Moments later, she entered. The room fell silent.
She had an air of confidence, with a radiant complexion and a physique that hinted at her disciplined fitness routine. The boys—including the teacher—couldn't take their eyes off her.
Even the girls, usually animated around Khusi, now exchanged glances of envy and whispered comments under their breath.
"Good morning, class," she began, her voice sweet and melodic, making the boys' hearts melt as if they were turning to liquid plasma. "Shall we start the presentations?"
The class collectively nodded, though half the boys barely registered her words, lost in admiration.
The atmosphere in the class was lighthearted, with the students enjoying playful exchanges with the examiner during each presentation. Laughter echoed between serious discussions, making the session unexpectedly fun.
Finally, it was Khusi's team's turn.
"Khusi, Aryan, Raizu, and Tenji, please step forward," the examiner announced.
The four of them confidently took their places on the dais. Khusi kicked off the presentation, speaking smoothly, followed by Tenji and Raizu, who elaborated on different aspects of the topic. Aryan, however, stayed near the board, diligently writing equations, pointing at diagrams, and solving calculations.
Midway through, the examiner raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Aryan, why don't you explain it to the class verbally instead of just pointing?"
Before Aryan could respond, a voice rang out from the back.
"He can't speak, ma'am! His body's here, but he's got zero presence in our class!"
The room burst into laughter, some students doubling over at the jab. Aryan froze, his ears turning red, while Khusi clenched his fists, glaring at the source of the comment.
The examiner's playful smile vanished, replaced with a steely gaze. "Enough!" she snapped.
The room instantly fell silent, everyone holding their breath as they awaited her reaction.
"QUIET!" Khusi's voice boomed, cutting through the chaos. The laughter stopped abruptly, and the class fell into stunned silence.
He turned to the examiner with a sly smile, winking. "Ma'am, a good heart doesn't need a voice to understand someone. Don't you think so?"
The examiner chuckled softly, but her smile carried a hint of melancholy. "That's true, Khusi. I understand what Aryan is trying to convey perfectly. Perhaps others don't because... well, I thought this class was full of good-hearted boys and girls." She sighed and turned her gaze to the ground, her expression feigning disappointment.
Her subtle jab made the class squirm uncomfortably in their seats.
Kani, a random guy in the back, quickly broke the tension. "Bro Aryan! Why'd you stop at the most exciting part? Resume it, man—I totally get what you're saying!"
Mikka chimed in enthusiastically. "Yeah, Aryan! This is exciting. I want to see you solve it—come on!"
The shift in mood was instantaneous. The teasing had vanished, replaced by genuine curiosity and interest. The class leaned in, fully immersed in Aryan's presentation now.
With a deep breath, Aryan resumed his explanation, this time with newfound confidence. The room was silent, except for the sound of the chalk on the board and Aryan's clear, logical steps.
Everything was finally going smoothly, the presentation now captivating the entire class.
A sudden, deafening BOOM echoed through the school. The walls trembled, and every head whipped toward the left-side window.
"What the—" someone whispered, their voice barely audible over the growing murmurs.
The entire class pressed against the windows, their presentations forgotten. Outside, an eerie blue flame roared fiercely, consuming a nearby building in the adjacent complex.
"What kind of fire is that? It's... it's blue!" Mikka stammered, his eyes wide.
Khusi squinted, his usual confidence giving way to confusion. "I've never seen flames like that before. What's happening?"