Rick and Morty: Smartest Morty in the multiverse

The rest of the day passed like any other.

Morty drifted from class to class history, math, a drag of a chemistry lab where the teacher droned on about molecular bonds like he was trying to put the room in a coma.

Lunchtime came and went. He sat through it with his tray of mystery meat and overcooked fries, tuning out the low hum of cafeteria chatter. Chad kept his distance. So did most of the others.

A few curious glances came his way Jessica's friends whispering, a junior from the basketball team doing a double take but Morty gave none of it more than a passing thought.

By the last bell, he moved through the halls with the quiet rhythm of a student who'd been doing this his whole life. A few nods. A few looks. Nothing he hadn't expected.

The walk home was unremarkable gray sidewalks, cracked pavement, the usual rows of houses with trimmed lawns and peeling fences. The neighborhood bathed in that soft, dull haze of late afternoon.

Beth's car wasn't in the driveway. Work, probably. She'd be back around dinner.

Morty stepped inside, dropped his bag by the door, and made his way upstairs.

The house hummed with the soft kind of quiet you only got before the evening chaos kicked in.

He peeled off his shoes, loosened the collar of his shirt, and sank onto his bed without a sound.

No portals. No shortcuts.

Just a tired teenager… closing his eyes.

And yet he didn't fall asleep right away.

Because no matter how ordinary the day seemed

Viktor knew better.

The game was already in motion.