"How infuriating! Makoto must have been ambushed by those damn Americans!"
In the early hours of the morning, Airi finally returned home, flopping onto the sofa and cursing loudly.
All night long, she and the other girls had been wandering the devastated streets of Tokyo, searching for any trace of Makoto.
But their search yielded nothing.
Marina had tried calling several times, but only got the response: "The number you have dialed is powered off."
Finally, the girls had no choice but to go their separate ways home.
This was the real world, after all. They had families who would be worried if they didn't come home all night.
Also, they needed to explain the whole superpower thing to their families.
Kayoko, who had been waiting all day, poured two glasses of water and handed them to her daughters, comforting them softly, "Don't worry. Makoto is so strong, he'll be fine. Go to sleep. He'll probably be back tomorrow."
Despite her words, all three sat in the living room. None of them moved.
How could they sleep?
The TV was on, playing boring late-night programs, but no one was watching.
The three just waited.
Finally, the first light of dawn streamed into the living room through the window. The glaring light finally snapped them back to reality… it was already the next day.
Click—
Just then, the door opened.
When they saw the familiar figure walk in through the entranceway, everyone froze.
The next moment, all three women rushed forward.
Not just the sisters Airi and Marina, but even Kayoko surged forward, surrounding Makoto.
Makoto instinctively raised his hands, barely able to embrace them all.
"Makoto! Where were you last night? We were so worried!"
"Are you hurt? Do you need to go to the hospital?"
"You scared us! We thought something had happened to you!"
The three women were crying and fussing over him.
It was a bit awkward for Makoto.
Well, what could he do? Mrs. Yukinoshita had been too enthusiastic.
He was starting to understand why some people had that particular preference… married women really knew how to let go.
Even Chizuru, whom he had thoroughly explored, wasn't quite this... open in certain aspects.
Like barking like a dog, for instance...
Certain images from the previous night flashed through his mind. Makoto quickly shook his head, thinking that any more and it wouldn't pass censorship.
Just then, the Aizono sisters noticed their mother had also rushed in with them, and their expressions turned a bit strange.
"Mom, you...?"
Feeling her daughters' peculiar stares, Kayoko's face instantly turned crimson.
"M-Mom is just worried about Makoto too! What's with that look?"
Makoto guided the three women to sit on the sofa, explaining that his Chakra had been depleted yesterday and he had only been putting on a brave front, not wanting his enemies to realize it.
After leaving the airport yesterday, he had intended to come straight home, but halfway there, he was just too exhausted. So, he had checked into a hotel to rest, and his phone had died.
Makoto finished with an apologetic gesture. "Sorry, my fault. I made you worry."
"Don't say that!"
Airi hugged his arm protectively. "It's because we couldn't provide you with enough help."
Marina immediately hugged his other arm, looking at him earnestly. "We will get stronger. We'll definitely be able to help you in the future."
Seeing the sincere look in the sisters' eyes, Makoto was slightly moved and nodded.
What else could he do? He couldn't exactly tell them the truth, could he?
Kayoko looked left and right. Her two daughters had Makoto surrounded tightly on both sides.
Although she should be happy for her daughters, she couldn't help feeling a twinge of jealousy.
After yesterday's turmoil, Tokyo was now a scarred wasteland.
Streets were torn apart, buildings collapsed, ruins and rubble everywhere.
Countless road rollers and excavators worked at high speed to repair the battered city.
Shuchi'in Academy, as the premier school of Japan and the starting point of the conflict, was undoubtedly the most severely damaged area.
Almost the entire campus was leveled. The school building was reduced to half a frame, and the playground was covered in deep gouges and scorch marks.
Adolphe Pescarolo, the principal, stood by the cordon around the campus, gazing at the ruins with deep emotion and sighing. "Ah... how long will it be before the students can return to school?"
Despite his playful nature, he genuinely enjoyed his role as principal and loved interacting with the students. But as soon as he said this, Adolphe couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile.
The global landscape had already undergone earth-shattering changes. Who knew what tomorrow would bring?
Who even cared about trivial matters like school anymore?
