Crusch Leaning in His Arms
Gulp, gulp. Watching the performance of his father's future self, the alcoholic Heinkel let out a cold sneer. He could imagine that right now, his father Wilhelm and his son Reinhard must be deeply moved and full of anticipation.
However, he would not be.
He, Heinkel, knew that he would absolutely never forgive his father or his son!
"Hmph... so I am the only one who wasn't invited? Even if I wouldn't necessarily attend such a boring appointment, failing to send an invitation is your fault, you sly fox." In her mansion, a flash of displeasure crossed Priscilla's eyes.
Especially when she saw Anastasia being praised as cute, she let out a heavy, cold snort. To the side, Al carefully kept his face stiff.
Though hidden by his helmet, he was still afraid Priscilla would realize he—an Anastasia partisan—was smiling, and then draw her Yang Sword to cut him in half.
.
.
.
「Her wet, long hair fell scattered over her shoulders. Having finished her bath the fastest, Crusch was the first to leave the hot spring. Wearing a set of casual clothes adorned with flower patterns rather than her formal attire, she found Hachiman Hikigaya, who had just finished his secret discussion with Wilhelm.」
「"Sir Hachiman!"」
「The moment she saw him, Crusch felt as if she had found where she belonged; a sense of security filled her. She called out softly, her breathing slightly rapid. She was both full of anticipation for meeting her pen pal in person and somewhat worried about disappointing him.」
「"Crusch?" Hachiman Hikigaya stepped forward quickly. "Good evening. Did you come out to feel the night breeze too?"」
「Crusch's face turned slightly red. She hesitated for a moment, too embarrassed to say, "I came to find you."」
"Sigh." At the Karsten estate, Crusch shook her head. She didn't reject the idea of developing feelings beyond those of lord and vassal with Sir Hachiman, but she hoped that person could be her self with recovered memories... although her amnesiac self was still her, there were quite a few differences in personality after all. Moreover, she was actually somewhat worried.
"What should I do if Sir Hachiman prefers the amnesiac me over the current me?" Crusch sighed; her worries were something neither Ferris nor Wilhelm could resolve.
"I wish I could be as smooth as Anastasia..." Sighing, Crusch was incredibly envious of Anastasia—and, of course, incredibly pained by the situation.
「"Ferris and Lord Wilhelm both say that before I lost my memories, I was resolute and capable in everything I did. But I can't find that feeling at all. Although I want to work hard, and even after receiving Sir Hachiman's comfort for so long, I can still only barely hold on... will you be disappointed?"」
「Strolling in the courtyard, although Crusch's voice was still the same, compared to her former heroic aura, her current vibe was gentle and frail—a complete transformation.」
「"What matters isn't whether others are disappointed in you, but what kind of person you are willing to become, Crusch."」
「The sight of the apprehensive Crusch filled Hachiman Hikigaya with a flurry of emotions... In the timeline where everyone was wiped out, the fragile him was the one being protected and comforted by the amnesiac Crusch. Now, the roles were reversed.」
「Given how thorough Crusch's comfort had been for him back then, he naturally had to return the favor just as thoroughly—even for this fragile version of Crusch, his respect and affection for this lady in military uniform did not fade in the slightest.」
「"Don't force yourself," Hachiman Hikigaya said from the bottom of his heart. "Whether or not you can change back to how you were before you lost your memories makes no difference to me. You are still my dear friend, Crusch."」
「Crusch shook her head in confusion; she couldn't achieve that level of open-mindedness. "Does Sir Hachiman like the current me?"」
「"I like you, very much," Hachiman Hikigaya nodded slightly. "My validation of you isn't because of how great you were before your memory loss, but because you are reliable even now and a person worthy of respect. Believe in yourself, Crusch."」
「Although he said he 'liked' her, neither of them blushed, because they were absolutely not discussing romantic love.」
「"..."」
「Crusch lowered her head, her eyelids drooping, with an unhidable sorrow between her brows.」
「Hachiman Hikigaya stopped walking. He turned to look at the fragile girl walking beside him and suddenly asked: "Have you cried, Crusch?"」
「"...?"」
「"Since waking up, since having no memories, seeing a world all around you that you have no impression of, seeing people you don't know or remember constantly acting close to you—they have expectations of you that you can't live up to."」
「"Even though you know nothing, you are forced to play the self they expect. Under that terrifying pressure, have you ever tried to cry?"」
「"I..." Crusch bit her lower lip. Her fear, her helplessness—all of it was being described in detail by Hachiman Hikigaya. "I didn't dare to cry."」
「Hachiman Hikigaya let out a breath, feeling a sense of sorrow. "I knew it."」
「"I've already let down Ferris, Lord Wilhelm, and the expectations of so many people. I'm already so ashamed; what right do I have to cry and complain?"」
「"—But, what if I expect you to cry?"」
「Hachiman Hikigaya's voice left Crusch dumbfounded. She looked up, staring straight at the man. She felt dizzy, having an illusion that the world was spinning.」
「"...What did... you say?"」
「"Being strong is a good thing, and being able to stay strong should be praised... but, Crusch, being strong doesn't mean you can't cry, can't confide, or can't show your cowardly side. Sometimes, crying allows one to move even further forward."」
「Placing both hands on Crusch's shoulders, Hachiman Hikigaya spoke softly but with a voice that carried weight: "This is what my hero taught me... so, cry, Crusch."」
「"The cowardice you didn't dare expose to Ferris, Wilhelm, or anyone else—hand those things over to me. Just treat it as my selfishness, Crusch."」
「"I—" Crusch's mouth hung open; her blood suddenly boiled, and her heart throbbed violently.」
「She didn't want to cry, didn't dare to cry, but her eyes unknowingly grew moist.」
「"I'll keep it safe for you, don't worry. Because I..." My cowardice was once kept safe by you too, Crusch. You were once another hero who protected me.」
「"I... I—Ugh... Waaaah! Sir Hachiman!"」
「Sadness flowed like a river; long-accumulated fear and cowardice were released. Leaning against Hachiman Hikigaya's chest, the sobbing Crusch, the fragile Crusch, the Crusch who had found something to lean on—she wept softly.」
「Gazing from a distance, Ferris and Wilhelm watched. Wilhelm wanted to stop it, but after hesitating for a while, he let out a sigh, looked away, and did not go over. Ferris's eyes turned red; he knelt on the ground, murmuring "Crusch-sama," half-crying and half-laughing.」
「"Just what are you thinking, Lord Hachiman..."」
「Wilhelm's sigh was incredibly bewildered as he wondered what kind of feelings would form between the lord he served and his benefactor after this night of weeping.」
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