Part 19: A Day by the Lake

**Part 19: A Day by the Lake**

The sun rose gently over the horizon as Kyoshi, Hiro, and their father set off for a small, quiet lake nestled in the hills. It had been their father’s idea—a family fishing trip. Kyoshi remembered all too well how much he used to despise these outings in his past life. He'd complain about the boredom, the waiting, and the quiet. But now, everything was different.

As they drove, Kyoshi looked out the window, a soft smile on his face. His dad was humming a tune from the driver's seat, something cheerful from his youth, while Hiro, who was only about seven, fidgeted excitedly beside him in the backseat. Hiro had never been fishing before, and this would be his first time. He was practically bouncing with anticipation.

“I can’t believe we’re going fishing, Kyoshi! I’ve been looking forward to this for days!” Hiro said, his eyes wide with excitement.

Kyoshi chuckled, ruffling his brother's hair. “It’s going to be fun, Hiro. You’ll see.”

His father glanced at him through the rearview mirror, his brow raised slightly. “You’re unusually excited about this trip, Kyoshi,” he said with a playful smile. “I remember the last time we went fishing, you complained the whole time.”

Kyoshi smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, well… things change, Dad.”

His father gave him a knowing look but didn’t press further. Kyoshi could tell that his father was surprised by the sudden shift in his attitude, but he didn’t mind. All Kyoshi wanted was to soak in the moment—to make up for all the time he had missed with his family.

When they finally arrived at the lake, the morning mist hung low over the water, creating a serene atmosphere. The calm, glassy surface reflected the clear sky, broken only by the occasional ripple from a fish below. Kyoshi’s dad got the gear from the car, handing each of his sons a fishing rod.

Hiro’s eyes gleamed as he held the rod for the first time. “I’m going to catch the biggest fish, just watch!”

Kyoshi laughed softly. “I bet you will, little bro. Just make sure you don’t fall in.”

They set up along the shore, casting their lines into the lake. Hiro struggled a bit, but Kyoshi and his dad helped him get the hang of it. The sun rose higher, casting a warm glow on the scene, and time seemed to slow down. For the first time in what felt like ages, Kyoshi wasn’t thinking about the future or the past. He was just there, in the moment, with his dad and Hiro.

“Kyoshi,” his dad said after a while, breaking the comfortable silence. “You’ve really grown up, you know that?”

Kyoshi turned toward his father, who was sitting beside him on the grass, gazing out over the lake. His dad had aged since the last time Kyoshi had truly spent time with him, but his eyes still held that same warmth.

“I’ve been thinking about things lately,” Kyoshi replied quietly. “About how much I missed out on.”

His dad gave him a sidelong glance, his face softening. “What do you mean?”

Kyoshi took a deep breath. “In the past… I didn’t appreciate things like this. I was always focused on other stuff. But now… I just want to make the most of the time we have together.”

His dad didn’t say anything for a moment, simply looking at him with an expression that was both surprised and touched. Then, he placed a hand on Kyoshi’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “I’m glad to hear that, son. Family’s important. And we’re always here, no matter what.”

Kyoshi smiled, feeling a lump rise in his throat. He knew that this time with his dad and brother was something he had taken for granted before. But now, after everything he had experienced, he wasn’t going to let that happen again.

A sudden tug on the line interrupted the moment, and Hiro let out an excited shout. “I got one! I got one!”

Both Kyoshi and his dad jumped up, rushing over to help Hiro reel in his catch. After a bit of a struggle, Hiro managed to pull the fish out of the water, his face beaming with pride. It wasn’t the biggest fish, but to Hiro, it was as if he had just won a prize.

“You did it, Hiro!” Kyoshi cheered, laughing as his little brother held up the fish triumphantly.

Their father chuckled, patting Hiro on the back. “Looks like we’re having fish for dinner tonight.”

The day continued like that—filled with laughter, the occasional catch, and the peaceful sounds of nature around them. Kyoshi found himself enjoying the fishing in a way he never had before. He wasn’t just doing it for the sake of the activity but for the memories he was creating with his dad and Hiro.

As the sun began to set and they packed up their gear, Kyoshi couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him. He had spent so much of his past life distancing himself from his family, especially his brother. But now, being with them like this, he realized just how much he had missed.

As they loaded up the car and headed home, Hiro dozed off in the backseat, clutching his fishing rod like a prized possession. Their dad glanced at Kyoshi again in the rearview mirror, a small smile playing on his lips.

“You’ve really changed, Kyoshi. And I mean that in a good way.”

Kyoshi smiled back. “Thanks, Dad. I’m just trying to do things right this time.”

And as they drove into the dusk, the quiet hum of the car engine filling the silence, Kyoshi felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time—a sense of peace. He knew he couldn’t change the mistakes of his past life, but he could make sure this time was different.

And it started with moments like these.

Chapter end