Why did Hikigaya save the anime girls in Sword Story?

"Don't worry, I won't disappear. I'll still go to the secret base often anyway."

Looking at Asuna's smile, Hachiman said to Heathcliff, "Please... take good care of Asuna."

"I understand. I originally wanted you to serve as a staff officer, but it seems you are more suitable for free action. If you change your mind, you can always come to me."

In this way, Asuna joined the Blood Knights and served as vice-leader, and the strategy for the 25th floor was restarted.

SAO : Chapter 34: A Gentle Declaration

On the night Asuna joined the guild, Hachiman was squatting at the entrance, struggling with his muddy boot laces.

Before the sound of the key turning died down, the aroma of cream stew that hit him made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

"Surprise——!"

The chestnut hair sticking out from behind the door was still stained with wet water droplets. The girl shook the steaming soup spoon in her hand. Hachiman glanced over her shoulder and saw that the table in the living room was set with tableware that was obviously more than enough for two people.

"It's 10:27 pm now." He deliberately put his watch close to the other person's nose, "And I remember that a certain vice-captain is supposed to be..."

"Take the oath of office at the guild headquarters?" Asuna spun nimbly, the hem of her white dress brushing his knees. "That's why we need to celebrate!"

Hachiman sighed resignedly. When he was forced to sit at the dining table, he noticed that the other party had changed back into the beige sweater he had seen before. This outfit, which had been ridiculed as a "home economics apron", now made people feel inexplicably at ease.

"Clang, clang! This is a secret recipe that's been refined three times!" Asuna lifted the lid of the casserole as if displaying a relic. "Just so you know, there's absolutely no rosemary this time..."

Before he could finish his words, a familiar sound of metal clashing echoed from the hallway. Lisbeth burst through the door, carrying an oak barrel half a person's height, her cheeks still stained with the soot of a forge. "We've got it! This is brewed from the fifth-layer icy lake..."

"Wait!" Hachiman suddenly stopped the wine barrel that was about to fall over. "Why did you bring the accommodation supplies?"

The two girls exchanged a glance and simultaneously revealed sly smiles. Asuna pulled a nightgown embroidered with a cross from her backpack, while Liz fluffed out the bed sheet covered in a hammer pattern.

"Of course it's a girls' party~" The forger slammed the heavy metal wristbands onto the coffee table. "Hachiman-kun, you didn't think we were going to attack at night, did you?"

(Why do girls always like to find various reasons to celebrate?)

Even so, Hachiman decided to let Asuna have her way today.

The party started with the presentation of Asuna's new uniform.

"Clang clang! This is my new uniform!"

"Asuna is so cute~"

Asuna seemed eager to show off the costume she had received, an armor-like uniform with excellent defensive capabilities.

(In this case, you can rest assured about the performance)

Asuna asked Hachiman with an expectant look:

"What do you think, Hachiman?"

"Ah, the defense looks pretty good, I think it's good."

This answer sounds unacceptable to anyone.

"Hachiman..."

"Hachiman, you..."

"What, what's going on..."

"Do it again"

"Oh, okay..."

"Then let me ask again, what do you think, Hachiman?"

"It suits you quite well, doesn't it? I think it looks very nice."

"Thank you!"

As the night grew deeper, Hachiman fled back to his room early. The two of them seemed to be taking a bath together and then sleeping in the same bed.

(Ahhh… a lot of things happened today…)

Hachiman fully exposed his shortcomings today and felt a little frustrated.

(Did I really think of Asuna as my own property? I actually thought that about my friend. I really am a bad person... Haha...)

Thinking about his long experience of being friendless, Hachiman fell asleep.

"Hey, Asuna, is this really okay?"

"Huh? What?"

"Actually, Asuna wants to join the guild founded by Hachiman, right?"

"Ah~ Liz noticed it too."

"Of course..."

"But if that happens, Hachiman-kun will surely sacrifice himself for the members, right?"

"Ah...it's possible."

"So it's fine now. When I heard the news about the Blood Alliance Knights, I felt that this was the correct answer."

"Asuna, that's fine."

"Um"

"By the way, does Asuna like Hachiman?"

"Eh? Hachiman... Hachiman-kun is a friend?"

(Wow, no way~ These two people will never notice unless something special happens~)

Lisbeth held her head in her hands, and the first night the three of them spent together passed like this.

After that, Hachiman began to contact various parties frantically: requesting a strategy meeting from the Holy Dragon Union, explaining the strategy rules and formations to the Blood Alliance Knights, contacting Kirito, Bakaha, Agil and others. Finally, the long-awaited strategy meeting was held the next day.

"I apologize for calling everyone together so suddenly. Today, I'm mainly introducing our new combat force—the Knights of the Blood Alliance."

Before he finished speaking, the Blood Alliance Knights marched in. Their neat uniforms and unified movements were very impressive. As everyone was watching with great interest, Asuna's appearance caused a burst of exclamations.

"I am Heathcliff, leader of the Knights of the Blood, and next to me is Asuna, the Vice-Leader."

Hachiman noticed Asuna's eyebrow twitch when she was called "Flash," but pretended not to notice since she glared at him.

"Seventeen of us, the Blood Alliance Knights, have applied to join the raiding team."

Heathcliff announced this solemnly, and everyone welcomed him. Amidst the excitement, Kirito in the back row whispered to Hachiman:

"Why did Asuna join the Knights of the Blood Alliance?"

"Ah, actually, it was Asuna's own wish."

"So, you weren't forced?"

"of course not"

"...Is this really okay?"

"what?"

