Yukino walked slowly down the hallway of Totsuki Academy. Walking beside her was her sister, Haruno.
The two sisters, who shared about seventy percent of their looks, naturally attracted numerous glances as they walked side by side.
When they were at Shuchi'in Academy, one was in the high school division and the other in the university division, far apart, making it impossible to meet during breaks.
But after the merger with Totsuki, Totsuki had consolidated Shuchi'in's middle, high, and university divisions into one massive teaching building.
Some readers might ask, wouldn't that building be bursting at the seams?
Well, rest assured, many people couldn't make it.
As for the reason... those who know, know.
Haruno had rarely put aside her usual smiling mask. Her expression was slightly serious as she spoke, "Yukino-chan, I heard that almost all the players who entered the game went to Makoto-kun's class. Aren't you going?"
"Why would I go?"
Yukino replied coldly.
She had certainly heard about it… after all, Ran and Sonoko were originally her classmates.
Because of this, another celebrity in their class, Shinichi, had been in a foul mood all morning, and no one dared to talk to him.
In Yukino's view, those people scrambling to get close were clearly trying to become Makoto's lackeys. She would never do such a thing.
"It's about showing your allegiance, Yukino-chan."
Haruno shook her head, sighing softly.
"You think it's easy being a lackey? Don't you know that countless people all over the world are practically breaking their necks for a chance to be Makoto's dog?"
If she herself wasn't in the university division, she would have considered transferring too.
Besides, after yesterday's battle, she could tell Makoto didn't have a high opinion of her, so she dared not act rashly.
If her attempt to flatter ended up annoying him, it would be a loss.
As the sisters walked, they noticed a crowd of onlookers gathered outside a classroom ahead.
A glance at the door frame—
Class 1-F.
It was Makoto's class.
Yukino pretended not to care, but her steps involuntarily faltered.
Haruno saw through her sister's little thoughts and gently took her hand. "Let's go take a look."
But just as they approached, they heard a voice.
"Makoto, he said you're just playing with Ishigami-kun. You don't want to reveal the secret to superpowers because you're afraid someone will surpass you."
The sisters' expressions changed instantly.
They recognized the voice. It was Megumi, one of the people closest to Makoto.
But what truly shocked them was… who would dare talk about Makoto like that behind his back?
Because, even Yukino, who used to argue with everyone, wouldn't dare speak loudly in front of Makoto now.
It wasn't clear why protagonists from other series tolerated things, but Makoto truly wouldn't put up with anything. He would actually kill.
The sisters squeezed through the crowd and looked inside, just in time to see a boy with short, dark blue hair striding towards a young man with silver hair styled in a pompadour, wearing square-rimmed glasses.
"That person is... Eizan Etsuya, one of the Elite Ten Council's members... Huh!?"
Haruno had just recognized him when the blue-haired boy suddenly produced a kunai and stabbed Eizan repeatedly in the chest.
In less than five seconds, Eizan's expression shifted from shock to agony, then he coughed up blood, convulsing.
Finally, the Ninth Seat of the Elite Ten Council, who commanded the most subordinates and wielded the broadest influence among them, collapsed to the floor with a thud.
Dark, almost black, red blood gushed from his mouth and the wounds on his chest. His twitching body was a gruesome sight.
If this had happened two days ago, someone might have vomited from shock.
But after witnessing the bloody scenes brought by Makoto's group yesterday, most people only turned pale and broke out in a cold sweat. The shock was still immense.
"Just cook. Enough with the rambling."
Yu carefully wiped the Flying Thunder God kunai that Makoto had given him clean, then turned to look at the frozen members of the Elite Ten Council, saying coldly, "Cook."
Erina and the others snapped back to reality and immediately lowered their heads, continuing to prepare the food.
Suddenly, as if realizing something, Yu quickly bowed deeply to Makoto, apologizing. "I'm sorry, Nishikawa-senpai, for making a mess while you're eating."
Makoto smiled faintly. "It's fine. I'm used to it."
Honestly, he half expected Yu to say, "You're really going to cook?" and then deal with Erina and the others too.
"I'll take care of it right away."
Yu quickly grabbed the still-twitching leg of Eizan and hurried out of the classroom.
The crowd gathered at the door quickly parted to make way. The Yukinoshita sisters were utterly dumbfounded.
They watched helplessly as Yu dragged the still-breathing Ninth Seat away… oh, wait, he was dead now.
Just as Yu walked out of Makoto's sight, he stomped hard on Eizan's wound. Another spurt of blood, and he was gone.
"He, is he also a player?"
Haruno pointed at the retreating Yu, lowering her voice.
"I, I don't think so..."
Yukino was also quite shaken.
Although she had also killed someone in the Forest of Death, it was forced by the circumstances of the exam.
Someone like Yu, who would kill over a casual remark, truly terrified her. It instantly reminded her of the opening ceremony at Shuchi'in Academy, when Makoto publicly crushed Sawanaga Taisuke's head.
"Makoto, that Ishigami-kun seems to really admire you."
Megumi looked at Makoto and said softly.
She had also been completely stunned earlier.
When she heard Eizan's words, she had thought about teaching him a lesson, but she never expected Yu to be so ruthless, killing him outright.
What shocked everyone even more was that Yu was an ordinary person. He hadn't even trained in Ninjutsu, let alone been to the other world. When a meek person snapped, it was truly terrifying.
Makoto chuckled lightly.
"There's a saying that's unpleasant, but it fits Ishigami perfectly: 'Barking dogs don't bite'."
"Those who yap at everyone like a Chihuahua are the ones most likely to freeze up when it comes to actual action... Hmm?"
Suddenly, Makoto noticed two stunned faces at the classroom door and raised an eyebrow with a smirk.
Yeah, he was talking about those types.
"U-um, N-Nishikawa-sama, here is the appetizer."
Just then, the First Seat of the Elite Ten Council, Tsukasa Eishi, walked over quickly with a tray, his body trembling uncontrollably.
The steel cover over the tray indicated it was Western cuisine.
"Mm, good work."
Makoto nodded slightly.
Hearing the words 'good work', Tsukasa Eishi breathed a sigh of relief.
'Then... he probably wouldn't kill me, right?'