Akito and his Father, Tetsuo Yamamura sat on the ground, the sun rising in the distance, everything was calm. Akito and Tetsuo sat and talked about something, a small father and son bonding even if it was just a little dream.
Tetsuo turned to Akito and with a gentle voice, asked, "Akito, how's your mother doing?"
Akito smiled softly and replied, "Mom's doing okay, Dad. She misses you a lot, and sometimes she gets a bit sad thinking about the times when you were still together."
Tetsuo let out a small sigh and gazed at the sun as if he was contemplating something. "I wish I could have been there for her," he said. "But you know, son, sometimes things don't go the way we want them to."
Akito nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I know. But it's just hard to see Mom go through tough times alone."
Tetsuo placed a hand on Akito's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "She's a strong woman, Akito. She raised a wonderful son like you, didn't she?"
Akito grinned, feeling a sense of pride welling up inside him. "Thanks, Dad. I learned a lot from both of you."
Tetsuo smiled back, his eyes filled with warmth. "That's good to hear, son."
The gentle breeze picked up, causing their hair to sway lightly. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, simply enjoying each other's company and the peaceful morning.
"Akito, I've been watching you do your own thing and stuff.. but, how is that Taekwondo self-training going? Is it going well?"
Akito smiled, "Yeah, it's going great, but I'm still a little rusty about it."
Tetsuo nodded, "I see. Well, let me show you something." He motioned his hands in the air and suddenly the scenery around them began to change.
The scenery transformed into a small, peaceful neighborhood.
Akito's eyes widened in amazement. "Whoa, how did you do that?" he asked.
Tetsuo grinned. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve," he said with a chuckle. "But look around. Do you recognize this place?"
Akito looked around and realized that they were standing in the neighborhood where he had grown up. He saw the familiar houses and streets, and memories flooded back into his mind.
As Akito took in the surroundings, he noticed a small boy in the distance, sitting alone and reading a book. Suddenly, the boy jumped up and attempted a kick, but stumbled and fell to the ground.
Akito laughed, "Hey, I remember doing that too. Trying to do kicks without any training."
Tetsuo gazed at the boy in the distance, a soft smile on his lips. "You don't remember? That's you," he said, gesturing towards the young boy attempting a kick.
Akito's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, wait... Oh yeah!" he exclaimed, suddenly realizing the truth of Tetsuo's words.
He looked back at the child and chuckled softly, his mind wandering back to a simpler time when he too had been just like that boy, full of energy and excitement for the martial arts.
As he watched the child struggle to master the move, a thought crossed his mind.
"You know, I wonder what would happen if I started training Kung-Fu instead of Taekwondo," he mused, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Tetsuo chuckled. "Who knows? Maybe you'll master both arts one day... we don't know," he replied, his voice full of pride and encouragement. He placed his hands on Akito's shoulders, patting them gently. "Well, you've come this far now. I'm proud of you."
Akito took a deep breath "I got a job as a janitor," he began, before quickly adding, "I know it's not much, but the company I'm working for is quite different!"
His father looked him in the eyes and asked. Tetsuo gave him a skeptical look. "Different? What do you mean?" he asked, his arms crossed over his chest.
Akito's face lit up as he explained, "Well, it's like... they hold a weekly brawl in the office, and whoever wins gets either a promotion or a bonus."
Tetsuo looked taken aback for a moment before a laugh bubbled up from his chest. "Sounds like a wild place," he said, his eyes crinkling in amusement.
Akito couldn't help but laugh along with his father, the tension melting away from his shoulders as he shared his news with the man who had always been his guiding light.
The two of them stood there for a moment, lost in the memories of the past and the possibilities of the future, surrounded by the comforting familiarity of their childhood neighborhood.
Tetsuo glanced down at his watch and sighed, his eyes briefly flickering with sadness. He looked back up at Akito and spoke in a soft, gentle tone.
"Well, it seems like time is up. See you later, Akito."
Akito felt a twinge of sadness at Tetsuo's words. He had been enjoying their conversation, and he didn't want it to end so soon. "eh? what do you mean?" he said, he was a little confused and concerned.
Tetsuo smiled warmly at him. "Do your best on that job for me, alright? I'm sure you're going to strive and aim for a higher position."
Akito felt a surge of determination. He had always looked up to his father and wanted to make him proud. "I will, Dad. I'll work hard and make you proud."
Tetsuo's smile widened, and he started walking away. Akito watched him go, feeling a sense of nostalgia wash over him.
He remembered all the times he had spent with his father, all the lessons he had taught him, and all the memories they had created together.
"Where are you going, Dad?" Akito raised his brow, suddenly feeling a pang of concern. He didn't want his father to leave so abruptly.
Tetsuo didn't say anything, but his eyes were filled with a deep sadness. The scenery around them slowly began to fade into a bright white light, and Tetsuo's figure started to blur and dissipate into thin air.
"Dad? Wait, dad, wait!" Akito rushed towards him, desperate to grab hold of him before he disappeared. But he was too late. His father had already vanished into the bright light.
