The Boy from Nara

"Benjiro!" A voice called from across the hallways in the outside area.

Turning around, Benjiro saw a young, tall boy, around the age of 18, hair as black as the night and eyes as gray as silver.

"Benjiro! Did you read?" The boy held up a newspaper to Benjiro. "You won the contest for 'Best Mechanic.'"

"So?" Benjiro didn't turn an eye to the newspaper as it was being shown to his face. "Stella isn't just a piece of equipment to be awed at by the public. Rather, she is a beautiful piece. There we go."

"Benjiro, really..." The boy closed the newspaper and stuffed it into his pocket. "You should really consider changing that personality of yours. You sound like an edgy male protagonist of some shoujo or shounen manga. It's just plain out annoying."

"Wait. Kotarou." Benjiro formed a smile on his face and pulled his best friend to his side.

"What's with this position?" Kotarou looked at Benjiro weirdly. "You sure you're straight?"

"No," said Benjiro as he grabbed Kotarou's chin and aligned it forward to face what was in front of him. "Look at her. She is a beauty."

In front of the two stood a female robot that went by the name "Stella." The metal plates that surrounded her shimmered under the sunlight.

"Isn't it bad for the computer to be left outside? I mean, it is pretty breezy. Dust might get into the open spaces and cause it to damage." Kotarou questioned.

"Yeah, but I was just taking it outside to shine it up a bit so the room wouldn't get dirty." Benjiro laid his fists on his hips and sighed in relief. "So beautiful."

Kotarou looked at Benjiro with a strange expression, like he was some alien or something. "You know, this is why you can't get a girlfriend. You should just marry Stella at this point."

"Well, then I guess I will." Benjiro nodded his head.

"Anyway," Kotarou rested his hand on Benjiro's shoulder after giving it a pat, "I'll have to head to my next class now. Have some fun with Stella."

Benjiro wasn't what you would a "normal" boy unless you considered nerds "normal."

"It's alright, Stella. No one will understand." Benjiro said as he pressed a button on the side of the android's head, turning it on.

"How may I help you?" The answered after powering up.

"Stella mode, activation."

"Yes." The android paused for a bit before responding back. "Benjiro-kun." The voice of the robot suddenly changed.

"Guess what, Stella?" Benjiro grinned.

"What?" Her voice smiled.

"I apparently got the "Best Mechanic" award. You know, it's a pretty rare thing to receive."

"Good job, Benjiro-kun."

Although it was just an android with no personality and no emotion, this was good enough for the moment, Benjiro thought.

"Alright. Stella mode, off." Benjiro said as followed the android turning off the mode. "Power off."

After shutting down the android, Benjiro returned it to his lab which was located about a mile away from where he was previously. This was one of the most enjoyable times of his day: walking with Stella under the sun, on his way to return her to her original place.

Stella was the one who won the award for him, so he was extra grateful to her. He only expressed his feelings in front of Stella. Not in front of his family, and not even in front of Kotarou. So, truthfully, he was happy about the reward he received. His hard work paid off.

"You really did wow the judges, Stella." Benjiro smiled. However, something or someone caught his eye. He turned his head to find a little girl walking through the college. He quickly turned his head and continued on walking. It was possible that he didn't want to deal with that child.

After that, he quickly returned to the lab room and put the android back to where he had stored it prior. He then closed the door of the case and let out a big sigh. He was socially awkward. A bit of an antisocial.

He then finished up cleaning his lab, returning the different things he used to clean the android and then locked the door. He was very friendly with his science teacher, despite his social anxiety. He was one of the first people in his life that he trusted. Even more than his family. The teacher knew that Benjiro was the type of boy who wasn't rowdy, rather quiet. So, thus the key was given to Benjiro.

Benjiro returned home after the long walk from his college to home. As he walked in, his mother greeted him with a warm greeting, which Benjiro wasn't accustomed to.

"Welcome back. How was school?"

"...It was good."

"That's good. Go up and change then come back down for dinner. We have some exciting news to discuss at dinner!"

Benjiro wondered what the exciting news was, but he knew that his mother was a pretty good secret holder. Not even a chisel could get the secrets out of her.

So, he did as he was told and walked upstairs to his room. His feet twitched as he felt the tatami mat. Being at college for almost 8 hours every day had taken a toll on his feet. Feeling the tatami mat under his feet sent a relief chill up his spine.

As he was making his way for his closet, he suddenly felt a vibration in his pocket. It must have been his phone. He reached in his pocket, pressing the power button after he had it in front of his face.

There was a text message from Kotarou, which stated: "Please! Help me! (´༎ຶД༎ຶ`) My math teacher gave us hard a** homework! No one else is helping me out! Please! (PД`q. ) ·. ' ゜"

Benjiro rubbed the area between his two eyes and then replied: "Fine. I'll help you out. But only after dinner."

"Thank you! Are you God? (T⌓T)"

"If I were God, then I wouldn't have created you."

"...I hope that's your way of joking. Anyway, Facetime me later! ( •́ω•̩̥̀ )"

"Great. Something else on my plate now." Benjiro turned off his phone and put it on his desk.

Benjiro then changed his clothes quickly and headed downstairs for dinner.