Why did Hikigaya save the anime girls in Sword Story?

"Hachiman-kun, you really don't understand. I'm angry about your attitude towards yourself."

Asuna continued:

"Although we are not in a romantic relationship, I don't like it when you use self-deprecation to clarify.

At least to me, Hachiman-kun is an important friend, so please stop doing this, okay?

"...You're right, Asuna. I was wrong. Let me reiterate, we're friends, Liz."

Liz, who was watching this scene, realized that she had misunderstood and smiled awkwardly:

"Okay, we're friends! I'm sorry, Asuna. So, what are your plans next?"

After Asuna expressed her intention to go hunting to level up, she invited Liz to go with her, and the three of them began to act together.

----

"Liz, remember to switch back and forth once you've established aggro. Be prepared for potion cooldowns!" Asuna swung her rapier in a star-shaped cross. Turning, her long chestnut hair brushed Hachiman's nose. "And Hachiman-kun, stop drooling over the forging materials!"

The black-haired boy rubbed his red nose and muttered, "This is Mithril Ore that can be crafted with a +7 Critical Hit Rate..."

The pink-haired hammer girl frantically tried to block the giant earthworm's acid spray, her mace still covered in suspicious slime. "Why are there mutant worms in the novice tutorial?"

"Because the planner's brains are broken." Hachiman suddenly drew his weapon and charged forward: "Asuna, left wing, seven o'clock! Liz uses her hammer to stun!"

With a clang of metal, the giant worm crashed to the ground. Amidst the shower of explosive materials, Asuna suddenly poked Liz in the waist. "I heard that the sound of a mace hitting an anvil is similar to playing whack-a-mole, right?"

"Huh?" The girl who was squatting on the ground picking up ore almost hit her foot with the hammer.

"What this guy means is—" Hachiman took out the forging guide and shook it: "Rather than frontline cannon fodder, the logistics director is more suitable for clumsy people."

"Who are you, you bastard? I just perfectly blocked three acid splatters!"

"But your highest record in whack-a-mole at the training ground is..."

"Shut up, dead fish eyes!"

Asuna stifled a laugh as the livid pink-haired girl chased the boy around the field three times before suddenly swung out her scabbard, tripping them both. "The truce is in effect! So, Liz, do you want to try your hand at forging?"

"But...but..." Liz stared down at her slime-covered gauntlets. "Everyone says the frontline raiders are..."

"What do those hot-blooded idiots know?" Hachiman suddenly dropped a small mountain elk ingot from his backpack. "Do you know how much a +3 acid-resistant armor piece is going for on the market these days?"

"That's enough to buy three top-tier rapiers from the store." Asuna finished off the enemy with a smile.

The pink-haired girl's pupils gradually turned into the shape of gold coins.

----

After sunset, the three of them returned to Torbana to stay, Hachiman in a private room, while Asuna and Liz lived together.

"Ah~ I haven't felt this happy in ages! I really want to praise myself for taking the initiative to talk to you!"

"Seeing Liz so happy makes me happy too!"

Perhaps because they hadn't had a female friend for a long time, the two chatted about various topics.

On the premise of keeping her personal information confidential, Asuna recounted her experience of meeting Hachiman, being mistaken for a boy and brought back to her residence, and becoming friends. Liz laughed so hard that she said it was like a movie.

When the topic turned to bathing, Liz immediately became excited:

"I want to take a bath too!"

"Well, you're welcome anytime, Liz."

Asuna recalled Hachiman's previous prophecy and recounted what happened at that time. As the topic came to a halt, Liz said to Asuna seriously:

"Asuna, I'm sorry. When I first saw Hachiman from a distance, I thought you were being tricked by a strange man.

But after chatting with you, taking action together, and listening to you say this, I realized that I was looking at people through tinted glasses. I'm really sorry.

Asuna was stunned for a moment, then smiled:

"Hachiman is a kind and gentle person."

"Yeah, it's awkward! But they're important friends!"

I don't know why girls' conversation topics always go off on a tangent: "Asuna, your skin is so good it's unfair! This smoothness must be due to beauty products!"

The chestnut-haired girl in the bathtub blushed as she smeared the foam on the other person's face: "It's just a basic cleansing function! And don't rush over suddenly!"

"I don't care! From today on, you are my exclusive bath scrubber!" Liz suddenly showed a devilish smile: "By the way, Hachiman-kun, did you secretly..."

"Absolutely not~"

SAO: Chapter 11: Exploring the Ruins

Afterwards, Hachiman and Asuna helped collect intelligence and distribute updated strategy manuals, and sometimes took Lisbeth with them to hunt and cook, leading a very fulfilling life.

Lisbeth often stayed in Asuna's room, and Asuna often brought up topics about Lisbeth. Hachiman liked to see Asuna chatting enthusiastically.

Although Hachiman and Asuna's levels and equipment are enough to challenge the floor boss with ease, according to the information heard from Argo.

Although some players have easily defeated wild map bosses, there is still a lack of players who can challenge floor boss battles.

