Why did Hikigaya save the anime girls in Sword Story?

Kirito explained how he acquired these skills and why he trained here every day.

"Keep it a secret!" Kirito hurriedly sheathed his swords. "If the other clearing teams find out..."

"I see. If I get exposed, I'll definitely cause trouble for Liu Shan."

"So you understand why the black sword was created?"

"Yeah. Asuna, do you know?"

"I didn't tell her. Hachiman and I agreed not to reveal my skills to others."

"But it will be exposed sooner or later."

“We’ll talk about it later.”

Afterwards, Hachiman and Kirito engaged in a simulated battle in their best condition, and the 2-1 win-loss ratio showed that Kirito was still more skilled.

Hachiman worked hard to practice the technique of moving forward and backward and blocking the two swords at the same time. Although it was not yet perfected, it could be done with ease if the opponent was not Kirito. After the battle, Kirito practiced the moves as usual, with Hachiman guiding him and Lisbeth watching with envy.

"Are you hungry? You look so eager."

"No! I'm just jealous that you can exchange fighting techniques!"

"We have different responsibilities. The sword you forged is Kirito's favorite."

Liz's face lit up with a smile.

"And... my gratitude to you^(一)卅〗~(七)?Sulphur13?2er~〈河月绮衣 is second only to Asuna」

"'Second only to' ah."

"Asuna is a special existence"

"That's not what I'm talking about! For Hachiman to say 'second only to Asuna' is like saying he's second in command."

"Uh... more like that."

"Well! I accept this recognition!"

Asuna, who later joined, engaged Hachiman in combat drills. Whenever his attacks were parried, the rapier user was inexplicably delighted, calling it a kind of acrobatics. Despite his frequent parries, Hachiman was repeatedly defeated, exposing his weakness to thrust-type attacks.

"It's tough... I can't handle the thrusts after all."

"Even though he was defending so actively..."

“There was no pursuit at all.”

"I tried! It's just that my body froze suddenly."

"Asuna has a paralysis attribute against Hachiman's special attack."

The truth is, Hachiman completely lost his desire to attack Asuna, and he actually enjoyed watching the rapier user's joy. Hachiman's new equipment and Kirito's demonstration of dual blades against Liz came to an end.

SAO : Chapter 57: Chowder Rabbit

Recently, Hachiman has been focusing on collecting intelligence and has not participated in BOSS battles for a long time. However, on the 73rd floor, which is currently the forefront, intelligence was collected at an unusually fast speed, so Hachiman decided to participate in the strategy battle after a long absence.

"Isn't this our intelligence master?" The sudden voice made Hachiman instinctively hold his weapon in place. Turning around, he was confronted by Klein's signature red headscarf. "I haven't seen you in the boss room for three months. Are you attending some secret training?"

"Oh, Klein, it's a rare opportunity to finish the work ahead of time. It was just a spur of the moment."

Ever since the Laughing Coffin incident, Hachiman hasn't met the other members of the raiders since he completely transitioned to working behind the scenes.

Therefore, among everyone present, only Kirito and Asuna had seen his special equipment.

Klein noticed the metal arm guards on Hachiman's arms: "Hey, Hachiman, when did you change your fighting style? This shield..."

"Ah, just wanted to try something new."

"It has a unique shape. What's it called?"

"Acht Faust."

"Faust... remember it means 'fist'?"

"It literally means a fist."

"But it looks like a shield, right?"

Later, when I spoke with Agil and Bakaha, similar conversations repeated several times. (It's been a while since I got this equipment, but it seems I haven't participated in the walkthrough in a while. I should definitely participate more in Yueyi, Jiuling Liusi, and ⑥qi〆, Dad Woba, and add some more...)

Hachiman deliberately avoided using a shield, completing the battle with confidence. He believed that he needed to observe the situation before revealing this mechanism. After the successful conclusion of the crusade, Hachiman encountered Heathcliff on his way to the next floor.

"Hachiman-kun, I haven't seen you for so long. You've changed your fighting style?"

"Well, I want to try different possibilities."

"This equipment is quite rare. What is its name?"

"Acht Faust"

"What a strange weapon."

"That's it."

Although he felt a little uncomfortable, Hachiman was too exhausted to investigate further. As the front line advanced to the seventy-fourth floor, the morale of the attacking team was at an all-time high.

A few days later, Kirito came to the maze area on the 74th floor alone and was about to return after defeating the Lizard King. When he walked to the edge of the forest, he caught a glimpse of a snow-white creature in his peripheral vision.

(That's... a hodgepodge rabbit? I actually saw it with my own eyes!)

This rare animal is extremely fast in escape and never attacks. It is famous for the delicious S-rank ingredient "Rabbit Stew" it drops.

Kirito quietly took out the throwing needle (he hadn't expected it to come in handy at this moment), held his breath and took aim.

(I have to hit it!) The needle tip grazes the rabbit's ear, and the frightened animal leaps into the air. Kirito seizes the opportunity and flashes his sword: "Got it!"

After checking the precious ingredients that had fallen, Kirito excitedly struck a victory pose. "Should I eat them or sell them... Let's go to Agil's shop first."

Kirito muttered as he walked towards Agil's shop.

"You're kidding! This is an S-grade ingredient!" Agil, the weapon shop owner, was equally shocked. "Are you going to eat it? Of course you're going to eat it!"

"But I'm afraid my cooking skills won't be enough to ruin this top-quality ingredient..."

At this time, Asuna appeared accompanied by her guards, perhaps she was out shopping.

It seems that ever since the "Laughing Coffin" incident, the Blood Oath Knights have decided to provide bodyguards for their top brass.

