After rehab, Hachiman returned to his room with Yukino when Yui and Yumiko arrived.
"Hikki, Yukino, yahoo!" Yui chirped.
"Oh, you both came," Yukino said.
"Yup! Wanted to check on Hikki's rehab," Yui said.
"It just started, right? How's it going?" Yumiko asked.
"Going well," Hachiman said. "Yukino's been a big help."
"You were always athletic," Yumiko said. "You'll be moving freely in no time, Hachiman."
"I'll keep at it. Thanks, Yui, Yumiko," Hachiman said.
Yui froze, making a dramatic sound. "W-when did you all start using first names?" she asked.
"Yumiko's been since I woke up," Hachiman said. "Yukino started today. And I've got something to talk to you about, Yui."
"O-okay," Yui said nervously.
"In SAO, I was called Hachiman for two years," Hachiman explained. "Now, my last name feels weird."
"Oh, got it," Yui said.
"So I'm asking everyone to use my first name," Hachiman said. "Yumiko started it, but I was going to ask anyway. How I call others depends on them. So, about you, Yui…"
"My 'Hikki' nickname?" Yui asked.
"Yeah," Hachiman said. "Since it's already a nickname, it doesn't feel off. You can keep it or switch to Hachiman—your choice."
"Hachiman, Hikki, Hachiman, Hikki…" Yui mumbled, deep in thought. "I'll stick with Hikki!"
"How'd you decide?" Hachiman asked.
"If everyone else uses your name, Hikki feels more special!" Yui said.
"Very Yui-like," Yukino said.
"Very… Yui-gahama-san," Yukino added with a smile.
"What should I call you?" Hachiman asked. "Yui-gahama okay?"
"N-no, my name, please!" Yui said, flustered but quick.
"Yui, why the polite tone?" Yumiko teased.
"Alright, name it is," Hachiman said. Yui waited eagerly, but his choice caught her off guard. "YuiYui. Yeah, YuiYui. It's kinda cute."
"Hachiman, that's a bit…" Yumiko started, trying to rein him in.
But Yukino and Yui's reactions were unexpected.
"Hikki! Where'd you hear that name?" Yui gasped.
"Yukino?" Hachiman said, confused.
"Hachiman-kun, where'd you get that?" Yukino asked.
"Even Yukino-san…" Yumiko muttered.
"Yukino called her YuiYui before," Hachiman said. "I figured you used it regularly."
"Ugh, I've been caught," Yukino said, flustered.
"So, YuiYui it is," Hachiman declared.
"It's fine, but it's… complicated!" Yui said.
"Might as well accept it, YuiYui," Yukino said. "It's been exposed."
"If you hate it, I'll just use Yui," Hachiman offered.
"Hmm…" Yui pondered, then said, "Hikki, try saying YuiYui while looking in my eyes."
"Alright," Hachiman said, meeting her gaze. "YuiYui."
"Whoa…" Yui blushed, muttering to herself. "Not bad… really good, actually. YuiYui, YuiYui…"
"Hey…" Hachiman said, concerned.
"YuiYui's off in another world," Yukino observed.
"Yui…" Yumiko said softly.
"She'll come back eventually," Hachiman said.
"Oh, Hachiman, Komachi asked me to give you your phone," Yumiko said, handing it over.
"Thanks," Hachiman said. "Is Komachi busy?"
"Komachi's the student council vice president," Yukino said. "At Sobu High."
"No way," Hachiman said. "She's the shadow ruler of Sobu?"
"Not far off," Yukino said. "I suggested she run for president, but she said, 'Komachi's like Onii-chan—I prefer being the mastermind!'"
"Seriously?" Hachiman said.
"Word for word," Yukino confirmed.
"That's how she sees me?" Hachiman said, stunned.
Yukino chuckled. "It's fine. It just means she adores you."
"Really?" Hachiman asked.
"Absolutely," Yukino said.
"Yup, Hikki!" Yui said, snapping back. "Not just Komachi—everyone loves you!"
"Welcome back, YuiYui," Hachiman said.
"Just got here! Wait, what?" Yui said, confused.
"Never mind," Hachiman said. "You're always so bright. Must be the pink hair."
"That's got nothing to do with it!" Yui protested.
