YujiKiri

YujiKiri is the slash ship between Eugeo and Kirito from the Sword Art Online fandom.

Canon
Eugeo and Kirito are best friends notably from the Sword Art Online: Alicization series. YujiKiri is regarded as the second most popular ship to Kirisuna.

They are lost childhood friends from seperate worlds who reunite again when they are older.

The two share very intimate interchanges in the novel. Kirito continuously refers to Eugeo as “beautiful” and uses a lot of similar expressions to how he talks about Asuna. He even says that he “got lost in his eyes he forgot he was in a virtual world,” among many other quotes. The topic of love is brought up in general between them a lot.

In the light novel, Eugeo tells Kirito that he wants him to love him. Other character interactions across the novel, several games, and official content poke fun or suggest that Eugeo and Kirito are more than friends.

Much of the series’ content have supported this ship, as well as words through official sources. Mainly being in a relationship with Asuna, Kirito is implied to have romantic friction with Eugeo throughout the Alicization series and even after into the next arc: Unital Ring. Novel and anime adaptations depict Eugeo being of a very similar and notably important place to Kirito as his IRL girlfriend. Throughout the anime they develop an insufferable bond of which they cannot live without each other, such as sleeping in the same bed. A quote from Kirito in the light novel depicts him claiming that he regards Eugeo on the same level as Asuna, and at most, she is just his best acquaintance. Several of the games allow Eugeo as a romanceable partner of which you can date, kiss, and even sleep in a bed with. Eugeo is the only male character that continuously gets bed scenes with Kirito; they proceed to hold hands and act like lovers while Eugeo is half dressed. This is not the only example of this however as even outside of romantic dating simulators Eugeo is present in universes where he never existed and continues to receive romantic and even sexually teased interactions with Kirito.

Alicization Rising Steel is not shy about the tenfold of their interactions that leave them blushing, flustered, and in other romantic instances. In Alicization Lycoris, there is a lot of romantic tease between the two. An event in Rising Steel has the two collide sexually on top of one another.

The anime toggles in on how important Eugeo is to Kirito, and as if to make it blatantly obvious: Kirito is saved by Eugeo and Eugeo only in World of Underworld (Part 2.). Even in a coma, the power of his own girlfriend is not enough to awake him from his grief and despair as he proceeds to attempt to rip out his heart and essentially commit suicide after remembering memories of Eugeo and him dying in his arms. The only thing that wakes him up is Eugeo, he needed to be forgiven by Eugeo to want to live again because he’s his reason to live. The two share a final boss battle where its Eugeo that helps him overcome his enemies and save the Underworld, even in death.

The mainline canon of Yujikiri can be found in the SAO Light Novels and Anime--however the anime does leave most of their moments out or does not execute it as evidently gay as the source material, so it is adviced to use the LN's as your guide. Although, the two games SAO Unleash Blading (Old name: Alicization Rising Steel) and SAO Lycoris are just as important to the canon: because they are direct adaptions of the LN's and even expand on them further, with extra scenes/flashbacks/etc. SAO Lycoris seems especially a good recommendation for an extensive look on Yujikiri's dynamic: as it shows how the story would go if Eugeo didn't die.

It can also be argued that SAO Lycoris is the most decisive showcase of Yujikiri being canon, especially with it's latest DLC expansion pack story: Myosotis. (also known as "Blooming of Forget-me-not.") The story starts off with Eugeo and Kirito as children. They are already seem to be the best of friends, making bets with eachother and playing around, tickling eachother. In SAO Unleash Blading it is revealed that they like to come over to eat dinner together and that Kirito cheers him on whenever he was scared. The anime often shows Kid Kirito's giving Eugeo a big bright grin in the ending songs and flashbacks: which can be taken as that Eugeo really loves his smile, as he can't seem to stop thinking about it. Kid Kirito also looked after Eugeo when he's sick, placing an ice-cooled hand on Eugeo's forehead when he had a fever, as confirmed in SAO Lycoris: Eugeo's 3rd bedscene event. (He even describes Kirito as a "Rascal with a big heart".)

