The air in Toujo's small apartment was thick with the humid weight of summer, the faint smell of grilled fish wafting from a pan in the kitchen. The place was cluttered with weights in one corner, manga stacked haphazardly on the low table, and clothes hanging from a drying rack—but despite its mess, it had a strangely homely feel.
Beel lay bundled up on a futon, cheeks flushed red from fever, his small body clinging tightly to Kogen's chest. His breaths came in soft, uneven puffs, every so often letting out a weak whimper that made Kogen's stomach twist with worry.
Jagua, in his kitten form, sat curled right beside Beel's pillow, his sleek black fur brushing against Beel's arm. Every time Beel twitched or stirred, Jagua let out a soft mrrp and licked his cheek, settling him again.
Kogen's sharp, usually mocking eyes were softer now, filled with something that could only be described as maternal protectiveness. His fingers stroked Beel's damp hair, his other hand fanning the baby with a folded newspaper to keep him cool. He had already swapped out the towel on Beel's forehead twice, muttering under his breath, "Hang in there, little one..."
From the kitchen, Toujo Hidetora's voice boomed. "Oi, Kogen! You eat yet? I'm making food. Kid needs to eat something too, right?"
Kogen glanced up, his lips quirking at Toujo's tone—so casual, as if caring for a demon lord's son was no different than looking after a neighborhood brat. "He can't eat yet. Fever's still high," Kogen called back. "But... thanks."
Toujo emerged a moment later with a plate of onigiri and a bowl of miso soup, setting them on the table. His muscular frame seemed almost comical as he crouched beside the futon, peering down at Beel. His usually fierce eyes softened instantly.
"Damn," Toujo muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "Kid looks like hell. But he's got you and the furball. He'll be fine."
Jagua's green eyes flicked toward him with a regal air, as though acknowledging his words with dignity. Then he lowered his head, resting his chin protectively over Beel's tiny fist.
Kogen smiled faintly. "You're not as much of a muscle-brain as you pretend."
Toujo grinned. "Don't spread it around. Gotta keep my rep."
They sat in silence for a moment, the only sounds Beel's faint breaths and the hum of the cicadas outside. Then Toujo leaned back, crossing his arms. His eyes gleamed in a way that immediately made Kogen suspicious.
"Y'know," Toujo began slowly, "I've got a brilliant idea."
Kogen arched a brow. "...This should be good."
Toujo jabbed a thumb toward the door. "About Oga situation."
At the sound of the name, Beel stirred in his fevered sleep, clutching tighter at Kogen's shirt. Kogen's gaze softened, but he tilted his head toward Toujo. "...Go on."
Toujo's grin widened. "We're gonna teach that bastard a lesson."
Kogen's eyes narrowed. "Lesson?"
"Yeah. A wake-up call. You and the kid—" he gestured at Beel "—you've been abandoned. And Oga, that dumb punk, just laughs it off like nothing. Pisses me off just thinking about it. So..." He cracked his knuckles. "We make him crawl back. Beg forgiveness. Beg you to come home."
Kogen blinked. "Wait. Hold on. Abandoned?"
Toujo leaned forward, his expression dead serious. "Don't play dumb, bro. It's obvious. You're his wife, right? And that kid—" he pointed to Beel again "—that's your child together. Oga ditched both of you."
There was a beat of stunned silence. Kogen opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. "...Excuse me?"
Toujo nodded firmly, completely convinced of his own logic. "I mean, look at you. You're sitting here, nursing the kid like a mother, worrying like hell. Who else could you be but his wife? Makes perfect sense."
Kogen dragged a hand down his face. "You—no, I am not— That idiot delinquent and I are not—"
But Toujo steamrolled right over him, eyes blazing with righteous fury. "Oga's a scumbag for ditching you! Who abandons his wife and child like that? Tch. Thought he had more guts."
Kogen tried again, his voice dry. "I assure you, the relationship you've conjured in your head does not—"
"Doesn't matter," Toujo cut in, slamming a fist into his palm. "Leave the details to me. I've got this. We'll hit him hard. Make him realize what he's lost. Then—" He grinned wolfishly. "—we'll make him crawl back, beggin'."
Kogen sat in silence for a long moment, Beel still warm in his arms, Jagua's tail swishing against his side. This was no longer funny. He should correct him. He should. But the fire in Toujo's eyes...
He sighed, a reluctant chuckle escaping. "You really are something, Hidetora."
Toujo flashed a thumbs-up. "Leave it to me, bro. Just follow my lead."
Kogen looked down at Beel, who had shifted slightly, his fevered face pressed against Kogen's chest, a faint, sleepy "da..." escaping his lips. Something in Kogen's chest tightened, and he smoothed Beel's hair again.
"...Fine," he murmured, half to himself. "Let's see where this goes."
Jagua's green eyes gleamed knowingly, as though even the little panther understood that chaos was about to unfold.
The Setup
Toujo began outlining his "brilliant plan" with exaggerated hand gestures, practically bouncing with energy. "First, we act all lovey-dovey in front of him. You know—holding hands, feeding each other, the works. That'll shake him good. Then, I challenge him. Straight fight. No holding back. Winner gets you and the kid."
Kogen's eyebrow twitched. "...Excuse me?"
Toujo ignored him. "If he's serious, he'll fight tooth and nail. If not—" Toujo shrugged, cracking another grin. "Then it's proof he doesn't deserve either of you."
Kogen pinched the bridge of his nose. "...This plan of yours sounds less like a lesson and more like a soap opera."
Toujo barked a laugh. "Hey, drama gets results."
Kogen sighed again, leaning back against the futon. Beel stirred, making a small noise, and Kogen instinctively hushed him, gently patting his back until he settled. Toujo watched the scene, his grin softening.
"See?" Toujo said. "That right there. You're natural at it. No way you ain't his wife."
Kogen groaned. "...You're impossible."
But despite himself, he was curious. Maybe—just maybe—Toujo's ridiculous misunderstanding could actually force Oga to face what he'd been avoiding.
And if it worked? Then perhaps Oga Tatsumi would finally stop running from the truth.