The meal was just as bland as it always was. Vegetables that had just been steamed and not much else. Perhaps salt was added. How could such a staggeringly rich company not afford a few spices? Or perhaps it had been Ibuki who spoiled him, buying more and more elaborate salads for his boss as time went on. After all, Louis never paid any mind to the food's taste when he was younger.

The older, spectacled buck sat quite a few meters away from him, not seeming to enjoy nor despise the food he consumed. It was just business for him. The taste must not have mattered. It was a sad existence, and Louis shuddered at the thought of himself in that seat. He was not lost on the irony of the space between them, either. He had taken literature classes and was the lead actor of the goddamn drama club, after all. It was all too easy to catch the metaphor that laid so heavily on top of them.

Louis looked to the sides, noting the ample space for further seating left empty. He couldn't stop the yearning desire for a certain wolf to occupy that space beside him, but the thought of subjecting Legosi to the fate of sharing the same room as his adopted father hurt him.

Oguma wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin, the movement of which caught Louis's attention, and in turn, he sat up straighter. It was always a signal that the subject of the dinner was about to be brought to the table.

"How it university."

Louis noted the lack of inflection that usually denotes a question. He set his fork down. "You know already."

Oguma nodded slowly. "Failing your calculus class. Your other subjects not faring much better. Is your impromptu Beastar training really sucking up so much time?"

Louis set his fork down while his insides reorganized. He hadn't looked at his grades but what he heard made sense. "It's a difficult task Yahya has given us."

His father's eyes narrowed. "Yes. 'Us'. That wolf that he is pitting you against."

Louis grimaced softly. What a strange conclusion for Oguma to come to, but perhaps it would work in his favor. "Yes. Something about comparing the potential of carnivores and herbivores." He repressed a small smile, proud of his ability to come up with that on the spot without a waver in his voice.

"It must be hard, since that wolf is a friend of yours, correct?"

Louis didn't like the path this conversation was taking. "He is, yes."

Oguma remained as still as a statue. "Don't let it distract you from your studies. He's just a wolf from the ghetto. You will surpass him and claim the title, and you will pass your classes."

The old buck picked his fork up again, granting a reprieve and leaving Louis to struggle to keep his emotions boiling over. He could handle his father's strict expectations and callous disregard for his feelings. It's what was expected of him. But to say such things about Legosi was unforgivable. The memory of the time he held a gun to his father's face flashed in his mind, but the confident and unafraid look in Oguma's eyes at the time rendered the thought of pulling the trigger unsatisfying. Louis took a few deep breaths through his nose to calm himself down. Legosi would never have to hear those words, after all.

Louis took his father's lead and used the window of opportunity to eat the bland vegetables again. He kept his eyes downward as he ate, Oguma still at the top of his vision. Was that all he had to talk about? No, of course not. These dinners were never a one subject deal. There was something else. Louis knew it, but all the drama with Melon had muddled his memory. He continued to think and eat, knowing he couldn't come up with a defense if he didn't know what was about to be brought up next.

The napkin flashed in his periphery and Louis knew he ran out of time.

"Azuki's father told me about the date you two had. He said she called off the proposal."

Louis stared at the wooden table surface and set his fork down once again. "That...sounds right."

Oguma sighed deeply. "Louis, I know you. You are the very image of cleanliness and class. The only way you could have acted in the way I was told is if you intentionally sabotaged the relationship."

Louis groaned softly and looked up. "No. Azuki just wasn't happy."

"I doubt that is the case. There were no problems until now." Oguma sipped his wine. "It's quite childish of you. We could have found another bride for you had you brought your displeasure up earlier."

Louis could only shrug. His body had grown cold. He already lost.

"I've been thinking about it all. Your actions of the past months." Oguma intertwined his fingers and rested his chin atop them. The light from the chandelier glinted off his glasses. "You had your leg eaten, the contract with Azuki had been terminated, and you went off to date some wolf. I tell you to break it off, and you do. But then you start hanging around a male wolf. One you knew from school. You say he's your friend. Suddenly you're paying his rent and giving him gifts. Your grades begin to slip."

Louis's hands were clammy. He tried to stop himself from shaking

"He's a wolf, just like the other one you courted. Azuki comes back into your life but you push her away."

"Just get to the point." Louis snapped, although he didn't intend for it to come out that way. Oguma only frowned.

"Are you seeing this wolf friend of yours romantically?"

Louis's breath hitched. He knew it was coming, but he couldn't stop the reaction. He looked away and coughed into his shoulder.

"Louis, you know I consider you a valuable business partner. These are matters we must discuss. Are you gay? Do you only like carnivores? Is it both? You've never mentioned anything about this."

Louis's previously freezing body was not burning. "You never asked."

"I'm asking now."

Louis turned away once again, staring at the intricate patterns on the carpet. "What's it matter. I'm marrying for business, not for love. This never mattered to you."

"It matters now that you terminated that potential marriage." Oguma pushed his plate away, despite there still being food on it. "Despite your preferences, you know what is obligated of you, and you realize the marriage is for business, not love. You can maneuver with that, can't you?"

Louis met his father's eyes once again. "What?"

"Marry a woman from a family that we would benefit from and go about your own romantic business in private. Most professionals do it."

Louis's face scrunched up. What had happened to this man to twist him so.

"Of course, a relationship with a large male carnivore is nothing but self destructive, especially considering your leg." Oguma's stare turned to daggers as he found a new talking point. "Tell me, was he the one who ate it?"

Louis was speechless. How much had Oguma thought about this? How much of his private life had really been breached? He could only hear Oguma sigh heavily in the silence.

"That being the case, I'll set up an appointment for you to see a psychiatrist. They can help you through your-"

"NO!"

Oguma actually flinched at his son standing up and shouting. Louis was certain he had never seen such a look on his father's face. Nevertheless, he started to speak again.

"It's abnormal, Louis. You're sick and-"

"I am not sick, Oguma!" Louis now freely let the venom drip from his voice. "I'll tell you who's sick: a man who's so utterly obsessed with the empire that his family forced upon him that he bought a suffering child who couldn't even speak with the sole purpose of using him to fulfill the same disgusting role!"

"Louis-"

The young buck held his hand up to stop any further talk from him. "You haven't even met Legosi! He's the kindest, most gentle animal I have ever met! And he cares about me more than anyone! Just because nobody has ever cared about you in your life doesn't mean you can force me to be as miserable as you!"

"Louis!'

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" The dam had broken. "You have suffocated me and deprived me of love my entire life and now when I finally get it you have the audacity to say I'm sick!"

"He ate your leg!"

"You don't know what happened!" Louis stormed away from the table and headed toward the door.

"Louis, you are too old to be having a tantrum like this!"

Hand on the handle of the door, Louis turned one last time to his adoptive father. "No, I'm old enough to stand up for myself now. Goodbye, Oguma."

A muffled "Wait!" sounded from behind the door once he slammed it. Mansion staff stared at him with wide eyes as he stormed down the hall. Once he was outside he pulled his phone out and dialed up Legosi.