"Why aren't these students going home?"
Senzaemon arrived at the school gate and, seeing quite a few students gathered together, couldn't help but ask.
He had just received news that his son, who was in Northern Europe, had passed away from a sudden heart attack. He was planning to go receive the body and prepare for the funeral.
His son's sudden departure naturally filled Senzaemon's heart with sorrow, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt.
'Weren't there a few too many people dying from sudden heart attacks lately?'
Watching the news this morning, that world-renowned mystery novelist Kudo Yusaku was also said to have died from a sudden heart attack. And within the school, there had been successive reports of several students collapsing from cardiac arrest.
It was almost as if it had been coordinated.
"Grandfather!"
Seeing Senzaemon approach, Erina and Alice quickly bowed.
When the other students saw the Director of Totsuki Academy appear, they also consciously made way.
Senzaemon looked up and immediately saw four girls in Shuchi'in Academy uniforms lying on the ground, barking like dogs.
"What are they doing?"
Senzaemon felt his worldview was under assault, 'Were young people these days playing this outrageously?'
"Grandfather, actually..."
Alice stood on tiptoe, leaned close to her grandfather's ear, and quickly rattled off the whole story in a chatter.
After hearing it, Senzaemon was speechless again.
He thought to himself, 'Kids these days really were fearless. After witnessing Makoto's power, they still dared to gossip about him behind his back.'
'If they were going to talk, they should at least go home and shut the door. Being so reckless at school… even if Makoto himself couldn't hear them, with his informants everywhere, weren't they afraid someone would tattle?'
"That girl named Katsura Kotonoha was taken away. What does Nishikawa-sama intend to do with her?"
Even though Makoto wasn't present, Senzaemon still used the honorific.
He was genuinely afraid that Yu might suddenly pop up from somewhere and slap him.
But Senzaemon was still too naive. Yu these days was very different from before.
If he heard anyone speaking ill of Makoto again, it wouldn't be resolved with just a slap… he'd just shoot them.
"I don't know. Maybe he's going to give her a sword to kill those guys, or something else."
Alice guessed casually.
Senzaemon also wanted to see what Makoto was up to, so he temporarily set aside the thought of going to deal with his son's funeral arrangements.
The group just waited at the school gate. Although most people vaguely guessed Makoto's plan, they still wanted to see with their own eyes what he would actually do.
"By the way, how are your relationships with Nishikawa-sama getting along?"
Senzaemon suddenly remembered something and turned to ask his two granddaughters.
As he finished speaking, both Erina and Alice's cheeks flushed.
Not just getting along, it was more than that. They had already had negative-distance contact.
One had bitten for Makoto, and the other had given herself completely.
Noticing the shy, girlish demeanor of his two granddaughters, Senzaemon nodded inwardly, 'Good, good. It seemed the plan was progressing more smoothly than I had anticipated.'
Although the possibility wasn't great, if Makoto were to formally marry one of his granddaughters someday, making her Nishikawa Erina or Nishikawa Alice, that would naturally be ideal...
That said, Senzaemon ultimately couldn't bear to push both granddaughters into the same fire pit.
After all, the number of women around Makoto was simply too many.
To put it bluntly, there was only so much 'inventory'. With so many women, how many drops could one person get?
After pondering for a moment, Senzaemon slowly spoke: "Erina, do your best."
As soon as he said this, the expressions of the two sisters, who had been blushing moments ago, changed drastically.
Erina felt a stir of surprise and joy, while Alice's face was filled with shock.
Senzaemon's words clearly meant he was supporting Erina in getting close to Makoto.
"Grandfather, what do you mean by that?"
Alice's expression instantly turned cold.
Since childhood, the elders in the family had always favored Erina.
In the past, what she lost were just a few toys, some snacks.
But this time was different. The man she had set her heart on… her family actually expected her to give him up?
Sensing the coldness in Alice's expression, Senzaemon quickly explained: "Alice, there are indeed too many women around Nishikawa-sama. There's no need for both of you to get involved. That young man named Kurokiba by your side, isn't he also a good choice?"
At first glance, these words sounded like Senzaemon was favoring Alice, letting Erina be the sacrificial lamb while keeping Alice away from the trouble.
But to Alice, it sounded completely different.
"If more mutants like the crab monster appear, can Ryo-kun protect me?"
Alice sneered.
She found her grandfather's idea simply laughable.
Not to mention that she had already given everything to Makoto, her heart already belonging to him.
Moreover, the world was different now.
Turn on the news, and you could see reports of mutants like the crab monster wreaking havoc everywhere. Even if modern weapons could still barely handle them, who could guarantee that terrifying existences like One-Tail from the Naruto World or the Gun Devil from the Chainsaw Man World wouldn't appear?
At that time, could that little follower of hers, Kurokiba Ryo, protect her like Makoto could?
"Alice, this..."
Senzaemon was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to retort.
Erina couldn't bear to watch and said, "Alice, how can you talk to Grandfather like that?"
"Shut up, Erina. Don't act so sanctimonious!"
Alice's emotions flared up. She glared at her cousin with reddened eyes. "Originally, I was thinking of letting you have a share later. Now I take it back. As long as I, Nakiri Alice, am alive, don't even think about stepping foot into the Nishikawa Family!"
The argument grew louder, quickly attracting the attention of the surrounding students.
Utaha, the Aizono sisters, and the others exchanged glances.
'Where did this white-haired girl come from?'
'Acting like she was the main wife?'
Airi, who had been Makoto's first partner in this world, even showed an expression reminiscent of Sasuke.
'What was she talking about?'
Even Erina, who lacked romantic experience, sensed something was wrong.
"Nishikawa-Senpai!"
"Chainsaw-sama!"
Just as Erina was about to press for answers, Yu, Beam, and the others suddenly bowed towards the school building behind them.
Everyone turned to look and saw Makoto walking slowly with Kotonoha.
Nayuta, still lying on Kato Otome's back, sniffed the air, picking up an unusual scent. She said in surprise, "Huh? Makoto, did you turn this big-breasted girl into a weapon human?"
'Transform? Weapon human?'
Hearing these two unfamiliar terms, the Yukinoshita sisters and Hiratsuka, who had lived in the Chainsaw Man World for thirteen years without contacting Makoto, and Chika, who knew nothing about the Reincarnation Game, all looked bewildered.
Kokoro pouted unhappily. "Nayuta, don't call my sister that!"
"Shut up! Let me clean..."
Nayuta raised her hand towards Kokoro, forming a finger seal to activate her ability.
But Makoto suddenly appeared beside her, gently holding her little finger.
"Didn't I tell you not to use your abilities on family?"
Nayuta stuck out her tongue, making a face at Makoto.