Chapter Text
“What do you mean you lost him? How can you lose him in a ball pit?”
“Fuck you, Furuichi! Can’t you see how fucking huge this place is? And there are balls everywhere!”
If Oga hadn’t been so frantically ploughing through the pit, eyes darting this way and that like a crazy person, the two of them might have laughed at the way that last sentence was phrased.
Unfortunately, Oga looked like he was preparing to die at any second. Considering that Beel could notice Oga’s disappearance at any moment and start crying, Furuichi could understand.
He took off his shoes and carefully climbed over the side.
“You need to keep a better eye on your kid.”
“Shut up and keep looking,” Oga growled, punching Furuichi into the pit.
Furuichi groaned as his whole body submerged. Then winced as an entire group of enthusiastic kids stomped on him without realising.
He tried to get up, but yet another swarm of children scurried by, their tiny legs like cannons firing mini missiles.
“Urgh…” Furuichi mumbled amongst the plastic balls. His back had hit the bottom of the pit by now and he tried to get some strength back so he could stand up again.
“Dah,” Beel said in agreement.
Furuichi blinked. Then looked to the side where Beel and Kouta appeared to be huddled beneath some sort of plastic platform. Another glance told him that it must be the steps the smaller kids used to get down into the pit. He didn’t know the steps were hollow underneath.
“Beel, there you are! We’ve been looking for you, stop making Oga worry.” Furuichi reached out and tried to pull Beel away.
Immediately, Beel tensed up. “Dah!” he said, shaking his head quickly. Behind him, Kouta tried to pull Beel back underneath the steps with fear in his eyes.
“Beel, don’t be stupid, you can’t just stay here-”
A familiar crackle of electricity appeared, and Furuichi immediately let go. “W-wait. Just give me a minute, I’ll get Oga.” The “please don’t cry” was a muttered prayer.
“Dah!” Beel yelped even as Furuichi started standing back up.
It was only later, that Furuichi realised it was a shout of warning, because at that moment, several kids jumped into the ball pit at once, their feet landing harshly on Furuichi’s back and head.
Furuichi felt himself fall down to the bottom of the pit again. In even more pain than before.
Ball pits are dangerous… Furuichi thought to himself. Just as Beel teared up at the sight of Furuichi all beaten up and began to cry.
Electricity flew everywhere.
…really dangerous.