Hope ~Yato x Reader AU~

Chapter 38: The Paxton Free Young Award

I'm no stranger to this world. To the pretty dresses and wrinkle-free tuxes. To the crystal champagne glasses and perfect manners. To the warm chatter and seamless networking. These are all elements I've been exposed to since childhood. These are all simply fragments and pieces of things that helped to mold me into who I am today. But despite that, I still feel out of place.

That's an understatement. I am out of place. Though this gown fits me perfectly and makes me feel beautiful, I know I do not belong here. This award ceremony...being somewhere like this has never been my dream. Anything involving the world of medicine has never been in my visions of the future. But here I am...sitting at this table as different medical professions surround me, all sitting and listening to the speakers on the stage. All exchanging smiles and applauding at appropriate times...and this is not my world.

I'm merely blending in because of one reason; my parents.

Chewing my food, I sneak another settled glance at the people who raised me. They're sitting a few tables away with an array of other doctors, their stares trained on the speaker on the stage. Both are sitting with perfect postures, their shoulders back and heads high. Much like everyone else here, they are dressed in their best, presenting themselves as the finest. Only as to be expected, really.

It's almost hopeless. The more time I spend here the more I feel like I don't belong...like I shouldn't have come. This is their dream...their hopes...their world. This is their niche...not mine. I have no place here. I don't belong somewhere like this. I don't belong in this world...not in theirs. It should've been clear from the start. The moment I left Osaka gave me all the answers.

They didn't care.

And they don't care now. Not one bit. Instead of hugging me and greeting me like normal parents, they...reminded me to keep my lips sealed about what happened to the baby. They didn't even flash a sincere smile or ask how I've been doing. None of that ever crossed their minds and I shouldn't be surprised. After all, it's not like I'm really their daughter. I'm only the black sheep of the family...the charity case they adopted when her own mother was unable to provide. That's all I am...all I'll ever be. Just a charity case.

That's what I believe, anyway. It's not like I have much else to go off. But I can't let this get to me. If I let too many negative emotions get to me then I might see them. The phantoms. Luckily, I don't see too many in Nora and when I do, they're typically small, so I haven't worried too much about them. That said, this hotel is on the edge of Nora. Because of that, there's no saying what kind of phantoms could be lurking in the shadows of this place and I don't want to risk seeing them. Not right now.

"Once again, thank you all very much to those of you who came out tonight and donated," the woman on the stage continues, grasping me from my thoughts. "Here on the board, we are grateful for your generous contributions. Because of your magnanimity, the Paxton Free Young Awards is able to celebrate another year recognizing outstanding and brilliant scientists such as yourselves. So, thank you." There's a pause as we all clap before she adds, "At this time, the board and myself would like to introduce tonight's presenter, a three-time Paxton Free Young recipient, Dr. Sui Toshiyuki."

My eyes widen at that as I turn to Mr. Sui. He rises to his feet, smiling and waving as he begins for the stage, all the while applauds reverberate around him. I just sit, a stupor claiming my mind. Any medical profession is lucky to receive -or even be nominated- for a Paxton Free Young just once in their life, but to receive not one, not two, but three awards is unheard of. And yet, Mr. Sui did just that. But...if that's the case...how come I've never heard about him from my parents?

Mr. Sui shakes the woman's hand and takes the podium, smiling, "Hello and good evening. It is a beautiful night to be gathered here with you all to celebrate another annual Paxton Free Young Award. As many of you know, the Paxton Free Young Award was established seventy-six years ago in this very village by Nora local, Dr. Young Tanka in honor of his daughter, Paxton Free." There's a brief pause as he reads his notes before continuing, "To commemorate both the late Dr. Young and his daughter, the Paxton Free Young Award recognizes one doctor or researcher yearly who is not just outstanding in their fields, but also looking to better the medical world for both their fellow doctors and patients and tonight is no different." He stops to clear his throat. "Like the many years before, tonight we have a splendid group of nominees. This year's nominees are –"