Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"Hmm..." Jiafei scratched his head, caught in a dilemma.

"Jiafeier's arrival has brought vitality to this stagnant place."

"Julius, Reinhard, Wilhelm, and Hachiman Hikigaya, four men who know each other well, should have been very lively, but unfortunately Reinhard and Wilhelm's relationship is too strained."

"Hachiman Hikigaya once heard Reinhard tell this in Felt's timeline."

"On the same day that Wilhelm's wife was sent to fight the White Whale, Reinhard, who was only a few years old, suddenly inherited the Sword Saint's blessing, which caused his grandmother to be defeated and killed in battle."

"For this reason, Wilhelm became sworn enemies with his grandson and never spoke to him again until death."

"During that time, Reinhard's father suffered from a disease that was like being devoured by the Bishop of Gluttony, and his mother died. The Sword Saint's blessing that he had longed to inherit was actually obtained by his son."

"The three blows combined transformed him from a gentle and kind man into the most disgusting trash, who drank heavily all day, caused trouble everywhere, and swore constantly, taking pleasure in reopening the wounds of his father Wilhelm and son Reinhard."

"A beluga whale so ruthlessly caused the disintegration of three generations of a family."

"In the year following the Sanctuary incident, when Hachiman Hikigaya wrote letters to Felt and Crusch, he would occasionally comfort Reinhard and Wilhelm, hoping that they could reconcile."

Wilhelm replied frankly that although he could forgive Reinhard now that the White Whale was dead, he did not know whether Reinhard would forgive him, his incompetent grandfather, and that without an opportunity, things would be very difficult.

"Reinhard's reply said that he had always wanted his grandfather's forgiveness, but he dared not hope for it."

"Now is the opportune moment, Mr. Wilhelm."

"I've arranged to meet Wilhelm in the courtyard," Hachiman Hikigaya said earnestly. He had been planning to create an opportunity recently, and now that Anastasia had gathered everyone, even better, let's do it now.

"...I understand, Lord Hachiman."

Wilhelm took a deep breath, nodded heavily, and his eyes shone.

"He wants to reconcile with his grandson and start from scratch, to be a true grandfather and grandson again."

297. Crusch leaning against her chest

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh.

Looking at his future father's behavior, the alcoholic Heinrich sneered. He could imagine that his father Wilhelm and son Reinhard must be very moved and expectant.

But he wouldn't.

Heiner knew that he would never forgive his father and his son!

"Hmph... You didn't invite me? Even if I might not accept such a boring invitation, it's your problem that you didn't send one, you vixen."

Inside the mansion, Priscilla's eyes flashed with displeasure, especially when she saw Anastasia being praised for being cute, she let out a heavy snort.

Al, standing to the side, carefully kept a straight face. Although he was wearing a helmet to hide it, he was still afraid that Priscilla would see that he, an Anna supporter, was laughing and then draw his Sun Sword and cut him in half at the waist.

"With her long, wet hair cascading down her shoulders, Crusch, who had taken the fastest bath, was the first to emerge from the hot spring. She was wearing a casual outfit that wasn't formal attire, with floral patterns carved on it, and she found Hachiman Hikigaya, who had just finished plotting with Wilhelm."

"Lord Hachiman!"

"Upon seeing him, Crusch felt as if she had found a home, filled with a sense of security. She called out softly, her breathing slightly rapid, filled with both anticipation for the offline meeting with her pen pal and some worry about disappointing Lord Hachiman."

"Curse?" Hachiman Hikigaya strode in. "Good evening, are you here to enjoy the night breeze too?"

Crusch blushed slightly, hesitated for a moment, and was too embarrassed to say, "I came to see you."

"Ugh."

At the Karlsten mansion, Crusch shook her head.

She doesn't rule out developing feelings for Hachiman beyond the bond between lord and subject, but she hopes that person can be herself after regaining her memories... Although she is still herself after losing her memory, there are still many differences in personality.

And she was actually a little worried.

"What if Lord Hachiman prefers the amnesiac version of me to the current me?

Crusch sighed and lamented, her troubles unsolvable by either Phyllis or Wilhelm.

