Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"I tried my best to get information about Crusch from them. I forced myself to train myself to become Crusch, so as not to disappoint everyone's expectations, not to disappoint everyone who liked Crusch."

"I couldn't eat or sleep, I was constantly on edge... I kept thinking, am I not behaving like Crusch? Am I acting more like Crusch?"

"An unspeakable panic."

"Although Wilhelm and Phyllis are encouraging me, telling me to just be myself, I don't dare, I simply don't dare. Lord Hachiman... that Crusch, the family she left behind, the friends she left behind, the reputation she left behind—all of this makes me feel like I'm walking on thin ice."

"But even though I've tried my best, it's still hard for me to become like Crusch. I always make mistakes. Rumors are spreading throughout the Karlsten family's territory, saying that 'Crusch has finally exposed her weakness and incompetence.'"

He let out a deep sigh.

"Kursh's heavy confession was full of repression and power. Shocked, Hachiman Hikigaya raised his head and stared straight at the woman who shared the same feelings and experiences as him."

"His gaze met Crusch's long, narrow amber eyes, and both of them looked directly at each other, staring back at each other."

"I hate it, I hate it to death!"

"Why did Crusch leave me with so many relatives, friends, and subordinates, and such a stellar reputation, so that many people, upon hearing the name Crusch, would perceive him as powerful, upright, and reliable?"

"What Crusch can do, I simply can't do!"

"Rather than trying to comfort Hachiman Hikigaya through her own experiences, Crusch, who became increasingly emotional as she spoke, was actually unable to control herself."

"She was just pouring out her feelings and pain from the past year, pouring them all out in front of Lord Hachiman, who had the same experience and the same state of mind."

"Everything Crusch left me with was nothing but pain. I have no idea how to face Phyllis, my father, or the army that believed I could lead them to victory in the royal selection."

"I know my father and Phyllis are trustworthy, but I don't dare. I don't dare confide my feelings and thoughts to them. I can only curl up in bed alone and quietly hold back my tears."

"Because I'm not Crusch at all. No matter how hard I try, when Phyllis looks at me, she's always thinking of Crusch."

"So, I'm simply not qualified, Lord Hachiman!"

344. The Rise of Crusch (Bounty)

"——"

"Hachiman Hikigaya forgot to breathe. He was moved by Crusch's plunging into the water, and his confused thoughts were drawn in. He listened, he wanted to know, he desperately wanted to know, what kind of mental journey Crusch, like himself at that moment, would go through after that."

"The shimmering Crusch, with her body embodying a dazzling and radiant essence, captivated Hachiman Hikigaya's entire gaze."

"At dusk, a strong wind was blowing through the shattered Minato City, but Hachiman Hikigaya could not hear the howling wind; he could only hear Crusch's handsome voice."

"Back then, what kept me alive was you, Lord Hachiman."

"From the bewilderment and repression of gritting her teeth, to gratitude and vulnerability, Crusch raised her left hand, made a fist with four fingers, and pointed her index finger straight at him."

""Varied--""

"Hachiman Hikigaya's eyes widened. Before he could even utter his incredulous words, he was completely overwhelmed by Crusch's handsome yet gentle aura. He was interrupted, listened to, and listened to Crusch's outpouring."

"Over the past year, I've felt helpless and heartbroken, wanting to cry but unable to. I've been filled with pain, anxiety, and confusion. I received many letters, all from you, Hachiman-kun."

"They acknowledge me, respect me, believe in me, and think I'm a very capable person. Others often say these things too."

"In Crusch's eyes, on Crusch's face, and in Crusch's words, everything shone with a joyful elation after hardship. 'But only you, only you, said that you acknowledged me, respected me, and believed me, not because I, before my amnesia, was so worthy of acknowledgment, so worthy of respect, so worthy of belief.'"

"The reason you acknowledge, respect, and trust me is because I am such an amazing person now, and because I am worthy of your friendship and admiration!"

"With a resounding pride, Crusch held her head high and took a step forward involuntarily."

Hachiman Hikigaya's throat tightened, a bitter expression crossing his face. He said in a low voice, "That's good... but can you really see me as the new Hachiman Hikigaya, not the Hachiman Hikigaya who inspired you, Crusch?"

