The Unfortunate Omega and the Arrogant Alpha’s Forced Marriage (Completed)

Cough, cough.

Phlegm clung to Kusunoki’s throat, refusing to clear as the coughing fit continued. His head throbbed, and his body radiated heat—signs of a fever—but he had no idea where to find a thermometer or medicine. Exhausted, he curled into the blankets, gazing blankly out the window without curtains.

The sky was a clear, endless blue, a typical result of the west-high-east-low winter pressure system. It stretched on forever, so vivid it seemed ready to swallow him whole.

The world outside must be beautiful today.

But in this high-rise apartment, unlike his childhood home, no sounds from the outside world made their way in. Only the occasional roar of a jet passing overhead broke the silence.

That’s why the sound of the front door closing reverberated so clearly through the apartment.

(Yoichiro must have left for work… I should get up…)

Kusunoki slowly dragged himself out of bed and made his way to the living room. The dining table was empty, as always. He opened the trash bin out of habit.

“…I guess it can’t be helped.”

The breakfast he had woken up early to prepare was, once again, untouched and discarded.

In the sink sat dirty dishes and the mug Yoichiro had used for coffee. Forcing his heavy eyelids to stay open, Kusunoki braced himself against the counter and turned on the hot water to begin washing.

The kitchen had a built-in dishwasher, but Kusunoki didn’t know how to use it. Instead, he washed everything by hand and used the machine only for drying. After scrubbing the sink clean, he placed a single slice of bread in the toaster.

That was Kusunoki’s breakfast: one slice of plain bread.

He washed it down with water and did some light cleaning around the apartment. Professional cleaners came regularly, so his routine was mostly unnecessary—just a quick pass with a floor wiper. Still, he did it every day, hoping it might make the space a little more comfortable for Yoichiro. He knew it was nothing more than wishful thinking.

“Thank you for the meal.”

Kusunoki pressed his hands together in gratitude and took a bite of the toast. But his throat caught, and he began coughing violently. The dry bread slipped from his hand, landing with a thud in the stainless steel sink.

The coughing had started two weeks ago, but Kusunoki hadn’t gone to a doctor. He had hoped it would go away on its own, but it had only worsened over time. This morning, he finally gave up. He wrapped the partially eaten toast in plastic and placed it in the refrigerator, telling himself he’d eat it later if his appetite returned.

After cleaning the sink again, he turned his thoughts to dinner.

It was year-end, a busy season for Yoichiro, who rarely came home before midnight. Sometimes he didn’t return at all, choosing to stay at the office overnight.

“I just want him to eat properly…”

Maybe Yoichiro didn’t like traditional Japanese food? Kusunoki wondered. Despite his efforts, Yoichiro hadn’t touched a single meal since they married six months ago. Every time Kusunoki saw the uneaten food in the trash, his chest tightened with sadness.

He knew he should stop trying. But doing nothing—just existing in this space—was unbearable.

“I need to go shopping… cough, cough!”

Kusunoki hunched over as another coughing fit wracked his body. A raspy, wheezing sound escaped his chest as he tried to catch his breath. Even though his body screamed for help, the idea of going to a hospital didn’t cross his mind.

He didn’t know where the nearest hospital was, and even if he searched, he had no means of communication. A smartphone or computer was considered a luxury for an Omega—something far beyond his reach.

He didn’t have an insurance card or the money to pay for a visit.

“It’ll be fine… I’ll get better soon. It’ll be fine…”

He whispered reassurances to himself, as if comforting a child, repeating the words over and over. A faint, hollow smile flickered across his face but disappeared just as quickly.

He decided to rest until the nearby supermarket opened. Stumbling against the walls, Kusunoki returned to his room. In the stark, unfurnished space, he collapsed onto the futon laid directly on the floor.

The cold seeping up from the floor was oddly soothing. Resting his head on a small pillow, Kusunoki closed his eyes. With no tasks to focus on, his energy drained away, leaving him heavy and sluggish, as though his limbs were filled with lead.

(If only I could just disappear…)

A wave of negativity washed over him.

He remembered Yoichiro’s cold gaze from the night before and bit his lip.

(Why did I have to be an Omega?)

Being an Omega brought nothing but misery. He couldn’t hold a job, and society’s judgment followed him everywhere he went. None of this was his choice.

Kusunoki was a rarity—a male Omega. If he had been female, perhaps some Alpha might have felt compelled to protect him. But as he was, few people could reconcile his gender with his secondary designation.

Yoichiro was no exception.

That must be why Yoichiro treated him so harshly.

(But it’s my fault… Being an Omega is the problem.)

Another violent cough wracked his body, forcing him to curl up tightly. When the fit subsided, exhaustion spread through him like the aftermath of intense exercise, making his limbs feel even heavier.

At this rate, he’d only cause trouble for Yoichiro. He knew it, but there was nothing he could do.

If Kusunoki hadn’t been an Omega, this marriage wouldn’t have happened. The law only permitted same-sex marriages if one partner was an Omega. If not for that, Kusunoki might have joined his family’s company, working alongside his older brother to support their business.

But he was an Omega. A defective human, as society often labeled him.

He wasn’t even allowed to contribute to his family’s business, let alone step outside without judgment.

“Why was I born an Omega? Life would have been so much better as a Beta…”

If he had been a Beta, no one would have judged him. He could have lived a normal life, free from reproach, with countless options for his future. What would it feel like to live a simple, ordinary life?

Yearning for something unattainable, Kusunoki closed his eyes, retreating into his thoughts to escape reality.

Another cough erupted, burning his throat.

“Please… get better soon…”

His hoarse voice barely rose above a whisper. As he struggled for breath, he thought about how desperately he wanted to recover. Yet, at the same time, a dark thought crept in: what if he didn’t?

(It wouldn’t matter… No one would care anyway.)

No one showed kindness to Omegas.

Kusunoki bit his lip, forcing back tears. Crying would only cause more trouble. If Yoichiro saw him, he would undoubtedly scold him, telling him not to indulge in sentimentality, not to pretend to be human when his existence was so insignificant.

Fighting back the tears, Kusunoki closed his eyes tightly, wishing for a dream—a kind, gentle dream where he could live as a Beta and experience the happiness that others took for granted.