The Equation of Hearts

√𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟻𝟹ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩ

Later that day, Kato was walking down the parade, towards a rather expensive cafe he was invited to for the meeting. He had put his flat up for sale, so now he was just ticking off his checklist. He had found Bianca a tutor, Cassandra and Odele another friend, he gave Antonio something. Athena, he had an idea of what he wanted to do. So the family was sorted to be fine without him. Especially with his new arrangements.

He climbed up the stairs to the cafe and stepped in without much of a reaction for the light palette and glass furniture. He instead spotted Kuragiri waving him over. He was alone at the table but a range of pastries were already set out, Kato sat across from him and they shook hands.

"A true pleasure seeing that smile." Kuragiri chided and checked his watch, "but perfectly punctual." He sighed and rested an ankle on his other knee, leaning back, "help yourself."

"No thank you. Where are they." Kato continued to face Kuragiri but his eyes scanned the area.

"On their way. The other is in the bathroom." He replied, "and I insist."

"I can smell the gelatin and alcohol." He pushed away some of the plates with distaste.

"Ah, is that why you don't eat with the family?" He grinned. Kato hummed and looked out the window to the gardens outside.

A man, 5'9" from what it seemed, left the bathroom and sat with them. He picked up one of the teacups and took a sip before joining the conversation - though it had gone stale. Kato glanced at him from the side, black, unruly hair tied into a ponytail and narrow blue eyes. He didn't seem to smile much, in fact, had a resting scowl as it seemed. Or a constantly tired expression. He smelled of freshwater as well. He wore a formal trench coat and a black turtleneck with black jeans and black gloves. Around his white belt was a sheath - he had a katana. Kato felt he looked a bit too similar for him at the moment. Black hair, (though under the thick curls Kato was forming, a brown could be seen), blue eyes (though the man's eyes were a darker, cloudier blue), and a resting face.

"Meet the first. Sara's best friend; Mizu Tanoki." He introduced the man, "36, he's 5'9", kendo and kenjutsu black belts. He's worked with the company since he was 19." Kuragiri slid over a clipboard with the details of the man.

"Kato Saba," Kato introduced while looking through the details. The man looked 23. How did he do it?

"A pleasure." Mizu hummed and swirled his tea.

"And the other, behind me." Kato heard the door open and Kuragiri nodded, waving the man over. He was huge - bulky and tall. With blue, scruffy hair and light lilac eyes. He had a scar running down his cheek but a stern smile with his bushy eyebrows. A detestable sight. He wore a bodysuit tucked into trousers, also with a katana around a white belt. And he covered his otherwise exposed arms with a mismatched kimono.

"Kaji Akiyama, my sister's husband. Mizu's best friend." Kuragiri handed the clipboard over as the man sat down, "38, he's 6'8", kendo and kenjutsu black belt also. He's been in the company since 27." He explained.

The three men felt the air cool with Kato's distaste for his choices. His choices were a man that looked like him, and a rapist. The choice was simple. So simple, he broke the clipboard with Kaji's details on it with grip alone. He didn't react, instead facing Kaji and resting his hand against his face,

"Yenma has two kids now." He claimed. Kaji closed his eyes and tried to hide his paling complexion. "Happily married. Maybe you should meet her husband. I'm sure he'd love to meet you." He nodded and leaned closer.

The sole reason Kato never met Sara often was because her husband was hated. Hated by Sora, by Soji, by Juno and Yenma. Elena didn't seem to know. Neither did Sara, as it seemed. But the scar Kaji had was from Sora himself. It was another reason for Kato to simply distaste the Kurokawa's.