Day Twelve - You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch
Character: Kyoya Ootori & Family
Genre: Angst
Triggers: None
Yoshio snapped his newspaper upright after turning a page as he crossed his legs beneath the table. He hardly touched his breakfast but that didn't seem to bother him, apparently more interested in the article he was reading.
On each his side sat his two eldest sons who seemed to mirror their father, more interested in their high school textbooks and notes than the jellied croissants and flavored coffees.
However Kyoya didn't waste time with his plate. With each bite he savored the buttery sweetness between sips of matcha tea.
Yoshio broke the silence that had settled upon them since they sat down together, "I'll be traveling this weekend to France."
Kyoya swallowed his bite and set the pastry down, "But father, Christmas is this Saturday."
Yoshio lowered his newspaper, just enough to peer over the edge and see the concern in Kyoya's young eyes. "Christmas is just another holiday. It returns every year. This however, this is work, and it needs to be dealt with immediately. You'll learn this when you're older." He snapped the newspaper back upright and continued reading, hoping that was that.
It didn't satisfy Kyoya though. He couldn't help but think of his classmates before his class dismissed for break. They bustled and giggled about their plans; visiting family, buying imported treats, hosting elegant parties, and of course the mile long lists they created for Santa.
Kyoya already knew there was no Santa but he didn't care to correct his classmates. He wanted to believe he was too old for such a myth but sometimes he wondered otherwise… if he could actually be jealous.
"Will you be back before the new year?" Akira asked, not bothering to look up from the paragraph he was reading.
Yoshio shook his head, "I'll be away for a week or two. Just keep yourselves busy until you return to school."
"I assume there won't be a Christmas party then?" Yuichi said, sipping his coffee.
"There will be a party however it won't have our usual guests. Since I won't be in attendance there is no need to have our business partners there. I suppose you can invite your friends."
Kyoya swirled the matcha in his cup, watching how the liquid sloshed against the porcelain.
"Kyoya, did you hear me?" Yoshio called out, setting the newspaper flat on the table, "I said you can invite your friends."
Kyoya nodded, faking an appreciative smile. He pushed his lips into an excited grin while he wracked his mind for one friend - one person - he could invite, or rather who he'd want to invite.
No one came to mind.