Although she had heard Makoto's name before… after all, he had appeared on legal programs twice… seeing him punch the Prime Minister's head into a pretzel on live broadcast, in front of the world's cameras, left Erina dumbfounded.
But thinking about it carefully, it didn't seem that surprising. After all, he had just confronted the US President head-on. A mere Japanese Prime Minister was nothing.
"Sis, let's go! Let's go pick up Makoto!"
Just then, Airi, not far from Erina, was flushed with excitement, tugging at her sister's sleeve, ready to dash off.
Her words immediately drew everyone's attention.
Marina nodded firmly, her eyes also betraying barely suppressed urgency.
The next second, the sisters pushed off the ground, moving at speeds far exceeding normal humans.
In the blink of an eye, they vanished beyond the far end of Totsuki Academy's field.
Utaha, Megumi, and the others saw this and, without a moment's hesitation, immediately followed suit.
This time, Ran didn't hesitate either. She was just about to set off after them.
But then, a voice called out from behind her.
"Ran, where are you going?"
Ran paused, turning to look at Shinichi, who had apparently woken up at some point and was now rubbing his neck, his expression dark.
"I, I..."
Ran was suddenly at a loss.
"You're not thinking of going to that murderer, are you?"
Shinichi's voice rose a few octaves, his tone laced with barely suppressed anger.
Ran immediately lowered her head, stammering, unable to get a word out.
"Do you know how many people he's killed? How many have died in this disaster because of him? Snap out of it!"
Shinichi continued, his every word seeming to stand on a moral high ground, as if Ran were about to commit some heinous act.
But just then, a slender leg shot out from the side, kicking him hard in the side. Shinichi was sent sprawling, tumbling half a turn across the ground.
Everyone's expressions changed as they turned to look.
Many recognized her.
Suzuki Sonoko.
"Kudo, who do you think you are? How dare you talk to Ran like that?"
Sonoko stood with one hand on her hip, looking down at him.
Many of Sonoko's acquaintances were seeing her speak in such a tone for the first time. "Do you know what Ran has been through?"
Although Sonoko was used to Shinichi's usual lack of emotional intelligence and his self-righteous, detective-obsessed personality, this time, she was truly furious.
'While Ran was risking her life in another world, fighting monsters, you were probably off somewhere playing your detective games, you bastard.'
Sonoko stepped closer. "And this morning, if Ran hadn't saved you, you'd be dead by Makoto's hand. How do you think you're still alive right now?"
Sonoko took a deep breath, enunciating each word. "What right do you have to talk to Ran like this?"
Shinichi rubbed his sore side, wincing in pain.
Normally, he would have shot back at Sonoko with a retort like 'shrew', but this time, he dared not say a word.
Because he suddenly noticed that Sonoko had addressed him as 'Kudo', not 'Shinichi', the name she had used since childhood.
That hadn't happened in years.
It showed just how angry Sonoko was right now.
"Ran, go on."
Sonoko turned away from him, looking at her best friend, her tone instantly softening.
They had been best friends even before being chosen by the Reincarnation Game.
And during those four years in the Naruto World, Ran had protected Sonoko like an older sister.
It was no exaggeration to say that if Ran asked, Sonoko would even be willing to give her half of her inheritance rights.
"B-but, that, I..."
Ran was still torn, her gaze frequently drifting towards Shinichi, who wasn't speaking anymore but whose face had grown even darker.
Sonoko had had enough. She walked over and, before Shinichi could react, landed another chop to the back of his neck.
With a dull thud, Shinichi crumpled to the floor again.
"Okay, you can go now."
Sonoko clapped her hands together, acting as if nothing had happened.
The students from Shuchi'in Academy and Totsuki Academy watching were stunned.
'Was Suzuki's second daughter always this fierce?'
Among the students, a dark-skinned, sunny-looking boy watching Sonoko felt a flicker of admiration in his gaze.
Seeing her best friend urge her repeatedly, Ran gritted her teeth and rushed towards Haneda Airport.
But neither the Aizono sisters, leading the pack, nor Ran, a step behind, knew that Makoto had already been picked up from the airport.
A stretch Toyota Century, known as the 'Japanese Rolls-Royce', had just pulled out of the airport exit.
Yes, the same model that had hit Hachiman in the original My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected.
Currently, besides the driver, the car held Makoto and Mrs. Yukinoshita.
"I never expected you to come pick me up, Mrs. Yukinoshita."
Makoto leaned back in the plush leather seat, a hint of surprise in his expression.
He hadn't expected her to be the first.
"It's nothing. Aren't we friends?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita smiled slightly, her tone carrying an indefinable closeness.
'Friends?'
Hearing this, Makoto couldn't help but curl his lips in amusement.
"Makoto-kun, you should stay at my place. I've kept your room ready for you."
Mrs. Yukinoshita paused, her gaze turning to him expectantly, her voice carrying a hint of tentative inquiry.
Makoto blinked.
'It wasn't really appropriate to keep staying in someone's wedding house, was it?'
'Though the man of the house was no longer there.'
"The accident involving your husband must have been a significant blow to the Yukinoshita Family, right?"
Mentioning this, Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyes showed a trace of undisguised fatigue.
In the Naruto World, she had been disappointed in her husband's weakness and her daughters' incompetence. But they had lived together for twenty years. Even with that disappointment, his sudden death still brought sadness.
"I've already decided to let Haruno take over my husband's responsibilities earlier than planned."
Mrs. Yukinoshita managed a faint smile. "I hope that child will be alright."
"She'll be fine."
Makoto's tone was confident.
Haruno was a Ninja specializing in Genjutsu.
Letting her loose in the business world, taking on those old foxes, would be like child's play.
Of course, that assumed there weren't other players among those capitalists.
Even if there weren't now, there might be later.
Honestly, the Yukinoshita Family's status probably wouldn't decline due to the head's death… it might even rise.
But losing the pillar of the household, at least the apparent one, still left Mrs. Yukinoshita feeling unaccustomed.
Even though before this, her husband had essentially been a high-level puppet, a mascot at best, having a man around at least brought a sense of peace of mind.
It was a bit like many young people living alone far from home.
Even if most of them didn't live with their parents and only saw them a few times a year, having parents around gave a sense of security, a feeling that there was always a safety net.
But once the parents were gone, that feeling of being adrift would well up, and it was easy to lose emotional balance.
That was why many young people swore they'd never marry, only to feel that fear creeping in as they got older, changing their minds.
That was how Mrs. Yukinoshita felt now.