~~ • ~~

Now, we stood in front of the garage.

The doors were wide open.

Inside, Father sat in the driver’s seat. A silver Avanza—not exactly new, but not quite old enough to be called an antique, either. Its paint was slightly dull, coated in a thin layer of dust.

The engine idled quietly.

The car slowly backed out of the garage.

Yuna and I stood by the door.

Yuna stayed quiet, watching the rear wheel roll

toward her.

It was very close.

Maybe just ten inches from the tip of her sandals.

Her body went stiff.

She didn’t dare to move.

The car kept backing up, passing slowly in front of us.

Once it was far enough, Father turned the steering wheel and parked it in the yard.

I went straight into the garage.

The smell of iron, dust, oil, and damp wood all mixed into one.

I crouched down in front of the pile of tools.

"Car jack..."

My hand reached for the old hydraulic jack in the bottom corner.

I lifted it and set it on the floor near Yuna.

Then I grabbed the lug wrench.

And two jack stands.

I placed them beside me, one by one.

Yuna had been staring at the jack this whole time.

Her hands reached out to lift it.

Her body tilted slightly, bracing against the weight.

It didn’t budge.

"Heavy..."

She gave up immediately.

"Papa, what is this for?"

I glanced over.

"The jack? To lift the car."

"Huh?"

Her expression changed instantly.

"How? It’s so small, but the car is huge."

"You’ll see in a bit."

Father walked over.

"Jack, jack stands, lug wrench."

"Yeah, I know."

"Carb cleaner, flathead screwdriver, ten-millimeter wrench..."

"Yeah, yeah..."

I let out a short sigh.

"I’m looking for them right now."

My hands kept digging through the pile of tools.

Found the screwdriver.

Found the carb cleaner.

I set them aside.

Father was standing right behind me now.

"Sandpaper, a small container, brake fluid, new brake pads."

I stopped.

Stood up.

Looked at Father.

"Why don’t you just do it yourself?"

"I’m just reminding you," he answered casually.

"Besides, I don’t have the strength to take a tire off anymore."

His tone was so casual.

So perfectly ordinary that I couldn’t even bring myself to be annoyed.

I exhaled slowly.

"Fine..."

I crouched back down.

Beside me, Yuna stood quietly, looking back and forth between us.

Like she was watching two old mechanics argue about the exact same thing for the hundredth time.

Found the ten-millimeter spanner.

Twelve-millimeter ring wrench.

Fourteen.

A long bolt.

Coarse sandpaper.

A small container.

Everything was starting to come together.

"Dad, where’s the brake fluid and the new pads?"

Father looked thoughtful for a second.

"Oh, right..."

"They’re inside the car."

He walked away.

I grabbed a few clean sacks and started tossing the tools inside to make them easier to carry.

I hoisted the sack onto my shoulder.

And walked out to the yard.

Yuna immediately followed behind me.

We stopped near the car’s rear wheel.

I set the sack down.

I took all the tools out and arranged them neatly on top of another sack I had laid out as a mat.

The car door opened.

Father stepped out carrying two small boxes.

The new brake pads.

And the brake fluid.

"Here."

He handed them to me.

"Don’t just replace them right away. Check them first."

I frowned.

"Why?"

"Isn’t it easier to just swap them out?"

"To save money."

"Fine, fine..."

I took the boxes and set them down near the other tools.

Just as I was about to start—

"Itsuki."

"Hm?"

"Get some blocks."

"Yeah, yeah..."

I walked to the edge of the yard and grabbed four large rocks.

I wedged them against the front wheels.

In front of and behind the tires.

So the car wouldn’t roll when it was jacked up later.

Meanwhile, Father got into the car and pulled the handbrake.

Click.

I crouched near the rear wheel.

Popped off the hubcap.

The lug nuts were visible underneath.

I grabbed the lug wrench.

Fitted it on.

Then stepped on the end of it with my foot.

Creak.

The nut moved a little.

I stepped on it again.

It started to turn more easily.

One by one.

I loosened the other nuts, too.

I didn’t take the tire off yet.

The nuts were still attached.

Just not as tight.

Father stood a few steps behind me, smoking.

Watching in silence.

I moved to the other wheel.

Started loosening the nuts.

"Papa..."

I glanced over.

"I want to help, too."

"You can’t."

"I can too."

Her face was completely serious.

"I just need to step on the wrench, right?"

"Yeah."

I fitted the lug wrench into place.

Yuna immediately stepped onto the iron bar.

Both her hands gripped the body of the car.

Her tiny frame tried to apply pressure.

It didn’t budge.

She tried doing a little hop.

Still nothing.

The nut didn’t even shift a fraction of an inch.

I stared at her flatly.

"Are you done?"

"Why can’t I do it..."

"Get down."

I gently nudged her aside.

"You’re not heavy enough."

I stepped on the lug wrench once.

Creak.

The nut instantly gave way.

Yuna’s mouth fell open slightly.

"Ooh..."

A little while later, all the nuts were finally loose.

I grabbed the jack.

Then crouched by the rear bumper.

"Lifting point..."

