YujiKiri

Yujikiri is the slash ship between Eugeo and Kirito from the Swprd Art Online fandom.

Canon
Eugeo and Kirito are best friends notably from the Sword Art Online: Alicization series.

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, including their final scene which parallels Yuuki’s death in season two where she confesses to Asuna before death. Yuuki is a romantic simile as stated by the novel’s author in an interview who said he would like to write a yuri story, and that that was the closest he came.

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 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 Two”. 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.

Moments

 * Eugeo blushes around Kirito often
 * The two are often seen holding hands a lot
 * Kirito has used Eugeo’s arm as a pillow
 * In Tiese’s bed event, she tells Kirito that he is “Eugeo’s type”.

Behind the scenes
As far as official sources coming out and talking on them, the author has continuously responded to fans about romantic, and even sexual, questions about the two. 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. VA Matsuoka says that Eugeo is Kirito’s “second wife”.

Fanon
Yujikiri is regarded as the second most popular ship to Kirisuna.

Kirito and Eugeo intentionally or not are regarded as queercoded, specifically bisexual. This is mostly talk amongst the Japanese fandom who have picked more up on the Easter eggs; however, the anime often uses roses (especially red) to symbolize their sexualities. Kirito’s sword is a double entendre (dual-wield/bisexual), while Eugeo’s sword motif is a rose. 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 power plant. Red roses symbolize homosexuality in Japan, and the final battle includes the two fusing blood and sword to create a red rose sword in the final battle.

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. Kirito has a string pull to Eolyne as he has feelings that he is similar to Eugeo. The two end up having to hold hands to stay under an invisibility spell. This flusters Kirito and makes him sad, as it reminds him of how Eugeo’s hand felt. Kirito rescues Eolyne’s body from attack and regards how much it feels like holding Eugeo to him, and how much he is drawn to Eolyne.

Fandom
PIXIV

Trivia

 * Tumblr post
 * 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 Kiritos lap as he rubs his head. Eugeo holds his hand during this.
 * 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.