"Huh? Is this… really the place?"
"Yeah, this is it."
"O-oh… right."
The place Hachiman had brought Shino was a first-class hotel in a certain part of Tokyo. Shino, bewildered, asked Hachiman if this was truly the right place, but it seemed there was no mistake. The establishment's elegance made her feel utterly out of place, and she mumbled.
"To think I'd ever come to a place like this… and dressed like this."
Perhaps hearing Shino's words, Hachiman's voice grew slightly stern.
"Huh? What are you talking about? If you can't get in, then most women in the world wouldn't be able to either. You're perfectly cute, and your clothes are perfectly fine. It's time to graduate from saying things like 'someone like me,' wouldn't you say?"
"S-sorry, it just slipped out…"
"Well, I guess it's understandable, given you've been living in a tough environment until just now. But for now, I should have unequivocally crushed the problems concerning your high school life. As for what remains… well, let's fix that slowly. I'll help you with all my might, okay?"
Shino felt her cheeks warm again at Hachiman's kindness. To hide her emotions, she deliberately tried to lighten the mood.
"Won't that just solve itself when the time you predicted comes?"
"Yeah, most of the problems surrounding you will probably be resolved then."
"Hehe, I hope so."
"Not 'I hope so,' you will do it, Shino."
"Ah… U-un, I will. You're right, I will!"
Spurred by Hachiman's words, Shino renewed her resolve and responded to him with strong affirmation.
"That's the spirit, Shino!"
Hearing that, Hachiman told Shino, looking satisfied. Then, the two took the elevator to their destination. Upon arriving at the restaurant, Hachiman gave his name to the staff.
"Excuse me, I'm Hikitani. I have a reservation."
"Yes, Hikitani-sama, we've been expecting you. Please, allow me to show you to your table."
During their walk, Hachiman subtly whispered to Shino.
"Hey, Shino, you're probably going to be really surprised when we get there, but whatever you do, don't make any loud noises."
"Eh…? Are you still hiding something?"
"I'm not exactly hiding it, I was surprised myself at the time."
"I-is that so? Well, okay, I'll brace myself."
And when Shino was seated, she naturally almost let out a loud gasp, quickly covering her mouth and managing to suppress any sound.
"K… Kanzaki Elsa?"
"Yah-hoo, Shinonon. Nice to meet you, I'm Pitohui."
"Eh… I totally thought it'd be Shiz, but of all people, it's Pito? Ugh, I think my entire worldview is about to change."
To Shino's rude remark, Elsa replied with a happy expression.
"Your worldview? Hasn't that already been 'infected' and changed long ago, ever since you met Shana?"
"Ah… that's certainly true… I guess I've been infected for a long time too."
"Hey, you two, don't just treat me like a germ as if it's perfectly normal."
"S-sorry… Pfft."
Shino seemed to be desperately trying to hold back her laughter even as she apologized. Seeing this, Elsa burst into loud laughter.
"Ahahahahaha, Shana really is funny! Shinonon, you're just as I expected!"
Perhaps fearing Elsa's loud voice, Hachiman cautioned her.
"Hey, Pito, don't laugh so loudly. You'll bother the other customers."
"Eh? But… there's nobody here?"
"Huh?"
Hachiman, told this, frantically looked around, but indeed, the restaurant was empty.
"Hey, Shiz, what's going on here?"
"Um, yesterday I told my sister about today's plans, and she said, 'It sounds interesting, so I'll just reserve the whole restaurant'…"
Hearing this, Hachiman suddenly started shouting into the restaurant.
"Hey, you old hag sister! Where are you hiding? This is way too inconsiderate!"
Perhaps surprised by Hachiman's outburst, a familiar laugh came from a table behind a nearby potted plant, and Hachiman unhesitatingly headed in that direction.
"There you are, you idiot sister!"
"Pfft… chuckle… Ahahahahaha, what was that just now? 'Hey, you old hag sister,' 'you idiot sister'—that's too funny, pfft, pfft…"
"Whose fault do you think that is?!"
Hachiman breathed heavily, trying to calm down with deep breaths.
"Now, now, calm down, Hachiman-kun. Actually, I use this restaurant often. And when I mentioned this plan, the owner insisted on letting us have the whole place to ourselves."
"Huh? Eh? So, that was from them, Nee-san?"
"Yes, that's right. Since we're here, I'll introduce you to the owner for future reference."
"Ah, yes."
