Long before Uno even joined Hypower, he was enjoying time with his grandparents.
"Grandma! May we have mushroom soup in a bit?" The young boy excitedly cheered out, His grandmother smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Of course we can. And don't forget, after we eat, we're going to the tailors." His grandmother said, as she continued to cook the soup, Uno sprinted up the stairs, his small feet barely making a sound on the wooden steps. As he reached the door to his grandfather’s study, he hesitated for a moment, the memory of his parents still fresh in his mind. He could still see their cold eyes as they shredded one of his first suits, the fabric falling apart like the fragile trust he had in them. His throat tightened, but he shook the thought away and knocked softly on the door.
“Come in, Uno,” his grandfather’s warm voice called out.
Uno pushed the door open and peeked inside. The room was filled with the scent of wood shavings and the faint smell of paint. His grandfather sat at a large oak desk, carefully placing the last piece of a model ship onto the deck. The walls were lined with posters of Uno, captured mid-action during his football training sessions. They were his grandfather’s pride and joy.
“Grandpa!” Uno called out, his voice laced with a mix of excitement and the lingering sadness he tried to hide.
His grandfather looked up, noticing the slight tremor in Uno’s voice. He placed the ship down gently and turned to face his grandson, his eyes softening with understanding. “What’s on your mind, lad?”
Uno hesitated, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. “Do… do you think my suit will be okay at the tailor’s?” he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
His grandfather’s face fell slightly, realizing where Uno’s worry was coming from. He stood up, walking over to Uno, and crouched down to meet him at eye level. “Listen here, Uno. That suit your parents ruined, it was just cloth, but the way they treated you, that wasn’t right. But remember, lad, your grandmother and I, we’re here to make sure nothing like that happens again. Today, we’ll get you a new suit, one that’ll make you feel just as special as you are.”
Uno nodded, though the sadness still lingered in his eyes. “But why did they do it, Grandpa?”
His grandfather sighed deeply, placing a reassuring hand on Uno’s shoulder. “Sometimes, people don’t understand the things that are important to others. They hurt you because they didn’t see how much that suit meant to you. But that doesn’t mean you’re any less deserving of good things, Uno.”
The young boy looked down, absorbing his grandfather’s words. After a moment, he nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Thanks, Grandpa. I’ll try to be brave.”
“That’s my boy,” his grandfather said, pulling Uno into a gentle hug. “Now, how about we head downstairs? I think your grandmother’s almost done with that mushroom soup you love so much.”
The mention of the soup brought a genuine smile to Uno’s face. He nodded eagerly and took his grandfather’s hand as they made their way downstairs. The smell of the soup grew stronger as they approached the kitchen, making Uno’s stomach growl in anticipation.
“There’s my two favorite men!” Uno’s grandmother beamed as they entered the kitchen. She placed the steaming pot of mushroom soup on the table, the aroma filling the room. “Come on, sit down, and let’s eat before it gets cold.”
They sat around the table, and Uno eagerly reached for his bowl, his earlier sadness melting away as he watched his grandmother ladle the creamy soup into it. His grandparents exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with love and concern for the boy who had already endured so much at such a young age.
