The next morning, Hachiman and Kirito waited in front of the teleport gate for Asuna.
"Asuna's late? That's rare," Kirito said.
"Yeah, she's usually annoyingly punctual," Hachiman replied.
They were just about to message her when a commotion stirred at the gate.
"Move, move!"
"Huh?"
Asuna burst through the teleport gate, soaring through the air as if she'd leaped into it at full speed. Realizing she was about to crash into Hachiman, she shouted a warning. But Hachiman, unfazed, caught her midair with a gentle, fluid motion, cradling her sideways in his arms.
"Gotcha."
It was the classic princess carry. Kirito let out a cheer. "Nice catch!"
"Hey, Asuna, that was reckless. Anyone else, and you'd have bowled them over. Didn't your teacher ever tell you not to run in the halls?"
"Sorry, Sensei!" Asuna teased.
"Who're you calling Sensei?"
The position should've been mortifying for Asuna, but she was too distracted, her eyes fixed on the teleport gate. Hachiman and Kirito followed her gaze, curious. Another figure emerged.
"Asuna-sama! You can't just—! Who are you? Let her go!"
It was Kuradeel, Asuna's bodyguard. It was natural for a bodyguard to stick close to their charge, but today's plans didn't require one. Asuna had explicitly dismissed him, yet here he was.
"What's that? I caught your precious deputy leader so she wouldn't get hurt tripping over herself."
"What? Well, I… No! Look at you! Who'd believe that?!"
"Look at me…?"
Asuna suddenly realized she was still in Hachiman's arms. Flustered, she scrambled to her feet, cleared her throat, and faced Kuradeel.
"Kuradeel, what he said is true. There's no issue here."
"Y-Yes, but still—"
"More importantly, why were you staking out my house this morning?!"
"In case of emergencies, I've been conducting early-morning surveillance outside Asuna-sama's home for the past month."
"A… month?" Asuna stammered.
"A month?" Kirito echoed.
The word stalker flashed through all three of their minds. Asuna noticed Hachiman's expression shift to an even deeper shade of this is such a hassle.
"That wasn't the guild leader's orders, was it…?" Asuna asked.
"My duty is to protect you, Asuna-sama! That naturally includes monitoring your residence—"
"No, it doesn't!" Kirito cut in.
Kuradeel's attention snapped to Kirito, and he unleashed a tirade. "You again! Always buzzing around Asuna-sama like a filthy insect!"
"What's that? Like I said yesterday, you've got it all wrong. Asuna and I have never been rumored to be anything."
"What? Then who—?"
Asuna's eyes flicked to Hachiman. Kirito's did too.
"Hey, why're you both looking at me?" Hachiman snapped.
"Well, I mean…" Asuna started.
"It's gotta be you, right?" Kirito said.
"You!" Kuradeel roared, apparently realizing Hachiman was the subject of the rumors.
His shouting drew a crowd, their murmurs growing louder.
"Isn't that Flash Asuna?"
"It's really her!"
"What's going on? Lover's quarrel?"
Feeling the area get rowdy, Hachiman sighed. "God, this is such a hassle."
"Hachiman—" Kirito started.
Hachiman silenced him with a raised hand and, in a sudden move, pulled Asuna close by the waist.
"H-Hachiman-kun?" Asuna gasped.
"Hachiman?!" Kirito yelped.
Asuna and Kirito were floored by Hachiman's boldness.
"What are you doing?!" Kuradeel shrieked.
"Hey, Kuradeel, was it? Those rumors? They're not rumors—they're facts. The guy always by Asuna's side? That's me, no question."
"Hachiman-kun?" Asuna's voice trembled, stunned by this unfamiliar side of him.
Hachiman pressed on, undeterred. "Look at this. Even now, your precious deputy leader isn't exactly pushing me away, is she?"
"Grr, Asuna-sama, get away from that pathetic man!"
"Pathetic?"
Asuna, bristling at the insult, hugged Hachiman back tightly. Kirito watched with an amused grin. The crowd erupted in whistles and cheers.
"Get it now?" Hachiman said. "What you heard wasn't a rumor—it's just the truth."
"Ugh…" Kuradeel groaned.
"And Asuna doesn't need a weak bodyguard like you. I'll be by her side from now on."
"Weak? You're not even a frontline raider! You think you're stronger than me?!"
"What?" Hachiman blinked.
"Huh?" Asuna echoed.
The three of them were baffled, but Kuradeel's next words clarified things.
"I've never seen you on the frontlines! You showed up to that last raid, but you didn't do anything noteworthy!"
"Oh, that's what this is about," Hachiman said.
"Kuradeel only started raiding around the sixty-fifth floor, right?" Asuna noted.
"Yeah, Hachiman wasn't on the frontlines back then," Kirito added.
"This guy really doesn't know anything about me," Hachiman muttered.
Satisfied, Hachiman turned back to Kuradeel. "Whatever. You're weak, and that's that. Now get lost."
"What?! I'm not weak! I challenge you to a duel!"
"Fine. I accept."
Hachiman's swift agreement shocked Asuna and Kirito. This wasn't the usual hassle-avoiding Hachiman.
"Hey, Kuradeel, half-HP mode, right?"
"Fine."
"Asuna, wait with Kirito."
"Okay," Asuna said, hurrying to Kirito's side, more worried about Hachiman's odd behavior than the duel's outcome.
"Hey, Kirito, maybe it's just a hunch, but Hachiman's acting…"
"What, you notice something?"
"No, I'll wait till it's over."
"Yeah, it'll be quick. A minute, tops?"
