while I ate my lunch which was rice with sliced bacon inside the rice as I asked the young cook, it was delicious, you can tell the cooks here are experienced when it comes to being flexible with their recipes...

while I was waiting for Kumiko, a girl sat in front of me.

'I wonder what you want this time? apart from class, she didn't talk to me again all week...

I looked at the white-haired girl who sat in front of me.

- Hi Ren, can I sit down?

"You should say that before you sit down right?

- would you tell me no?

"...depending on what you need.

- Why can't you have a little more tact with a lady?

'She doesn't like that I'm familiar with her?

"Because if I treated you like that, I wouldn't consider you close.

- Are you polite with strangers?

"I usually am

Aiko kept thinking about my answer before answering me.

- ...every time I come here, you're ruder, you know?

"...in other words, I consider you close, although if you want I can be polite again, I don't have a problem with that.

Aiko was surprised and even put on an anxious expression for a moment.

-I don't need it, I prefer that you continue treating me as always...

Aiko said as she blushed.

I waited for her to say what she obviously wanted to tell me, and moments later she spoke again.

-Then... I need your help.

“ho… a princess needs help from a commoner.

Aiko upon hearing my words, puffed out her cheeks while she complained.

- If you don't want, then I'll go.

' How cute.

"just kidding, relax Aiko, you're too serious, you have to relax.

-(sigh)

she pouting told me.

- who told you to always talk to me with that cold look...

'I'm sorry for thinking of my sister when I see you pouting, and I'm even more sorry for being angry knowing that I won't see her again...

Still, I tried to reassure the pouting girl, Aiko.

"My face is always like this... and you shouldn't show me that face, you look so pretty, it makes me want to squeeze your cheeks.

Aiko was surprised by my words, before turning her gaze and answering me in a low tone.

-My mother told me something similar... she told me not to show this to my father because he would die of cuteness.

"And I agree with your mother, your cuteness is killer Aiko, by the way, before you blush, how is she doing with your mother?

-I'm not blushing, okay!?

"...

- ha... whenever I come to talk to you somehow I end up losing

Aiko leaned back in his chair before sitting up straight again and answering me trying to hide his blush.

-My mother is calm, she is already recovered, one of the reasons why I came here was because of that, she said that she wants to meet with you personally.

"...I get it, when does she want to meet me?

Aiko smiling told me.

- I will notify you of the date, it is more likely that it will be a few days before the excursion.

"I appreciate the invitation, at any time I am available.

-and the second thing is...

" is?

Aiko took a few moments in which her head turned red and took time to formulate her words, something in which I waited patiently since I have a suspicion of what it is.

- I want to ask you something...

"Go ahead, I'm all ears.

- how can you approach a boy?

'Um... I think it's a bit early for her to approach Kiriko when he's still in full attention mode to Kumiko, but if she's happy, then I guess I can help her.

"Do you usually talk to this guy?

- It's not for me!... It's for a friend, and yes, she sometimes talks to the boy, but he doesn't seem to pay attention to her.

"I got it, um...so, your friend has doubts about how to be closer to his friend right?

- exact

'let's see... considering that we're talking about attracting a 16-year-old boy, it shouldn't be too difficult, especially since Aiko is just a shy girl now, it's going to take a while until she can apply some of what I can tell you

"Very simple, if you have topics that he likes, you can use them to get closer, for example, let's say that the boy likes a book, if you come up with ideas from the book, you can create a chatter, that's what boys usually use for girls, but I guess they must be the other way around too.

"Your opinion should not be taken from an internet page, since in the event that he is attracted to you by that common topic, you will not have a continuation of the topic, because what the page says is usually generic, and you would not have good ideas to follow the same topic, it would be counterproductive, or if you rush the topic too much, it can be bad, in other words, you should let it flow calmly and not force yourself to get closer, understanding is not just through words, you can train together, you can have similar tastes, but you should not force yourself to do it if you don't like something but he does, and if you force yourself to do it just to chat with that person, it would be bad since at some point there will be a break since that would not be a healthy type of approach because its forced.

- And if in case she wants to get closer to something more than a friendship?

"Oh, in that case, it's a little different, there are a few tips, but for now I'll give you a couple to get you going.

"You must be natural, I mean that when you like someone, the person tends to get nervous, for that you must relax before approaching the boy, relax your body well, be yourself, and in case the boy does not approach, take the initiative, approach that boy.

- That could work, although I don't know if it would work with him, after all... he's weird.

"Why? Does he have a lot of girls around?

-yes, he has at least 2 more beautiful girls close to him, and my friend doesn't know how to enter...

