Echoes

10 years ago in Seitaka city in Japan, 23:23.

-Hello, please send an urgent ambulance, there was a terrible accident on highway 666. - A middle-aged man was talking on the phone.

Highway 666 was known in the region for its factual accidents with fatalities along its route, on nights like that, rainy, with dense fog and slippery road.

In that stretch, mainly, there was a slope that had already claimed many lives, it was a descent of a mountain that connected the city of Seitaka to the city of Kimero shi.

-No... - A shadow appears over the car that hit the mountainside. – I arrived too late. - Tears fall along with the raindrops on the body of someone dead inside the car. -Son...

-Grandfather!

-Grandfather!

Present, Seitaka City in Japan, 15:30.

-aaan...Haru! - With an expression of surprise.

Haru: -Are you okay grandpa? - Grabbing his shoulder.

-Yes... it is... - Wiping the sweat from his face. -You are late.

Haru: -Sorry grandpa... it's just that I had some things to buy before classes start again. -Smiling awkwardly. -You know how Mom is.

Haru is a 15-year-old teenager from Seitaka, his skin is fair, black eyes, spiky black hair with green tips, he wore a basic white blouse and thin white shorts, on his forehead a white band as the symbol of the Dojo. that was there.

His grandfather was a 65-year-old man from Kimero shi, a nearby city, his skin was fair with smudges from blows, black eyes, gray hair, full of wrinkles and a hard face, he wore a white kimono on top and under a navy blue Hakama (traditional clothing), a black sash around the waist.

-Very well, put on your Hakama and your Bogu armor. – Staying on a kamae base. -Let's start today's Kendo Ooto Dojo training!

The Ooto Dojo was one of the 5 Kendo Dojos in the city, there it was well known for its competitions and great masters of the modality, despite being very old, the installation was very large and with wooden floors, a combat area called shiaijo, doors to run with white spaces.

-Yes, Grandpa! – In reverence to your grandfather.

-Call me Sensei!

-Yes, Sensei! - Still in awe.

Haru puts on her Hakama, which looks like a skirt, but is actually a kind of pleated pants, and her Keiko Gi, a top robe, right after that she puts on her Bogu armor that consists of Men, a kind of helmet made of fabric and leather and metal, Do is a chest protector made of bamboo or plastic resin, Kote are gloves made of fabric reinforced with seams and leather, and finally Tare is a waist protector.

-Assume the Chudan position in the kamae. - Talking with eyes closed

Haru: -Yes, Sensei! – Standing straight, almost immobile

-Firm! – Shout to your grandson.

Haru: -Sometimes you scare me, even with your eyes closed you can see. – Trying to stay in position.

-Put on your track. - Taking a deep breath.

Haru: -Right! – Putting on the band he had on his forehead to cover his eyes.

-Haru, get your Shinai... -Shinai is a bamboo sword used in Kendo. -Make Suburi moves!

Haru: -Yes, Sensei!

Suburi are movements of the shinai back and forth as broadly as possible and centered, making it lean on the back, allying your spine, without hanging your body from the central position.

-Repeat the move 100 times!

-Haru: -Yes, Sensei!

After 2 hours of training at the dojo, Haru and her grandfather are lounging on the sidewalk outside the dojo drinking an invigorating tea.

Haru: -Grandpa, you were thinking about the accident, weren't you? – After drinking a sip of tea.

-ahhh... - Looking at his grandson. -Yes, Haru.

Haru: -Sometimes I have nightmares about it...about our family's loss of sight.

- I've spent more than half of my life with only the sight of one eye. – The left eye is white, no vision. -I didn't prepare your father for the day he would lose his sight completely and even so he managed to win in life and became the owner of a construction company, but...

Haru: -Do you charge yourself for what happened that day?

-Every day, that was my fault, I should have avoided it...

Haru: -It wasn't your fault, grandpa, it was a fatality that he lost his complete vision that night... - with tears welling up in his eyes.

