Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

She gently wriggled out of the prime minister's embrace without waking him.

Anastasia stood up without fear or guilt. Under the scrutiny of everyone, she began to recount how she discovered the balcony the night before, and continued until she called Shaula over. In the end, the three of them were so tired that they fell asleep on the floor—omitting the casual conversations she had with her prime minister during this time.

"Ram pressed sharply, 'So what? Why didn't you or that guy even consider going back to the fourth floor to sleep?'"

"Because I was so excited—I solved the trial and wanted to find a way to restore the Prime Minister's memory and wake up Rem. I ended up looking for books for too long and didn't have the energy to leave the library."

Anastasia innocently spread her hands. "If you're wondering why I ended up in the Prime Minister's arms...maybe it was because I fell asleep and my body instinctively wanted to warm up, so I leaned in, and that's how it happened. It was completely unintentional."

"Are you satisfied with this explanation?"

"Anastasia took the blame for the intimacy, a move no one could have predicted."

"—"

Although the effect was better, Hayama Hayato knew from this detail that it was definitely not because of profit.

I underestimated Anastasia's love for Hikigaya in the official history.

"This is the difference between a 'green tea' and true love. Although it's just a detail, it proves that Anastasia in the official history was definitely not a 'green tea', but truly in love!"

377. The Radiant Essence of Ram

"Agreements are very important, so the Prime Minister hasn't broken them, has he? Don't look at me like that, Miss Ram. I didn't want this kind of accident to happen."

Anastasia, while tidying her slightly disheveled pale purple hair, which had been ruffled by her prime minister, sighed and said, "I'm timid and selfish. I have no intention of losing my life to Miss Rem because of this accident, nor will I ask the prime minister to take responsibility for me. Please rest assured."

"With her wind-protecting blessing, Crusch could actually discern the lies involved, but this was also part of Anastasia's plan."

Crusch couldn’t tell which part of the whole conversation was a lie, while Anastasia had already laid two obvious lies in her words: one was “I don’t have the strength to go back to the fourth floor”, and the other was the self-deprecating “I’m very timid and selfish”.

"At that time, neither she nor her prime minister were lacking in energy, but they were too tired to waste time walking back, so they simply lay down here."

"Although I might feel apprehensive about losing my balance in the white space, I can stand on the front line and command without flinching when facing a war like the Water Gate City."

"Everyone has things they are afraid of, but that doesn't mean they are cowardly. Understanding this, Anastasia knows she is definitely not 'timid'."

"Curly, with her high IQ, would definitely be able to detect these two obvious lies, so it's unlikely that she would connect them to something else that triggered the Wind's Blessing."

"—This method of dealing with Crusch's protection is something Anastasia copied from her own prime minister's method, back when they were discussing the subjugation of the White Whale in the capital."

"Don't do that, Ram, it's not Miss Anastasia's fault."

"After Anastasia's explanation, although still frustrated, the understanding Emilia managed to restrain the murderous Ram. She was somewhat at a loss, as the pressure had now shifted to her knight."

"If Anastasia wanted to pursue this matter, it wouldn't be hard to imagine what Julius would do, even if Hachiman was his best friend."

"Don't worry so much. I wouldn't do anything bad to the prime minister I've chosen. In fact, this is a good opportunity to do him a favor and get him to come and help me with government affairs sooner, right?"

Anastasia's smiling face was incredibly magnanimous, which relieved Emilia. However, when it came to Hachiman's ownership, she immediately retorted, "Thank you for your understanding, but Hachiman is my knight! I will win! I want to win!"

"Good, good, that's quite impressive—but I recommend you try to persuade Miss Ram over there first. She looks like she might suddenly attack and kill me or the Prime Minister at any moment."

"After beckoning Julius to walk a little further away, Anastasia, who had been trying to reason with Julius, had a hint of regret in her eyes."

"She hadn't anticipated Ram's reaction would be so unexpected, which made her start to worry that this person might actually harm her own prime minister. If it weren't for the fact that she couldn't kill Ram without anyone noticing, she would have even considered some darker schemes."

"I don't dislike her getting angry to keep the person my sister likes; in fact, I admire it—provided it doesn't harm the Prime Minister. Can she do that?"