"I wish I could have a smooth life like Anastasia..." Crusch sighed, feeling incredibly envious of Anastasia, and of course, also incredibly heartbroken.

"Both Phyllis and Lord Wilhelm said that before I lost my memory, I was decisive and capable in everything I did, but I can't find that feeling at all. Although I want to try my best, and even after receiving your comfort for so long, Lord Hachiman, I can only barely hold on... Will you be disappointed?"

"Strolling in the courtyard, Crusch's voice was still the same, but compared to her former heroic spirit, it now gave people a gentle and weak feeling, as if she were a completely different person."

"What matters isn't whether others are disappointed in you, but what kind of person you choose to become, Crusch."

"The anxious Crusch came into view, and Hachiman Hikigaya was filled with emotion... In the timeline of total annihilation, he, who was vulnerable, was the one being protected and comforted by Crusch after she lost her memory. Now, the roles have been reversed."

"He would naturally reciprocate with the same thoughtfulness that Crusch had shown him—even the more delicate version of Crusch, his respect and love for this beautiful woman in military uniform remained undiminished."

"Don't force yourself," Hachiman Hikigaya said sincerely. "Whether you can return to your pre-amnesia state or not makes no difference to me. You will always be my dearest friend, Crusch."

Crusch shook her head in confusion; she couldn't be so open-minded. "Would Lord Hachiman like me as I am now?"

"I like it, I like it very much." Hachiman Hikigaya nodded slightly. "My approval of you isn't because you were so amazing before you lost your memory, but because you're reliable now and a respectable person. Believe in yourself, Crusch."

"Although they said they liked each other, neither of them blushed, because they were definitely not discussing romantic feelings."

"..."

"Kursh lowered her head, her eyelids drooping, and a deep sorrow etched between her brows."

Hachiman Hikigaya stopped in his tracks, turned to look at the frail girl walking beside him, and abruptly asked, "Have you cried, Crusch?"

"...?"

"Since waking up, having lost all her memories, she sees a world she has no recollection of. People she doesn't know or remember keep getting close to her, and they have expectations of her that she can't meet."

"You knew nothing, yet you were forced to play the role they expected of you. Under that terrifying pressure, did you ever try to cry?"

"I..." Crusch bit her lower lip, her fear and helplessness meticulously described by Hachiman Hikigaya, "I dare not cry."

Hachiman Hikigaya exhaled, feeling a pang of sorrow. "I knew it."

"I've already let down Phyllis, Lord Wilhelm, and so many others. I'm already ashamed enough. What right do I have to complain?"

"—But what if I expect you to cry?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya's voice left Crusch speechless. She looked up and stared directly at the man, feeling dizzy and disoriented."

""…What did you say?""

“Being strong is a good thing, and being strong should be praised… But, Crusch, being strong doesn’t mean you can’t cry, can’t confide in someone, or can’t show your vulnerable side. Sometimes, crying can help you go further.”

"With his hands on Crusch's shoulders, Hachiman Hikigaya spoke softly, yet with a resounding tone: 'This is what my hero taught me... So, cry it out, Crusch.'"

"Give me the cowardice that Phyllis and Wilhelm dared not show in front of anyone. Consider it my whim, Crusch."

“I—” Crusch’s mouth was agape, her blood suddenly boiling, her heart pounding.

"She didn't want to cry, she didn't dare to cry, but her eyes quietly welled up with tears without her realizing it."

“I’ll keep it for you, don’t worry, because I…” My cowardice was also once kept by you, Crusch, you were also another hero who protected me.”

"I, I—Waaaaah… Lord Hachiman!"

"Sadness flowed like a river, and the long-accumulated fear and cowardice were released. Leaning against Hachiman Hikigaya's chest, Crusch sobbed. The frail Crusch, Crusch who had found support, cried softly."

"Phyllis and Wilhelm watched from afar. Wilhelm wanted to stop them, but after hesitating for a moment, he sighed, looked away, and didn't go over. Phyllis's eyes were red, and she knelt on the ground, murmuring 'Lady Crusch,' half crying and half laughing."

"What are you really thinking, Lord Hachiman...?"

"Wilheim sighed with utter bewilderment about what feelings Wilhelm had toward his sovereign and his benefactor after this night of weeping."