"I can't do it!"

Crusch immediately gave a firm and decisive answer.

"Only now do I understand why Wilhelm, why my father, why Phyllis, and why so many people saw me as that Crusch. Because it was something that couldn't be avoided."

Before Hachiman Hikigaya's face turned ashen with disappointment, Crusch spoke from the bottom of her heart:

"But I'm different from you... Lord Hachiman."

"After losing my memory, I became very weak-willed, completely different from who I was before. But you are different, Lord Hachiman. Apart from losing your memories after arriving in the Kingdom of Lugunica, you are still you, nothing has changed, you are still you."

"I am quite certain that what I like..."

"Kursh paused for a moment, then reached out and placed her hands on the shoulders of the immobile Lord Hachiman."

"The Hachiman-sama I know, the Hachiman-sama I acknowledge, the Hachiman-sama I respect, the Hachiman-sama I find extremely powerful, the Hachiman-sama I consider the greatest in the world."

"That Hachiman-sama is both the Hachiman-sama before he lost his memory and the Hachiman-sama now; he is you."

"—So you are him, Lord Hachiman!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya slapped her hand away, and after regaining his senses, took two steps back, shaking his head loudly in denial, refusing to believe it: "Me? Me like this? Me as I am now?"

"Stop joking with me, Crusch, you bastard! If I were just like this, how could I possibly have won the favor of people like you!"

"You! You! You right now!" Crusch shouted, her voice louder and more aggressive than his, "Hachiman-sama is Hachiman-sama, that's an unchangeable fact!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya, enraged, swung his right hand and retorted fiercely, "Don't use me to slander your hero! How could someone as useless as me possibly do so many perfect things!"

"—Not perfect at all! Not perfect at all!"

Crusch gritted her teeth, her chest heaving violently. Despite her rising spirits, tears suddenly streamed down her face, her voice trembling with sobs. "If you were a perfect person, a perfect hero, if you were such an existence, Lord Hachiman, you wouldn't have been defeated by the Bishop of Gluttony, you wouldn't have lost your memory, would you!?"

"If you don't believe it, if you think you're not that strong, then isn't your defeat and subsequent amnesia proof that you are that Hachiman-sama?!"

"She stabbed her own heart in pain, sobbing sadly. She lowered her head and wiped away her tears with both hands, but the more she wiped, the more tears flowed. Her weak appearance was the complete opposite of her previous strength."

"Don't look down on yourself... I beg you... Lord Hachiman..."

"Her plea, tinged with sobs, made Hachiman Hikigaya hesitate to approach."

"You said that your father and Phyllis's trust put unparalleled pressure and pain on you—but now, you trust me so much, have you ever thought about the pressure and pain you will bring me, Crusch?"

His distressed words did not stop Crusch in her tracks. The tearful, sorrowful girl choked out, "Because I haven't finished speaking, Lord Hachiman."

"Curly spread her arms wide, like an eagle stretching out, the wind slipping through her fingers. She was still crying, but she also had a happy smile on her face."

"The trust and closeness of Phyllis and the others put a lot of pressure and pain on me, but, Lord Hachiman... a year later, I feel happy, I feel joyful, because of my father, because of Phyllis and the others, so I feel that life is good."

"Kurshu advanced step by step, while Hachiman Hikigaya retreated step by step until his back touched a wall, leaving him with no way to escape."

"Before I lost my memory, I was very capable, so the family, friends, and subordinates I left behind are all people worth associating with."

"What do you want to say?" Hachiman Hikigaya's feelings were extremely complicated.

"My meaning is very simple, Lord Hachiman."

"Kursh bent her left hand and placed it on her chest. She looked at Hachiman Hikigaya, and every word she spoke was firm and powerful:"

"After the rain comes the rainbow. You may find it hard to accept, you may not want to accept it, but in order to make you happy, to make you feel joyful, to make you feel that life is good, I am willing to endure some pain and pressure first."

"I will make sure you accept my trust, my closeness, and everything I give you—you saved me before, and now it's my turn to save you."

"I... want to be your hero too, Lord Hachiman!"

