Crusch's Grievance
「"How's this? You clearly understand everything, yet you still show this kind of expression in front of me—driving up the value of the other party's chips before the deal is even closed. Given your usual caution, it truly surprises me."」
「Raising her hands and spinning around on her tiptoes, allowing the dazed Hikigaya Hachiman to admire her cuteness from head to toe, Anastasia smiled and condemned the man who had effectively surrendered before the battle began.」
「"And here I was wondering when I'd get to have another proper contest with you to settle the score for being tricked back in the Royal Capital... showing up like this makes me lose my fighting spirit entirely. How cunning."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman felt caught between laughter and tears. "Since you're dressed so cutely, why not stop holding such a grudge?"」
「"This hardly counts as a grudge. Usually, if someone offends me, they don't live to see the next day." Using exaggerated rhetoric to highlight her profit-seeking nature, Anastasia gave a shallow smile. "However, compliments also sound quite nice. I'm very happy. If you give me some more, maybe I'll let you off the hook?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman pondered for a moment. "Um... Good morning?"」
「Anastasia puffed out her cheeks huffily. She really couldn't figure him out; this guy acted one way then another. He clearly wanted to marry her, right? He clearly hadn't married her yet, right?」
「But he would act extremely close one moment and then intentionally distance himself the next; he really was a weirdo.」
「To the side, a dumbfounded Julius sized up the two of them. He had no idea when the relationship between his lord and his best friend had become so seemingly good... Before this, Lady Anastasia had constantly been muttering about giving Hachiman a beating to avenge her previous humiliation.」
「"Lady Anastasia, you..."」
「His question was cut off before it could be asked by a glance from Anastasia—smiling on the surface, but with a sharp glint in her eyes that forced him back.」
「With the sword returned to its scabbard, and at Anastasia's invitation, Hikigaya Hachiman walked side-by-side with her toward the breakfast room. Julius, acting as a rule-abiding knight, proactively dropped back two steps to guard them from behind.」
「"There's something I'm quite curious about... Care to share?"」
「Hearing her say this, Hikigaya Hachiman glanced sideways, casting her a look that asked 'Tell me what it is first.'」
「"Mm-hm~" Anastasia said with great interest, "On Miss Emilia's side, is there really no resentment regarding your blatant 'two-timing' approach and betting on both sides?"」
「Struck by what he considered his most poorly handled matter, Hachiman stiffened and sighed with a bitter smile. "You really don't hold back."」
「Anastasia smiled craftily. "That's right. There's certain intelligence that simply must be understood. After all, this involves my future views and actions. Give me a detailed explanation, meow?"」
「"Must be understood..." Hachiman paused. He was slightly surprised that this greedy merchant would be so straightforward in seeking information.」
「He guessed it was likely because his own directness just now made her feel that talking to him didn't require constant scheming. As for 'involving my future views and actions,' it was probably nothing more than deciding whether to fan the flames and play an alienation tactic, right?」
「...The change in Anastasia's style and his own attitude of reducing the distance between them caused Hachiman to fall into a daze; he felt the purple-haired girl beside him was increasingly overlapping with her image in the wedding dress.」
「Consequently, he found himself even less able to refuse her.」
「"To say I'm two-timing is a bit of a disregard for the facts. I'm struggling to choose between two people—as for the even worse idea of 'wanting both,' although I have indeed had it, I don't think I would ever actually carry it out."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman lowered his voice; he wanted to preserve his noble image in Julius's mind, so letting only Anastasia hear was enough.」
「"Emilia naturally wishes I could just be with her directly, but she's a very good girl. She said she'll wait for me to make a choice."」
「"And so, what is your choice?" Anastasia looked up with one eye closed and the other open, fully displaying her cuteness.」
「"I can't make a choice." Hachiman let out a long sigh. "Indecisiveness... in this one aspect alone, I hate myself... Perhaps I can only be chosen."」
「Anastasia looked at him as if she wanted to say something, but they had unknowingly reached their destination. Others converged from different hallways to this breakfast location.」
「Girls like Crusch and Emilia were all dressed in fitting yukatas, a very pleasing sight. However, the 'wow' factor of a yukata was clearly inferior to a more formal and complete kimono. Everyone was stunned by the sight of Anastasia, and thus her conversation with Hachiman was interrupted.」
「The light in Crusch's eyes—which had been glowing with a certain radiance—instantly stalled when she turned the corner and saw Hikigaya Hachiman standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Anastasia, their heads close together as they spoke in low voices, and seeing that the clothes on Anastasia were far more magnificent and beautiful.」
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"Hmph, a merchant is indeed a merchant, always playing her own calculations."
Back on the main street of the Royal Capital, Puck let out a cold snort. "Secretly custom-ordering a kimono for herself and only giving yukatas to everyone else, using such petty tricks to elevate her own appearance—see that, Lia? It's fine to feel self-reproach, but feeling it toward Hachiman is enough. Don't feel like you can't hold your head up in front of this bastard merchant."
Emilia's eyes shone brilliantly. She pursed her lips and stared intently at Anastasia. Although she didn't answer Puck, she looked exactly like someone who had taken his words to heart.
"Sigh..."
At the Karsten estate, Crusch was beyond words. It was as if Anastasia were her natural nemesis. It was one thing to be intercepted in different timelines, but now Anastasia was even bullying her "to her face" in the main history. It wasn't just others; Crusch herself felt an extraordinary sense of grievance.
At the Shirogane household, Shirogane Miyuki—who absolutely did not support Anastasia but absolutely supported Crusch—scowled. Just as he was about to speak, Shirogane Kei, as an Anastasia partisan, spoke first: "You're not allowed to scold Sister Anna! Otherwise, I'm calling Sister Kaguya. I just talked to her on LINE, and she said she supports Sister Anna too!"
"I...!"
Miyuki Shirogane ground his teeth as if they were aching. He looked at his sister, his head throbbing. Compared to his sister's daily rebellion, he was more concerned that Shinomiya Kaguya actually belonged to a different faction than him.
What was he to do? Anyway, he would absolutely never support Anastasia. Absolutely!
"Rem, Rem! Big Sister will buy the best kimono for you too!"
"Sister, Sister! Rem will definitely wear it nicely for Hachiman to see!"
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