The Equation of Hearts

√𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟹𝟺ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩ

"I'm sorry?" Tenshi sputtered in genuine surprise as Kato nodded,

"Yes... her father is someone you knew."

"Okay right I think I could assume that,"

"Well... we met when we were 13, and though she lived far away, we wrote and... we visited each other a lot. Her father proposed we get married when I got my knighthood at 16. Mum refused to have me married so early... we were engaged... and I was to marry her when I was 18," he explained as they cleaned away the mats, "the engagement was called off when you grew ill." He whispered and looked up.

"But did you love her?" He frowned in concern,

"...I didn't mind. She was a good friend and as long as she was happy, I didn't see an issue. Though she was as apathetic as I was." He recalled her lazily shrugging.

"Guess it would have just been like living with your best friend." He shrugged and watched her get her face stuffed with food. "Go talk to her. It's been probably over four years for the pair of you." He urged. Kato nodded and went over. She was tall, standing at 6'5", and had the tanned complexion of someone from South Asia. Her hair flowed behind her in a plait and rested at her knees. With narrow, brown-red eyes, he missed the sight of her. He was used to the crown on her head but he was used to nothing about this world.

"Woah! Someone taller than Cassie!" The girl jeered, she wore green and gold. A shalwar. At her finger pointing into Kato's stomach, he nodded and greeted them,

"Eid Mubarak," he greeted the hijabi quietly.

"Eid Mubarak! Indeed!" She nodded and gasped, waving at Irū. She arrived and smiled at them, "salam! Eid Mubarak! Is that your food? Come here dude try this," she grinned and got some food, hopping up and shoving a sweet into Kato's mouth.

"Sorry about her, I'm Cassandra." She smiled nicely at Kato. He wasn't used to her smiling. Not like that at least. "She's Rara." She nodded to the short hijabi, "or at least, what people call her." She added softly. Kato wasn't used to it at all, but he was still fond of seeing his friend after so long.

"A pleasure," he nodded after he had some,

"Did you like it? Have some more, Irū's cooking is to die for," she pushed a spring roll into his mouth and had one herself. She was a lively one.

"Calm down," Cassandra hummed and Irū laughed,

"Rara, he made those." Irū nodded to the samosa she was having. Rara froze and looked up at Kato, "Kato, my nephew," she introduced and the girl gasped.

"Tenshi had kids!? Ya Allah no way! Mashallah you're handsome and tall!" She approved and he offered Cassandra a samosa. She took it and had it, "how tall was the woman then?" She asked again.

"5'8"... my uncle is 6'6" though..." he explained and felt a child hug his leg, he looked down and guided them to the food quietly.

"You'd think they're scared of us because we're tall," Cassandra watched a child smile at her and wave, "but no..." she shrugged.

"Well~ you two should talk, I think you tall people are going to swallow me whole. Where are my fellow shorties!?" Rara rushed off to a group of women. Irū smiled at the pair and walked off. It left Kato with Cassandra,

"Hi." She greeted.

"Hello Cassandra," he replied, the name rolled off his tongue like second nature. He missed it, almost. It was bittersweet seeing her smile so differently at him. Where he could still faintly recall her challenging smiles and scowls of defeat and victory in his direction, he was left with a sweeter, more gentle and timid smile.