Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

42. Progress

"Is she confessing her feelings? It's kind of a half-confession, a semi-transparent one!"

Having gotten back on her feet, Horikita Suzune stopped talking about Hikigaya Hachiman, but she still couldn't hold back her words, muttering to herself even as Ayanokoji Kiyotaka threatened to punch her again, showing quite a bit of toughness.

"Why? Did you fall in love so easily? Just because Hachiman Hikigaya said something like, 'You are more important than me,' before he fell unconscious?"

She muttered, "I can understand that a hero rescuing a damsel in distress can greatly increase one's favorability and promote a relationship between a man and a woman. But there should be a difference between saying you're going to rescue someone and actually doing it."

Class D remained silent for a while. After realizing that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka hadn't beaten Horikita Suzune, some of the equally low-EQ students curiously perked up their ears, wanting to hear Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's opinion.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka may be able to calculate people's hearts, but that doesn't mean he understands them. He also had no intention of answering such a pointless question and remained silent.

The easygoing Yosuke Hirata broke the ice: "You're too narrow-minded, Horikita-kun. Rem's feelings for Hikigaya didn't start there."

The usually loud and boisterous Sudo lowered his voice and stared wide-eyed, "Huh? Isn't that right? Hey, where did it start?"

"To put it simply, Hachiman is a charming man. Every gesture and every interaction he has unconsciously brings him and Rem closer together."

"If we were to pinpoint a clear boundary, it would be when Hachiman confessed that he was also a siscon—this move made Ram immediately consider him a friend, and Rem, who has a deep bond with her sister, always follows her sister's lead, and naturally, she also actively sought to get closer to Hachiman. At that moment, Hachiman had already begun to win Rem over."

"With this positive impression in place, as long as Hachiman and Ram don't clash, even if nothing special happens, Rem will most likely fall in love with him in six months or a year."

Yosuke Hirata truly lives up to his reputation as the center of the group; he deduced Rem's feelings precisely by working backward from the outcome.

"The Warcraft invasion, in essence, only accelerated the process of presenting the complete and beautiful Hachiman Hikigaya to Rem more quickly."

“The key is that you are more important than me, but don’t overlook something even more important,” he said, looking at Horikita Suzune and pointing to his chest, “Hachigaya-kun met Rem… Anyway, a good girl like her isn’t as promiscuous as modern people, and that’s important.”

Finally, Yosuke Hirata gave a summary.

"It's inevitable that Rem will fall in love with Hachiman. The only difference is how long it will take, because the two of them have very similar and complementary values ​​and are mutually inviting each other."

"..." Hachiman Hikigaya pursed his lips, his heart skipped a beat.

Watching this video, even though it's called watching a video, actually gives you a very strange feeling, as if you really did these things and could completely empathize with them.

Just like he can foresee the future and know what he will do next without looking, he can also have a good understanding of his future state of mind.

“Hey, Yukinoshita.” Hachiman Hikigaya sighed, unable to contain his regret, “I… kind of want to see Rem and Emilia in person.”

"Well, actually I also..."

Yukino Yukinoshita's gaze was intense. "They are all very good people..."

She also felt very sorry, but immediately moved her position without any room for negotiation, better blocking Hachiman Hikigaya's path to the convenience store entrance.

“But there’s one thing I can’t do: let you go.” She gripped the man’s hand tightly. “Please forgive my selfishness, Hikigaya-kun.”

"Under the snow..."

Hachiman Hikigaya was lost in thought.

The barriers between worlds, silently and suddenly, were tugged.

"...Ah, umm, as expected of the perfect strongest maid, she's so good at comforting people. Thank you, Rem."

"Hachiman Hikigaya didn't give a direct answer; he deceived his own heart."

"In the following days, he deliberately reduced the number of times he would accidentally meet Rem, and tried to calm his agitated heartstrings by exercising and hiding in Betty's library."

"Until two weeks later, on that unusual day."

"A guest entered Roswaal's mansion."

