Why did Hikigaya save the anime girls in Sword Story?

"Hey? Hey?"

"Don't you want to take a bath?"

"Ah, that... um."

“So only soak for ten minutes.”

Asuna, finally understanding the meaning behind the words, asked hesitantly:

"Um... together?"

Hachiman immediately replied:

"How can it be"

“Hey hey hey hey hey hey——?”

"Then I'll go check out the other facilities. You can take your time soaking."

After saying that, Hachiman left the bathroom. Asuna realized she had been tricked and whimpered angrily for a long time, but thinking that time was running out, she accepted Hachiman's kindness and started taking a bath.

After checking the interior facilities, Hachiman was sitting on the sofa, waiting with nostalgia, when there was a sudden knock on the door. Hearing the familiar rhythm, Hachiman opened the door without hesitation.

"Hey, Argo, you're finally online."

Argo obviously didn't expect the door to open immediately. He froze for a few seconds before blinking and saying:

"This is too defenseless, Xiao Ba!"

"Because it's the 'Argo Knock,' I've heard it so many times that I've memorized it."

"What's with that name... Never mind, isn't Xiaoya with you?"

Hachiman silently pointed to the bathroom. Before he could stop him, Argo rushed over, and Hachiman quickly turned his back to the bathroom.

Then Asuna's scream and Argo's laughter were heard from the bathroom, but this time Hachiman managed to avoid Asuna's punishment because he turned around in time.

"Ha... the sudden attack was really scary..."

A few minutes later, the three of them sat on the sofa in the living room and talked. Asuna sighed but said with satisfaction. Argo narrowed his eyes in nostalgia.

"Come to think of it, Xiaoya and I first met in this bathroom."

"Yeah, I really miss that. But back then, the door was just opened, but today, Miss Argo jumped right into the bathtub. In a way, it's more terrifying."

"Aha?"

Hachiman looked back and forth between the two in shock. Argo said shyly:

"Oops, I'm overserving Hachi like this."

As soon as she finished speaking, Asuna threw Hachiman onto the sofa, her fingertips pressing directly into his eyes.

"Argo! Don't joke around like that! My eyes would be ruined! Asuna, I literally turned around immediately and didn't see a thing! Trust me!"

Asuna looked at Argo with a questioning look, and Argo shook his head and said:

"Xiao Ba had his back to me at the time, so I don't know if he peeked or not—"

"Argoa ...

Asuna narrowed her eyes and looked at Hachiman, then suddenly let him go. Just as she was wondering if there would be any further punishment, Asuna smiled mischievously.

"Actually, the moment Argo removed his equipment, I could clearly see from my position that Hachiman-kun did turn around."

"Asuna ahhhh IXling dead Liu Qiba 2 (eight) qun!"

Looking at the screaming Hachiman, Asuna raised her index finger and winked:

"Revenge just now~"

After calming down his breathing, Hachiman said unwillingly: "Today, it's a draw!"

Argo laughed at this scene, and Asuna reluctantly sat back down next to Hachiman. To hide his embarrassment, Hachiman changed the subject:

"By the way, isn't Argo very busy today?"

"I really want to come to Aincrad again, so I'll squeeze in some time to go online."

"Zaimu and the others are almost able to handle things on their own, right? I should be able to let go of ALO operations soon."

"Zaimokuza... I haven't thanked him yet."

"By the way! Let's go together to say thank you next time." Asuna suddenly held Hachiman's hand, and the warmth from her palm came over. Hachiman looked at her and agreed with a smile.

Looking at the two people who had reached a consensus, Argo said:

"Then I'll tell Zai Mu after I log off."

"please"

"Do I need to explain the changes in Aincrad?"

Hachiman shook his head, "That's cheating. We're all gathering intelligence anyway, and our members are all excellent."

Argo nodded. "Indeed. I'll leave now. Let's go on adventures together again next time!"

"I must clear the 100th floor this time!"

"Goodbye, Hachi-chan!"

After watching Argo log off, the two left the base and headed towards the square where the strategy meeting was being held. When they reached the square, Asuna suddenly quickened her pace.

ALO: Chapter 156: Klein is Knocked Out

"Sorry everyone, I kept you waiting."

"Sorry to have kept you waiting!"

A few minutes later, two teleportation light effects suddenly lit up next to the fountain in the center of the square.

Hachiman and Asuna successfully reunited with their fellow town exploration team members in the square where the first strategy meeting was held.

Before Hikigaya Hachiman could finish his words, the blond swordsman next to him suddenly interrupted him with a ninety-degree bow.

The girl's long, flowing chestnut hair brushed the tip of the boy's nose, causing him to reflexively take a half step back, his lower back slamming into the fountain fence.

"Pain, pain, pain... Are you imitating a certain white-robed sage?"

When the two of them first met, Lisbeth said to Asuna with a half-joking smile:

"Anyway, Asuna must be pestering Hachiman again, saying she wants to take a bath, right?"

