Chapter 90: Conversation with Kirito
After finishing rehab training, the two returned to the hospital room and were visited by Yui and Yumiko.
"Yahho~ Hachiman-kun, Yukino-chan!"
"Oh my, you two came as well."
"Yep! We wanted to check on Hachiman-kun's rehab progress!"
"Today was the first session, right? How was it?"
"It went smoothly. Yukino helped a lot."
"You've always had good motor skills. You'll be able to move freely again soon, Hachiman."
"I'll do my best. Thanks, Yui, Yumiko."
Upon hearing that, Yui suddenly froze and made a cracking sound.
Yui questioned the two based on the conversation just now: "W-When did you two start calling each other by your first names!?"
"Yumiko started on the day I woke up. Yukino began today. I was just about to tell you."
"Uh-huh."
"In the game, everyone always called me 'Hachiman.' I've been called that for two years, so being addressed as 'Hikigaya' feels weird now."
"Ah~ I see."
"So I've been asking everyone to call me by my first name. Yumiko offered to do it herself, but I was going to ask anyway. As for how I call others, I go by their preference. The issue is with you, Yui."
"You mean... calling you 'Hikigaya-kun'?"
"Exactly. 'Hikigaya-kun' is a nickname in itself. I don't mind if you keep calling me that, or you can switch to my first name."
"If I use your name… Hachiman, Hikigaya-kun, Hachiman, Hikigaya-kun, hmm—"
Yui struggled with the thought for a while, then seemed to reach a conclusion.
"Mm, I'll stick with 'Hikigaya-kun!'"
"How did you come to that conclusion?"
"Well, if everyone else calls you by name, then 'Hikigaya-kun' will stand out more!"
"That's so like you, Yui."
"Yeah, it's very much in character for Yui-chan."
"Then what should I call you? Should I keep calling you 'Yuigahama'?"
"P-Please call me by my name!"
Yui answered nervously and instantly. "Yui, why the honorifics…?"
"Got it. Then I'll use your name..."
Yui waited excitedly for Hachiman to say her name—but he surprised everyone with an unexpected choice.
"Yui-chan~ Yui-chan~ Ahaha, this nickname is kinda cute."
"Hachiman, that's a bit much..."
Yumiko was just about to scold him, but Yukino and Yui's reactions were surprising.
"Hikigaya-kun! Where did you learn to talk like that?"
"Eh? Yui?"
"Hachiman-kun, that way of calling someone...?"
"Even Yukinoshita-san too…?"
"Didn't Yukino call you 'Yui-chan' before? I thought that's how you guys normally talked."
"Ugh... I, Yukinoshita, actually..."
"So I decided to call you 'Yui-chan' too."
"Ugh~ I don't hate it, but it's complicated!"
"It's already out in the open, just give up resistance, Yui-chan."
"If you don't like it, I'll just call you Yui."
"Hmmm—"
After thinking for a moment, Yui made a request: "Hikigaya-kun, look into my eyes and say 'Yui-chan' once."
"Alright, how's this? Yui-chan."
"Uwah…"
Yui's cheeks turned red as she began mumbling: "Hmm... that's nice, really nice... Yui-chan... Yui-chan..."
"Uh, hey, hey…"
"Yui-chan's gone off to another world, huh."
"Yui…"
"She'll be back in a moment."
"Oh, right. Hachiman, Komachi asked me to give you this phone."
"Oh… thanks. Is Komachi busy?"
"She became the student council vice president, Hachiman-kun."
"For real? Komachi's now the shadow ruler of Sobu High…?"
"That's not far from the truth. I even recommended her for president, but she said, 'Like my brother, Komachi prefers working behind the scenes!'"
"No way…"
"It's true!"
"So that's how Komachi sees me..."
"Hehe, isn't that nice? It means she really likes you, Hachiman-kun."
"Yeah… is that so."
"Of course it is!"
"Ehehe, well, that's obvious, Hachiman-kun! It's not just Komachi—everyone likes you!"
Suddenly joining the conversation, Yui seemed to have returned from the other world.
"Oh, welcome back, Yui-chan."
"I'm back! Hey, what's with that phrasing!"
"Nothing. Yui-chan's always so cheerful—must be the pink hair."
"It has nothing to do with that!"
"I used to have a companion like that too. Pink means cheerful and energetic—that's a universal truth."
"It's a universal truth, huh."
"Exactly."
As Hachiman and Yui continued chatting, Yukino thoughtfully turned to Yumiko:
"Miura-san, could I ask you to call me 'Yukino' as well? You always use honorifics with my sister, but call me by surname. It feels a bit strange."
"You're right. Then... can I call you Yukino? I'd like to be closer to you."
"No problem. Can I call you Yumiko too? Though I'm not used to speaking without honorifics."
"You'll get used to it eventually, right?"
"Yes, maybe one day it'll come naturally. Hehe. I never thought we'd be on such terms. Life really is unpredictable, Yukino."
"That's what makes it fun, Yumiko."
After chatting for a bit, Yukino started preparing to leave.
"I should be going. What about you two?"
"I should head back too."
"Ah~ Me too."
"I see. Thanks for coming today. Come by again anytime."
"I still have to help someone with their rehab."
"I'll come help out if I have time!"
"I'll drop by often. Oh right, Hachiman, contact me if you need anything—I already saved my number on your phone."
"When did you save it, Yumiko!?"
"Can't underestimate her..."
"Well then, see you later, Hachiman."
"See you tomorrow, Hachiman-kun."
"Bye-bye, Hikigaya-kun!"
"Yeah, later!"
After the three left, Hachiman checked his phone and found a message from an unknown number.
When he opened it, it was Kirito's contact info.
He immediately made the call.
"Kirito? It's me."
"Oh! Hachiman, is that you?"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Hikigaya Hachiman."
"I'm Kirigaya Kazuto. Nice to meet you, Hachiman."
"Same to you, Kazuto—or should I keep calling you Kirito?"
"I've been called Kirito by you for two years, so that's more natural."
"Then let's stick with that."
"No problem."
After confirming how to address each other, they got to the point:
"Do you remember what happened at the end of SAO?"
"That four-person talk?"
"Yeah. Actually, I talked to Kayaba alone afterward and learned that about a hundred people still hadn't been released. It seems there's external interference."
"I've heard a bit about it from Kikuoka-san."
"Do you know what happened to Asuna and Liz?"
"I know everything. It's absolutely unforgivable."
"No excuse makes it forgivable."
"What's our next move?"
"Do you know the company now managing the SAO server?"
"RECT Progress, right?"
"There's a powerful ally inside RECT's HQ gathering intel. They might even send someone in. What do you think, Kirito?"
"You've already started preparing, huh? That's Hachiman for you. But to call them a powerful ally… who exactly is it?"
"To put it simply: someone on the level of a final boss—and a beautiful young lady, by the way."
"What kind of cheat character is that…?"
"Anyway, priority is to recover our physical strength quickly."
"Two months might be pushing it."
"We'll do it even if it kills us."
"Right. Once we can go out, let's talk in person."
"Got it."
After discussing the rehab plan, they analyzed the incident:
"Hachiman, what's your take on this case?"
"There's a mole inside RECT."
"What's your basis?"
"A company managing SAO servers wouldn't be easy to hack, and the government's watching
too."
"True."
"Clearing the 75th floor was a surprise—means the culprit was well-prepared. Only someone inside RECT could pull that off. It's probably an organized crime."
"But there's one thing that bothers me—"
"What is i—WAAH!!"
Hachiman was startled by a voice behind him.
Kirito also let out a shout.
They turned around to see—