The air in the Oga household was thick with tension... and electricity. Baby Beel's green sparks still flickered faintly over Kogen's sleek black sleeve, though the tiny demon was now fully fixated on a far greater threat: the black kitten, whose regal posture and imperious green eyes suggested a lifetime of commanding loyalty—and a total lack of fear toward anyone in the room.
Beel, flailing his tiny arms, let out a wail that sounded more like a miniature thunderclap than any normal infant cry. He scooted across the floor with startling speed, sparks flying like fireworks, heading straight for the one figure who always knew how to calm him: Kogen.
"Darling..." Kogen murmured softly, glancing down at Beel as he extended a gentle hand. The words made Oga squirm uncomfortably behind him, muttering, "He's calling me that again..." under his breath, cheeks burning.
Beel latched onto Kogen's arm, babbling incoherently in his tiny, desperate baby voice, his fists crackling with tiny arcs of electricity. Clearly, he was trying to convey some urgent complaint—though whether it was the kitten, the unfairness of the world, or the shocking audacity of a feline stealing his affections, nobody could tell.
But before Beel could even finish his protest, the black kitten, sensing someone stronger than the miniature thunder demon before it, leapt gracefully and curled itself around Kogen's other arm. Its tail flicked lazily as it nuzzled his sleeve and blinked at him with those emerald eyes, exuding absolute confidence. It was almost a regal claim: This human is mine now.
Beel froze mid-squeal, tiny fists trembling. Sparks erupted across the room, even hitting the rim of Oga's coffee cup. The little demon's eyes narrowed into twin green lasers of outrage. How dare you... steal my mama!? he seemed to think, before letting out a squeal that could have been registered as a minor lightning storm.
"Even now... Beel's jealousy knows no limits," Oga muttered in disbelief, ducking as a tiny spark zipped past his ear. His dark hair stood on end from the shock, and he could only gape at the sheer intensity of the scene unfolding before him.
Hilda, standing nearby, folded her arms and sighed deeply, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Idiots," she muttered under her breath, though her eyes softened as they flicked between the two competitors. Always protecting him... this little one, she thought, indulging the baby's tantrum while making sure no real harm came to anyone—or anything—in the house.
Kogen, calm as ever, simply smiled faintly, the teasing glint in his eyes intensifying as he whispered to Oga, "Darling... it seems the little one's temper hasn't changed." The word made Oga groan audibly, his face heating up, both from the situation and the term of endearment.
Beel, unable to contain his indignation, launched himself at the kitten with the most exaggerated battle stance his tiny body could manage. His arms flailed like sparklers, his legs kicked, and his squeals reverberated across the room. Sparks jumped off the tips of his fingers, arcing dangerously close to the furniture.
The kitten, seemingly unfazed, dodged with the grace of a trained acrobat. One flick of its paw sent Beel flipping harmlessly across the floor. The little demon collided with a cushion, bounced off the edge of a low table, and skidded across the wooden floor, sparks flying in chaotic arcs. Yet, the kitten remained pristine—tail swishing, ears twitching, maintaining its royal composure as if the entire battle were a casual morning exercise.
Oga ran forward, hands raised in desperation. "B-Beel! Stop shocking yourself! You're going to fry your tiny little brain! And that cat isn't even trying to fight back!" He ducked another spark as it zipped past his shoulder, his usual composure unraveling under the twin pressures of demonic electricity and adorable ferocity.
Hilda, shaking her head with a faint chuckle, knelt beside Beel and placed a calming hand on his head. "Baby Beel... you are strong, but being angry won't win this battle," she said firmly, her voice imbued with both authority and maternal indulgence. "The kitten isn't your enemy. Channel your energy into something... useful."
Beel, for the briefest moment, paused—tail flicking irritably as he looked at Hilda. Sparks still jumped between his tiny fists, but the force behind them diminished slightly, his focus now split between the kitten's smug demeanor and the commanding tone of his loyal demon maid.
The black kitten, ever the provocateur, batted a tiny paw at one of Beel's sparks. The resulting spark fizzled harmlessly against the kitten's sleek fur, eliciting another squeal of frustration from the baby demon. He flailed, spun, and made a series of over-the-top, dramatic charges at the kitten, each ending in a comic misfire: sliding across the floor, tripping over a chair leg, or accidentally shocking himself. The kitten merely yawned once, stretched elegantly, and repositioned itself around Kogen's arm, tail flicking with supreme confidence.
Oga could do nothing but watch in stunned silence. "I... I can't believe this," he muttered, hair sticking up from the last minor shock he'd received. "Even when it's just a cat... Beel gets... this worked up?"
Hilda finally sighed, looking at Oga as if he were the source of all chaos in the universe. "Idiots... all of you," she muttered. Her tone, though scolding, was indulgent. She reached over and scooped up Beel, holding him firmly while letting him release a few final sparks into the air harmlessly. "There," she said softly. "Calm down now. No more shocking. That's enough."
Beel, still pouting, nestled into Hilda's arms but kept one green eye on the black kitten, which now nuzzled Kogen's chest. Sparks had completely ceased, but the tension was palpable: the unspoken rivalry for Kogen's attention had not ended; it was merely paused for now.
Kogen's soft chuckle echoed around the room, his usual teasing tone causing Oga to groan once more. "Darling..." he said, brushing a hand through the kitten's silky fur. "It seems you have two very passionate admirers this morning."
Oga's face turned bright red. "D-Don't call me that! And it's not... not like that! I mean—just... Ugh! You're impossible!" he shouted, flailing slightly as if he could physically escape the teasing.
Hilda rolled her eyes. But a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she glanced between Beel and the black kitten.
The scene froze in perfect comedic chaos: Beel pouting and clutching Hilda, the kitten lounging on Kogen's arm with regal nonchalance, Oga flailing and muttering, sparks lightly crackling across the floor, and Hilda's quiet amusement reigning supreme over the absurdity.
The comedic narration box in the corner read: "The battle for Kogen's affection has begun... and the challenger seems far more cunning than anyone could have anticipated."
The black kitten blinked slowly at Beel, swishing its tail with supreme confidence, while Beel let out a final, dramatic squeal and pouted against Hilda's chest. Kogen simply chuckled at the sight shaking his head.
Oga sighed, scratched the back of his head, and muttered, "I... I'm never surviving this... ever."
to be continued-