The Equation of Hearts

√𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟻𝟸ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩ

Kato wasn't sure how long he had been sorting through the things in his room. He was a minimalist and hadn't done much, but he was erasing all traces of him. Including changing the sheets and cleaning everything. He truly didn't want a single trace of him in this house.

It was silent outside and he checked the door, he saw it was empty. So everyone was in their rooms. That gave him some level of privacy for the phone call he was ignoring for the past few seconds. He picked up and pressed the phone to his ear, "done?" He questioned.

"Don't think you realised how many videos of you there are online," Kuragiri mumbled,

"There isn't time to be online. To rely on something I won't always have." He replied and Kuragiri clicked his tongue. Kato heard him lean back against a chair - so Kato assumed he was in his office,

"Like the humans you exploit for an end goal?" Kuragiri was throwing shade at the abuse he was facing under Kato, "all humans are temporary as well."

"Everything is temporary." Kato replied, "so you don't take everything. You take what profits. You should know." He whispered and heard a knock on his door. "The meeting is when,"

"Tomorrow. There are two to contend with." He replied. Kato wondered if he had the time.

"Alright. Then I'll see you then."

"And I'll return this favour by making sure you're completely forgotten on the internet." His smile was prominent in his voice.

"Your favours always benefited you. Remember that."

"So what?"

"So you still owe my father a rewardless repayment." Kato hummed,

"Oh, you little bitch." Kuragiri sneered, "and if I don't give you the bodyguards?" He challenged.

"Then you don't have to take everything down. That wouldn't be a favour being repaid, that would be a charity." He explained calmly. Another knock rang out, "you're far too detestable to see in that light. Just spare your pride." Kato advised.

"I'll see you tomorrow then." Kuragiri hung up. Kato tossed his phone to the bed and opened his door, Antonio was there.

He grinned brightly and reached up for Kato, who let him in. He was wearing outside clothes which had Kato questioning what the boy wanted to do. Antonio ran in and turned to face Kato,

"Let's go to the shooting range!" Antonio exclaimed. Kato shushed him, "sorry," he whispered and looked around, "it looks more empty,"

"It was getting too busy." Kato replied and crossed his arms. It must be strange for everyone around them to see Antonio with Kato - the bodyguard realised as he looked down at Antonio. Considering Antonio was tiny in Kato's eyes, just under a whole foot shorter than Kato, but Antonio was taller than most women in the country, and men - with the average for Japanese men being about half an inch shorter than Antonio. So sure, Kato could see Antonio as a child. But the boy was a whole adult in the eyes of everyone else. And Kato felt twice the size of most of the population. The tallest man in Japan was over a foot taller than Kato, though. "And the shooting range is closed." He added, tilting his head for Antonio.

"Oh... then how am I..." he muttered.

"What's wrong?" Kato asked and stepped closer, where he saw Antonio bounce,

"I want to be like you! I want to be able to protect my family like you did!" He pointed to Kato, "I want to be a hero, so mum never cries again." He let his arm drop. Kato stared at the boy and crouched to his height, "I want to be strong enough to do that for my family," he whispered and began feeling shy at the suffocating gaze of Kato. But Kato rested a hand on Antonio's head,