Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

231. Crusch Route: My Lord, Crusch

"Even if Lord Crusch explains it that way, Fili-chan knows that having a place in Hachiman's heart is just a bonus, not a reason to take action."

Phyllis pouted dejectedly, her cat ears and tail drooping, looking listless.

Crusch, who had been completely seen through, was stunned for a moment. Her bitter smile gradually turned into determination. She patted Phyllis's shoulder and comforted her softly, "Don't worry, it's just one failure... If you fail, you'll try again. I have that confidence, don't you, Phyllis?"

Undeterred by setbacks, undaunted by difficulties, and always ready to fight again after defeat—this is one of the qualities that Hachiman admires about her.

Therefore, it is something that absolutely cannot be abandoned and must be upheld.

Phyllis's eyes lit up, and she nodded with a chuckle, clenching her fist with great enthusiasm, "Of course, Phyllis-chan has the greatest faith in Lord Crusch!"

"I am too."

Wilhelm bowed slightly.

He now only has two people he admires: his lord Crusch Karsten and Hachiman Hikigaya—he will risk his life to bring these two people he admires together!

Having witnessed the destruction of the White Whale and knowing that the monarch Crusch would inevitably go to hunt down the White Whale in reality, Wilhelm, having partially fulfilled his obsession, channeled his remaining energy into a new wish.

Before this, he lowered his head, temporarily averting his gaze from the future, unable to bear seeing the monarch suffer again.

But as soon as Wilhelm lowered his head, Phyllis, in a frenzy, shook him and yelled at him to lift it up.

What came into view was by no means a scene that would sadden the monarch Crusch!

"laugh!"

"Curly's sword slashed a wound on Hachiman Hikigaya's shoulder, in the exact same spot as the sword that Curly had been stabbed in the capital, but with more than three times the force, penetrating deep into the flesh and close to the bone marrow."

"——"

Everyone, including Parker, was stunned and frozen in place.

"The one who delivered that final blow was none other than Hachiman Hikigaya himself, who received the sword!"

"Don't move."

"With a serious shout, Hachiman Hikigaya glanced around. After realizing what was happening, the three girls who were about to stop him all stopped in their tracks because of his unprecedentedly serious expression."

"Hachiman Hikigaya shook off Emilia's hand that was holding him, drew his sword from his shoulder, twirled it, smeared his blood evenly on the blade, and then presented the sword."

"Just as Crusch handed him the sword, so he handed the sword to Crusch."

"You know, Crusch, I've always been a very shy person. I'm easily embarrassed and not used to showing my emotions. If I were to do something like that, I would always worry about being laughed at or rejected. It's always been like this..."

"But now, I hope you'll listen to me finish."

"It is I, a shy, embarrassed, and timid person, who is afraid to reveal my true feelings, who is here to open up my inner thoughts. I hope you will not laugh at me or reject me, but actually, I think I don't have such concerns."

"Hachiman Hikigaya took a deep breath and looked at the surprised Crusch with a complicated expression."

"After all... you are Crusch Karsten, the monarch for whom I willingly served for three years, acting as your strategist for three years!!"

""Varied--""

"Surprise is no longer an option," Crusch exclaimed, her eyes wide and her throat bobbing. She suddenly felt a profound silence over the world, and Hachiman Hikigaya's words were so clear.

"Puck's face turned ashen. It knew what it was about to do and was about to bar its teeth and claws, but Emilia, who had already put aside her hatred for three years, covered it in time. She pursed her lips and, together with Rem, looked at the exchange between Hachiman Hikigaya and Crusch with some helplessness."

"You're not stupid, Crusch. You should have realized it long ago... But you're like me, you've caught my cowardice. You can't believe it, you can't believe that I was willing from the very beginning."

"Hachiman Hikigaya's voice was very soft, very soft, "Making that promise, I was actually very unwilling, that unwillingness was directed at Petritchus, and at my own incompetence... You are the best choice, Crusch. If I hadn't met Emilia first, I think I would have happily been driven by you."

"I keep thinking about one question: why did my status become so high? Why am I no longer insecure? Why do I feel satisfied? What is the reason I have all this—when I'm just a nobody like Hachiman Hikigaya?"

