𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐍 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒. | 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐤𝐲𝐮𝐮 𝐱 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐜.

PROLOGUE.

❝𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔.❞

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  IT'S NO SECRET THAT MATSUO KAZUMA IS GORGEOUS. Hell, gorgeous is an understatement. No words can even begin to describe his overwhelming appearance. His flawless face and athletic build could be compared to one of a sculpture. Though he isn't the only gifted one, good looks run through the Matsuo bloodline. To top it all off, he comes from a fairly wealthy family of well-known surgeons who work in America. Despite his good looks and social status, Matsuo Kazuma is a humble person. He never flaunts his wealth and is known for being kind and generous.

Though Kazuma may seem gifted, he isn't perfect. Even he has his own flaws, such as his lack of social ability and speech. Not to mention, he wasn't born with the current model persona that everyone sees in magazines and popular ads. He often feels like an outcast due to his shortage of social skills and he has difficulty conversing with others. Aside from being self-conscious about his appearance, he also struggles to gain confidence in himself.

(CONTENT WARNING AHEAD! Triggering topics such as fat-shaming, ED, and violence)

Hushed whispers, judgmental stares, fake smiles of sympathy.

Matsuo Kazuma knew these things too well. But what could he do about it? Things like this are always inevitable-- at least for him. Nothing changes. In Kazuma's experience, people were often unkind or unsympathetic when it came to his struggles. He had become accustomed to negative reactions and felt helpless about the situation. He felt like nothing would ever change, so he simply accepted it.

"Gosh, I feel sorry for the Matsuo family. Their one and only son can't even speak properly..."

"Hah, even if he can't speak, that doesn't mean he should keep eating. look at the shape he's in."

"It's useless for him to be here in the United States. With his condition, he should just attend school in Japan."

Kazuma didn't dare utter a word to these responses and kept picking at the remaining food on his plate. They were all sitting at the same table as him. He'd have to be deaf to not hear all their remarks. The tension in the air was palpable, and Kazuma kept his head down. He knew he was the topic of discussion, and he was increasingly overwhelmed by the conversation. He felt trapped in his own discomfort, unable to speak or defend himself.

His little sister, Kira, gave him a sympathetic look from across the table, knowing all too well that saying something would make matters more difficult. The two of them would be severely punished if they made fools of their parents. She couldn't stand these people. How could they say these things about a boy who had just barely started middle school? Especially at his own birthday dinner. It would've been better if their parents didn't throw a dinner at all, and ignore them as they usually do. But, of course, they couldn't be seen as uncaring for their children. No, heaven forbid the truth comes out. So, here they were, in this uncomfortable situation, with condescending words and fake smiles. The atmosphere was unbearable, and she wished they could just leave. But that was impossible - they had to stay and put up with their parents' judgment.