Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

Yukino Yukinoshita raised her head, suspecting that Hachiman Hikigaya was making veiled attacks.

"The two met eyes for the first time after their reunion."

End-of-month bounty

Please try reading again in 10-30 minutes. If you still cannot find the content, please click on the feedback button in the upper right corner, and we will handle it as soon as possible!

119. Rem and Emilia's Stepping Stone

"A cramped atmosphere, a girl in a cold war."

"It's unbelievable... It's only been a little over two months, but it feels like a year. But... as expected, no matter what I miss, I will never miss this kind of falsehood that covers the true with dust."

"Hey, Yukinoshita."

"Hachiman Hikigaya said softly, 'Could you... pour me a cup of black tea?'"

"His eyes held an inescapable melancholy, and his voice carried the weight of a life weathered by time... This was almost unchanged from before. Since the Cold War began, the atmosphere in the Service Department had been like a dark cloud hanging over our heads."

"Yukino Yukinoshita stared blankly at Hachiman Hikigaya, at the man she had spent so much time with and was now very familiar with."

"It's different now."

"You're not mistaken, there really is something different... It's not just a change in appearance, like the dead fish eyes or the leg muscles and arms always maintaining a posture that looks like they're ready to go into battle at any moment."

"He was looking at himself, at his expression, his breath, his feelings."

"——"

"Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly realized. It was disgust... After the Cold War started, every time he had to come to the Service Club at this time after school, Hachiman Hikigaya's sense of world-weariness would become very serious, and his disgust for this activity room would grow day by day. He sincerely hoped that his time in the Service Club would end soon and that he could leave this place that made it hard for him to breathe."

"That kind of impatience that makes you wish time would pass quickly, that kind of disgust for the Service Club, you can't find a trace of it in Hachiman Hikigaya today."

"His pupils reflected her image, and he made no attempt to hide his admiration and affection for her."

"Just like when the two first met a year ago, when they had just gotten to know each other."

"Could you... pour me a cup of black tea?"

"The Cold War, the resentment, the complaints—all were suppressed in an instant under such gazes and with such requests."

"Yukinoshita's tea-making skills are fluid and graceful. Every part of her body and every detail of her movements is like the most perfect treasure given by heaven, more beautiful than gems and pearls."

"Hachiman Hikigaya took the black tea she handed him, held it in his palm, and watched the steam rise from the tea leaves."

He stared intently at the teacup, then suddenly turned to look at the girl who was no longer deliberately avoiding his gaze and had temporarily stopped being sullen. "Aren't you going to urge me?"

"You're like a cat with a tongue, you're afraid of the heat... My memory isn't so bad that I can't remember what my own club members said." Yukino sighed, her voice growing softer. "If I urge you again, you'll definitely force yourself to drink that hot tea."

"That happened on the day after the school festival, when Keibe came to Ebina to request something."

"It is the origin of each other's emotional turmoil."

She paused, realizing she had said something embarrassing, and turned her head slightly away as if nothing had happened. Underneath the snow, the ice in her heart suddenly began to melt.

"Ha, haha... hahahahaha pfft hahahahaha—"

"A series of mournful, desolate laughs entered my ears."

Yukino stared in astonishment at Hachiman Hikigaya, who suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard he was doubled over, tears streaming down his face. He covered his face with his hands, obscuring his expression of deep regret. He gritted his teeth, "So that's how it is... So that's how it is... So if I had just taken that first step, I could have dispelled the shadows obscuring the truth... What a complete idiot I was!!"

"He lay face down on the table, his overwhelming remorse completely overwhelming Xuexia's grievances."

"Although she knew nothing, didn't know where Hachiman Hikigaya's change came from, and didn't know that Hachiman Hikigaya also had a side that directly released his inner emotions, she at least knew that this man was now full of regret."

"It's embarrassing... but if she, who would do her best to help even a complete stranger, didn't comfort Hachiman Hikigaya at this moment, then she wouldn't be Yukino Yukinoshita."

"Hachiman, you..."

"Under the snow."

"Hachiman Hikigaya, head held high, interrupted the hesitant girl. This time, he didn't shed many tears, and they quickly stopped."

"I have something I want to tell you, something I must tell you... Please, listen to me carefully, okay?"

"His expression, his voice, his tone were all extremely gentle. He was the gentlest Hachiman Hikigaya ever... because he had gathered and mixed all the gentleness he would ever have for the rest of his life into those few short minutes."

"This is my...lifelong request."

A great deal of confusion flashed in Yukinoshita's azure eyes. Her lips moved slightly, and she nodded gently. "Okay... whatever you have to say, I'll listen carefully. But after that... I also have something I need to tell you, Hikigaya-kun."

"At this moment, Hachiman Hikigaya recalled more clearly than ever the moments he spent with Yukinoshita at Sobu High School and in the Service Club."

"I see... I roughly understand now."

Crusch was one of the people who looked into the future most seriously. She clearly remembered every detail about Hachiman-sensei, and could also quickly recall his unintentional soliloquy and various expressions, as well as his regrets about the past before his time travel.

Based on the current developments, Crusch can basically summarize: "In other words, before coming here, Lord Hachiman was probably not a very frank person, and Lord Yukinoshita is also not very frank, because of a certain incident that caused a rift between the two."

"Transmigration means that Lord Hachiman will never have the chance to resolve this rift again, which is a deep-seated regret for him... But it is also because of this that, in order to avoid similar regrets, Lord Hachiman has grown up. He has changed himself and is now frank, direct, and no longer arrogant in his interactions with Emilia and Lord Rem."

"If this hadn't happened, Lord Hachiman might have forever avoided and refused Lord Rem's confession. If this hadn't happened, Lord Hachiman might not have directly sworn allegiance to Emilia and openly declared his desire to be her knight."

