Anastasia's Number One Hobby
"Mhm!"
Two people were stimulated at the same time: Betty felt a sweetness as if she had eaten honey, her heart blossoming with joy; meanwhile, back on Earth, Komachi let out a loud shout of "Hell yeah!"
She didn't care at all that her "rating system" had been misappropriated by her brother. In fact, if her ratings could help her brother get along better with other girls, Komachi would be incredibly happy.
However, from the fact that he was borrowing her words, Komachi could see one thing—the weight of Sister Anna in her brother's heart might be terrifyingly large!
Up until now, hadn't he only "misappropriated" the words of his own sister, and Sister Anna's confession?
"To be on par with Komachi... Uwawah, I definitely have to support Sister Anna! Of course, Sister Emilia and Rem can't be left behind either. Komachi likes them all; Komachi wants all of them as sisters-in-law... Ah, and Sister Crusch too!"
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「"—To arrive at the station I painstakingly selected, only to focus all your attention on your own spirit—it really makes me feel like a total failure. I thought I'd at least get a compliment or a look of shock."」
「At the very moment he was about to continue smiling and praising Beatrice, a slightly frustrated yet cute voice suddenly reached his ears. Hikigaya Hachiman froze instantly, turning his head mechanically toward the speaker.」
「Coming into view was a girl with a fox-like, cunning smile, her light blue eyes filled with craftiness. She was never seen without her fox-scarf, and...」
「Her body was soft to the touch, and her pale purple long hair was fuzzily comfortable beyond belief. She loved carrying a purse, her second hobby was counting money and listening to the jingle of gold coins, and her number one hobby was calling him "Prime Minister" while nesting naked in his arms, letting him stroke her fuzzy purple hair until it evolved into stroking her entire body—a girl who spoke with an ultra-cute accent and was adorable to the extreme, with a chest slightly better than Felt's.」
「If the cuteness of Komachi and Beatrice was like a rich soup that melted in the mouth, then Anastasia's cuteness was the three meals a day, the computer and phone, the cozy cottage and grand mansion, the friends and family—it was the "Genuine Thing," the wife.」
「Any happiness or sweetness a person could imagine, Anastasia could create it, and then offer herself up as the most important part of it, presented with the most adorable words.」
「The memory of the Anastasia who acted spoiled toward him and the identically adorable Anastasia standing before him overlapped perfectly, causing Hikigaya Hachiman's heart to throb violently.」
「"...?"」
「A flicker of inexplicable confusion passed through those cunning eyes that were usually full of mischief and pranks. Anastasia paused in her tracks. "It's nice to receive such a gentle gaze immediately upon meeting after a long time—it shows you really don't hold a grudge for me leaving the alliance a year ago... But aren't you looking a bit too closely?"」
「She tilted her head and looked toward Emilia. "Miss Emilia, haven't you been satisfying him properly?"」
「"Satisfying?" Emilia also tilted her head blankly, looking at her innocently.」
「This answer exposed everything. Anastasia clapped her hands together with a snap. "Alrighty, I understand. In that case, I can't really blame him."」
「The sound of the clapping brought Hikigaya Hachiman back to reality from his half-illusory mental world. Though she didn't blame him, she wasn't prepared to keep being looked at with that kind of gaze. Although, surprisingly, she didn't hate it... it just felt like she was being seen through from body to soul, which was quite unsettling.」
「Hachiman dazed for a moment before realizing his gaze toward Anastasia had been a bit excessive... While he was subconsciously reminiscing and feeling sentimental, in the eyes of others, he might look like he was openly taking advantage of her with his eyes.」
「—As it turned out, only Beatrice thought so.」
「Emilia didn't think there was anything wrong with looking at someone's body. Garfiel always thought the best of his General; he guessed the General had scented some hidden strength or threat on Anastasia and was searching for it carefully.」
「Anastasia's thoughts were even simpler. She knew Hikigaya Hachiman had no shortage of girls who liked him. Although that Rem was basically as good as dead, there was still Emilia. If Hachiman wanted it, Emilia would probably warm his bed at any time.」
「Though she didn't want to dwell on it, she had to admit that in terms of feminine physical charm, Emilia was indeed superior to her.」
「Thanks to the good image and character Hikigaya Hachiman had displayed in the past, Anastasia also immediately assumed the best.」
「"So... I suppose since we haven't seen each other for a year despite the letters, you've mostly forgotten what I look like and wanted to memorize me properly again?"」
「She smiled slightly. Hachiman didn't hesitate for a second; he immediately followed that ladder and nodded... Anyway, it wasn't the first or second time he had "deceived" Anastasia, whether in the Royal Capital or the Sanctuary trials. He felt no embarrassment; in fact, he was used to it.」
「"Well then, back to business. Thank you all for traveling so far; you must be tired, right? ...Please go to your rooms and rest well first, then we can chat slowly."」
「With the air of a host, the smiling Anastasia was polite, but this politeness only reinforced her status. It was the usual profiteer style: appearing gentle and yielding on the surface, but it was all an illusion to maintain the dominant position.」
「...That was the view he had before knowing her deeply, but now, Hachiman could see the third layer buried beneath—the gentle essence of Anastasia.」
「He led Emilia and the others inside, showing none of the cautiousness of a guest. He stepped into the inn with great poise, nodding to the cute girl as he did. "Yeah, thanks for being so thoughtful, Anastasia."」
「"—"」
「Anastasia was slightly stunned. "You... are you really Hikigaya?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman raised his right hand in a "cute" gesture, balling it into a fist and lightly tapping his own head. "Accept no substitutes, right?"」
「As he said this, Anastasia was even more dumbfounded... Though they had corresponded for a year and could be considered friends—sharing preferences and life updates in their letters—he had never been this cheerful in writing.」
「Coupled with the "bitter and hateful" image Hachiman had back in the Royal Capital a year ago, the image in her mind was skewed toward the serious and stern.」
「"Have I actually lost my ability to read people!?"」
「Anastasia: currently questioning her own existence.」
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