298. Anastasia, So Different

"That's strange, why did Wilhelm want to interrupt Crusch's outpouring?"

At the Shirogane family home, Shirogane Kei was somewhat taken aback; she couldn't understand it.

"From Wilhelm and Phyllis's perspective, it's only natural that they would have misunderstandings and struggles."

Glancing at his younger sister, and to prevent her from thinking of Wilhelm as a villain with ulterior motives, Miyuki Shirogane quickly analyzed, "From other people's perspective, Hachiman and Crusch are currently competitors, but for Hachiman himself, who has experienced so many 'what if' scenarios, every candidate is actually his family and friends."

“He had a genuine relationship with everyone, especially Anastasia and Crusch, so he treated them with an intimacy that placed him on the same level as them.”

“In other words,” Miyuki Shirogane said, “Hachiman’s awareness of his competitors has faded considerably, but Wilhelm and Phyllis still remember it well. Although they are aware that Crusch, who has lost his memory for a year, is far behind, the outcome is still undecided.”

"So, from the perspective of a competitor, although Hachiman had good intentions, he interfered too much."

Shirogane suddenly realized, "Oh, right!"

She recalled carefully that during the White Whale Extermination Campaign, Hikigaya-senpai had been scheming and hurting Crusch and Anna. Back then, Hikigaya-senpai had set various traps and schemes to gain the upper hand, and had even severely humiliated Anna.

"Grandpa Wilhelm and the others probably still feel that time and atmosphere!"

Miyuki Shirogane nodded. However, for him and Kei, who were at the forefront of the discussion, having witnessed firsthand the shared fate of candidates like Crusch alongside Hachiman Hikigaya, their stance had long since become exactly the same as Hachiman's.

Those who are looking at this future don't actually see Crusch and the others as competitors to Hachiman Hikigaya anymore, so they can understand Hachiman Hikigaya's oversight.

At Musashino Company, a group of people stood in awe. "And until the very end, Wilhelm chose not to interrupt, allowing Crusch to properly express her emotions... Not only the candidates, but Wilhelm, Julius, and the others are also very formidable individuals."

Thinking about it this way, it makes the separation between the Sword Saint's family and his descendants even more tragic.

At the Karlsten residence, Crusch cast a respectful glance at Wilhelm, admiring his loyalty and decisiveness, before continuing to look up at the future, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

Wilhelm and Phyllis could tell at a glance what she was agonizing over… the official history, her timeline, and the timeline of the complete destruction of the Sanctuary—three timelines in total. Both of her amnesiac selves were more successful than her pre-amnesia selves, and closer to her Hachiman-sama.

Although in her timeline, Hachiman-sensei did say he approved of her, at that time, Hachiman-sensei hadn't yet gotten to know her well after she lost her memory.

Now, a year later, Crusch finds it hard to say which Crusch he approves of more.

"Lord Crusch." After racking her brains, Phyllis's eyes lit up. "Even after you lost your memory, you still called Hachiman 'Lord Hachiman,' right?"

“Originally, after losing his memory, Lord Crusch called himself ‘Lord Hachiman.’ During the year of correspondence, he corrected this several times. Doesn’t this show that, even now, you are still just as important to him as you are after losing your memory?”

Crusch paused for a moment, then carefully considered the matter and realized that it was indeed substantial evidence.

Encouraged, Crusch exclaimed excitedly, "Well said, Phyllis!"

"Hehe~" Seeing Lord Crusch smile again, Phyllis happily gave a cute look.

"...Should Rem laugh?"

On the way to the royal capital, seeing Hachiman mention her and how Hachiman hugged Crusch and let her lean on him because of her influence, Rem didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

Ram, standing to the side, silently added Crusch to his priority kill list as well.

Inside the convenience store, Hachiman Hikigaya's gaze darted away, avoiding looking at Yukinoshita's expression... He looked at the sobbing, vulnerable Crusch, and a chord in his heart was plucked. He pursed his lips, shook his head slightly, and lowered his eyelids, unable to continue looking at the captivating Crusch.

"No one else knew that Crusch was crying in Hachiman Hikigaya's arms. That night, she slept soundly, with a peaceful expression on her face in her sleep."