"I had a friend like that in SAO," Hachiman said. "Pink hair means bright and energetic. It's the truth."
"The truth, huh…" Yui said, softening.
"Yup," Hachiman said.
They continued chatting, but Yukino had an idea and turned to Yumiko. "Yumiko-san, could you call me Yukino? You use '-san' for Yui-san, but my last name feels odd."
"Fair point," Yumiko said. "Just Yukino, then? I wanna get closer to you."
"That's fine," Yukino said. "Can I call you Yumiko-san? I can't quite drop the '-san' yet."
"Maybe one day you'll drop it," Yumiko said.
"Perhaps," Yukino said, smiling. "One day."
"Never thought we'd get this close," Yumiko said. "Life's unpredictable, huh, Yukino?"
"Exactly," Yukino said. "That's why it's interesting, Yumiko-san."
The four chatted a while longer, but Yukino decided to head out. "I'm leaving. What about you two?"
"I should get going too," Yumiko said.
"Me too, I guess," Yui said.
"Thanks for coming," Hachiman said. "Come back anytime."
"I'll be here for your rehab," Yukino said.
"I'll help when I can!" Yui said.
"I'll drop by often," Yumiko said. "Hachiman, I put my number in your phone. Text me if you need anything."
"When did you—" Hachiman started.
"Not bad, Yumiko-san," Yukino said, impressed.
"See ya, Hachiman," Yumiko said.
"Later, Hachiman-kun," Yukino said.
"Bye, Hikki!" Yui said.
"See you!" Hachiman called as they left.
Hachiman checked his phone and found an email from an unknown address. Opening it, he saw Kirito's name and number. Without hesitation, he dialed.
"Hello?" a voice answered.
"Kirito? It's me," Hachiman said.
"Hachiman?!" Kirito said. "Finally, we meet. Kazuto Kirigaya."
"Hachiman Hikitani," Hachiman said. "Nice to meet you. Kazuto cool, or stick with Kirito?"
"After two years as Kirito, it feels right," Kirito said.
"Kirito it is, then," Hachiman said.
"Works for me," Kirito said.
After settling names, Hachiman got to the point. "Remember what happened at the end of SAO?"
"Our talk with the four of us?" Kirito asked.
"Yeah," Hachiman said. "After that, I spoke with Kayaba alone. He told me a hundred people are still trapped—something about external interference."
"Kikuoka filled me in," Kirito said.
"You heard about Asuna and Liz, too?" Hachiman asked.
"All of it," Kirito said, voice hard. "I won't forgive whoever's behind this."
"Same here," Hach2121iman said. "No matter their reasons, they're done."
"What's the plan?" Kirito asked.
"You know who's managing SAO's servers now?" Hachiman asked.
"RECT Progress, I heard," Kirito said.
"I've got a strong ally at RECT's headquarters," Hachiman said. "They'll dig for info. There's a chance another friend could infiltrate as a part-timer."
"You've already got moves lined up," Kirito said. "Impressive. This ally… how strong are we talking?"
Hachiman grinned. "Think final boss. Like a demon king."
Kirito inhaled sharply. "That strong?"
"Yup," Hachiman said. "Also, she's a stunning, wealthy heiress."
"What kind of broken character is that?" Kirito said. "Total cheat code."
"So, our job is to get our strength back fast," Hachiman said.
"Two months is tight," Kirito said.
"Do or die," Hachiman said.
"Yeah, no time to slack," Kirito agreed. "Once we're mobile, let's meet up."
"Deal," Hachiman said.
They confirmed their focus on rehab and discussed the case. "What's your take on this, Hachiman?" Kirito asked.
"The culprit's inside RECT Progress," Hachiman said.
"Evidence?" Kirito asked.
"A company trusted with SAO's servers wouldn't be easily hacked," Hachiman said. "Plus, the government was watching. Nobody expected the game to clear at seventy-five. This had to be planned long-term, by someone—or a group—inside RECT."
"Makes sense," Kirito said. "Hard to argue with that."
"But there's one question," Hachiman said.
"What's that?" Kirito asked.
"Hachiman, what's wrong?" Kirito's voice spiked as Hachiman yelped, startled by a voice behind him.
"Who's there?!" Kirito shouted, sounding alarmed.
Fearing an ambush, Hachiman turned slowly, heart pounding.
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