THE PAST OF CALLUM
The dewy morning of August 9th, 1945, in Hanamizu Village, shimmered with the gentle breath of a new day.
Cherry blossoms, delicate as painted silk, carpeted the ground and clung to branches, their soft pink contrasting with the lush green of leaves.
Mountains, ancient and stoic, stood sentinel in the distance, their peaks veiled in a light mist that promised a warm day.
In the center of a white-roped circle, two boys, barely more than toddlers, faced each other.
Callum, with his disheveled brown hair and vivid green eyes, wore a simple white shirt and olive-green half-pants.
Across from him, Takeshi Sugimura, all vibrant orange hair and mischievous energy, was clad in a bright yellow T-shirt and blue half-pants.
Their small fists touched the ground, their legs braced, ready for the contest. A thin line in the dirt stretched before their hands, marking the start of their arena.
Just outside the circle, Yuto Shirakaze, a boy with shocking blue hair, dressed in a green T-shirt and red half-pants,
bounced on the balls of his feet. "Callum-kun, I hope you haven't forgotten your promise, ne.
If you lose, Takeshi-kun will beat you in front of the girls, you know!" he chirped, a grin splitting his face.
Callum's green eyes, usually so calm, flashed with a hint of defiance. "Don't say that, Yuto! If I win, you must give me your new toy robot, okay?"
Yuto scoffed, "Hmph, surely you'll win… in your dreams, desu ne!"
A determined glint entered Callum's eyes. "Sometimes dreams come true, Yuto-kun. And today, that will happen, you'll see!"
Takeshi, no longer able to contain his eagerness, stood up, brushing his hands together with a flourish.
"Oi, both of you, be quiet already, can't you?! Don't you see I'm waiting to defeat Callum-kun? Just tell the rules and let's start the game!"
"Takeshi-kun, please calm down a little, ne. Callum-kun, listen properly, okay? No one else will say it for you."
Yuto began, but Takeshi cut him off with a glare.
"Yuto, you say it now, or I'll punch you first, got it? Hurry up already!"
"Takeshi-kun, just calm down, onegai shimasu!
" Yuto pleaded, then cleared his throat and stood straight, holding up a finger for each rule, a serious expression on his face.
"So, here are the rules for the sumo fight. Listen well, both of you!
Rule number one: If you successfully push your opponent outside the circle, you win.
Rule number two: You can't touch hair, face, or sensitive parts, okay?
Rule number three: No kicking or jumping on your opponent. This is sumo, not a street fight!
Rule number four: If you fall and touch the ground with anything but your feet—like your hands or knees—you lose, got it?
Rule number five: No running away fromthe circle, or it's an automatic loss, ne!"
Yuto raised his hand dramatically. "Now!"
Takeshi charged forward with a small, determined grunt, his bare feet leaving tiny prints in the dewy dirt.
His hands, small but surprisingly forceful, shot out, palms open, aiming for Callum's chest.
A soft thump echoed in the morning stillness as his palms collided with Callum's white shirt, muffled by the tranquil air. Takeshi's yellow T-shirt fluttered with the motion, his face flushed with effort, elbows locked as he pushed with all his might, his blue half-pants crinkling at the knees.
"Oi, Callum-kun! I'll push you out so fast, you'll run crying to your mama," Takeshi crowed, his voice loud and brimming with cocky confidence, a mischievous grin revealing a missing front tooth.
Callum stumbled back a step, his sneakers slipping slightly on the damp ground as he struggled to hold his position. His olive-green half-pants caught a streak of mud as he planted his feet, his hands coming up to meet Takeshi's. His fingers spread wide, pressing against Takeshi's palms in a shaky push-back, his white shirt wrinkling under the pressure.
A small bead of sweat formed on his brow, glistening in the morning light, his body wobbling as he fought to stay within the circle.
"Takeshi-kun, don't say that, ne! I believe I can win… because dreams come true, you know!" Callum replied, his voice gentle but stubborn, his cheeks puffed out with effort, a hopeful sparkle in his eyes.
Their hands locked for a moment, their tiny arms trembling as they pushed against each other. The mist around their feet swirled with their movements, and the other kids cheered softly, some clapping, others whispering excitedly as the cosmos flowers swayed in the gentle morning breeze.
Takeshi, growing impatient, shifted his weight to his left foot, his small body twisting as he tried to throw Callum off balance. He yanked his right hand back from the lock and swung it in a wide,
clumsy arc toward Callum's side—a determined swipe meant to shove Callum out of the circle. His hand cut through the cool morning air with a faint swish, his yellow T-shirt riding up slightly to reveal a sliver of his tummy,
his blue half-pants stretching as he leaned into the move. His face was alight with fierce determination, his brows knitted together as if he was a tiny sumo champion in a real tournament.