But then, when their other friend Alice breaks the Taboo Index and gets taken away is when they fall apart. They get seperated---Kirito getting ejected out of the Underworld and gets all memories and ties to it deleted, and Eugeo grows up alone--never knowing Kirito.

However, circumstances has lead to Kirito going back into the Underworld---and they meet eachother again when they're older. Kirito woke up in the middle of the forest and was lured by the sounds of Eugeo's axe: gripping his chest as the sound gave him a warm yet regretful feeling.

When they see eachother at the Gigas Cedar, many feelings seem to arise. In the anime, they lock eyes with eachother for quite a long while, and in the novel: Kirito goes on to point out Eugeo's fine--gentle features. And when they sit down to talk: the novel mentions that Kirito got so lost in Eugeo's eyes that he forgot that this world was a creation.

(more to be added)

Moments

 * There are two times where Eugeo makes a statement about Kirito giving him feelings in his chest/heart, first of which: was at the cathedral when he thought he had lost Kirito--and has a monlogue in his head that says describes an "emotion he cant even name"--that describes it to be painful, yet wisful and sweet. (In the anime this is nuked and replaced with him smiling and blushing at Kirito while tearing up.)
 * The second was during Kirito's heartfelt speech in the Lycoris DLC desert scene where he asks Eugeo to be with him forever and he states (to Silica) that he felt something in his chest. The girls claim that he seriously talked about Kirito in a romantic way--and that it didnt look like a joke, for he really looked like a girl in love. Leafa agrees that they do act awfully close lately. This is all kept out of Asuna's earshot to not stir her ironically, at which she occasionally seems to repress emotions around Eugeo and Kirito's closeness but for the most part is kind to and supportive of them.
 * They hold hands often in the anime, and often passionately.
 * Eugeo also often blushes whenever Kirito touches him in the anime.
 * Eugeo had shown himself to be sad about the idea of Kirito going back home---twice. Once at the Academy and second at the Cathedral. Kirito pats his back and puts an arm around him to reassure him. He visibly blushes at the second.
 * When Eugeo asked Kirito if he could teach him the sword: Kirito felt something indescrible inside that he had to try and fight down. After Kirito agrees, Eugeo leans into Kirito's shoulder and softly tells him that he's been waiting for someone like him to come into his life (for six years). Kirito gently embraces him and blurts out that they were surely meant to meet eachother. He didn't know where these words came from but it felt absolutely right. (Light Novel & Manga-only)
 * When they were seperated in the Cathedral during the aftermath of the fight with Alice, they both thought of eachother and admitted to themselves that they felt lonely without one another. (Light Novel-only)
 * When Kirito finally reunites with Eugeo in the Cathedral--he blushes and cries absolute tears of joy. The Light novel even goes to tell "Something deep inside him throbbed with an emotion he couldn’t even name." But that pain wasn’t an unpleasant one. It was certainly much gentler than the suffering he’d felt when the Piety Module was jammed into his head—and more wistful and sweet."
 * Eugeo defies death and the law of god for a moment to help Kirito defeat Administrator. His strong feelings for Kirito lead him to wake up and create a sword out of his own blood---an ability that only the moderators in this world can do. After that, he goes to call Kirito "My hero."
 * "Love is not something you seek, it's something you give."...were one of Eugeo's last words to Kirito as he passed on his life and love to him.
 * The Eugeo that lives inside Kirito's heart later comes in War Of Underworld (part 2. ep 8) to say: "If you didn't want to leave (the Underworld), it wasn't for your own sake, It's because you love the people you've met here." the Light Novel & SAO Unleash Blading Eugeo even goes to add "....And perhaps me."
 * In one of the recollection events in SAO Lycoris, Kirito admits that he has grown attatched to his Night Sky Blade sword ever since Eugeo gave it it's name. When Eugeo gives his reasoning on why he called it like that: Kirito starts to call him poetic and romantic, aswell as dreamy. Eugeo starts to stutter and get really flustered at that.
 * In Myosotis, The two watch the stars together while sharing a blanket in the desert. Kirito asks Eugeo if he could stay by his side forever--which seemed to have stuck with him ever since. After that, Eugeo later goes on to tell Silica that he would fall for Kirito if he were a girl.
 * The entire group of girls question if Kirito and Eugeo could get so close to the point where they could be more than friends in Myosotis. Silica retorts at first, but later confirms that Eugeo had the look of a girl in love when describing that night with Kirito in the desert.

