Chapter 22: An Unusual Friendship
When the class finally ended, students slowly began leaving the classroom.
Some were still whispering about Mia's disastrous presentation.
Josh Bryant walked past her desk with a smirk.
"Nice speech, Thermopolis."
Several of his friends laughed as they followed him out of the room.
Mia sank lower in her chair.
"I'm never speaking in class again," she muttered.
Lilly leaned against the desk beside her.
"Come on, it wasn't that bad."
"I threw up in front of everyone."
"Okay… it was pretty bad."
Mia groaned and covered her face with both hands.
Meanwhile, Anshul calmly packed his phone into his pocket and walked toward them.
The classroom was almost empty now.
Lilly looked at him with curiosity.
"You handled that situation pretty smoothly back there."
Anshul shrugged slightly.
"I just summarized her argument."
"Most people wouldn't bother."
He smiled faintly.
"I don't like seeing someone embarrassed for no reason."
Mia looked up at him.
"You're being too nice."
"Am I?"
"Yes," she said. "Most people just laugh."
Lilly nodded.
"That's true."
For a moment the three of them stood in silence.
Then Lilly suddenly asked,
"So what exactly are you doing here anyway?"
"Traveling," Anshul replied.
"You just randomly walked into a high school?"
"Basically."
Lilly studied him suspiciously.
"That's the weirdest tourist story I've ever heard."
Anshul laughed quietly.
"Well, it worked. I got to see a very memorable school presentation."
Mia groaned again.
"Please stop reminding me."
Lilly checked her watch.
"We're going to be late for the next class."
Mia looked uncertain.
"Are you staying here?" she asked Anshul.
"For now."
"You can't just wander around the school all day."
"Why not?"
"Because… that's strange."
Lilly grinned.
"He's already strange."
Anshul raised an eyebrow.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
The bell rang again.
Students hurried through the hallway toward their classrooms.
Mia grabbed her bag.
"Well… I guess we'll see you later?"
"Probably."
Lilly pointed toward the exit.
"If you get lost again, just wait near the courtyard."
"Good idea."
As the two girls disappeared into the hallway, Anshul slowly walked outside.
The school courtyard was much quieter now.
A few students sat under the trees eating snacks or reading books.
Anshul found an empty bench and sat down.
For the moment, he had no reason to rush.
The most important event in this world had not happened yet.
Soon, Mia's grandmother would arrive from Genovia.
And Mia would discover the truth about her identity.
Anshul leaned back against the bench and looked up at the sky.
Soft clouds drifted slowly above the city.
Everything felt peaceful.
Compared to other worlds inside the World Theater, this one was extremely calm.
No superpowered battles.
No dangerous conspiracies.
Just ordinary people living ordinary lives.
But that calmness was exactly what made this world valuable.
Because one day, the small kingdom of Genovia could become something much greater.
A safe base for his future plans.
A place where scientists from different worlds could work together without attracting too much attention.
Anshul smiled slightly.
First, however, he needed to continue building a connection with Mia.
Because her future would determine the fate of Genovia.
And through her—
The future of that kingdom might eventually belong to him.