Scene 1 – The Punishment of Furuichi
Oga had chased Furuichi out into the street. It was a spectacle. The entire neighborhood gathered as though it were a festival. Housewives leaned from windows, old men on bicycles slowed down, and children cheered like they were watching fireworks.
"PLEASE, OGA, MERCY!" Furuichi shrieked, sprinting down the road, his arms flapping wildly like a broken windmill.
Oga's fists cracked the pavement as he lunged after him. "YOU'RE THE REASON EVERYONE THINKS I MADE A TEST TUBE BABY, YOU BASTARD!"
"THAT WAS JUST A LITTLE CREATIVE STORYTELLING!" Furuichi screamed back, ducking just in time as Oga ripped out a lamppost and swung it like a baseball bat. It missed him by inches and demolished a vending machine. Soda cans exploded like fireworks across the street.
"OI, YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!" Oga roared, smashing the ground where Furuichi had just tripped. Asphalt cracked like glass.
The old candy shop lady clapped her hands. "Ah, youth. So full of energy!"
Two Ishiyama delinquents passing by on crutches—fresh from the hospital thanks to Oga—stopped to watch, jaws dropping. "Th-that's the guy who wrecked the school... and his best friend..."
"Best friend? Looks like he's gonna be fertilizer," the other muttered, hobbling back to safety.
Furuichi managed to scuttle behind a trash bin, wheezing. "O-Oga, buddy, think about this! If you kill me, who else will spread flattering rumors about you?! The school only respects you more because of me!"
"FLATTERING?!" Oga ripped the bin in half, hauling Furuichi up by the collar like a sack of garbage. "You told them I ABANDONED MY FAMILY!"
Furuichi, dangling like a rag doll, flailed. "It was—ack—for dramatic effect!"
"Dramatic effect my ass," Oga snarled, his veins throbbing. He cocked back his fist—
—and slammed Furuichi into the ground so hard that dust clouds erupted like a bomb had gone off. The pavement split into a crater, leaving only Furuichi's twitching body, face-first, butt in the air.
The crowd gasped. Then, as if rehearsed, they all clapped politely.
"Bravo!"
"Encore!"
Furuichi's muffled voice whimpered into the dirt. "...K-kill me..."
Scene 2 – Back at Oga's House
By the time Oga returned, dragging a flattened Furuichi by the leg like yesterday's trash, Kogen was waiting at the door with Beel perched happily on his hip.
"Welcome back Oga," Kogen began softly.
"What now?" Oga growled, still fuming.
Kogen looked at Beel, who babbled a happy "Buh-buh-buh!" and clapped his hands. His little eyes lit up with excitement as Kogen smiled down at him.
"...Beel," Kogen said gently, "wanna meet Uncle Toujo?"
"BAH!" Beel squealed, cheering, kicking his little legs. Drool dribbled happily down his chin.
Oga's face went pale. "WHAT?!"
Kogen blinked, confused by Oga's splattered expression. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong—WHAT'S WRONG?!" Oga shouted, slamming Furuichi's limp body onto the floor like a ragdoll. "After EVERYTHING, you're gonna take him to Toujo?!"
Kogen looked at him, unruffled, though a faint pink crept up his cheeks. "First, Toujo's my friend. Second, it was Toujo who took care of Beel when he was sick. You were still... confused about whether you even considered Beel your son or not."
Oga froze, fists tightening.
"And third," Kogen added, lowering his eyes, "Toujo was the one who carried almost every injured delinquent to the hospital after your fight. He never once complained. He just... did it. Because he cares."
Beel clapped again, babbling "Da! Da! Bah!" as if agreeing.
Kogen smiled faintly, brushing a hand over Beel's head. "That's why... I feel bad for him. He doesn't deserve all this misunderstanding. He's been... a very good friend."
Oga's jaw clenched. His heart gave a strange lurch at those words—good friend.
He muttered low, so no one could hear: Why does it sound like you're praising him like he's a better father than me?
Scene 3 – Teasing from Lamia
Of course, Lamia heard everything.
From the corner of the room, she tilted her head and muttered with a smug grin, "Well, of course you'd want to see the man who gave you such a heartfelt confession. And I quote: 'You are not alone. I will help you raise Beel. Together.'"
The room froze.
Kogen's entire face went crimson, ears burning, eyes wide. "T-THAT WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING!"
Lamia's grin widened, catlike. "Mmhm. Deny it all you want."
Oga's eyebrow twitched violently. His hands curled into fists again, but this time his rage wasn't directed at Furuichi. His stomach churned with something different, heavier, sharper. Jealousy.
He kept his expression blank, though. Why the hell do I feel like punching Toujo now...
Hilda, of course, caught everything. She smirked knowingly, her golden eyes glittering with amusement. "...This is far more entertaining than I expected."
Kogen stammered, flustered, clutching Beel to his chest like a shield. "T-that's not—it's not like that at all! I don't feel that way! And Toujo—Toujo was just being dramatic! That's all!"
Beel giggled, blowing spit bubbles, clearly thrilled at the chaos. "Bwah! Buh-buh-bah!"
Hilda folded her arms, lips curved into a sly smile. "Oh my... Toujo might become more of a rival than I thought."
"R-rival?!" Kogen choked, his face hotter than ever. "Hilda, don't say things like that!"
Lamia muttered again, "Embarrassed wife spotted."
"LAMIAAAA!" Kogen's voice cracked, face so red it looked like he might combust.
Oga gritted his teeth, trying to smother the unfamiliar flare in his chest. Why the hell do I care if Kogen blushes like that...
Scene 4 – Furuichi's Revival
On the floor, Furuichi stirred, groaning like a ghost. "Uhhh... where... am I...?"
Oga cracked his knuckles. "Oh, you're awake."
Furuichi's eyes shot open in terror. "W-wait, wait, wait! I'm already half-dead! You can't finish the job! I'm too handsome to die!"
"You've got three seconds," Oga growled.
But Beel leaned forward in Kogen's arms, babbling and pointing. "Fuuu! Buh-buh!"
Everyone turned.
Beel was smiling at Furuichi.
"...He actually... likes me?" Furuichi whispered, touched. Tears welled in his eyes. "Beel... you precious angel... despite all the lies, you still see me as—"
Oga stomped his head back into the floor. "Shut up."
Furuichi twitched, groaning into the tatami. "S-someone call... a second ambulance..."
Scene 5 – Oga's Silent Jealousy
As the night settled, the house grew quieter. Kogen rocked Beel gently in his arms, humming softly as Beel finally yawned and snuggled into his chest. The baby babbled sleepily, "Bah... baah..." before drifting into slumber.
Oga sat on the other side of the room, arms crossed, watching. His expression was blank, but his thoughts churned.
Damn Toujo... taking care of Beel when I wasn't there. Damn Kogen... praising him like that. And why the hell does it bother me so much?
He glanced at Kogen, who was brushing Beel's hair back gently, cheeks still faintly pink from Lamia's teasing. The scene made something heavy twist in Oga's chest.
He muttered under his breath, so low no one could hear: "...He's my son."