Narrator's POV

  The Founder's Office

  And so, after Kibishi and Taoreta finally managed to finish the ten-page essay on thinking about their wellbeing, Mato decided to report the situation back to The Founder, who was finishing some paperwork.

  Mato, in detail, told The Founder what had happened that morning with Kibishi and Taoreta.

  Mato had expected The Founder to yell out and be angry at the idea of what happened with Kibishi and Taoreta.

  But instead—

  "Is that all?" The Founder asked with a straight face.

  The Founder remained calm and collected. This surprised Mato by a whole lot. Never in his career had he seen The Founder so calm about something that he wouldn't approve of.

  "Didn't you hear what I just said, Founder?" Mato raised his right brow.

  "Very clear, Mato." The Founder stood the papers up and tapped them on the table to straighten them out, then pced them aside alongside the many piles of work he had to do.

  Not satisfied with that answer, Mato folded his arms and deeply sighed.

  "Some leader you are. Not stepping up to the pte when I need you to." Mato compined.

  "...Mato," The Founder slowly stood up and pced his hands behind his back with a small frown. "It would seem you're hurt by Kibishi and Taoreta's words..."

  "W-what?! Me?! Psh, whatever!" Mato turned around and kicked the floor with pain in his eyes. "I mean, they're not wrong, right? We adults, give out rules in order to keep w and order so..."

  "Mato..." The Founder moved around his desk and came closer to the doctor of the organization. He then pced his right hand on Mato's shoulder and smiled at him. "... I'm not busy right now. How about we make some tea?"

  Mato looked up at The Founder and then hung his head in shame.

  "...Alright." Mato nodded to The Founder's suggestion.

  "Good." The Founder lowered his brows in satisfaction.

  ***

  On the roof of H.U..I.T.Y.

  After Mato made some tea for both himself and The Founder, alongside some sandwiches, they both sat on the concrete floor as they admired the cool air from outside.

  Mato, who was still eating his sandwich, looked at the sky with empty eyes.

  He deeply sighed in relief as the weight that was on his shoulders decreased, even if it was just a little. The Founder ughed and then looked at the sky.

  "The tea is delicious as always, Mato! You've done well as usual!" The Founder said, then took another sip of his tea.

  "..." Mato didn't respond and continued to eat his meal.

  The Founder realized that Mato wasn't speaking and decided to pce his tea down on the floor. He folded his arms and then narrowed his eyes in a serious way.

  "You know, if you had told me this a week ago, I would've been on your side, Mato." The Founder bluntly stated.

  "Sure..." Mato rolled his eyes and continued to eat his sandwich.

  "But you do realize that you went too far with them... right?" The Founder closed his eyes and leaned on the wall.

  "What?! Are you hearing yourself?!" Mato raised his brows.

  "Yup," The Founder nodded.

  "Founder! They were together—"

  "It was an accident, Mato. They didn't mean to cause trouble..." The Founder answered back calmly as he interrupted Mato.

  "What?!" Mato slowly stood up and walked in front of The Founder. "Founder! They're teenagers! Teenagers with sex drives that are flying through the roof! We can't possibly let that slide, now can we?!"

  "...Why, yes. That is true." The Founder admitted.

  "So we can't let them slide for that! Also, Kibishi! That reckless kid! He never listens to me!" Mato turned around and face-palmed. "I tried to help him! I even helped stabilize his powers! But what do I get in return?! Compin! Compin! Compin!"

  Thump!

  Mato sat on the floor hard.

  Mato sighed once more and closed his eyes in shame.

  "...Look. I know I was wrong. I know that I worded things differently. I could've done it better. But those two aren't normal." Mato covered his mouth. "Their minds are damaged. The mental state of Kibishi, Taoreta, David, and even Riley is unstable. I mean, come on, Founder! Killing yourself?! That's foolish!"

  "..." The Founder remained silent.

  "...Founder. I get it." Mato slowly turned towards The Founder with guilt in his eyes. "I know I went too far. But if I don't step up to the pte... they'll die. They'll die, and it'll be all my fault..."

  Mato turned back around and pced his hands to cover his eyes.

  The Founder slowly stood up.

  He slowly walked up to Mato before bending one knee and pcing his right hand on Mato's shoulder.

  "What happened a few years ago wasn't your fault. You didn't know it would've caused it." The Founder said in a gentle voice.

  "...Yes, it was. I tried to stop it. But I was too stubborn in the head..." Mato admitted as he looked away in shame.

  "...As we all were." The Founder closed his eyes and stood up.

  He pced his hands behind his back and started to walk forward.

  "Mato, you gotta keep in mind that these are children at the end of the day. And this may sound rich from the hard-headed old man who would do anything to bring salvation in the name of the human race, but I want them to survive this as well."

  "Said the one who's meaner than me." Mato coldly stated to The Founder.

  "That's the point." The Founder turned around with a frown. "Mato, I'M a leader. We're SUPPOSED to be cold-hearted so that nothing will be lost forever. Why else would I allow Kibishi and Taoreta to have their way if it meant them growing as people?"

  Mato slowly looked up at The Founder.

  "I don't mind people hating me. That's part of my job. But you? You're not me." The Founder bent one knee in sadness. "Mato, I view you as my own son. What they're doing is what you should expect. They're kids. They need to grow and mature at their own pace. As adults, we need to py our role. And yours isn't to scold them to the point of them hating you. You can still scold them and try to gain respect since you're older. But you must do it in a way where both parties can see each other's opinions, despite not fully agreeing with them. It's why children these days run away from home. Their parents don't understand them enough to see where they go wrong and try to meet their kids halfway."

  "..." Mato slowly nodded.

  "But what do I do?" Mato asked.

  "Let them come to you." The Founder answered as he slowly stood up.

  "But what if they won't?"

  "They will!" The Founder turned around and started to walk forward.

  "How come?" Mato tilted his head.

  "I'll tell them that it was me who forced you to pressure my cruel rule into them for foolishly trying to overrule me!" The Founder raised his fist in an "angry" way.

  "Why would you do that?" Mato whispered as his eyes welled up.

  "Mato. You know how much I love the human race. And when it comes to children, I would rather them be happy than sad. It is why... I'm the vilin of this story." The Founder slowly smiled. "And as the vilin, I shall put all the hate towards me and off of you. But DON'T rush things. Give them time and try to show them a piece of who you truly are. I wish I could do the same..."

  With that line, The Founder slowly walked away while waving his hand in satisfaction.

  "Thanks for the tea! It was better than st time!" The Founder complimented.

  The Founder opened the door and closed it.

  Mato, who was alone on the roof, slowly looked back at the cup of tea. After that, he looked at the sandwich which The Founder hadn't finished. He took out his phone and swiped towards Kibishi's file. He opened it up and scrolled until he found the piece of information he was looking for.

  "Kibishi was raised in a family business, right? A restaurant, if I can remember correctly."

  Mato pced his hand on the word "cook".

  He closed his eyes and thought about it. But after some thinking, he decided not to go with his original idea. "I'll just slowly open up to them instead."

  Turning off his touch screen phone, Mato slowly stood up and dusted himself off. He wiped the tears and nodded to himself. "Alright then. I'll tell them a bit of my past one by one! Surely, that can help them open up again!"

  With a nod, Mato rushed towards the tea set and shoved everything that he had brought to the roof into it. Mato then dashed towards the door with a hint of determination in his movement. The Founder was right. It would take some time before Kibishi and Taoreta would open up to Mato again. But not TOO much time, since they knew deep down that he was good.

  Only time would tell...