Chapter Text
They say that it's hard to deal with life when one used to have everything – money, fame, status – and then lost everything.
That they would fall into the darkest pits of depression.
They say that the shame and broken pride will be so overwhelming that there would be no other way out.
That there would be only one way out.
It can be considered a cowardly way out, but when one loses everything and knows that there is no hope anymore — and when everyone turns their backs at them and nothing good is left anymore ... then there is only one thing left.
That is what happened to Mina and Toji Zenin.
Businessman and businesswoman with a respectable reputation one day.
Bankrupt and stripped off everything under the hand of Ryoumen & Gojo Inc.
Mina and Toji lost everything.
There were temporary differences between two companies.
Zenin Corp. and Ryoumen & Gojo Inc.
A ten-years-old medium-sized company versus a barely three-years-old company that was on its way to soar higher and end up on top. Having nothing else in mind than being the number one in the corporate world. Without taking the damages that they did into consideration.
Ryoumen & Gojo Inc. won the battle. Easily.
But Ryoumen & Gojo Inc. didn't stop, when they tore apart Zenin Corp.
Ryoumen & Gojo won the battle of business, but then forced Mina and Toji to bankruptcy.
Smearing their name and dragging them through the mud after having already taken everything from Mina and Toji Zenin.
Ryoumen & Gojo Inc. had no mercy.
It wasn't only the fight that Mina and Toji Zenin lost. It wasn't only their company that Mina and Toji Zenin lost.
It was all of their money and fame and reputation and dignity. They lost their status. They lost their self-respect.
In a society where they used to be respected and looked up to, Mina and Toji couldn't face their peers any longer.
Too scalding and humiliating and disgraceful was the thought of having lost everything due to a company that technically had less experience and power than them. Because Zenin Corp. had been in business for seven more years than Ryoumen & Gojo Inc.
So, Mina and Toji Zenin saw no other way out.
On a random day, when they couldn't bear the endless shame and heavy depression anymore, they left their offspring alone in this cruel world they themselves couldn't live in anymore.
There was a letter that Mina and Toji Zenin's one and only child found under their hanging feet.
'We are so sorry, our beloved Megumi.'
***
Yuuji looks up from the sofa to where his roommate is getting ready in front of a mirror.
"It's today, right? I can finally smoke again, right?"
Megumi Fushiguro knots his black tie. It's paired with a white shirt, black pants and black patent leather shoes.
"Yep," is Megumi's short and placid answer.
Megumi thinks that his choice of clothing is suitable enough.
Yuuji is amply relieved. Yuuji takes a joint and lighter in one hand.
"God, finally."
Not smoking weed for a while isn't easy at all, is what Yuuji thinks.
Megumi is done with his tie. He checks his reflection.
"Thanks for that, Yuuji. If I pass the drug test, I'll treat you to a nice meal."
Yuuji slips the joint between his lips, but doesn't light it yet. Yuuji won't light the joint until Megumi leaves through the front door.
"And if you get the job?"
It's almost impossible to rule that spiky tuft of hair, but Megumi tugs at a dark strand nonetheless. Megumi's finger halts. Megumi gives his reflection a serene smile.
"You know the answer to that."
Megumi moves from his spot until he's by the entrance of the living room. His smile is a cheeky one as he looks at Yuuji.
"If I get the job, I'll make us rich."
***
Ryoumen & Gojo Inc. isn't just any company.
To Megumi Fushiguro, it isn't just any company anyway, but it isn't just any company to the general public either. In this state (and in many other states), Ryoumen & Gojo Inc. is on the top in the world of corporate.
A company that employs many workforces with exceptional talents and skills, and a company that is achieving record profits year after year.
Ryoumen & Gojo Inc. is like an empire on many levels.
The building itself gives off signs of ruling power and superiority. It stretches to the sky as a 52-story building, and is located in the most expensive area of the business district.
Megumi has gotten off the bus and is eyeing up the Ryoumen & Gojo Inc. building from outside. Both hands in his pockets, his large handbag on his shoulder, and the entrance right in front of him.
Megumi has a job interview here soon. It's for an entry level job position as a Junior Analyst.
Megumi Fushiguro. Twenty-four years old. Business School graduate. Two years of work experience. A criminal.
Once Megumi is inside the building, he undergoes the drug test first and then he is led to a waiting room. It's a group interview. Other people are waiting with him. Megumi doesn't feel pressured. Megumi doesn't feel competitive. Megumi doesn't care about the other candidates in the waiting room.