'Kara and amerie huh...I guess Kuroka is the usual cold woman.

"Tell your friend to take the initiative, since it doesn't matter who comes first but who gets it.

-umu, I'll think about it.

Aiko said nodding as if she was determined to make it.

"...

-say! my friend would think.

-one way or the other! Thanks for your advice, I'll apply it when I can, see you later.

And she left.

'what the hell was that?

while I was confused by that calm entrance and exit as if someone was going to take away her food, I saw how Kumiko came with Akane to my place.

' What a good convincer, instead of giving me information, she brings me the source of the information directly.

Arriving in front of me, the first thing Akane did was lean in and speak loudly, attracting attention.

-I'm sorry you mistook my shame for trauma!

'why can't they be quieter? What need is there to bring me an arrow called Kiriko's justice, although now that I see it... It seems that Kiriko is ignoring Akane's voice and only paying attention to Kumiko's movements, um... It seems that he is realizing his feelings, and this is good, in the absence, the loss is felt, it does not hurt that he has moved away, he is realizing that the chair next to him feels empty where Kumiko should be, at this rate these 2 will be able to realize their feelings.

I nodded inwardly and turned my attention to Kumiko.

'and you... I can see your contained smile.

holding my head... because I feel like a girl is looking here with needles in her eyes, trying to poke my back, I try to calm the situation down first.

"Please sit down and we can clear up the misunderstanding.

- clear

Akane and Kumiko sat across from me, and I realized my mistake, I bought Kumiko lunch... but I wouldn't know there would be guests.

"If you want, you can eat the bowl of rice, I haven't touched it yet.

- Excuse me, but I don't want to bother

Akane said, politely refusing my plate of food.

' Are you seriously rejecting this luxury? It doesn't matter, more for me.

in response, Kumiko came out to respond to Akane, I thought so that I can eat my food without feeling rejected, but no, she came to bother me with her help.

-Do not worry, he already ate bacon from a lunch box that he has hidden in his backpack.

"...you know it's bad to betray your master traditions, don't you Kumiko? Do you want me to fire you?

Kumiko didn't back down from my words, she even answered me arrogantly.

- And you think I don't know about the ring that Kiriko gave you? Or maybe the new mattress at home, which I can bet, would be for the bed where I should sleep, and the old mattress would be for the floor where you would sleep, came from your earnings?

"Are you telling me that I wouldn't be able to buy you a new mattress with my money? Do you have so little faith in your master?

- Knowing that said mattress is made of feathers and not foam rubber, which I'm sure you would have bought, and that you waited until 10 pm yesterday to get a 2x1 discount on an egg iron, it would be impossible for you to buy something like that and don't believe that high-quality fruit I did not notice.

"tch, when he told me that he left you fruit, I didn't think it would be the equivalent of a whole truckload of it, not even a piece of bacon, for Godness's sake

- even far from me, kiriko worries...

"I would like to give you back, but you still do not experience the pure pleasure of bacon, although you are already progressing.

- You're wrong, I'm not interested in bacon.

Kumiko replied with a flat voice to which I sneered with amusement.

"Ha, do you think the 2 oddly missing slices of bacon from the fridge in the morning just disappeared out of nowhere?

Kumiko looked away as clucked.

- tch, you eat too much bacon all day, how the hell did you find out?

"Ha, you're still too young to fool me in my field.

Akane, who throughout this moment was silent before our exchanged words, tried to ask with a small voice.

-guys?

" what?

-what?

- you are brothers?

Upon hearing the question, I couldn't help but sneer at those words so innocent but so silly at the same time.

"If I were linked in blood with this woman, I would have a blood change, even if there is a 100% risk of death.

Kumiko sneered at me as she said.

-If I was linked to him, I  would let the vampires take all my blood and burn me so that nothing remains of my existence.

"Ha, vampires don't work with humans, even for that you're an idiot.

- Says the guy who argued with the seller for 1 hour because you didn't want to pay one more coin for the slice of bacon you had in your bag, but you didn't want to return it either

Since I couldn't refute Kumiko, I had no choice but to change the subject.

"Don't worry, at least we have 5000 thanks to me.

- but if that guy was my victim, the credit should be mine.

"I planned it.

- and I attracted him.

"tch, I'll be benevolent and give you 20%

at this moment Kumiko almost threw the tray in my face as she answered.

- Damn stingy, you should give me at least 60%.

"No way, okay, 59 to 41.

- 50 to 50.

since he wouldn't give in, Kumiko started using dirty tricks.