"This Lady Yukinoshita, through her own tragedy of never seeing Lord Hachiman again, and through the irreparable rift she created, served as a wake-up call for Lord Hachiman, ultimately leading to a beautiful development between Lord Hachiman, Lady Rem, and Emilia..."

Crusch, Phyllis, and Wilhelm.

The way they looked at Yukinoshita changed instantly.

Compassion…

"How pitiful, Lord Yukinoshita."

120. Confession and Farewell (Part 1)

"Turns out he was just an insignificant stepping stone. Humph, a mere clown."

Ram's wisdom led her to the same conclusion around the same time. She crossed her arms and gave a contemptuous, victorious smile. "Ram's sister is the world's number one. Yukino Yukinoshita and the like are nothing to fear!"

She could pretty much guess what Hachiman Hikigaya was going to say to his first love; it was most likely a farewell, which was great news.

"Cheer up, Rem, you've eliminated one of your rivals."

“But…” Rem hesitated, then touched her blue hair in distress and said sadly, “Hachiman’s regret is so sad, I can’t be happy at all.”

Although... it does feel better than him and Yukino being together, it's an uncontrollable subconscious feeling.

But those who truly love him are absolutely incapable of feeling joy about it.

Emilia, far away on the main street of the capital, found herself in a situation not unlike that of her rival.

"Mmm, that's great, wonderful, Leah, look—where are you looking?"

Parker bared its fangs at the snow, then withdrew them; there was no need for it to even attack prey that posed no threat.

Just as it was about to share the good news with its daughter, it turned around and found that Emilia was preoccupied with the activity room, its surroundings, and the items inside.

"Huh? Me?"

Emilia gave an embarrassed "hmm," and said, "I'm really sorry I didn't get a good look at Hachiman and Yukino, but I really didn't dare to look... Puck, don't you think this kind of thing is especially upsetting? Why should Hachiman and Yukino have to suffer such an unpleasant treatment?"

"Hachiman is my knight... so even if I can't do it, I'll do my best. When he comes, I'll definitely work with him to find a way to get him back!"

"So I think I should first observe what Hachiman's world is like, so that if I go with him, I won't embarrass him."

Seeing Parker in a daze, Emilia poked its fur with her white fingertips.

Although she wasn't indifferent to Yukinoshita... since Hachiman missed his hometown so much, she absolutely had to do everything in her power to help him!

"I can never repay your kindness, no matter what I do, so..."

Listening to her daughter's whispers, a dazed Puck shook her head. She should have been the one most concerned about Yukino Yukinoshita, but her mind was completely focused on something else. Well... that's just how her number one daughter is, after all.

Only someone like that deserves to be saved by that kid so many times, right?

"I'll take care of the dark ideas, Leah. Just do what you want."

Parker gazed into the distance in the direction of Roswaal's mansion.

Even though it couldn't see it, it understood that the little maid Ram must look exactly like itself.

"Then we'll see who's more skilled, maid sisters."

Aside from Emilia, not everyone was fully focused on Hachiman Hikigaya's past.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey! No way, no way, I'm not hallucinating, I'm not blind, am I! Reinhard, did you see it? That world..."

Ferut was stunned. She was captivated by the human environment on Earth. "No slums...no slums...although there are rich people, it's so much better than the nobles here..."

Reinhard shook his head, and he also sighed, "Please rest assured, you are not mistaken, it is a very nice world over there, Lady Felt."

Priscilla, also a candidate for the throne, haughtily offered a dismissive comment: "Hmph, even though it was just a fleeting glimpse, I could tell that there is also struggle and hierarchy over there. Strictly speaking, there isn't much difference. How boring."

"As long as there is a distinction between high and low status... no, even if there is no distinction between high and low status, I will always be above everyone else."

"Compared to these boring things..."

She stared intently at the screen displaying the future.

Priscilla experienced the sensation of intestinal cramps, and her feelings towards Hachiman Hikigaya were truly complex... Seeing Hachiman Hikigaya's dejected and conflicted state, no one could help but feel a stomachache.

She didn't care whether Yukino Yukinoshita was dumped or confessed to, but she really didn't want to see this guy in so much pain anymore, it gave her a slight stomachache.

"Be a man! It's fine to have three wives and four concubines, just marry them all!"

"I fell in love with you at first sight, Yukinoshita."

"While uttering words that sounded like a confession, Hachiman Hikigaya showed not a trace of shyness. He placed his left hand on his chest, feeling the beating of his heart. The rhythm was normal, ordinary, and unremarkable, far from the pounding, the shock, and the unforgettable excitement he felt when accepting Rem's confession or when Emilia cautiously asked him if he would be her knight."

"A relieved and at ease expression appeared on his face. From that moment on, he finally made up his mind and never intended to back down again."

"Yukino Yukinoshita didn't notice any of this... Her body had already stiffened. She was acting as if she was very surprised. She was at a loss, her small mouth slightly open, and blush and surprise instantly filled her face."

""I like you.""

"I love you, Yukinoshita."

"I like you. I like your face, your skin, your figure, your personality, your seemingly aloof but actually kind and gentle nature, your appearance that I never tire of looking at, your melodious and unique voice, your wealthy status that allows me to easily become a stay-at-home dad, your genuine feelings for me, your attitude of getting angry or upset because of me and thinking of me, everything we've spent together, your name Yukino Yukinoshita, and the person you are, Yukino Yukinoshita. Yukinoshita, I like you, I like you. Hachiman Hikigaya likes you. Hachiman Hikigaya likes Yukino Yukinoshita."

"I love you, Yukinoshita."

"A long and heartfelt confession. It contained not a trace of falsehood, and came from the bottom of his heart. However, the more Hachiman Hikigaya said, the more the blush under the snow disappeared, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar."