"Alright, walk slowly," the staff member instructed.
"Got it," Hachiman replied.
The next day, Hachiman's rehabilitation began. For him, it was just about regaining muscle strength, making it less grueling than typical rehab. Yukino had come to visit that morning and volunteered to assist, so now Hachiman walked with her guiding his arm.
"Thanks for the help, but is school okay?" Hachiman asked.
"What are you talking about? It's March—university's on break," Yukino said.
"Oh, right. Sorry, I lost track of that kind of thing," Hachiman said. "In there, floors had seasonal changes, but there were no real seasons."
"A world without seasons is hard for a Japanese person to imagine," Yukino mused.
"Yeah, having seasons is nice," Hachiman said.
They smiled at each other and continued the rehab. After a while, the staff signaled a break, and they sat on a bench.
"How's it feeling?" Yukino asked.
"My body feels heavy," Hachiman admitted. "Bridging this gap's gonna be tough."
"I see," Yukino said. "In-game, your thought and reflex speed must've mattered, too."
"Yeah, reflexes especially," Hachiman said.
"Right, I've experienced that myself…" Yukino trailed off.
"You what?" Hachiman asked.
"Oh, nothing," Yukino said quickly.
She might be wary of VRMMOs after SAO's aftermath, Hachiman thought. If she and Yui are playing ALO, they'll need to pick the right moment to tell me.
"Hey, Yukino," Hachiman said. "If it's okay, could you call me Hachiman? After two years of that, my last name feels weird."
"You've been called Hachiman so long that Hikitani feels off, right?" Yukino said.
"Your insight's as sharp as ever," Hachiman said, chuckling. "Feels nostalgic."
"Then this is basically a proposal, isn't it?" Yukino teased. "So, we're getting marr—"
"Hold up!" Hachiman interrupted. "I know that line! You've been talking to Yui-san, haven't you?"
Yukino giggled. "Guilty as charged."
"You sisters…" Hachiman sighed. "So, what about the name thing?"
"Alright," Yukino said. "Let's try… Hachiman-kun. Hachiman-kun."
"Back then, it might've felt weird, but now it's natural," Hachiman said. "Strange."
"Then call me Yukino," she said. "It's odd that Yui-san's Yui-san, but I'm Yukino-san."
"Got it, Yukino," Hachiman said.
"You say it without hesitation," Yukino said, amused. "I never thought you'd call me Yukino. Yukino, Yukino…" She repeated her name playfully, smiling.
"What about Yui?" Hachiman asked.
"Yui… 'Hikki' is a nickname, so it doesn't feel off," Hachiman said. "I'll talk to her and let her decide. Isshiki's fine with 'Senpai,' so no need to change that."
"Always 'Senpai' with her," Yukino said.
"She makes me feel like I'm back in high school," Hachiman said. "Oh, Yukino, I heard I can go back to school. The government's setting something up for survivors, though I don't know the details."
"I've heard," Yukino said. "Your efforts sped up the game's clear, so the school's construction isn't finished yet."
"I never thought I'd get to go back," Hachiman said. "Honestly, I'm thrilled."
"You look genuinely happy," Yukino said, smiling. "Though I'm a bit jealous. I wanted to graduate with you."
"Yeah, me too," Hachiman said quietly.
"Maybe I'll quit university and join that school," Yukino teased.
"Hey," Hachiman said.
"Kidding," Yukino said, laughing. "If I can, I'll attend your graduation as a guardian."
"Guardian, huh?" Hachiman said, shaking his head.
Their exchange made Hachiman realize how much Yukino had changed—more open, more playful.
"You joke more now, and you smile a lot," Hachiman said.
"Is that strange?" Yukino asked.
"Nah, it's great," Hachiman said. "It shows you weren't hurt by my absence. It's… relieving. Makes me happy."
"It's a bit insensitive to say, but your absence brought me closer to Yui-san and others," Yukino admitted.
"Guess my suffering was worth it," Hachiman said.
Yukino laughed. "Thank you, Hachiman-kun."
"Hikitani-kun, Yukino-san, shall we resume?" the rehab staff member called, smiling warmly at them.
"Yes, please," Hachiman said.
Yukino helped him stand. Just then, a young girl approached. "Mom, I'm done visiting my friend, so I'm heading out!"
"Oh, sorry," the staff member said. "My daughter came to visit a friend and stopped by to see me."
"I'll watch Hachiman-kun," Yukino said. "Go be with your daughter."
"Thanks, I'll be right back," the woman said. "Wait there, Rumi, I'm coming."
"Rumi?" Hachiman said, turning to look at the girl.
He studied her, recognizing something familiar. The girl noticed him too, her eyes widening as she approached.
"Hachiman?" she asked.
"Rumi, huh?" Hachiman said. "You've grown so much, I didn't recognize you at first."
"Been forever!" Rumi said, grinning. "Two years?"
"Oh, Rumi-san from the camp and Christmas event," Yukino said, remembering.
Rumi nodded, bowing slightly to Yukino.
"You three know each other?" the woman asked.
"Yeah, we met twice—summer and Christmas two years ago," Hachiman said.
