Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"...Okay, I promise you."

Hachiman Hikigaya's simple vow carries a weight as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Several customers in the convenience store had already recognized him as the protagonist in the video, but seeing the two of them looking so affectionate and youthful, they all tacitly refrained from disturbing them.

"Hachiman Hikigaya picked up a dagger and gestured at his stomach a couple of times, but ultimately did not commit suicide to verify his idea."

"His anxiety about this unfamiliar world and his gloom about the future were all swept away. He stood up straight, completely washing away his previous slight hunchback."

"Actually, there is another possibility: after death, his soul jumped into his body in a parallel world, but there's no point in thinking about this possibility too much."

"Even when I'm respectfully called 'Hachiman Hachiman,' and after finally mustering the courage to confess my feelings only to be rejected, and the next day everyone knows that the toad is delusional, almost socially dead, I can still console myself... A mere gut hunter, thinking he can become my nightmare? Dream on!"

"What is he doing? It sounds a bit like he's brainwashing himself."

Many people don't understand what Hachiman Hikigaya is doing.

Yukinoshita glanced at Hachiman Hikigaya beside her, who had a look on his face that said, "Life is not worth living, I'm going to die in front of all humanity," and felt a sense of relief.

In the video, Hachiman Hikigaya is looking for a reason; he's forcing himself to give himself a reason to help Emilia.

Everyone knew he did it out of gratitude for being saved, and even he knew it himself, but he just didn't want to admit it, and he would never admit it—because Hachiman Hikigaya believed that positive human emotions were unreliable, neither other people's nor his own.

He needed a reason, a reason to make himself worthy of Emilia's trust, a reason to ensure he wouldn't betray Emilia.

Call it being childish or pretentious, but that's just how twisted Hachiman Hikigaya is.

"The Bowel Hunter killed me once, and I won't be able to let it go without getting revenge. However, I can't do it alone; I need the help of someone powerful, like... Emilia."

That's the reason he gave.

"Make way! Make way! Get out of the way, buddy!"

"Having waited alone in the alley for a long time, Felt nimbly climbed over, scaling walls and rooftops. As Hachiman Hikigaya stepped aside, his shrewd and threatening voice quickly rang out."

"In an hour, I will be with the owner, Emilia, at Lord Rom's warehouse to redeem the stolen goods with Holy Dragon Gold—if you're not there in half an hour, we'll kill him. Consider the power Emilia displayed while chasing you, and think twice."

""Varied----!""

"When the horrified Felt turned around, she saw only a sinister-looking man with a vicious strategist's expression. He was completely unafraid of her turning around to kill him. His attitude was calm and composed, as if he controlled everything, including the sun, moon, and stars."

"This wouldn't have stopped her murderous intent, but if she stopped now, the owner would catch up with her, so she could only run wildly with great reluctance. Her destination changed from her own little house to Mr. Rom's warehouse while she was hesitating."

"Next up is you, Emilia."

"Hachiman Hikigaya, the key protagonist awaiting the next stage of the game."

"What what what?"

Anastasia, one of the candidates for the throne, was completely bewildered, her face full of question marks.

She is a businesswoman, and business interests come first. She is not without emotions, but it is really hard to imagine that after possessing the extraordinary ability of returning from death, which can single-handedly stir up the world, she would go to great lengths to save someone she has only known for less than half a day for a so-called life-saving grace that has not yet occurred.

Ultimately, should we judge Hachiman Hikigaya as gentle and kind, or simply naive and innocent?

Wait a minute... Aren't these the evaluations that everyone has been giving Emilia all along?

"These are... two people with almost identical personalities, a perfect match!"

Anastasia realized the seriousness of the situation.

It would be fine if it was just about saving Emilia, but wouldn't two equally kind, gentle, and innocent people spark some unexpected chemistry when they get together?

"If, if Hachiman Hikigaya joins Emilia's side, using his Death Return ability to extort information, coupled with the power of Lord Roswaal on the Frontier..."

Anastasia frowned, realizing that things were not so simple.

As she had guessed, Crusch, with her heroic and handsome appearance, also felt a deep sense of apprehension. Looking at Hachiman Hikigaya on the light screen, her teeth ached from clenching them.

"Don't team up, don't team up, don't team up! Ugh, this is so troublesome... Why wasn't I the first one to run into him?!"

12. Witnessing a Changing Future (Part 2)

She sees herself as the throne, believing herself to be the center of the world, even more dazzling than the scorching sun. With such arrogant self-confidence, she is Priscilla, one of the candidates for the throne, dressed in red.

