Scene One: A Memory in My Mind
Suddenly, a very old and painful memory came rushing back.
Akira: Dad… are you going to work again?
Father: Yes.
Akira: Dad, why don't you stay with me? You go to work every single day.
Father: kneels down, holding his son's shoulders I wish that too, to spend a very, very long time with you. But if I don't go to work, you won't be able to eat the chocolate I bring for you.
Akira: starts pushing his father playfully Then go! Hurry, bring me the chocolate!
Father: laughs What about me staying with you?
Akira: Go! I see you every day after work, but chocolate—I won't see it if you take a day off.
Father: Haha… don't worry. Whatever my son wishes for will always come true, because his smile is my treasure.
Akira: That's beautiful. Now go to work!
Father: Do your homework to earn it.
Akira: I already do that without you telling me, so bring it!
Father: Alright, I'm leaving. Goodbye.
Akira: Goodbye… I love you, Dad!
Father: No, you just love chocolate, don't lie.
Akira: Of course, I love chocolate… but I love you more than all the chocolate in the world.
Father: Then those words are enough for me. Goodbye, son.
My father worked every day, and our days were filled with happiness.
But one day, in the factory he supervised, an accident occurred that led to its collapse. Being kind-hearted, he didn't leave until he made sure everyone else was safe. Unfortunately, just as he was about to leave, a wall fell on him.
When we heard the news, we rushed there. I let go of my mother's hand and ran to the site. What I saw… words fail to describe. My father lay there, in a state I wished my eyes could unsee.
Step by step, I moved toward him, trying to hold myself together. But how could a twelve-year-old boy endure such a thing? Each step felt like I was carrying the whole world on my shoulders.
When I reached him, I noticed a piece of paper in his pocket, stained with blood. On it was written only one thing:
"I'll bring my son a half-eaten piece of chocolate, watch his reaction, and spend the whole night with him."
Those words made me scream, begging him to wake up and fulfill that wish. I screamed and screamed, holding on to even the faintest hope… but it was useless. That memory carved itself deep into my soul. I try to forget it, but how can I, when it follows me like a shadow?
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Scene Two: A Talk with Grandmother
Grandmother: holding my hand Akira, isn't it shameful not to greet your parents' graves?
Akira: Grandma, you once said flowers are for an investor. Don't you see? You're not investing like this.
Grandmother: On the contrary. When a son refuses to visit his parents but his child—my grandson—comes to visit them, that is the greatest investment I could ever make. Tell me, why don't you visit their graves?
Akira: I don't know. Something inside me… whenever I stand before them, I feel like I'm suffocating, like I'm carrying a burden I can't escape. Nightmares haunt me. Please, just let me be.
Grandmother: And you think that feeling is enough to stop you from visiting your parents?
Akira: Grandma, I didn't come here to talk about the past. I came searching for something. After that, I'll leave.
Grandmother: And when I die, will you come to visit me? Or will everyone else do so, except the one I want to see? Tell me.
Akira: turning to her, hugging her as tears fell Don't say that, Grandma! If anything happened to you, even the smallest wound, I'd hate this world. I'd want to leave it, because if you're not with me, then I don't want to be anywhere you're not. Don't ever say that again.
Grandmother: Foolish boy! Do you want me to hit you? Of course, I won't leave you. I'll stay until I see you grow up, marry, and live happily. But don't you dare marry that girl Kana. We want no ties with that Masahiro Takeshi.
Akira: Don't worry, Grandma. I'd never think of it. She's as domineering as her father.
Grandmother: Also, promise me you'll one day visit your parents' graves. My heart aches thinking you might not.
Akira: Alright, Grandma. I promise… but I need some time.
Grandmother: Don't take too long. I hate waiting.
We walked and talked a little more. Then I asked her, jokingly:
Akira: Isn't my hair looking good?
Grandmother: It looks fine. What did you put in it?
Akira: Just some hair cream I found over there.
Grandmother: Hair cream? Oh! Didn't I ask you to bring me some creams for hair and skin? Did you?
Akira: startled I forgot… I didn't bring them!
Grandmother: angrily, hitting me with her cane How could you forget your grandmother's request? Tell me!
Akira: Ow, ow! I'm sorry, Grandma! Studies and other things distracted me. I'm really sorry!
Grandmother: Distracted you? Do you know how hard it is to find them here? And they were on a 50% discount there! Why did you forget? Why?!
Akira: Ow, ow! Please stop hitting me, Grandma! I promised I'll get them for you when we go back!
Grandmother: "When we go back"? Nonsense! I should beat you harder! Don't you know my beautiful hair and face need proper care? Because of you, I'll lose it all!
Akira: You're old, you don't need all that!
Grandmother: What?! I'm only eighty! Still young and moving well. Did you just call your grandma old? I'll show you who's old!
Akira: Sorry, sorry! Please, stopppp!
Kana: enters, opening the door Looks like they're back. Hello, Akira! What's with the bruises on your face? Who did this?
Akira: Oh… it was…
Grandmother: clears throat It was me! He needed to learn a lesson—to treat grandmothers well and not call them old.
Kana: Of course, he was wrong. You're still in your prime, right, Michelle?
Michelle: Umm… how old are you again?
Grandmother: Eighty.
Michelle: Eighty? Then… she's old.
Grandmother: What?! Do you want to see what this "old lady" can do? Come here!
Michelle: No, no, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it. I meant… you're almost old.
Grandmother: What?! I'll show you who's old. You're dead!
Akira & Kana: laughing as Michelle falls victim to his own words
Scene Three: Searching for the Paper
Michelle: Ugh… my head and body hurt.
Grandmother: That will teach you to respect your elders.
Kana: Grandma, now that you've finished your little lesson, can you tell us where you put the paper? And also, who gave you that box?
Grandmother: The paper in the box… when Akira was packing his things to leave, I wanted to give him something to remember me by. So, I gave him the box but kept the paper. As for who gave me the box—I don't know.
Michelle: What do you mean you don't know? Don't you remember the face of the person?
Grandmother: The real question is not who gave you the box, but how did you find it?
Kana: Then no one gave it to you?
Grandmother: That's right. I was at the graduation party, running late for the group photo. Suddenly, I found that box. I picked it up and used it as my excuse for being late. Then we took the picture.
Akira: So we know how the box came to Grandma, but not where the paper inside it went.
Grandmother: Actually, I do know where it is. It's in a room you've never visited before. I placed that picture there.
Akira: turns around and looks The room behind me… the one with my parents' photo. The one I've never entered, so I wouldn't remember…
Kana: What is this room?
Grandmother: It's the room with Akira's parents' picture. I prayed day and night that God would give Akira a reason to visit his parents. And it seems… my prayers were answered. I'm truly grateful.
Akira: Grandma, I promised you I'd visit my parents' graves. I still need time. But I'll prove myself with the first step—by retrieving the paper.
Grandmother: Then show me.
Akira: walks toward the room; with each step his breath grows heavier until he finally reaches it. He looks at his mother and father. Inside the frame of their photo, the paper rests. He takes it and comes out.
Grandmother: Well done. This is the first step. I'll pray that all your fears are lifted.
Michelle: This is the second paper. Well done, Akira. Now, let's see what's written on it.