It was the one time Megumi didn't feel the hackles on his neck raising in response to the animal tension the scent of alphas tended to induce in him. That was--until today.
Megumi was sweaty and sticky, tampon feeling heavy and soaked, and fatigue starting to set in, when all of a sudden a waft of post-workout alpha pheromones washed over the training field they were on. He tumbled down from the pyramid just in time to see the new football team clamoring their way forward, the stink of alpha sweat and testosterone and dirt and grass carrying on the wind. Megumi groaned, Nobara coming up from behind her.
"I forgot they always do this stupid ass team introduction the first week of practices," Megumi said, leaning her head on Nobara's proffered shoulder. "Fuck their probably gonna think I'm in heat for them just cuz I'm on my period. Nobara, kill me now please."
Nobara smoothed down some of Megumi's sweaty locks with a soothing hand and laughed musically. "The whole team smells like pussy sweat rn Megs, it'll be garden variety sexual harassment for all of us, just like it is every other year."
Megumi sighed as the team of burly alphas approached, Madame Ieiri turning in a clipped way, clearly annoyed at the intrusion on their practice time. "Coach Gojo," She said. It was neither a statement nor a question, but instead a very subtle warning to the man lazily walking behind all of his alpha team members.
"Ah, Shoko, ever serious. I thought it would be nice to give the kids a half-day, it's only their first week after all. Team spirit and all, get the younguns to meet each other and whatnot."
"I hope that's not your attitude the whole year, Satoru," Madame Ieiri said in a still-clipped voice, "Unfortunately we live in a world where my girls dont get the recognition they deserve unless your team makes it to the championships. We wouldn't want to deprive the children, would we?" She gave Coach Gojo a cold smile that showed her fully extended omegan fangs.
Gojo laughed it off and set about "introducing" his team of footballers, as if they didn't all go to the same school together. Megumi saw Maki give a hesitant smile and wave to Nobara, and a bored-looking Yuuta who clearly wanted this whole charade to be over so that he could go be with his little omega boyfriend who was most likely in the bleachers somewhere studying. Then the little hairs prickled on the back of Megumi's neck, and she caught sight of Yuuji, staring right at her as if he was a jungle cat and she was nothing more than a dinner rabbit. The moment shattered when Todo, oblivious to the staring match, sauntered up to Megumi with a smug smile on his face.
Megumi focused her attention on the nearer threat as Todo said in a half-whisper, "You smell worked up, baby. Was the workout that good or have you just been thinking about me all day? You know I brought the truck, we could just go park somewhere and roll the seats back." Todo made a motion to grab for Megumi's skirted waist when a low growl stopped him. Megumi jumped to see Yuuji right there, having silently moved up between them.
"Final warning, Todo," Yuuji said, on the edge of snarling, "Next person you harass I'll rip your throat out before you can finish the sentence."
Todo threw his hands up in mock surrender, laughing it off with a, "Sorry boss, I didn't know she was yours, I'll back off."
Before Megumi could retort that she wasn't dating Yuuji, she just thought Todo smelled like wet sawdust and dried semen stains, Yuuji said, "She's not mine. I'm just sick of you pulling this shit with every omega you come across. Don't you know how to keep it in your pants?"
Todo scoffed and walked away, leaving Megumi to round on Yuuji. "I don't need you fighting my battles for me any more than I need idiots like him hitting on me," Megumi said, pissed off and tired.
Yuuji didn't meet his eyes, answering the grass, "I know. I just hate how he acts around omegas, it makes me sick. Sorry." Then Yuuji left just as quietly as he came over, leaving Megumi to look around for Nobara to give her the "did you just fucking see that?" look.
---
"What the fuck was that?" Megumi said, once it was just him and Nobara. Maki had gone back to collect all her things, and the two cheerleaders were sitting on the concrete bollard overlooking the practice field parking lot, kicking their feet in the late afternoon sun.
"IDK man, like I said that kid is weird."
"God I know." Megumi ran both hands through his hair. "Do you think it's some weird way of courting me? But if so, what's the angle? Being awkward aroudn me unless he has a reason to be overprotective? It just doesn't make sense."
Nobara scoffed. "Maybe Maki is right. Do you have a crush on him, Megumi?"
"As if," Megumi said, "It's just fucking weird. I mean don't you think so?"
"I'm not so sure Meg, I mean you have made it pretty clear to the whole school how you feel about alphas at this point. You shoot down everyone who courts you the proper way, you shoot down all the knotheads, and you're clearly confident enough to be omega4omega, but you're not. If I were an alpha who liked you, I'd be pretty stressed trying to find a way to get you to notice me without you immediately jumping down my throat." When Megumi just stared at her, Nobara throw up her hands and said, "I mean I'm just saying, Meg. I'm not saying he's not weird, but I do think you've put him in a weird position if he does happen to like you. I guess the real question is do you want him to like you."
Megumi sighed pensively and they sat in silence for a while, until Maki pulled the car around into the lot and got out, walking towards them with a steady stride. "Ready to go Megs?" Maki asked, and Megumi nodded, picking up his backpack.
Maki turned to Nobara. "Do you have someone coming for you, sweet stuff? I don't really want you waiting out here alone."
Nobara blushed slightly and mumbled, "It's not like I'm in any danger..." she gestured vaguely to her neck.
Maki's face softened, and she replied, "Just come ride with us. I'll take you home after I drop Megumi off."
"That's not really necessary--" Nobara started.
"--It's not about what's necessary," Maki said, still focused on Nobara.
"...Okay then." Nobara said shyly, letting Maki help her down from her perch with an extended hand, the both of them unable to look directly at each.
Megumi was already at the car and watched the tableau with a smile for a moment, before calling, "C'mon lovebirds, before I get toxic shock syndrome!"
The other two laughed and closed the distance, everyone piling into the car, settling into a friendly chatter. That night though, all Megumi could think about as he tossed and turned in his sheets, cool night breezes making their way through his empty house, was amber eyes boring into him, causing the heat gurgling inside his stomach to boil over.