Megumi Fushiguro has prepared himself for the interview. He is prepared for any questions that they might ask. And Megumi Fushiguro has a good feeling ...
During the interview, it's Megumi Fushiguro and five other people. There are seven interviewers and not every candidate will be asked every question. The questions Megumi got so far are alright. Megumi answers them all.
No twitchy fingers. No whipping leg. No wavering voice.
The interviewers take notes of everyone's answers.
Megumi doesn't feel weird. Megumi feels good. He has a good feeling ...
At some point, some time later, Megumi witnesses how all of the seven interviewers suddenly go erect and stiff in their seats and are straightening their backs more to give off a higher level of professionalism.
Megumi wonders about that.
Until he doesn't anymore.
Because, a few seconds later, he notices a person from the corners of his eyes who has entered the room. Someone who is strolling leisurely to one of the windows behind the interviewers to lean against the window sill. That person doesn't spare the interviewers or interviewees or the interview itself a glance. That person is merely leaning against the sill, a cup of coffee in their hand, not listening. If that person is listening, they're doing that without making it obvious.
That person in question is ...
Gojo Satoru. Twenty-nine years old. Co-CEO and one of the two founders of Ryoumen & Gojo Inc. Billionaire to a billion-dollar company.
Megumi is surprised to see that Gojo Satoru – the Gojo Satoru – has randomly decided to pay a job interview at his own company a visit.
Megumi sees how the interviewers are trying their bests now to keep up an impeccable and professional stance.
Megumi is amused. Interviwers are supposed to uphold the highest version of professionalism in front of job candidates who are trying their best to appear professional, and yet even the interviewers had to make a few adjustments when Gojo Satoru entered the room.
Megumi refrains from looking at the interviewers with a judgemental glare.
Megumi Fushiguro did some researches about Gojo Satoru and Ryoumen Sukuna.
Gojo Satoru was eighteen and still in business school while Ryoumen Sukuna was twenty-two and a business school graduate when they founded their company Ryoumen & Gojo Inc.
Very quickly did their company rise in influence and power.
Three years later – when Megumi was sixteen, Gojo Satoru was twenty-one and Ryoumen Sukuna was twenty-five – did Ryoumen & Gojo Inc. clash with Zenin Corp.
Zenin Corp. lost everything, while Ryoumen & Gojo Inc. soared even higher.
It was a clash with a ruthless outcome for one of the two companies involved …
And as for the other company ...
Soon enough, Ryoumen & Gojo Inc. claimed the top spot in the world of corporate and never budged since then. They only grew more.
Megumi watches Gojo Satoru for a while.
Gojo Satoru is preoccupied with his phone. Gojo Satoru doesn't give much attention to the group interview.
Just an inconspicuous bystander.
Ludicrous, Megumi thinks.
Fake humbleness that Gojo Satoru cares to exude once in a while?
Absolutely ludicrous, Megumi thinks.
To not dig his nails into the palm of his hands, Megumi places one hand over the other instead. Megumi does that effortlessly and manages to keep presenting himself from his best side.
Megumi is still in the middle of a job interview after all.
Megumi watches the interviewers at the front.
One of the interviewers regards Megumi with shrewd eyes.
"Mr Fushiguro, why do you think that you are suitable for this job? Why should we hire you?"
A standard question.
Megumi is prepared for that question.
Megumi did his researches. About the company. Its culture and the values it holds. For this job interview.
With much restraints, Megumi even allowed himself to quickly read over some lines about Ryoumen Sukuna and Gojo Satoru as the company's CEOs. After all, it can happen that questions about those two turn out to be relevant during a job interview. Megumi read only a bit about them, though. And with much mental resistance.
However, Megumi does remember a little snippet of an interview that he came across with one time.
Sukuna's ambitions as a businessman are straightforward, but equally brazen as well as overconfident. Except for the fact that Ryoumen Sukuna is often called the 'King of Corporate', everything known or written about him is typical for a CEO of a corporate giant. Ryoumen Sukuna is notorious for being the face of the corporate giant Ryoumen & Gojo Inc.
But when it comes to Gojo Satoru …
Megumi remembers some lines of the interview he read.
Interviewer: You earned yourself the nickname of 'The Strongest'. Why is that?
Gojo Satoru: It's because of my constant drive to do better and perfect myself. I always strive for the best version of fulfillment. No matter what kind of lows I hit in my personal life or in my job, I overcome them at some point and adopt an even stronger mindset. I'm confident in what I do and plan to do. No drawbacks can hold me back.
