With Makoto's arrival, the gates of Totsuki Academy slowly opened.
Many students from Shuchi'in Academy, who had been focused on seeking shelter, hadn't had a chance to appreciate this prestigious academy, considered the pinnacle of the culinary world.
Unlike ordinary schools, each building here was spaced far apart. In the distance, one could see pastures for livestock and farms for freshwater seafood.
The two principals walking ahead tried every which way to engage Makoto in conversation, while Makoto responded perfunctorily.
Alice whispered, "Someone that strong still needs to go to school?"
"Maybe the way great people think is just different from ours."
Ryo scratched his head, secretly wondering if he should return to Scandinavia.
Even though he tried his best to avoid it, if by some chance he offended Makoto, he'd be dead without knowing how.
He wasn't very confident in his emotional intelligence.
When the group reached the teaching building, Hiratsuka Shizuka, whom they hadn't seen in a while, clapped her hands and announced, "Everyone, check the school bulletin board to see which class you're in. The teachers will come to arrange things later."
With that, Shizuka swallowed hard, turned to Makoto, her voice trembling.
"Th-that, Nishikawa... Sama, who would you like to be classmates with?"
Seeing Shizuka trembling like a Chihuahua, Makoto couldn't help but laugh.
"Relax, Hiratsuka-sensei. I'm more used to your usual habit of hitting people."
'Was this the Iron Fist Shizuka who had defeated countless anime protagonists? A bit disappointing.'
'When did I ever have a habit of hitting people?'
Shizuka muttered inwardly, then carefully asked again, "Th-then, as before, Class 1-F, would that be okay?"
Seeing Makoto nod, Shizuka let out a long breath. "Then just come to the classroom when you're ready."
"Hey, Sensei, could I be in your class?"
Utaha suddenly raised her hand and asked.
"Huh?"
Shizuka looked at Utaha in surprise.
Beside her, Chizuru was also stunned. "Kasumigaoka-senpai, you're in second year, right?"
"So what?"
Utaha crossed her arms, accentuating her perfect curves, which rivaled those of a mature woman.
"I've already self-studied all the high school material. Besides, now that we're superhumans, do we still have to follow school rules?"
That made so much sense, she was left speechless.
But everyone knew the real reason: Utaha just wanted to be in the same class as Makoto.
"Me too!"
Marina, also a year above Makoto, immediately followed.
She could finally fulfill her wish to be in the same class as Makoto.
"Count me in! Count me in!"
Suzuki Sonoko, the second daughter of the Suzuki Family, also ran out from the crowd, pulling Ran along.
Seeing this, Kokoro quickly tugged at her sister's skirt, urgently signaling her.
Although Kotonoha wasn't good with people, she wasn't stupid. She understood her sister's meaning.
'But, but this didn't seem quite right?'
'It would make it seem like I had a special relationship with Makoto.'
Hachiman, walking with Saika, watched this scene blankly, lost in thought.
After a few seconds, Hachiman pulled Saika forward and said quietly:
"Uh, um, Hiratsuka-sensei, could we transfer classes?"
Hearing this, everyone turned to look at this pair.
"Hachiman, Saika, long time no see."
Marina smiled and greeted them.
In the Naruto World, the three had been teammates in the same class.
"It hasn't been that long, really."
Saika smiled shyly.
Looking at his gentle, bashful smile, the expressions of those around them grew strange.
'—Was he really a boy?'
Marina asked curiously, "Why do you want to transfer classes?"
Hachiman forced what he thought was a friendly smile.
"I, well, I just thought I'd make room for Makoto-san's harem."
Hearing this, Megumi, Utaha, and the others, who had a certain ambiguous but unconfirmed relationship with Makoto, instantly blushed.
As for Ran, Kotonoha, and those with absolutely no hint of such a relationship, they turned bright red with embarrassment.
Senzaemon and Adolphe looked at Hachiman in astonishment.
'—You little punk! Trying to steal my thunder, huh?!'
In the end, Hachiman and Saika did not transfer classes.
