Chapter 46: First Day

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: First Day

Daniel got off the motorcycle with a look of complete satisfaction and handed the sunglasses back to T’Challa.

"Not bad," he muttered.

T’Challa looked like he was about to cry.

This bastard had spent the entire morning having fun, and T’Challa hadn’t even gotten a chance to ride it himself.

Did he have any idea how much fuel this motorcycle burned?

The guy had ridden it all morning long and somehow calculated it perfectly, the tank had run dry the moment they got back.

’I haven’t even touched it yet!’ T’Challa roared inwardly.

If he weren’t so hopelessly outmatched, he would’ve punched Daniel already.

Just because you’re strong, does that mean you can do whatever you want?

T’Challa thought about it carefully.

"...Actually, yeah, it does."

...

A little while later, T’Challa was pushing the motorcycle back into town to refuel it.

The prince was many things, but subtle wasn’t one of them.

It never occurred to him that he could simply buy fuel and bring it back.

Daniel had no intention of reminding him.

A little extra exercise wouldn’t hurt.

...

Time passed quietly.

Before they knew it, the day for Daniel and T’Challa to go to college had arrived.

"Did you pack everything?" Mary asked.

Just before they got into the car, she asked again.

"Relax, everything’s packed," Daniel replied helplessly.

"You said that last time too."

"And it was packed last time too."

"Check again."

Daniel sighed dramatically.

"Mom, I’ve checked it three times."

Only then did Mary seem slightly reassured.

"Let’s go."

Daniel gently pulled Mary towards the car.

John and T’Challa were already seated inside.

Today was the first day, so Mary and John had insisted on driving them there personally.

"We’ll only drop you off at the entrance. We won’t go inside."

Mary had already said that much. How was Daniel supposed to refuse?

The four of them set off together.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, across the Charles River from downtown Boston.

Founded in 1861, though it officially began admitting students in 1865.

Its main campus stretched alongside the Charles River, combining classical architecture with an atmosphere of innovation and academic excellence.

"We’re here," John said steadily.

Daniel looked up through the window.

The first thing that entered his sight was the grand entrance, its architecture carrying the elegant style of a palace.

The car came to a stop.

Daniel and T’Challa got out, grabbed their luggage, and waved toward the two people still inside.

"We’re heading in. You guys can go back now."

"Take care of yourselves," Mary reminded them.

"We know. It’s not far. I’ll come home whenever I have time."

Mary still looked reluctant to leave but eventually nodded. After saying their goodbyes, Daniel and T’Challa entered the campus.

The school was already bustling with activity. Students streamed in from every direction.

Freshmen dragged suitcases behind them, returning students reunited with friends, and parents wandered around carrying boxes and bags.

The entire campus was alive with the energy of a new semester.

"Excuse me," Daniel said, stopping a girl wearing glasses. "Do you know where freshmen registration is?"

The girl had been walking briskly and was clearly annoyed at being stopped.

She was already preparing to snap at him when she looked up.

Then she saw Daniel’s face and her expression changed instantly. She adjusted her glasses and smiled warmly.

"You’re a freshman?"

"Yeah."

Daniel deliberately put on a slightly shy expression. As a man who had been handsome his entire life, he knew exactly how effective that look could be.

The girl immediately brightened.

"Come on, I’ll take you there."

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Daniel’s arm and started leading him away enthusiastically.

T’Challa, standing right beside him, was completely ignored.

Daniel didn’t even have time to pick up his luggage before being dragged off. He could only glance back and give T’Challa a helpless look.

T’Challa rolled his eyes and silently picked up both their bags before following behind.

"By the way," the girl asked while walking, "what department are you in?"

"Engineering."

"Oh!"

She stopped abruptly.

"Oops, wrong way."

She pointed in the opposite direction.

"The Engineering Department is over there. This side is for Physics."

Behind them, T’Challa desperately wanted to announce that he was a Physics major. But he already knew what would happen, she’d ignore him anyway.

So, he silently memorized the location of the Physics registration area and continued following them.

When they finally reached Engineering registration, Daniel completed all the paperwork and collected the necessary materials.

The girl with glasses even insisted on escorting him all the way to his dormitory.

After Daniel politely declined several times, she reluctantly gave up. Still, before leaving, she pointed at him and said.

"I’ll remember you."

Daniel laughed.

"Should I be worried?"

"No."

She grinned.

"I’ll come find you when I have time."

With that, she finally left.

Only after successfully escaping the overly enthusiastic girl did Daniel let out a breath of relief.

Turning to T’Challa, he laughed.