-Haru... you are a very special child, you will overcome the pains and losses of your life, just believe in the teachings of Kendo and the laws of Kenjutsu. - Running his hand on Haru's head.

Haru: -Thank you grandpa, for teaching me your art, I promise I will win the regional championship this year, and bring new students to your dojo.

-Our dojo Haru, our dojo. – Looking up as if sensing something. -It's time to go home, it's almost dinner time. - worried about something.

Haru: -Yes, Sensei!

-We're not in training, Haru. – Standing in front of your grandson.

Haru: -Yes, grandpa. – Hugging the old man and immediately after running to the house which is a few meters away.

Saturday night soon passes and Sunday morning something happens.

Haru: -Mom? - scratching eyes that get irritated when touched by daylight right after leaving the room.

-Son... - with eyes full of tears.

-A serious accident involving Mr. Yatamaru Sensei from the Ooto dojo happened this morning at 11:11 am, it is not yet known what happened, but witnesses say that the 65-year-old man entered the track without looking, which ended up causing a collision with a truck that was passing at the time, acquaintances will inform that Mr. Yataamaru had glaucoma and had already lost the sight of one of his eyes, experts will now say if this was the cause of this accident, like his son almost 16 years ago on that same highway.

Haru: -Grandpa...no... - Kneeling on the floor.

The burial took place on the same day due to the damage done to the body, Haru remained silent throughout the wake and funeral, he couldn't shed a tear and looked at the people around.

-Haru, are you sure you want to go to class today? You can stay at home, I'll stay with you.

Haru: -No need, I'm fine... - Turns his back to his mother and starts walking. – Until the night! – Waved.

-Haru... - Closing the door.

High school, 07:25

-Look at the pastel, look at the pastel! – A gentleman selling pastries in front of the school in a food truck.

-I want two! – A red haired boy with yellow streaks speaks.

Close by was Haru leaning against the school wall, head down and arms crossed.

-Haru? What are you doing here... I mean... - A girl with long blonde hair, fair skin, blue eyes and schoolgirl clothes approaches him. -My condolences.

Haru: -L-Lanna, thank you. - With a yellow smile.

Lanna: -you could have stayed at home, you know, nothing happens in the first week back from vacation...

Haru: -I know...but there's a confusion in my head... - Taking a deep breath. – You better be here.

Luna: Do you want to talk about it? - Holding his hand.

The signal sounds.

Haru: -maybe later after class. – running his hand over her face.

Lanna: -Right! - Smiling when he felt his hand touch her face.

Lanna and Haru have been friends since they were little, Haru considers her his best friend and great confidant, now that they are in the same room in high school and becoming more adults they can feel each other's presence differently.

-The pastel uncle, give me one more!

-The signal sounded, go to class, kid. – glancing at Haru.

In the classroom, Haru spent the whole time without saying anything, in his class was Lanna, the red haired boy still angry that the "crayon uncle", as he refers to the boy who sells pastels in front of the school, didn't he had sold another one at the entrance and a very smart and polite girl with purple hair who answered all the questions with such dexterity, in addition to a very tall boy in the back in the midst of several troublemakers who walked along with him.

Lanna: -So what do you have? - Running her hand through Haru's hair, who has her head on her legs.

Haru: -First my father... now my grandfather... is my family doomed to die this way? -He couldn't believe it, all his fears were running through his mind, the shadow of death hovered over him. – Blind in the middle of an accident? – still unable to cry.

Lanna: -It could have just been a coincidence, a fatality...don't be like that. - distressed.

Haru: -I don't think he died like that, my grandfather was prepared for everything, there was no way he could have an accident like that, not my grandfather. - With the arm over the face.

Lanna: -Sometimes life plays tricks on us, even your grandfather was subject, unfortunately that's it. - Taking Haru's arm away from his face. -What happens from now on will define your life, honor your grandfather's teachings. - smiling.

(souvenir)

Grandpa: -Remember Haru, I will train you to survive any obstacle life throws you.

5 year old Haru: -yes, grandpa!

Grandpa: -I'm your Sensei, remember that.

