Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"Anyway, the pedestrians around here are all dressed as elite members of the Iron Fang Mercenary Group. If someone could successfully assassinate me in this environment, I'd really have to wonder if a new Reinhard has been born in this world."

Anastasia shook her head, a strange look on her face. "You trust the Iron Fang that my family established so much, but you won't trust my family."

Hachiman Hikigaya looked bewildered, wondering where this came from: "I don't trust you?"

The cunning Anastasia immediately took off her hat, the wind blowing across her pale purple hair. She shrank her neck, staring intently at Hachiman Hikigaya, and reached out for a hug, saying, "It's cold."

Seeing that Hachiman Hikigaya didn't move, she repeated, "It's so cold."

Seeing that Hachiman Hikigaya remained motionless, she sighed regretfully, shook her head, and accused him with a wronged expression, "He won't even come near me, what kind of trust is this? Does he think I'm going to turn into a monster and eat you up?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya, realizing she was joking, ruthlessly slapped away the hand that was reaching out from the somewhat naive girl, who had now grown into a slender young woman."

"If you're really going to pretend you're cold, you'd better take off that Dona fox necklace you're wearing first."

"Chirp~"

"At first glance, it would look like an ordinary white scarf. The scarf that had been wrapped around Anastasia's neck suddenly made a sound and moved—it was not a scarf at all, but a white fox that could talk."

"Dona Fox?"

In reality, people from both worlds who had developed an allergy to the word 'Dona' because of Echidna's existence shuddered.

"No, it's probably just a coincidence of names, it may not be related at all."

Kyosuke Kousaka patted his chest, comforting Kirino while telling himself not to scare himself.

Having recovered from the conflict between speculation about "expanding the slave trade" and the reality of "curbing the slave trade," and realizing he had somewhat underestimated Anastasia, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka stroked his chin and nodded, saying:

"The Iron Fang Mercenary Group is incredibly powerful, with immense wealth, deep cunning, and shamelessness. They also have Dona Fox, whose exact nature is unknown, as a backup plan. Overall, Anastasia's camp is the strongest among the five candidates."

Anastasia stroked Dona, who was glaring angrily at Hachiman Hikigaya.

She smiled and stealthily moved closer to the man beside her, inch by inch. "To say something like that... It's been years since we met. It's quite a感慨 (feeling of nostalgia)."

"The difference between a few years ago and now is really huge."

199. Ana's Route: Anastasia's Feelings

"We first met at the Sword Saint's mansion."

"At that time, you arrived in the capital in a daze, coincidentally met Emilia, and on the same day witnessed the Bowel Hunter Elsa kill her and Felt, who was later confirmed to be the fifth candidate. Heartbroken and devastated, you accepted Reinhard's invitation to stay at his home temporarily."

"..."

Felt was completely stunned. What goes around comes around, right? In the last timeline, she enjoyed the benefits of Emilia's death, and now it's Anastasia's turn to enjoy the benefits of her death.

Reinhard, who was just as silent as her, had completely run out of things to say.

Now, the lives he missed and failed to protect are piled up so high they're almost as tall as a mountain.

As for Emilia, honestly, she's used to it. She'd be quite surprised if someone told her there was a timeline where she hadn't died.

"Back then, I took Mimi to see Reinhard, hoping to win him over to support me. However, because we didn't arrive in time, Reinhard, having lost two candidates in one fell swoop, was just as dejected as you and had no intention of supporting any of them."

"Left with no other choice, I had to give up, but before leaving, I asked to see you one last time."

"What Anastasia said left a deep impression on Hachiman Hikigaya. He could even imagine what the girl was thinking at the time: 'Because you think that I, who am acting with Emilia, might be someone she values, and you want to try to poach me.'"

"...Hey."

Anastasia showed no embarrassment whatsoever. She puffed out her chest, appearing extremely proud, and gazed into the distance, continuing, "This is the best decision our family has made in years. Hachiman isn't just some talent Emilia values; he's our family's sole prime minister."

"But thinking back on it carefully, that meeting wasn't exactly a pleasant memory. The pale face, filled with sighs and regret, was, in my opinion, utterly worthless."

