The frontline had reached the forty-sixth floor. Hachiman and Kirito were tackling quests when Hachiman noticed something odd.
"Kirito, was there an NPC here?" Hachiman asked.
"Not that I remember," Kirito replied.
"Event NPC? Let's check," Hachiman suggested.
"Got it," Kirito said.
They gathered intel, and the revelation hit hard.
"A Christmas event," Hachiman said.
"With a boss drop," Kirito continued.
"A resurrection item…" they said in unison.
Hachiman saw Kirito's face shift—the same haunted look from his darkest days. Hachiman knew persuading him was futile.
"You're doing it?" Hachiman asked.
"Yeah," Kirito said.
"Then me and Asuna—"
"Hachiman, let me do this alone," Kirito interrupted.
"That's reckless," Hachiman said.
"I have to do it alone," Kirito insisted.
"…Fine. But on one condition," Hachiman said.
"Condition?" Kirito asked.
"Skip raids and grind levels like crazy. No arguments," Hachiman said.
"…Got it," Kirito agreed.
"And don't forget your promise. You owe me for that bed and meal," Hachiman added.
"You never accept anything back," Kirito said.
"Obviously. You don't even have a house," Hachiman teased.
"Ugh…" Kirito groaned.
"Keep that promise, and I won't interfere," Hachiman said.
Though I'll meddle behind the scenes, he thought.
"Deal," Kirito said.
"Let's finish these quests for today," Hachiman said.
Two weeks later, four days before the Christmas event, the frontline hit the forty-eighth floor. Kirito, following Hachiman's orders, skipped raids to grind levels in the forty-seventh floor's Ant Valley. That's where Klein found him, and now Klein was pleading with Hachiman.
"Hachiman, please stop him!" Klein begged.
"Why me?" Hachiman asked.
"I tried, but he won't listen to me. You're the only one he might hear!" Klein said.
"That's already settled. I'm not interfering," Hachiman said.
"You're okay with him dying?" Klein shouted.
"He won't die. I won't let him," Hachiman said.
"What's that mean?" Klein asked.
"I'm pulling every string I can. Klein, I need your team for a key role," Hachiman said.
Later, Hachiman visited the Knights of the Blood Oath headquarters, requesting a private meeting with Heathcliff through Asuna. Only the three were in the room, as Hachiman had asked for privacy. Surprisingly, the KoB members complied without protest, likely respecting Hachiman's reputation.
"What's the deal, Hachiman?" Heathcliff asked.
"I'm here to make a trade," Hachiman said.
"A trade? I'm listening," Heathcliff said.
"Take a look," Hachiman said, showing a Mirage Sphere.
"This is the Mirage Sphere Asuna got from somewhere," Heathcliff said, glancing at Asuna, who blushed, having kept it secret.
"What's your point?" Heathcliff asked.
"I'll give one to the KoB," Hachiman said.
"That'd help our teams coordinate. What's the condition?" Heathcliff asked.
"Lend me Asuna for Christmas night," Hachiman said.
Asuna's face turned crimson.
"Uh… Hachiman?" she stammered.
"A love confession? Didn't see that coming," Heathcliff said.
"What? Don't be ridiculous," Hachiman snapped. "There's a critical fight that night. I don't know if she'll be needed, but Asuna's strength might be crucial."
"The Christmas event's resurrection item rumor, right? The KoB isn't officially involved, but some members are joining the hunt," Heathcliff said.
Asuna, realizing her mistake, blushed harder but tried to focus.
"Fair deal. It's a win for us. Done," Heathcliff said.
"Thanks, Heathcliff," Hachiman said.
"That's all? See you on the battlefield," Heathcliff said.
"Yeah, later," Hachiman replied.
Hachiman and Asuna moved to a side room to strategize.
"Here's the plan," Hachiman said. "Asuna, at midnight, wait at a teleport gate. If I call, teleport to me, and we tail Kirito."
"Just tail him?" Asuna asked.
"If things go south, we intervene immediately. He's not dying," Hachiman said.
"Got it. He might be mad," Asuna said.
"Then you'll have to join me in groveling," Hachiman said.
Asuna smiled. "Fine, we'll grovel together!"
"The battlefield's likely the Wandering Woods," Hachiman said.
"The fir tree spot?" Asuna asked.
"Yeah. It's got a unique vibe. Kirito probably thinks so too," Hachiman said.
"I'll be fully geared and ready," Asuna said.
"Countin' on you," Hachiman said.
Next, Hachiman visited Kirito in Ant Valley.
"How's the grind, Kirito?" Hachiman asked.
"Hachiman. Level sixty-nine," Kirito said.
"Can you hit seventy?" Hachiman asked.
"Might be tough," Kirito admitted.
"Let's do this," Hachiman said.
"Hachiman?" Kirito asked.
"Come on, we're faster together," Hachiman said.
"…Thanks, Hachiman," Kirito said.
"No big deal," Hachiman replied.
Together, their hunting pace doubled. Experience split, but they earned faster. In three days, Kirito hit level seventy, with Hachiman at sixty-eight.
"Go rest. Condition matters," Hachiman said.
"Thanks, Hachiman," Kirito said.
