A soft knock echoed through the hospital room, sending Hachiman's heart leaping.
"Come in," he called, voice tinged with nerves.
No one entered. Straining his ears, he caught familiar voices beyond the door. Careful not to stumble, he climbed out of bed and shuffled toward it.
"Yukino, you're not going in?" Yui's voice asked.
"Why aren't you going in?" Yukino replied.
"My hands are shaking!" Yui admitted.
"I must confess, my hands are trembling too," Yukino said.
"Should we open it together, then?"
"Yes, on three."
Hachiman silently opened the door. Yukino and Yui froze, staring at him in shock.
"You're gonna catch a cold standing there," Hachiman said. "Come in. And help me walk."
"Oh!" Yui gasped.
"Yukino, support him from the other side!" Yui instructed.
"Of course, YuiYui," Yukino replied.
YuiYui? Hachiman thought, startled. Did Yukino just call her that?
Confused but grateful, he let them guide him back to the bed. They all took a deep breath to steady themselves.
"Haha," Hachiman chuckled.
"Hehe," Yukino giggled.
They burst into laughter, faces alight with relief, and exchanged greetings.
"Been a while, you two," Hachiman said.
"Two years," Yukino confirmed.
"Hikki!" Yui cried.
"No idea where to start, but… I'm home," Hachiman said.
"Welcome back," Yukino said softly.
"Welcome back!" Yui echoed, beaming.
They sat on either side of him, wrapping him in a tight hug.
Here we go, Hachiman thought, resigned. I'll let them have this.
He draped his arms around their shoulders. They stayed like that until Hachiman spoke up. "Uh, mind letting go? It'd be easier to talk."
"No way," Yukino said firmly.
"Nope!" Yui added.
"Come on…" Hachiman sighed.
"You made us worry for two years," Yukino said. "Endure this for two hours."
"I'm really sorry," Hachiman said sincerely.
"But Hikki, you're not even embarrassed!" Yui noted.
"Yeah, guess I've grown a bit," he said.
"Is that growth in a good way?" Yukino asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Did Hikki turn into a player?!" Yui gasped.
"Call it maturity or something kinder," Hachiman protested. "Not 'player.'"
"This is definitely something you can't explain to Asuna-san," Yukino teased.
"Ugh, you both know about Asuna," Hachiman groaned. "Wait, why'd you put that photo up?"
"To mess with you!" Yui said gleefully.
"Seriously? That's it?" Hachiman asked, incredulous.
Yukino and Yui exchanged a nod. "It's a test," Yukino said. "Only those who can keep loving you despite seeing that photo every day deserve to."
"What kind of logic is that?" Hachiman muttered.
"Hikitani-kun, I love you," Yukino said plainly.
"Hikki, I love you," Yui echoed.
"I'm… really grateful for that," Hachiman said, "but I—"
"We know," Yukino interrupted. "But this is for us, too. Saying this lets us move forward."
"Like closure?" Hachiman asked.
"No," Yukino corrected. "It's not about giving up. Yumiko told us we don't need to suppress our feelings. We'll keep improving ourselves to be worthy of being chosen."
"Even if the odds are low?" Hachiman asked.
"Yup!" Yui said. "Even if we're not chosen, bettering ourselves is never a waste. It might lead to new, amazing encounters. That's what Yumiko said!"
"I see," Hachiman said.
"Just keep loving Asuna-san as you want," Yukino said. "Don't worry about us. We'll just keep striving to be someone you'd find remarkable."
Hachiman sighed deeply. "That goes for guys, too."
"Exactly," Yukino said. "If you slack off, you might lose not just us, but Asuna-san, too."
"Fair point," Hachiman admitted.
"So let's all keep at it," Yui said.
"Yeah," Hachiman agreed.
"How about we catch up on what's happened?" Yukino suggested.
"Totally! I've got tons to tell you!" Yui said.
"Before that, can you let go?" Hachiman tried again.
"No," Yukino said.
"Nuh-uh!" Yui added.
"Yui, I get, but Yukino, you've changed a lot," Hachiman said.
"I'm not the same person I was," Yukino replied. "Now, we'll start. Your story sounds like it'll take a while."
"Alright, go ahead," Hachiman said.
They took turns recounting their school lives, explaining how they'd kept the Service Club alive. Hachiman's heart swelled with gratitude.
"So the Service Club survived until the end," he said.
"Yup! They made an exception so we didn't need new members," Yui said. "Yumiko and Hina helped out, too!"
"Gotta thank them," Hachiman said.
"Oh, and this!" Yui said, pulling out a scrapbook. "Hayato put together messages for you!"
"Hayama, huh?" Hachiman said. "He's coming tomorrow?"
"Yup!" Yui confirmed.
"I'll thank him then," Hachiman said. "And you two owe someone thanks, too."
"Oh, right, Yukino!" Yui said.
They showed him matching scrunchies on their wrists.
"Those…" Hachiman said, suddenly remembering. "The ones I got you?"
"You forgot until now, didn't you?" Yukino teased.
"If Hikki had given them to us himself, he'd have remembered," Yui said.