Further relationship with Eolyne
The story arc next to Alicization is Unital Ring, and in this arc--an important character gets introduced. Eolyne Herlentz, a futuristic doppelganger of Eugeo.

There is not much known about this character yet--as most of the Unital Ring novels have not been translated and/or published yet. However this does not stop the fanbase from seeing Eolyne as a potential for more Yujikiri. Highly anticipated by fans to be of resemblance/connection to Eugeo via reincarnation or just by resemblance, character Eolyne is also a popular ship with Kirito.

His first debut has to be around the Light Novel volumes 23 and 24. They meet eachother in a car, and at first---Kirito didn't think all too much of Eolyne, but when he gets a closer look to his face underneath Eolyne's large cloak and hat: he starts to have a bit of an internal gay panic. The novel says that Kirito's heart started to race, that he looked at how the sun reflected on Eolyne's hair, that he traced that shape of his mouth, and that it had caused him to accidentally shoot out an incarnation blow towards the Eugeo-lookalike (which he had parried back.) After that, Eolyne introduces himself and holds out his hand. Kirito gets nervous, stating that "something might come out if I touch his hand". When he does decide to shake his hand--he gets interupted by a forced log-out, which upsetted him: blood pressure rising so much that he couldn't dive back for a day.

In Light Novel Volume 26: The two end up having to hold hands to stay under an invisibility spell. This flusters Kirito, yet also makes him sad, as it reminds him of how Eugeo’s hand felt. Eventually, Eolyne can't keep up the spell anymore and grows faint--but Kirito rescues Eolyne and holds his body up, aswell as keeping him safe from any upcoming dangers. As he held Eolyne, he regards how much it feels like holding Eugeo.

(more to be added)

Behind the scenes
As far as official sources coming out and talking on them, the author (Reki Kawahara) has continuously responded to fans about romantic, and even sexual, questions about the two, such as who's the top and who's bottom. (He even answers seriously with: "That's quite a difficult question. I'm not sure myself.")

He's also made a several side story novels of them, but most notably is his AU/What If novel called "[32/33]" better known by the fandom as "Crab/Cakeverse." It's a lighthearted story where their school bullies Raios & Humbert have been bitten a poisonous crab and because of that they never broke the Taboo Index and were able to graduate and get accepted as Integrity Knight apprentices at the Central Cathedral. They decided to resolve all the conflicts by making all enemies talk to eachother over tea and their peace offering: cake. In this novel, Reki has written them to be sharing a room & bed (+ they've got the entire floor to them alone), Kirito bridal carrying Eugeo to bed, A bath scene where Kirito practically checks out a naked Eugeo, and an Eugeo falling onto Kirito's lap--with Kirito playing with Eugeo's hair as they chat. There's also the fact that the numbers 32 and 33 in the title stands for their knight ranks---and can practically be interpreted as a pairing name.

In an interview with both VAs have a response of them claiming they see the two as more than friends, and continue to use romantic kanji when describing their relationship, even quoting that Asuna’s reaction would be scary. Many sources tease about the implication of the two meeting as Kirito involves himself with them in different worlds. Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Kirito’s voice actor) says that Eugeo is Kirito’s [https://nekonotabi.tumblr.com/post/179967059910/i-translated-the-first-question-answer-on-the#%3A~%3Atext%3DJapanese%20dictionaries%20for%20%E9%80%A3%E3%82%8C%E3%81%A6%E6%B7%BB%E3%81%86%20(or%20%E9%80%A3%E3%82%8C%E6%B7%BB%E3%81%86%20for%20short)%20and%20its%20context%20means%20%E2%80%9Cto%20live%20together%20as%20a%20married%20couple%E2%80%9D. “second wife” in a magazine interview], and in one of the SAO Progressive streams--when asked by the show host "If Kirito didn't meet Asuna, who would he fall in love with?"--he immediately and casually responds with "Eugeo, yes."