Emilia, trying her best to keep a straight face, earnestly tried to persuade Ram to make peace with her.

"From other people's perspectives, Ram may not have the same good personality as many of the candidates, but from Rem's perspective, Ram is the best older sister in the world."

Hachiman Hikigaya shook his head slightly. From the whispers and attitudes of the other people in the convenience store, he had already deduced that Ram's reputation was probably not very good across the entire planet.

However, Hachiman Hikigaya always remembered that all of Ram's actions during the month before and after the monster invasion proved that Ram was a very good person.

He could give anything for his sister, to the point that he seemed hateful to outsiders. Hachiman Hikigaya could fully understand Lum's feelings and situation.

"Before I lost my memory, I showed my love for Rem all the time, which Ram witnessed. But after losing my memory, I suddenly treat Rem like a stranger. How will she accept this contrast?"

"Ram's current irritability and coercion, while for Rem's sake, are actually also in accordance with my orders from before I lost my memory—when my future self regains her memories and finds that she has been indifferent to Rem for so long, her guilt will definitely be enormous."

"Ram... she just wanted to help me reduce this pain in advance, to force me to care more about Rem and get less involved with other women before I lost my memory, so that I wouldn't feel too guilty after I regained my memory."

Beneath the so-called irritability and abhorrence lies a gentleness unique to Ram, unlike Rem's gentleness.

Anyone has the right to complain about Lum, but Hachiman Hikigaya is the only one who does not.

"After the show finishes airing and I leave, could you help me find some news media to clarify Ram's true feelings, Yukinoshita?"

"Sigh..." Yukinoshita sighed softly as she listened to her boyfriend's unreasonable demands. Even knowing Ram's gentleness, she still disapproved of how Ram treated her Hachiman. Besides, no matter how gentle Ram was at heart, he was still supporting Rem.

That is one's own enemy.

"However, since you've made such a rare request, how could I possibly refuse you, Hachiman? I understand, I'll do it."

Yukinoshita pouted, but reluctantly agreed nonetheless. Hachiman Hikigaya held her cold yet warm hands, deeply moved.

Yukino was very disappointed when her boyfriend, moved by her gesture, didn't kiss her on the lips.

Aside from Ram, another key person she was observing was Anastasia. However, it must be said that while she had already become quite proactive due to the provocations of various rivals in the other world, to be as proactive as Anastasia…

This is simply impossible to do; you can't even learn it!

That's so despicable! Anastasia, my biggest rival in love, that bastard businessman, would have been better off letting the innocent Emilia snatch Hachiman away!

"When Beatrice and Crusch approached, they discovered that Shaula had already woken up, but she refused to let go and insisted on taking advantage of her master. Asking her to stop hugging her master was like taking her life."

"No way!"

"His pig-like screams woke up Hachiman Hikigaya."

"With just a glance from Hachiman Hikigaya, Shaula was so frightened that he chuckled awkwardly and reluctantly let go of her hands and feet."

Beatrice briefly recounted what had just happened, and apart from Meryl, she was the calmest person here right now.

378. Three Old Things Resurrected

"It's dangerous."

"Yes, it's dangerous."

"Indeed, it's far too dangerous."

In a secluded stronghold of the Witch Cult, three sighs rang out in unison.

Because Jus arrived in time, Emilia's foster mother, Fortuna, was infused with emotion and encouragement by his calls, hugs, and kisses. She finally overcame Pandora's power distortion and, after panting, regained her self-awareness and removed her bandages.

Because he was frequently greeted unexpectedly, the honest elf Juss deliberately distanced himself from Fortuna after the kiss.

After Fortuna regained consciousness, Theresa asked Fortuna to use magic to release her from the imprisonment and manipulation of her body, thus bringing her back to life and giving her freedom.

At this moment, only Fortuna, Jules, and Theresa, the three reborn individuals, remained in the witch cult stronghold. The witch cult members had all been dealt with by the three of them.

Seeing her daughter completely fooled by Anastasia and even deeply moved, thinking that Anastasia was a generous and kind person, Fortuna cried out in distress.

Although she used to be arrogant, at least she could understand things, which made her somewhat better than her own naive daughter.

