Yuuki Konno
Sword Art Online character
Yuuki, as she appears in ALfheim Online
First appearance	Novel Volume 7, Chapter 3 Sisters' Prayer Prologue (Chronological) Manga Mother's Rosario Manga Stage.001 (Cameo) Mother's Rosario Manga Stage.002 (Actual) Anime SII Episode 19 Game Hollow Fragment
Created by	Reki Kawahara
Voiced by	Aoi Yuuki (Japanese) Erica Mendez (English)
In-universe information
Race	ALO: Imp
Gender	Female
Family	Aiko Konno (sister)
Nationality	Japanese

Yuuki Konno (紺野木綿季, Konno Yūki) is a fictional character who appears in the Sword Art Online series of light novels by Reki Kawahara. She is mononymously more commonly known as just Yuuki (ユウキ) Starting in Serene Garden, she and her guild eventually arrived at ALfheim Online, where she became known as Absolute Sword (絶剣, Zekken) due to winning sixty-seven consecutive duels on the street, including one against Kirito. Prior to becoming known as Yuuki of ALO, Yuuki Konno was a child suffering from AIDS since birth. Her parents, as well as her twin sister Aiko, were infected too.

Creation and conception

Left: Yuuki's rapier "Absolute Sword" as shown in the TV series Right: Baguette Official character design by abec for the light novels

In an interview with series creator Reki Kawahara, the author noted that the female characters in Sword Art Online were not based on anyone he knew in the real world, with him stating "I don’t usually make a character, setting, or anything before I start writing. As I write the story, the girls become what they are now. So, somehow, I don’t know exactly, but somehow, my subliminal idea or some hidden emotion creates the characters to be strong and capable." Kawahara also added that he wrote the series to demonstrate that he views online gaming not as a social ill or escape from real life, and thus decided to show games in a more positive light in his light novels.^[1]

Appearances

One of the main characters from Volume 7. She was an Imp in ALO, she started dueling anyone promising an 11-hit Original Sword Skill (OSS) if she's defeated: due to her undefeated status she's given the title "Absolute Sword". Eventually Asuna fights her but loses. After the fight Yuuki asks her to help defeating the 27th Floor boss with her guild the "Sleeping Knights" in desire to etch all their names on the Monument of Swordsmen to make a memory. After certain events, which include the defeat of the boss it is revealed that Yuuki has HIV/AIDS and the guild members are patients in terminal state: to test the Medicuboid device, designed supposedly by Rinko Koujiro, in care for future patients. Yuuki forms a strong bond with Asuna, in reminder of her late elder twin sister Aiko Konno. With the time passing Yuuki's condition deteriorates and after she entrusts her OSS «Mother's Rosario» to Asuna before she dies peacefully in ALO, surrounded by over 1000 players from every tribe in the game, including her guild members, Asuna and her friends.

Sword Art Online girls (including Yuuki) feature in a merchandise lottery by Bandai, where they are depicted in french maid clothing with cooking utensils, with Anime News Network humorously noting that they have "brought in a pretty penny for the franchise's creators."^[2] She also features in promotional advertisements for a series of Umaibo puffed corn snacks by Namco.^[3] Richard Eisenbeis of Kotaku complimented Yuuki as a "powerfully human" character, writing "Like with the classic Beowulf, Yuuki finds her meaning and immortality in the written word. For her, having her name (and those of her soon-to-pass-away friends) on a virtual wall for all eternity is proof that she existed. To her, even that is enough."^[4]

Yuuki was awarded fifth in a Dengeki Bunko character poll for their light novels.^[5] Date of birth May 23, 2010.

Reception

Critical commentary

Erica Mendez has received praise for her performance as Yuuki in the English dub.

On the virtual world side of the story, Mother’s Rosario is about Asuna meeting Yuuki and joining her group of similarly skilled players in attempting what should be impossible — beating a raid boss with just seven people — before the guild members go their separate ways. Of course, at the heart of the story is a secret — the reason for the guild’s impending dissolution and the background behind Yuuki’s amazing skills. And it is a secret that will make even the most jaded heart weep.

Richard Eisenbeis, Kotaku^[6]

In a review, it is hailed that Yuuki, she’s a fun character to add to the mix, as it stands, Yuuki’s backstory is definitely very tragic but at least the trilogy handles it well.^[7] Yet through her friendship with Asuna, she gets so much more. She makes friends, is able to attend school, and even returns to her old neighbourhood.^[4]

In a critical response, HurinTalion states that Sword Art Online would have been better if Yuuki Konno was the protagonist and stating that Kirito is a Gary Stu and that it was a problem to put him as the main character.^[8] Nevertheless, Eisenbeis praised the fourth arc of Sword Art Online where Yuuki is the heroine in the Mother's Rosario arc.^[6]

Popularity

The popularity of the character has made her a popular subject of cosplay.

In an official character popularity poll hosted by Dengeki Bunko for the cover of abec Art Works, Yuuki ranked second.^[9] A second survey affirms Yuuki the fourth place of the most popular characters of Sword Art Online.^[10] Yuuki was awarded fourth in a Dengeki Bunko character poll for their light novels.^[11]

In a fan contest where respondents chose between 41 options for the next Sword Art Online figurine, Yuuki placed 5 and 24.^[12]

References

External links

• Characters at the Sword Art Online official Japanese website
• Characters at the Sword Art Online official North American website