Chapter 3: The Talkative Professor

Annoyed by his talkative Professor, he looked down at the paper he was grading and softly announced to his teacher, "excuse me, I need to focus."

Happy, Tora smiled and shouted. "Hey, you just spoke to me?"

"Yes, what an accomplishment." celebrated Tora as he walked over to his desk and picked out a pen. "I'm going to take a seat next to you," Tora informed Suzuki but watched on as he silently stood up and moved away from him and to the back of the room.

"Oh, come on, Suzuki. Don't be like that!" Tora expressed his disappointment. But determined, Tora started reminiscing about the first time he had met Suzuki. "Oh yeah, do you remember the first day of school?" Expecting a reply or just a scoff, he paused and smiled, but to no word uttered, he continued, "It was the first day I met you. You were so distant and shut off. It was my fault I gave you guys a choice to pick your seat. I still remember your face when I announced it." Finally, laughing, he managed to speak again, "I remember that smile of relief as you picked out a seat distant from all the others."

Suzuki embarking on that memory, said, "hmm."

He was happy that he had received a reply from his student. Tora took a seat up front and began grading his papers. In the silence, he thought, "this boy reminds me of myself."

After a few minutes, Suzuki stood up and quietly walked over to his teacher, "hmm," he said to announce his presence to him.

"Oh, you're done. Thank you." He stood up and bowed to Suzuki.

Feeling embarrassed, Suzuki left the classroom quietly and headed straight for StarCafe.

He waited in line, quite a while away from the start of first class, with his heart racing to order. This time he was determined to order what he wanted. "Hmm, a Hot Milk Coffee with Caramel drizzle, please." He rehearsed a couple of times until his attention was captivated by a voice.

"Next, please," announced the usual cashier. "Hello, welcome to StarCafe. A medium hot dark coffee, as usual, Mr. Suzuki?" Said the cashier before he even uttered a word.

Enraged in his mind, he raced through ideas. "No, absolutely not! Tell her!" He said to himself, but unable to say a word, he replied. "Hmm, yes." while shaking his head violently.

Disappointed with himself, he took a seat and waited for his order to be called on. "Uh-huh, creamer section, here I come." He sighed as he rested his chin on his hand against the table.

"Mr. Suzuki!" announced the Barista. Picking up his drink, he softly said, "t-thank you," and walked over to the creamer section, where he used massive amounts of creamer and sugar. "Mmm, this is good, I guess." He said to himself while looking at his cup. "Next is school! Let's get this day over with already." He pumped himself up, speeding up towards campus.

***

The Professor mentioned Suzuki's name for his help with the test papers. Everyone applauded him, causing his heart to explode. Then, he buried his flustered face under his hoodie and scoffed, "Hmm."

After class, the majority of the student had already packed and left for their usual routines. But Suzuki sat there, shocked from remembering he had to work today. "Wait, I have to interact with more people?" He said as his spirit left his body.

***

At work, he seemed like the coolest guy ever. The wrinkly and old McRonald's uniform had never looked so good on anyone else. Unlike his usual self, here at work. Suzuki flourished with the number of awards received from the headquarters and customers.

Ding!

"Hello, welcome to McRonald's. What can I get for you today?" Announced Suzuki to his customers. The customers felt at ease with him, so much so that they complimented his looks and forgot to order. "Anyways," he nervously laughed, "Thank you," he said to the polite ladies. "Your orders?" He reminded them.

After a six-hour shift, he left work in a hurry, buried in his hoodie, he complained. "Damn, so much human interaction! I feel dirty!" He called while speeding up.

Finally, reaching his door, he pushed it open with force and announced his arrival. "I'm home," he then took off his shoes and studied for the remaining hour before falling asleep.