Hajime and Kaori were having a good time reuniting. The two were hugging, and happy that each other was okay. Kaori had stopped crying and Hajime was just stroking her head, but of course Kouki didn't like that.
"Fuu, Kaori is really kind. She cries because of her classmate's survival. However, Nagumo killed a person who was not resisting. We need to talk about that. So does Rimuru. So Kaori, that is enough and you should stay away from Nagumo."
Kouki spoke and several looks of "Recognize the situation!", were thrown at him, but even at such a moment Kouki was unable to consider Kaori's feelings. In fact it could be because he did not want other people to touch Kaori.
"Wait Kouki! It was Nagumo-kun and Rimuru-kun who saved us. How can you say that?"
"Shizuku. Those people had already lost the will to fight. There was no point in killing them. So what Nagumo did is something I can't allow."
"Kouki understand. First of all..."
All the classmates began to argue. Most sided with Shizuku, but Hyama's gang who didn't like Hajime supported Kouki. Kaori had already separated herself from Hajime's chest and was wiping away her tears.
Suddenly a voice came up to shower everyone with cold water.
"What foolish people. Shall we leave Hajime?"
"Ahhhh. Yup, we can go now."
"Yes, they are really foolish. Especially that one over there. Shall we go Rimuru-san?"
Yue spoke in an icy tone and made everyone shut up. Hajime agreed with her proposal and Sakura agreed with her words and even pointed out Kouki as the most foolish of all.
Hajime agreed because he didn't want to talk to his former classmates that he didn't care about. He just wanted to talk a little more with Kaori, but he felt that the Dungeon was not the best place to have a conversation.
Rimuru was still standing around watching how things would unfold.
As they realized that Hajime was leaving Kouki and the others stopped arguing and Kouki spoke
"Stop. We're not done talking yet. I won't consider Nagumo as my companions if he doesn't state his intentions. By the way who do you think you are? You guys can't go around calling people foolish."
"..."
Kouki said something totally irrelevant and everyone was silent. The first to speak was Sakura...
"He must have some problem, right? If Not I recommend he stop talking shit."
"Sakura. I think we'd better just ignore him. Otherwise your patience won't hold up. Let's leave everything to Shizuku-chan."
Rimuru said to leave everything to Shizuku. Actually that's how it had been since school. Leave the troublesome Kouki with Shizuku Yaegashi. Kouki was a little irritated by his words, but he didn't say anything. Shizuku had her hand on her forehead after hearing Kouki's words.
Hajime sighed and said.
"Amanogawa. I neither care nor have any obligation to answer you, whose existence is a joke in many ways. However, I will explain to you why you seem to want to persecute me and my brother."
"Explain? Are you saying that I am wrong? I only said something obvious to one person."
Hajime just ignored Kouki's response and continued.
"You can't fool me."
"What are you saying..."
"You're not angry because we killed people. You're just uncomfortable seeing someone die. Yet you know that woman killed the knights and tried to kill you. That is why you are using the argument of 'killing someone who was not resisting' as your main argument. Isn't it?"
Kouki didn't answer and Hajime continued.
"Being forced to watch someone do things you can't do...those are the reasons for your anger. You are only hiding it in the name of justice. You never change. Always interpreting the situation for your own convenience. You do it as naturally as you breathe."Rimuru said
"Yo...You're wrong! Don't say something for your own convenience! It's true that you killed her!"
The reason Kouki got so angry was because Hajime and Rimuru had hit him in the face. He didn't like seeing someone die and he didn't like being saved either. He wanted to be a hero and not the one who was saved, but he wouldn't admit that. So he used the murder argument to attack Hajime and Rimuru.
"About my brother you should thank him. He only killed that guy because he thought it would be dangerous for you if he stayed alive. About me... I killed my enemy. What's wrong with that?"
"What do you mean what's wrong with it!? It's murder! Of course it's wrong!"
"I have my values and you have yours. Just understand that I will show no mercy to those who oppose me. If I have no use for my enemies I will absolutely kill them. It doesn't matter if they are resisting or not. This is my sense of values cultivated within the abyss. I will not force it on you. Then we're done here."
"What do you mean we're done!? You killed her! I can't let it go! You..."
"You really are an idiot."
Rimuru's cold voice interrupted Kouki.
"Wha...what?"
"Aren't you the one who encouraged everyone to go to war in the first place? What did you think you would do in a war? And another thing, Hajime-kun wouldn't have had to kill her if you had. We could feel your burst of magical power when we were coming and realized that you woke up."
"No... I just didn't want to kill someone defenseless! I'm the hero and I have to do the right thing. I can't let you do wrong and get away with it. I won't accept you as companions like that."
