A year passed since the trip to Hawaii.
This past year has been exceptionally peaceful.
The Reincarnation System was like a middle-aged man in a midlife crisis... having no reaction at all for a whole year.
Makoto finally got to live an ordinary daily life in the real world for an entire year.
September.
The news of the official establishment of the Shuchi'in Superpower Academy spread like a stone dropped into a calm lake, the ripples rapidly extending to every corner of the world.
News headlines, social media... everyone was talking about the same thing.
"Did you hear? That superpower school the Commander opened starts enrollment today."
"S-superpower school? Can that kind of thing be awakened through learning?"
"If I learn, can I sleep with different women every day like the Commander?"
"That's seriously your only ambition?"
"My kid was so excited last night he didn't sleep a wink."
"Isn't your kid only five?"
"So what if he's five? The school has no age limit."
The choice of board chairman surprised everyone... it wasn't Makoto himself, nor his top general Yu, but Nakiri Erina.
The former ninth seat of the Totsuki Academy's Elite Ten, current member of Makoto's harem, and the chef of Makoto's team.
In the original ending of Food Wars!, Erina had inherited her grandfather's mantle and served as the Director of Totsuki Academy. Her management ability was unquestionable.
There was confidence that having her manage this academy would cause no problems.
The school's admission system referenced Orange Academy from the Pokémon World... an idea from the four little ones of the Kessoku Band.
Although they had originally transmigrated to the Kanto region, they had also heard rumors about Orange Academy in the Paldea Region... no age limit, no background restrictions, anyone could attend as long as they registered and passed the entrance exam.
Bocchi sometimes thought that if she had studied there from a young age, she probably wouldn't have become such a shut-in?
On the day of the Shuchi'in Superpower Academy's inaugural entrance exam.
The plaza at the school gate was packed with people.
Examinees, parents, onlookers, media reporters... a sea of dark heads stretching from the school gate all the way to the street corner.
The youngest examinee was held in someone's arms, looking like they had just been weaned a couple of years ago.
The oldest examinee had completely white hair, leaning on a cane, escorted in by their grandchild.
"Wow... so many people!"
Nohara Misae stood on tiptoe to look ahead but could only see the backs of people's heads.
She held her son, Nohara Shinnosuke, with one hand and pushed a stroller with the other, in which sat her young daughter, Nohara Himawari.
The crowd suddenly surged forward, and Misae stumbled a step, bumping into the person next to her.
"Sorry, sorry—"
She quickly apologized, looked up at the other's face, and paused. "Huh? Mrs. Kazama, are you sending your child to school too?"
Kazama Mineko's makeup was heavier than usual, and she wore various rings on her fingers, clearly having prepared meticulously.
She smiled as she covered her mouth. "Well, times are different now. I used to focus on developing my little Toru's foreign language skills, wanting him to become a diplomat, but now superpowered ability is what lets you get ahead."
"Mmm, mmm, mmm~"
Shin-chan, already in elementary school, went up to Kazama Toru, breathed a sigh of air into his best friend's ear, and said, "Kazama-kun, we're going to be together forever~ Hoo—"
"AH~!"
Kazama let out an involuntary moan, his body shuddering violently.
The next second, realizing what happened, he covered his ear and roared at Shin-chan, "Shin-chan! I've told you so many times, don't blow into my ear!"
Shin-chan grinned. "Oh come on, you know you like it."
The examinees entered one after another.
Teachers stood at the school gate maintaining order... Hiratsuka, Itsuki, and a few other unfamiliar faces.
Itsuki's appearance had changed greatly compared to a year ago. Those black-rimmed glasses sat on her nose, bringing out an intellectual beauty on her face that still held a hint of childishness.
She cupped her hands around her mouth and called out to the crowd, "Please maintain order and enter in sequence—"
The prospective students and their parents all knew Itsuki's relationship with Makoto, so naturally, they were cooperative. No one cut in line, and no one dared to make a fuss.
Of course, many noticed the Tailed Beasts lying on the distant school playground, occasionally casting dangerous glances their way.
Misae led Shin-chan to the school gate, glanced at Itsuki who was busy maintaining order, and asked curiously, "Excuse me, Sensei, can superpowers now be awakened through learning?"
Itsuki opened her mouth, about to answer.
"Hey~ Onee-chan—"
Shin-chan had already broken free from Misae's grasp and ran behind a figure with long black hair reaching her waist. He crouched down, wrapped his arms around the long leg wrapped in kimono, and rubbed his cheek against her knee.
"Are you here to take the exam too? Want to take a love test together to check our feelings?"
The woman with long straight black hair turned around and looked down at the little potato kid hanging onto her leg.
Her looks weren't exceptionally beautiful... her features were somewhat plain, her temperament somewhat cool, but her skin was very fair.
She gave a mischievous smile, bent down to pick Shin-chan up from the ground, and said with a grin, "Oh my, sorry little guy, I'm a teacher."
"Shin-chan! What are you doing!"
Misae's voice chased after him from behind, her eyes blazing with anger as she hurried forward to apologize to the female teacher.
"I'm so sorry, so sorry, Sensei. This kid is just too unruly!"
She was genuinely worried. This kid had no sense of propriety. If he accidentally flirted with one of Makoto's women, he wouldn't even know how he died.
"Little guy."
Makoto walked out of the teaching building, looking at Shin-chan with a smile. "Do you like her that much?"
The moment Makoto appeared, the atmosphere on the scene changed.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and bowed their heads in unison, their voices as synchronized as if rehearsed countless times: "Commander!"
Shin-chan looked at Makoto and puffed out his chest. "I like all pretty big sisters!"
Makoto couldn't help but burst out laughing.
He raised an eyebrow at the female teacher, the corner of his mouth curling with mischief. "Hey, hear that, Senpai? It's rare for a little kid to like you so much. Why don't you give him a kiss?"
The female teacher's eyes rolled skyward.
After hesitating for a bit, she finally lowered her head and gave Shin-chan a firm 'smack' on the cheek, leaving a faint teeth mark behind after the kiss.
Shin-chan's body stiffened starting from his toes, his mouth hanging open, his eyes glazed over. He felt incredibly high.
He ascended.