I looked under the car.

The differential.

The axle.

The chassis frame.

"Found it."

Yuna crouched down next to me.

Her face was dead serious as she peered under the car.

"Where?"

"Right there."

She still looked completely lost.

I grabbed another sack to lie on, then slid underneath the car.

I slowly shifted the jack into place.

Perfect fit.

Father walked over.

Crouched down for a second.

Checked the jack’s position.

Then stood back up with a small nod.

I started pumping the jack handle.

Click.

The piston rose slowly.

Made contact with the differential.

Kept going.

Higher.

The car’s body began to lift.

Both tires slowly hung in the air.

Until they were finally suspended about four inches off the ground.

I slid out from under the car.

Grabbed a jack stand.

Placed it under the support point.

Father checked it again.

And gave another small nod.

Beside me, Yuna quietly fetched the other jack stand.

She dragged it slowly toward me.

"Here, Papa."

I glanced at it briefly.

"Yeah. Thanks."

I slid it into place.

I lowered the jack, until the stands were fully supporting the car’s weight.

Then I pulled myself out from under the car again.

_

I took off the lug nuts one by one.

Clack. Clack.

Yuna watched for a moment.

Then, without saying a word, she walked around to the other side.

She crouched near the other wheel.

Her hands started turning the nuts just like I had.

Slowly.

Using both hands at once.

A few moments later—

Pat. Pat.

Small footsteps approached.

"Here, Papa. I took them off."

Several lug nuts rested in the palm of her hand.

I glanced over.

"Just put them over there."

"Okay, Papa."

She walked back to the other side and carefully set the nuts down near the wheel.

I started pulling the tire.

Heavy.

The tire slid off the wheel studs.

Thud.

I lowered it slowly and slid it under the car.

Not too deep.

Just as a failsafe in case the jack stands gave out.

When I stood up—

Yuna was already back.

She looked at me.

Then she started heading toward the other side to help again.

"Yuna."

She stopped and looked back.

"I’ll do it."

"Why, Papa?"

"It’s heavy."

"Ooh..."

I walked around to the other side.

Took off the second tire.

And slid it under the car as well.

A thin layer of dust coated my hands.

Father walked over.

He had a hammer and a rag in his hands.

I understood immediately.

If the brake drum was stuck or seized, it had to be knocked loose first.

I took them both.

Then grabbed the carb cleaner.

"Yuna, step back."

She immediately took a few steps back behind me.

Pshhh.

The carb cleaner sprayed out in a harsh stream.

I aimed it at the seam of the drum.

The smell of chemicals instantly filled the air.

Once I finished spraying, I partially covered the drum with the rag.

Then—

Clang. Clang. Clang.

The hammer struck the drum.

I tried to turn it a little.

Still stuck.

"Dad, the handbrake."

"Yeah."

Father got into the car.

Click.

The parking brake lever was released.

Now the drum could move a little.

I turned it again.

Clang. Clang.

I tapped it gently all the way around.

Then sprayed it with the carb cleaner again.

Pshhh.

"Yuna."

"Yes, Papa?"

"Get me a long bolt, and the twelve and ten-millimeter wrenches."

Better to ask Yuna than to go back and forth myself.

"Okay, Papa."

She immediately jogged over to the pile of tools on the other side of the car.

. . .

It was taking a while.

I looked over.

"Yuna, hurry up."

"Hold on...!"

Her voice sounded slightly panicked.

Father happened to be walking past.

He crouched near the tools.

Reached out and picked up a few things.

"Here’s the bolt."

"And here are the wrenches."

He handed them to Yuna.

Yuna hurried straight back.

Her hair was a little messy from running.

"Here, Papa."

I took them.

"What took so long?"

"I couldn’t see the numbers..."

To be fair, the size markings on the wrenches were starting to fade and get grimy.

"Never mind."

There were two small holes on the surface of the brake drum.

I inserted the long bolt into one of them.

Turned it slowly with the wrench.

Creak...

The drum started to push outward.

Little by little.

Until finally—

Clunk.

It popped off.

"Oh..."

Yuna’s eyes widened.

"So the bolt is just to take that off..."

"Exactly."

I backed the bolt out and set the drum down beside me.

I briefly inspected the inside surface.

Still fairly smooth.

Not too bad yet.

"Papa..."

"Hm?"

"What’s that called?"

Yuna pointed at the half-circle parts inside.

"Those are the brake pads."

"And this one?"

She pointed to the small cylinder at the top.

"The master cylinder."

"What’s it for?"

"To push the brake pads out when the brake pedal is pressed."

"Mmm..."

Yuna nodded slowly.

Her face was completely serious as she studied it.

I started inspecting the brake pads.

I ran my finger along the friction surface.

Thin.

Way too thin.

The surface had even started to wear completely smooth.

"Hm..."

I stared at it for a few seconds.

"It’s past the minimum limit."

_

"Dad."

Father, who had been standing nearby smoking, walked right over.

"Yeah, what’s up?"

I pointed at the exposed brake pads.

Father only gave them a passing glance.

One look was all it took.

"The pads are worn thin."