Asuna, who was running towards Lisbeth with a smile, suddenly froze in place the moment she heard these words. She turned her face away abruptly, put her hands behind her head, and whistled silently.

"Eh?...Asuna, what's wrong with you?"

In response to Lisbeth's bewildered questioning, Asuna desperately explained:

"No, no, Liz! I just wanted to check how the equipment felt! This is for the public good, I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Asuna... your way of speaking is exactly like Hachiman's."

"Eh? Y-Really? I'm a little embarrassed to be compared to Hachiman-kun, but I feel really happy."

Lisbeth had only casually complained helplessly, but Asuna had misunderstood her and blushed and twisted her body shyly.

Stunned, Lisbeth looked around for help, but all her companions tacitly averted their eyes, refusing to meet her gaze. Seeing this, Hachiman had no choice but to intervene:

"Ah, Asuna, is the bathroom equipment okay?"

"Ok!"

"That's good. Once we're done exploring today, the girls can enjoy a sightseeing bath together."

"Okay! It's settled!"

Looking at the girls fighting in a group, Hachiman quietly retreated to Agil's side and asked, "Are these people really here for a strategy meeting?"

"After all, it's been ages since we last met." The Great Axe Warrior smiled and handed over a bottle of mead. "But you, the SAO team, are the only ones in the world who can make Asuna so relaxed."

Lisbeth, Silica, Yukino, and Haruno all responded with vague "hmm," and the topic finally came to an end. Hachiman then asked seriously about the town exploration progress.

"Any major discoveries?"

Everyone started reporting:

"The Black Iron Palace's maze seems to be still closed, and even its existence cannot be confirmed."

"The prison area is gone. It wasn't used for anything other than harassment protection anyway."

“The infrastructure is basically the same as before!”

"Only the changes in the Monument of Life are of concern."

"Monument of Life?"

"What the hell is that?"

In response to the simultaneous questions from the Yukinoshita sisters, Hachiman explained in detail the origin of the Monument of Life.

"I see...it's a tombstone."

As Yukino whispered, Haruno, whose eyes were also red, mustered up the courage to suggest, "Let's put it aside for now and wait until everyone is here before we can officially pay our respects."

This suggestion was unanimously agreed upon, and the exchange of information continued. Although Origin Town, as the largest main city, was difficult for even the SAO team to fully explore, judging from the current intelligence, the overall situation was roughly the same as before.

At this moment, Klein suddenly poked his head out from between the two of them. "Hey, hey! Don't ignore me! Hachiman, you actually kept the ladies waiting for so long. Could it be that in the hotel..."

"It seems that there is no problem here for the time being. Then Klein."

"Hmm? What's wrong Hachiman?"

"Let me punch you."

"Why!"

Faced with the sudden request, Klein immediately jumped to his feet.

Agil suddenly interrupted seriously, "It's about the rules of the circle, right?" Seeing Klein suddenly understand, Hachiman nodded and said, "Yes, we must verify whether it is the same as before."

"I understand the logic! But why do I have to be the punching bag?"

"intuition?"

"What a reason!"

At this time, Yukino smiled and suggested: "Why not let the girls do the iron fist punishment? Sooner or later, you will experience the baptism of Takizawa teacher anyway."

"That's right! If the teacher says so, I'll definitely take action!" After hearing Yang No's additional explanation, Klein was in a dilemma: "Although there is a high probability that I will be punished by Takizawa teacher..."

"You don't even deny it?" Klein suddenly puffed out his chest and said, "A real man should accept punishment calmly!"

"Klein does get irritated easily."

"Right? So as a man, you should feel the other person's anger with your body!"

Looking at the smug Klein, Hachiman took the opportunity to fan the flames. "I've taken quite a few punches from Takizawa-sensei myself, and it was especially painful the first time I wasn't prepared. Klein, it'll be good for your future if you experience this beforehand, right?"

"I see! Then this is the path of a man!"

Klein gradually became more active from resistance, and finally took a stance with his blood boiling: "Come on! Let me feel the real iron fist!"

Hachiman turned to the girls, "So whose attack is closest to the sensei's power? What do you think, Yukino?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"After all, you're the one who's seen me get beaten the most."

Yukino pondered for a moment: "The strength standards in the game are different from those in reality. We need to verify them with multiple sets of data."

Hachiman immediately responded, "Thank you all, I'm sorry. Is Klein okay?"

"Feel free to come over here!"

At this moment, Asuna noticed Hachiman muttering, "What's wrong with Hachiman-kun?"

"Actually..." Hachiman then remembered something Klein didn't know - the seemingly weak Yukino had followed her sister in learning martial arts since she was young, and her melee attributes in the game were also unexpectedly excellent.

"Is Yukino so powerful?"

"I shouldn't... die..."

Yukino was in a standard fist stance, while Klein, completely unaware of the danger, was still shouting, "Go ahead!"

When Hachiman thought something was wrong, Yukino screamed "Break!!!" and punched Klein in the abdomen with a straight punch.