The sunlight shining in his eyes waked Kai up. He got up. He picked up his bag and began walking around to explore the city a little. Kai was bumping into people as he walked. It felt like home. Back Hong Kong there were lots of people around which in a way, gave a sense of security.

He walked some more. Suddenly, Kai’s stomach began to growl. He looked at his watch and gasped. Kai had overslept and now it was 1:30pm. He was really hungry for he hadn’t eaten since last night’s dinner. Kai decided to look for a restaurant.

Meanwhile, Kai’s father was reading the note that he had written:

Father, I heard your phone call last night and I’m angry with you. I thought we would come to Japan to spend some quality time together but I was wrong. You must learn to understand I don’t want to be a businessman. I want to be an actor. It was my dream. If that’s something that you didn’t want me to be then I’m sorry. My future is my decision to make, not yours. I will return but, I’m not sure when. In the meantime do not send any police looking for me. I want to be alone so I can find the real friends I never had. I want the chance to live the life of a normal kid, not a genius. Remember, no police. I will return when I feel forgiveness is the solution.

Kai

Kai staggered for a while and came to a restaurant. The sign read Akama Sushi. He went inside and sat down. He put his backpack on the floor. An old man in an apron came to the table.

"Ok boy, what will you have?" he said.

"I’ll have some chicken udon and some water. That’s all." Kai said.

"You ok kid?" asked the man noticing that Kai looked distressed.

"Yes, I’m all right," said Kai.

"Ok then. So, one chicken udon and some water. Got it, it’ll be here shortly."

Kai was wondering, where were all kids? Kai remembered. Everyone’s in school. Since Kai had dropped out, he had completely forgotten about school. He remembered in grade 7 that people would pick on him and tease him because he was so young. They started to beat him up because they hated him. He was only five or six at the time.

It got so bad that his father asked his father to teach Kai martial arts to defend himself. He remembered his father saying: "I don’t care what you teach him, as long as it stops them from hurting my kid so he can continue his studies!"

Suddenly, Kai came to his senses. His food had come. Kai began eating glutinously for he was famished. Soon, Kai had finished his noodles and water. He was very grateful for the meal so, when the bill came by, he paid a little extra than he was required.

After the old man collected the bill, he came back.

"So kid, shouldn’t you be in school?" asked the man.

"Look at me, am I wearing a uniform? I’m on vacation." said Kai.

"Ok, that covers the fact that your not at school but, why aren’t you with your parents?"

"Look, I’d rather not talk about it ok?" said Kai.

"Come on kid, tell me."

"I said no."

"Look kid, I may be a chef but, if is there’s a problem we can talk about it. I’m always glad to…"

"I DON’T NEED YOUR HELP! SO SHUT UP AND GET BACK TO WORK!"

Kai could not believe what he said. Before he could say anything else, someone grabbed Kai by the shirt and lifted him off his feet. He saw the face of a big tall angry boy. He had a brush cut and a left earring shaped like a dagger.

"No one talks to Mr. Akama like that. It’s simple, you either apologize to Mr. Akama or I beat you a bloody pulp." said the boy.

"Put him down." said Mr. Akama

"But Mr. Akama, he..."

"I said put him down, I mean it."

The boy scoffed and dropped Kai on the floor and went back to taking orders from customers.

"I’m sorry about that young man but, he can get pretty mad at times." said Mr. Akama

"What do you apologize? I’m the one who yelled at you. It should be me who’s apologizing." said Kai.

" No, I understand there’s something bothering you. Your not the first troubled kid I’ve encountered." said Mr. Akama.

"What do you mean?" asked Kai.

"Follow me."

Kai was led to the storage room.

"Sit down."

Kai sat on a cardboard box.

"Any way, you know that big kid who just lifted you in the air?" asked Mr. Akama

"Oh, the one who was going to beat me to death? The one that dropped me like a rock, oh I remember him." Kai said.