In the third popularity contest held by Kawahara Reki as Kunori Fumio, back during the web novel period (to be more exact, in 2005), he figured,

“There’s not that many new characters, thus I was worried there won’t be much difference from the first and second times. Hence, if I ask for questions… if I were to do that, the much-more-unknown sub-characters might just get more votes as the main characters already have quite a bit of information on them.“

Hence, it turned into a Q&A session with the characters.

Spoilers alert. This was held some time after he started writing Alicization.

Spoilers this time are up to volume 7 of the light novel. Anime-only viewers are advised to not read this (until three-quarters through the anime series for one of these characters, or the next… seasons for the other two) unless you decide to read the light novel.



*-s are links to notes. Click on them.

The number within the brackets is when the non-question (invalid) votes are added in.



5th – Sinon

7th – Leafa

9th – Yuuki





5th – Sinon (Asada Shino) – 27 votes (43)



Q. You’re a sniper in-game, but how is your eyesight in reality?

A. Both of my eyes are 2.0. *



Q. You like Kirito, don’t you? Are you going to snatch him away?

A. The question is that I do like Asuna as well, huh.



Q. Please tell me your dreams for the future, Sinonon.

A. Erm… A policewoman.



Q. Is the character you converted into in ALO sniper-tic as well?

A. It is an archer. *



Q. What type of books do you like?

A. I always used to read classical literature from overseas, but I developed a liking for espionage novels and such recently.



Q. Are you good at cooking?

A. I’ve been cooking for myself for quite some time, so I should be good… I think.



Q. What are your opinions on fantasy games? Please tell me your impression on them.

A. I think magic is rather unfair.



Q. Do you hold sentiments of love for Kirito-kun?

A. I don’t quite understand the emotion of love, but well, probably.



Q. What are your thoughts on the nickname, “Sinonon”?

A. Well… It’s embarrassing, but it’s the first nickname I got in my life, so I’m glad.



Q. What creed do you live your life by, Sinon?!

A. One Shot, One Kill.



Q. What are your height, weight, three sizes, likes, dislikes, hobbies, favourite motto, and type of man you like?

A. My height’s 161 cm, weight and three sizes are secrets, I like Tannmen, dislike meat on the raw side, my hobbies are reading and VRMMOs, with my favourite motto would be, “One Shot, One Kill” (in the sense that there’s only one chance for most things), and the type I like is… yea, those who don’t say more than they need to. *



Q. What are the top 3 ranking of the ice cream flavours you like?

A. 1st’s green tea, 2nd’s choco mint and 3rd would be pistachio.



Q. Which author do you like?

A. I guess I like books by John le Carré right now.



Q. What are your thoughts on Kirito (not Kazuto)?

A. My greatest rival.



Q. What is your race and job in ALO? Also, do you like worlds like ALO’s?

A. I play as a Sylph archer. It feels a little slow when compared to GGO, but it’s nice how there’s many peaceful moments. *



Q. How have school been recently? Has there been anything on Kirito’s ambush?

A. There’s no one harassing me nowadays, so well, it’s been peaceful. There were loads of questions for a while after that, so that was horrible though.



Q. Your three sizes?

A. Persistent, aren’t you. …80-61-81.



Q. There is a great diversity of modern arms in GGO, but to the extents of your knowledge, just what are there? Are there even special stuff implemented, such as pilebunkers?

A. The variety of weapons with live ammo reaches those as the “Minigun” used by Behemoth and the portable missile, “Stinger” at most. For the optical side, there’s those such as “Shock Blaster” that is capable of area-of-effect attacks, the paralysis-based “Stunner”, and the “Psionic Gun” which is embedded in the arm. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any weapons able to expel metal spears.



Q. How much of your gun trauma have you gotten over? Do you still feel sick when holding onto model guns now?

A. It’s fine looking at them in books, movies and such now. I would definitely have to get used to the real thing sooner or later, if I’m to become a policewoman.



Q. Have you learnt how to use swords as well recently?

A. Not at all. I did get pretty good with bows.



Q. Did you start ALfheim Online?

A. I’m playing as a Sylph archer.



Q. What type of weapon are you equipping in ALO?

A. A long bow. Combining it with magic results in interesting effects.



Q. What are your hobbies in the real world?

A. Reading and… cooking, maybe.



Q. So, as expected, you’re using a gun as your weapon in SAO (the current one)?

A. I tried choosing bows as I thought they would be similar, but they really are completely different, huh. It’s fun, though.



Q. Please tell me the famous and obscure places in GGO.

A. Even if you say that, there are only wastelands, deserts and ruins, so… The ruins of a huge space ship sunk into the desert might be worth seeing, though.



Q. What is the number of times you’re gone on a date with Kirito both in-game and in reality?

A. We rarely meet without others around, you know.



Q. Don’t you have any thoughts on converting your GGO character into other games?

A. I’ll lose Hecate, so that’s a little, well.



Q. Please tell me your ideal man.

A. A tough person. One who doesn’t mope about what had already passed. Someone who is perceptible.





7th – Leafa (Kirigaya Suguha) – 18 votes (22)



Q. What type of man do you like?

A. A refreshing person who doesn’t fuss over small details, I guess.



Q. Are you still continuing Kendo?

A. Of course. My goal is to be the best nationwide, at the inter-highs or Gyokuryuuki. *



Q. Are you going through sweet days with Kirito like that Salvia time? Or maybe you wish for that?

A. Sweet… I don’t know anything about that, but we’re on good relations.



Q. Please tell me your techniques you like in Kendo (striking target’s location), or maybe the combinations.

A. The one I like is kote-men. *



Q. I love you, onii-chan! -Please try saying that.

A. Eh… erm… I-I love you, onii-chan! …Is this enough?



Q. If Kazuto were to turn and look back, would you truly persist in love?

A. If you were us living together happily as we currently do, yes.



Q. Your onii-san is always surrounded by lots of girls, but what are your thoughts on that?

A. I get along really well with everyone, so, that’s… I do believe it would do him good to make more friends of the same gender, though.