This extremely arrogant noblewoman always enjoys mocking others' mouths. Since appearing on the screen, she has never once insulted Hachiman Hikigaya, showing great interest in him, and now she is even more generous in praising him.

"How loyal!" she exclaimed, offering the highest praise. "So devoted to his chosen master, and so valuable! How could Emilia possibly serve such a loyal and capable subordinate? He should not be serving a mere half-elf, do you understand, Al?"

Al: "..."

What could he say?

It's clear that Hachiman Hikigaya, this fellow countryman, was moved by Emilia's gentleness. Think about it yourself, could Hachiman Hikigaya accept your utterly opposite arrogance?

However, all he could answer was, "I understand."

Al knew perfectly well that if Hachiman Hikigaya ever did travel to this world, Priscilla would immediately send someone to kidnap him, demanding that her fellow countryman submit and threatening him with death if he refused. But in reality, she would be truly pleased if Hachiman Hikigaya actually refused to submit.

"When Emilia chased him into the unfamiliar alley, she saw a man holding a dagger, who was undoubtedly there to block her way."

"My name is Hachiman Hikigaya. Hello. If you don't mind, please call out Puck's name. I have a deal to discuss with you."

"Hachiman Hikigaya smiled and casually tossed his only weapon aside as a sign of sincerity, indicating that he posed no threat whatsoever."

"So he really is an accomplice?" Emilia prepared to capture him, calling out to Parker, "Parker, do you know him?"

"I don't know him, but... this guy doesn't seem to have any ill intentions at all; his feelings towards you are basically 'friendly.' It's unbelievable that there are people in this world who have feelings for Leah on their first meeting, and it seems it's not just because of her appearance."

"Hachiman Hikigaya showed a 'settled' expression. At that moment, his affection for Puck was even greater than that for Emilia."

"It was because Puck let slip in the last cycle that it had the ability to sense the general emotions of living beings that Hachiman Hikigaya devised such a straightforward plan—as long as Puck is there, there is a basic level of trust between the two sides, and everything can go smoothly."

"Hachiman Hikigaya held up one finger: 'I know who the thief who stole your belongings is, and I can take you to her base. I even know who hired that thief. I can tell you all this information.'"

"In return, Emilia, you must ensure I have enough to eat and wear for three years and teach me the basics of magic and swordsmanship."

“Oh, that sounds like a pretty good deal.” Parker raised an eyebrow. “How can you guarantee your information is all true? Can you be sure you’re not an accomplice of the thief? There are psychopaths in this world who can even deceive their own minds.”

"I cannot prove it; the decision rests with you."

"Hachiman Hikigaya spread his hands. 'The lost item is important, isn't it? You're the ones who need to be anxious. I'm not forcing a transaction. If you agree, we can partner up now; if you have concerns, we can part ways amicably.'"

"He stepped aside to make way, completely open and honest, displaying the righteous demeanor of a gentleman without a trace of guilt, which made Parker hesitate."

"Forget it, it's better than wandering around aimlessly like a headless fly. Agree to his request, Leah." Parker made the final decision. He was confident he could protect his daughter. Even if it was a trap, it would be fine; it would be a perfect way to catch them all in one fell swoop.

"Hmm..."

Emilia blushed slightly and stammered, "The deal is done, but I don't have any money on me right now. I'll apply for funds from Roswaal once things are settled. I won't renege on the deal, so please don't worry."

""I trust you.""

"Hachiman Hikigaya nodded simply, then turned the page, preparing to immediately provide the information and make battle arrangements. However, he did not notice that Emilia was stunned after hearing his crisp and clear 'I believe you'."

"The thief is Felt from the slums, blessed by the wind, and has a giant companion named Rom. The mastermind is Elsa the Bowel Hunter. She won't let anyone who knows about the stolen items go unpunished. Therefore, we can tell Felt and Rom the truth and ambush the unsuspecting Elsa together. We'll have a plan against her... Hmm, are you listening, Emilia?"

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

"A flustered Emilia quickly came to her senses, and the way she looked at Hachiman Hikigaya suddenly changed from that of a friendly stranger to something more intimate."

"The Bowel Hunter... I've heard of her name. She seems to be a rather formidable young woman. I didn't expect her to be involved with Leah. I doubt she's the mastermind behind it all."