"No, as long as you feel good, let's work hard together."

"Oh, it's up to you."

Now that we have all the necessary strength, we decide to challenge the boss again. A full month has passed since we reached the 25th floor.

Hachiman was assigned to the Blood Alliance Knights to team up with Asuna - the results of the simulated battle showed that no one in the knights could keep up with Asuna's speed, and Heathcliff judged that their combination was the best.

The tacit understanding between the two made the members of the Knights tremble, and no one dared to underestimate this "extra member" anymore.

After many twists and turns, the boss battle on the 25th floor began again. As rumored, the boss's attacks were fast and powerful, but Heathcliff almost blocked all of them, and everyone was amazed at the power of the holy sword.

"Hachiman, you're amazing."

"Yeah, why has such a strong person only appeared now?"

“It’s incredible”

"Oh, the boss's health has entered the red zone. It's time for us to make our presence felt."

"Well, let's go. We will never lose as a duo."

The battle became increasingly fierce but ultimately ended peacefully. The Blood Knights' steady fighting style, Heathcliff's superhuman defense, and Asuna's joining in to make up for their offensive shortcomings were all impressive.

The name of the Blood Alliance Knights was thus established, and it would surely lead the future strategy. As the road ahead became clear, the strategy team launched another swift offensive.

----

As the bonfire of the celebration banquet illuminated the night sky red, Hachiman hid on the top of the bell tower to count the spoils. From below came the clear singing of girls, mixed with the rhythm of blacksmiths hammering on wine barrels.

"So you're here." Asuna's voice came from behind. She changed back into her beige sweater. "Here, this is yours."

Catching the tossed crystal bottle, Hachiman raised an eyebrow and looked at the label: "Aged from the Fifth Ice Lake?"

"Liz said this one..." Asuna's ears were reddening again. "It's perfect for sharing."

"The next target is the 26th floor, right?"

"Please spare me..." Hachiman raised his head and drank the cold wine, but he felt a fire burning in his chest. Asuna's laughter was scattered in the night wind, like some kind of gentle declaration of war.

SAO: Chapter 35 This Kirito has a problem with his teeth

"Shh!"

The blue steel sword drew a dark blue arc, and the five venomous lizards turned into data fragments. Hachiman shook his numb wrist and glanced at his partner who was polishing the black sword. "Did the sun rise from the west today? The lone wolf of the strategy team actually took the initiative to invite others to level up?"

Kirito sheathed his sword back into the leather scabbard on his back, his black windbreaker stained with a few leaves. "After all, I haven't attended the frontline meeting for two weeks in a row. If I don't come to level up, Agil will draw a turtle in the strategy manual."

He suddenly winked at Hachiman and said, "Besides, Asuna has been with the Knights of the Blood Alliance recently. It's really pitiful that someone has such an empty back."

"Huh?" Hachiman nearly choked on his kettle. "Don't impose settings on lone players without permission! It's more likely that those who aren't holding back are more..."

"Hachiman's ears are red all the way to his ears."

"This is normal congestion after a battle!"

"Haha, but it's been a while since I gave it my all."

(Hmm? What did Kirito mean by "a long time"? Could it be that he hasn't been giving his all in the guild? But having one particularly prominent person in a mid-level guild certainly causes all sorts of trouble...)

When the two were about to take a break, they heard rustling sounds in the bushes behind them, and Hachiman noticed that a group of people were approaching from behind.

"Kirito, someone's coming."

As the two sat drinking water, the group of people came up to them. Kirito recognized one of the faces and greeted them despite an embarrassed expression.

"Hey, Klein, long time no see."

Suddenly, a deafening howl erupted, "Kirito-ahh ...

The man with the fiery red cockscomb haircut slammed into Kirito's arms like a cannonball, and six players with different appearances emerged from the bushes.

"Klein... Yin Leng + Ying Qi k⒋5jiu4镹坝 = group chat..." Kirito raised his head from the other person's arms with difficulty, "I can't breathe."

After the introduction, everyone remembered that they had met in the Starting Town at the beginning of the game, and Hachiman and Asuna were still very famous in the strategy group, and some people were even their CP fans.

"So you are the Mr. Uncoordinated Limbs."

Klein's expression froze instantly, Kirito suddenly started coughing violently, and the members of Fuurinkazan collectively turned around to stifle their laughter.

"Hachiban! Brother!" Klein drew his sword. "Looks like I need to show you Vice President Fenglinzan... Ugh!"

The man stuffed the bread into his open mouth and said, "Don't become a red name in the wild." At the same time, he turned his head and winked at Hachiman, "But Hachiman's swordsmanship instruction is very expensive, and the opportunity is rare."

Half an hour later, when Klein was thrown into the mud for the 15th time by Hachiman's parry, he finally lay flat on his back, "I'm done! Are all of you in the Clearers team monsters?"

His muddy fingers trembled as he pointed at Kirito. "This guy used to be so clumsy that he couldn't even teach me how to do a diagonal slash..."

"Because now, Kirito-san—" Hachiman dragged out his words, looking at the black-clad swordsman's suddenly stiffened back, "you probably haven't even used 50% of your strength in your own guild, right? After all, you have to take care of the ordinary players and so on..."

"Hachiman!"

"He's angry out of shame."

As the sun set, Klein stuffed bottles of wine, crafted only by brewers using rare ingredients, into each of their arms. "We'll be soaking in the hot springs on the 27th floor on the 15th of every month. You're always welcome!"

He patted Hachiman's shoulder and winked, "You can also bring Miss Asuna~"