The tension on the riverbank snapped like a taut rope as Oga lunged forward, fists swinging with a mix of fury, frustration, and a strange, bitter pang that he refused to name. Furuichi stumbled behind him, arms flailing, muttering frantic warnings he knew Oga wouldn't hear. The sunlight glinted off the water, throwing jagged reflections onto the three figures ahead: Toujo, standing casually yet radiating controlled power; Kogen, calm but visibly uncomfortable in the theatrical display; and Beel, clinging to Kogen's back with wide eyes, clutching his tiny fists as if bracing for impact.
Toujo didn't move, didn't flinch, but the smirk never left his face. "Come on, Oga. Don't make me wait all day," he taunted, tilting his head slightly. His hands remained draped around Kogen's waist, holding him lightly but deliberately in a pose that made Oga's jaw practically lock.
Oga's chest heaved. Rage and jealousy were a potent mixture, flooding his senses. "You—YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!" he bellowed, his voice echoing across the water. The wind carried it, sending ripples across the river's surface. Furuichi ducked instinctively, muttering, "I told you he's an idiot..."
Toujo's grin widened, but then his expression shifted ever so slightly—subtle, but Oga's sharp eyes caught it. The sunlight gleamed off Toujo's shoulder where a dark, intricate marking revealed itself. For a fraction of a second, Oga froze. His heartbeat thudded painfully against his ribs.
"Th—that's..." Oga muttered under his breath, the color draining from his face. He had seen marks like this before—the Zebel Spell. The cursed, mystical imprint that bound a human to a Demon Lord's offspring. The bond. That symbol meant power. Connection. Responsibility. And the sight of it on Toujo's shoulder sent a jolt through him, as if every protective instinct he had toward Beel was screaming a warning.
Beel, sensing the rising tension and the strange energy emanating from Toujo, squeaked and shifted slightly, clutching Kogen tighter. Oga's eyes darted to Kogen. Calm as he usually was, Kogen's eyes held a flicker of unease. Not fear, exactly, but something subtle—awareness of the power surrounding them. Oga's jaw tightened.
Fury surged, hot and wild, drowning the pangs of fear and worry. "I don't care what that mark is!" he growled, stepping forward again. "You're not taking them from me!"
Toujo chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender, but his stance was coiled like a spring. "Oh, Oga... still the same stubborn idiot. I admire that about you." With a swift motion, he darted forward, moving faster than Oga expected. The first blow landed squarely on Oga's chest, sending him skidding backward across the loose riverbank stones.
Oga's instincts flared. He rolled, flipping up onto his feet with barely a second to spare, swinging a punch aimed directly at Toujo. But Toujo ducked smoothly, countering with a low kick that forced Oga to stagger. The world seemed to blur as fists and feet flew in rapid succession, the fight becoming a blur of movement.
From the sidelines, Furuichi yelled and flailed, trying desperately to keep his balance, his eyes wide. "Oi! Oga! Don't get KO'd! ...Or, like... at least don't drown in the river!"
Oga growled in frustration, ignoring the warning. His fists met air, then stone, then water as Toujo danced around him with effortless grace. Every attack Toujo parried, every step he took seemed deliberate, teasing, and infuriating. Oga's rage deepened, fueled by the memory of Toujo's hands around Kogen's waist, Kogen's faintly pink cheeks, and Beel's tiny form nestled against Kogen but still clinging to Toujo like Toujo was his father.
"Oga... you've got this," Furuichi whispered weakly, though his own panic made it sound more like a whimper.
Oga ignored him, focusing solely on the figure in front of him. Each strike he threw, each charge he made, carried not just his anger at Toujo but a fierce, protective instinct he refused to acknowledge. Every time Toujo's gaze met his, the grin only widened, as if mocking him silently.
Then came a moment that froze Oga mid-swing. Toujo leaned slightly, and in that brief moment, the sunlight caught the mark again. Oga's mind raced. Could Toujo actually claim Beel? Could he bind himself to the child? No. He would never allow it. Not if he could help it.
Fueled by desperation, Oga charged with everything he had. His fists blurred, his feet pounded the earth, and his heart thundered. Toujo laughed, sidestepping a wide hook, and then—effortlessly—placed a hand against Oga's chest. The force sent him stumbling back, skidding dangerously close to the water's edge.
"Oi! Watch the riverbank!" Furuichi shouted, voice cracking.