"For Roswaal and Emilia to go and receive them, they must either be of high status or have brought some astonishing news."

"Hachiman Hikigaya did not rush in. He looked at the 'servant' who was tending to the dragon carriage at the entrance of the mansion. He was an old man who was obviously not simple. He was full of energy, his hands were calloused, and his posture was dignified. While maintaining etiquette, he kept a posture that could be used to kill at any time."

"Hachiman Hikigaya left the mansion and walked within five steps of the old man. Just as he was about to speak, the old man suddenly straightened his back, looked him over carefully for a few moments, and then seemed to have confirmed something."

"Excuse me, Lord Hachiman Hikigaya. I am Wilhelm van Astrea, the butler of the Karlsten family."

"Was it me, this old man, who came into contact with it first?" Sword Demon Wilhelm wasn't worried about losing his composure, just a little surprised.

Crusch's eyes suddenly sharpened, her expression earnest: "If Lord Wilhelm could bring Lord Hachiman here, that would be wonderful!"

"I'm afraid it won't be that easy, meow."

With just that one sentence, Hachiman Hikigaya understood that his marketing strategy had been a great success, at least in terms of gaining recognition among the upper echelons.

"Also, Karlsten...is he from the Crusch family?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya subtly indicated that he understood, while simultaneously conveying a piece of information: 'We both serve the king's chosen one; you and I are of equal status, Wilhelm.'"

"If Wilhelm hadn't seen his unusual behavior with Emilia from afar before arriving at the mansion, he would have almost believed his lies."

"No matter how close and intimate the attendants are, there is still a difference between men and women. Emilia and Hachiman Hikigaya's way of getting along is due to the former's gentle personality and the latter's exposure to many egalitarian ideas in modern society. There is almost no hierarchy between them, which is extremely special."

"Hachiman Hikigaya and Wilhelm stayed by the scaffold, chatting thoughtfully with each other, neither overstepping their bounds, taking care of the other's feelings, and maintaining the harmonious atmosphere, until Crusch's knight, the visiting messenger Felix, came out after completing his mission."

"Felix and Wilhelm, these two capable assistants of Crusch, Hachiman Hikigaya did not show any hostility towards them."

"There are four factions, and no one knows how things will unfold. With such a humble butler and attendants, Crusch herself might be quite nice... Maybe we can trick her into forming an alliance!"

-

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43. He deserves it, and so does she.

"The selection process is about to begin."

"Oh—my esteemed guest, what are you pondering now?"

"To Roswaal's feigned ignorance, Hachiman Hikigaya merely mumbled a few vague 'uh-huhs' and ignored him. His expression was rather unpleasant, tinged with gloom."

"It would be reasonable if the news of the King's Selection were delivered by a member of the Sages' Guild. But the fact that it was announced by a member of Crusch's guild, who is also a competitor, is simply..."

"'Crusch's influence is probably incredibly deep. Not only were they the first to know the news, but they also sent someone to inform us... Emilia doesn't have a single direct and effective force, not even the most basic intelligence agency.'"

"If Crusch hadn't informed us, would we have been completely clueless until the day the royal selection began, only to receive the news and rush off to the capital?"

"A downward spiral, a really downward spiral!"

"The more Hachiman Hikigaya thought about it, the more troublesome it seemed. He was too passive, too flawed."

"He just doesn't believe Roswaal doesn't have a reliable intelligence network, but Roswaal is only funding Emilia with a playful attitude. This intelligence network belongs to Roswaal and has nothing to do with Emilia."

"Hachiman Hikigaya glanced at the smiling clown and suppressed the urge to speak frankly."

""that…""

"Ever since Felix left, Emilia had been enduring it all, her face showing a rare anxiety. She gently placed a cup of tea in front of Hachiman Hikigaya."

"Her beautiful eyes were filled with anticipation and trepidation, like a garden in full bloom."

"...The royal selection is about to begin, Hachiman... Will any knights really come to follow me?"

"..." Hachiman Hikigaya's already troubled expression became even more stiff after hearing this.

