The Equation of Hearts

√𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟹𝟽ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩ

"Good morning~" Athena sang after she had woken up. It was still rather early, she hadn't slept long. But she ran into the next room and hugged Kato blindly. He picked her up and led her out of the room before she could see what was inside. "Do you want to get food? I slept off all of my angst." She felt her legs get pulled up and she giggled, kicking her legs as he looked down at her.

"You should go home." He advised, showing a text from Elena;

"I'm really sorry baby, but Athena's gone missing for a while. I know you're on break and you won't be getting paid but could you find her? Thank you :(" it read out. Athena stared at the message and then at him. Wouldn't he confirm she was with him?

"Won't you tell her I'm with you?" She offered, he offered her the old dried clothes. "Where's your dress?" She looked around.

"You didn't like it." He shrugged. She didn't realise he knew about that. "Sorry you wore something you didn't like." He mumbled. She felt bad.

"I mean- it's-"

"You should get ready. I called you a taxi." He walked off into a room. She mumbled at the sight of him just leaving. All she did was feel bad for the things she did.

She was given her bag and he had his thobe back on - both were dry now. She could smell something aromatic from him. It was from his robes, but he disregarded that.

"Go home by yourself. I have something to do." He said as they entered the elevator.

"Do you just like avoiding me?" She asked while the door closed.

"I'd rather not get paid for today. If I told them you were with me, your mother would want to give me money." He muttered. Athena hadn't met someone who didn't want money.

"What do you want, then?" She tilted her head, they got off and went to the next elevator.

"To spend time with my father." He replied.

"Sorry... for keeping you up then."

"I'd rather you be safe." He assured as they left the hotel. He saw her in the taxi and returned to the large building, where he spoke to someone. She thought about what he had said.

She never remembered wanting to actively spend time with her parents. She just ended up doing so because her mother and herself shared careers and with her father, she shared hobbies like drinking. But what was he doing? Maths? No - they had water fights in the rain. Which... was actually fun. She looked out of the window and wondered some more about it; he did want things. He just wanted things she didn't. But that was what made them so damn different. Down to their very desires.

Who didn't want wealth? Him apparently. Actively doing work and not wanting to get paid. She was stuck in a bind; did she want to tell her parents she was with him or keep his secret? What did it matter? Why was she considering it? The answer should have been obvious; he chose to do what he did. But why did she feel he deserved the money still? Well, he did his job. On a day where he shouldn't have.

She left the taxi and was about to pay, as she pulled up in front of the building. But she had no money.

"It's fine girlie, prepaid." He promised and drove off as she waved him off. She looked at the building and went up slowly.

At the door, Elena rushed to her, worried and checking her up and down, "are you okay!?" She gasped. She had never done that before. But she looked up at Athena worriedly and with wide eyes.

"It... isn't like you to worry." Athena mumbled and felt Elena's grip tighten. She wondered when she tightened her grip on Kato, if he felt it. Because he didn't react at all.