"What they asked of us was, to put it crassly, money," the chairwoman began. "They promised to make the Yukino family business bigger than ever, but only if we fully backed you. That was their sole request. At first, my husband and I were skeptical. It was the first time they'd ever come to us together like that, so after some discussion, we agreed."
"T-That's…" Hachiman's face paled, and he opened his mouth to respond, but the chairwoman gently raised a hand to continue.
"The money doesn't matter. If those two say they'll make it happen, they will. Call it parental bias if you must, but to be blunt, we invested in our two remarkable daughters—and in you."
"Invested?" Hachiman echoed.
"Yes, invested," she said with a bright smile, then continued. "They were still students, but they started getting involved in the company's operations, mostly advising me. Every decision they made together brought substantial profits. Within a year, the returns they generated far exceeded our initial investment."
"That's… incredible," Hachiman managed, thinking to himself that Haruno and Yukino could absolutely pull that off. It was all he could say, struck by the sheer scale of their achievements.
"Even to me, they were extraordinary," the chairwoman said. "Especially Haruno. I'd always known she was brilliant, but I thought losing you was what finally pushed her to get serious. I was wrong."
"Wrong?" Hachiman asked, puzzled.
"I realized my mistake after reluctantly approving her involvement with RECT," she explained. "You've heard about that, haven't you? I opposed it, naturally. She was supposed to take over either the company or a political role. But Haruno surpassed all our expectations with ease. While supporting your recovery, she built strong ties with the government. After you woke up, she helped you reclaim someone precious while orchestrating a partnership between RECT and our company. She ensured our full support for SAO victims, cementing our company's reputation, all while fulfilling her duties at RECT and generating profits that far outweighed the damages. Honestly, as her mother, I'm almost terrified by what she's capable of."
Hearing this, Hachiman's awe and respect for Haruno solidified even further. "That's… unreal when you lay it all out like that."
"Sorry for going on so long," the chairwoman said with a chuckle. "That's the end of the explanation, so you can relax."
"No, it's fine," Hachiman said. "But about the thanks… I was just sleeping most of the time."
"Maybe so, but you were the catalyst, without a doubt. More than that, you're at the center of their lives. The profits are secondary. As a mother, seeing my daughters work together makes me happier than anything. And, well," she laughed softly, "I must admit, I'm thrilled they defied me and achieved far beyond what I imagined. Oh, dear, here I am talking about profits again."
Hachiman, watching her, felt a deep realization: She's a mother before she's a businesswoman. With that in mind, he replied, "If you saw your daughters grow through all this, isn't it fine to talk about profits? It's one way to measure their success, right? Uh, sorry if that sounded presumptuous."
The chairwoman smiled warmly. "It's all thanks to you. Truly, thank you."
"No, I didn't do anything compared to them…"
"But you fought hard and brought back someone important, didn't you? They told me about it when we met, their faces glowing with joy. That, in turn, greatly benefited our company—a fact you can't deny."
"I had my friends' help," Hachiman said modestly.
"Even so, you're the core," she insisted. "Like I said earlier, Haruno lets you and Asuna-san call her 'Haru-neesan.' That's significant. To Haruno, you're family now. She's been so vibrant lately, and Yukino too—I can't remember the last time I saw her smile like that. Thank you, Hikigaya-kun. I'm so glad you're here."
"I'm the one who's grateful," Hachiman said, gripping her hand and bowing deeply. "Thank you for protecting my body."
Their conversation concluded, but as he turned to leave, the chairwoman winked and added, "I'd hoped you'd marry one of my daughters—Haruno or Yukino—to truly become family. Alas, that's not to be. It's a shame I can't call you my son. Be happy with Asuna-san, Hikigaya-kun."
Hachiman scratched his head, cheeks flushing slightly. "Sorry I couldn't meet those expectations. But I plan to work under Haru-neesan someday, so when that time comes, feel free to treat me like a son and work me to the bone."
The chairwoman's smile widened, and she waved. "Until next time, Hikigaya-kun."
"Yeah, see you," he replied.
As Hachiman left the chairman's office, he reflected on how much softer she was than he'd expected. Renewing his resolve to repay the Yukino family's kindness, he headed to his classroom, savoring the warmth of the encounter. But when he arrived, a crowd blocked the entrance. Before he could navigate it, Asuna spotted him, calling his name and waving. Instantly, the crowd parted like the Red Sea, creating a clear path.
Give me a break, Hachiman thought, but he seized the chance and slipped inside.
The classroom mirrored the auditorium from earlier: Asuna at the center, surrounded by classmates keeping a respectful distance. It was practically a reenactment of the pre-ceremony scene.
"Sorry for making you wait," Hachiman said.
"Welcome back!" Asuna replied, her eyes bright with curiosity. "How was the chairwoman?"
"Way nicer than I expected, despite what I'd heard…"
"That's great!" Asuna's smile was radiant, and Hachiman couldn't help but smile back.
"Talking to her made me realize how much I owe them," he said. "I've gotta pay it back."
"Yeah," Asuna agreed. "Haru-neesan's helped me a ton, too. We'll repay them together."
"Definitely. So, uh, what's the deal with the seating?"
Hachiman glanced around, eager to sit. Kirito piped up. "Your seat's by the window, last row. Asuna's on your right, I'm in front of you, Rika's to Asuna's right, and Keiko's in front of me."
"What's with this convenient setup?" Hachiman muttered, half-exasperated.
"Well," Kirito explained, "at first, everyone was supposed to pick their seats by writing their names, but they just kept glancing at us and hesitating. So we took the lead and, well, snagged the best spots."
"I see," Hachiman said, scanning the room. His classmates offered vague smiles but kept their distance. "Being avoided like this is kinda inconvenient…"
"I checked out the other classes," Kirito added. "Seems like the raiding group members are split up into small groups across classes. So, don't expect anyone here to chat us up casually."
"I was hoping to make friends with more people…" Asuna murmured, a touch of loneliness in her voice.
"It'll work out with time," Hachiman reassured her. "For now, let's enjoy school life together."
"Exactly!" Rika chimed in. "The five of us will have a blast!"
"It's so cool we're all in the same class, even with different ages!" Keiko added, beaming.
Though the shadow of SAO's power dynamics lingered, the five began their school life together, ready to face whatever came next.
------------------------------
Hi everyone! I have uploaded 40-50 chapters to my Patreon. If you like this story, please come to Patreon to support me. Thank you very much!
👉 Check it out here: [patreon.com/Greyhounds]