OMI 4

My Fate

Continued with Lumière’s point of view.

When conducting the meeting, they told me that they wanted me to talk along with the items on the list.

It seems that he and the staff have been working on this list for two months.

There was a picture of a child growing up with numbers above it and a sentence I could read that said, “How old are you?” 

There was also a chart with numbers from 1 to 100. I pointed to a picture of a young adult and selected the number 28 from the chart. 

He nodded and pointed to 28, indicating my age.

When I pointed to him and the phrase asking his age, he tilted his head and didn’t answer. 

He didn’t want to talk about himself, just as the staff had said.

Then I was shown pictures of different family compositions, families of three, four, five members, with different combinations like a single parent with three children. 

The sentence was, “Please tell me about your family structure.” 

I pointed to the picture of parents with four children, then pointed to myself and chose the smallest child in the picture. 

I hoped it would convey that I was the youngest child.

I was shown pictures of different jobs and asked what my job was. 

He tilted his head a few times, making me feel the limitations of this kind of communication. 

Oh, how I longed to understand everything he was saying.

When asked my favorite color, I pointed to the white I had always liked and a color similar to his hair. His eye color was also really beautiful. 

Hesitantly, I pointed at him and then at the phrase, “What is your favorite color?” 

He thought for a moment and pointed to yellow. 

Then he looked at me and smiled.

I was really happy that he replied, and I was thrilled that the color he chose was similar to my hair. It’s much better for him to see a color he likes than one he doesn’t. 

The meeting time flew by. I immediately asked the staff when we could meet again. 

They suggested a few days later, I just nodded without checking my schedule. 

This was now my top priority.

After the third meeting, a staff member asked if they could have a moment. 

“The meter in this room has been consistently high during your meetings.” they said. 

The technology for measuring pheromones has come a long way, and there are devices that can take readings on the spot. 

“Judging by his reactions, it’s clear he has a favorable impression of you. Mr. Lumière, are you willing to take him in?”

“Of course! I really want to be with him all the time.” I replied. 

I can’t get him out of my mind.

“We have completed your background check. Your father is a high-ranking government official who can attend the highest council, and your work evaluations are excellent. There seem to be no problems with your character or financial stability. Most importantly, all of your family members value their partners. They will be good role models and advisors.”

“Goddess, I can’t believe I’ll be living with him so soon. What do I have to do?”

From there, I was shown many documents and contracts. 

First, the house would be provided by the government. It was in a well-secured area in the center of town. 

A doctor would come once a week to check on his health, probably the same doctor from before. 

Since this was a protective measure, we couldn’t make a commitment yet. 

They would proceed with that discussion once his age and intentions were clear through the language unification drug. 

I agreed to everything. It was only natural if it meant I could live with him.

I have a lot to prepare. 

The government will provide the house, but we can choose the furniture. There are things I could bring from my current home, but it might be better to get new items for us to live together. 

I’d like to go shopping with him, but it’s better to wait until we can communicate better.

I was going to live with an Omega, and he was a summoned one. 

As the staff had mentioned, it seemed important to consult with those who had experience. 

So instead of going home, for the first time in a long time I decided to visit my parents.

“I heard you found your destined partner?” 

Despite my sudden visit, my mother welcomed me with joy.

“Yes, I believe so. But I’m not sure how he feels yet…”

“What do you mean? Didn’t you have the meeting?”

“Let’s talk about this slowly. Does this mean that the boy I mediated is the one?”

My father asked, leading me into the living room.

“Thank you. If you hadn’t introduced me, it would have been my turn much later.”

I was told they were starting with free alphas among government officials. I don’t know where they set the age limit, but it’s probably around 300 people.

“We have discussed his situation in the meetings. The summoned ones are to be treated with the utmost care as they are said to be invited by the Goddess.” 

This could be an international issue and may even reach the High Council. 

Father already seemed to know a lot about his situation.

“Summoned one? Appearing in our country? That’s amazing!”

 My mother, who loves theater, was fascinated because there are plays and stories about the summoned ones.

“Today was the third compatibility meeting. I got permission to take him in. It feels like a dream to live together.”

“I thought they might wait a little longer. Maybe the readings were exceptionally good, or they want to continue with the language unification drug… He doesn’t talk much about himself, does he?”

“That is true. He seems to avoid talking about important things. But he’ll talk about his favorite tea, favorite colors, favorite music, things like that.”

It didn’t feel like my questions weren’t getting through to him. It felt more like he was deliberately avoiding answering or pretending not to understand. 

“He may be very cautious. It’s not surprising. It’s like he’s been locked up all this time. They’ve reported that he’s very obedient, but it must be hard for him.”

“He has no family and can’t leave his room. If it’s me, I don’t want to talk either. Will he be able to go out when we live together?”

“Should be okay in the central district. But the security outside is bad and you will need permission from the security forces.”

The central district is walled, with controlled entry and exit. 

There are frequent patrols and it’s very safe.

“He’s right, even I don’t go to the outer districts much either. By the way, please bring him to visit.”

“I was told that any visits during the observation period will be recorded, but if that’s okay, I’ll bring him.”

Even if we live together, he will still be under protective observation by the country. This might ease in time, but it might be difficult until we form an official bond.

“Some summoned one come from worlds where secondary gender isn’t established. In such worlds, being an Omega can be confusing, especially for males. When you’re able to communicate better, you’ll have to talk about your worlds.”

