Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"A reunion after three years, Crusch and Emilia."

"Whoa..."

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji smiled. "If we can't resolve Hachiman Hikigaya's inclination by going straight to the heart of the matter, then we'll address the root cause of his inclination?"

That kind of thing is of course impossible.

If it were Anastasia, she would be very likely to do so, but Crusch, even if she were to lose some of her morals, would still be an unquestionably upright person and would not do such a despicable thing.

This is why Kiyotaka Ayanokoji found it even more intriguing, and he made a bold guess.

"...Miss Crusch."

"Her teeth were chattering, and Emilia was clutching the blanket, panicked to the extreme. She clearly wanted to face Crusch properly, but she couldn't control herself."

"No, it's impossible. Just the fact that Crusch is still alive, that Crusch is right in front of me, that Crusch is looking at me, fills Emilia with a fear akin to drowning. She has difficulty breathing and cannot think."

"Countless times, countless times... She faced similar scenes countless times in her dreams, but when she actually faced Crusch again, Emilia truly understood just how much she feared this person."

"How fearful, how disgusted, how angry."

"They stole my knight, they stole my Hachiman, they stole my hope."

"Fear, disgust, and resentment towards Crusch, who stole everything from me!!"

"——"

Crusch was completely stunned.

"Originally with a murderous expression, she understood everything after seeing Emilia's fear of her... Although she allowed Lord Hachiman and Lord Rem to communicate, Crusch never peeked at those letters; she had no idea about the specific situation in this forest before."

"Is that so... Was I wrong, Lord Hachiman?"

"After showing surprise, Crusch closed her eyes and exhaled a long breath."

"She couldn't believe it, she really couldn't believe it... that Emilia, a candidate for a kingdom, was so vulnerable."

"No wonder you're so heartless, no wonder you're so cruel... I've lost you, my ideals, Phyllis, Lord Wilhelm, and this kingdom... If you don't come back, she'll have nothing left, won't she?"

Even so—

"Startling open her eyes and staring directly at the trembling Emilia, Crusch finished her low muttering and raised her voice. Her first words stunned Emilia: 'I have won the Royal Selection. The promise to Lord Hachiman to assist me ends here.'"

"He's on his way to see you now. I tried to persuade him to stay, but he cares more about you, Emilia, than me."

"Her second sentence left Emilia stunned for a good ten seconds before tears welled up involuntarily. Her body, which had been shivering from seeing Crusch, suddenly warmed up, and her heart pounded. Her hands unconsciously loosened, the blanket slipped off, and all the unease that had swept through her body vanished."

"But she still couldn't believe it. She was afraid she had misheard, afraid it was all just her imagination."

"You, Miss Crusch, you mean...?!"

Emilia suddenly rolled off the bed in a hurry. She couldn't believe it. She wanted to confirm it. She wanted to hear it again. She wanted to hear it one more time.

"But I'm not here to congratulate you." Crusch hardened her heart, her gaze chillingly cold. "Let's make a deal, Emilia. Give me Lord Hachiman, persuade him to continue serving me, and have him stand by my side. You can make any request."

Emilia was speechless; she was too emotionally agitated to respond and simply shook her head like a rattle-drum.

"Hachiman is...Hachiman is my knight!"

"It's hard to imagine that someone who was trembling with fear of Crusch just two minutes ago could change so quickly and become so brave."

"Lord Hachiman was once your knight, but he is also my Lord Hachiman, and my strategist Crusch."

"With a solemn expression, Crusch's attempt to continue encroaching on Hachiman Hikigaya drew Emilia's angry glare."

"Cursch Karsten."

"She solemnly announced her name, placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, drew it from its sheath, and held it upright in front of her, staring at a spot on the blade where the blood left by Hachiman Hikigaya when he swung his sword at her remained."

"Perhaps I'm no longer qualified to say that, but..."

Crusch took a deep breath, paused, and spoke with a strong, resounding voice, filled with pride and self-confidence, concealing all her regret and self-reproach.

"Cursius Karsten, the lord served by the strategist Hachiman Hikigaya."

"What I cherish, what I love, what I possess, I will defend with this sword."

"If anything threatens what I cherish, what I love, what I possess, then let this sword sever it!!"

"In the dull bedroom, icicles had quietly appeared in the air, filling the room."

"Amelia's resolute gaze seemed to recall the unwavering strength and power she displayed when she expressed her political views in the Royal Selection Hall."

"Emilia, just Emilia—no."

"At this point, Emilia paused slightly, then her voice rose above Crusch's:"

"Emilia, the princess of Knight Hachiman Hikigaya!!"

228. Crusch Route: The Release of Hatred

"Emilia's mental state is fragile no matter where she is."

Kyosuke Kousaka recalled how, in the official history, Emilia repeatedly cried and broke down during the trials.

“But she was so scared, yet she suddenly became so strong,” Kirino Kousaka glanced at her brother and said enviously, “Hachiman-senpai really carries a lot of weight. It’s so good that she can change Emilia-neechan to this extent.”

Kyosuke Kosaka nodded: "Yes, let alone to take back Hachiman, even if Hachiman were wholeheartedly under Crusch's command, if Emilia knew that Hachiman was in danger, she would probably rush out of the forest to save him."

She is truly a very gentle, beautiful, kind, lovely, and loyal girl—a wonderful girl in every way.

