Shoji Yanai/Synopsis

## Biography

### Background

Not much is known about Shoji's history, but at some point, he got a dog named Biscuit, who he loved very much. Eventually, he got a job at RECT Progress, where he soon became close friends with one of his co-workers named Kyle. He also developed an intense rivalry with one of the company's character modellers, a disabled woman named Trisha, and would routinely steal her yogurt, despite the fact that it had Trisha's medication in it. In fact, he kept stealing the yogurt because he discovered the medication boosted the yogurt's raspberry flavor.

### Fairy Dance Arc

#### Pre-Episode 15

Eventually, Shoji got a position working in RECT Progress' VRMMO, ALfheim Online, along with Kyle. However, this was not a job as one of the game's admins, this was a job to monitor the brains of various SAO survivors, who were all being held captive by the game's admin, Nobuyuki Sugou, known in-game as Oberon, to experiment on them in the hopes of creating brainwashing technology to rule the world, a fact that Shoji did not seem to mind. He also didn't seem to mind that one of the prisoners was the CEO's daughter, Asuna Yuuki, who Sugou was holding hostage until she agreed to marry him, whether it be out of acceptance or out of brainwashing. What Shoji did mind, however, was the fact that his and Kyle's avatars in ALO were a pair of slug-like creatures, while everyone else was a fairy.

One day, as Asuna's imprisonment continued, she eventually started escaping from her prison, wreaking havoc and torturing her guards and other members of staff to the point they needed therapy, Shoji included. For some reason, Asuna seemed to focus her attacks on Shoji the most, a fact that terrified Shoji while also taking it personally.

#### Episode 15

The next day, Shoji listens in on a conversation between Oberon and Asuna, where Oberon asks Asuna to refrain from her constant escape attempts, as the bills for their psyche evaluations are starting to pile up, particularly for Shoji. He then states that he has no idea why she's so hard on Shoji, but Shoji's starting to take her attacks personally. Asuna admits that she is pretty harsh with Shoji and asks if he's in the game today. Hearing this, Shoji pipes up out of fear and tries to convince Asuna that he's off sick. This doesn't work, however, as Asuna somehow manages to escape during the conversation and launches another bloody rampage on Oberon's minions, starting with Shoji.

#### Episode 17

One day, Shoji and Kyle enter the experiment room to check on a terminal glitch. Shoji asks Kyle why their avatars are slug-like creatures while everyone else is a beautiful, majestic fairy. Kyle tells him that it's probably payback from Trisha, because Shoji keeps stealing her yogurt. Shoji tries to defend himself, stating that Trisha doesn't label her yogurt, only for Kyle to point out that Shoji never brings yogurt to work. Kyle blames his appearance on Shoji for dragging him into his conflict with Trisha, which Shoji takes offense to, thinking that Kyle should have his back. Kyle then points out that Trisha has special dietary needs, and that her yogurt is medicated, only for Shoji to admit that the medication is the best part, as it brings out the raspberry flavor. Kyle tells Shoji that it seems like he's always looking for reasons to antagonize Trisha. Shoji tries to defend himself, complaining that Trisha's always "on a high horse", but Kyle reminds him that she's in a wheelchair. Suddenly, the two hear Asuna on a call with Sean, ALO's tech support representative, and sneak up behind her.

After Shoji manages to restrain her, Asuna angrily shouts at the slugs, threatening to write her "FUDGING MEMOIRS IN [their] MOTHER'S BLOOD!". Shoji is terrified of this, due to his prior experience with Asuna, and asks Kyle what they should do, as his grip of a barking Asuna is slipping. Kyle then decides to log out and go get Sugou, as he'll know how to handle Asuna. This terrifies Shoji even more and begs Kyle not to leave him alone with the woman who has already brutalized him. Unfortunately, with no other option, Kyle logs out, reassuring Shoji that he can handle this. With the two left alone, Asuna says hi to the terrified Shoji.

Asuna starts toying with Shoji, stating that his eyes are growing back nice after the last time she stabbed them out. Shoji tries to stay strong against Asuna, repeating the words of wisdom his therapist gave him. He then reminds Asuna that she can't really harm him, since they're in a video game, and tells her to do her worst. Asuna commends Shoji on his mental health journey, but she manages to get under his skin by bringing up Biscuit. Horrified, Shoji asks Asuna how she knows about his dog, but Asuna dismisses the question, threatening to "eat that Biscuit" if he doesn't let her go. Fearing for his dog's life, Shoji complies and starts putting Asuna down. However, he's interrupted when Kyle logs back in, having failed to get Sugou. Horrified that Shoji's releasing Asuna, Kyle reminds him that she'll kill them all if she's set free. Trying to hide his weakness, with Asuna glaring at him, Shoji claims that he was molesting Asuna, preferring to be branded as a sex offender than having his dog harmed. Kyle is disgusted by this claim, telling Shoji that he'll report this to the higher ups, which Shoji states is fair. Kyle then tells Shoji that he's uninvited to his son's christening, as they drag Asuna back to her cage.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Episode 15
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Episode 17
3. ↑ Episode 14