"Komachi must've found them and passed them on," Hachiman said. "Sorry I didn't notice."
"It's fine," Yukino said. "Komachi gave them to us."
"Thanks for keeping them," Hachiman said. "They meant something to you, right?"
"They were our anchor," Yukino said.
"Every time I saw it, I felt like I could keep going," Yui added.
"Gotta thank Komachi," Hachiman said. "Alright, my turn. I'll keep it brief."
Despite his words, Hachiman's tale was staggering—life-or-death adventures recounted with unnerving calm. Yukino and Yui realized he'd gained a strength far beyond the boy they once knew.
"That sounds… beyond words," Yukino said softly.
"It was rough, but it became normal," Hachiman said.
"You've really changed," Yukino said. "Especially your eyes."
"How so? I haven't seen a mirror," Hachiman said.
"They're not dead anymore!" Yui said brightly.
"Oh… right," Hachiman said, chuckling.
"That's not bad," Yukino said.
"The news said nearly four thousand people died," Yukino added quietly.
"Yeah," Hachiman said. "Some of them… I killed with my own hands."
They'd expected it, but the words hit hard.
"I see…" Yukino murmured.
"It's a cross I'll carry forever," Hachiman said. "Even if I'm not legally guilty, I took lives to survive. I can't forget that."
"I'll never understand that burden," Yukino said, "but thank you for surviving."
"Thank you for coming back, Hikki," Yui said.
Their voices trembled, and tears fell. Hachiman realized his own cheeks were wet.
"Stop crying," he said.
"You're crying too," Yukino pointed out.
"After you disappeared, we couldn't cry," Yui said. "We promised we'd cry together when you came back."
"I see," Hachiman said.
"We kept our promise," Yukino said.
"Yeah," Yui agreed.
"Sorry for worrying you," Hachiman said. "It took me two years to get back."
"You kept us waiting too long," Yukino said. "But you're here now."
"We're finally together again," Yui said.
"Yeah," Hachiman said.
They cried together until the two-hour mark approached. Hachiman noticed the door slightly ajar, someone peeking in. Recognizing who it was, he chose to ignore it. Yukino and Yui, their tears subsiding, checked the time and prepared to leave.
"It's about time," Yukino said. "We'll head out for today."
"I'll be back, Hikki!" Yui said. "We've got so much more to talk about!"
"There's still plenty to say," Yukino added.
"Don't overdo it with school," Hachiman said. "Moderation, you know."
"You've got a tough road with rehab," Yukino said. "Do your best."
"At least get to where I can walk normally," Hachiman said.
"You got this, Hikki!" Yui cheered.
"See you soon, Hikitani-kun," Yukino said.
"Later, Hikki!" Yui said.
"See you," Hachiman replied.
As they left, he called out, "You can come out now, Zaimokuza."
"Nngh! As expected of my comrade!" Zaimokuza said, stepping in. "You sensed my presence!"
"Just get in here," Hachiman said. "I've got questions."
"It's been too long, Hachiman," Zaimokuza said, his eyes visibly teary.
"You're crying?" Hachiman asked.
"Of course!" Zaimokuza declared. "We're friends, are we not? What's wrong with rejoicing at my comrade's return?"
"Thanks, Zaimokuza," Hachiman said warmly.
"Now, let us converse as in days of old!" Zaimokuza said.
"Yeah," Hachiman agreed.
Inviting Zaimokuza in, Hachiman asked about his life.
"So you're freelancing?" Hachiman said.
"Aye, gathering intel and earning coin daily," Zaimokuza said.
"What happened to Argus?" Hachiman asked.
"Collapsed," Zaimokuza said. "RECT manages SAO's servers now."
"RECT, huh?" Hachiman said, gears turning.
"Technically, RECT Progress, their subsidiary," Zaimokuza clarified. "I was considering a job there."
"Seriously?" Hachiman said. "Zaimokuza, can you take that job?"
"I was planning to try," Zaimokuza said. "Why?"
"I'm not certain yet, but it could be crucial," Hachiman said. "You're the only one I can ask. Can I count on you?"
"I can't guarantee I'll get it, but I'll try," Zaimokuza said. "What's this about? And this photo…"
"That's my wife, Asuna," Hachiman said. "I got married in SAO. She's RECT's CEO's daughter."
"What?!" Zaimokuza gasped. "Hachiman, a normie?!"
"For Asuna, I've got something I have to do," Hachiman said. "The job is a step toward that. Zaimokuza, I need your help."
"This means a lot to you, doesn't it?" Zaimokuza said.
"You can tell?"
"Your face—it's a look I've never seen," Zaimokuza said. "Very well! If I can aid you, I'll do so gladly!"
"Thanks, Zaimokuza," Hachiman said. "I owe you."
"What are friends for?" Zaimokuza said.
"Zaimokuza!" Hachiman said.
"Hachiman!" Zaimokuza replied.
They embraced, reaffirming their bond—or so it seemed. Hachiman had his own calculations, but his friendship with Zaimokuza was genuine. With this, he'd gained an unexpected ally.
--------------------------------
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