345. Starting from Scratch

"Too deceiving!"

Outside the capital, Ram was already furious, grinding his teeth and staring intently at the powerful Crusch with bloodthirsty eyes.

"Stealing a man is one thing, since she's not the only one doing it, but what kind of woman is this? 'Wanting to be Lord Hachiman's hero?' Shameless, shameless, despicable woman, trying to steal Rem's special status!"

Not only Ram, but even Rem, who is usually good-tempered, couldn't help but look frightening and have sharp eyes when she saw so many vixens stealing men.

For the first time ever, she showed murderous intent towards the girl her beloved Hachiman liked.

"W-This isn't right, is it? What's gotten into Crusch-neechan? Why is she suddenly being so proactive, and so skilled at it?"

At the Kousaka residence, Kirino Kousaka stared in disbelief. "Is this really Crusch? Could she have been possessed by Anna?"

"A scholar should be looked at with new eyes after three days of separation. Although she is a frail version of Crusch after losing her memory, she has already transformed. She will improve, so don't underestimate her, Kirino."

Kyosuke Kosaka analyzed, "The bloody battle in Minato City, seeing so many dead and injured people, and facing a powerful enemy all pushed Crusch to become stronger, just like she was before she lost her memory."

"The failure to protect Hachiman, which led to Hachiman's amnesia, is the biggest thorn in his side and the most direct stimulus. Even the weakest person will become proactive and strong when they have a target for revenge and someone they want to protect."

At this point, Kyosuke Kousaka offered a reminder, "As for Crusch suddenly becoming so good at it... don't you think her arguments for comforting Hachiman sound familiar, Kirino?"

"Familiar? Now that you mention it, it does seem a bit familiar." Kirino Kousaka paused, pondered seriously for a while, and then suddenly realized.

"Ah! Aren't many of these things the words that Hachiman-senpai gave to Crusch-nee-nee-san on the night they first arrived in Watergate City?"

"That despicable Crusch, how hateful."

With a bang, Izumi Sagiri slammed her fist on the table, her eyes reddening. As an Anna supporter, she felt extremely uncomfortable whenever she saw other fox spirits progressing faster than Anna.

If it weren't for the fact that this was beneficial to Hikigaya-senpai, she would have hated Crusch.

"That's so despicable. As expected, that straight-as-an-arrow Crusch is much better. You bastard Gluttony Archbishop, hurry up and return the memories of Hachiman-senpai and the straight-as-an-arrow Crusch."

"If this continues, Crusch, who knows romance, might end up winning over Hachiman-senpai, and Anna-neechan will be in danger."

Izumi Sagiri muttered anxiously, but then she heard loud laughter beside her. Turning her head, she saw her brother, Izumi Masamune, standing with his hands on his hips, looking very pleased with himself.

"Great, that's fantastic! After all this time, Crusch has finally overtaken us! It was worth it for me not switching to another faction all this time. Crusch is the best!"

As someone who's only slightly better than Uesugi Fuutarou, Izumi Masamune originally didn't understand romance, but after watching Hikigaya Hachiman for so long, he's started to get the hang of it.

"Brother, you idiot, get out of here!"

Peng!

Completely bewildered, Izumi Masamune was pushed out by his sister, whose face was flushed with anger. Seeing the door closed and locked, he scratched his head in confusion. "What's wrong with Sagiri?"

He's grasped it, but only a little bit.

At the same time, in the Hexin Chamber of Commerce, Anastasia, who was being watched by Mimi and others who were worried that she would be disappointed or angry, was far less unhappy than her supporters.

"You did a good job of comforting the Prime Minister who was feeling down. You do have your moments of service, Miss Crusch."

Anastasia smiled approvingly at her rival.

It would be a lie to say there was no displeasure between rivals, but the future prime minister, after enjoying Crusch's advances, would obviously be in a much better mood; the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.

For this reason, she can forgive her.

"And actually, you don't need to worry about me so much, right?" Anastasia smiled and picked up Mimi, tilting her head slightly. "Miss Crusch has indeed improved, but I'm definitely stronger than her~"

Unlike the confident Anastasia, Crusch's expression at the Carlsten mansion was not very pleasant.