A week ago, after everyone got their status plate, Rio had negotiated with Captain Meld to lend Hajime an exclusive, personal workshop. Despite their status as Apostles of God that allowed them to enjoy many privileges, Rio had still had a meeting with the king and the experienced Synergists who worked for the royal family to get his plan approved.

It was fortunate that Rio had enough experience in dealing with people with a high profile. In the past, Rio had been a student council president in his high school and he was quite good at politicking. Also, he was a good conversationalist.

Rio didn't delude himself that he was a master politician, but he knew about politic enough to not seem like a total newbie in front of the king and his loyal officers. Rio treated their meeting as one of his past meetings when he tried to push a proposal for a big scale activity to his former headmaster.

After giving some convincing arguments and promising the king that he and Hajime would share the completed product with the Kingdom, Hajime received his exclusive, personal workshop and resources for his works. As an aside, Rio had done all of those was because of his pity for Hajime when they boy became widely known as the weakest student with a commonplace job.

The location of Hajime's personal workshop was close to Knight's barracks and residential area of the Court Magicians. It was the place where other Synergists who worked for the kingdom were located.

On the way to their destination, Rio and Kouki's group said nothing, advancing in silence. There was an awkward atmosphere around them, but Rio easily disregarded this awkwardness. Kaori was the only one who was oblivious to the awkwardness, but she was ignoring the silence because she was over the moon from finally having a chance to meet her crush after a long week of separation.

"Say, Kaori..." Rio called Kaori abruptly, grabbing other's attention. He was still watching ahead as he walked.

"Yes?" Kaori returned back from her Lala Land and looked at Rio's back since he was walking ahead of the others.

The rest were watching the exchange silently. Inwardly, they were grateful for the sudden change in the mood. But, Rio's next words changed their opinions.

"Do you like Hajime? I mean romantically..."

They all stopped dead on their track. When Rio sensed that, he also stopped, turned around, and saw that they had a dumbstruck expression. However, their reactions had two different meanings.

Kouki and Ryutarou were dumbfounded for they thought that Rio's question was very outrageous in and of itself. They couldn't imagine Kaori having romantic interest toward someone like Hajime Nagumo. They only know Hajime as a no-good Otaku, after all.

Meanwhile, Kaori and Shizuku were speechless because Rio's inquiry had hit the bullseye. Shizuku knew that Kaori had a crush on Hajime and Kaori herself didn't hide it from her best friend—Shizuku. In fact, they had some embarrassing adventures together because of Kaori's wilfulness to get closer to and know Hajime better. For example, a certain visit of two goddesses in the eroge shop in Akihabara. For the more detailed event, you could check out the official materials of Arifureta Sokugyou de Sekai Saikyou.

Back to Rio and the rest of the real heroes of this world...

"W-wait for a sec! What did you mean by that, Rio? There is no way Kaori has THAT kind of interest for Nagumo, right? Am I right, Kaori? What... Kaori? What are you... Don't tell me..."

Kouki had protested first. He didn't want to believe in it, but after looking in Kaori's direction, he saw Kaori's beet-red face and shy expression. It was when Kouki realized that Rio's question was hitting the bullseye. He became speechless and stared at Kaori blankly.

Meanwhile, Rio ignored Kouki who acted like he had lost his family's jewel. Ryutarou was watching the procession with a dumbfounded look. Just like your typical muscle head who was too lazy to use his mind. And Shizuku was watching everything with an anxious look.

Rio returned his intense eyes to Kaori and saw her shy reaction. She couldn't look him in the eyes because he had revealed what she considered as her most embarrassing secret. However, Rio was watching Kaori's reaction with an unamused expression.

Rio was about to give Kaori a piece of his mind. It is true that when Rio read the story, he felt nothing but amus.e.m.e.nt for Hajime's misfortune. But, it was when the event was told as a story.

Rio's current life wasn't a story—at least, in his current perspective, and he saw Hajime as a real living person just like him. Realizing this fact Rio couldn't help but feel pity for him. Rio was only helping Hajime because of his pity for the boy.

"From your reaction, I take it that you like Hajime romantically," Rio clarified and paused for a moment. He then continued on. "Then, I want you to stop that for Hajime's sake, Kaori."

The four teenagers were struck dumb again by Rio's warning. Rio wasn't surprised when Kaori recovered first and glared at him heatedly. In fact, there was a minuscule hatred in her usually kind eyes as she glared at him.

"Why? Why should I stop showing off my feeling towards Nagumo? Who are you to demand that from me?!"

Kouki and the rest were taken aback by the heat and venom in Kaori's tone. It must be the first time for them to see this side of Kaori. However, Rio didn't show any sign of surprise. He always knew that Kaori was far from being flawless. In fact, Kaori was what the Japanese called Yandere type girl. And she inherited this trait from her mother—Kaoruko Shirasaki. Rio knew about this information from the After Story.

Shizuku who was very s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e and sharp probably had guessed where this headed on. She had been sending a desperate look in Rio's direction, pleading to Rio to stop. And though Rio had a plan to pick Shizuku up in the future, he wouldn't just cave in under her desperate look.

"Why, you ask? Because your blind affection for him has been giving him nothing but grief. Do you know that your action in showering him with your attention and affection just hurting him?"

Rio's cold, ruthless words were like a straight hook that punched Kaori's gut. She staggered back with an expression full of disbelief and denial.

"Impossible! Lies! There is no way I am hurting Nagumo!"

"Do you think so? Of course, you think so! How can you be so sure? Because you are blind to the truth! Do you know what everyone around you thinks about that? They think that someone at the bottom of the social ladder like Hajime is unsuited to earn your attention! The idol of everyone and the most beautiful girl in the eyes of many! Do you know what kind of hardship Hajime has endured from boys who envied his position because of your blind attention? Of course, you don't! After all, you are busy fantasizing about your puppy love for him! Do you know how he feels when everyone around him looks at him in contempt? Of course, you don't! You only have a tunnel vision on him alone and disregarding everyone else! Do you know that the bullying he experienced has gone physical? A fat chance, you are!"

Each question and answer Rio spoke out was like a brutal punch that hit Kaori's weakened spirit. The girl was staggering back and had a horrified expression. Though she was an airhead and was oblivious to everything around her for the majority of times, it didn't mean this girl was stupid. She was actually smart and could become very observant if she wanted. However, her fixation for Hajime hampered her brilliant mind. That was why she couldn't see what Hajime endured because of her.

Rio's words like a wake-up slap that awakened her up to the truth that had been eluding her, that made her question her friends as to why they seemed to dislike Hajime when she thought him as an amazing person he was.

"Enough! I wouldn't let you upset Kaori anymore!"

Rio heaved a fed-up sigh when he heard Kouki's loud warning. He turned at the wannabe hero and looked down at him with a condescending look an a.d.u.l.t would give a naughty, misbehaving kid.

Although Rio had yet to finish giving Kaori a piece of his mind, he wouldn't mind allowing her to recover from her shock while he gave Kouki a dressing down.