Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"She paused for a moment, her aura becoming imposing, shedding the affability of someone who had long been subservient to others, as if she had returned to four years ago, to the decisive and resolute Crusch who was determined to ascend to the throne and whose entire being was full of handsome charm."

"As I said, I'm not without resentment about the defeat—last time, you were intercepted and snatched away by Anastasia; this time, I hope to turn the tables!"

205. Anna's Route - Anna's United Faction

"Curshu, oh Curshu."

Anastasia never expected that she and Crusch would be rivals in reality, and that they would still have the chance to be rivals even after the future candidate competition was settled.

However, she wasn't angry at all.

"Although it seems like it's going to turn into a melodramatic two-choice situation, it's obvious that Hachiman didn't take Crusch's hints to heart at all. He wasn't even thinking about whether to choose Anastasia or Crusch; all he was thinking about was whether or not to accept Anastasia's offer."

Kyosuke Kosaka was quite fond of his race's clear-headedness. "Hachiman-kun is definitely not a scumbag at all. In the main story, he was simultaneously concerned about Emilia and Rem because there were just too many entanglements, and it was completely impossible to sort them out."

But in this possible future, even if Crusch is the real thing, without that entangled experience and inescapable ambiguous feelings, Hachiman Hikigaya would have escaped from the very beginning.

He assumed that Crusch was just sulking with Anastasia.

This is not because he has low emotional intelligence, but because he is sticking to his principles.

Most people can see this clearly, but the naive Emilia is not among them.

Even Miss Crusch?!

Surrounded by enemies on all sides, his face blank and dazed.

Emilia's feelings were indescribable; her beautiful, dark purple eyes concealed too much hardship.

Kararaki, the werewolf drinking his wine, and the Praiser Heribel laughed heartily, "Oh dear, in my opinion, the most suitable candidate for his wife is still Miss Rem, ha ha ha."

Crusch's love wasn't strong enough, Emilia was a worry, and as for Anastasia—well, when this fellow Kararachi native sent people to gang up on his future self, he really hoped to see Hachiman Hikigaya beat Anastasia up again.

It would be even better if the intensity could be even greater than during the negotiations with the White Whale.

"After leaving Crusch's mansion, Hachiman Hikigaya sneaked into a house that Anastasia had given him."

"As the Prime Minister of Lugnica, he should have been swamped with official duties. Fortunately, Anastasia herself was very enthusiastic about handling official business. In her words, it was about experiencing the feeling of power, just as enjoyable as counting money. Unless the workload was overwhelming, it was best to leave everything to her."

"...Thinking about it that way, haven't I received help from her again?"

With a sigh, Hachiman Hikigaya wrote a name he hadn't used in four years on a piece of white paper. He held it up, looking up at it. "What should I do, Yukinoshita?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya actually knows very well what liking someone is like. He once fell in love with Yukino Yukinoshita at first sight. If he hadn't traveled through time, the cold war might have ended soon, and if all went well, he might have been able to have a relationship with Yukinoshita."

"Although all of that is in the past, Hachiman Hikigaya still remembers that feeling of being moved."

"He doesn't have those feelings for Anastasia."

"No, maybe so... After four years of getting to know each other, I occasionally notice something unique about this girl, and for a fleeting moment, the thought 'She's amazing' flashes through my mind. I had that feeling yesterday when I was confessed to."

"But it can't compare to the feeling I had for Yukinoshita, and further down the line, it might not even compare to my feelings for Emilia."

"When he first arrived, isolated and helpless, Emilia was like an angel, and that figure is truly unforgettable."

"That doesn't mean he likes either of them... but if his feelings for them aren't even as strong as they were those two times, then he probably wouldn't be considered to like Anastasia, right?"

"You're a good man, my cunning merchant king."

"Imagining that reply, Hachiman Hikigaya couldn't help but chuckle—and then he was out in the street enjoying the breeze when he was invited out by the burly Rigado."

"You're simply a prodigy," Rigado said, patting Hachiman Hikigaya on the shoulder with a carefree grin. "I've never seen anyone as prodigy as you. Even Miss can't compare to you. Just thinking about being your enemy sends chills down my spine. I'm so glad Miss had the foresight to recruit you at such a high price."

"You're praising me, but could you use a different word?"

"Haha, I'm not very cultured." He laughed heartily. "Back then, you were such a quiet person. You spoke in riddles, kept everything to yourself, always looking lifeless, cramming everything into your head. What did you call it again? Oh right, a 'literary youth,' and also pretentious."

"But now, you see, you're even asking me to use a different adjective. You never would have done that four years ago."

"Hachiman Hikigaya stopped in his tracks; he vaguely understood what Rikkato meant."

"You've really become much more cheerful, you've changed a lot, you've become more likable, and you're more likely to make yourself happy. If you have something on your mind, you won't keep it to yourself; you'll talk to someone or even ask for help."

"Li Jiaduo stopped walking as he spoke."

"This is my opinion. I think these changes in you are largely due to Miss."

"I've known you, Miss, for a long time—long before you, before Julius, before Mimi, before all of you. I see myself as someone who can be like a father to you."

"Although she came from a poor background in Kalaraki, Miss's current achievements are not due to any destiny as a dragon priestess, nor any business acumen."

He opened his heart and said solemnly, "It's optimism. Miss has always been very optimistic and cheerful, no matter when or where."

"You knew too?" Hachiman Hikigaya asked, and then saw Rikkado nod.

"Of course I didn't mean to force you. After all, your contributions to Miss over the past four years are obvious to all, and I've also received your care."

"Richard shrugged. All the elders in the Anastasia camp, except for Julius, are close to Hachiman Hikigaya. It's impossible for them to force him."

"This was my own doing, without Miss's permission."

