[ 41 | Second World ]
"I don't have the time." Hisaya flat-out rejected.
"Don't have the time?" Yoshiaki echoed, even going so far as to look at his bosses schedule, that was on his phone. Yes, the other mans previously free slots were gradually being taken up by various events, but there was still wiggle room. This was purely Hisaya's own decision, and he seemed to have no qualms in quickly making it when Yoshiaki broached the subject.
"I don't." The becoming-increasingly-blonder young man replied with ease as he manoeuvred around his apartment getting ready. His assistant, who had been eager to meet with him, could only watch. The only reason Hisaya had entertained the man was because of the present he bought him.
A bag of luxury sweeties, which after popping a few in his mouth, he found weren't really any better than his usual ones.
Yoshiaki became wary of the mans sudden aloofness towards finding out the identity of his big boss, so he had to ask. "Sir, do you know their identity?"
Hisaya was tying a loose bow under his collar with a black ribbon when he was asked the question. He spotted the expression on the betas face in the mirror, and had to wonder, who was his employer? But he had already decided that when the time was right, that person would come to him. He had too many other things he had to get done.
"Nope. Not even an inkling, but I'm not interested in going on a wild goose-chase."
Yoshiaki could breathe a sigh of relief. At least he wasn't avoiding his boss purposefully. So that meant that the little boss really didn't have the time, which conflicted with Yoshiaki's knowledge as his assistant. It opened up a whole other can of worms.
"Then, sir where are you heading now?" When he checked the schedule earlier, he noted that the boss had requested this time to be his free-time. He was very specific, but from where Yoshiaki stood, watching the other man dressing up smartly, he could see that he undoubtedly had plans. Plans he wasn't privy to.
"Hm? Oh there's no need to worry." Hisaya turned to eventually face the man when he had finished getting ready. As he draped his coat over his forearm, "I've called a taxi, so you can take the rest of the day off Kenta." He revealed nonchalantly to the workaholic.
Checking his watch, Hisaya grabbed the rest of his essentials and made his way to the doorway of the apartment. With a polite smile, he said his goodbyes. "Lock up when you leave, 'kay?"
He had asked for the taxi to pick him up around the corner, so he gave himself enough time to shrug on his coat and meander down the road. Hisaya didn't worry about being seen, because when his name popped into peoples minds they thought of an ugly-suited man with unkept brown hair.
Instead, when he got the odd glance, it was from total strangers who couldn't help but admire the startling young man's appearance. Their glimpses were too short to identify him as an Omega, and they were disappointed when he disappeared out of view, and into the back-seat of a taxi.
"Here's the address," Hisaya offered the driver a piece of paper, and in no time they were moving away from the bustling heart of the Commercial District. Again, Hisaya glanced at his watch but knew he had ample time to get to his next appointment. It wasn't going to be a regular, stuffy meeting anyway. And with what he had planned, he expected them to be elated when he was done with them.
Ω
Although all districts were relatively close to one another, it still took some time to get from the elitist Commercial District to the East-most residential district. An area that the original had avoided like the plague after 'escaping'. He wasn't the type to embrace his past, instead he suppressed the memories and imagined they didn't happen. He viewed his time at the orphanage as 'the very bottom' of where someone could be.
So he ignorantly turned his head. Over the years, the orphanage had even tried to reach out to him, sending letters to see how he was, asking if he was eating well and taking care of himself. The original had shuddered when he saw them, demanding Yoshiaki burn them. Needless to say, there was a frosty relationship. One which, the current Hisaya, shook his head at. His business-savvy mindset that had likely been unknowingly implemented by his father and brothers, urged him to make this journey.
To make connections.
The Eastern-Residential-District was where most lived when they couldn't afford to live in either the central, southern or western districts. Which meant that it housed a lot of people that ranged from a plethora of different financial backgrounds.
What could be considered the 'good side' of the residential district was what the taxi driver drove through, passing by without a hint of stopping. Hisaya watched as the surroundings became increasingly less 'looked-after'. The road under the car became littered with pot-holes that no council bothered to have filled.
Looking at his surroundings, and reflecting on the many societal issues in this new world, Hisaya begrudgingly knew that it made sense now why 'Omega orphanages' were in this area. Compared to the one that Hiromasa openly endorsed which was shitting-out gold.
Not that it was all sunshine and rainbows there either.
