Yamamoto, a man of mixed Japanese and German descent, seemed to have an innate fighting spirit. Whenever an argument reached an impasse, he would headbutt the wall until he passed out. To avoid the trouble of hospital visits and police involvement, people around him would yield, allowing him to believe he was invincible.
The perfect mismatch
One day, he met his match in a woman who was his complete opposite. She was so indecisive that even choosing the color of her socks could take hours. They married, and their household became a mix of chaos and silence. Fearing potential harm from their frequent disturbances, neighbors eventually moved away, leaving the couple more unrestrained.
Yamamoto’s tragic accident
One evening, Yamamoto was driving and saw an old man crossing the road. He couldn’t brake in time and collided with the man. Panicked, he checked the old man’s condition. Seeing no one around, he fled the scene. The next day, the local newspaper reported: “Elderly man killed in hit-and-run; driver unknown.” He felt uneasy, but did not turn himself in. As days passed without further news, he felt relieved.
Soon after, his wife gave birth to a boy with a familiar mole on his face. Yamamoto recalled seeing an identical mole on the old man he had hit. Despite trying to dismiss it as a coincidence, an uneasy feeling lingered in his heart.
A cycle of misfortune
From the day his son was born, Yamamoto’s life was filled with accidents and near-death experiences. When his son was just crawling, he knocked over a candle, burning down the Christmas tree and half the house. The boy fell into the sea while playing on a friend’s boat. Yamamoto jumped in to save him, catching pneumonia and nearly dying in the process. When his son swerved in front of him on a bicycle, he fell to avoid hitting him, breaking his arm and leg.
A prophetic dream
One night, Yamamoto dreamed of a temple with an old monk. The monk asked: “Do you have anything to ask me?”
Yamamoto replied: “Master, what is my connection with my son? Who is he really?”
The old monk said: “He is the old man you ran over. You escaped the punishment you deserved, so this must be repaid. You two have been in this cycle for lifetimes, killing each other in turn. To end this, you must repay your debt with kindness. Treat him well, and maybe your karma will turn into something good in the future.”
Seeking redemption
Waking from the dream, Yamamoto was truly afraid for the first time. His wife’s sleep-talking confirmed his path: “Hurry up and pay off the debt. Get peace, and everything will be okay.”
He realized he must atone for his past and treat his son well to transform their bond from one of vengeance to one of kindness.
Translated by Eva
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