"Qing—"

Before Crusch could finish speaking, she saw Hachiman Hikigaya gently shake his head, interrupting her.

"Later I understood, it's because—you are Crusch, nothing more. Because you are Crusch, you respect me so much, cherish me so much, value me so much, and you are the only one who gives me such self-respect, Crusch."

"Hachiman Hikigaya's soft voice was deafening to Crusch. She stared blankly at her Hachiman-sama, unable to tell whether it was disbelief, a turbulent sea of ​​emotions, or... an unprecedented sense of happiness?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya glanced at the bewildered Emilia. "Emilia relies on me, and of course I'm happy that I can help her... but that's different from you, Crusch."

"Words are inadequate to describe it. Hachiman Hikigaya's emotions were conveyed through his aura, making Crusch fully understand that he was completely serious."

"These past three years with you have been incredibly fulfilling. It's my good fortune to have met someone like you. And to have your approval sometimes fills me with an indescribable joy in the dead of night."

"I have always considered you my sovereign, and I am willing... no, I am gladly accepting it. You have given me so much, perhaps you don't realize it, but the fact that I can so readily and decisively reveal my true feelings, without the slightest bit of inferiority, is all thanks to you."

"My help to you is nothing compared to the support you gave me, not to mention your continued assistance to Rem and Emilia."

"I have to leave you. It's not your fault, it's mine—perhaps insignificant, but this is all I can do to stain your blade with my blood. This is my final act of gratitude."

"Hachiman Hikigaya's nose felt a little sore, and he tried his best to hold it back, but his voice still sounded like he was about to cry."

"Hachiman Hikigaya forced a smile. "You see, if it were three years ago, I would never have thought that my blood could be a reward—but I knew you would see it as a treasure. Because you are the person in the world who gives me the most dignity, my lord, Crusch!"

232. Crusch Route: A Noble Conclusion

“Emilia needs him the most, Anastasia is the one who can bring him the most happiness, Crusch is the one who will respect him the most, guide him to evolve and transform, and make him the least likely to feel inferior...Is that so?”

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji murmured to himself.

He thought about it carefully and indeed found that in Emilia's camp, Felt's camp, and Anastasia's camp, Hachiman Hikigaya was more or less somewhat inferior.

No, rather than feeling inferior, it's more accurate to say he's overly sensitive and deliberately cultivates an excessive level of humility.

However, this is not the case in Crusch's camp. From the beginning of Crusch's route until now, Hachiman Hikigaya has never once underestimated himself.

It's easy to imagine how much of a role Crusch played in this.

"As expected of Lord Hachiman," "It's an absolutely flawless plan," "Thank goodness for Lord Hachiman," "It would have been very difficult without Lord Hachiman."

She must have showered Hachiman Hikigaya with such praise day after day without fail... Most importantly, all of Crusch's praise came from the bottom of her heart!

Praising Hachiman Hikigaya from the bottom of her heart, day after day, is something that others can do as well, but when others do it, whether it's Anastasia, Emilia, or Rem, the emotion in their praise is much greater.

Although Crusch also had feelings for Hachiman Hikigaya, the difference was that she was an excellent monarch who spoke with facts. She praised Hachiman Hikigaya more because he was truly very powerful.

Therefore, this is something only Crusch can do. Only Crusch's heartfelt praise day after day can sweep away Hachiman Hikigaya's inferiority complex and transform him into the Hachiman Hikigaya who believes that his blood can be used as a reward.

"Heh, heh heh heh heh heh!!"

Having figured this out, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka covered his face and laughed loudly.

He never expected, he truly never expected, that Hachiman Hikigaya, who could already be considered his nemesis, could continue to evolve by leaps and bounds.

"That's great, really great! If I could participate, I really hope he could join Crusch's team. I'm improving, and he's improving too, that would be the most interesting thing, hahaha!!"

In Class D, Horikita Suzune and the others exchanged glances, swallowing hard. They strongly suspected that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had been infected by the Bowel Hunters.