"The girls here are really friendly. Haha... I have a feeling college life is going to be amazing."

T’Challa wasn’t interested in responding, he only wanted to roll his eyes.

"Come on."

Daniel threw an arm around his shoulder.

"I’ll go register with you."

The two of them then headed to the Physics Department and completed T’Challa’s enrollment as well.

As expected, they ended up assigned to the same dormitory. That arrangement had obviously been made by King T’Chaka.

The dorm consisted of two private bedrooms connected to a shared living room.

After stepping inside, both of them nodded in satisfaction.

Not bad at all.

The next half hour was spent cleaning.

With their enhanced physical abilities, neither of them had trouble moving furniture, carrying supplies, or reaching difficult corners.

Every inch of the dorm was cleaned until it practically sparkled.

Living with T’Challa did have one major advantage.

Wherever he went, there were never any cockroaches or mice, it was probably related to the power of Bast, the Panther Goddess.

The divine aura lingering on him naturally intimidated small animals, causing them to flee long before getting close.

After everything was unpacked and organized, the two finally collapsed onto the living room sofa.

"So what now?" T’Challa asked.

"No idea," Daniel replied stiffly.

Thinking was one of his least favorite activities and yet people kept asking him questions.

"Maybe we could walk around campus?" T’Challa suggested. "Get familiar with the place."

"Don’t want to."

"Why?"

"I’ve already seen it."

T’Challa blinked.

"When?"

"Just now."

T’Challa stared at him.

"...Of course you have."

With Daniel’s senses, he probably had the entire campus mapped out already.

Fine.

Whatever.

"I mean, we should do something," T’Challa said with growing irritation. "We’re not seriously going to sit in the dorm all day, are we?"

"The problem is I don’t know what to do."

Daniel slumped deeper into the couch.

Life was boring.

No smartphones.

No videos.

No web novels.

No games.

What kind of miserable era was this?

Suddenly, an idea struck him.

"Oh right."

He sat up.

"Do you know any way to help me sell something?"

T’Challa looked suspicious.

"What exactly do you own that’s worth selling?"

He knew Daniel too well. The guy was practically broke.

The most valuable thing he owned was probably the Vibranium suit he’d gotten from Wakanda.

"That’s not the point," Daniel said. "Just tell me if you know any channels."

T’Challa hesitated.

"Uh..."

After several seconds, he answered honestly.

"No."

"Tch. Useless."

Daniel clicked his tongue in disappointment.

He’d been considering grabbing some materials from outer space and having T’Challa help him sell them.

Lately he’d felt increasingly poor.

"We Wakandans don’t have much contact with the outside world," T’Challa explained.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Wakanda’s been playing isolationist for centuries and only hangs out with itself."

Daniel waved dismissively.

"Forget it. Let’s go outside."

T’Challa stared.

"Weren’t you the one who said you didn’t want to go?"

"I changed my mind."

"..."

There was absolutely no point arguing with this man.

The two wandered aimlessly along the Charles River.

Daniel’s eyes looked unfocused as he pondered how to find someone capable of helping him sell meteorites.

Otherwise, even if he brought valuable resources back from space, they’d just be useless rocks sitting in his hands.

Meanwhile, T’Challa’s attention wandered everywhere.

More specifically, it wandered towards every girl they passed.

The prince was very clearly in his teenage years, and his restless heart was impossible to hide.

With Daniel’s hearing, he frequently heard suspicious creaking noises coming from T’Challa’s bed late at night.

The memory alone gave him chills.

These days, he often slept with earplugs.

"Daniel! Look!"

T’Challa suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

"Over there! There’s a gorgeous girl!"

Daniel followed his gaze.

All he saw was a slightly chubby girl standing near the riverside and not a stunning beauty.

She was just a normal girl.

"Where?" Daniel asked.

"Right there!"

T’Challa pointed excitedly.

Daniel looked again.

Still the same girl.

"That one?"

"That’s the one!"

T’Challa nodded confidently.

Daniel fell silent.

Well... different people had different tastes.

No point criticizing someone else’s preferences.

Without another word, Daniel grabbed T’Challa and started dragging him away before the prince could become rooted to the spot.

"Hey!"

T’Challa protested.

"What are you doing?"

"Saving your dignity."

"I was about to ask for her contact information!"

"Next time. Next time."

Daniel waved him off.

"If you hadn’t dragged me away, I’d have invited her to dinner tonight!"

T’Challa complained indignantly.

Daniel ignored him and continued strolling down the riverside path at a leisurely pace.

Then...

"Hey, Daniel!"

A somewhat familiar voice called out from behind him.