Chapter 38 – The New Transfer Student
Monday morning at the school began like any other day.
Students gathered in small groups across the courtyard. Some were chatting loudly, others were rushing toward their classrooms, and a few were still half asleep as they dragged their backpacks behind them.
For most of them, it was just another ordinary school day.
But the administration had something slightly different planned.
Inside the main hall, students slowly gathered for the morning assembly. It was a routine announcement session the school held occasionally when there were important updates.
The principal stood at the front of the stage, adjusting the microphone while the last few students found their seats.
Once the noise in the hall settled down, he began speaking.
"Good morning, everyone."
The students replied half-heartedly.
"Good morning."
The principal smiled slightly before continuing.
"Before classes begin today, we would like to welcome a new transfer student who has recently joined our school."
A few students looked up with mild curiosity.
Transfer students were not unusual, so most people didn't pay much attention at first.
But the principal continued.
"This student is somewhat unique."
That sentence immediately caught the attention of many students.
"He is not only joining us as a student, but he is also already an entrepreneur."
A wave of murmurs spread across the hall.
Some students exchanged confused looks.
The principal continued calmly.
"Over the past year, he founded a technology startup called StudyFlow Technologies."
Now the whispers became louder.
"StudyFlow?"
"Isn't that the study planner website?"
"My cousin uses that!"
The principal nodded.
"Yes, the platform called StudyFlow, which is currently used by hundreds of schools internationally."
Now the entire hall was paying attention.
Students began whispering excitedly.
"Wait… a student built that?"
The principal gestured toward the side of the stage.
"Please welcome Anshul Giri."
For a moment, the hall became quiet.
Then Anshul calmly walked toward the stage.
He didn't try to make a big entrance.
He simply stood beside the principal and gave a small nod to the students.
From the crowd, dozens of curious eyes stared at him.
Some students looked impressed.
Others looked skeptical.
A few looked completely confused.
To them, the idea that someone their age had already started a company sounded almost unbelievable.
The principal continued.
"Despite building a successful startup at such a young age, Anshul has chosen to continue his education here."
He smiled.
"So please make him feel welcome."
A few polite claps echoed through the hall.
Then the assembly ended and students began moving toward their classrooms.
But the whispers didn't stop.
"Did you hear that?"
"He owns a company."
"That website has like thousands of users."
Meanwhile, Anshul quietly followed one of the teachers through the hallway.
He had expected some attention, but the principal's announcement had made his arrival far more public than he anticipated.
Still, he didn't mind too much.
He came here for a reason.
Understanding how students actually studied would help him improve StudyFlow even further.
And being inside a school environment again would give him valuable insights.
As he stepped outside into the courtyard, something caught his attention.
A girl hurried through the school gate riding a small scooter.
Her curly brown hair looked completely untamed.
Large glasses covered most of her face.
And she was trying very hard not to crash into anything.
Unfortunately, she almost did.
The scooter wobbled slightly as she hurried toward the parking area, narrowly avoiding a trash can.
Some nearby students laughed quietly.
The girl quickly parked the scooter and rushed toward the building, trying to pretend nothing had happened.
Watching the scene, Anshul recognized her immediately.
Mia Thermopolis.
Right now she looked exactly like the description he remembered.
Awkward.
Clumsy.
And mostly invisible to the rest of the school.
No one here knew that she was actually the heir to the throne of a small European kingdom called Genovia.
And Mia herself didn't know it either.
But that would change soon.
Very soon.
For now, though, she was simply another student rushing late to class.
And unknowingly, she had just passed by someone whose life was about to become closely connected with hers.