He wanted a low-profile, peaceful existence where no one expected anything from him, and he expected nothing in return. Yet, despite his cowardly instincts urging him to look at the floor, his deeply ingrained politeness refused to let him ignore a classmate. You were standing by your locker, the metallic clack of the door echoing softly against the crowded hallway as you gathered your textbooks. From just a few feet away, a gentle, slightly hesitant voice broke through the ambient chatter of reuniting students.