"Packard's analysis was logical and well-reasoned, which Hachiman Hikigaya strongly agreed with, especially regarding the Bowel Hunter's combat prowess. The scene of the sneak attack and four kills was still vivid in his mind. He said with some concern, 'Emilia must be some kind of noblewoman, right? Can't you bring some knights or guards over to help?'"

"Upon hearing this, the room fell silent. Emilia and Parker both stared at him with very strange expressions."

Hachiman Hikigaya immediately understood: "It seems his identity is quite special?"

"Knowing so much information, and still specifically stopping Leah, I thought you couldn't possibly be unaware of such basic information."

Parker shook his head helplessly, then introduced with a slightly solemn tone: "Listen carefully, this kingdom currently has no supreme ruler. The royal selection is about to begin, and there are four candidates to become king. Leah is one of them."

"So, does that mean his status is equivalent to that of a prince?"

Houtarou Oreki was completely bewildered. "They're supposed to be 'princes,' yet they have no money and no powerful protectors? This kingdom is so bizarre! Aren't they afraid someone will behead all four princes?"

Like Oreki, who is good at reasoning, after hearing this description, Hachiman Hikigaya, both on and off screen, had only one expression: "?"

All that's left is confusion.

"Based on my observations, the differences in treatment resulting from social class in this country are undoubtedly significant."

"Hachiman Hikigaya's unspoken message is: How can you, a candidate for the throne, be so pathetic?"

13. Preparation for a group attack

"This question clearly touches on the privacy of Emilia's faction, but Parker politely and without embarrassment pretended not to understand and simply skipped over it."

On his way back to the slums, Hachiman Hikigaya learned a lot about the basics of the kingdom from Puck and finally understood the basic rules of the country.

"The king died suddenly. The title of royal candidates sounds prestigious, but in reality they have no power at all. Whether it is the knightly order or the soldiers' army, none of the official forces of this country have the right to command them."

"In the last cycle, Parker said he could barely command a few people. In fact, it was based on the principle of voluntariness. If a knight favored a candidate, he could of course volunteer to be the vanguard for the king. After the lord ascended the throne, it would be a meritorious service. Therefore, there were knights who were willing to assist the candidates in the selection of the king."

"But unfortunately, Emilia is basically not among the targets that the knights are willing to help."

"There's only one reason: Emilia's appearance is far too similar to the legendary Witch of Envy. Among the four nobles in this entire country, Emilia's reputation is the worst so far, and she has the fewest supporters."

"In this theft, Emilia refused to involve anyone else... What she lost was the badge that represented her status as a candidate for the throne. If it were discovered by outsiders, her already precarious reputation would instantly turn into a negative one."

"If it weren't for the fact that Lord Roswaal is a long-standing family name and his strength is universally acknowledged, Emilia, with only one supporter, would have been doomed from the start. It could be said that the only reason others paid attention to her was because of Roswaal."

"Under these circumstances, Emilia's reputation absolutely cannot be allowed to suffer any further."

"But Roswaal, a single force is still too weak. Even if Roswaal wholeheartedly supports Emilia, his chances of winning against the other candidates are still the lowest among the four."

"Is it possible that Elsa the Bowel Hunter is behind this, a scheme orchestrated by a rival for the throne?"

This same understanding is the mindset of the vast majority of people.

"This is a completely disastrous disadvantage."

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji hasn't seen the other three competitors yet, but without a doubt, based on what's shown in the video, Emilia's character and public opinion are basically a mess. According to Parker's description, the other three candidates for the King are all exceptional talents, with strong character and influence.

"With Hachiman Hikigaya's intelligence, he would surely thrive by joining the other three... No, Hachiman Hikigaya doesn't care about these things. Although he is a smart man, his awkward and kind nature takes precedence over rationality. From the moment Emilia saved him in the first cycle, he was destined to ignore everything and gravitate towards this girl."

“Even if I were to assist her, it’s hard to say how far we could go. After all, there’s too little time. The royal selection will begin soon. If it could be done two or three years earlier, I could distort the public’s perception of Emilia and make her the popular choice. Naturally, the forces that support her would flock to her.”

"The extent to which the magic of another world can be achieved is also a key point. Moreover, the opponent is not a three-headed flying boar. If we are on high alert, I am afraid that they will be no less capable. Let's set the price at 1.5 to 2.5 Dragon Gardens per person... I'll wait and see what you can do, Hachiman Hikigaya."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji did not consider Elsa the Bowel Hunter a threat.

As someone he respects, even if there's no going back in time, having learned from his first mistake, Hachiman Hikigaya is unlikely to stumble here again.