Symbolism & Subtleties
Kirito and Eugeo intentionally or not are regarded as queercoded, specifically bisexual.

There quite a handful of hints, some minor and some highly evident. One of such is Kirito's dualwielding--which has been a known japanese slang for Bisexuality (Ryoutoutsukai) or as westerners could call it "Swing Both Ways".

The other is the Flower Language (Hanakotoba)--or just Flower symbolism in western terms. There's also the times where Eugeo and Kirito's swords are crossed in the anime openings: Just like Kirito and Asuna's were.

the Japanese fandom who have picked more up on the Easter eggs; In anime episode 11: They are seen in a red rose garden which was regarded strange by Japanese viewers as roses are typically not likely to grow in that area as they are a high-level sacred arts power plant. And in general, Roses (Bara) symbolize homosexuality in Japan while a Red rose symbolizes romance--- and the final battle includes the two fusing blood and sword to create a red rose sword.

This is just fan speculation though. However, it is shown that Eugeo's blue rose motif symbolizes "True love, unattainable/impossible love". And Kirito was given a Pansy & Lilac in the WoU anime ending & 2019 Animejapan illustration, which means "flamboyant man" and "first love". With the creators adding so much to the visual symbolism, one has to wonder about the intentions.

Asuna & Yujikiri
(more to be added)

Trivia

 * Kirito often (flirt)teases with Eugeo, liking to embarass him. (It's especially prevelant in SAO Lycoris.)
 * He even uses petnames: calling Eugeo by "-kun" (The games have translated this to "My Little Eugeo") and had a few instances where he calls himself "Big Bro" (onii-san).
 * They both seem to be in love with eachothers eyes. Kirito describes Eugeo's eyes as "emerald", "sparkling green", "warm and bright" (Light novel) and "gentle". (SAO Lycoris). Eugeo had described Kirito's eyes as "darker than the night sky beyond the windows and yet brighter than the stars" in the light novel---and has a voiceline of: "Your eyes are really pretty" in SAO Unleash Blading.
 * Kirito seems to be fond of Eugeo's muscles, often noting & giving highlight to them in the light novels monologues, and is also paying attention at them in the games. He even goes to feel them up in one of Eugeo's bed events in Lycoris.
 * Kirito likes playing with Eugeo's cheeks while he's asleep---a characteristic that he only really does with girls he's close with: His lover (Asuna) and his family. (Sugu & Yui) It's been confirmed in one of Eugeo's bedscenes in SAO Lycoris.
 * Kirito shamelessly likes to use Eugeo's body to sleep on in Lycoris. In the chapter where they leave Rulid and were camping-out: Kirito couldn't use anything as a pillow, so he decided to use Eugeo's arm to sleep on. And in Myosotis, he asks Eugeo if he could give him his lap to sleep on.
 * In Tiese’s bed event, she tells Kirito that he is “Eugeo’s type”.
 * Whenever Eugeo gets fatally wounded--he somehow always seems to look at Kirito with a warm, peaceful smile.
 * Eugeo is regarded as Kirito’s best sleeping partner in the mobile game event.
 * Desperate from grief, Kirito tries to take his own life because of Eugeo’s loss, even though Asuna is there.
 * Myanimelist teases this ship showing that they prefer Eugeo with Kirito
 * The author has a side story that has Eugeo lay in Kirito’s lap as he rubs his head, then holding his hand.
 * Eugeo's VA Brandon Winckler made a tweet that said he took a pic with "his boyfriend" standing next to a Kirito cutout and proceeded to call him boo




 * Kirito and Eugeo share ring merchandise depicting their two swords connected with a caption that they love each other and that Asuna would be jealous if she knew of this.

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