Amnesiac Hikigaya Hachiman (Part 2)
"—Ugh!?"
Shirogane Kei, who had been feeling mournful for Hachiman-senpai, was utterly stunned. She couldn't understand how Julius had suddenly recovered his memories.
Confused, she turned her head to look at her brother.
Miyuki Shirogane racked his brains for a moment, synthesized the various details, and offered a hypothesis.
"Batenkaitos uses the word 'consume' to describe making others lose their memories. Combined with the fact that he could turn into people like Crusch, Rem, and Julius during the battle at City Hall, it means the memories he steals reside in his stomach, his mind, or his soul.
With Hachiman's rationality and intellect, he surely made this deduction long ago. Ricardo also observed the 'procedure' for devouring memories—the need to call the target's name—during the time Julius was eaten, and reported it to Hachiman."
"Therefore, I suspect Hachiman kept his spirit taut throughout the fight, preparing for the worst-case scenario of having his memories eaten. When it actually happened, he must have maintained a sliver of self-awareness and initiative in that gap."
"In that brief window, he seized the chance to drag Julius's memories out of Batenkaitos's stomach."
Miyuki's explanation was abstract and used metaphors, but Kei understood. This process seemed plausible... if it was Hachiman-senpai, Kei truly believed he could achieve something so incredible even under the influence of an Authority.
"But Senpai's biggest concern, the one he missed most, should have been Miss Rem, right? At the very least, Miss Crusch? Why did he prioritize saving Julius?"
In the KTV, facing Iroha Isshiki's question, Hayama Hayato gave an example: "If a person is going to vomit, the first and easiest thing to come up is definitely what they just ate."
Iroha realized: "Meaning, the memories of Miss Crusch and Miss Rem had been 'digested' for too long, making them too difficult to save. The small gap Senpai exploited wasn't enough for them, so he could only prioritize Julius?"
"Not just that." Hayama shook his head, sighing with admiration. "It's also because Hachiman-kun gave his word before the battle. He made a vow that he would definitely take back Julius's memories!"
At the same time, in the Kousaka household, after hearing her brother's analysis, Kirino's mourning for Hachiman-senpai vanished. She cheered with excitement.
"Since Senpai can even do that, with his cautious nature, he must have left a letter for his future self. Something that would let him trust Big Sister Emilia and the others even after losing his memory, right?"
"Regrettably, that's impossible."
Just as Kirino got excited, her brother doused her hopes. She glared at him in confusion, and Kyousuke continued: "Hachiman has a borderline pathological pursuit of the 'Genuine.' This obsession sometimes makes him distrust even himself, let alone a mere letter. The amnesiac him would never fundamentally change his attitude just because of a letter he wrote himself. He will still distance himself from Emilia and the others; a letter won't change that."
"Besides, did you forget? There is a letter."
As his words took a turn, Kirino froze, her mind racing. "Wait... yes, that's right! There really is a letter!"
On the eve of the White Whale subjugation, Hikigaya Hachiman had written a suicide note. He had kept it ever since. That "last testament" would actually have a far greater impact than a simple letter explaining amnesia!
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「Julius was trembling. He was the only person so far to have recovered his memories after losing them. Having experienced the contrast between the two states, he was the one who could most deeply empathize with how lost Hikigaya Hachiman must be feeling right now.」
「"Lady Emilia, forgive my bluntness, but... please allow me to handle the task of explaining the situation. While you all share deep bonds with Hachiman-kun, right now... you might only cause him unease."」
「As Julius's words fell, Emilia and the others felt their hearts tighten, their breath hitching. They didn't want to admit it, but looking at Hikigaya Hachiman's posture and expression, they had to.」
「It was precisely their outpouring of concern that was making him feel anxious and cornered.」
「Emilia's eyelids lowered, her voice failing her. She cast a sorrowful glance at her knight, then turned away dejectedly to bind the heavily wounded Sirius.」
「The others, including the helpless Crusch and Ricardo, began to move one after another, using work to numb themselves. In the end, only Julius, Al, and Priscilla remained.」
「Priscilla narrowed her eyes as she stepped in front of Hikigaya Hachiman. She observed him for two seconds, then suddenly lashed out. Her crimson fan whistled through the air, striking toward the man with a force that seemed lethal.」
「But even as her fan stopped less than a centimeter from the skin of Hachiman's neck, Hikigaya Hachiman showed no specific defensive reaction that suggested he recognized her or was targeting her.」
「"—Lady Priscilla, please show some self-respect!"」
「Julius's pupils shrank. Disregarding knightly etiquette, he instinctively drew his sword to strike at Priscilla's extended arm. But before he could, Priscilla had already retracted her hand, a look of utter boredom on her face.」
「Under Julius's ashen-faced gaze, the disinterested Priscilla explained nothing. She simply turned and left, with Al following to attend her.」
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"Go to hell, Priscilla!"
The first to shout in anger was Shirogane Kei. Even Miyuki, who had previously spoken in Priscilla's favor, now shared his sister's sentiment, wishing he could tear her apart.
While Priscilla might look after "her own" people—even if she scolded them, she wouldn't truly hurt them—to the Priscilla of the "Main Line," Hikigaya Hachiman was not hers. Naturally, she would conduct experiments on him as she pleased, with zero regard for his feelings.
"No wonder even after spending years together day and night in the IF-line, Hachiman still hated Priscilla... that bastard!"
Priscilla's malice had never disappeared.
The "Priscilla Faction" members woke up in an instant. Of all people to support, why this woman?
Hikigaya Hachiman, the human observer, had personally stamped her with a far-from-positive evaluation. One could not be bought by this arrogant woman's occasional acts of kindness.
"She deserves to be humiliated. She doesn't deserve to have Hachiman-senpai at all. Go to hell, Priscilla, you arrogant jerk!"
Compared to the Sin Archbishops, her temper was "better," but regardless, as a companion, Priscilla was lightyears behind Anastasia, Emilia, Rem, and Crusch.
She wasn't even as good as Felt!
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