This turn of events seemed to have completely blindsided even Hachiman. For now, Hachiman took a seat and decided to wait for the owner to arrive. Shino then spoke to him.
"Hey, is that beautiful person your older sister, Hachiman?"
"Yeah, that person is the current president of Soleil, and sort of a spiritual sister to me and Ak… Shizuka."
"Oh, that's right, I had a suggestion about that. Hey, we agreed to use our in-game names today to hide our identities, but everyone except me already knows each other's real names, don't they? So, how about we just call each other by our real names today?"
"If you're okay with it, I have no problem… but are you sure?"
"Because it'd be lonely if I were the only one who didn't know everyone's names. I have no problem with this group."
"I see, then let's do that."
Hearing Shino's suggestion, Hachiman immediately nodded.
"Alright then, nice to meet you all again. I'm Sinon, also known as Shino Asada."
"I'm Shizuka, also known as Asuna Yuuki. Nice to meet you, Shinonon."
"Oh, come to think of it, I'm still Shinonon, huh… And also, Shiz, you're cute."
"Hehe, thank you, Shinonon."
Next, Komachi introduced herself.
"I'm Benkei, also known as Komachi Hikigaya! I'm Big Brother's little sister!"
"Ah, I knew it! I thought you resembled Hachiman."
"Ah… I get that a lot."
"Hey Komachi-chan, why are you so monotone there? Big Brother is sad."
"Ehh, because, even if people say I resemble Big Brother…"
"Eh?"
Shino, perhaps surprised by Komachi's words, looked at Komachi with a puzzled expression.
"Is that so? But Hachiman is so cool."
"Eh?"
At those words, it was Komachi's turn to be puzzled. After staring intently at Hachiman's face, Komachi cried out "Ah!" and said with understanding.
"Onee-chan, Komachi just experienced a huge paradigm shift!"
"Paradigm shift? What happened, Komachi-chan?"
"Um, um, Big Brother now is so cool, unlike before, so 'resembling Big Brother' has somehow turned into a compliment!"
"Ah~!"
"Hey Komachi, that's probably a compliment, but Big Brother is getting a little sad, so let's stop there, okay?"
Everyone laughed at Hachiman's words. Next, Elsa introduced herself.
"Um, I'm…"
"Yeah, everyone knows Elsa, so we can skip her."
"Hey, Shinonon, that's mean!"
"Ehh, but it's true, isn't it?"
At Shino's words, the others nodded in agreement.
"Ugh… I'm Kanzaki Elsa! That's it!"
"Oh, Elsa, I'll treasure it, so please give me your autograph later."
"Eh, really? Yes, yes, I will! This means Shinonon is also one of the Elzest now!"
"Um…"
"Hm, what is it?"
"Elzest… what's that?"
"Ehh~?"
Elsa, looking very put out, began to explain.
"Shinonon, what do you call someone who plays the piano?"
"Pianist."
"Violin?"
"Violinist."
"Someone who plays Elsa?"
"Plays what?… E… Elzest?"
"Yes, correct!"
Elsa said this happily, and Shino looked at Hachiman with a troubled expression.
"You know perfectly well in GGO that Elsa's like this, don't you? It's too late for anything, so just give up, Shino."
"U-un…"
"Hachiman, that's really mean!"
"You're saying that, but why are you grinning so much…?"
"Ehh? Am I grinning that much? Oh, you're right, I might be excited right now?"
"Alright, let's move on. Rosalia, it's your turn."
"Still mean! But that's what makes you paradise!"
Hachiman completely ignored Elsa and looked at Soubi (Rose). Receiving his gaze, Soubi began her introduction.
"Um, I'm written as 'Rose' but read as 'Soubi.' Nice to meet you."
And silence dominated the space.
"Um…"
"…Hey, Soubi."
"W-what is it?"
"It just occurred to me, I don't know your full name…"
"W-well, that doesn't really matter, does it?"
"No, it does. Alright, it's an order, Soubi. Tell me your real name immediately."
"Um… do I really have to?"
"Yes."
Soubi showed considerable conflict at his words, but it was an order from her master, Hachiman, and the other four were eagerly watching her. So, Soubi, her face red, said in a small voice.
"...…Konko."
"Huh? Even I, who am not a hard-of-hearing protagonist, couldn't hear that just now."
Then, as if giving up, Soubi shouted at Hachiman.
"It's Konko! Konko, as in 'small cat'! My full name is Soubi Konko! Got a problem with that? I know it's a weird name, but you can't choose your own name!"
