Hachiman snapped awake in his hospital room, eyes closed, sensing someone nearby. Visitors, likely friendly. Deciding to eavesdrop, he stayed still.
"Senpai, you asleep?" Iroha asked.
"Onii-chan's out cold for his nap," Komachi said. "Wake him?"
I'm awake, actually, Hachiman thought.
"We could do something while he's out," Yukino suggested.
What's 'something,' Yukino? Don't steer this somewhere weird, Hachiman thought.
"The classic is writing on a cast, right?" Yui said.
Classic, sure, but no Sharpie on my leg, Yuiyui, Hachiman thought.
"That won't work in his state," Yukino said. "Should we… break something?"
"No way!" Hachiman shouted, bolting upright. "What's with you psychos?!"
"Oh, you were faking, Hachiman-kun," Yukino said coolly.
"Guh, you knew?" Hachiman said. "Was that on purpose?"
"Of course," Yukino said. "I'd never break your leg just to doodle on a cast. Though I've been tempted… Let's do it, everyone."
"Stop, you maniac!" Hachiman yelled. "Komachi, hold her back!"
"Onii-chan, I love you, but I love Yukino-san too," Komachi said. "I can't pick sides. Give up."
"Damn it… Yuiyui, you're on my side, right?" Hachiman pleaded.
Yui looked away. "Uh… I kinda wanted to try it too…"
"Iroha!" Hachiman said. "Use your student council president authority!"
"I'm not president anymore!" Iroha huffed, turning away. "And you never call me by my first name or celebrated my advancement!"
Hachiman froze, then dropped into a perfect dogeza. "Sorry, Iroha, not Isshiki. I totally forgot your advancement. Once this mess is over, I'll throw you a huge party. Forgive me."
Iroha panicked. "Senpai, I was kidding! I know you're busy!"
"But still…" Hachiman said.
"It's fine!" Iroha said. "I'm happy you care. Just think about it later. Lift your head!"
"You got it," Hachiman said. "It'll be epic."
"I'll hold you to it—lightly!" Iroha said, smiling.
Hachiman sat back on the bed, addressing the four. "Thanks for visiting, guys. All four at once—it's been a while."
"Uh, yeah," Yui mumbled.
"Um…" Iroha trailed off.
"Something up?" Hachiman asked.
"Yukino-san…" Komachi said, pleading.
"Let's be honest," Yukino said. "Hachiman-kun, we have a question."
"Shoot," Hachiman said.
"Yesterday, we got excited talking," Yukino said. "We want to hear it from you directly."
"Alright…" Hachiman said, wary.
"It's about your SAO combat style," Yukino said.
"My combat style?" Hachiman said, caught off guard.
"Yes," Yukino said. "If it's too much, you don't have to answer."
"No problem," Hachiman said. "Not sure it's that interesting, though."
"Just curiosity," Yui said. "Pure curiosity."
"Fair enough," Hachiman said. "Basically, I parry, then behead the defenseless enemy. Or I read their attack startup and crush it, then behead them."
"Beheading's the theme, huh?" Komachi said.
"Parrying's one thing, but reading attack startups?" Yukino said. "I don't get it."
"Wanna see?" Hachiman said. "Yuiyui, attack me. Pretend you've got a weapon."
"Me?" Yui asked.
"Yup," Hachiman said.
This'll clear things up, he thought.
"Okay, I'll try!" Yui said, striking a practiced stance.
That's no amateur pose, Hachiman noted. "Whenever you're ready."
"Here goes!" Yui said, raising her arm.
As she moved, Hachiman grabbed her shoulder, nudging her off balance. His hand darted to her neck in a mock chop.
"Not as fast as in-game," Hachiman said. "This is my limit here."
"No way…" Yui said.
"Senpai, what was that?" Iroha asked.
"It's like watching Yui-san," Yukino said.
"How strong is Yui-san?" Hachiman said.
"Didn't I mention?" Yukino said. "She's a master of aikido."
"Seriously?" Hachiman said.
"Hmph, I'm not happy about this," Yui said. "Take this!"
"Wait, Yuiyui, stop—oof!" Hachiman caught her attack but toppled onto the bed, Yui pinning him down. Just then, the door burst open.
"Yui-san, knock first!" Kirito said.
"Eh?" Yui-no-neesan said.
Hachiman looked up. Yui-no-neesan smirked, Kirito froze, and an unfamiliar girl turned scarlet, stammering, "Sorry!" before bolting.
Kirito snapped out of it, chasing her, but returned soon after. "Guess introductions can wait," he muttered, blushing as he faced Hachiman. "What's going on here?"
"Yuiyui, get off," Hachiman said. "This is bad in so many ways."
"Oh, sorry!" Yui said, scrambling off, red-faced.
Hachiman sighed. That was close. Her… assets are lethal.
He turned to Yui-no-neesan and Kirito, explaining everything.
"…And that's the deal," Hachiman finished.
"Got it," Yui-no-neesan said, grinning.
"Who was that girl?" Hachiman asked.
"My sister, Suguha," Kirito said. "I was gonna introduce you."
"Oh, you mentioned her before," Hachiman said.
"Yeah," Kirito said. "That was Sugu. I'll clear up the misunderstanding."
"Please do," Hachiman said.
Kirito chuckled, and Hachiman relaxed.
"Hey, Yukino-chan," Yui-no-neesan said. "Since things have changed, should we spill it?"
"You're right," Yukino said. "It's time."
"What's up?" Kirito asked.
Hachiman answered instead. "Yukino's team plays ALO and is meeting us tomorrow. That's the deal, right?"
"What…" Yukino said.
"Hikki, you knew?" Yui asked.
"Just a guess," Hachiman said.
"When'd you figure it out?" Yukino asked.
"During our chat just now," Hachiman said.
"Did I slip up?" Yukino said, frowning.
"Big time," Hachiman said.
"Explain," Yukino said, slightly annoyed.
Yui-no-neesan and Kirito, who missed the earlier exchange, leaned in curiously.
"The old Yukino wouldn't have slipped like this," Hachiman said. "You're deep into ALO, aren't you?"
Yukino flinched.
"Only gamers know about varied combat styles," Hachiman said. "And you understood 'parry' instantly. None of the others questioned it either."
Yui, Komachi, and Iroha grimaced, caught.
"Nice one, Onii-chan," Komachi said.
"Senpai's scary sharp," Iroha said.
"Finally, Yuiyui's stance wasn't amateur," Hachiman said. "You're the least combat-oriented here, yet your pose was confident. That clinched it."
"So that's why you picked me," Yui said.
"Yup," Hachiman said. "You even imagined a shield. No beginner does that."
"Ugh, old habits…" Yui said.
"Hahaha, they got played!" Yui-no-neesan laughed.
"Nice one, Silv…" Yukino started.
"Yui-san!" Komachi interrupted. "You promised not to tell my sister!"
"Whoops, my memory's fuzzy!" Yui-no-neesan teased.
"Damn it, playing dumb…" Yukino muttered.
Yukino smirked, feeling slightly vindicated. "Got you back," she said.
"I surrender," Hachiman said, raising his hands, and the room erupted in laughter.
Once it settled, Yui-no-neesan took charge. "Alright, let's talk next steps."
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