Steel Dragon

The morning arrived gray, the sun hidden behind thick clouds. The city was in silence, only the sound of light rain falling on the roof. Mei Mei woke up slowly, with a heavy head. The body seemed not to want to get out of bed, but she got up, feeling a strange emptiness.

In the kitchen, the smell of coffee was weaker than usual. Grandpa sat down slowly, slow steps, a lost look. He picked up the cup with both hands, as if he was afraid of dropping it. Mei Mei observed his face, every wrinkle, every mark of someone who had already been through a lot. It was strange to see grandpa like that, so tired.

She sat next to him, in silence. Grandpa looked at her, tried to smile, but the smile came out small. He kept looking at the rain through the window, as if he was trying to remember something good. Mei Mei held his hand for a moment, feeling the warmth fading from his fingers.

"Is everything okay, grandpa?"

He nodded, but didn't really answer. His breathing was short, his chest rising and falling slowly. Mei Mei felt a knot in her throat, but tried to be strong. She didn't want grandpa to notice how scared she was.

After coffee, Mei Mei went to the garage. The robot was dismantled, the pieces scattered on the floor. She ran her hand over the parts, trying to find something that still worked. She wanted to fix everything, but didn't know where to start. Her hands were shaking slightly.

She stayed there for a while, just listening to the sound of the rain and the wind beating against the door. She thought about how everything had become difficult. Remembered the tournament, the laughs, the humiliation. Thought about the sabotage, Kazuo's origami, the neighborhood full of fear.

It was as if the whole world had decided she didn't deserve to win.

Suddenly, she heard grandpa's cough coming from the living room. She ran inside, found him sitting, with a pale face and closed eyes. For a moment, she thought he was sleeping, but grandpa opened his eyes, smiled at Mei Mei with that calm way as always.

"Mei Mei... come here, please."

She sat beside him, feeling her heart speed up.

"I have something to give you."

Grandpa took from his neck a small pendant, hanging by a simple chain. The pendant was metal, shaped like a dragon, with fine details. He put the pendant in Mei Mei's hand, closing her fingers gently.

"This might be the salvation of Steel Dragon. Protect this pendant. It's more important than you imagine."

Mei Mei stared at the pendant for a while, feeling the cold of the metal on her skin. Grandpa kept talking, his voice getting lower and lower.

"This dragon is your strength. Don't let anyone make you believe you're not capable. Don't give away what's yours to anyone. Remember that, always."

Mei Mei held the pendant tight, trying to memorize every word from grandpa. Silence took over the room, only the sound of the rain outside. Grandpa smiled again, took a deep breath, as if trying to keep that moment forever.

"Promise me you won't give up, Mei Mei."

She nodded, swallowing her tears.

"I promise, grandpa. I swear."

Grandpa's eyes shone a little, but soon he closed his eyes, still holding Mei Mei's hand. His breathing got slower, more spaced. She felt when his hand suddenly got light. Her chest tightened. Grandpa left in silence, without any noise, only the wind beating at the window.

Mei Mei stayed still, holding the pendant and grandpa's hand. She didn't cry at the time. She just stayed there, feeling the emptiness take over the house. After a few minutes, she rested her head on his shoulder, trying to hold the tears, but couldn't.

When she finally got up, she took a blanket and covered grandpa's body. Closed the windows, turned off the lights. Called some neighbors, but nobody wanted to help. Everyone seemed busy, or afraid, or simply didn't care.

Mei Mei did everything alone. Organized the room, arranged grandpa, separated the papers, the little money left.

That afternoon, she went out in the rain to warn some people from the neighborhood. Most only looked from afar, with pity or suspicion. Mei Mei came back home wet, cold, feeling the loneliness hit hard.

She sat on the couch with the pendant in her hands, looking at it like it was the last thing in the world.

She thought about giving up. Grandpa's face, his tired body, the words from the last day, everything played in her head like a bad movie. For a few minutes, she thought she wouldn't be able to handle it.

But then remembered the stories grandpa told when she was a child. He said the dragon never truly died. Always came back to fight, even wounded, even alone.

The night fell, and Mei Mei sat on the porch. The wind was strong, the street lights flickered from far away. She saw the pendant shine under the weak light. Squeezed the metal tight, feeling the dragon engraved there.

"I won't let this name die. I won't run away. Steel Dragon will come back. Even if it's just me, even if everyone mocks, even if no one helps. I swear, grandpa."

She closed her eyes, let a tear fall, but felt a new energy being born inside her chest. It was anger, sadness, and hope all together. It was a promise.

The rest of the night was hard. Mei Mei barely slept, woke up every hour hearing grandpa's voice calling. Dreamed of the robot ready, of the dragon flying over the city, of Kazuo scared. Woke up tired, but on her feet.

The next day started just like the previous, but Mei Mei was different. She tied the pendant around her neck, fixed her hair and went straight to the garage. Wiped her face, turned on the lights and stayed there looking at the robot, feeling grandpa's presence in every part.

Mei Mei put the pendant in the pocket of her jumpsuit, picked up the toolbox and took a deep breath.

"Today will be the first day of the rest of my life. Steel Dragon is not over yet."

Outside, the sun tried to come out from the clouds. Mei Mei smiled, small, but real.

She knew she would still fall again, would still hear laughs, would still feel like running away. But wouldn't back down anymore.

The dragon was going to fly. Even if it was for the last time.