Ferut's unrequited love, the pitiful state beneath the snow, and Anastasia's sweetness are all certainly memorable.

But given a choice, the one who best matches Hachiman Hikigaya is definitely Rem or Emilia, the kind-hearted ones!

"Being able to do things that were normally impossible or very difficult for someone you like..."

Kirino Kousaka glanced at her brother furtively, a thought flashing through her mind. Her expression was one of turmoil as she pondered something of great importance.

Inside the convenience store, Hachiman Hikigaya sighed deeply. He truly didn't know what he had done to deserve such high regard from Crusch; he felt utterly ashamed.

But while he felt a little guilty, he also felt a deep respect for Crusch.

"Cursch is still Cursch after all."

He seemed to see a unique and magnificent beauty in Crusch, a beauty that made one want to savor her dazzling figure.

"When I first met Emilia, I discovered how afraid Emilia was of her. If Crusch had been able to harden her heart at that time and made up a lie, teaching Emilia some hints about banishing my future self or implying that my future self should continue to rely on Crusch, Emilia, who did not understand the deeper meaning of her words, would definitely have cooperated with her tremblingly."

Listening to his analysis, Yukinoshita was also deeply moved: "But Crusch never thought of this plan from beginning to end, even though she has this kind of wisdom."

Crusch, an upright and honest man, a virtuous and noble man.

In this respect, Crusch was better than Yukinoshita. Yukinoshita would occasionally try to justify herself by saying that 'concealing something isn't lying,' or she would simply throw a tantrum.

But Crusch has never lied since she appeared. She is honest and straightforward, and no matter what difficulties she encounters, she always acts uprightly and stands straight.

"A high-end version of me...?"

Yukinoshita murmured, shaking her head, thankful that this high-end quality was only part of it. Of course, Crusch also had her shortcomings compared to Yukinoshita, such as not knowing how to be charming or using methods other than straightforward and even forceful to retain Hachiman Hikigaya.

As for the claim that Crusch and Emilia are in the wrong for fighting over Hachiman Hikigaya?

What a joke! If everything were based solely on reason, then no one would be human. Besides, Crusch's actions weren't so immoral as to warrant insulting her for being unreasonable.

If she were to criticize Crusch, Yukinoshita would have to criticize herself first, since in the original future, she hadn't managed to get Hachiman to be her boyfriend before Rem and Emilia.

In this respect, no one is more kind than anyone else, just like Anastasia shamelessly snatched Hachiman away.

Crusch is already the most moral one among this group.

"Hmph, if it were Anastasia, she would have already resorted to underhanded tactics, and certainly wouldn't be like Crusch."

The Shirogane family, Shirogane Miyuki snorted. He had no problem with Anastasia, but he was very upset that Anastasia had shattered his faith.

Driven by a sense of hatred, they often feel compelled to criticize Anastasia, especially after seeing how admirable Crusch is.

"Hmph, if it were Anastasia, she would have already taken down Hachiman Hikigaya. Crusch is really no good."

Kaguya Shinomiya snorted. Her family was a conglomerate, and she was used to capitalists with no bottom line, so she had a good impression of Anastasia.

Although Anastasia is considered a shrewd businesswoman, her transactions always have a bottom line. She takes the profits but doesn't leave the soup for others, ensuring they have a chance to make a living.

Most importantly, Anastasia and Hachiman Hikigaya's sweet and loving marriage is something she really longs for!

"What are my true intentions?"

At the Carlsten mansion, Crusch frowned. At this point, she couldn't figure out what her future self really wanted to do... Did she really want to defeat Emilia, or was she using this opportunity to help Lord Hachiman one last time?

These two thoughts are currently oscillating in Crusch's mind, each holding a significant place, and she herself can't say which idea she will lean towards in the future...

Crusch gave a wry smile. "I am neither selfless and generous enough, nor selfish and decisive enough... I am truly unworthy of your praise and admiration, Lord Hachiman."

"Hey, are we going to fight with Miss Crusch?"

On the main street of the royal capital, Emilia's small hands clasped together in a hesitant manner, but seeing the situation that was about to unfold, she could only quietly cheer for her future self while praying that Crusch would not be seriously injured.

“That little girl chose a perfect time, five in the morning, before I even came out.” Parker narrowed his eyes, believing it was Crusch’s deliberate calculation.

"No matter what the future holds, will she never be able to let go of her pride?"

At the same time, Anastasia chuckled slyly like a fox, "It seems that our victory has no element of luck at all, it's all 100%."

Crusch is too proper a person, so proper that there's no need to care about her or consider her a rival in love, which is certainly good news.

"But Phyllis still has to fight!"

Anastasia and Mimi exchanged a knowing smile; the unscrupulous merchant and the deputy commander's true intentions were clear without a word.

"Pleasure me to your heart's content, you fool."

Priscilla was in an extremely pleasant mood at this moment. If she had to say, although the silver-haired half-elf wasn't much better, and mutual destruction would be the best outcome, if only one of them had to die, she would definitely choose Crusch.

"How dare he boast that he defeated me! The consequences of uttering such absurdities and attempting to put them into practice are truly ironic, and worthy of no sympathy!"

Al hesitated for a moment, then thought about it but said nothing, only grumbling to himself.

Anastasia beat you too, but she's living a happy and fulfilling life...

-

-

229. Crusch Line - Gathering Together