"Are they not having school?"
Just then, Adolphe heard a slightly regretful voice behind him.
Assuming it was one of the students, Adolphe turned with a wry smile. "Well, young man, I didn't expect you'd still be thinking about school, with the whole world... Huh?!"
Before he could finish, Adolphe saw the face of the approaching person. His pupils contracted sharply, and he fell to the ground with a thud.
"Long time no see, Principal."
Sunlight streamed from behind, outlining Makoto with a golden halo.
His smile was gentle and friendly, a far cry from the killing machine mode of yesterday.
After a few seconds, Adolphe snapped out of it. He reached out with a trembling hand and, using it for support, managed to stand up again.
Even so, he still trembled all over, not daring to speak, unsure of what this young master wanted.
Makoto turned, looking at the ruins of the school, a hint of genuine regret in his voice. "So, are we all taking a collective leave? Or will we have online classes?"
Adolphe was completely dumbfounded.
'Seriously? You actually want to attend class?'
Adolphe wondered if the thought processes of the strong were always different from ordinary people.
But since Makoto asked, he had to answer honestly. "Well... if we really had to resume classes, then, then online classes would be the only option. I mean, the school is like this. Rebuilding will take at least half a year."
"That's really too bad."
Makoto said, somewhat disappointed.
Honestly, having watched so many anime in his past life about Japanese high school students saving the world, he had been somewhat interested in experiencing high school life in this world after crossing over.
Besides, with so many original characters gathered together, interesting things were bound to happen every few days. He had been quite looking forward to it when he enrolled.
But then, on his very first day, the Reincarnation Game sent him to the Naruto World.
Although Makoto preferred a world of superpowers, he didn't mind occasionally enjoying a bit of everyday life.
And then, after returning, his high school got blown up by him.
Ah, it was all the world's fault.
Hearing the genuine regret in Makoto's tone, Adolphe's mind raced.
Suddenly, a lightbulb went off over his head. Adolphe quickly said:
"Well, Nishikawa-sama..."
"Principal, no need to be so formal."
"Uh, r-right."
Adolphe wiped his sweat. "If you, Nishikawa-kun, really want to experience campus life, I might have an idea."
"Hmm?"
…
Tokyo, Ota Ward.
This was the ward where Haneda International Airport was located, and the most remote district of Tokyo from the city center.
Therefore, during yesterday's disaster, it had suffered the least damage, and some shops were still open as usual.
"Lucky! Kei-chan, this dessert shop is still open!"
Fujiwara Chika, holding the hands of two girls, excitedly pointed at a pink-decorated dessert shop across the street.
Her younger sister, Fujiwara Moeha, on her left, nodded eagerly. "Yeah, yeah! I want a strawberry parfait!"
She was practically a miniature version of Chika.
Even though she was only in middle school, she already possessed a rather impressive figure.
On the other side, Shirogane Kei was speechless. She sighed, "Chika-san, Moeha, the city is like this now, and you still feel like eating out?"
This morning, when she received the invitation from the Fujiwara sisters to hang out, she was somewhat stunned.
The whole world was in turmoil. Who knew what the superpower across the ocean or that unpredictable senior would do next? Yet her friend and her friend's sister still wanted to go out and have fun? Their hearts were just too big.
Chika put her hands on her hips, her expression completely matter-of-fact. "That's exactly why we need to hurry up and have fun! Because the world might end!"
Kei was dumbfounded for the second time.
That made so much sense, she was left speechless.
Coming from a poorer background, she suddenly wondered if she should spend all her savings now… otherwise, she'd die without getting the chance.
Just then, all three of their phones buzzed simultaneously.
They each pulled out their phones and saw that they had received messages from the school network.
"Huh? Classes start tomorrow?!"
Chika shrieked like a startled chicken.
"How can that be? Something this huge happened just yesterday, and we're supposed to go back to school after only one day?" Moeha was also dumbfounded.
Looking closer, the message said: Due to severe damage to Shuchi'in Academy, during the reconstruction period, all teachers and students will temporarily merge with Totsuki Academy. Classes will continue as scheduled.