"Oh, so you're the high schooler Rumi said helped her," the woman said. "I'm Kumi Tsurumi, Rumi's mom. What a small world."
"I heard your last name during introductions, but I never made the connection," Hachiman said.
"Common last name, unlike yours," Kumi teased.
"Mom, let me talk!" Rumi said.
"Alright, alright," Kumi said. "Let's pause rehab and head back to the bench."
"Sounds good," Hachiman agreed, chuckling.
As they sat, Hachiman glanced between Yukino and Rumi, muttering, "Big RumiRumi, little Yukino…"
"Don't call me RumiRumi!" Rumi protested.
"What's with that slogan-like phrasing?" Yukino said, exasperated.
"Sorry, couldn't help it," Hachiman said, sitting down.
Rumi didn't waste a second. "Two years, right?"
"Yeah," Hachiman said. "You're in middle school now, second year? With a five-year gap, it's no surprise we haven't crossed paths."
"You've lost so much weight," Rumi said. "Are you sick? You okay?"
"Just weak from lack of movement," Hachiman said.
"Mom, is he okay?" Rumi asked, looking at Kumi.
"Uh…" Kumi hesitated.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Rumi pressed.
Kumi looked troubled, bound by confidentiality. Hachiman stepped in. "Rumi, your mom's in a tough spot. She can't talk about it."
"Is it serious?" Rumi asked, worried.
"Not like that," Hachiman said. "Kumi-san, is it okay if I explain?"
"Should be fine," Kumi said. "I'm sorry, I'm bound by confidentiality."
"Understood," Hachiman said. "Rumi, can you promise not to tell anyone what I'm about to say?"
"I promise," Rumi said.
"Alright, let's move to that bench over there," Hachiman said.
They relocated to a quiet corner, and Hachiman began. "It sounds dramatic, but it's simple."
"Really?" Rumi asked.
"Yeah," Hachiman said. "For two years, I was stuck playing a game."
"A game?" Rumi said. "You overdid it and got sick?"
"It was SAO," Hachiman said. "You might've seen it on the news."
"Oh…" Rumi said, realization dawning.
"It's not an illness, so don't worry," Hachiman said.
"I had no idea," Rumi said. "Sorry."
"We're five years apart, and you didn't have my contact info," Hachiman said. "It's fine. No need to apologize."
"Okay…" Rumi said softly.
"I'm alive and here," Hachiman said. "Once I get my strength back, I'll be fine."
"Did you almost die?" Rumi asked.
"Yeah, a few times," Hachiman said. "But my friends and I fought hard, and I made it back."
"I'm so glad…" Rumi said, hugging him tightly, trembling.
Hachiman glanced at Kumi, unsure. She nodded, and he noticed Rumi was quietly crying, stifling her sobs to avoid disturbing others. Gently, he patted her head and back. They stayed like that as Rumi cried.
"Calmed down?" Hachiman asked after a while.
"Yeah," Rumi said, wiping her eyes. "Sorry, and thanks, Hachiman."
"Thanks for crying for me," Hachiman said.
"Oh, shoot, it's late!" Rumi said. "I've got plans with friends. I'll visit again soon, okay?"
"Alright," Hachiman said. "Have fun with your friends."
"Will do!" Rumi said, waving as she left.
Hachiman smiled, relieved to see her doing well, and resumed rehab.
"What a coincidence, Rumi knowing you," Kumi said. "Small world."
"No kidding," Hachiman said.
"Rumi's so much brighter than two years ago," Yukino said. "It's wonderful."
"When you met her, she was really lonely, right?" Kumi said.
"Sorry, that was thoughtless," Yukino said.
"No, it's fine," Kumi said. "I'm grateful. Two years ago, Rumi was so downcast. After that summer and Christmas, she started smiling again, thanks to you two."
"Glad we could help," Hachiman said.
"Oh, by the way," Kumi said, "Rumi still looks at photos from that Christmas event. There's one she won't show me—maybe you're in it, Hachiman-kun?"
"Did I take a photo with her?" Hachiman said. "Yeah, I think she asked me to."
"I thought so," Kumi said. "This is awkward as her mom, but… please let her down gently if it comes to that."
"Whoa, out of nowhere," Hachiman said.
"I've seen that wedding photo and all the girls visiting you," Kumi said. "At first, I thought, What's with this harem guy? But talking to you, I can tell you're not like that."
"Can we drop this? It's embarrassing," Hachiman said.
"Rumi's not a kid anymore," Kumi said. "She's a beauty like Yukino-san, so she'll have plenty of good encounters. But if she falls for a bad guy, help her out, okay?"
"Do Rumi-san and I really look alike?" Yukino asked.
"Oh, yeah," Hachiman said. "Especially that strong-willed vibe."
"What's that supposed to mean, Hachiman-kun?" Yukino said, her tone sharp.
"I mean you're both strikingly beautiful," Hachiman said quickly.
"Oh… beautiful, huh?" Yukino said, softening. "That's fine, then."
Whew, it's been a while since I felt that intense pressure from Yukino, Hachiman thought, relieved to have dodged her ire. He threw himself back into rehab with renewed focus.
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