"no way-

- Or I'll tell my tutor that it was all your maneuver.

'demons

"Shit, okay, 50 to 50.

Kumiko with an arrogant look continued to press me.

- I changed my mind, it will be 60 to 40, of course, 60 for me

' so you want me to use that, huh?

"ja, do you want to say goodbye to the famous homemade smoked bacon?

Kumiko's smug face immediately changed to despair.

- please forgive me, you will receive 60%.

"and this round I won.

After showing off to Kumiko, I looked at Akane who had her mouth wide open, I coughed a few times and smiled at her.

"As I was saying, you can eat this.

As Akane popped the first spoonful into her mouth, she marveled at the taste, and my smile widened.

- What an incredible flavor, it has bacon inside the rice but it doesn't harass or seem greasy, I wonder how the cook did it

'How beautiful it is when your work gives results.

"Well, you see, the first thing I did in the first days here was to get acquainted with the cooks, showing them cooking tips and I asked all of them that when they give me my food, they always give me my homemade recipe for rice with sliced bacon inside.

Akane was noticeably confused and asked awkwardly.

- Isn't that obsession?

"If you live for more than a month inside a forest with the corpse of a wild boar, no.

- Did you live like this for a month?

" ...was a joke.

'fuck, memories escape me when I get too familiar

"ujum, whatever, why don't you tell me what you need from me?

Akane put her fork down before turning on a serious look and trying to meet my eyes to no avail, even her posture hunched a bit as she tried to tell me as if she was talking to her boss.

-...well, I know you thought I was mistreated in some way, but it's not true, this is just my shyness, so please don't tell anyone.

'um... looking at her, now I know it might not be rape, but this must have been harassment, let's see how much.

I raised my hand and in a quick movement I directed my hand to the rice on Akane's cheek and she raised her arms above her head while trembling since my table is the furthest away and I could even say the most isolated, no one noticed.

'bingo.

I lowered my hand and Akane realized what I had done, she couldn't hide it anymore, so she had no choice but to lower her head and look at the ground.

I tried to suppress my memories about that boy who committed suicide...

and tried to speak as calmly as possible, but my voice automatically became neutral.

"who was?

In a mosquito voice, Akane answered.

-please don't mess

'um... this will be difficult if she doesn't have the will to face them.

"...I guess she must be someone with power for her to be brave enough to mess with you, aren't you noble too?

'If I'm not mistaken, this girl is the second daughter of the Scarletts, one of the 6 great nobles, this woman has as much influence and power as any of the other heroines.

that was my idea, but Kumiko helped me with my misinformation.

-ren, the Scarlett house is known as a family full of strong fire magicians in high positions.

Kumiko looked at the fearful Akane before finishing her words.

-ha... she being weak in fire magic unlike her older sister, her family made her an outcast, in other words, even if she asks her family for help, they will leave her alone.

'Let's see...if the family can't help, I guess I could use public opinion for the followers, but for the leader...in the game, they only said that the bullying leader was someone arrogant, what better than to cure someone arrogant with teaching him some pain so that he understands reality.

I told Kumiko about the school rules.

"I guess we'll have to teach those guys a lesson, considering the upcoming event, for the emotional damage in plain sight, he should be suspended from the academy until the end of the tour if we do something now.

'Of course, I'm not going to knock on the door of their house with weapons... one advantage of the school is that there are many ways to resolve differences between students, including bets that are much safer if you have a mana contract.

Kumiko looked at me with her mouth wide open and slowly spoke.

-did you...did you read the manual rules?

"I'm lazy, not an idiot, of course, I would read something that benefits me and find the gaps to be able to go unnoticed later if necessary.

"Anyway, I think her stalkers are linked to my stalkers, we'll have to get proof after the excursion.

'Let's see if this case can be solved in a simple way, it would be very annoying to have to involve figures from outside the academy in this case, which can be easily solved.

-It seems plausible to me, but what will happen until-

-Please don't!

Akane said as she got up from the table she was sitting at a moment ago, her words left me a bit confused.

'Don't you understand that we want to help you? this even helps the stoic Kumiko who only cared for kiriko before, helping this girl might give her some sense of accomplishment later in helping someone in need.

"..."

-...

"Can you explain why?

Akane said something quite nice and quite stupid at the same time.

- because they would be expelled, and they will not be accepted anywhere.

'Do you really care about that? the future murderous villain, a criminal who left behind very particular massacres, someone that cost my sister many hours to be captured, someone so brutal when killing her targets... are you saying that you don't want them to report the harassment?... really sometimes I can't understand the mind of children.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes and answer him.