"Hachiman Hikigaya's thoughts drifted back more than three years. 'Back then, I also thought you were a very harsh capitalist businessman, a stinking bastard close to counterfeit goods. Our first impressions of each other were probably the same.'"

He turned to look at Anastasia, whose long, pale purple hair was flowing. Anastasia, who had been subtly shifting her distance, stopped and, as if nothing had happened, continued:

"'A useless fellow who's so downcast after suffering a death is not the kind of person I'm looking for,' I thought, and after giving him a few words of scolding, I left. Luckily, there was a coincidental, fateful reunion later, otherwise I would have cried my eyes out."

"Hachiman Hikigaya picked up the thread: "After being depressed for two or three days, and hearing that Lord Roswaal was hunting down the Bowel Hunters, I was too preoccupied to retrieve Emilia's body. I buried her, Rom, and Felt, and after eating at Reinhard's house for a few days, I still went out to find work. After much thought, I finally chose to become a merchant."

"Then someone came running over in a panic and told us that there was a guy with all sorts of ingenious ideas who had been stealing our business lately, and asked if we should try to sabotage him."

"This was the crucial moment when she and her prime minister truly became acquainted."

"‘This is bad, really bad, how can there be such a person in the world? No way, I want him, I can't do without him,’ on the third day after this thought arose, I heard that Crusch came to visit you, I was so scared I almost went to fight her to the death.”

"Back then, I preferred Crusch to you; she was a really nice person." Hachiman Hikigaya smiled. "However, most of those ingenious ideas were inventions from the historical ancestors of my hometown."

"You mentioned the 'brilliant ideas' thing a long time ago. Many of my business ideas are based on methods used by our predecessors in history, so it doesn't matter. Besides, I'm not valuing you now because of those brilliant ideas."

Clutching her hat, Anastasia said with lingering fear, "Crushi arrived too late. Luckily, she was late, and she held onto her dignity. She was content with just a simple 'I'll seriously consider it' and went home. Unlike me, who's always blocking your door, trying to force gifts on you, showering you with attention and concern. No matter how you hint, I pretend not to understand. I just won't leave, determined to turn your dislike for me into affection."

"You sent Julius and Ricardo to guard my door for a whole month, making it impossible for me to go out and seek refuge with Crusch."

"Even today, Hachiman Hikigaya still finds it both funny and sad when he talks about this."

"Because of the extraordinary attention and care you showed me during that period, and my 'ungrateful' repeated rejections, Julius still holds a grudge against me to this day."

"But after you helped him become king, Julius both loved and hated you."

"—"

Phyllis glanced at her master Crusch and, as expected, saw a dark, ashen face.

If Anastasia hadn't interfered, this should have been the Crusch route.

"Anna-tasia!!"

The low growl emanating from the Carlsten mansion, filled with the desire to tear the person with that name to pieces, as if carrying the deepest hatred, startled even Wilhelm, an old swordsman accustomed to mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"Well then, let's get back to the main topic."

Anastasia turned to face Hachiman Hikigaya. Her formality made Hachiman Hikigaya shift his body slightly to meet her gaze.

""Hachiman. ""

Anastasia's eyes held a fire that Hachiman Hikigaya couldn't decipher. She asked, "Does our Prime Minister now hate us?"

"I don't hate it anymore... I haven't for a long time."

"My prime minister, are you now willing to make this kingdom your second home?"

"...Well, we can give it a try, though."

"Does our Prime Minister like it here now? Does he like everything about it?"

"I kind of like it."

"Is that so?" Anastasia nodded gently, then suddenly spread her arms wide, her smile radiant like an eagle pouncing on its prey. "Then, I'll give you this kingdom you somewhat like, this world you can consider your second home, as my dowry, along with myself, whom you don't dislike."

""--What did you say?""

“I said.”

Anastasia smiled contentedly and said, "Marry me, my prime minister."

200. Anna's Route: I Sell Myself to You, My Prime Minister

"Hachiman Hikigaya was almost stunned, his ears were ringing, and he thought he might be hallucinating, or he might have misheard Anastasia's words."