"What's wrong with you two?"

"Asuna! Are your cooking skills maxed out? Please take care of this!"

Kirito remembered that Asuna was very good at cooking.

"Oh, isn't this stewed rabbit meat?" Asuna said calmly, not seeming particularly surprised.

"Yes, Asuna, sorry, can you make this for me? I've never had this before!"

"Sure, how about going to Hachiman's?"

When Kirito excitedly shook Asuna's hand, his guard, Kraldiel, interrupted coldly, "I've heard that there's a guy who's been bothering Asuna..."

"Kradir, today's escort mission is over."

"But Asuna-sama!"

"I will explain this to the captain myself," Asuna said firmly.

"I understand," the man called Kradir left with a look of regret on his face.

Asuna watched the reluctantly departing guard leave, explaining, "The captain insisted on having a guard, but that person is always like this..."

"Would Hachiman mind?"

"He never expresses his emotions, so I don't know what he's thinking." Asuna's tone was a little helpless. It seemed that the eldest lady also had things she couldn't handle.

"Hachiman, even if something unpleasant happened, you wouldn't show it..."

"Okay, then I'm going to his house now anyway to see how he reacts."

"Anyway, let's go cook!"

At this moment, Egil interrupted him impatiently.

"Hey, what about mine? Isn't one piece of meat enough for four people?"

"Well, I think three is the limit."

"Yes, Egil, see you later."

"Do not!!!"

Agil wailed as they pursued him. Eventually, the four of them gathered at Hachiman's tower-shaped player residence. Seeing Agil bowing 90 degrees at the entrance, Hachiman smiled wryly and said, "Is it really that exaggerated?"

"Of course! By the way, this house is amazing!"

"It's my proud work. Here's the key. Come anytime if you need anything."

In the kitchen, Asuna skillfully prepared two pieces of rabbit meat (Yahata provided an extra piece).

"Dinner's ready!" Asuna emerged from the kitchen, carrying a silver tray. The pumpkin embroidery on her skirt swayed gently with her steps. The moment the lid of the golden rabbit curry was lifted, the aroma simulated by her virtual taste buds petrified Agil.

When the fragrant dishes were served, Agil was so moved that he choked up and said, "I have no regrets in dying..."

As Hachiman cut into the meat, the translucent juices shimmered amber under the moonstone chandelier. "The last time I had this was on the fifty-sixth floor."

He deliberately spoke in a calm tone, "Asuna maxed out her cooking skills that day, and the food she made was delicious."

"Wait!" The piece of meat on Kirito's fork fell back onto his plate with a clatter. "How many times have you guys had dinner together without my knowledge?"

Asuna sipped her tea and chuckled, "Hachiman-kun always finds unusual ingredients, like crystal cave fish and lava cheese mushrooms..."

With each dish she named, Agil's screams rose an octave, and he finally lunged at Hachiman and roared, "So you're the bastard who's monopolizing the high-end food market!"

During the after-dinner chat, Asuna brought up the topic of guards: "The Blood Knights have assigned guards to me..."

"It's necessary for safety reasons."

"But that Kraldiel is really annoying."

"If Asuna hates that guy, then I'll go talk to Heathcliff about it. I'll tell you whatever happens."

Asuna observed Hachiman's reaction, but found him to be unfazed. After everyone had dispersed, the girl, left alone, finally asked, "What are your true thoughts on the guards?"

"The guard system itself is necessary." Hachiman twirled his teacup. "As for the specific candidates... I haven't seen them, so I can't comment."

Moonlight streamed through the stained glass windows onto the two silent figures. Asuna sighed softly and stood up to leave when Hachiman suddenly spoke, "Want to form a team in the labyrinth area tomorrow?"

"Yeah!" The girl looked back and smiled, and the door closed gently in the starlight.

SAO: Chapter 58: Asuna's Home is Here

The next morning, the morning mist still hung over the Portal Square. Two boys stood by the crystal pillar, chatting idly. Hachiman, his eyes drooping, stuffed bread into his mouth, while Kirito spun his one-handed sword like a top.

"It's really rare for Asuna to be late."

"After all, that's the vice-chairman whose life motto is punctuality." Kirito poked the ground with the hilt of his sword. "Do you think she's been captured by the Knights of the Blood Alliance and forced to attend their morning meeting?"

As the two were discussing whether or not to contact Asuna, the portal suddenly moved. Before they could react, an orange afterimage, wrapped in a strong wind, broke through the air.

"Get out of the way!"

"Ok?"

The next second, Asuna burst out of the portal. She had apparently leaped high into the air, and when she realized she was about to crush Hachiman with the force of a mountain, she quickly called out a warning.

But Hachiman remained calm and opened his arms reflexively. Suddenly, a fragrant and soft "cannonball" appeared in his arms. Asuna's long orange hair covered his face, and her whole body hung on his neck like a koala.

"Catch it." Hachiman bounced the person in his arms upwards. "Asuna, are you using the portal as a bungee jumping device?"

"What do you care?" Asuna's ears were red as if they were about to bleed, but she still stiffened her neck and spoke stubbornly.

Seeing this posture, Kirito immediately whistled: "Beautiful!"

"Hey, Asuna, this is too dangerous. If it were someone else, they would have been bumped into. Didn't the teacher teach us not to run in the corridor?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, teacher~

"Who is your teacher?"

Asuna, who should have been blushing with embarrassment, was staring at the portal. When Hachiman and Kirito followed her gaze, another figure appeared.

"Asuna-sama! Acting on your own will put your subordinates in great trouble... You bastard! Let Asuna-sama go!"