Chapter 19: Bad News

Trying to scratch his own back, he kept on tugging, trying to reach the itch, but he fell over his bed and rose on his knees, confused. "Huh?" He cleaned his eyes.

"What the hell"?" He finally reached for the middle of his back. "Can't reach." He said bitterly.

"Uh, piss off." He shouted with an irritated expression. Suzuki then got up and scratched his back against the wall. "Much better." He displayed content.

"Ramen." He sang out loud. "Oh, my beloved cup ramen." His screech went throughout the whole house with his terrible deep vocals.

"Eh, I'm all out?" He shrieked in panic. "No way." He let go of the packet. His stomach rumbled, which caused him further irritation.

"This day! Can't it get any worse?" He asked as he sandwiched his cheeks with his hands. Bothered, he shut closed the door to his apartment with force. Suzuki headed down the stairs with power. With each step he took on the sidewalk, it seemed as if the ground only wanted to crumble beneath him.

"I have had enough." He jerked his arms back and forth.

"Next in line." Said a soothing voice.

"Hmm, can I get a-" He tried ordering from the StarCafe's usual cashier, but she prevented him from talking.

"A medium-dark coffee, Suzuki-San?" Said the cashier with a smile.

"Soothing." He thought to himself in a dreamy world until it suddenly became dark. "Yet, she's a hurdle to get over to get what I truly want." A tear drizzled down his face in his dark, dreamy world.

"I just wanted a hot caramel drizzle coffee." He said, holding his fist up and clenching it.

"Hmm, thanks." He replied in the real world while putting away his wallet and walking off shamelessly.

He took a seat and finally thought about the forgotten stock market app. "I haven't checked them in a while." He cried beneath his breath.

Slowly loading up the app, he typed in the password slowly and clicked the button.

"Suzuki-San?" Screamed the usual barista.

"Ah." Suzuki sounded dead from the inside to the unfortunate steep decline in his investments.

Then, finally hearing the distant voice for the second time, he looked up and faced her. "Hmm?" He mumbled.

"Your coffee is ready." She informed him.

"You almost tore my heart apart." The voice that called his name shook him, fearing talking to a random person. He finally picked up his cup of coffee. "Thanks." He casually said to the barista as he headed towards the creamer section.

"My beloved place." He placed his cup down and pulled out his phone. Then, fearfully, he opened it and realized that all his money had increased drastically.

"Eh?" He was in disbelief. "No way." He reached for the creamers with his other hand while staring at his phone. "Now, I can buy the VR set." He smiled and slid his phone into his pocket.

Finally, at school, Suzuki walked into his classroom, all eyes fixed on him. He nervously stood there.

Looking around, he took a sip out of his hot coffee but spilled some on himself. "Shit, I've done it!" He said inwardly with a depressed expression.

"Hmm?" He hummed out loud to the class in confusion. Luckily, his professor stood up and took the initiative to break the news to him.

"You're here? Welcome." Tora sprung his arms wide open, standing behind his desk. "Sorry, we don't mean to give you the stares." He walked out and closer to Suzuki.

"I also didn't want to do this, but I have to follow through with it." He stood in front of Suzuki.

His heart pounded, his thoughts raced; Suzuki stood there. Flustered, he looked at his professor with fear. "Hmm?" He hummed, quivering in fear.

Unable to wait any longer for the bad news, Suzuki stared into the professor's soul, which prompted him to leak the information. "Your presenting first today, Suzuki-san." Sweat ran down Tora's forehead.

"I'm sorry, but the randomizer app chose you first." He backed up slowly. Facing the board, he told Suzuki of the news he had missed on Friday.

"This is the list of presenters for the project." He informed him with a frightened look.

Suzuki stood there, taking in what had just unfolded. Afraid of talking, he couldn't speak to agree or disagree.

Suzuki was sure that it was impossible to present the project. Yet, he decided to take a seat. Simply courage persuaded him that he somehow could do it with determination in his heart, or could he?

"Why me...?"