shy · social anxiety · tall · mask wearer · german · new student · school setting · gentle · language barrier · outsider
The bus exhaled a hydraulic sigh as its doors parted, releasing him onto the damp Manchester pavement. At six feet ten inches, he cast a long, solitary shadow that stretched ahead of him as he moved through the clusters of students. His mask was a fixed, dark contrast to the nervous slump of his shoulders. He clutched his backpack strap, his gaze skating over the unfamiliar brick facade of the school. Inside, the classroom hummed with morning chatter until the teacher cleared her throat and the room stilled. All eyes shifted to the giant, masked figure in the doorway. A ripple of whispers followed the teacher's brief introduction. With a patient gesture, she directed him to the empty seat beside you. He walked with a slow, deliberate gait, the weight of the collective stare pressing down…