Argo said that if the three of them and Lisbeth were added, there was a good chance they would find the boss room.

However, considering that there might be many players who are reluctant to challenge at this stage, the two agreed that it was too early and decided to wait until other players discovered the BOSS room on their own before taking action.

"After all, it always takes time at the beginning. The lower levels should be able to advance faster."

"That's true. But compared to that, Hachi, there's a more serious problem."

"Hmm? What's going on?"

"There's too little information about the boss in the game."

Normally, boss intelligence should be obtained through quests, but now it is completely insufficient.

Although there is information from the internal test, it is tantamount to suicide to rely on this information to guide the game without knowing what changes have been made.

"So, I finally got some decent intel from the NPC yesterday."

"I see. You need our help investigating, huh?"

"Yes, there will be a commission fee. I hope Asuna will join us in infiltrating the ruins."

"Can Liz come too? Asuna would be happy."

"Liz-chan, if I agree, then it's fine."

"Then I'll go ask them."

So the four of them decided to join forces to explore the ruins not far east of Tolbana.

"So what exactly is that information?"

"It is said that the exiled Goblin King's henchmen are hiding there."

"It's really a bit ambiguous. You'll have to go and see for yourself."

The four decided to explore cautiously.

"I'll be in the front, Asuna and Lisbeth in the middle, and Argo will be on guard at the rear."

"Wouldn't it be better if I took the lead?"

"Leave it to me. Stop! There's a trap ahead."

"Where? I can't sense it at all."

Hachiman picked up a nearby pebble and threw it forward, triggering the drop trap. The three looked at him in amazement.

"Ever since I was little, I've been good at noticing details and sensing other people's gazes."

"But just now, it seemed as if I could see the difference in the amount of data around me."

Argo said as he approached the trap.

"I can spot it from this distance."

"It's easier to deal with it if you find it early."

"Hachi is a monster..."

"Hachiman-kun is amazing..."

"This is simply not something a human can do..."

"Don't praise me like that. I'll be embarrassed."

Although Hachiman didn't look embarrassed at all, he still said this.

"That's not a compliment!"

"Well, that's not really a compliment."

"I, I was just praising you!"

"Ah, well, Asuna's my only companion. Let's go, everyone."

After that, all the traps and sneak attacks were resolved by Hachiman, and the team successfully explored deeper without encountering any trouble.

On the fourth day, the group found themselves before a magnificent gate.

"Looks like this is the last one. Let's do some reconnaissance."

"Be careful, Hachiman-kun."

"Well, just take a peek through the crack in the door."

Hachiman looked inside and saw a large, black, dog-headed, human-like figure in the distance.

"The enemy is a black kobold with two HP bars.

From the looks of it, it doesn't seem as big as those wild bosses I've heard of.

There is a possibility of reinforcements arriving, please be vigilant in the surrounding area."

"How do you arrange the formation?"

"I'll draw aggro first, then Argo and I will take turns attacking, while Asuna and Liz will alternate.

Those who retreat to the rear will be on guard against more monsters appearing, and don't forget to prepare potions."

After confirming the formation, the four entered the room.

"Black Ruins Kobold Sentinel? Yeah, judging by the name, it looks like a beefed-up version of the floor boss's minions."

"It's perfect for evaluating the boss's strength."

"I might be a little nervous..."

"It's okay, Liz. We'll all take care of each other!"

As the four men rushed forward, the enemy immediately assumed a fighting stance and raised the long sword in his right hand.

Hachiman suddenly accelerated, slipped under the enemy's crotch before he could swing his sword, and launched a sword technique on his right leg, causing the enemy, whose balance was unstable, to fall to the ground.

"Asuna, now is the time!"

Following Hachiman's call, Asuna immediately charged forward and used a series of "Linear Attacks."

The enemy who stood up swung the giant sword wildly, glancing at Hachiman several times, but Hachiman accurately saw through the attack rhythm and made several perfect blocks to create gaps, allowing Asuna to attack again and successfully cause huge damage.

Argo and Lisbeth then took over the attack, the former using hit-and-run tactics to steadily output damage, while the latter continued to strike from a safe position in the rear.

The four of them cooperated well and their combat output was extremely stable.

"The first HP bar is almost empty. Reinforcements may appear at this time or when the HP turns red.

Argo, switch positions! Asuna and Lisbeth will temporarily stand back and wait until it's safe.

Hachiman stepped forward, and the three of them became more alert. Fortunately, there were no abnormalities at the time, and the four of them continued to fight. When the enemy's HP entered the red zone, two new enemies appeared.

"Xiao Ba, two monsters appeared ahead, each with one HP. They are much smaller than this one."

The main enemy had gone berserk, and their attacks were getting more and more intense. Just when the three of them didn't know what to do, Hachiman gave them instructions.

"Although it's a bit of a stretch, I'll hold the fort on my own for a while while you take turns dealing with the new enemies."

"How can this be! Is Hachiman-kun okay on his own?"

"No problem. It might be a little forced, but I won't do anything rash, I promise."