"And?

Akane looked visibly surprised at my curt response as if I didn't care about ruining those guys' lives.

-how can you say that? Don't you care that they can't work again in society or anywhere else?

'oh... I see, this girl is just too innocent with the cruelty of others, although I can't tell her I don't give a shit either, I'd better go with arguments.

"I think you were wrong, there are many jobs available outside of working as an awakened with an ALL license, they could work as an adventurer, blacksmith's assistant, bricklayer, hunter, or public official, among many others, not because they were not accepted in some academy of awakened, their life will end, besides, they physically mistreat you, as you say, without rape, yet, but... what do you think will happen if one day one of them comes up with the idea of raping you? Can you say no at that moment? Will you be able to say at that moment that they don't deserve to be expelled? Do you think they will stop bothering you if you leave them like this? that they would change their mind and stop doing it?

- It won't be like that, I'm sure they will stop one day.

' so that's why his hate was so big in the game huh? considering her future path of her, then she will be able to figure it out herself

"Okay... let's make a bet, after school, come to the training rooms, there is a private room with my name written on it, if you don't go, I will gather the evidence today and do my best with the help of kiriko Hakuya to expel them.

- ha... okay, I'll do what you say

"Okay, now finish that bowl of food so you can come back.

Akane had such uncomfortable feelings that she didn't touch her fork, she just answered me.

-I'm not hungry

" it was not a question

-eh?

I seriously looked at this woman and clearly told her my position.

"I said finish it, you already had a bite, so finish it, food doesn't go to waste

-but...

"um?

- o-

-OK.

" very good

while he let her eat with her head down, Kumiko was looking at me.

-' what will you do?

or so said her look.

'what has to be done

I could only answer that, I'm not one of those who give up so easily, if she accepts, things will be easier for everyone.

After the uncomfortable meal, the three of us went back to class, I as always thinking, but Kumiko and Akane didn't say anything all the way when we separated, I nodded to both of them and they returned it and I entered my class.

When I sat down, Kiriko, who was looking at the blackboard, his head gave a perfect 180-degree turn, leaving me with a momentary scare.

' possessed!? oh no, his body turn around with him, damn, I thought I would face an evil soul, that would be scary.

"What do you want kiriko?

- what happened a while ago?

Kiriko asked with evident curiosity and seriousness.

"I don't know what you're talking about

- I talk about that dispute in room B

"You mean that? What does it have?

Kiriko was exalted by my calm words.

- like what do you have!? you put Kumiko in danger

'this guy needs to calm down.

"Relax man, the tutor arrived before that guy could get to hurt us.

- you're sure? I heard you fought him with a wooden sword.

"I just deflected the attack from him, it wasn't a fight, you know how rumors can exaggerate

"Besides, how did you not know that someone was starting to harass Kumiko in class?

-it's...

"It's because Kumiko always comes to this class for you, right?

-...

Kiriko couldn't answer me.

' you have to do your part, prince.

" let me ask you something

- ...forward

"Do you consider Kumiko only as your servant?

Kiriko answered me without blinking.

-obviously not, she is my best friend and I love her very much

" just as a friend?

-...

"Well... it's none of my business, but better put your thoughts in order, for after the excursion, Kumiko should return to your house.

- are you serious?

"I'm almost sure that's what she's going to want, so far she learned cooking from me, you should prepare to receive her

- you're right, I should buy more toiletries as a welcome gift

"..."

'Are you sure that in the character description, they didn't put kiriko as a brainless dense idiot? Holy goddess, help me with this...

"Is it silly to give a girl kitchen stuff as a welcome gift, or do you only see her as a servant?

-Well that...

Kiriko sat in his seat while he thought for a long time, finally, after 2 long minutes he was able to answer me

-Well... you're right, I don't know what to give her and since she often showed me her work, I thought Kumiko would like that.

"ha... I'll explain why I get bored watching idiocy get to such a point, she shows off her work not just because she likes to show off, she does it to receive praise from you, her master

- huh?

"Nothing about huh, it's clear, or are you going to tell me that every time he tells you something, it's just cleaning?

-well...

"...

-...

"By the goddess, you can foresee attacks from blind spots to some extent, but you can't understand signs...?

"ha... looks like I'll have to help you a bit on this, well then, to start a chat...

.
.
.

After school, and after having tried to make Kiriko realize his problem with his relationship with Kumiko because he doesn't even understand what to give him when they meet again, I went to the training grounds.

When I arrived, I sat in a meditation position and waited.

' time to open someone's eyes.