The next morning, Hachiman and Asuna sat through their classes with their hearts hammering, waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. But contrary to their anxieties, the morning passed with agonizing normalcy. By lunchtime, the sense of impending doom had faded into the background of mundane school life.
"Oh, come to think of it, nothing actually happened, did it?" Asuna remarked.
"Yeah. Now that you mention it, I guess we were worried over nothing," Hachiman replied.
The two sat together, sharing a lunch Asuna had prepared, chatting as if the previous day's warnings were a lifetime ago. Their peace was shattered when Kazuto—who had been off at the school store—burst into the classroom, gasping for air.
"Hey, Hachiman! There's a pair of weird women roaming the halls. Apparently, they're looking for you."
"Wait, what? If they're suspicious, shouldn't the security guards have kicked them out by now?"
"That's the thing—they're carrying a campus pass issued directly by the Chairwoman."
Hachiman let out a long, weary groan. "Her again... It's always her."
"Hachiman-kun," Asuna whispered, her eyes widening. "Do you think this is what Egil was talking about?"
"Probably. That must have been the 'warning' he gave me yesterday."
"Wait, what are you two talking about?" Kazuto asked, looking back and forth between them.
"Well, the short version is..."
Hachiman gave him a condensed explanation, glossing over the details regarding Yuna and focusing on the vague warning he'd received from Egil.
"I see, I see," Kazuto mused. "So, who exactly are they?"
"No clue."
"Well, if they show up here, just ignore them. It's not like anyone in this class is going to sell you out."
"Yeah," Hachiman agreed. "If they look as suspicious as you say, I'll just play dumb."
A few minutes later, two figures appeared at the classroom door. The entire room went silent, eyes locking onto the intruders.
"Excuse me," one of the women called out. "Is Master Hachiman in this room?"
The class remained stone-faced. This was Hachiman's home turf; nobody was about to give him up to a stranger. However, five specific students in the room caught the peculiar phrasing and began whispering among themselves.
"Hey, did she just say 'Master Hachiman'? Is she an SAO survivor?"
"I don't recognize her face, though."
"Who could they be?"
"Hmm..."
"Let's just watch and see how this plays out."
Seeing no reaction from the room, the woman turned to address someone standing just out of sight in the hallway.
"Hey, looks like he's not here either."
"No one in any of these rooms is talking to us..." came a second voice.
Hachiman tilted his head, his brow furrowing. Wait... that voice.
"Hachiman," Kazuto whispered. "Do you know the one we can't see?"
"The voice is definitely familiar, but..."
"Right," Keiko said, standing up with a mischievous glint in her eye. "I'll go lure them in."
"Keiko? 'Lure'?"
"Leave it to me! If they really are suspicious, I'll just drag them outside and dump them somewhere!"
"Uh... sure. Go for it."
Keiko trotted over to the door and called out to the visible woman. "Excuse me, what business do you have with Hachiman-san?"
The woman's eyes lit up. Apparently, every other class had given them the cold shoulder; Keiko was the first person to actually acknowledge them.
"Yes! We've come all the way from Hokkaido to see the Leader!"
"M-Miyu! You can't just be that blunt!" the hidden voice scolded.
Miyu?
The name sent a spark of recognition through Hachiman.
"It's fine, Kohi! We finally got permission to be here, so we might as well be honest."
Kohi?!
Hachiman couldn't help himself. He called out toward the door. "Wait—is that Karen? And Miyu? From Hokkaido?"
Upon hearing his voice, the second woman scrambled into view, peering anxiously into the classroom.
"Ah! Hachiman-kun!"
"Karen? What are you doing here?"
"You know them, Hachiman?" Kazuto asked.
"Yeah. That's Karen. And the other one... well, Kazuto, you know her too."
"Huh? Who?"
Hachiman's expression shifted to one of grim resolve. "All units, prepare for intercept."
"What?"
"Everyone! Prepare to intercept! Now!"
Confused but loyal, the entire class stood up in unison with a heavy clatter of chairs. A second later, Miyu launched herself toward Hachiman with a look of pure, unadulterated joy.
"Ah! You're the legendary Master Hachiman! Oh man, you're even cooler than the stories! I've finally come to see you! Now, receive my love! Je t'aime!"
"Ugh, so annoying," Hachiman muttered, deftly sidestepping the flying tackle.
"Oof!"
Miyu ate the floor.
"Now! Pin her down!" Hachiman commanded.
His classmates lunged to restrain the intruder, but Miyu flipped upright with unnatural agility. Dodging their grasp, she lunged at Hachiman again.
"Tsk. She's better than she looks," Hachiman noted.
"Come on, come on! Just give up and give me a big, hot baiser! Give me a smooch! Right here!"
"Kazuto!"
"On it!"
Kazuto, who had been waiting for the signal, stepped forward, wielding a pair of rulers like twin blades. "I'm your opponent!"
"Mumu! I won't let anyone stand in the way of little old Fuka-chan!"
"Wait—Fuka? As in Fukaziroh?" Kazuto blinked.
"Mumu! And who might you be? Just kidding—NOW! An opening!"
Miyu feinted, sliding past the momentarily stunned Kazuto to leap at Hachiman again. But before she could make contact, someone grabbed her by the collar. It was Karen.
"Miyu, honestly. Calm down."
Ho?
Hachiman watched Karen with genuine interest. Her movements weren't necessarily "fast" in a superhuman sense, but her efficiency and split-second decision-making were impressive. With Miyu's rampage finally halted, Hachiman addressed his classmates.
"Phew. Thanks, guys. You saved me. Sorry about that—she's basically a predator, but she is an acquaintance."
"Leader! This adorable Fuka-chan is not a predator! I am a Hunter of Love!"
"Still annoying."
At Hachiman's word, the class returned to their seats as if nothing had happened, resuming their lunch conversations. Karen watched the transition, stunned by the group's discipline.
It's like... a private army just for Hachiman-kun.
She wasn't far off. These students shared a classroom with Hachiman and his inner circle—the so-called "Four Heavenly Kings." To them, it was a point of pride. Their loyalty to Hachiman was far higher than any other class in the school.
"Let's head to the roof for now," Hachiman suggested. "We can finish lunch there."
Once on the roof, Hachiman pulled out a leisure sheet and the group sat down to resume their meal. Hachiman began the introductions.
"So, you've probably figured it out, but this is Miyu Shinohara, also known as Fukaziroh. And this is Karen Kohiruimaki. We met by chance recently; she's Miyu's friend."
"I see. So she really is Fuka-chan," Rika mused.
"Fuka is... exactly like Fuka, even in the real world," Kazuto added.
"Classic Fuka," Keiko giggled.
"U-um..." Miyu looked at Hachiman, looking uncharacteristically flustered. Hachiman nodded, prompting the others to introduce themselves properly.
"I'm Kirito. Real name: Kazuto Kirigaya."
"Whoa! The Kirito!" Miyu chirped.
"I'm Asuna. Asuna Yuuki."
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