At the same time, at the Carlsten mansion, Crusch, who quickly grasped this meaning, was no longer looking dejected.

No matter how much she said "if we lose, we'll fight again" and pretended to be fine, seeing that the other candidates could make Hachiman-sama live a good life and gain his approval, how could she not be heartbroken and sad?

but--

No, not anymore.

That won't happen anymore.

"Did you hear that, Phyllis?"

Crusch's eyes shone with a unique light, her voice trembling with unbelievable joy, "Lord Hachiman's evaluation, this level of recognition, this level of praise, Emilia... Felt... Anastasia... Rem... everyone, everyone, before me, has anyone ever received such an evaluation from Lord Hachiman?"

"Yes, meow! Philie remembers it clearly, there's absolutely no meow!!"

With her cat ears and tail raised, Phyllis's appearance was a huge leap forward compared to Hachiman Higanbana. Phyllis's expression and voice were incredibly excited!

Kurshu stared blankly, then suddenly sniffed, her hand stroking her chest, her voice trembling.

"So that's how it is... It's me... Haha, it's me! So this is what it feels like, ha, hahaha..."

"So that's how it is... It's me... Haha, it's me, so this is what it feels like, ha, hahaha..."

Crusch sniffed, all her bitterness bursting forth at that moment, accompanied by boundless satisfaction and joy.

"As if all her strength had been drained, she could no longer stand. Her legs gave way, and she was about to kneel down, her body in danger of being stabbed by the hilt of her sword. Hachiman Hikigaya subconsciously moved his sword away and hugged the haggard Crusch tightly."

"By the time he realized the inappropriateness of his action, Crusch was already holding him tightly with both hands."

Emilia's emotions were somewhat agitated, just like Puck's sudden change of expression earlier. She wanted to run up and separate the two of them so that she could hug Crusch, but Rem held her back, not wanting her to disturb them.

"You are the person I respect, admire, and respect the most... Crusch. But I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... I can only ask you to leave, Crusch."

"Since you said I would help you overcome your inferiority complex, then don't apologize to me, Hachiman-sama... At the very least, let me change you completely. You have the right to ask me to leave; you did nothing wrong, Hachiman-sama."

"Kursh sniffed, leaning on Hachiman Hikigaya's shoulder, speaking haltingly, her voice choked with emotion, but she was so happy, so incredibly happy."

"You said that... You said you were willing, you said I was your lord, you said you admired me the most... If you say that, I am satisfied, truly satisfied. Although I want more, so much more, I want you to stay by my side, I want you to continue being my Hachiman-kun, but really... I am already satisfied, Hachiman-kun."

"What she craves is the approval of her Lord Hachiman, the recognition of her Lord Hachiman, it's just such a small wish."

"When you said you wanted to leave, I really couldn't accept it. I know you care about Emilia, and I know the agreement has expired, but I'm afraid. I'm afraid you think I'm not qualified, that I'm an unworthy monarch."

"It was intermittent, but still coherent. Even in this situation, Crusch maintained her beauty and charm, and her reliability."

"You said I made you stop feeling inferior... But with your words now, for the next year, ten years, a hundred years, no matter what troubles and crises occur during my reign over the Kingdom of Lugnica, I will not panic."

"Because I have confidence now... Since you have approved of me, I am confident that I can shoulder the fate of tens of millions of people in this kingdom. Your approval can dispel my lifelong anxiety, and this is something only you can do."

"Whispering, Crusch's voice grew softer and softer, yet more and more resonant."

"Therefore, I am content... In these three years, you have not resented me, you have lived well, you have accepted me, right?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya didn't say anything, he just nodded."

"...Then let Crusch, whom you respect, admire, and acknowledge, remain, until the very end, the handsome Crusch you admire—"

Without a second thought, Crusch controlled her body and left the man she had been longing for day and night, Lord Hachiman. She gave Emilia a deep look, then took the sword and sheathed it with a clang.

"Then she didn't say another word, turned around and left with a flourish."

"Leave this forest, leave her Hachiman-kun."

"because…"

“In that case, I am your Crusch.”

"Her departing figure, Crusch's final act, was incomparably noble and radiant."