"Look, he's got Achtfaust's shield slid forward already," Kirito said.
Asuna's eyes widened. "Oh… so Hachiman's really…"
Before she could finish, the duel began. The countdown hit zero, and Hachiman vanished. A split second later, Kuradeel's face snapped back—Hachiman had punched him. As Kuradeel stumbled backward, a Sword Skill's glow flashed across his body. Hachiman pinned him down, dagger poised at his throat, and the "WINNER" display declared Hachiman's victory. The whole thing took maybe three seconds.
"An instant kill at a speed even I couldn't follow…" Kirito muttered. "So, Asuna, what were you saying?"
"Yeah… Kirito, did Hachiman seem really annoyed to you? Like, maybe he was actually pissed off?"
"What? That's what Hachiman's like when he's mad?"
"I've barely seen him angry, but he makes that same face when he's clearly in a bad mood. I was wondering if that's what this was."
"No way…"
Hachiman stepped away from Kuradeel and beckoned Asuna over. As she approached, he deliberately pulled her close again, making a show of it for Kuradeel. Kirito, watching, thought, (Yup, he's definitely pissed. Rubbing it in the loser's face like that.)
Hachiman glared at the stunned Kuradeel. "Get it now? You're weak. Scram. I'll let it slide if you're doing your Knights of the Blood duties, but I won't tolerate a stalker. And all that talk about rumors? Asuna's true place is right here."
He pulled Asuna even closer. Her face flushed, less from embarrassment and more from bewilderment.
(I've never seen Hachiman like this,) she thought. It might've been the first time he'd shown such possessiveness, and Asuna found herself genuinely happy about it.
Kuradeel glared back, defiant. "Fine, I lost, but I'm just doing my job!"
"Using your job as an excuse for stalking? Give me a break."
"What? My intentions are pure!"
"Enough, Kuradeel," Asuna said firmly. "By my authority, you're relieved of bodyguard duties. Return to headquarters, report everything to the guild leader, and follow his orders."
Kuradeel fell silent and vanished through the teleport gate.
"That was wild!" a bystander shouted.
"So cool! That Hachiman guy's awesome!"
"Asuna had a boyfriend this whole time…?"
"Damn, I was a huge fan!"
The crowd roared with cheers and jeers, some lamenting Asuna's apparent taken status. Noticing the commotion, the trio bolted from the scene. Unbeknownst to them, Klein and his group had witnessed the whole thing from the sidelines.
"Man, I've never seen you like that, Hachiman. That was intense," Kirito said as they headed toward the Labyrinth Area.
"Yeah, I was shocked," Asuna added.
"Huh? What're you talking about?" Hachiman asked.
"You were totally pissed off back there," Kirito said.
"What? I wasn't pissed or anything—wait, was I?"
Hachiman seemed to snap back to his usual self, finally processing his actions.
"Hey, guys, about that, I—"
"It's fine," Kirito interrupted. "You were so mad you lost it, right?"
"Well, maybe, but…"
"I couldn't tell when you started getting mad, but it's all good. Asuna seems happy about it."
"A-Asuna? About earlier, I…"
Asuna smiled brightly. "Asuna's true place is right here."
"Gah!" Hachiman groaned.
She sidled up to him, pressing close. Hachiman froze with a comical snap.
"I already told Liz and Silica, by the way," Asuna said.
"Asuna, you're ruthless…" Hachiman muttered.
"Not true! I spared you from Argo hearing about it."
"Hachiman, you owe Asuna one," Kirito teased.
"Y-Yeah… thanks?" Hachiman mumbled.
"You're welcome!" Asuna chirped.
"But you already told Liz and Silica! What am I gonna hear from them next time…?"
Unbeknownst to Asuna, her gesture was in vain—Argo had already caught wind of the incident. Hachiman slumped, but Kirito clapped him on the shoulder.
"Seriously, though, you were badass back there."
"Yeah, but… that wasn't like me. And, y'know, it's embarrassing."
"What's 'like you' supposed to mean? That was you," Kirito said. "Wanting to be with someone you care about is totally normal. You've always suppressed your feelings, but it's okay to let them out sometimes. Asuna and I are here because we like you, you know."
"Let them out, huh…" Hachiman murmured.
"And my true place is here," Asuna said, beaming.
Their relationship had always been ambiguous, but seeing Asuna's radiant smile, Hachiman resolved to take a step forward, even if his words were still characteristically roundabout.
"Uh, Asuna… after we're done exploring today, if you're up for it, you could move into my place. That creep wouldn't be able to do anything then. It's just for your safety, y'know. Insurance. As long as we keep things… proper."
Asuna processed his words, her face turning red as she floundered. Kirito watched, grinning ear to ear. After a moment of flustered panic, Asuna's joy won out.
"Um, well then, I'll be in your care."
"Sweet!" Kirito exclaimed. "Let's throw a housewarming party with everyone!"
"Yeah, that sounds good," Hachiman agreed, unusually earnest for his usual hassle-averse self.
Trapped in SAO, Hachiman's actions and attitude had changed dramatically from who he used to be. Whether that was for better or worse, he couldn't say. But in that moment, he felt that this new version of himself wasn't half bad.
---------------------------------------------
🚀 Want more?
📖 On Patreon you can read 20+ chapters ahead, plus there will be exclusive stories available only there.
💖 If you'd like to support me, check it out: patreon.com/Greyhounds
🔓 Patreon will always stay ahead of the public release — and some stories won't be published anywhere else.
✨ All support is completely optional — even if you don't join, I'm still grateful to have you here reading!