Haru with 5 years: -yes, grandpa sensei!

Grandpa: Haru!

(back)

Haru: -Lanna... - With another forced smile. – that reminded me of something my grandfather said when we started training right after my father's death. - get up. -thanks.

Lanna: -Not at all. - With a radiant smile on his face. -That's what best friends are for, isn't it.

Haru: -You're amazing. - Kissing Lanna's forehead. -I'm going I have to help the mother at home.

Lanna: -Are you going to call me before bed? - blushing after the kiss.

Haru: -I will! – Running towards your house.

Lanna: -Don't forget about your Haru! - Smiling as he waved at him.

Haru: -I won't! - smiling but this time without forcing.

The night soon arrives, Haru and his mother after dinner decide to go to sleep after all it had been a long and difficult day for them, neither of them had talked about what happened, only the memory of the old man sitting at the table was felt.

In bed Haru finds himself thinking about everything, because he couldn't cry, it was all he wanted, to vent the feeling he felt but his mind is lost and soon he sleeps.

Haru: -I ended up dozing off. - scratching your eyes because of the light of a led strip. -Lanna asked to call... is she still awake at this hour? – Looking at the cell phone that marked the time 23:55. -Almost midnight... - A cold wind passes through him. -aaa, what chill was that? The wind blew through the open window. -A storm? - Standing up he goes to the window.

Strong winds blew through the tree branches, lightning lit up the street as if it were daytime, and strong thunder shook even the house.

Haru: -Grandpa? -While he stared at the dojo, Haru jumps out the window without realizing it.

At that moment Lanna called him, but he didn't hear anything, the weather was closed and soon a heavy rain starts to fall.

Haru: -... - panting. -Grandpa... - Realizing that the door was open. -Grandfather! Grandfather!

Haru enters the dojo feeling a false hope that his grandfather was alive, the storm was strange, but his mind was confused to see it, fear and insecurity took over him in such a way that he couldn't even distinguish what he saw.

Haru: -Grandpa! Grandfather! - Seeing a shadow that formed amid the flashes of lightning that cut the skies that night. -Grandfather? - distortions in your mind take shape.

-I've been called a lot of things, but grandpa? This is the first time. - a deep and fierce voice. -Look what we have here...fresh meat. – the sound of a tongue clicking was heard.

Haru: -That voice isn't... who are you? Why are you here? – Trying to understand that, would it be someone stealing things or someone trying to protect themselves from the rain? It was what came to her confused mind.

-Very skinny, could have more meat there... - in displeasure by what he saw.

Amidst the shadows, a flash of lightning reveals the phase of that being, a creature about 2 meters tall, gray skin, yellow eyes, a mouth full of teeth and with a huge tongue protruding from it.

Haru: -What are you? - Feeling that his heart was going to jump out of his mouth, he assumes a fighting posture almost by instinct.

-That posture... are you going to say you don't know? - Looking at Haru shaking all over. -I don't care! – Shooting a punch at Haru who goes flying and hits his back where the dojo shinais are.

Haru: -aaaa! – After hitting his head hard on the rafters, blood starts to run down his head.

-What a weakling, that old man didn't teach you anything? – Running his tongue in the blood that oozes from Haru.

Haru: -What do you have to do with my grandfather? – Standing with a shinai in his hand.

-What do you think you're going to do with that useless piece of wood?

Haru: -aaaaa! – getting into a kamae position.

-Ridiculous! - Giving another blow to Haru who this time is thrown out in the rain.

Haru: -the dojo - with difficulty speaking and his eyes full of blood after the rain started to smear him over his head the only thing he cared about was the integrity of his grandfather's dojo. -You will pay for doing this ... - He gets up with a piece of shinai that had been broken after the blow.

-hahahaha! What do you think I am? – in a deeper voice. -I'm a man-eating ogre, you stupid child! - Tossing her tongue in Haru's direction..

Haru: -No, grandpa! - Being able to see his features clearly through the street lamp.

-Remember, Haru, Kendo principles, you know... use them.

