It has been a while since he last talked with his best and only friend. Bao was surprised at how easy Ning could communicate with complete strangers like Aika, without any restraints or hesitation and even dares to tease them casually. What surprised him, even more, were Aika's aggressive responses to his friend's taunts, Bao had always thought that Japanese people were reserved, calm and polite. Not that stereotypes or origin mattered to him.

A raindrop fell on his arm, then a second, then a third, until the pattering rain against rooftops and streets could be heard throughout the city.

Not again rain thought Bao.

Every day for two consecutive weeks he had not seen the sun once, only thick black clouds illuminated by random appearing lightning and water, tons of water.

His steps increased in speed and splattered through the small ponds formed on the street until he reached the roof which covered his' house entrance. The clothes pressed down on his shoulders and his shoes covered in mud. If he would wring out his shirt a whole river would have probably been created.

"I'm home!" The door squeaked loud when he opened it and to Bao's surprise, he found himself in complete darkness. "Hello? Is anyone at home?" Only his own voice answered him. "Anyone? Why is nobody here? Mother and sister should've returned by now."

A footstep and the sound of a chair screeching over the pavement could be heard in the kitchen. Bao ducked out of instinct and grabbed an umbrella out of a bucket near the entrance. Armed with it he sneaked towards the kitchen door.

"Hello! Whoever it is I warn you, I'm armed!" It was a desperate bluff to deter any possible burglar, not that there was much to steal in the first place.

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He reached for the doorknob with one hand, while the other still held the improvised weapon, a cheap umbrella from the nearest seven eleven store. An ear-deafening sound and Bao let the umbrella fall, shocked from the sudden sound. His ears still rang, when the lights lit up and glittering pieces of paper in all kind of colours poured down from the roof. Around the table, on which stood a well-decorated cake, stood his father, mother and sister with strange cones in their hands. The cord strung over their heads from one shelf to the other had a poster attached to it. Written on it, in curly letters, was the word "Congratulations."

"What... what is going on?" Stuttered Bao his mouth and eyes spread wide open.

"Ahahah too good brother: 'I warn you I'm armed'," Cuifen made a bad imitation of his voice before bursting out in laughter again, filling the whole room with it. "You should have seen your face the moment we switched on the lights, ahaha!"

"We thought that it would be a good idea to organize a small surprise party for your successful job application." His father stepped towards him swinging his big arms and giving Bao three vigorous pats on the back which normally would have caused Bao to lose balance, but not this time. He stood still. "I... I'm surprised son, did you by chance secretly snuck into a gym or since when did you become so muscular?"

Bao looked down at his arms and legs, just to notice that his father was right. The bones, that before could be clearly seen, were now hidden under a defined muscle structure, not like that of a bodybuilder but never the less a decent achievement he could be proud of. A bright smile showed on his face, he no longer had to avoid looking at his own reflection.

"So... something like that I guess." Bao stuttered, still looking at his limbs, surprised.

"We are so happy that you finally got a job, Bao." His mother stepped forward interrupting Bao's admiration of his own body. "Even though it is only a part-time job, it is a step forward. You did great son." It was the first time he saw a smile on his mother's face since his release but why could she never be happy for what he had already achieved? He had just gotten his first job and she was already ranting about it being only a part-time job, Bao thought.

"It doesn't happen every day that your mother bakes a cake for us, so let's dig in." His father interrupted his thoughts.

"Yaay, thank you, mom!" Cuifen hugged her mother.