The hospital room door swung open, revealing Yui-no-neesan and Komachi. Yui gently nudged Komachi forward.
"Go on, Komachi-chan. It's really your big brother."
Komachi rushed to Hachiman, tears streaming as she wrapped her arms tightly around him. "Onii-chan! Onii-chan! Onii-chan!"
"Komachi," Hachiman said softly, "you've grown a bit taller, huh?"
"And you've gotten a little thinner," she replied, her voice breaking.
"Yeah," he admitted.
"Welcome back!" Komachi sobbed. "I knew you'd come back safe, Onii-chan!"
"I'm home," Hachiman said, his voice warm. "Sorry for making you wait so long."
Komachi clung to him, her tears unrelenting, while Hachiman gently stroked her hair. Yui watched with a tender smile. Soon, Hachiman's parents arrived, and Yui suggested they have some family time, excusing herself.
"Hikitani-kun, I told the others to hold off for today, so you can relax with your family," Yui said. "But brace yourself—tomorrow's going to be a visitor stampede. Also, some government folks might show up, and I'll be there for that."
"Thank you, Yui-san, for everything," Hachiman said. "I'll thank you properly tomorrow."
"Sounds good," Yui replied. "Congratulations on coming back, Hikitani-san."
Hachiman's parents bowed deeply, their gratitude for Yui's efforts boundless. She smiled and left. That day, Hachiman caught up with his family, talking about everything from the mundane to the profound. Their attention, unsurprisingly, fixated on the oversized wedding photo of Hachiman and Asuna plastered on the wall.
"When I first saw that photo, I nearly fell over," his mother said. "So, Hachiman, you love this girl?"
"Guess so," Hachiman replied, a bit sheepish.
"My Hachiman, admitting it so clearly!" his mother gasped.
"I was worried about your future for a while," his father added, "but looks like you're in good hands now!"
"Show us our first grandchild soon, Hachiman!" his mother teased.
"Then I'd be an aunt!" Komachi chimed in.
"This ridiculous family…" Hachiman muttered. "I haven't even met her in person yet. Who knows what'll happen?"
"You better not let her slip away!" his mother said. "Girls who'd fall for you… wait, aren't there a lot of them, Komachi?"
"Yup!" Komachi grinned. "Including Asuna-san, I know of six big-sister candidates!"
"Whoever you choose, Hachiman, make sure you don't regret it," his father said.
"I know," Hachiman said firmly. "I won't be dishonest with anyone."
"You've grown so much, Hachiman…" his mother said, her eyes misty.
They've always been hands-off, but this is my family, alright, Hachiman thought, warmth spreading through him. Spending time with them after so long felt like a gift. As the hour grew late, his family left, and Hachiman, exhausted, decided to sleep early. A nurse mentioned that the world was abuzz with news of SAO's clearance.
Hope it doesn't mess with my friends, Hachiman thought. But right now, all I can focus on is getting Asuna back.
With that, he drifted into sleep.
The next morning, the first visitors were Iroha and Komachi.
"Senpai! Welcome back!" Iroha chirped, bounding in.
"Hey, Isshiki," Hachiman said. "Sorry for worrying you."
"You have no idea!" Iroha pouted. "You left me with all the student council work—er, I mean, I had no one to consult, so it was tough! But Komachi-chan and I pulled through!"
"No need to rephrase," Hachiman said dryly.
"Oh, right, I didn't tell you, Onii-chan!" Komachi said. "I passed the entrance exam for Sobu High!"
"That was my biggest worry," Hachiman admitted. "I was scared I'd messed up your future. Congrats, Komachi. You did great."
"I worked super hard because I knew you'd worry!" Komachi beamed.
"You're amazing," Hachiman said. "Truly the second-cutest sister in the world—and the best."
"Senpai!" Iroha interjected. "Obviously, the cutest is me, right?"
"Nah, that's Asuna," Hachiman shot back. "What's with the random nonsense?"
"Ugh, you're tough!" Iroha groaned. "Guess I'll have to chip away at you slowly…"
"You haven't changed a bit, and honestly, that's a relief," Hachiman said. "I was nervous about how things were going here without me."
"We worked hard so you wouldn't worry," Iroha said, blushing slightly.
Hachiman smiled gently. The three chatted for a while, mostly about school. After about two hours, Iroha spoke up.
"We all agreed to keep visits to two hours so we don't tire you out, Senpai," she said. "It's time to switch. I'll be back!"
"Alright, see you," Hachiman said.
"Yep!" Iroha replied, but instead of leaving, she leaned in and whispered, "I haven't given up on you, you know. You've got some responsibility to take, too."
Hachiman sighed. "Like Yumiko said, you're one of them, huh? You seemed so unchanged, I thought I might've misread it."
"Yumiko!?" Iroha and Komachi gasped in unison, stunned that he'd used her first name.
"Senpai, since when do you call Miura-senpai by her first name?!" Iroha demanded.
"Since yesterday," Hachiman said casually.
"Damn, I pushed too late! I'm stuck in second place!" Iroha wailed. "Miura-senpai's no slouch!"
"Yumiko-san's points just shot through the roof!" Komachi added.
"You two are a riot to watch," Hachiman said, smirking.
"Just you wait!" Iroha huffed, storming out, with Komachi chasing after her.