Haru put themselves in a kamae position with the piece of Shinai that was left after the previous blow in front of the face, as a Kendo movement he closes his eyes and only feels what is around him, his vision was impaired so he used the that your grandfather taught you.

-What is it? – feeling a strong glow from Haru.

At that moment the broken shinai began to change shape, the bamboo part gives way to a bright green blade.

Haru: -Kamae no Ooto! – Haru makes a striking move with his shinai that hits the ogre's tongue cutting it immediately.

-my tongue, my tongue! – with a different voice after having had his tongue cut out. -Damn you! Damn you! How dare you? You tricked me, made me let my guard down, you damn Kendoka!

Haru: -What? – Not believing what had happened, the piece of shinai had become a sword with a sharp blade. -I made it? - Trying to look at the ogre but his vision was blurred due to the blood that flowed.

-You despicable one, you will regret having hurt the great Osomasu! – Running towards Haru again who receives another hit.

Haru: -aaaa! – being thrown against the front wall.

Osomaru: - Puppy of tough people, apparently he has a very good kenjutsu skill. - moving in the mouth.

Haru: -Kenjutsu? – with blood coming out of the corner of his mouth.

Osomasu: -but it doesn't matter, your life comes to an end now damn kendoka! – with the tongue back, he gets all chrome as if he gained a power up. -This is my ultimate technique! Devil's Sigh!

The ogre Osomasu shoots at Haru with his sharp tongue like a spear, Haru could barely see it, he was slightly dizzy, his body didn't respond, death came to him as it came to his father and grandfather.

-Haru, use our training, you know everything...I taught you Bijutsu no Kendo techniques for when that day came!

Haru: -Kendo art? - Several sounds appeared in his ears, even if his vision was out of tune, his hearing was sharp at that moment, he could see without his eyes. – echoes? Are they echoes? - He thought.

-Disappear damn it! – the tongue went like a fatal blow at close range.

Haru: -kamae no Ooto...- holding the shinai that didn't let go even after the blows - vision echo!

Haru makes movements with his legs and arms as in a kendo fight, making his body move in a light and centered way, for him everything was slow, using his shinai he swung in such a way that he landed a blow on the ogre's body without him being able to avoid it.

Osomasu: -What? - his back breaks in half in seconds after being hit by the shinai.

Osomasu didn't notice anymore Haru's blow went through his tongue and went against his body, breaking him in two like it was nothing.

Osomasu: -No... as he cut me, my skin is hard as a rock... – falling to the ground in disbelief.

Haru: -What power was that? - Wiping the blood off his face. -Grandfather...

-Idiotic fool Osomasu, always underestimating his opponents.

Haru: -What's that feeling? - paralyzed with fear when he heard something coming from his back.

-But I don't blame him, who would have thought, that old bastard had a pupil.

A blue-skinned, long-haired ogre, two horns protruding from his head, stood on the front wall of the dojo, his presence an immeasurable pressure.

- We did well to come from a rummage through his things. - spitting. -the damn race of "maru" always has one more. – Creating in its mouth a beam of immense energy. – say hi to your grandpa in the "other world"!

Haru: - Move... move, you're going to die, you're going to die. – trying to get your legs to take a step.

-Scream of the Demon! - with the mouth open in 4 parts.

-Haru...

Haru hears a calm, relaxing voice that makes him stop shaking right away.

- Great job, you did well to hold them.

A man using an umbrella was present, at that moment a wind blows and the head of the ogre that was on the wall falls to the ground and soon after the body.

Haru: -...! He turned around to see who it was.

Haru looks at that man's face, he didn't show fear, nor fear, but an incredible skill with the shinai, he cut the ogre's head silently and precisely like the wind.

- false demons...

Haru: -you...you are... - falling to the ground. -What is all this? - seeing many things that I had never seen.

-Your grandfather didn't die in an accident. – holding Haru in his arms. I'll tell you everything, Haru.

Haru barely heard the man's words and soon lost consciousness, fainting from weakness.

Haru: -Grandpa...