"It's my fault. If I hadn't been picked up by Pandora and had been frozen together with Emilia, I might have been able to unfreeze her with my deep mana reserves and then teach her."

Once she regained consciousness, Fortuna had four things on her mind: Jus, Emilia, everyone in the village, and Pandora.

Jus has recovered, and the village's need for dragon blood is now widely known.

Judging from the future shown in the broadcast, all the candidates other than Priscilla are quite good people. Now that they know about the village's affairs, as long as it's not Priscilla, whoever wins in reality will probably do the same thing as in the future: trade dragon blood with Emilia.

So the matter of lifting the lockdown on everyone in the village is already settled, there's no need to worry, it just takes a little time.

As for Pandora, there's no use in worrying about her. If she doesn't show herself, no one can find her, so for now, we can only leave her alone.

All that's left is Emilia's happiness.

"Emilia's naivety was what won over Hachiman, her true self... but she also lost the battle because of her naivety. This won't do."

The young-looking Fortuna was filled with worry, while the former sword saint Theresa, who also looked very young and had returned to her twenties, was equally sighing.

"Wilheim, it's really a shame to put Crusch in such a difficult position as an assistant. He can't help at all except with fighting and killing."

Theresa pouted, seemingly speaking ill of her husband, but the love overflowing in her words revealed her true feelings to the two people beside her.

"It's obvious that Crusch has unusual feelings for Hachiman, but he just can't help with anything. Hmph~ After all these years, he's still the same as before. When it comes to feelings, he's just like that."

"The same goes for Heinrich and Reinhard... When we get back, we must make sure to get the father and sons to get along."

"And we must give Crusch some advice. She's a wonderful and capable kid, absolutely fantastic! She and Hachiman are the perfect match. These two should get married right now!"

Theresa adored Crusch, both before and after her amnesia; she thought Crusch was absolutely wonderful.

Fortuna stared intently at Theresa. "So, we're enemies?"

“That’s undeniable,” Theresa replied affirmatively.

Both women laughed, instantly dispelling the feigned seriousness. Having shared similar circumstances and a mutual respect, Fortuna and Theresa were already good friends, and their friendship remained unaffected even though they supported different stocks.

However, when helping the child they support seize Hachiman Hikigaya, they will absolutely not show any mercy because of this friendship.

While watching the future playout, the three of them drove towards the capital at a moderate speed, so that they wouldn't be distracted and unable to brake in time, causing them to hit pedestrians or objects.

"I slept with Anastasia in my arms."

"It was a very dramatic accident, but Hachiman Hikigaya accepted it easily because such dramatic things do happen occasionally."

"Just like when he was in the Service Club, he helped Saika take back the tennis court. After winning the tennis match against Hayama and Miura Yumiko, he was about to go back to a room to rest when he opened the door and saw Yukinoshita and Yuigahama Yui changing clothes inside."

"Yukino was completely naked except for her underwear at the time. That experience was just as dramatic as this one. Afterwards, he was able to communicate with Yukino normally."

"Hachiman Hikigaya is relatively forgiving of these unexpected events, since they are not related to subjective feelings, but only to the body."

"...Hachiman Hikigaya apologized to Anastasia, who accepted it easily, and the two of them acted as if nothing had happened, continuing their relationship as before."

This left Crusch and the others speechless and incredulous. How could it just disappear like that? Merry, who was waiting to see a good show, was even more disappointed.

"However, in reality, although he was relatively lenient, Hachiman Hikigaya really couldn't pretend that this had never happened. Unconsciously, he did indeed place more importance on Anastasia in his heart."

"Now let me tell you about the new discovery I made with Anastasia last night."

He clapped his hands together, drawing the attention of everyone who was still in shock and disbelief, and said, "Since you've already heard Anastasia's explanation up to the trial, I'll start with this library."

"Every book in this library represents a deceased person, and the title is that person's name. In other words, these are countless books of the dead."

"The book records the contents of that person's life. Under certain circumstances, after reading the Book of the Dead, the soul will be drawn into the book and witness that person's experiences from a third-person perspective, gaining a complete view of that person's life and learning all the secrets that person knew in their lifetime."

"If among the dead in this world someone knows how to break the powers of the Bishop of Gluttony, or something similar, then we can also know."