"However, looking at the girl in front of him who was professing her love, Hachiman Hikigaya could not easily run away. His lips trembled slightly, and he asked in a low voice."

""…Why?""

"Do you need a reason? Well, I already said that a long time ago at the Kingdom's election assembly. But if my prime minister asks me to, I can repeat it as many times as I want—"

"Anatasia's doting on Hachiman Hikigaya, her affection for him, her love and tolerance for him, are all clearly visible."

"I'm greedy. I want everything and I'm never satisfied. At first, it was freedom, food and clothing, family, and security. Then it was wealth and property. Next, I set my sights on this country. I not only want to seize its immense wealth, but I also want to take this vast country into my own hands."

"But now that we've achieved this goal, what's next?"

"I was just thinking about it, and hadn't really formed any new desires yet, but when I came to my senses, my gaze was already glued to you all the time, my heart was already beating strangely because of your presence, your approach, your intimacy, my nights were filled with thoughts of how to take advantage of you the next day, so excited that I tossed and turned and couldn't sleep, and even in my long-lost dreams, you were the only one there."

"Freedom, food, safety, family, wealth, power, and then—"

"You greedy man, you've set your sights on the most beautiful love in the world, Your Excellency."

Anastasia, indulging in her passion, blushed shyly across her snow-white face, her cheeks tinged with a shy blush that spread across her earlobes.

"Her left hand, which was holding her hat, slowly touched her chest, while her right hand was outstretched, reaching towards her prime minister in an inviting gesture."

"...Why me?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya turned his face slightly away, pretending not to see it. His throat bobbed, and he stubbornly suppressed the feelings that were touched by these bold words and this resounding confession."

"...Well, is this the prime minister's own fault?"

Undeterred, Anastasia tilted her head slightly in a cute manner, her unique voice always teasing her prime minister with ease.

"Who refused to yield to our pressure? Who joined reluctantly and then slacked off out of spite? Who, despite agreeing to slack off, couldn't resist offering suggestions when they saw us losing ground?"

"Who is it that never praised my beauty or figure, yet treated me like a pleasing sight? Who actually dared to reveal the source of my initial, ingenious idea of ​​valuing him? Who instinctively caught me when I nearly fell to prevent me from getting hurt?"

"Who is it that willingly enjoys it yet always avoids what we offer? Who went on to deal with the global slave trade after hearing about our dangerous past? Who has always treated us with such extreme gentleness?"

"Who did so much without asking for anything in return? Who lived in the same mansion as me for four years? Who was so charming, attracting my attention every single moment?"

Anastasia tilted her head slightly, like a cunning fox, and looked at the man before her with a teasing gaze, asking a question she already knew the answer to:

"My prime minister should know the answer to this, shouldn't he?"

"...Julius."

"After a moment of silence, Hachiman Hikigaya's answer, with his eyes darting around, left Anastasia stunned for several seconds, almost causing her to lose her composure."

Even though she knew her prime minister was doing it on purpose, the moment Hachiman Hikigaya uttered that answer, the atmosphere of her carefully crafted confession of love was inevitably destroyed.

"Should I call it humility or inferiority...? As an observer, it was certainly amusing to see those promiscuous women who had their eyes on you over the past four years being so cleverly rejected, but I never wanted to experience it myself."

Anastasia let out a regretful sigh, looking somewhat troubled.

"Although it was very bold and passionate, as a girl who had never been in a relationship, receiving this kind of treatment after confessing her feelings for the first time in her life would certainly be very upsetting for her, and she would even feel a little insecure."

"What I like most is money... but now you're number one, on par with money. I've already told you all the reasons why."

"Even if you always like to be modest, feel that you misinterpret girls' expressions, and think that all women's expressions of love for you are your illusions, in short, I'm confessing my love to you right now. I'm extremely greedy and want everything about you. I want to take the love you've been hiding all this time—even so, don't you still like me?"

Anastasia was holding on, her heart was pounding incredibly fast... If her own prime minister were to utter any words that belittled her as a woman or as a potential partner, she would hide under the covers and be heartbroken.

"Although she knew that such a thing could never happen... it's strange, once she realized that she had fallen in love with him, her usually smart and rational mind would often start to wander uncontrollably."