It's perfect. It fits perfectly. Not only because it's a perfect answer to the question given to Megumi, but also because the person in question, Gojo Satoru, is present. Here. Right now.
This is it. Megumi's chance. Megumi's opportunity to at least be seriously considered for this job. After all, only one of the interviewees can get this job.
Megumi is wondering about one thing.
Will Gojo Satoru recognize his own words in the first place?
Does he still remember them?
Are those really his own words or did someone else write the answer to that interview question?
Whatever it is, Megumi has the chance to take advantage of that knowledge of his.
Megumi looks at Gojo Satoru briefly. Gojo Satoru isn't busying himself with his phone anymore. Instead, Gojo Satoru is sipping on his coffee. He still isn't looking at anyone. He is looking down as he is seemingly semi-listening.
Megumi Fushiguro gives his answer.
"I think I'm a suitable fit for this position because I have the skills and experiences that you have listed in the job description. I'm ambitious and I am ready to adapt and learn new things in this job. I will give my full potential to contribute to the growth of this company. And," Megumi makes a tactical pause, the rest of Megumi's answer is resting wonderfully on his tongue, "I'm sure that my constant drive to do better and perfect myself will come in handy. I always strive for the best version of myself. No matter what kind of failures I experience, I overcome them and become stronger. I'm confident in what I do and plan to do. No drawbacks can hold me back."
It's not the exact same answer. A few alterations here and there.
From the corner of his eyes, Megumi perceives how Gojo Satoru's head whips up. Megumi Fushiguro doesn't turn his head to confirm for himself that Gojo Satoru is indeed watching him in this very moment. And yet Megumi can tell that inquisitive and blue eyes are staring at him.
Those are eyes of mild fascination.
Bingo, Megumi thinks to himself.
Megumi holds back a smile.
Megumi keeps his professional stance.
He keeps showing the ambitious side of him.
Megumi doesn't show his real underlying fervor.
Megumi doesn't show the true reason for wanting this job. Megumi needs this job.
He is sensing that that one person in this room with that striking white hair is still watching him, silently.
Megumi knows that he has left an impression.
If not on the interviewers, he has certainly left an impression on Gojo Satoru.
Isn't that something more valuable?
Isn't that even better?
Isn't that giving Megumi higher chances?
The interviewer thanks Megumi for his answer and moves on to the next interviewee.
The interview proceeds and half an hour later everyone is thanked for having showed up. The interviewers let the candiates know that they will hear from them soon.
Megumi packs his bag slowly. Deliberately slowly. Megumi peers at the front discreetly. Gojo Satoru is standing behind an interviewer and is bent over a printed out application. Gojo Satoru is pointing at something on that document while talking to the interviewer sitting in front of him.
The interviewer nods eagerly to everything that Gojo Satoru says and takes some notes and accepts every uttered word without any objections.
Now, Megumi does allow himself to smile a bit.
Megumi has finished packing and has his back turned to the remaining people as he leaves the room.
Megumi doesn't notice that Gojo Satoru is watching him leave.
Once Megumi is gone, Gojo Satoru turns around to pick up his cup of coffee from the window sill.
Gojo Satoru starts smiling.
***
Megumi opens the front door to his apartment. It was today that Megumi gave them his social security number and so on.
Megumi is back home. He lives here with his best friend Yuuji.
It's not the nicest living place and not in the nicest area; but their small, rented apartment does its job.
Yuuji is lounging on the sofa in the living room – as he usually does throughout the day – and greets his best friend by nodding his chin upwards.
Megumi's lips curl up.
"Yuuji."
Megumi enters the living room.
His best friend Yuuji is giving Megumi an expectant glance.
Two best friends. The only things they don't share are their toothbrushes, their underwear and their bodies.
Megumi holds up a paper and grins.
"I got the job."
Yuuji knows what that means.
Yuuji gives back an unabashed grin.
Megumi is more than satisfied.
Because today marks the beginning.
Gojo Satoru and Ryoumen Sukuna will never find out that Megumi Fushiguro is Megumi Zenin.
Gojo Satoru and Ryoumen Sukuna will never realize that Megumi Fushiguro is the son of Mina and Toji Zenin.
Mina and Toji Zenin are dead — but Megumi Zenin isn't.
Mina and Toji Zenin can't do anything anymore — but Megumi Zenin can.
They will never know that their new employee is Megumi Zenin.
Gojo Satoru and Ryoumen Sukuna will never be able to predict what Megumi Fushiguro is going to do.
Taking revenge on them.