WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest Season 2, Episode 4, "Reunion," now streaming on Funimation.
When Arifureta last left Hajime Nagumo and the gang, Tio managed to escape the Grand Gruen Volcano after they were ambushed by the Demon Army general Freid and his bevy of dragons. With Hajime gravely injured, the others had sent Tio out to call for reinforcement. Yet Hajime himself had a plan to escape all along via an underwater boat, and so they did.
As Tio reaches Kaori and Myu, she tells them of Hajime's escape plan and that they are safe. They both decide to take Myu to Erisen to reunite with her mother while waiting for Hajime and the others to come back, but end up running into the rest of the gang when they get stranded on the boat they made their escape with.
They managed to arrive just in time, as a group of merfolk surround and question them. Suddenly, Myu comes flying out of the sky and disarms the merfolk along with Tio and they make their way to Erisen, the city of the sea and Myu's true home. After an emotional reunion with her mother Remia, Myu realizes the woman is hurt and begs her Papa, Hajime, to help her. Remia is shocked, having never met Hajime before, and the crowd surrounding them are verbally upset that they aren't Myu's Papa as well.
It seems that Remia is the beauty of the town, and as Hajime picks her up to help her, seemingly the entire population looks on with envy. Kaori ends up healing her, and Remia ensures Hajime that if he wishes, he can be Myu's Papa forever and that she owes her life to him. Hajime blushes at the sentiment, while the other girls look on with envy and jealousy.
Back at the palace, Shizuku reunites with her teacher Aiko, who reveals that Hajime saved her but won't disclose how because of its romantic nature. After an embarrassing exchange, she reveals that Hajime has officially been branded a heretic and is now the enemy of the church. They further discuss the odd behavior of the king and other royal officials, when Aiko reveals that there is something equally important Hajime told her.
It is quite odd that Tio had to go through such conflict to get out of the volcano, only for Arifureta to dedicate a few short moments to the other team's escape. It seems like her trials weren't earned, and there wasn't much point in her going back to Ankaji to ask for help since Hajime could handle it anyway. What did Hajime reveal to Aiko that was so important? Fans will find out when Episode 5 of Arifureta Season 2 airs Thursday on Funimation.