Oga regained his footing, glaring, eyes narrow and lips pressed into a hard line. He lunged again, a headlong assault, fists pumping, but Toujo met him step for step, evading with fluid grace. Oga's breathing was heavy, muscles straining. Rage and worry collided inside him like a storm.
Toujo's grin didn't waver. "You're stubborn, Oga. I like that. But don't you think it's a little... pointless?" His hands moved in a blur, and Oga found himself thrown backward with a powerful sweep, landing hard against a jagged rock. Pain shot through his ribs, but he forced himself upright. He would not give up. He could not.
The fight escalated, each strike more intense, each dodge more precise. Oga swung wildly, driven by fury and the need to protect both Kogen and Beel. Toujo parried and countered, his movements teasing yet deadly, his hands still lightly holding Kogen in a possessive, affectionate display. Every glance at them twisted Oga's stomach with jealousy.
Kogen, for his part, remained remarkably composed, though beads of sweat dotted his forehead. He had agreed to the act, yes, but the intensity of Oga's attacks and the sheer chaos of the riverbank skirmish left him slightly bewildered. "Darling... please... be careful," he murmured softly, eyes flicking to Oga with subtle worry.
Beel squeaked in alarm, clinging tighter to Kogen, tiny fists balled. His small sparks of electricity danced harmlessly in the air, a reflection of his agitation. Oga's eyes flicked to the baby, adding another layer to his rage and determination.
Toujo's smirk widened as he gauged Oga's mental state. He feinted left, then pivoted right, sending Oga stumbling backward again. The water lapped closer. Toujo's hands tightened slightly around Kogen's waist—not hard enough to hurt, but just enough to emphasize the playful intimacy. Oga's stomach twisted painfully.
"You—! I—!" Oga shouted, swinging a punch with all his strength. Toujo caught it easily, redirecting the force with a graceful pivot. The next thing Oga knew, he was airborne, arms flailing, and then—splash! He landed squarely in the river with a loud, cold shock.
Water surged around him, stealing the wind from his lungs. He spluttered, gagging, and felt the icy river wrap around him like a hand of judgment. From the riverbank, Toujo's voice carried clearly:
"Doesn't matter if the kid is mine or not, Oga. Thanks to you abandoning them, I now have a wife—and a child."
Oga's heart froze. Wife? Child? The words struck him harder than any physical blow. He splashed violently, kicking and thrashing, trying to regain footing, but the river pulled him under. Rage, jealousy, fear, and an unspoken ache collided within him, leaving him momentarily paralyzed.
Kogen bent down, murmuring to Beel as if nothing had changed, brushing the tiny child's hair back and holding him securely. Toujo stood beside them, relaxed, hands still lightly resting around Kogen's waist, displaying the perfect tableau of the family Oga was supposed to disrupt but now couldn't touch.
Oga surfaced, gasping, chest heaving, rage twisting every fiber of his being. "I... I'll... I'll show you...!" he roared, but even as he struggled to regain composure, a strange unease crept into his mind. Why did seeing Kogen and Beel like this... feel so... wrong? So... painful?
Furuichi, trembling on the riverbank, muttered, "I think... maybe you like them more than you want to admit..."
Oga whipped his head toward him, eyes wide, and Furuichi quickly shut his mouth with a loud clap, realizing his mistake. Oga sputtered, splashing water, muttering incoherently. "...No... shut up... idiot... it's not like that..."
But deep down, beneath the rage and jealousy, Oga felt the weight of Toujo's words. His fists clenched under water, knuckles white. He couldn't admit it—not yet—but a seed had been planted. Acknowledging it now would mean facing the truth about just how attached he had become to Beel—and perhaps, to Kogen as well.
Toujo, sensing the inner turmoil, tilted his head with a faint smile. "Take your time, Oga. Fight if you want, but the family here... is mine now." His voice was light, teasing, but carried an undertone of absolute confidence.
Kogen whispered to Beel, still steady, still motherly, "It's alright, little beel. Nothing to worry about. Just watch and stay close."
Beel squeaked again, tiny sparks dancing harmlessly, a reflection of the tension and his own awareness. His tiny hands reached out toward Oga in frustration, as if trying to bridge the distance between what Oga wanted and what he felt he could do.
Oga swallowed hard, rage boiling, but something else—something strange and unfamiliar—gnawed at his chest. He wanted to fight. He wanted to protect. But more than anything, he didn't want to lose them.
And yet, as the water pulled him downstream, Toujo's words echoed relentlessly in his mind:
"Thanks for abandoning them, Oga. Because of you, I now have a wife... and a child."