"Take these," Hachiman said, handing over twenty recovery crystals.
"I've got five," Kirito said.
"What's that weak commitment? You can't lose, right? Use everything," Hachiman said.
"…You're right. I was wrong. I'll take them," Kirito said.
"Let's head back," Hachiman said.
Christmas Day arrived. As expected, Kirito headed deep into the Wandering Woods. Hachiman signaled Asuna and Fuurinkazan to regroup.
"Asuna?!" Klein's crew exclaimed.
"We're huge fans!" one said.
"Can I get a handshake?" another begged.
"Quiet down," Hachiman snapped.
Asuna, startled, hid behind Hachiman, instinctively grabbing his sleeve—a habit she hadn't broken.
"Stick to the plan, Klein. Provoke them well," Hachiman said.
"Got it. You sure they'll show?" Klein asked.
"They will. Trust me," Hachiman said.
"Alright," Klein said.
Hachiman and Asuna vanished into the forest after Kirito.
"What's with Hachiman?" one Fuurinkazan member asked.
"He's tight with Asuna, that's clear," another said.
"She was grabbing his sleeve!" a third said.
"Damn, I'm jealous," another muttered.
The mood shifted as figures appeared at the teleport gate—outcasts from the Holy Dragon Alliance, orange-cursored players who'd do anything for profit, shunned by most.
"You Fuurinkazan? Where's the Black Swordsman?" one demanded.
"Beat us first, if you can," Klein taunted.
"You wanna fight?" another snapped.
"Killing's off the table, so how about a deal? A duel—me versus your best. Loser backs off. Or we can all brawl now," Klein said.
"You think you can win? Fine, I'll take you," their leader said.
Hachiman called it perfectly. Gotta stay on his good side, Klein thought.
At midnight, Nicholas the Renegade appeared as predicted. Kirito roared and charged. Hachiman and Asuna watched from hiding.
"That thing's a monster. Kirito's insane for holding his own," Hachiman said.
"You're pretty amazing too, with all this prep," Asuna said.
"I used ten recovery crystals. Kirito's got fifteen left. If he runs out, I'll signal, and we charge," Hachiman said.
"You've got it all tracked…" Asuna said.
"I cover every angle," Hachiman said.
Kirito's fight raged, down to his last crystal. Nicholas's HP was nearly depleted.
It's close. I want Kirito to finish it, but… Hachiman thought.
"Hachiman, now?" Asuna asked.
"Almost," Hachiman said.
"But—" Asuna protested.
"It's tight, but… screw it, let's go," Hachiman said.
"Got it!" Asuna replied.
They rushed forward, but Kirito landed a final blow, sending Nicholas skyward.
"Whew, didn't need you," Kirito said.
"Maybe, but one more hit, and we wouldn't have made it. Good timing, right?" Asuna said.
Kirito checked the drops, then turned, his face heavy with futility. They assumed the resurrection item wasn't there.
"Hachiman, take this. Thanks," Kirito said, handing over the Divine Stone of Returning Soul—a real resurrection item.
"Kirito, this…" Hachiman said.
"Check the description," Kirito said.
It required use within ten seconds of death—matching the NerveGear's microwave trigger, Hachiman realized.
"Was everything I did pointless?" Kirito asked.
"That's for you to decide," Hachiman said.
"You both watched me the whole time," Kirito said.
"Felt bad, but don't sweat it," Hachiman said.
Kirito walked off silently. They said nothing more and returned home, meeting Fuurinkazan en route. Klein had won his duel.
"Thanks, Klein, everyone," Hachiman said.
"You thought I'd lose?" Klein teased.
"To those scrubs? No way," Hachiman said.
Fuurinkazan beamed at the praise.
"Where's Kirito?" Klein asked.
"Safe, but he didn't get what he wanted," Hachiman said.
"Got it…" Klein said.
"He's alive. That's enough," Hachiman said.
The group disbanded. Asuna stayed at Hachiman's tower that night. Hachiman, lost in thought, didn't protest. They talked briefly.
"Will Kirito be okay?" Asuna asked.
"Dunno. Gotta trust him," Hachiman said.
"…If I died, would you end up like that?" Asuna asked.
"You won't die. Neither will I. That's that," Hachiman said.
"Yeah…" Asuna said.
"I'm crashing. Use the bath, but sleep soon," Hachiman said.
"Thanks," Asuna said.
The next day, Kirito unexpectedly visited. His brighter expression relieved Hachiman.
"Sorry for dropping in," Kirito said.
"No big deal. Asuna's here. I'll wake her," Hachiman said.
"Perfect. I need to talk to you both," Kirito said.
Hachiman roused Asuna, and they waited.
"There was a timed message in our shared storage. Hearing it… calmed me down," Kirito said.
"Glad to hear," Hachiman said.
"Sorry for worrying you," Kirito said.
"No worries," Asuna said.
"Wasn't worried at all," Hachiman lied.
"Liar," Asuna teased.
"Hah, thanks, both of you. Here's to the future," Kirito said.
"Yeah," Hachiman said.
"Yep!" Asuna said.
With that, the incident closed, and the raids resumed.
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