"After the cultural festival in our second year, I spread rumors about you, Hikitani, true or not, all over school," Minami confessed, meeting Jiyu's gaze.
Jiyu nodded. "Go on, Minami."
Taking a deep breath, Minami continued. "In my first year, I was at the center of the class and got cocky. But in our second year, someone else took that spot. Panicked, I volunteered as festival committee chair but couldn't handle it, dumped the work on others, and ran away. You were the only one who called me out, Hikitani. I get it now—you played the villain to help others. Your words were harsh but true. I ignored them, resented you, played the victim to protect myself. I was the worst. I'm so sorry."
She bowed deeply. Hachiman responded, "But at the sports festival, you reflected on your mistakes and tried to make things right, didn't you?"
"I never apologized to you, though."
"Maybe, but—"
Minami sensed Hachiman had moved on, but she didn't want to let herself off easy. She wanted to be properly scolded. "I see Yukko and Haruka now, and that's probably how I was back then. I need you to call me out properly, Hikitani. I can't move forward otherwise."
"Even so, you cried for me when I was gone, right?"
"That was… because you reminded me of Dad…"
"Exactly. You said 'reminded.' That means you cried for me too, right?"
"Huh?"
Minami froze, caught off guard. She'd thought she understood her feelings back then, but now realized she'd worried about Hachiman too, believing he was trapped in SAO.
"Oh…" she murmured.
"See? Even if just a bit, you cried for me. That means you were already reflecting on what I said back then, unconsciously. And honestly, my approach wasn't perfect either. I'm sorry."
"But I… I…" Minami struggled to respond.
Jiyu interjected, "Strategist, Minami can be a bit full of herself. She needs some punishment."
"Maybe, but…" Hachiman hesitated.
"I'll leave the punishment to you," Jiyu said.
"Passing the buck, huh?" Hachiman glanced at Asuna, who just smiled silently.
"I don't think you need punishment, Sagami," Hachiman said.
"That's just going in circles! Get it over with!" Minami snapped.
"Reverse tantrum, huh?"
Spotting Elsa, Hachiman got an idea. "What, you wanna be punished so bad you're as perverted as Elsa?"
Minami stiffened, slowly turning to Elsa, then flushed red. "I hate you, Hikitani!"
"Yay, we're buddies!" Elsa cheered.
"I'm not like that!" Minami flailed, flustered.
Hachiman smirked, thinking she'd drop it, but Minami persisted. "That's your punishment? Not enough! Be serious!"
"Still going? Fine, give me a sec, you pervert."
"I'm not!"
Hachiman crossed his arms, pondering, then fixed Minami with a serious look. "Alright, here's your punishment. Ready?"
"N-nothing weird, okay?!"
"Obviously… what's with you? Anyway, here it is."
Hachiman paused, then declared, "You said you hate me, right? Your punishment is to be my friend—for life. You'll be stuck with someone you hate forever. That's the harshest penalty I can give."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Pretty tough, right? You brought this on yourself. Deal with it."
"That's not a punishment!"
"I'm not changing it."
"That's…" Minami faltered, seeing Hachiman's kind eyes. Jiyu nodded warmly, and Asuna, Haruno, and even Elsa smiled at her. Fighting tears, Minami bowed. "I'll gladly accept that punishment. Let's be friends forever."
And so, the rift between Hachiman and Minami from their high school days was fully resolved.
"Alright, that's settled," Hachiman said.
"Wait, can I say something?" Minami asked.
"Sure."
Minami began, hesitantly. "After you disappeared, I was visiting Dad and stopped hanging out with anyone, so I got isolated. But Yui reached out first, and I started eating with her and Yukino. They shared stories about you. Eventually, I even joined Miura's group sometimes. I kept turning down after-school invites, but Miura never excluded me. I kinda like those three. I didn't like you back then, but whenever I thought of Dad, you came to mind too. So now, I like you just a tiny bit."
"Really? Those guys…" Hachiman murmured, touched.
"Just a little!" Minami insisted, blushing.
"They're my proud friends," Hachiman said.
"That's… kinda enviable," Minami muttered.
Haruno, observing closely, suddenly spoke. "You pass!"
"Huh? Pass what?" Minami asked.
Haruno wrote something on a business card and handed it to Minami. "Here's my card. It'll get you straight to me."
"Uh, what?"
"I remember you back then—arrogant, full of misconceptions."
"Sorry about the festival…" Minami apologized.
"But the reborn you will be useful to Hachiman. You've always had potential—after all, that's my alma mater too. So, after you graduate, come work at my company under Hachiman. Show this card, and HR will hire you on the spot."
"What!?"
"No pressure, but this is a turning point. Live an ordinary life at another company, or join him and everyone here for a wild ride. Think it over."
Minami looked around. Hachiman and Asuna nodded, Elsa looked jealous, and Jiyu silently teared up. Minami made her choice. "I'll study to be useful as Hachiman's subordinate. Please, let me take the offer."
The group erupted in cheers, and just like that, Minami's job was secured. Unlike those two, Minami grasped a star by being true to herself.
Tomorrow, something new awaits.
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