I was 5 years old, and I remember it all vividly. Grandpa was in the backyard doing his daily exercises, and as always, I was amazed by his abilities, even though I didn't realize how insane it was at his age.
"WOAH, GRANDPA, YEAH!"
I yelled out as my grandpa did 10 push-ups during a handstand.
"HAHA, that's nothing, Hin... look at this!"
Grandpa ducked to the ground so fast that I couldn't even follow his movement. He did a sweeping motion with his leg and ended up in a one-handed position, kicking his legs forward.
"WHOAAAAAAAAAH!" I yelled in excitement and disbelief.
"Grandpa, please teach me that!"
But my grandpa always gave me the same excuse
"I can't teach you yet, you're too young, and it requires a lot of bodily strength."
With the saddest face, I stood there disappointed.
And my grandpa responded, "But I can show you the steps," while patting my head.
I yelled, "Yeah!" and jumped in the air.
Meanwhile, Hinto's mother, Ame, and father, Ikari, were in the kitchen, talking about their son.
Ikari said, in a very annoyed voice, "Why is your father teaching him this nonsense? He should be practicing his kendo."
"He's happy, don't you see that?" Ame said, smiling.
That made Ikari angry, and he headed outside.
Ame stood there and let out a soft sigh.
Outside, Hinto was trying to do the sweeping motion.
"YESSS!" he yelled, one second before falling face-first on the ground.
"HINTO!" his mother yelled, running outside to help her son.
Grandpa helped me up when I fell and said, "He's a strong boy he'll be okay."
My grandpa was always so encouraging. I wish I could say the same thing about...
"HINTO, COME HERE!" I heard my father yell angrily as he came out of the house.
I felt my soul leave my body and fear fill it simultaneously.
He threw a kendo sword into my hand and said,"It's time for your daily kendo lessons!
"All I could do was look at my feet and the sword in my hand.
My grandpa, Tuyo, looked at him and said, "Ikari-kun, it's grandpa time right now, so no kendo"
As my grandpa took my sword, he threw it back at my father, and I could feel that it angered him.
When I finally mustered up the courage to look at him, I saw intense anger on his face, and I froze again until...
"HINTOOOOOOO!"
As I heard that voice, my fear disappeared for a split second. I looked in the direction of that voice and saw my friend Nikko.
"Hinto-kun! Let's play hide and seek!" She said, with the biggest smile on her face, not realizing what had happened seconds before she arrived.
Of course, I responded with "OKAY, LET'S GO!" and ran off.
Ikari got even more furious and stormed off into the house.
A few moments later, during dinner preparations, Ame and Tuyo were having a conversation in the kitchen.
Grandpa Tuyo said, "I need to talk to you. Is this man trying to ruin this child!? The tension in the house is very bad for Hinto," he said, very concerned.
Ame responded, "I know he's a tough person, but he's really been trying lately."
She thought to herself in that moment, Ever since Hinto was born, he vowed to change, but he kept falling into old habits...
But I can't let my father know too much about our issues. He already heavily dislikes him...
Grandpa Tuyo got up, and as he walked to the fridge, he looked at a picture of Hinto as a baby and said, "THAT FOOL DOESN'T REALIZE THE PURE AND KIND SOUL THIS KID HAS.
He forces this lifestyle on a 5-year-old!"
"Why can't you find a decent man?"
"You deserve way more, Ame."
Grandpa Tuyo showered her with questions and expected Ame to defend him, but...
Ame responded with, "I know..." and she started to cry.
Grandpa Tuyo walked up to her and hugged her. "I'm sorry, Ame... you're my only daughter, and it makes me sad seeing you aren't fully happy the way you deserve to be."
Ame responded, "Deep down, he's not a bad man..."
Grandpa sighed, and, slightly disappointed, said, "You can't save everyone, Ame... don't let this man become your demise... promise me that..." He said, holding back his tears.
As she smiled and wiped away her tears, she said ,"I promise."
A few days later, on a rainy night...
I remember I was inside the house watching TV.
Mom and I were the only ones at home because Dad had gone on one of his so-called business trips.
Mom had just made my favorite food, and I was rolling on the rug happily.
All of a sudden, the doorbell rang, and she went to the door. Shortly after, I decided to call her since my plate was empty.
"Mom, my plate is empty! Can I have seconds?"
But she didn't respond. I got up, frustrated, and went to the front door.
I saw that it was still open.
As I looked outside, my heart stopped, and I saw a million raindrops crashing down.
They were so loud that they drowned out every sound.
But the reason I was so shocked wasn't the tremendous amount of rain falling down.
What shocked me was my mother, lying face down on the concrete.
I ran outside, tears flowing down my face. It felt like time stood still.
I ran, but it felt like I wasn't getting any closer—at least not fast enough.
I tried to scream, but I was so hurt in that moment that I couldn't form any words or sentences.
All I could do was run...
As I fell to my knees, I hugged my mother and screamed, "MOMMY, WHAT'S HAPPENING!? WHAT'S WRONG?"
As I was trying to communicate with her, a mysterious person in a raincoat, holding an umbrella, was leaving the property.
Nikko looked out of the bedroom window and saw Ame on the floor with Hinto next to her.
"AUNTY AME!?" she screamed.
At that moment, Nikko's mom heard her and ran upstairs.
"Nikko, honey, what's wrong?"
Nikko pointed at the window and said, "Aunty Ame... something's wrong." As she rubbed her eyes and screamed, Nikko's mom looked out the window, startled, then ran downstairs to call the ambulance.
Hinto was yelling at the mysterious man as he walked away from the property.
"PLEASE HELP US!" "PLEASE, MY MOMMY IS BLEEDING!"
But the sound of his screams was drowned out by the rain.
My mom pulled me towards her and, as she hugged me, said, "Hinto, my dear...remember that after rain, there will always be sunshine.
And if life comes raining down on you... remember that your friends and family are the umbrella that shields your heart.
I cried and hugged her, and at that moment, I saw the life leave my mother's eyes, and I screamed the loudest I've ever screamed.
Nikko was crying in her room, but as she got up, she looked out the window, and the mysterious person entered a car and sat in the passenger's seat.
He was wearing a dark brown raincoat and had a mask with the face of a snake.
While Nikko was staring, he turned toward her and stared back.
Startled, she tripped and fell onto her bedroom floor.
They drove off.
And the ambulance finally reached the scene...
but it was too late...
Chapter End - Rain