He gave a small nod.

"Just replace them."

"Yeah."

Father walked over to the other side to grab the box of new brake pads.

Meanwhile, Yuna was still crouching right beside me.

Her eyes were glued to the brake mechanism.

Way too close.

"Hey, Yuna."

"Hm?"

"Step back a bit."

"Why, Papa?"

"I’m about to take this off."

Yuna took a single step back.

"Further."

"But why..."

"It’s dangerous."

Father’s hand reached out from behind.

He gently pulled Yuna by the shoulder, guiding her behind me.

"Yuna, it really is dangerous."

"So step back."

"Okay..."

Now she was standing behind me.

Right next to Father.

I grabbed the flathead screwdriver.

Wedged the tip against the hook of the return spring.

And pried it.

Stiff.

The spring tension was still strong.

I pushed harder.

Ping—

Suddenly, the spring snapped off and flew across the yard.

Yuna flinched.

Her eyes went wide.

"Yuna..."

I glanced back over my shoulder. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Now do you see why I told you to step back?"

Yuna nodded vigorously.

"Yeah..."

"Now go fetch that spring."

"Okay!"

She immediately trotted off to retrieve it.

Meanwhile, the other spring simply dropped near my feet.

I started pulling the old brake pads off.

The adjuster strut tumbled out with them.

I checked the cylinder.

The rubber seals were still intact.

No leaks.

There was still plenty of grease inside.

"Hm... looks fine."

I grabbed the new brake pads.

Spotless.

Not a speck of dust on them yet.

"Yuna, hurry up."

"Coming!"

Yuna hurried over and handed me the spring.

I set the new pads into their mounting.

Put the adjuster strut back in place.

The bottom spring went in first.

Then the top spring.

I hooked the end of the spring with the screwdriver.

Lodged the tip of the screwdriver into the anchor hole.

And levered it.

It was heavy.

Because the spring had to be stretched by sheer force against its own tension.

Yuna instinctively took a step back again.

Click.

The spring slipped into place.

"Done."

I picked up the brake drum and slid it back on.

Then I slipped the screwdriver into the small hole for the automatic adjuster.

Click. Click.

I adjusted the clearance of the brake pads.

I tried giving the drum a spin.

Stuck.

Too tight.

I backed it off a notch.

Now the drum turned freely.

The friction felt just right.

"There we go..."

I gave a small nod to myself.

"Finished."

"What about the other side?"

Father’s voice came from behind me.

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

I moved over to the other wheel.

And did the exact same thing all over again.

Remove.

Inspect.

Install.

Adjust.

It went much faster this time.

Because the process was identical.

A little while later—

"Done."

I stood up, stretching out my lower back.

"Now for the front disc brakes."

I walked to the front of the car.

Father was already standing by the front tire.

"Itsuki."

"Hm?"

"You don’t need to replace the front ones."

"Why not?"

"They’re still thick."

I crouched down and peeked through the spokes of the rim.

The brake pads were indeed still holding up well.

"Hm..."

I gave a small nod.

"You’re right."

I went back to the rear wheels.

And started putting the tires back on.

I threaded the lug nuts on one by one.

In a cross pattern.

Top.

Bottom.

Right.

Left.

"Why do you have to cross them, Papa?"

"So it centers properly. Keeps it balanced. That way it won’t sit crooked."

"What won’t?"

"The tire."

"Ooh..."

Yuna went quiet again, watching closely.

Once all the lug nuts were threaded on—

I fitted the lug wrench into place.

Tightened them down.

Stopped.

Then struck the end of the wrench with the heel of my palm.

Creak.

Tight.

Secure.

I did the exact same for the other tire.

Then I pumped the jack back up.

The car lifted just a fraction.

I pulled the jack stands out.

And slowly lowered the jack.

Once the car’s weight was fully resting on the ground—

I gave the lug nuts one last tightening pass.

Final check.

Done.

I stood up.

And let out a long sigh.

"Haa..."

"Good job, Itsuki."

Father’s voice was completely relaxed.

I cracked a faint smile.

"Haha..."

"Who taught you?"

I glanced over at him.

"You did."

Father let out a soft chuckle through his nose.

I started packing up the tools.

Yuna chipped in to help.

Slowly dragging the heavy jack.

Gathering up the scattered wrenches.

Folding up the empty sacks.

Father popped the hood.

And topped off the reservoir with fresh brake fluid.

Yuna immediately trotted over.

Peeking in from the side.

"You want to come along, Yuna?"

"Hm?"

Yuna looked up at him.

"Where are we going, Grandpa?"

"To test the brakes."

Yuna’s eyes instantly lit up.

"I wanna go!"

Father climbed into the driver’s seat.

Yuna scrambled into the passenger side.

The doors shut.

Father leaned out the window.

"Itsuki! You coming?"

"Nope."

"Suit yourself."

The engine purred to life.

The car slowly rolled out of the yard.

And headed down the village road.

Meanwhile, I hoisted up the last sack of tools.

And walked back inside the garage.

~~ • ~~

Theme: Brake Pads — Complete.

~~ • ~~