"So…"
"So?"
"Rose was your surname…? I thought it was your given name…"
At Hachiman's words, Soubi, with an exasperated look, lectured him.
"You first learned my name from my nameplate, didn't you? What working adult writes only their given name on a company nameplate in the first place?"
"O-oh, that's such a logical argument, I can't even retort."
As Hachiman said that, he started operating his smartphone, so Soubi, wondering what he was doing, asked him.
"…What are you doing?"
"N-nothing… Your registered name was 'Stray Puppy'… So, I was thinking of changing it to 'Stray Kitten'…"
"Y-y-y-you! What do you think I am?!"
"You said it yourself, Stray Puppy… no, Kitten."
"Fine, fine, that's enough already!"
"O-oh… then I'll change it…"
And the other four burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Pfft…"
"Pfft pfft…"
"Ugh… pfft…"
"Ahahahahaha, everyone, it's rude to laugh! Ahahahahaha."
"N-no, it really is strange, isn't it? 'Konko'… sniff…"
Seeing Soubi dejected, Asuna quickly spoke to her.
"N-no, that's not it! What was funny was the exchange between those two just now. I think Konko is a really cute and wonderful name, so Soubi-san, you don't have to worry about anything!"
"That's right, Soubi-chan, if anything, I'm really jealous!"
"Really…?"
Komachi and Shino also agreed with Elsa's words, and Soubi wiped away her tears and smiled. Just as everyone's introductions were finished, the restaurant owner appeared with Haruno.
"Hachiman-kun, Asuna-chan, this is the owner of this restaurant, Mr. Hoshino."
"I'm Hoshino. My daughter has told me much about you. I absolutely wanted to thank you directly and meet you both. Thank you so much, Hachiman-san, Asuna-san."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Hachiman Hikigaya."
"I'm Asuna Yuuki. Um, since you said your daughter talked about us, does that mean she was in SAO?"
"Yes, thanks to you two, I was able to meet my daughter again. Hey, don't be shy, come here quickly."
"U-un."
A female voice responded from the direction of the kitchen, and the two looked over. Seeing the woman's face, they both called out her name simultaneously.
"Yoruko-san!"
"Yoruko-san, is that you!"
"Hachiman-san, Asuna-san, it's been a long time."
Asuna and Yoruko embraced tightly, and Hachiman stood beside them, also happy about the reunion.
"You two saved my life twice. The first time was when I was attacked by Laughing Coffin, and the second was when you cleared the game. You're the ones who cleared SAO, aren't you? I was truly surprised when it happened so suddenly. But thank you so much. Oh, my real name is Yoruko Hoshino. And let me introduce my husband. Darling, quickly."
"Wait, I'm coming now."
And the next person to appear, as expected, was Kains.
"Kains-san!"
"You two… you got married!"
"Yes, we were truly indebted to you both at that time."
"I never imagined we'd meet you two again in a place like this, Kains-san, Yoruko-san."
This time, Hachiman firmly embraced Kains. Kains's real name seemed to be Yuu Hoshino, and it appeared Yuu had married into Yoruko's family. The two immediately said they would bring some cake and returned to the kitchen. Then, several cakes made by their hands were served, and Hachiman and the others savored them.
Then, to the satisfied Hachiman, Shino said:
"Now I truly understand what you said earlier. There really are people everywhere whose lives you've saved, aren't there?"
"Yeah, sometimes the weight of it feels like it's going to crush me."
"You have Asuna, don't you? If it's too much for one person, two can handle it."
Asuna then joined the conversation.
"There might come a time when even two of us can't handle it. But we have Shinonon and everyone else by our side. If two can't do it, then three. If three can't do it, then four. That way, even if it feels like we're about to be crushed, we'll surely be alright. Let's continue to be together and help each other, Shinonon."
"You're right, we're comrades. If anything happens, we'll definitely help our friends."
"Hehe, nice to meet you, Shinonon."
Saying that, Asuna whispered in Shino's ear.
"I absolutely can't give up my spot next to him, but as long as Shinonon wishes to be by his side, he'll surely continue to stay by Shinonon's side her whole life."
Hearing that, Shino looked at Asuna with a defiant expression.
"Are you really okay with that? You might end up giving up your spot next to him to me, you know?"
"Hehe, I'll never lose!"
"We're going to be together for a long time, aren't we?"
"Yeah!"
Despite Shino's declaration of rivalry, Asuna's face, as she replied, was very happy.
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