Hachiman let out a deep sigh. "This is gonna keep happening, isn't it? Better brace myself…"
Next, Hiratsuka, Kawasaki, and Totsuka entered.
"Totsuka!" Hachiman exclaimed.
"Hachiman!" Totsuka replied, his face lighting up.
"I missed you, man!" Hachiman said.
"Me too. I'm so glad you're okay…" Totsuka said, his voice thick with emotion.
"Totsuka, I finally made some other friends," Hachiman said. "I'll introduce you sometime."
"Really? That's awesome! I can't wait," Totsuka said.
"Ahem," Hiratsuka interrupted. "We're here too, you know."
"Whoops, my bad," Hachiman said. "This is a rare trio."
"You seem lively," Hiratsuka said. "I feel like I've finally finished a long assignment."
"Sorry, Sensei," Hachiman said. "I didn't manage to graduate."
"You're alive—that's what matters," Hiratsuka said. "It's not your fault."
"Did you get into college, Kawasaki?" Hachiman asked.
"Yeah, somehow," Kawasaki replied, avoiding his gaze, her face flushed.
"That's great," Hachiman said. "Guess that scholarship info I gave you helped?"
"It did," she said. "Thanks."
"Welcome back, you three," Hachiman said.
"Welcome back," Kawasaki murmured.
"Welcome back, Hachiman!" Totsuka said brightly.
"You did well, Hikitani," Hiratsuka added.
Kawasaki hadn't met Hachiman's eyes once, her face red. Hachiman, sensing her discomfort, didn't press.
Hiratsuka nodded at the wall. "That's quite the decoration you've got there. Your partner?"
"Yeah," Hachiman said. "I hope I can introduce her to you someday, Sensei."
"Your girlfriend?" Totsuka asked.
"We got married in SAO," Hachiman said. "Not sure what'll happen here."
"You two look perfect together," Totsuka said.
"Interesting," Hiratsuka said. "Kawasaki, you knew about this photo?"
"Y-yeah," Kawasaki stammered.
"You agreed to put it up?" Hachiman asked.
"Yep," Kawasaki said. "I knew you had someone you loved."
"I see…" Hachiman said.
"I-I… I l-like you, Hachiman," Kawasaki blurted, then took a deep breath. "But seeing you two in that photo, so genuinely happy… I can't help but root for you."
"Kawasaki…" Hachiman said softly.
"I might keep liking you, or I might fall for someone else," she continued. "So don't worry about me. Just do what feels right. And honestly, I'm just so happy you're back."
"Thanks," Hachiman said. "You visited me, too, right? I'm grateful. Let's keep in touch, Kawasaki."
"Yeah," she said, smiling faintly.
"Me too, Hachiman!" Totsuka added.
"Of course," Hachiman said. "And you too, Sensei. Thanks for everything."
"We've got that ramen date, remember?" Hiratsuka said. "Once you're better, we're going."
"Definitely," Hachiman agreed.
"That's a great photo," Totsuka said, admiring it.
"I'll introduce her to you someday," Hachiman said. "Depends on how things go here. She's kind of an heiress, so there might be family issues."
"Good luck, Hachiman!" Totsuka said.
"Thanks," Hachiman replied.
"Oh, and Hikitani," Hiratsuka said, "feel free to introduce me to someone, too."
"Sensei, you're still single?" Hachiman asked, instantly regretting it.
Hiratsuka grabbed his head, grinding her knuckles into his temple. "Sorry for being single! Jealous of your happy love life, huh?"
"No, no!" Hachiman protested. "I actually know someone I could introduce you to. I was just checking if you're free."
Hiratsuka froze. "You're serious?"
"Yeah, if I can get in touch with him," Hachiman said. "If you're up for it."
"Hikitani, you're something else!" Hiratsuka exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug, his face pressed against her chest.
"Gah! Totsuka, help—can't breathe!" Hachiman gasped.
"Sensei, you're killing him!" Totsuka cried. "Kawasaki-san, help!"
"She's finally getting her spring," Kawasaki said dryly. "Deal with it, Hachiman."
"Come on…" Hachiman groaned.
As his strength waned, he pleaded, "Sensei, I give up! My body's still weak—mercy, please!"
"Oops, got carried away," Hiratsuka said, releasing him. "Didn't mean to smother you."
"It's fine, just… hard to breathe," Hachiman said, catching his breath.
Hiratsuka frowned slightly. "You've gotten pretty comfortable with women compared to before. Getting cocky, huh?"
"Uh, things happened…" Hachiman said vaguely.
"Fine, I'll let it slide," Hiratsuka said. "But I'm holding you to that introduction."
"Promise," Hachiman said.
Totsuka checked the time. "Sensei, it's about time."
"Two hours already?" Hiratsuka said. "Time flies."
"Switching time," Kawasaki said.
"Next is the main event, Hikitani," Hiratsuka teased.
"So, Yukino and Yui are next, huh?" Hachiman said, his heart racing.
"Good luck," Hiratsuka said. "Let's go, you two."
"See you, Hachiman!" Totsuka said.
"I'll come back," Kawasaki added.
"See you both," Hachiman said. "Sensei, it might take a bit, but I'll make that introduction happen."
"I'm counting on it," Hiratsuka said. "Later."
As they left, Hachiman felt a mix of excitement and nerves. Yukino and Yui were coming next, and he couldn't wait to see them, fidgeting as he awaited their arrival.
-------------------------------
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