Chapter 4 — Parents, Memories, and Midnight Sign-In
The door clicked open, and Yaswanth stepped out of his room just as his parents came in. Both looked exhausted, their office bags slung heavily on their shoulders. His mother's eyes were a little red, the faint marks of fatigue showing.
For a moment, Yaswanth's chest tightened.
In his previous life, he had been so wrapped in his own struggles that he hadn't realized just how much they sacrificed for him. Long hours, constant stress, yet they still managed to smile for him. Now, seeing them again with his reborn eyes, the weight of their love and suffering crashed into him like a tidal wave.
"Yaswanth, you've eaten?" his mother asked gently, setting her handbag down.
Her name was Lakshmi, a woman with soft features and a calm, nurturing voice. She had always been gentle with him, her patience endless even when he failed.
His father, Raghav, stood tall and still carried the charm of a man who had aged gracefully. A neat mustache, tired but kind eyes, and the faintest trace of a smile tugging at his lips. In his past life, Yaswanth had thought of his father as strict, but now he saw only the quiet pride behind his gaze.
"Yes, Amma, I was waiting for you," Yaswanth said softly, his voice cracking despite himself. He sat with them at the table, savoring every bite of the simple dinner — rice, sambar, and a bit of pickle. It was the same as countless nights before, but now it felt like treasure.
Afterward, he excused himself and returned to his room. Lying on the bed, he stared at the clock as it ticked toward 11:00 p.m.
He let out a breath. "Tomorrow is the last mock exam… Physics. No homework today." His shoulders eased. For the first time in a long while, his heart felt light.
As the minutes crawled by, midnight approached. A small grin spread across his face.
System… sign in.
DING!
The golden screen appeared.
[CONGRATULATIONS, HOST!]
You have obtained 100% Graduate-Level Mathematics Knowledge.
A tingling wave rushed through his mind. Numbers, formulas, theorems, equations—every bit of advanced mathematics fused seamlessly into his thoughts. Complex integrals, probability distributions, abstract algebra—all of it was his.
His eyes widened as clarity settled in. Compared to the high school syllabus, this knowledge made tomorrow's mock exam look like a child's puzzle.
He chuckled softly, rolling onto his back. "Physics yesterday, Mathematics today… At this rate, I'll crush every subject."
Above him, the ceiling fan spun lazily. His eyelids grew heavy. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but tonight, he drifted into sleep with confidence—and with a secret that could change the world.