He took a deep breath, preparing to confront the disappointment of this hopeful young girl.

Suddenly, a white figure abruptly appeared. Puck, now awake, chuckled and nestled on his daughter's head, announcing the fact in a teasing tone: "Haven't you figured it out yet, Lydia? There's no knight—it's Hachiman himself! He's willing to support you in the royal selection!"

"That talkative cat!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya's heart was on a rollercoaster of emotions. Caught off guard, he didn't avert his gaze from Emilia in time. The next second, as expected, Emilia revealed a deep... eh?"

Is it joy?

Emilia was taken aback for a moment, staring intently at Hachiman Hikigaya. She showed absolutely no negative emotion, contrary to his expectations. The girl's expression...

"Did you feel a genuine sense of surprise?"

"how is this possible!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya tilted his head in confusion, immediately wondering if there was something wrong with his eyes."

"Yes, he can understand. Emilia is very gentle and kind, but being unilaterally appointed as her personal knight, especially by an ordinary person with no power, no money, no fighting ability, no reputation, no connections, and no ability to provide assistance, even if she's easy to talk to, she should at least express some dissatisfaction and disappointment!"

Hachiman Hikigaya pointed at himself, enunciating clearly, and he seriously doubted that Emilia had misheard him: "It's me, it's me."

""ah……""

Emilia seemed to suddenly remember something, her joyful expression turning to one of extreme hesitation. After a couple of seconds of stammering, she said with great difficulty, "Maybe we should just forget about it."

"The situation has finally returned to normal. Hikigaya Hachiman ignores the pain in his heart and forces a smile."

"Oh—your concerns are far too unnecessary, Lady Emilia, please rest assured."

Roswaal, seemingly enjoying the contradictory expression on Hachiman Hikigaya's face, then, for reasons unknown, said, "The name 'Hachiman Hikigaya' is now recognized in the capital as being on par with nobles, possessing the qualifications to assist in the selection of the king. If he were to serve as your knight, there would be no problem."

"Is this...is what you're saying true, Roswaal?!"

Emilia's troubled, dim eyes lit up with a new light as she eagerly sought confirmation: "If Hachiman becomes my knight, then truly no nobleman or knight will feel defiled, that he has no right to insult him, or to hurt him, right?"

Parker, suddenly realizing what was going on, cast an admiring and astonished glance at the thoughtful Hachiman Hikigaya. "I see. So you've been acting as a guarantor these past few days? I didn't understand why you were being so secretive, waiting a while before revealing your decision."

"I don't know how you did it, but it's really amazing."

"I...you...you all..."

"Hachiman Hikigaya is like a computer with bugs, stumbling and malfunctioning, speaking incoherently."

He turned to Rem, who was standing to one side, as if seeking help, but the girl who knew all his worries simply returned a carefree smile.

"'I knew it, it must be like this, I'm never worried... because Hachiman's loyalty is to Lady Emilia!'"

Having witnessed all sorts of wicked human nature, Hachiman Hikigaya is accustomed to using the most base ideas to guess how others perceive and treat him.

"But Rem, who has lived with Emilia for many years, knows everything... Lady Emilia would definitely react this way, and that's why she is Lady Emilia, and that's why Hachiman is worthy of her loyalty."

Even if you change your habit of speaking ambiguously and in riddles, are there still some things that are deeply rooted in your heart that you are unwilling to give up?

Yukino Yukinoshita didn't want to look at Emilia's bright eyes, which were filled with even more feelings for her boyfriend. She gently rested her head on Hachiman Hikigaya's shoulder and whispered tenderly.

"You've developed this personality trait of protecting yourself by anticipating the worst possible outcome. You must have been hurt deeply in the past, Hikigaya-kun."

Hachiman Hikigaya gazed for a long time at Puck, who praised him; Rem, who encouraged him; Emilia, who acknowledged him; and…

Yukino Yukinoshita, who is tied down by her own desires.

Warm light shone into his heart and lungs.

"It's all in the past. I will change, I will change and become better—as long as you are here."