Callum reacted quickly for a five-year-old, ducking slightly and stepping to his right, his olive-green half-pants now dusted with more dirt as he moved. His left hand flailed out to block Takeshi's swipe, his fingers brushing against Takeshi's wrist with a light pat, the motion a bit awkward but effective.
His white shirt clung to his back with a bit of sweat, his movements more defensive than aggressive, his eyes wide with a mix of surprise and delight as he realized he was still in the circle.
But then, Takeshi shifted his weight suddenly, twisting his body to the side and using his momentum to throw Callum off balance. With a quick shove, he pushed Callum's right shoulder, breaking their hand lock.
Callum stumbled, his left foot slipping on a patch of dew-slicked dirt, and he teetered dangerously close to the edge of the circle. His arms flailed for balance, his white shirt billowing as he tried to steady himself, but it was too late—his right foot crossed the line, and he tumbled backward, landing on his bottom just outside the dirt circle with a soft thump.
Takeshi threw his arms up in victory, his yellow T-shirt riding up to reveal his tummy as he jumped up and down, his blue half-pants bouncing with each hop.
His face was alight with triumph, his missing front tooth on full display as he grinned from ear to ear, his black hair sticking up even more wildly from the exertion.
"And the winner is Takeshi-kun! Congratulations!" Yuto Shirakaze announced, stepping forward.
"I told you, Callum-kun! I'm the strongest! You never had a chance!" Takeshi
boasted, his voice loud and brash, his hands on his hips as he puffed out his chest.
Yuto Shirakaze then stepped towards Callum. "Uhh, dreams failed to come true, but mine did not," he said, a cold edge to his voice.
He grabbed the collar of Callum's white shirt harshly. "Be ready, Callum-kun."
Before Callum could react, Yuto
delivered a swift punch directly to his face.
As Callum fell back, disoriented, Takeshi smashed his right leg into Callum's back.
Callum lay on the ground, unable to get up, injured and in pain. Takeshi and Yuto then left him there, alone in the clearing.
An hour later, the sun had climbed higher, casting a warmer glow on the cherry blossom trees. Callum lay still on the ground, having drifted into a fitful sleep.
A gentle shadow fell over him. A man, dressed in a traditional blue kimono with a white inner layer, knelt beside him. His eyes were large and expressive, a warm brown, and his short, black hair was slightly tousled. On his feet were traditional Japanese geta sandals.
He carefully placed a hand on the child's head, gently attempting to wake him.
"Are you alright, little one? It's already ten-thirty in the morning, and the sun is quite strong out here.
Perhaps it would be better to rest at home, or if you prefer nature, there's a lovely cherry blossom tree over there where you could find some shade," the man's voice was soft, laced with genuine concern.
Callum's eyes fluttered open, tears welling. "Thank you very much for your kindness, sir… but I'm afraid I can't stand up right now. Some boys, like Takeshi-kun, were a bit rough with me, and I seem to have been hurt."
"Oh, I see. Don't worry, it's alright. By the way, I am Marcus what is your name?" the man asked, his brow furrowing with sympathy.
"I am Callum Drake," he whispered.
The man gently cradled the injured boy, carefully lifting him into his arms, and began walking towards a traditional wooden house with a blue roof, nestled amongst the cherry blossoms.
"I'm so sorry to be a burden on you… you must be getting tired because of me,"
Callum mumbled,
his voice small.
"Oh, no, no, it's quite alright. Please don't worry about that. Your well-being is far more important than my slight tiredness," the man reassured him, his grip firm yet gentle.
By noon, Callum was patched up.
The kind man had taken him to a doctor, paying for medicines and an injection to ease the pain.
As the man settled the last of the fees, a piercing, insistent wail tore through the air. Sirens. Loud, blaring, echoing through the tranquil village and beyond.
Then, a voice, calm yet laced with an undeniable tremor, cut through the noise, amplified by loudspeakers across the entire region.
It was Mr. Tanaka Hiroshi, Chief of Disaster Management.
"Attention, citizens of Hanamizu Village, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki! This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.
At approximately 12:00 PM Japan Standard Time, in precisely twenty minutes, a nuclear device is projected to impact our metropolitan area.
I understand the gravity of this news, and I urge you all to remain as calm as possible."
A collective gasp rippled through the city, followed by a stunned silence, then a rising murmur of disbelief and terror.
Mr. Tanaka Hiroshi continued, his voice strained but resolute. "The government has activated emergency evacuation protocols. All citizens are requested, with the utmost urgency, to proceed immediately to Kansai International Airport.
Aircraft have been mobilized and are standing by to transport as many individuals as possible to designated safe zones.
Prioritize the elderly, children, and those with disabilities. Do not attempt to gather non-essential belongings. Your lives are paramount."