They walked alongside the kid—who was soaked, covered in mud, and on the verge of tears—so that he wouldn't be left alone.

#nana56b



Something unpleasant happened at school today.

I felt like the whole class was giving me cold stares.

On my way home from school that evening, even though it had been sunny that morning, it started pouring rain—just my luck.

Enduring the discomfort of my wet uniform clinging to my skin, I finally managed to squeeze onto the bus.

Then, as I was getting off the bus, my foot slipped on the wet floor, and I took a spectacular tumble.

A few passengers looked up, but they quickly averted their gaze as if they’d lost interest.

“Are you okay?” the driver asked through the rearview mirror, his voice sounding annoyed.

Deep in his eyes, I could see a terribly cold expression.

I didn’t answer and got off the bus as if fleeing.

The rain grew even heavier.

My uniform was covered in mud, and my heart was in pieces. I didn’t care anymore. I just wanted to stand there in the rain and fade away.

Just as I started walking with that thought in mind, I heard a voice from behind me.

“Excuse me. We’d like to go to Shin’en-ji Temple…”

When I turned around, there stood a middle-aged man and a woman who appeared to be his wife.
Honestly, it was a nuisance. I wasn’t in any state to talk to anyone right now. But I didn’t have the courage to ignore them, so I brusquely gave them directions.

“Oh, if that’s where you’re going… just go straight down this street…”
“Oh, that’s a big help. If you don’t mind, would you like to walk with us part of the way?”

The man didn’t seem to notice my grumpy expression; he smiled broadly and held out his umbrella.

“No, thanks. I’m already wet, and I’m going to run home.”
“Come on, it’s no big deal,” he said, ushering me under his umbrella.

I’m a big guy. The man’s umbrella was small, so my shoulders stuck out and got wet.

“I don’t want to get you wet, so maybe I should…”
“I’m already wet anyway. I don’t know the way, so please stick with me.”

Saying that, the man gave my shoulder a light pat.
It was a strange walk. There’s only one road to the temple. There was no way I could get lost.

Eventually, we arrived right in front of my house.

“…This is fine. Thank you very much. The temple is just around that corner.”

I bowed deeply, and the man nodded with satisfaction.

“Thanks, you really helped me out. Wipe yourself off right away or you’ll catch a cold. See you.”

The two of them set off walking through the rain again.

For some reason, I found myself staring after them for a while as they walked away.

Just then, carried on the wind, I heard my wife’s voice.

“Dad, what are you going to the temple for? It’s way past closing time, isn’t it?”

My heart gave a sudden thud deep inside my chest.

I hadn’t had any business at the temple to begin with.

Just so that kid—soaking wet, covered in mud, and on the verge of tears—wouldn’t be left alone, that man had walked all the way to a temple he didn’t even want to go to.

My body, which must have been frozen to …