"Kurisu, are you free for the rest of the day?"
"I... I don't have any specific plans, no."
"Good. Let's go rejoin the others. I want to introduce you to the core members of my team."
"Introductions?"
Daru's eyes widened. "Hachiman, you don't mean...?"
"Thanks for the hint, Daru. You want to come along?"
"A-Am I allowed-o?"
"You've been a huge help with the ALO servers. Of course you are."
"Yes! Thank you, thank you!" Daru cheered.
Kurisu looked confused. "So, you're introducing me to these 'members'?"
"To the Valhalla Resort members-nyan," Feyris explained.
"What?" Kurisu's jaw dropped. She knew the name well from her time browsing the web. "Wait... Hachiman, are you that Hachiman? The one from ALO?"
"You spend most of your time in America, but you're well-informed," Hachiman noted.
"I... uh... I just happen to see things online occasionally! Just a coincidence!"
Daru looked at her with deadpan eyes. "It's because Makise-shi is a @channeler..."
"Shut up, you pervert! Don't go around leaking my personal info!"
"Ah, a @channeler," Hachiman said, unbothered. "That explains why you're so well-informed."
Kurisu froze. "Y-you're not going to say anything?"
"About what?"
"About me being a @channeler!"
"So? It's not like you're posting criminal threats or slander, right?"
"Of course not!"
"Then who cares? It's just a place to argue and exchange opinions."
Kurisu blinked, her estimation of Hachiman rising even higher. No wonder Soleil is growing so fast. The man at the helm actually has a level head.
"So," she said, getting back on track. "Why introduce me to the Valhalla members?"
"Because I want you to log into ALO later. I want you to visit our base and meet Kizmel and Yui in person."
"Those names again... are they players?"
"They are NPCs equipped with Kayaba-model AI-o," Daru explained.
Kurisu felt her heart skip a beat. It made sense—Soleil managed ALO, and ALO was now built on the bones of SAO. If anyone had inherited Akihiko Kayaba's research, it was them.
"Are all the NPCs in ALO like that?"
Hachiman shook his head. "No. Kizmel and Yui are unique. They're special cases."
"I... I see. This could be incredible for my research."
"Your research into memory, right?"
"Yes. I've been looking for an AI base to use as a model for neural mapping, but everything currently on the market is too shallow..."
"Then let's make it official," Hachiman said. "As part of our partnership, I'll grant you permission to use the Kayaba AI source code for your research, provided it never leaves your lab."
"If those NPCs are as advanced as you say," Kurisu said, her eyes shining with scientific fervor, "I might be the one asking you for favors."
Hachiman felt a sense of satisfaction. Kurisu is going to be a key person for everything coming next. I can feel it.
"Then we have a tentative agreement," Hachiman said, extending his hand.
"I look forward to it," Kurisu replied, shaking it firmly. "I'll make sure to pay back this debt."
Feyris stayed behind to finish her shift—she knew Hachiman respected a professional who didn't abandon their post—while Hachiman, Kurisu, and Daru piled into KITT.
Kurisu was fascinated by the car, chatting with the AI all the way to the restaurant.
"Wait, so KITT is also running a version of the Kayaba AI?"
[I have recently received a background update to my heuristic processing cores,] KITT explained. [My personality matrix has become significantly more fluid as a result.]
"Hachiman, you're amazing," Kurisu said. "How many more secrets are you hiding?"
"It's not me who's amazing," Hachiman demurred.
"But it's because you're here that all these pieces are falling into place, isn't it?"
"Maybe. But I only like taking credit for things I actually worked for. Taking pride in pure luck feels... wrong."
"A good philosophy," Kurisu noted.
They arrived at the restaurant, and Kurisu bid a reluctant farewell to KITT. Inside, the room was packed.
Miyu and Karen were at the center, surrounded by the student group—Asuna, Kazuto, Rika, and Keiko. But Hachiman had also called in the heavy hitters: Yukino, Yui, Yumiko, and even Meguri and Kurusu (Sumeragi) were there.
Daru froze in the doorway. "Hachiman... what is this?"
"What's what?"
"Why is the room filled with nothing but beautiful women?! Normies explode! Go on, blow up already!"
"Daru, these people are about to become your colleagues and friends."
"Thank you! Thank you! I am so happy to be your friend, Hachiman-o!"
"Glad you appreciate it."
Hachiman stepped into the center of the room and raised his voice over the chatter.
"Sorry I'm late, everyone. Now then—let's officially start the welcome party for Miyu and Karen!"
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