Akito stood there, feeling a mix of emotions. Sadness, nostalgia, and a deep longing to be with his father again.
But he also felt a sense of determination and strength, knowing that his father was watching over him and guiding him every step of the way.
He looked up at the bright light, feeling a sense of peace and calmness wash over him. He knew that his father was still with him in spirit, and that they would always be connected in some way.
Akito was taken aback as the white light began to shift through different colors, each hue more vibrant than the last.
Suddenly, he was hit with a vivid memory of his father - he could see him fighting a man, moving with such grace and strength that it left Akito awestruck. In the next instant, the memory shifted again, and his father was now fighting a man in a suit.
Akito's eyes widened as he tried to take it all in. The room around him was now alive with the sound of action - punches and kicks connecting with force, the rustling of clothing as his father moved, and the sound of his own breathing as he watched in wonder.
"What is this?" he asked, still struggling to comprehend what was happening around him. He felt as though he was being transported back in time, to a place where his father was young and full of life.
But just as suddenly as it had started, the memory faded away, and the room returned to its former state of stillness. Akito was left standing there, his heart racing and his mind whirling with questions.
"What did I just see?" he wondered aloud, his eyes darting around the empty room. But there was no answer, only the silence of his own thoughts.
As Akito slowly opened his eyes, he felt a sense of disorientation. Everything was dark, and it took him a moment to realize that he was waking up from a dream. He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream.
"That felt like a movie," he thought to himself, his mind still foggy with sleep. He glanced over at the window and saw that the sun was slowly rising, casting a warm, golden glow over the city.
Akito reached for his phone and turned it on, his eyes squinting at the bright screen. It was 5:34 in the morning, and he realized that he had woken up a little earlier than usual.
With a sigh, he got out of bed and made his way to the shower. The warm water cascaded over him, washing away the last vestiges of sleep. He took his time, enjoying the feeling of the water against his skin.
After his shower, he brushed his teeth and started getting dressed. He grabbed his backpack and stuffed in his work uniform and other things, preparing for another day as a janitor.
As Akito opened his bedroom door, he was greeted with the sight of Emi sleeping soundly on the sofa. He smiled softly, not wanting to disturb her peaceful slumber. "I'm going to work, Emi. See you later," he whispered, leaning over to give her a gentle kiss on the forehead.
Akito rushing down to his apartment. As he walked, Akito couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over him.
He remembered all the times he had walked down this same street with Emi, laughing and chatting as they made their way to work.
He missed those carefree days, but he knew that he had to keep moving forward.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Akito arrived at his workplace. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever challenges lay ahead. He knew that it was going to be a tough day, but he was ready to face it head on.
As he yawned and entered his workplace, "Goodmorni-" Akito was surprised by what he saw in front of him that he couldn't finish his sentence. Sang-Hyun, their boss, was standing on the second floor, gazing down at the employees below.
All of them were looking up at him with serious expressions, waiting for him to speak.
Akito saw Higuchi near him, feeling curious, Akito made his way over to where Higuchi was standing.
"Hey, what's going on?" he whispered, not wanting to disturb the somber mood.
Higuchi shook his head, looking concerned. "I don't know, but people are saying that Sang-Hyun is about to announce something related to the Brawl."
As they stood there, waiting in anticipation, Sang-Hyun's voice echoed through the room. "As you all know, the Brawl has been a topic of discussion for some time now."
Everyone turned their attention towards their boss, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
"We have been planning this event for weeks, and I'm proud to say that today is the day it finally happens," Sang-Hyun continued, his voice carrying a weighty tone.
Akito's heart nearly stopped as he heard Sang-Hyun's announcement. "What?! I thought it was going to happen tomorrow!" he thought to himself, his eyes widening with concern.
The tension in the room was palpable as Sang-Hyun spoke.
"The Brawl shall start in an hour," he said in a deep, serious tone. "You have time to prepare yourselves. You can use melee weapons and such, but firearms are strictly prohibited."
The room erupted into a flurry of activity as people scrambled to get ready for the Brawl. Akito felt a sense of panic rising within him.
He hadn't even started training for this, he wasn't sure if he was fully prepared for what was to come.
He took a deep breath and tried to steady himself. There was no turning back now.
He had to give it his all, no matter what. As he began to prepare himself, he could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins.
This was it. The moment he had been waiting for. The moment that would define him as a fighter.
Suddenly, Yuzu appeared beside him, her eyes blazing with determination. She placed her hands on his shoulders and gave him a small smirk. He knew what that meant - she was ready to fight.
Sang-Hyun's voice echoed through the room like thunder, his eyes flashing with an intense fire. As he stared down at his employees scattering like ants.
"Good luck to all of you," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "For you will need it."
Akito's heart skipped a beat as he looked up to see Sang-Hyun's gaze fixed on him, a sinister grin playing at the corners of his mouth. He knew something was about to happen, something big.