Would you know my name?

Chapter 8: Welcome Surprises

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Note: Super excited because Sword Art Online is here, and the day after my birthday. What an awesome birthday present. But right now you people are more concerned with this fanfiction, why else would you be reading this, so here is what you have been waiting (hopefully not that long) for.

Yeah it's been like two weeks, I'm really sorry. Not submitting myself to virtual public floggings this time though. Enjoy.


Hideki and Yui arrived at the large fountain in the center of the outside mall. As expected Otonashi and Kanade were already there waiting for them. (you can picture Otonashi and Kanade in the clothes they wear in the last little clip at the end of the anime) Having been unable to decide on what to do for their double date the two couples ended up choosing this outside mall for its variety of activities. There was a nearby park, movie theater, and it would hardly be a mall without plenty of shops. Hideki was less than pleased with the last option of activity.

"Good morning Hideki, Yui" Otonashi greeted them with a warm smile.

"Morning Otonahshi, Kanade" Yui was her usually ecstatic self. Hideki was glad she didn't seem nervous or anything. It was laughable really, Hideki felt like just by giving hanging out with friends a different name he suddenly became nervous and tense.

"Sorry were a bit late, hope you weren't waiting long." Hideki apologized.

"Its fine, we haven't been here that long." Kanade explained.

"So… anything anybody would like to do first?" Otonashi waited for a response, but only got shaking heads. "Alright then, how about that movie that came out recently, "The Avengers", I heard its good, and the theater seems to be playing it. It also looks like today is the last day we can see it in theaters."

"Sounds good to me." Hideki Said, glad to avoid doing any shopping.

"I love action movies!" Yui voiced her opinion, and Kanade nodded.

"Are there any type of movies you don't love?" Hideki joked.

"I don't like horror movies…" Hideki and Otonashi laughed. "What? It's perfectly normal!" Hideki and Otonashi stopped laughing rather quickly, then headed off to the theater.

The two couples purchased tickets for the showing in 30 minutes. They figured they would just wait in the theater and chat. Having been showing for so long not many people were there to see the movie.

"So Yui, now that Iwasawa is back with Girls Dead Monster are you still in the band?" Otonashi asked.

"No, and I'm not sure how well I could perform anyways. But Iwasawa said I was welcome backstage or to practice sessions anytime." Yui answered before contemplating how to ask something that had been on her mind a while now. After Yuripee suggested the two couples go on a date Yui got to thinking about Yuripee and why she wasn't in a relationship. It was rather obvious that Noda liked Yuripee, the only remaining question was whether or now Yuripee liked Noda. Since school had started Yuripee and Kanade had gotten to be good friends, despite the fact that in the afterlife academy Yuripee had lead a one sided fight against Kanade. The movie would be starting soon and Yui didn't want to wait for the right moment to ask her question, the conversation probably wouldn't move from favorite snacks to possible couples anytime soon.

"Hey Kanade, your good friends with Yuripee now right?" Yui knew it was a dumb question but needed something to ease into asking her real question.

"Yeah, you could say that, why?" Kanade asked, puzzled. Otonashi and Hideki also looked at her with curiosity.

"Well, do you think Yuripee might like Noda?"

"I'm not sure, she has never said anything, but I suppose I could ask."

"You know, now that you mention it, I could kind of see them together." Otonashi added as the movie's opening clip started.

When the movie ended the two couples exited the theater into the now too bright daylight. Shielding his eyes Otonashi addressed the rest of the group, "Shall we take a look around before we head to the park for lunch?"

"Sounds good to me, I need some new clothes," Yui said before looking behind her at Hideki "Don't worry, It won't take long."

"I'll hold you to that." Hideki said playfully, before heading off with the others in search of an outlet shop that sold what Yui was looking for. It didn't take long for them to find a store that catered to teen girls.

"I'll buy whatever you pick out, but try and keep the price down." Hideki offered, knowing full well he would be spending most if not all of the money he had saved up for an occasion like this. "I only have so much with me and we still need to get lunch later."

"Don't worry about lunch Hideki, I can get that." Otonashi offered. He was the only one who had a job after all. He worked as a cashier at a local grocery store and made decent money for someone still in high school.

Yui started with pants, figuring she would tackle the hardest clothes to get into first. Thankfully she found some jeans that she liked after only a few pairs. Kanade offered to help Yui, but stubborn to her core Yui refused. Moving on to shirts Yui got a few simple Ts with various pictures and a couple button ups.

True to her word Yui finished shopping quickly despite having difficulties in the changing room, and Kanade had picked up a few things as well. Hideki thought to himself how Yui had looked cute in everything she tried on, especially the slightly oversized plad pink zip up sweater she got for the upcoming winter. The way the sleeves covered her hands was just too cute, but his opinion was probably too biased to be taken into account though.

Leaving the shop the two couples found a place that sold sandwiches and purchased a few for lunch in the park at the edge of the outdoor mall. The group sat down in the grass under an old Oak tree.

"Um… Otonashi told me about what happened when Yui disappeared, so are the two of you planning on getting married now?" Kanade asked.

"Well uh… we haven't talked about it much, but Hideki did ask me to marry him." Yui said, looking into Hideki's eyes and blushing slightly.

"Y-yeah, were just dating for now so we don't freak everyone out. And it's probably best to finish high school." Hideki explained, his face tinted red as well.

"It's a shame we have to keep graduating isn't it." Otonashi joked.

"Well compared to you I suppose we are lucky, only having to graduate twice compared to your three times." Hideki said, glad that Otonashi had lightened the mood a bit.

On their way back home the couples passed the fountain they had meet up at.

"Ya know, I heard that if you flip a coin into a big fountain like this and make a wish it might come true." Otonashi said, digging two coins out of his pocket and tossing them in the air.

"When you say it like that it sounds like it's all just a matter of luck." Hideki said, the others laughed at his remark. He pulled two coins of his pocket anyways and gave one to Yui.

"Right then on the count of three… One, two, three!" Otonashi counted down, tossing his coin into the fountain while making his wish as the others did the same. Otonashi wished for the chance to continue being with Kanade. Kanade wished for Otonashi to get to see his sister again. Yui wished for the life she had always wanted with Hideki, while Hideki simply wished for Yui's wish to come true. If it was a matter of chance that would help right?

On their walk balk from their date Yui turned around in her wheelchair to look at Hideki. "So, what did you wish for?" She asked, half wanting an excuse to tell Hideki what she wished for. The chances of her wish coming true seemed good judging by the way things were going.

"Isn't part of the rule for making wishes not to tell anybody what you wished for?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Yui said, rather bummed. "Anyways I had a fun today."

"I did too" Hideki said, smiling to Yui.

"Thanks, Hideki."

Hideki and Yui arrived at Yui's house and knocked on the door. It was opened by a man Hideki had never seen before.

"D-dad?" Yui could hardly believe what she was seeing. She must truly be in heaven, because her father died in the car crash that paralyzed Yui.

Yui's father squatted down and hugged Yui, tears forming in the corners of his eyes and a lump growing in his throat again. He whispered to his precious daughter, "I've missed you Yui."


In memory of Paul Martinson

We weren't the best of friends, but you'll be missed none the less. I wish you and your family the best, wherever you are now.