Rimuru remembered that Kouki said nice words for everyone to go to war, but since Kouki had no way to refute that, he just ignored it and answered the other part of his words.
Kouki once again twisted the facts for his own convenience and said things that overflowed with 'fairness'. Hajime couldn't stand this argument any longer and spoke
"You can't let us get away with this, you say? I don't know if you understand, but like I said, anyone who stands in my way..."
Hajime shortened the distance between him and Kouki. Even Kouki who could keep up with Shizuku the fastest of the group, didn't see Hajime coming. Kouki felt an icy metal pressed against his forehead. There was Hajime holding Donner.
"I'll kill him even if he's a former classmate."
Hajime spoke this and released pressure and killing intent. Hajime did not direct murderous intent at some of the students like Kaori, Shizuku or Kosuke, but even those saw the reaction of the others and were scared. Hyama's gang was breaking into a cold sweat and Kouki's legs were shaking. It was as if a waterfall was falling on them.
"Yo..You..."
Kouki tried to speak something, but couldn't because of fear. Then Hajime continued.
"Don't get me wrong, okay? I never thought of coming back to you guys. In fact I'm not your companion. I only came here to save Shirasaki. It will be goodbye after we leave here. I have my own path to take."
Hajime deactivated pressure and collected his weapon and shrugged his shoulders. All the students exhaled in relief and looked at Hajime with complicated expressions. However Kouki couldn't accept it and wanted to argue some more, but before he could
"That's enough Kouki."
Meld had woken up and was fully healed. Kaori gave him a summary of events and he was glad that Hajime and Rimuru were alive. Meld approached him and apologized for not being able to save Hajime in the fight against Behemoth. Hajime was a little embarrassed and said it was okay.
Meld then approached Kouki and apologized.
"Why are you apologizing Meld-san?"
"For not having taught you something crucial on the battlefield.
"What do you mean? you thought us a lot of things"
"Not on any Form of weapon or Swordsmanship butThe determination to kill someone. When the time came I thought about using bandits for that, but I ended up getting closer to more of you and kept putting it off. I was incompetent and for my mistake as an instructor. I apologize."
All the classmates tried to comfort Meld and Kouki finally stopped arguing. He was thinking about Meld's words that said he would make him kill bandits.
There was someone who was still silent It was Kaori, it was not because of what Meld said, but because of Hajime's words.
The sense of values cultivated in the abyss where enemies would be killed without hesitation even a former colleague. They were words Kaori never imagined coming out of Hajime's past. Yet Hajime proved he was serious with the murderous intent he released. Kaori was puzzled by the differences between the current Hajime and the old one. She was worried that he had turned into someone else and had lost his kindness.
As she was thinking Kaori felt someone's gaze on her. She turned around and saw the beautiful blond haired girl looking at her. Kaori realized that this girl was very close to Hajime and stared at her curiously. Yue looked away and said.
"What a disappointment."
"Kh..."
Kaori perfectly understood two words. Yue realized how close Hajime and Kaori were and thought she would have a great rival in love, but when she saw Kaori comparing Hajime to her past self she was disappointed. Kaori couldn't respond and felt defeated.
After that everyone walked back to the surface. The group easily killed the Magical Beasts that tried to attack them, which made the students even more impressed.
Halfway up Suzu tried to ask several questions about what had happened to Hajime and Rimuru, but the group just ignored her.
The Hyama gang was staring at Hajime with envious eyes because of his strength and also because of how close he was to Yue. The gang tried to talk to Shia with wishful expressions, but she just ignored them. Hyama then angrily tried to grab her rabbit ears, but was met with rubber bullets from Hajime who also applied pressure. After that they didn't try anything else.
Nobody tried to talk to Yue or Sakura because they were very intimate.
Nagayama's gang was feeling guilty. They pretended not to see when Hajime was bullied by Hyama and his gang. So they felt that they couldn't complain if Hajime didn't treat them as comrades anymore.
Some of them asked Rimuru if he would return, but he replied that he would go along with his brother. Kaori remained thoughtful the whole way and they finally reached the surface.
Just as they were leaving the Orcus Dungeon...
"'Ah! Papa!"
"Myu!"
Myu came running and jumped at Hajime. Hajime carefully picked her up and lifted her onto his lap.
"Myu don't do that anymore. It's dangerous."
"Sorry."
A little girl appeared calling Hajime her father. The students were confused "how can he be a father!?" They thought and Rimuru explained them so as not to cause misunderstandings. While Rimuru was explaining, Hajime was talking to Myu.