Q. If, just for example, your onii-san (Kazuto-kun, Kirito-kun) were to harbour desires for a harem, what would you do?

A. Good luck becoming an Arab prince, alright; something like that.



Q. Do you think Kirito’s posture is weird?

A. I-I’m sure he didn’t intend for it to turn out weird, but… There are warnings on having an odd habit by the teacher and seniors sometimes.



Q. What are your thoughts on Recon (Nagata Shinichi)?

A. Erm… He’s a good person.



Q. If you were to be ever so kind, could you please mention your three sizes…

A. I-I’d be troubled if you’re going to prostrate yourself like that. …Uuh, it’s 82-62-81.



Q. Bare feet type? Stocking type? (in winter)

A. I get cold in the dojo, so I wear the black tights approved by the school outside at least.



Q. How would you assess Kazuto’s skill with swords in reality? And how are the results of your own official matches in Kendo?

A. If only onii-chan were to train more seriously and develop some muscles in his arms, I believe he should be able to get decent. I did manage to get to the semi-finals in the nationals in middle school, but high school really is intense.



Q. Do you remember promising to marry your onii-chan back when you were a kid?

A. Hmm, nope, I don’t remember anything like that, but… I’ll try asking. …It seems that he ran away.



Q. Did your heart start beating faster even a little from Recon, a.k.a. Nagata Shinichi-kun’s ardent love call? (haha)

A. Beating faster, huh… I do get the shivers quite a bit, on the other hand. Like when he tries something in front of a crowd…



Q. Leafa-san, you’ve always been doing your best in Kendo till now, but what is the toughest thing you’ve went through? Also, what about the most enjoyable?

A. It’s rather hard without the height. However, I decided not to use that as an excuse for losses. Fun things… as I thought, probably when techniques from Kendo can also be used effectively in ALO.



Q. You’re Kirito’s sister and hence, you would be Yui’s oba-san… what do you think about that?

A. She’s like a sister to me! That’s what I’ll believe.





9th – Yuuki (Konno Yuuki) – 12 votes (15)



Q. That strength and passion was the best, I wonder when will Asuna use “Mother’s Rosario”?

A. I guess Asuna will find the next successor sooner or later and use it so as to pass it on?



Q. How do you pass the time in the “Floating Castle Aincrad” aside from clearing the game?

A. Food-tasting! But Asuna’s cooking was the best.



Q. Please tell me the reason behind the naming of the OSS, “Mother’s Rosario”.

A. It’s a technique based on the memento from my mother, a rosary.



Q. The character used in your name is unusual, just what is its origin?

A. It’s because I was born when the crinum (hamayuu) blooms = July. My elder sister was born in September, when the Japanese indigo (ai) flowers bloom, so she’s Aiko. *



Q. Let’s get straight to the point, who do you think is the coolest in the SAO series?

A. Asuna!



Q. Your three sizes.

A. Hmm, it’s been a long time since I got measured in the real world, so I don’t really know…



Q. I had a good life… do you think that way?

A. Of course.



Q. What else are you proud of?

A. Hmm… I can’t really think of anything… Oh yea, how I have many wonderful friends, maybe.



Q. Who are you bad with? Or maybe what type of people?

A. There aren’t any. Everyone has something good about them.



Q. If you were male, would you have married Asuna?

A. If I was healthy, I might have done it.



Q. Please tell me your most memorable experiences from the VRMMOs you’ve been in till now. Other than “Insect Site”, lol.

A. I’ve broken through something in all of the American ones. The ones with American comic book heroes was fun… Everyone was all muscley.



Q. This might be rude, but how did it feel when you died within the virtual world?

A. I felt really glad that I was in Asuna’s arms.



Notes

Sinon-1: 2.0 can also be defined as 20/10 or 6/3 in the foot and metric system respectively. It’s eyesight twice as good as the average person.

Sinon-2: This Q&A is probably pre-Caliber.

Sinon-3: Tanmen’s noodle soup. A salty Japanese dish that mainly involves cooked meat and vegetables placed with boiled Chinese noodles into a soup with chicken stock.

Sinon-4: She’s officially a Cait Sith in canon now.

Leafa-1: Gyokuryuuki refers to the Gyokuryuuki High School Kendo Tournament (gyoku ryuu ki koukou kendo taikai), a… Kendo tournament for the high school level. Held in late-July annually.

Leafa-2: Kote-men is a basic technique involving two consecutive strikes, targeting the wrist protector and the head protector.

Yuuki-1: The last two characters of Crinum (浜木綿), “yuu”, is combined with Seasons (季), “ki”, to make up “Yuuki” (木綿季). For Aiko, it’s Japanese indigo (藍), “ai” and “ko” (子), a common name ending character for girls. Also, the dates in her answer is not a mistranslation. It might be a mistake, or there could be some deep, underlying meaning behind it, but it’s not a mistranslation.