Why did Hikigaya save the anime girls in Sword Story?

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When Kirito woke up, everything was pitch black.

"correct."

Remembering that he was wearing the NERvGear, he slowly took off the device, looked around the environment of the suspected ward, and tried to get up.

(Can you please stand up...?)

Carefully avoiding the IV tube, he staggered to his feet.

"Wow, the muscles have severely degenerated."

I couldn't help but shudder at the sight of the emaciated body.

"If we had fought before the hundredth floor, we might have collapsed long ago..."

Kirito, slumped on the edge of the bed, pressed the nurse's bell.

----

Klein, Argo, and Silica gradually regained consciousness. Agil was the luckiest of all—he opened his eyes to see his long-cherished wife.

"Honey!"

His wife, who happened to be visiting, threw herself into his arms with tears streaming down her face.

"Sorry... I'm back."

"Welcome home."

The two hugged each other and cried until medical staff arrived.

----

Lisbeth wandered in the darkness until she woke up.

"Kirito! Kirito—!"

Knowing it's futile, I still keep calling.

(I've clearly cleared SAO, but where on earth am I? Is this all a dream, and am I actually dead?)

He lost consciousness again while continuing the pursuit.

----

Miura Yumiko visited Hachiman as usual. As the hospital was about to close and she was about to leave, she heard a noise behind her - Hachiman was staring at her blankly from his bed.

"what......"

"Huh? Why are you the first one I see? Are you still dreaming?"

"Hikigaya!"

Miura buried his face in his chest with tears streaming down his face.

"So soft...isn't this a dream? Is this really you?"

"Don't use 'you'."

Miura held on tightly, and Hachiman had no choice but to let him vent.

"Is this a hospital? Do you come here often to visit patients?"

Surprised by his calm tone, Miura finally let go.

(Hikigaya would have been completely embarrassed and at a loss in the past.)

As I stared at him, I found that his eyes were no longer gloomy.

"You've become more handsome, although you're too thin."

"Why are you praising me all of a sudden? Is this a prank? Answer my question first."

"Haha, that hasn't changed. Well, this is the hospital. I go to college nearby and come to see you often."

"I see...Thank you very much, Miura."

"Welcome back, Hikigaya."

Miura wiped his tears and smiled, pressing the nurse bell.

"Contact Sister Yang Nai first. Oh, and check the wall behind."

"A hospital related to Yukinoshita?"

"Sister Yang Nai has done a lot for you, remember to thank her."

"besides......"

"Behind? Wow!"

A huge wedding photo of Hachiman and Asuna hung prominently on the wall.

“Why is this here!”

"They said it was data export or something, but I don't quite understand it."

"It's a public execution!"

"It was hung with everyone's consent, and you are not allowed to take it down."

"Who does everyone mean?"

"Yukino, Yui, Iroha, Komachi, Kawasaki, and me."

“Almost all of them are my acquaintances…”

"This is the person you love the most, right?"

"Well, this is my wife, Asuna."

Miura changed the subject as expected:

"Actually, you've noticed Yui and Yukino's feelings, right?"

"Their feelings..."

"Ah."

"I had a vague feeling about it before, but I could only avoid it at that time."

"And now? They looked very unhappy when they saw this photo—Iroha and I were the same."

"Even you? Then Ye Shan..."

"Call me Yumiko. I stopped calling her that after I was rejected by Hayato at graduation."

"I see..."

"After seeing the photo, I suddenly think you are very handsome."

"It's just an illusion. I already have Asuna..."

"I knew you'd say that, but I won't give up, and I guess the others won't either."

"You've suddenly become popular while I was asleep, but my feelings won't change. I'll still treat everyone seriously. Thank you so much, Yumiko."

"Hey?!"

Surprised at the sudden change of name.

"You have indeed changed a lot."

"If someone being cared for asks to be addressed by name, it's natural to respond."

"That's good."

When the medical staff arrived, Miura prepared to leave.

"It's nice to have someone to keep you company when you wake up. Goodbye, Yumiko."

"Goodbye...Hachiman."

Watching Miura wave goodbye and leave, Hachiman fell into deep thought.

(I can call out Yumiko naturally. I am really different from before.)

After the examination, the ward door opened again.

SAO: Chapter 85: The Love War Begins at the Hospital Bed

The door of the ward was pushed open, and Haruno and Komachi walked in.

Haruno gently pushed Komachi's back forward.

"Look, Komachi, this is a genuine brother."

Komachi, who was being pushed, quickly ran to Hachiman, hugged him tightly and started crying.

“Brother! Brother! Brother!”

"Komachi... seems to have grown a little taller?"

"Brother has lost a lot of weight."

"yes"

"Welcome home! Komachi always believed that brother would come back safely!"

"Well, I'm back. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long."

Komachi kept clinging to Hachiman and sobbing. Hachiman also continued to stroke his sister's hair, and Haruno watched the scene with a gentle look.

Soon Hachiman's parents arrived, and Haruno offered to leave first on the grounds that "it's rare for the family to be together."

"Hikigaya-kun, I've told everyone else not to disturb us today, so just enjoy your family time.

However, there will probably be a peak in visits tomorrow, so be prepared. Oh, and government officials may be coming, and I'll be accompanying them."

"Thank you so much, Miss Haruno. I'll express my formal gratitude tomorrow..."

"Well, okay, then Mr. Hikigaya, congratulations on today."

Hachiman's parents kept bowing to Haruno to express their gratitude, their gratitude almost overflowing. Haruno responded with a smile and left.

That day, Hachiman chatted a lot with his long-lost family. What his parents were most interested in was the conspicuous photo on the wall.

"But I was really shocked when I first saw this photo. Does Hachiman like this child?"

"That's right"

"Oh my god! That Hachiman can be so frank!"

"Yeah, I was worried about Hachiman's future, but now it looks like everything will be fine!"

"Hachiman, please give us grandchildren soon!"

"Then Komachi will become an auntie!"

"This bunch of stupid family members... We haven't met in real life yet, so it's hard to say what will happen in the future."

"You absolutely can't let him get away! There are going to be a lot of people who will like Hachiman in your life...huh? Seems like there are quite a few, right? Komachi?"

"Well, Komachi knows of six candidates, including this Asuna."

"I see. I don't know who Hachiman will choose, but just don't let yourself regret it."

"I know I will never be dishonest with anyone."

"Hachiman has really grown up..."

(Speaking of which, our family is clearly a free-range family, but it turned out to be like this...)

Despite the noise, Hachiman was very happy to spend time with his family.

As the night deepened, the three prepared to leave, and an exhausted Hachiman went to bed early. Before bed, the nurse told him that the outside world seemed to be in an uproar over the news that SAO had been cleared.

(I hope this doesn't cause any weird effects on my friends, but there's nothing I can do about it. The most important thing right now is to find a way to get Asuna back.)

With these thoughts in mind, Hachiman fell into a deep sleep.

The first people to arrive the next day were Iroha and Komachi.

"Senior! Welcome back!"