"Where is Tio?"
"She is..."
"I am here. I was taking care of some rough men."
"Ah. I see, where are these suicides?"
Hajime was looking brutal, but Tio warned him that he had already taken care of them. At this moment Rimuru finished his explanation and interrupted
"Tio-san, where is..."
"Ah. She said she would have a surprise for you when she returned."
"A surprise? I'll wait then..."
Rimuru was about to ask about Chloe, but Tio guessed and answered him before he finished. Rimuru was left wondering what the surprise could be and this moment someone who had not heard Rimuru's explanation about Myu arrived. It was Kaori.
"Hajime-kun! What does that mean!? Is she your daughter!? Who's the mother!? Yue-san!? Shia-san!? Or is it that black haired woman!? There are others!? How many did you get pregnant with!? Answer me, Hajime-kun!"
Apparently the shock of seeing Hajime with a daughter was so great for Kaori that she didn't even listen to Rimuru's explanation. She grabbed Hajime by the collar and he was trying to explain that it was a misunderstanding along with Shizuku who was pulling her along while saying "Kaori calm down! You know there's no way she's his daughter!"
After that Kaori was embarrassed as she realized what she was saying. Hajime and Rimuru's group went to the entrance of the town to wait for Chloe.
Kaori followed them still thinking about what to do and the other students went along with her. Kaori had to choose between staying or going with Hajime and didn't know what to do.
When they arrived at the entrance some mercenary friends that Tio had beaten up came to talk to them. The mercenaries wanted Hajime to leave Shia and Myu in exchange for them not killing him. Hajime obviously wouldn't do that, so he beat the men and then lined them up. Hajime shot each of the men in the 'token and everyone was startled.
"Hajime-san is really overprotective of Myu-chan."
Shia commented after watching.
"Yes, but it was also because of Shia."
"Yue-san, is it serious?"
"Hmhm."
"Hajime-san!"
Shia jumped up and hugged Hajime's arm happily. Yue hugged her other arm and Tio let out a perverted statement only to be punished with a slap from Hajime.
Kaori seeing the girls so happy around Hajime realized something. Hajime would not hesitate to use violence, but she finely realized why Hajime would do that. It was to protect the people around him
Hajime had lost an eye, an arm, and his hair had turned white. He must have gone through something terrible for this to happen. His mind and soul must have been near the edge many times or even exceeded it. Yet he was still kind and would do anything to make the people around him smile.
"Why was I hesitating?" Kaori thought. There was Hajime whom she had been looking for all this time. There was no reason to hesitate. She walked towards Hajime.
Hajime went towards Kaori because he saw that she wanted to say something. Hajime noticed Kaori's reaction about him killing someone without hesitation and also about him threatening Kouki. However, he didn't blame her for being frightened by the changes. He knew that he had indeed changed and if Kaori called him 'murderer' he would not be angry.
"Hajime-kun. Can I come with you? No! I will definitely go with you. Then take care of me from now on."
"Eh?"
Hajime let out a confused groan at Kaori's words and she took a deep breath and continued
"I love you."
"Shirasaki..."
Hajime seeing Kaori's determined face had to reconsider his feelings. She certainly was someone important to him. Very important. He might love her, but he wasn't sure. So first he had to confirm something...
"I have someone I love and I can't leave her. Can you accept that?"
He had to think about his feelings about Kaori, but if she didn't accept that Hajime also loves Yue, he certainly wouldn't accept her.
Kaori seemed to expect this answer and spoke
"I know. It's Yue-san, right?"
"Yes. I'm not leaving her for anyone. Do you want to stay with me anyway?"
Kaori thought for a moment and spoke...
"Yes! I don't care. Even if Hajime-kun has another beloved I still want to stay together with you. My love won't lose to anyone."
"I see. Yue, do you mind?"
Yue denied with her head. She saw that Kaori really loved Hajime and if she wanted to go along Yue would not refuse. Even if Hajime said that Kaori was someone special too, Yue wouldn't mind. She just looked at Kaori with a determined look. It was as if she was saying "Get ready, my new rival."
Hajime After confirming with Yue approached Kaori. He placed his hand on her cheek.
"Shirasaki... No. Kaori... You always cared for me above all else and I care for you too. You were the one who wanted to protect me. The one who tried to jump into the abyss to save me and I will never forget that. You are much more important to me than other people. You..."
"Me?"
Kaori's eyes sparkled with anticipation. Hajime moved closer and their faces were inches apart. Hajime finally realized how he feels about Kaori.
"You are a special person to me, and I love you too."
He said this, put his other hand on her waist, and kissed her.