Rigado scratched the back of his head, trying his best not to disturb Hachiman Hikigaya's train of thought, just offering a reminder and a suggestion.

"I think you've probably gotten used to Miss. Isn't your gradual change the best evidence of that?"

"Accept her, say yes, marry her."

"The girl who longs for you, Anastasia."

"Not far away, under the watchful eyes of the three siblings, Mimi, the group leader, Li Jiaduo, offered his advice and blessings."

206. Anna's Route: Undercurrents

"It's the commander!"

Mimi cheered and high-fived the group leader, Rigado. These two people had followed Anastasia when she was down on her luck, and they were the ones in the world who most wanted her to succeed in her love affair.

"Looks like my usefulness isn't just in fighting, haha."

"Wow! The commander is the best!"

This contrasts sharply with the jubilation at Anastasia's mansion.

Although she knew it was far from a sure thing, and hadn't tried her best to show her charm, she still lost to Anastasia once again. This kind of depression filled the Karlsten mansion. Crusch's eyes lost their luster, and she sat swaying in her chair, unable to smile.

"Hachiman-sama, my Hachiman-sama..."

Why, why...why? Whether it was getting to know her or developing feelings for her, wasn't it her who came first?

Anastasia.

Crusch pondered the name. She truly couldn't believe that she would have such a... such an irreconcilable feud with this person, a feud akin to the hatred of someone stealing her wife.

"We should be more concerned with defending against Anastasia than with preventing Emilia."

At the same time, at the Baiyin family.

"Waaah... No, absolutely not, I can't keep watching, I have to wait until I get back to reality, back to the official history before I can come back."

Baek Eun-kyu shook her head frantically, then covered her head with a pillow to hide her eyes and ears.

I really can't watch anymore!

She had never imagined Anastasia was such a good person. That confession was so profound, only slightly less impactful than Rem's. But Rem was all alone, while Anastasia had various people helping her, making it all the more hopeful that Anastasia would succeed.

But she really wants to be a staunch Rem and Emilia supporter.

"I'm not going to betray you—bro, wake me up when we get back to the main storyline!"

Shirogane Miyuki sighed and nodded, a bitter smile playing on his lips... He'd been beaten to it; he'd been trying to bury his head in the sand anyway.

"Anastasia...it's incredible. Perhaps despite the suffering everywhere, the so many real things in this other world, the comfort and happiness that Hikigaya received, are actually priceless."

If it were Hachiman Hikigaya from the Felt route, Miyuki Shirogane believes that Hachiman Hikigaya would most likely end up alone.

However, judging from Hachiman Hikigaya's cheerful behavior in Anna's route, he should have been well protected in this timeline and has never died so far. Therefore, the chances of him accepting someone other than Yukinoshita and Emilia, and accepting Anastasia's confession, are not low.

Having never died, and not knowing that one will die and return, one wouldn't condemn oneself so much, and therefore wouldn't be so lifeless, nor would one feel unworthy of happiness.

"The only timeline where no one has died, plus Anastasia's behavior of throwing herself at him after falling in love with him... sigh."

If Emilia hadn't died, this timeline would have been the most perfect world.

"If I hadn't read the official history, I would have been tempted to support Anastasia... Damn it, how come this cunning businesswoman is suddenly so adorable and beautiful?!"

It's not even in official history!

Miyuki Shirogane's emotions were extremely complicated... Right now, Hachiman Hikigaya was his pillar of love. He had always used Hachiman Hikigaya's unwavering devotion to encourage himself in his deep love for Kaguya Shinomiya. If Hachiman were to marry Anastasia here, then...

But on the other hand, he really hoped that Hachiman could marry Anastasia!

Anastasia in this timeline is absolutely amazing!!

"Um…"

In the Classic Literature Club, Houtarou Oreki seemed lost in thought.

“I used to think that among the candidates for Lugnica, only Crusch was suitable to be the emperor, but now it seems that I was wrong… Although she is a businesswoman, it seems that Anastasia is not so black-hearted.”

He thought about it from another angle for a moment, then shook his head. "No, rather than saying Anastasia isn't ruthless, it's more accurate to say that with Hachiman's help, anyone but Priscilla is acceptable."

Hachiman Hikigaya is a kind of inhibitor. His values ​​dictate that no matter who he assists, he will not stand idly by and watch them do anything that harms the kingdom or innocent people.

Apart from Priscilla, who is arrogant, self-righteous, and selfish, everyone else listens to Hachiman Hikigaya's advice to a great extent.

Therefore, as long as he is there, it doesn't matter which of the four people takes the position.

"They are two extremes."

In the dark forest, after a long period of suffering, Jus, who had finally recovered and returned to his adoptive father Jus from the indolent bishop Petitchius, smiled bitterly, his expression much more serene.

"In Lady Emilia's camp, Roswaal is only superficially loyal, the maid Rem is eager to compete for power, and the Sanctuary powerhouse Garfiel does things his own way. Along the way, Mr. Hachiman has also suffered a lot."

"Miss Anastasia's camp was incredibly united from top to bottom. Everyone was wholeheartedly devoted to her and centered around her. In the timeline where everyone assisted her, Mr. Hachiman had the smoothest life and never died once."

Without comparison, it's fine, but once you compare, the Anastasia faction is really winning by a huge margin; the difference between the two sides is like night and day.

She confessed her feelings, and her knights, captain, and vice-captain all used their own methods to coerce and entice Hachiman Hikigaya to agree.

If it were Emilia confessing her feelings to Hachiman Hikigaya, Ram, knowing his sister's feelings, would probably raid Emilia's bedroom that very night and sever her head with a single wind blade.

"Humph…"

Clutching his throbbing head, Juss stumbled to his feet, breathing heavily. His gaze, now clear, was resolute as he looked toward the capital.