"This'll be it, sir." The driver grunted, clearly displeased with their surroundings but tried his best to disguise his opinions so it wouldn't effect his tip. His passenger noticed, but didn't care. If he took offence to everyones views then he wasn't going to succeed no matter what world he was thrown into.
"Will you need picking up?" The rough-looking beta asked as he leant out of the window as Hisaya had left the car. His roaming eyes were the one thing he didn't bother to make discreet.
"No, thanks. Have a nice day." He dismissed and the taxi took off. Only when he was out of sight did Hisaya approach the run-down building. A stench of urine permeated the air, making him scrunch up his nose.
Though this orphanage was located in a fairly large building, with one look you could see how much money would need to go into it to make it liveable. For example, the wooden door didn't have a latch, so he was able to walk right inside. He thought it was like one of those typical horror moments when someone went to knock on the door and it slowly, eerily opened.
But the suspect made itself known as it howled through the large hallways, slithering through the many cracks in the walls and ceilings. Rushing past Hisaya when he stepped inside, making his skin prickle. The cry of the wind had always spooked him.
On many occasions when he was a child, on his own in his large bedroom, he would huddle under his duvet to try and escape the many sounds of the storms that used to batter his family-home. But he had something that the people within this dilapidated-building didn't have. A mother who always seemed to know.
And the original hosts memories of this place were no better. Whilst he was so young, his memory wasn't entirely vivid, but he did remember constantly being cold. Which now, looking at the various gaping holes, made a lot of sense.
The light tap of the small heel on his dress-shoes resonated down the hall. But still, for some time, no one appeared. This place, whilst mainly being identified as an orphanage, was also a charity. Somewhere that was supposedly welcoming to all struggling Omegas. But saying this was a business...was a bit of a stretch.
He had chosen to come here without any assistance from Yoshiaki Kenta, or any other team members within the company who would be more than happy to help. That probably wouldn't stop the beta from sticking his nose in, but he didn't mind. This was a fragile matter, and would eventually be crucial with his future plans.
Plus, now as an Omega, he could probably relate? If this world was going to change its views, then the change had to first come from the children.
"Excuse me?" Finally, Hisaya looked round and spotted a woman who was drying her hands with a small towel, she clearly wasn't expecting anyone. Which made him doubt that he'd got the day right. The woman was an older version of what he remembered.
And the woman who took time out to write the letters in the past. Ayako Chiharu, a beta woman who through thick and thin refused to give-up. After inheriting the land from her parents, which came hand-in-hand with bountiful debts, she opened it as an orphanage and, later on, a charity. All whilst struggling to keep food on the table.
As a woman who couldn't have children of her own, she selflessly took in all the children that were looked upon by their parents in disgust due to the meagre issue of them being Omegas. And she never looked back. She dedicated every given moment to helping those in her care, which made appointments slipping her mind understandable.
Hisaya smiled, "Miss, I'm a little early for our appointment."
As expected, the older woman blanked, but he could see when she suddenly remembered as her expression completely changed. "Oh— oh my! I'm terribly sorry, ah—! Look at the state of me.." She became flustered, looking down at herself wearing a dirty apron.
He would have been more concerned if she was wearing luxury clothing.
Shaking his head, "There's no need to apologise, if anything I'm the one who's sorry." He slowly approached her, but she was just confused.
"What on earth for?"
"For disappearing, and then not responding to your letters." He spoke tentatively, wondering if she would remember him from that. Hisaya, when he was in his early teens, had slipped through those broken doors with little else but the clothes on his back. Day after day, week after week he became withdrawn. Detesting himself, his life and everyone around him. He had to escape.
"His— Hisaya?" She lifted her calloused hand, hovering over his cheek, before pulling her hand back. Seeing how clean he was, how unblemished, she didn't want to ruin that. Which acted like a punch in Hisaya's gut.
He took her hand in his own and squeezed affectionately. Though he wouldn't force her, because it was clear she appeared very reluctant to dirty him he wanted her to know that he appreciated her.
"Un. I didn't tell you it was me coming to visit because I didn't want to upset you, but it seems I've managed to do that regardless." She was sobbing, big blobs falling down her cheeks, but she still chuckled and smiled.