The main reason was that Marina had been their teammate for nearly half a year, and they had developed some rapport.
Even though Marina mostly felt like a third wheel, she was still a little reluctant to part.
…
Ten minutes later, inside Classroom 1-F.
The class lineup had changed significantly. Besides the now-absent Tobe Kakeru, many new students had joined.
Setting aside Utaha, Marina, Sonoko, Ran, and the others, two unfamiliar faces were in the classroom… Nakiri Erina and Nakiri Alice.
"So beautiful..."
The few boys in the class couldn't help but stare at this pair of cousins.
Erina, radiating a queenly aura, with two strands of blonde hair like elf ears and a top-tier figure.
And Alice, with her obvious foreign lineage, rare white hair, crimson eyes, and porcelain skin that was almost unnaturally pale, yet exquisitely beautiful.
"I remember them... they're Senzaemon-ojii-san's granddaughters, right?" Sonoko observed the pair of cousins, speaking after a moment's thought.
She had also met them at a financial conglomerate gathering not too long ago.
However, Sonoko never had much interest in such gatherings, rarely initiating conversation with others. Usually, people came to curry favor with her.
And Erina wasn't the type to actively flatter others either, so they had almost no interaction.
A flicker of disdain crossed Utaha's eyes.
Senzaemon's intentions were all too easy to guess.
Erina sat in her seat, restless.
Last night, her grandfather had told her and her cousin that they needed to find a way to get along with Makoto. He had even specifically transferred them to the same class as him.
But the problem was, Erina had no idea how to build a good relationship with someone.
Like Sonoko, she was used to people trying to please her. She had never tried to please anyone else.
At this moment, Erina felt as if there were nails in her chair, utterly uncomfortable.
'What to do, what to do, what to do...'
Compared to Erina, who had been pampered since childhood, her cousin Alice wasn't nearly as flustered.
Her ruby-like, almond-shaped eyes occasionally darted glances at Makoto from their corners.
She decided to observe first and approach Makoto when he seemed in a good mood.
"Kato, let's switch seats."
Suddenly, Airi walked over to Megumi and said.
Because Makoto was sitting in his usual seat by the window, he only had one deskmate: Megumi.
At this, all the girls in the class cast hostile glances.
Some thought Airi was too domineering, while others eyed Megumi's seat, calculating… If Megumi agreed, they would fight for it too. If Airi could sit there, why couldn't they?
Megumi glanced silently at Airi, then looked over at Makoto, her meaning clear.
"Airi."
Makoto's tone deepened slightly. Airi immediately understood her boyfriend's meaning, pouting. "Fine, fine. We won't switch."
The corner of Megumi's mouth twitched upwards.
As the MVP of the previous 'Itachi Crush Plan', she believed Makoto wouldn't deny her at least this small courtesy.
Suddenly, Megumi recalled the kiss from Makoto before their return, her cheeks reddening again.
'Should I find a chance to ask him what that was about?'
Just then, footsteps sounded from outside the door.
Everyone turned to see Shizuka walk into the classroom.
"So, um... are you all, uh, done chatting? Time to start class."
Seeing Shizuka so timid and submissive, not just Makoto, but even Marina, Utaha, and Hachiman found it hard to suppress their smiles.
This Iron Fist teacher, known for her decisive and forceful actions, had quite a reputation at Shuchi'in Academy.
Now, acting like a frightened quail, the contrast was just too great.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, please don't be like that. Makoto won't do anything."
Marina, sitting in the front row, spoke with a smile.
'He won't do anything... He killed his way from the Eastern Hemisphere to the Western Hemisphere yesterday...'
Shizuka muttered silently in her heart.
Utaha added, "Sensei-kun might be moody, but he won't bully the weak. Don't worry."
Smack!!
The moment Utaha finished, her shapely, black-stockinged leg was lightly slapped.
Makoto glanced at Utaha, whose face was flushed as she glared at him.
"Who are you calling moody?"
Hearing repeated reassurances from the girls close to Makoto, Shizuka finally relaxed a little and officially started the class.