Chapter 344. The Rise of Crusch (Bounty in Progress)
「"—"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman forgot to breathe. He was deeply moved by Crusch's sudden outpouring of emotion, his wandering thoughts drawn in by her lead. He listened; he wanted to know—he desperately wanted to know—what kind of mental journey Crusch, who once stood exactly where he was now, had taken after that point.」
「The sparkling Crusch was a vessel for a brilliant, radiant "Genuine" that commanded Hikigaya Hachiman's entire field of vision.」
「Under the twilight, a great wind blew through the broken Watergate City, yet Hikigaya Hachiman could not hear the howling of the gale; he could only hear Crusch's gallant voice.」
「"At that time, the person who supported me and kept me alive was you, Sir Hachiman."」
「Shifting from the gnashing teeth of confusion and suppression to gratitude and vulnerability, Crusch raised her left hand, clenching four fingers into a fist while her index finger pointed straight at him.」
「"Wha—"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes widened. Before his voice of disbelief could even be thrown out, he was completely overwhelmed by Crusch's mix of gallant and fragile momentum. He was interrupted; he was forced to listen—to listen to Crusch's outpouring.」
「"Over the past year, as I wanted to shed tears, as I felt powerless, pained, anxious, and lost, I received many letters. Those letters were all sent by you, Sir Hachiman."」
「"Recognizing me, respecting me, believing in me, thinking I was an incredible person. Others often said those things as well."」
「In Crusch's eyes, on her face, and in her words, a brilliance erupted—the joy of bitterness turning to sweetness. "But only you... only you said that you recognized me, respected me, and believed in me—not because of how worthy of recognition, respect, or belief the pre-amnesia 'me' was."」
「"The reason you recognized, respected, and believed in me was because the current me is such an incredible person, because the current me is worth you associating with as a praiseworthy friend!"」
「With the resounding force of pride, Crusch held her head high and instinctively took a step forward.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's throat moved. He wore a bitter expression and said in a low voice: "That sounds nice... but can you really treat me as a 'new' Hikigaya Hachiman, and not the Hikigaya Hachiman who inspired you, Crusch?"」
「"I cannot!"」
「Crusch gave her answer immediately and decisively.」
「"It is only now that I understand why Wilhelm, why my father, why Ferris, and why so many people see me as that Crusch. Because it is simply unavoidable."」
「Before Hikigaya Hachiman's face could turn ashen, before he was soaked in disappointment, Crusch spoke from the bottom of her heart:」
「"But I am different from you... Sir Hachiman."」
「"My personality after losing my memories was very fragile, the complete polar opposite of my pre-amnesia self. But you are different, Sir Hachiman. Aside from losing your memories of the time after arriving in the Kingdom of Lugunica, you are still you. Nothing has changed. You are you."」
「"I am absolutely certain that the one I lo—"」
「Crusch paused for a moment. She reached out both hands and placed them on the shoulders of the immobilized Sir Hachiman.」
「"The Sir Hachiman I know, the Sir Hachiman I recognize, the Sir Hachiman I respect, the Sir Hachiman I think is incredible, the Sir Hachiman I believe is the best in the world."」
「"That Sir Hachiman is both the pre-amnesia Sir Hachiman and the current Sir Hachiman. He is you."」
「"—You are him, Sir Hachiman!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman slapped her hands away. After coming to his senses, he took two steps back, shaking his head and shouting in denial, refusing to believe: "Just based on me? Just based on someone like me? Just based on the current me?"」
「"Stop joking with me, Crusch, you bastard! If it were just someone like me, how could I ever have gained the favor of people like you!"」
「"Just based on you! Just based on someone like you! Just based on the current you!" Crusch shouted back, her voice louder than his, aggressive and overbearing. "Hikigaya Hachiman is Hikigaya Hachiman; that is an absolute fact that will never change!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's anger flared. He swung his right hand, retorting with furious intensity: "Don't use me to defile your hero! How could a useless person like me ever achieve so many perfect things!"」
「"—He wasn't perfect! Not perfect at all!"」
「Crusch bit her teeth, her chest heaving violently. Despite her soaring momentum, she suddenly burst into tears, her voice tinged with a sob. "If you were a perfect person, if you
were a perfect hero, if such an existence were real—then you wouldn't have been unable to defeat the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony, and you wouldn't have lost your memories, would you!?"
「"If you don't believe it, if you think you aren't that strong, then isn't the fact that you suffered defeat and consequently lost your memories the very proof that you are that Hikigaya Hachiman!!"」
「Stabbing her own heart with pain, Crusch sobbed miserably. She lowered her head, wiping away tears with both hands, but the more she wiped, the more they fell. Her fragile appearance was the complete opposite of her previous strength.」
「"Don't look down on yourself... I'm begging you... Sir Hachiman..."」
「Her plea was mingled with whimpers, making Hikigaya Hachiman hesitate to approach.」
「"You said that the trust of your father and Ferris gave you incomparable pressure and pain— but now, you trust me so much. Have you ever considered that you might bring pressure and pain to me, Crusch?"」
「His pained words did not stop Crusch's steps. The sorrowful girl, still wiping her tears, choked out: "Because I haven't finished speaking yet, Sir Hachiman."」
「Crusch spread her arms wide, stretching them like an eagle. The wind slipped through the gaps in her fingers. She was still crying, yet she also wore a blissful smile.」
「"The trust and intimacy of Ferris and the others gave me so much pressure and pain. But, Sir Hachiman... now, a year later, I feel happy. I feel joyful. Because of my father, because of Ferris and the others, I feel that life is good."」
「Crusch advanced step by step; Hikigaya Hachiman retreated step by step until his back hit a wall, leaving him with no escape.」
「"The pre-amnesia me was amazing, so the relatives, friends, and subordinates she left for me are all people worth knowing."」
「"What are you trying to say?" Hikigaya Hachiman's state of mind had reached the peak of complexity.」
「"My meaning is very simple, Sir Hachiman."」
「Crusch bent her left arm, placing it over her heart. She looked at Hikigaya Hachiman, every word powerful and resounding:」
「"After the rain comes the rainbow. Perhaps you find it hard to accept, perhaps you don't want to accept it. But to make you feel happy, to make you feel joyful, to make you feel that life is good—for that, I wouldn't hesitate even if it meant giving you a little pain and pressure first." 」
」
「"I will, without fail, make you accept my trust, my intimacy, and everything I give you—you saved me before, so this time, it's my turn to save you."」
「"I... also want to be your hero, Sir Hachiman!"」
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