"Well, time to see how those two are holding up. A promise is a promise, after all."
A few days had passed since the war ended. Hachiman traded his usual NerveGear for the more modern AmuSphere and logged into a specific, private VR server. The destination wasn't a sprawling fantasy kingdom; it was just a single house standing alone in a void. To any casual observer, it wouldn't even look like a game, but Hachiman walked up to the front door without hesitation and pressed the chime.
"I bet I'm the only person who ever rings this bell," Hachiman muttered. "Argo really went all out on the little details."
A few seconds later, the door swung open, and two girls practically tumbled out to meet him.
"Hachiman! It's been so long!"
"Yay! Hachiman's here!"
It was Ai and Yuu, the two girls who had been living within this specialized environment. They beamed with joy as they ushered him inside and led him to the living room.
"Looks like you're keeping the place clean," Hachiman noted, glancing around.
"Well, it's not like dust accumulates here," Ai said with a playful shrug. "The only thing we have to worry about is putting things back where they belong."
"Still, good job, both of you," Hachiman said, reaching out to pat their heads.
The girls leaned into his touch, clearly starved for the warmth of another person. They clung to him with an innocent, desperate sort of affection that pulled at Hachiman's heartstrings.
"Oh! I'll go make some tea!" Yuu chirped.
"You can do that now? Alright then, I'll leave it to you, Yuu."
"Mhm! Just watch me!"
As Yuu scampered off toward the kitchen, Hachiman turned his attention back to Ai. "So? How is it? Living here, I mean."
"Once you get used to it, there's no stress at all," Ai replied. "It's not much different from real life. Actually, something funny happened the other day. In the real world, if you eat too much, your stomach hurts, right? But that doesn't happen here. Yuu decided she wanted to see exactly how much cake she could fit in her stomach before the system hit its limit."
Hachiman let out a dry laugh. "Sounds like her."
Since everything here was just data, it didn't cost a dime, and there were no neighbors to complain if they got too loud. He wanted them to enjoy themselves, but a lingering concern remained. The other companions who were supposed to join them hadn't arrived yet, as they were waiting for everyone's Medicuboids to be completed before making the move together.
"Ai... are you two lonely, just the two of you?"
"Of course we are," she said, her eyes softening. "That's why you need to visit more often. Honestly, you could stay the night if you want. We wouldn't mind playing the part of your harem."
"I don't mind staying over, but you'd better let me go to the bathroom before bed and after I wake up," Hachiman retorted.
Ai let out a heavy sigh. "Honestly. You have zero sense of romance, don't you?"
"What exactly were you expecting...?"
"I think you know exactly what," she teased, her tone turning uncharacteristically mature.
"You sound like an old man!" Hachiman barked.
"Hey! For your information, we're seventeen now. It's only natural for a girl to want to get a little intimate with the person she loves."
"I mean... technically, yeah, but..."
"Besides, this world is built on a VR environment based on SAO. Do you understand what that implies?"
Hachiman stiffened. "...You don't mean."
"I do. Those features are enabled. Even if you decided to 'eat us up' in this world, Hachiman, it wouldn't cause any problems. It doesn't affect our physical bodies at all."
"I mean, logically that's true, but... that's still not right."
Ai rolled her shoulders, a small smile playing on her lips. "I knew you'd say that. I'm mostly joking. And don't worry—we have no intention of letting any man other than you touch these bodies in this world."
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for looking out for my peace of mind."
"But remember this," Ai said, her voice suddenly dropping all pretense of playfulness. "If a day ever comes where we truly can't be saved... then I want you to hold us in this world. We don't want to die without ever knowing what it's like to be with a man."
The weight of her words hung in the air. Hachiman could only find one response.
"...I'll do everything in my power to make sure it never comes to that."
"I know you will. But I want you to promise. Consider it our final wish."
"...Alright. I promise."
Satisfied, Ai's heavy aura vanished, replaced by her usual bright smile.
"Well, Yuu should be back soon. Boiling water here takes just as long as it does in the real world. It's charming, in a way, but I really wish they'd add a shortcut function."
"Haha, I'll pass the word along."
"I'll tell them myself, but a little extra pressure from you wouldn't hurt," Ai said. Then, she leaned in and pressed a light kiss to Hachiman's cheek.
"Hey."
"Think of it as a down payment. Something to keep me from getting too lonely until your next visit."
"Good grief. You never change, do you?"
"And do you love me just the way I am?"
"Don't twist my words. It's not like I ever hated you to begin with."
"Honestly, Hachiman, you're so dishonest."
"I just can't keep up with your pace... sigh."
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