My grandpa stood in front of me, but it didn't feel like the usual cheerful grandpa I was used to. No, this was something else. I felt an overwhelming energy push me even further into the ground.
The look on my father's face changed. He seemed surprised—no, he seemed afraid... He collected himself and said, "This is none of your business, old man. You have nothing to do with this."
My grandpa responded by saying, "You have some nerve, Ikari. This child is my grandson, MY DAUGHTER'S LEGACY! HE IS MY BUSINESS!"
When my father heard these words, he walked off into the house.
My grandpa asked if I was alright. Obviously, I wasn't, but I didn't want to seem weak after my grandpa's courageous moment. I wiped the tears off my face and smiled.
He told me to wait for a minute, and he went inside to speak to my father. After a few minutes, he came outside with a serious expression on his face. Right after, he said, "LET'S GO EAT SOME DUMPLINGS!" with the biggest smile on his face.
I said, "Yeah, let's go!"
Hinto and grandpa Tuyo went to eat some dumplings at a local street food stand. Grandpa Tuyo sat there, looking at how happy his grandson was eating his dumplings. He thought to himself, "This kid is unbelievably strong mentally. His mom got her life taken away, and his father is a horrible person who abuses him, and yet... he still... smiles."
Before grandpa Tuyo knew it, a tear escaped his eye.
Hinto turned to his grandfather and said, "Grandpa, are you okay?"
His grandpa responded, "I'm more than okay, Hinto." He grabbed his grandson and hugged him.
A few hours later, my grandpa and I just got back to my house. All the lights were turned off. My grandpa yelled, "Ikari, we're back!"
But there was no response. So my grandpa went upstairs to look for my father. As he was looking, I found a letter on the living room table.
I read it, and as I did, I instantly started to cry.
My grandpa came back downstairs and saw me with the letter in hand. He walked up to me and asked, "What is that, Hinto?"
I gave him the letter, and he read it:
"I'll be going on a business trip, and it's going to be a long one. I leave Hinto in your care, old man. – Ikari"
Grandpa Tuyo thought to himself, "I didn't expect this, not even from you, Ikari…"
He hugged Hinto and told him, "Everything is going to be alright, Hinto. Your grandpa is here."
Present time
And that's the last time I've seen him. I honestly don't give a damn about where he is. He left me alone for seven years and never cared to show himself. He might be dead in a ditch somewhere for all I care.
Hinto walked up to the umbrella stand, grabbed the kendo sword, walked to the backyard, and threw it into the garden. "Piece of trash."
Soon after, Hinto decided to get ready for school.
He looked into the mirror and thought, "I should have dyed my hair black. Everyone is going to think I'm weird because
"Who loses pigment in their hair as a child?"
He let out a heavy sigh, disappointed in his own decision. He got ready, put his school uniform on, and ran out of the house.
Hinto walked down to the end of the street, where he saw his best friend.
"Yo, Hinto-Kun!" he said.
He responded, "Oi, Hiro-Chan!"
"Bro, you gotta stop calling me that..."
They both started laughing and gave each other their signature handshake.
This is my best friend, Akimoto Hiroki, also known as Hiro. He seems careless and goofy, but don't be fooled—he has a mean right hook. He spends most of his free time kickboxing and bothering me. But on a serious note, he is a great friend. He always gets up a little earlier so he can wait for me while I visit the graveyard.
Meanwhile, Hinto and Hiro reached the graveyard.
"Be right back," Hinto said.
"Take your time!" Hiro replied.
Hinto smiled and walked in.
"Hey, here I am again. Today is my first day of school, and of course, I would have wished for you to be here... but unfortunately, I don't have that luxury."
"Wish me the best of luck. I love you both…"
The gravestones read:
Ame Handa
2453 - 2488
Rest in peace
Tsubasa Yoji Handa (Tuyo)
2423 - 2497
Rest in peace
"I'll be going now!" he said, smiling.
Chapter End – Deadbeat.