Chapter 146 – The Chairwoman's Conversation
"Those two came to us with a request. To put it simply—they asked for money.
They said they would make the Yukinoshita family greater than ever and asked for our full support. That was all they wished for.
Naturally, we were skeptical at first. But it was the first time both of them had ever begged us for something together. After discussing it as a couple, we ultimately accepted their request."
"T-That's..."
Hachiman turned pale, about to say something, but the Chairwoman raised her hand to stop him and continued.
"The money wasn't really important. If those two said they would do it, then they absolutely would.
People might say we were playing favorites, but to put it in mundane terms—we were investing in the two daughters we're so proud of, and in you."
"..."
"Yes, it was an investment."
The Chairwoman smiled warmly as she went on.
"Though they were still students, they began actively involving themselves in the company's management.
Mainly through making proposals and offering suggestions. Every project they planned together brought in profits for the company.
Within a year, the total profits they generated had already far exceeded the amount we initially invested."
"That's... amazing."
Hachiman listened in awe. While he could believe those two were capable of such a feat, all he could say was something so plain and underwhelming.
"They were impressive in my eyes too. Especially Haruno. I always thought of her as excellent. I assumed that after losing you, she had finally gotten serious. But I was wrong."
"Wrong?"
"I realized that misunderstanding not long after reluctantly agreeing to let Haruno work at RECT."
"I heard about that. You were against it, weren't you? Which, I suppose, makes perfect sense."
"She had to either inherit a political position or become a company executive. From my perspective, I had no choice but to oppose her. But Haruno easily surpassed our expectations.
Even while supporting you during your coma, she built strong channels with the government. And after you woke up, she supported you in reclaiming your important person while also forming a collaboration with RECT, a company in a completely different industry.
She helped RECT and our company work together to assist SAO survivors, establishing a rock-solid reputation for both. At the same time, she fulfilled her role at RECT and brought them profits far exceeding the cost of compensation.
Honestly, as a mother, it was terrifying."
"Hearing it laid out like that, she really is something else."
Shocked, Hachiman felt his respect for Haruno deepen further.
"Sorry for going on so long. I just wanted to explain this much so you could be at ease."
"No, not at all. If anything, I feel bad for being asleep through all of this."
"That may be, but there's no doubt you were the trigger for all of it. Or rather, you're the core around which they revolve. The profits and results aren't what truly matter.
As a mother, what made me happiest was seeing them work together in harmony. And—heh—seeing them defy me while achieving more than I ever expected.
Ah, and here I am talking about profits again."
Watching her, Hachiman truly felt that before being a businesswoman, she was a mother. He responded:
"If you've watched your daughters grow through all of this, then talking about profits isn't such a bad thing. After all, it's one of the ways to measure growth. Sorry, I'm probably overstepping."
The Chairwoman smiled at Hachiman's apology.
"It's all thanks to you. Truly, I'm deeply grateful."
"No, really, I didn't do anything compared to them."
"You did everything you could to get back someone important to you, didn't you?
When we last met, they happily told me all about it. It had an enormous positive effect on our company too, no question."
"I couldn't have done it without my comrades."
"Even so, you were the heart of it all."
"Y-Yes..."
The Chairwoman took Hachiman's hand in hers and continued:
"You called her 'Haruno-nee' earlier, right? That she allows you and Asuna to call her that holds deep meaning.
To Haruno, you two are already true family.
Lately, she's been genuinely happy.
And Yukino too—I hadn't seen that smile of hers in years. Thank you, Hikigaya-kun. I'm so glad you're here."
"I should be the one thanking you... for protecting my body."
Hachiman said this and bowed deeply while still holding her hand.
As the conversation came to an end, the Chairwoman blinked and added:
"Truthfully, I even thought about having you marry Haruno or Yukino so you'd officially become family... but those things can't be forced.
It's a shame I can't call you my son—but heh, be happy with Asuna."
Scratching his head and blushing, Hachiman replied:
"Sorry I didn't live up to your expectations. But in the future, I plan to work under Haruno-nee. When that time comes, please treat me like a son and work me to the bone."
The Chairwoman laughed joyfully and waved him off.
"Well then, goodbye for now, Hikigaya-kun."
"Yes. Until we meet again."
.
.
.
As he left the Chairwoman's office, Hachiman thought about how she was far kinder than he expected, and renewed his resolve to repay the favor however he could.
As he walked back to the classroom, still dwelling on the pleasant conversation—
He found a huge crowd gathered at the classroom door. Just as he was wondering how to get through, Asuna spotted him and called his name while waving.
In that instant, the crowd parted like Moses parting the Red Sea.
Inside the classroom, the same scene from the auditorium repeated—everyone watching from a distance with Asuna at the center.
"Sorry for the wait."
"Welcome back. How was the Chairwoman?"
Asuna asked curiously.
"She was a really great person. Not at all like the rumors."
"That's good to hear."
Asuna smiled in relief, and Hachiman couldn't help smiling back.
"After talking with her, I'm even more determined to repay everything they've done for me."
"I've received so much from Little Haruno-nee too. Let's do our best together."
"Yeah. By the way, how are the seats arranged?"
Hachiman looked around, searching for his spot.
"Your seat is by the window in the back row," Kirito explained. "To your right is Asuna, in front of you is me. On Asuna's right is Rika, and in front of me is Keiko."
"This super self-serving seating arrangement... what the hell?"
Hachiman muttered in disbelief.
"Originally, they said we could choose our own seats. But everyone kept peeking over and no one dared to sit here. So we took the initiative and claimed the best spots."
"I see... it's awkward being overly tiptoed around."
Hachiman glanced around—his classmates all had ambiguous smiles and stayed at a respectful distance.
"From what I've seen of the other classes, it looks like the frontline players have been spread across different rooms. So it's unlikely anyone here will talk to us proactively."
"I wish I could get closer to everyone."
Asuna murmured quietly, a little lonely.
"Time will solve that. For now, let's just enjoy school life."
"Yeah! First, the five of us need to get along well!"
"Yeah, it's rare to have such a mix of ages in the same class!"
Rika added cheerfully, and Keiko chimed in with a big smile.
And so, despite still carrying the weight of the power dynamics from their SAO days, the school lives of the five began.