The evening sun was slowly disappearing over the horizon. Hiroshi, Akiko and the children (Ryu and Kenji) were spending time in the garden of their house before heading to the coastal road. The garden wasn't a luxury garden like those perfectly arranged ones, but it was just as warm and cozy. They had gathered around a small table; there was tea and sweets. Ryu and Kenji were joking with each other, Akiko was laughing, and Hiroshi was quietly watching them.
Akiko (laughing): "Ryu! Look at Kenji, he still has his eyes on the sweets!"
Ryu (mockingly): "Mom, I might share… maybe… if Kenji doesn't come near me."
Kenji (shouting): "No, Ryu! This time I'll win, I won't let you have it!"
Hiroshi (smiling slightly): "I'm warning both of you… don't start a fight, the trip is long."
Ryu: "Don't worry Dad, we're just having fun."
Akiko (taking a sip of tea): "You kids are too serious. Today we're going out, you'll get some sun, see the sea… maybe have a little race too."
Kenji (jumping up quickly): "I'll win, Ryu! Definitely!"
Ryu (squinting): "You promised last time when you lost… I still remember."
Akiko (laughing): "Enough! Get ready, we're going to the car."
When they got into the car, the children sat in the back seats. Hiroshi took the wheel, and Akiko sat beside him. The inside of the car was filled with conversation and playful teasing again.
Ryu (putting on his headphones): "This road is long but beautiful. We'll see the sea, right?"
Akiko: "Yes, Ryu. Let's see who takes the fastest scenic photo this time."
Kenji (playing on his phone): "I'll check the previous trip. This time I'll win!"
Hiroshi (smiling while driving): "You can play, but watch the road carefully. I'll tell a story in the back, maybe it will calm you down if you listen."
Akiko (looking at him): "Hiroshi, they always love your stories."
Ryu: "Yes, Dad, I can't take my eyes off when you tell stories!"
Kenji: "But sometimes they're too long…"
Hiroshi nodded with a smile. This warm conversation in the car, the laughter, light arguments and playful teasing filled the children's eyes with a sense of security and happiness.
But this peace was shattered in an instant. A car suddenly appeared from the side of the road, silent but dangerous, and gunfire erupted. The car windows were shattered. Hiroshi didn't know that these men were mafia coming after him because of gambling debts, but by the time he realized, it was already too late.
A bullet hit Hiroshi in the chest. Akiko panicked because the car became driverless. She immediately took control, stopped the car, and hid behind it. But panicking young Ryu suddenly jumped out of the car. Just as he was about to be shot, Akiko threw herself in front of him and took the bullet.
Two minutes later, the police arrived, but it was too late. The children were crying for their mother and father. Kenji blamed Ryu — if he hadn't jumped out of the car and had stayed hidden, the police would have arrived, but because he did, their mother had been shot.
Years passed since that day. Now Kenji had become a fighter capable of taking down ten men in two seconds. Ryu, however, lived alone, traumatized and burdened with guilt.
I hope you like the episode. If I get a good number of likes, it will continue.