"You know me, I'm a cry-baby. But I'm so happy to see you, Hisaya-kuma*." [ Means 'bear' ]
"Yeesh, I see that name's still sticking." He recalled all the times the little bratty Hisaya Reo scoffed at the name, repeatedly telling the woman how stupid it was. For someone who was already struggling with the fact that he was at the bottom of the food-chain, then being nicknamed after something the woman found cute was a little demeaning.
"I suppose it's a little...outdated." Ayako suddenly became sullen but he quickly reassured her that it was alright to call him that. She remarked about how he had turned into a fine young man. When they finished their quick catching-up, it was then that Hisaya revealed that he wanted his old orphanage, subsequently their charity, as the one his company endorses.
Needless to say, she was happy, then confused, then happy again.
She also understood, that due to the volatile situation with the media and the well-known businessman that he was targeting, this arrangement had to be kept hush-hush for the time being. Following that, Ayako led him towards the new dining area. They once used the large hall, but due to the many leakages and extensive water-damage, it just wasn't possible to stay in the room for a certain amount of time.
Nor was it healthy.
They were now using one of the back rooms of the old mansion. Which is why no one was there to greet him when he first arrived. As well as eating, the children's beds and cots were also to the back of the building. The only place where there was little warmth.
As they got closer, the distinct sound of the odd pot and pan clanging told Hisaya that there was actually more life in this depressive place. Ayako was the first to walk into the room, greeting the children with a smile, and Hisaya followed behind.
He was, at least, relieved to see there weren't as many children here as there once was, back in the day. Now, huddled around one table were only a handful of kids. Two or three of them looked like they were in their early-teens, which as Hisaya recalled, was the most troublesome time for any Omega.
Big, round eyes turned to look at him and he stopped. Amongst all of the children, there was a common theme. They all owned delicate features, with an air of fragility about them. They were gorgeous children, who shouldn't be living in such conditions. But at a young age, they didn't know anything else, so they chomped on their beans happily. Whilst the older ones, the teens, their expressions were more sullen.
They knew what was out there, but couldn't understand why they were treated so differently. Ayako, she always kept them relatively sheltered, making sure they were never within earshot of hateful slurs. It's only when the children turn a certain age, when she let them watch television and read newspapers, were they exposed to the controversial world they lived in.
"Children, I'd like to introduce you to someone special," Ayako was practically beaming, "This is Hisaya Reo, he used to live here too."
"Ooo—wahh" The young ones exclaimed with big eyes, making him smile at how cute the little buns were.
"He owns a successful company, and he wants to work with us." She tried to explain as simply as possible.
"Work with us? How?" One of the teens asked without hesitation, earning a look from Ayako. Ah, the woman was a stickler for manners.
"Well, for starters, I'm going to find you somewhere to sleep that doesn't have holes in the roof." Hisaya offered, giving the young and understandably angry boy, a warm expression. Living in such an environment, one would undoubtedly learn quick not to trust anyone, which is the mindset he had to break.
The same young-teen was sceptical, unlike those around him who had fallen for the strangers charm. "And what do you want in return?"
Smart boy, Hisaya admitted. "To have the opportunity to show you all that just because we're Omegas does not mean we're weak."
That seemed to do the trick, the slight twinkle in the boys eye, the longing for something different. Although Hisaya had to admit, his teachings weren't likely to be praised by Ayako, especially when he eventually intends to teach them that their current position, seen as unthreatening Omegas, can be used to their advantage.
[ TBC ]
[ *1 — Kuma or くま means 'bear'. I wanted a little pet-name for Hisaya, for a cute scene later on in this arc. ]
[ Hello! As requested in the previous chapter by a lovely reader, they want a little name chart of whose who. Memorise them, because there'll be a quiz! (Jkdontpanic)
In order of appearance:
Hisaya Reo | OMEGA | is Fahren / Shu Ning.
Yoshiaki Kenta | BETA | is Assistant / Security
Kazuki Hiromasa | ALPHA | is Dickhea— CEO of empire. (Antagonist)
Noriaki Fumi | OMEGA | Once had a job at Kazuki Hiromasa's company but left due to constant abuse.
Ayako Chiharu | BETA | is Omega orphanage owner/ charity owner. Used to care for Hisaya too.
Unnamed sexy man | ALPHA | ????
Hope that helps if you're a little confused. Also, for any eager-beavers — Chapter's Forty-Two and Forty-Three are already on Patreon! [ Link to Patreon page in my bio ] <3!