Ram Route ｷ The End of Vigilance
Inside the Hoshin Trading Company, Anastasia's eyelashes trembled slightly. The development of this timeline dissatisfied her to the absolute extreme in every aspect; it was a heartbreak beyond words.
Under the radiance of the sunlight, Priscilla wore an expression of utter displeasure—after the punishment, as a reward, she would make Echidna disappear completely.
"Is this 'sweetness after the bitter' for Crusch?"
At the Shirogane residence, Miyuki Shirogane—a supporter of Crusch—could not bring himself to be happy. "This isn't Crusch taking advantage of a gap; it's that Hikigaya himself is about to break. To take proper care of Ram, he needs to endure... He chose Crusch as a new pillar, and the gentle Crusch did not resist."
"But, to be able to push Hikigaya to this point... just how deep is the pain he's enduring? It's chilling to even think about."
"Or rather... the fact that he would proactively seek out another woman to act as his pillar is exactly what proves his unprecedented fragility right now!"
Shirogane Miyuki believed that if Shinomiya Kaguya died or left him, he would certainly be grieved, but it would never reach the state Hikigaya Hachiman was in.
"That's why I need to learn properly from you. And as my semi-teacher, Hikigaya, I want you to be happy too... Damn that Echidna, damn that future!"
He clenched his fists. After many days, his anger and hatred toward Echidna were violently reawakened. It wasn't just Shirogane Miyuki; it was everyone.
"—Pffft, cough, cough, cough!"
In the Sanctuary, Echidna, who was drinking tea, suddenly coughed violently, looking quite pathetic. As a soul, and within her own Dream Castle, how could such a ridiculous thing happen?
"The Protection of the Sun? ...How troublesome."
Echidna massaged her long hair with a headache. When even someone like Priscilla developed killing intent toward her, she could already imagine how the people in the outside world were currently rubbing their palms together, eager to finish her off.
"Heh."
Elsa gave a light chuckle. "Because of me? My existence created so much sorrow; it seems I really am beyond redemption."
Despite saying this, Meili didn't see a hint of sympathy or regret from her. That was natural; after all, she was Elsa the Bowel Hunter.
Perhaps her childhood experiences were one of the reasons for her current twisted personality, but after all these years, Elsa had long since loved slaughter and entrails from the bottom of her heart. No matter which angle you looked at it from, there was nothing about her worth staying one's hand for or pitying.
If anything, having a powerful enemy crush her without mercy was the greatest respect one could show her.
"I'm surprised you can stay so calm."
In the convenience store, Yukinoshita bumped into Hikigaya Hachiman, feeling somewhat depressed. Seeing this kind of future made her heart feel like it was breaking, yet Hikigaya Hachiman remained steady.
Hachiman's eyes drifted, avoiding the image of Crusch wearing Emilia's ornament on the video, and he said softly: "Because I will absolutely never let this future happen again."
Hachiman's tone was calm, lacking any thunderous momentum or high volume, but this was his promise—a promise he must and will fulfill.
At the same time, pausing on the road to the Royal Capital, Ram actually felt a sense of relief.
When she saw her future self appear, she was actually terrified—terrified that her future self would fall in love with Hikigaya Hachiman like the others. If that happened, she would truly want to end her own life; that would go beyond simply being unable to face Rem.
She didn't dislike Hikigaya Hachiman, but from the start, she viewed him as a brother-in-law. Naturally, it was impossible for her to have romantic thoughts about him—but who can predict what a mentally unstable person might do?
"Though I hate you, and I will definitely resolve you for Rem's sake... Crusch, I owe you one. Thank you."
If Crusch hadn't acted as a buffer, Ram truly couldn't say what kind of relationship the two survivors of this timeline would have devolved into amidst their despair.
In the Karsten estate, Ferris peeked at his Lady Crusch. "To think Crusch-sama's long-cherished wish would be fulfilled under these circumstances..."
He knew that the upright, noble Crusch-sama would not like taking advantage of someone's vulnerability, nor would she like seeing her 'Hachiman-kyun' suffer.
In fact, Crusch's current expression was indeed very somber.
Even more somber than her was Puck, who saw Hikigaya Hachiman give his daughter's ornament to Crusch. In contrast, seeing her knight's spirit improve because of Crusch's comfort made Emilia feel very grateful for Crusch's efforts.
On the roof of the manor in his territory, Roswaal stared blankly at the sky. He touched his chest, feeling that beating heart. Although it was because Rem's feelings had been transferred to him—and despite knowing this—Roswaal had to admit he was actually moved by Ram.
Because of this, he understood even more clearly what an unforgivable, despicable person he was.
「Forcing himself to play the role of Roswaal and clinging to Crusch to vent and confide—these two actions became the daily routine for the Hikigaya Hachiman who gritted his teeth to stay alive.」
「Crusch also gradually stopped prioritizing the Royal Selection. Wilhelm, who had fulfilled his long-held wish, and Ferris, who only cared that Crusch-sama was safe, did not oppose her. Instead, they did everything they could to help Crusch appease her army and vassals.」
「During the several years while Anastasia and Priscilla entered the heat of the Royal Selection war, Hikigaya Hachiman became an increasingly twisted person.」
「In the dead of night, he would walk in the garden, looking up at the moon. He would watch, and watch, and then tears would fall, his face full of sorrow. A day, a week, a month, a year—it was a despair and pain that time could not smooth over.」
「When he slept, he indulged in the sweet dreams of the past, murmuring those beautiful names as sleep-talk.」
「"Emilia, Rem, Otto, Garfiel, Petra..."」
「Then, Hikigaya Hachiman woke up from reality.」
「He stood up in a daze, looking at the cold stone walls around him—this familiar trial ground—and saw Emilia, who had emerged from the trial just like him.」
「"This is... right, the trial. I was in—"」
「A dazed Emilia murmured in a low voice. In the next second, her eyes widened suddenly. A violent fear abruptly appeared in her mind, spreading to her heart, making her body tremble and her tears want to fall.」
「"Emilia!"」
「A cry containing the relief of surviving a disaster. A cry filled with burning emotion. A cry of unbelievable happiness.」
「Accompanying that sudden call, a sobbing, weeping Hikigaya Hachiman threw himself into Emilia's arms, wailing loudly.」
「His crying halted all of Emilia's fear.」
「In an instant, gentle affection followed him like a shadow.」