Dearest Perfection (Kyoya Ootori x OC)

Chapter 01: Reconciliation

Author's P.O.V.

"Kyoya, I hear father arranged a meeting with Kureto Jitsugetsu. The young Lady Asami and her nephew will be in his company! Are you excited to see your fianceé again?"

A voice speaks out to him cheerfully, a familiar head popping through his bedroom door before waltzing in with clasped hands and a smile. Kyoya Ootori sits at his coffee table, concentrating on his schoolwork.

"Not really, no." He replies calmly, ignoring Fuyumi rummaging about in his drawers. She holds up one of his shirts before taking one out to make room.

"Oh, come on. Why not? It's been years since you've last seen one another. Have you at least kept in touch?" Struggling to put it back, Fuyumi takes out another. Then another, until a large pile accumulates beside his dresser.

"At Dad's insistence, I have. Now, could you please stop rummaging through my clothes?"

"I'm not rummaging! I'm just trying to put your shirt back!" She struggles some more, a groan of frustration leaving her lips.

"I don't understand why you two don't like one another. You've been betrothed for years and have had countless opportunities to get to know one another. Why not just get along? You'll be married anyway, so you may as well make it work." Fuyumi's arms go limp, and she resorts to folding the heaping pile of laundry she created.

"She's infuriating-"

"She's not-"

"Audacious-"

"That has its merits-"

"Manipulative-"

"Okay, maybe a little of everything, but she's still a wonderful person! You've seen her contributions to Dad's work and studies on pediatric psychology. It's groundbreaking research that she's doing for the greater good." Fuyumi tries to reason, now seated on the ground facing him.

"I'm more than aware, Fuyumi," Kyoya says lowly, focus shifting away from his work and to the memory of the young woman who was the current topic of conversation.

"... Is it because she's a Jitsugetsu, or..." Fuyumi asks, her voice quiet, but he hears her nonetheless. His head snaps up to meet her gaze, annoyance in his eyes. She remains unphased, silence filling the space that occupies them. Having witnessed their relationship from a bystander's perspective and being Kyoya's closest and most trusted relative, she knows very well how he feels. But she wants to hear it from him- why he feels frustrated with himself,

and why she makes him feel insecure.

After his silence persists, she speaks up for him. "Talk to me, Kyoya. I'm here for you-"

"... I envy her." His voice interrupts, gaze downcast at his work. It takes Fuyumi by surprise, eyes widened and mouth slightly agape.

"She can do whatever she pleases without consequence. If she wished to set the world on fire, she would. The power she holds is something no other person can attain even through marital means." She doesn't speak, allowing him to continue as she resumes folding.

"She graduated from world-class institutions with multiple honor degrees, started multiple charities, founded research groups to treat sick children, and here I am, yet to accomplish anything of my own." He rests his head against his fist, eyes fluttering shut before opening. The words on his paper had formed a portrait of Asami, her eyes staring directly into his. The sight makes him squint his eyes shut. His brows knitted together before he took a deep breath.

"She has everything: a powerful and supportive family, status, intelligence- and I have nothing."

"You're a fool."