My father spoke of the problems caused by the differences in understanding between the summoned ones and our world. 

“Surely he has crossed worlds to meet you. It must be frightening for him that he can’t return to the land he knows. You must support him well.”

My mother said. She added that if he had any difficulties as an Omega, we could always turn to her. 

The next day at work, I asked my boss for about a week off. 

When I explained that I would be living with an Omega under protective observation, the request was easily granted. 

Many people take time off for partner-related matters, such as bonding or marriage leave. There are other Omegas with special circumstances, such as those entering the country through international marriages. 

Preparing to welcome such Omegas also grants preparation leave.

My boss cheered me on and said, “Finally! Good luck!” 

He never complained about my taking time off for international compatibility meetings and even offered to take me out for a drink when things didn’t work out. 

I quickly completed urgent tasks and delegated long-term projects.

Since I might need additional time off for him after my break, I asked colleagues to cover larger tasks. 

Thanks to my previous support, everyone agreed without hesitation. When close colleagues asked me directly if I had found my partner, for confidentiality reasons, I could only say, “I’ll share more when it’s confirmed.” 

After the fourth meeting, we officially set the date for him to come live with me. 

I took the day off work before that. 

Moving and buying the necessities in one day was quite a challenge, but I wanted to increase the time I could spend with him.

The day I went to pick him up, he seemed a little confused, as if he thought we were just going to have another conversation as usual. 

When he was told he could leave the facility, he looked a little happy. I was relieved that he didn’t seem upset. 

The staff gave him an emergency contact device and took some time to explain how to use it. 

It was a device he could use to alert staff if he got into trouble or was mistreated in his new home. 

The wrist-worn device would send an alert to the facility if he was separated from it for more than half a day. Measures were in place to prevent him from being taken away.

He seemed a little anxious to leave the environment in which he had lived for several months.

Each staff member said goodbye to him, and he slowly replied “Thank you” to each one. 

Although he was free to take whatever he wanted from his room, he seemed to consider it the property of the institution and took nothing but his clothes. 

I planned to come back later and get anything he really wanted. He seemed to like the music deck quite a bit, but even when I told him he could take anything, he shook his head.

After arriving at the new house, showing him around felt like giving a tour to a visitor at work. 

It may take some time for him to see this as his home.

After the tour of the house, I hesitated but decided to give it a try. 

They said that if we were destined partners, the drug might respond better. 

I wasn’t sure if he had opened up to me yet, but I hoped that even light contact would allow us to communicate. 

I drank the medicine first to show him, and although he looked confused, he drank it too.

I gently hold his head and bring my lip to his.

The sweet, pleasant scent intensified. I wanted to feel more of him, to discover everything about him. But after three soft kisses, I pulled away. It was a victory of reason.

(Sorry for the sudden intrusion. Can you understand my words?) 

(Uh, yes, I can. Huh? What the…) 

I was relieved to hear his confused voice. It seemed that the drug had worked successfully.

(Good. There are various drugs to unify speech, but physical contact is necessary. For an Omega like you, it can’t be used without permission unless you are bonded.) 

(How long does this last?)

(About an hour per dose. But even if the drug’s effect lasts, we will have to be in touch again.)

I want to kiss him as much as possible, but what about him? 

His expressions are usually subtle, but his cheeks flushed. 

Is a kiss something special in his country too?

(Wouldn’t a handshake or a hug be enough?)

(That would be too weak a bond. Don’t you like kissing me?)

(No, it’s not that… I’m also happy that we can talk normally, so it’s fine.)

I hope his blushing is from shyness. I’m really glad he said he’d like to talk.

Then we talked about our countries. 

The country he came from, Mauve, is a large nation in terms of population. It’s hard to imagine not knowing about such a big country. 

There was no doubt that he was indeed a summoned one. 

In his land, there were no such beings as summoned ones. This meant that he probably couldn’t return to his own country. 

When I told him this, he fell silent, deep in thought. 

It’s unfortunate that you can’t go back, but I’ll do my best to make your stay here as comfortable as possible. I know it may not lift your spirits, but…

(It’s unfortunate that you can’t go back, I know this isn’t much consolation, but I intend to make your stay here as comfortable as possible.)

I wish I could say something more comforting, but these were the only words I could muster. 

Never being able to return to his birthplace, never seeing his family and friends again – such a situation would be incredibly unsettling.

(Also, if you don’t mind, could you tell me your name? You never mentioned it at the facility, did you?)

I wanted to call his name, to be the one to say it in place of the people who can no longer can.

(I want you to give me a name.)

He said, lifting his head as if he had just thought of something.

(Eh? Me?)

(Yes. I have no fond memories of my old name. If this is a new world, give me a new name.)

I never thought he would ask such a thing. 

There was a hint of excitement in his demeanor, like a child waiting for a gift.

Me? Naming a person as precious as him? 

He wanted me to give him the name he would live with from now on!

(Do you have any preferences? Maybe something with the same origin as your old name?) 

(No, I’d like something completely different this time. My old name is a secret. I don’t want it to be similar. Maybe… a short name would be good.) 

He slimed and said that a long, difficult name would be hard to say.

When I said I needed time to think, he casually replied that anything would be fine. 

But I had always heard that a name is a parent’s first gift to a child. It’s a big responsibility, and I couldn’t just pick one on the spot.

Now that the circumstances of the main characters are clear, the story can really begin.