"Hey, Enna~ won't you give me something more special than that wine, since I did well as a major without any official title?~"Sozai tilted his head, ponytail falling over his chest as he smiled mischievously. His eyes gleamed with playful challenge, but his tone was sweet enough to catch Ennagiri off guard...like it was perfectly targeted for him .
The casual way he called him Enna—half a name, half a nickname—stabbed straight into Ennagiri's chest with a painfully sweet ache. It wasn't every day he was called like that.
Across the way, Yurei had not looked away from them for more than five minutes. His eyebrow twitched. The sound of Sozai's voice calling Enna tasted too sweet in his ears, almost sweeter than Yuyao...but why it have to be sweet?
It wasn't a thought of him..it was a burn he van never explain..atlieast now .
"How can that cat just… slip into anyone's heart like water? Does anyone truly special exist in his life?" Yurei muttered, eyes narrowing. He told himself he didn't care, yet his gaze refused to leave Sozai. He wanted to be the one Sozai held closest—even admitting that thought sent strange sparks twisting in his stomach.
And Sozai? He noticed. He always noticed every single twice yurei makes when he's.. jealous . One look at Yurei's searching stare and he smirked knowingly, enjoying the silent torment. He loved teasing Yurei without lifting a finger—because Yurei was the type to act proud when given attention, yet crave it even more desperately when ignored.
Sozai turned back to the group before anyone could catch the storm of glances, before comparisons and suspicions turned into something heavier.
Ennagiri, however, was caught. His eyes lingered on Sozai, on the cat's soft tail swaying gently behind him, left to right, like it was dancing. He thought quietly—how could anyone look so effortlessly… adorable?
Others noticed too. Saimei and the guards exchanged blinks. Why would Sozai ask a gift from Ennagiri of all people? He was a royal servant, not a guard, not a major. What did he even have to give?
Saimei crossed his arms and scoffed . "What can he give you, Sozai? He's only a servant. He doesn't have anything worth offering."
The words cut sharp . He sounded casual but it was still a insult , barely disguised as truth.
Yurei's fox ears twitched, an eyebrow arching.
"That bear's pride is even puffier than mine… Sozai needs to put him back in place," he muttered. Though in truth, Yurei was guilty of the same arrogance. But unlike Saimei, a part of him still knew cruelty had its limits.
Everyone else stiffened at Saimei's remark. No one wanted this turning into a contest of worth. Especially not in front of Sozai. To him, rank meant nothing—majors, servants, royals… they were all the same.
Ennagiri's sharp eyes locked on Saimei, insult stinging deep. His hand slid into his robe, ready to respond. But before he could, Sozai's voice cut in.
"And looks like you have a lot, huh huh ? I see nothing but puffy pride about to burst out of your ass. Can't you just be normal for once, instead of picking fights nobody wants?"
Sozai's smirk was merciless, playful but precise—striking right at Saimei's overblown pride.
The guards broke into laughter.
"Great, Sozai!"
"Pump him out whenever he gets too proud!"
"You're the best roaster we've got!"
Their laughter roared, shoulders bumping against Sozai's in shared delight. Ennagiri's chest warmed silently at the casual way Sozai defended him—no hesitation, no effort, just truth.
Saimei growled , face burning red in embarrassment , fists tightening until knuckles went white. But Sozai had shut every door—no angle left for retaliation.
Yurei, watching, nodded in satisfaction. "Much better," his eyes seemed to say.
"Ah, really?! Then from now on, you'll all have to pay me!" Sozai announced dramatically, rubbing his nose before snapping his fingers with a mischievous grin. "Ten gold every time I roast someone~."
The guards cried out, clutching him.
"Nooo, too much!"
"Not fair!"
"You should do it free for friends!"
Sozai laughed wickedly, ponytail flicking proudly. It slapped across Saimei's face again, salt in the wound.
"No no no~ no friends over money! You've gotta pay me. I'm Kurozaki Sozai. Show some respect~"
He chuckled as the guards gave him puppy eyes.
Then, unexpectedly, Ennagiri's voice cut through the noise. Confident. Certain.
"I can give you something worthy… as a gift. For today."
The environment around them hushed. All eyes turned. Even Sozai blinked, green eyes wide as he leaned closer in excitement, tail wagging eagerly.
Saimei scoffed, eyes narrowed like saying : "I'll see what you've got. I'm a hundred percent sure you've nothing."
Yurei leaned forward too, curious...If nothing else, at least this drama kept him entertained. So even while he was a little far , with the Royals , he was still trying hard to catch every single detail of the drama .
"What is it, what is it?!" Sozai's voice sparkled, eyes bright, smile boyish , can't wait for the gift from ennagiri .
Ennagiri slid his hand deeper into his robe—and pulled out a gem..
Not just any gem.
A red gem...the massager gem.
The crawd went still, then erupted with gasps. Everyone clutched each other dramatically, jaws dropping.
Because red meant one thing only: " will you marry me ? "
Saimei's eyes rolled up to his forehead. The gem was impossibly rare—exclusive to royals and Daozus, never touched by ordinary yokai or humans. Even theft was impossible; the stones were bound by sacred protection..even normal yokai or humans could only get it once it's gifted officially by any Daozu or royal family member .
Yurei's eyes widened too. Even he had not yet received such a stone from Kyoren. And Ennagiri… Ennagiri had one?
Saimei nearly fainted, dizzy with disbelief. His pride crumbled to dust.
"You—you stole it, right? Right?! Or who the hell would propose to someone like you when I'm clearly the best?!"
Others nodded violently, curiosity burning them alive. Who had given Ennagiri this?
Yurei rolled his eyes, scoffing silently. Who's taste is bad enough to call you the best, Saimei? Yet his curiosity burned too—just how had Ennagiri been proposed to by a Daozu?
And amidst the chaos, the crimson glow of the gem reflected in Sozai's green eyes. The laughter, the mockery, even the arguments—all of it vanished.
For a single heartbeat, the crawd forgot to breathe.