I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Or perhaps... this is a common characteristic of all people in high positions?

"Thank you for your hospitality, Sensei... Is there anything else planned for this afternoon?"

"There's nothing else... I have some free time this afternoon. If Hifumi-chan has any other plans, you can leave now."

"Of course, you can rest in Xialai if you have nothing else to do."

"Now that I've become the first student on duty... I still need to fulfill the necessary responsibilities."

Hifumi was eager to return to Trinity Church immediately to see what would become of those tea party members who had repented after being lectured by her.

After a little consideration, she decided to stay in Xia Lai and fulfill her duties as a "duty person"—in addition to helping Sensei with official business, she also needed to clean and do her best to ensure Xia Lai's safety during her duty hours.

"So……"

Amamiya smiled and ruffled the girl's smooth, silky golden hair: "Thank you, Hifumi-chan."

【~???~】

[...I sensed a gradually calming mindset in Hifumi.]

Cooperative status has been improved!

[Assistance Rating: ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆]

[★3 Ability Unlocked!]

[Kindness and Affinity: The pure affinity emanating from Hifumi's kind heart. It is precisely because of this affinity that this girl, the 'Fool,' becomes as warm as a little angel, a little sun.]

[Helper's Profile: An ordinary girl who was recently assigned to the tutoring club due to some 'special reasons'. After establishing a special relationship with me, the barriers in her inner world are gradually opening up to me. She's determined to try and make some changes using her own strength...]

Chapter Thirty-Three: Saori's "Heart-Stealing Request"

The afternoon after lunch break is precisely the most 'sunny' time of day, and also the most suitable time for other people to build bonds.

Today is Amamiya's first day as the "Xia Lai" in every sense of the word, so "making an appointment" should have a bit of a ritual.

Sitting on her bed in her room, Amamiya turned on her phone and glanced at the assistant invitations for today.

[Momoi: Sensei, when are you finally coming to the games club...?]

'This might be an opportunity to deepen my relationship with Momoi.'

I also received messages from other people.

[Yuzu: About the 'Phantom Thief'...]

'...'

Noah: Sensei, could I borrow a little bit of your time?

'...'

[Utahara: I heard from the accountant at the seminar that Sensei needs to renovate and replace the equipment in the Charley... Why not consider our engineering department?]

'...'

[Maple Leaf: Sensei, are you free? I wanted to thank you in person about what happened not long ago...]

[Fengxiang: I'm usually free around lunchtime and after dinner in the late afternoon. If Sensei is interested in cooking, you can come find me...]

'...'

[Qianxun: Information Security Protection for Xia Lai...]

'...'

[Saori: Sensei, can we talk? I have something I'd like to ask you.]

'...'

Haruka: Um...Sensei...

A whole bunch of similar messages appeared, so many that Amamiya felt a little overwhelmed.

This is a great opportunity to deepen your bonds with many students who are all unique... So, who will you spend this time with?

Amamiya believes that her recent 'bond event' needs to be planned efficiently.

At present, Xia Lai still needs various 'special powers'.

For example, the engineering department... although it is very unstable and Noah describes it as an "engineering fanatic," it is still very necessary to get in touch with it.

Well... let's talk to Saori first.

Amamiya was a little worried about the child.

After a moment's thought, Amamiya finally replied to Saori's message.

[Saori, I have some time now, let's arrange to meet somewhere.]

Saori responded quickly.

[Saori: To be honest... Sensei, we've been active around Shalai lately for some 'special reasons'.]

[Saori: In that case...we'll come find Sensei soon.]

'Us...?'

The entire squad was active near Xia Lai, trying to track me down?

Amamiya understood Saori's 'hint'.

It seems... Saori may have been hired, controlled, or commissioned by something like the Kaiser Group to investigate her.

Amamiya waited in a park near the Xialai Building. A moment later, he sensed someone approaching him.

Amamiya kept looking at her phone, waiting for a message from Saori.

[Saori: Sorry to keep you waiting, Sensei... We've entered your field of vision and are now conducting reconnaissance around you.]

[Saori: I apologize if this is somewhat rude to you, but we have to do it.]

After waiting a few more minutes, Amamiya finally heard approaching footsteps.

He looked up following the sound and saw four figures of varying sizes and heights. They had appeared in the park 'silently'.

They appeared to be carrying no tactical equipment and seemed harmless.

But Amamiya had no doubt that if anything unexpected happened, they would be able to pull out their guns and other auxiliary equipment from some strange place immediately.

Amamiya remained seated on the bench, without getting up.

He had a premonition that if he made any slightly excessive moves, there was a high chance that he would ruin this already tense meeting.

“This… is Sensei from Xia Lai.”

Saori, who was walking at the front, gave a brief introduction to her three companions who were behind her, and then gestured for them to lower their guard for the time being.

“Sensei… he is the one who solved the Abydos dilemma in an incredible way by stealing hearts. Everyone can relax their vigilance towards him.”

At Saori's prompting, the girls around her finally relaxed their guard a little and moved closer to Amamiya.

Amamiya, in conjunction with Saori's introduction, gave a brief overview of her team members.

She first introduced the girl with green hair, tied in pigtails, carrying an equipment box that was about as tall as herself, and with her head slightly lowered, seemingly unwilling to make direct eye contact with Amamiya.

"Hichiro Tsuchinaga, the sniper in the squad."

Amamiya nodded slightly, briefly meeting the girl's gray eyes, which seemed to be filled with resistance such as 'escape'.

[Assistant: Hiyori Tsuchinaga / The Inferiority Complex Who Follows Misfortune]

【Arcana: The Temple (LE TEMPLE FOUDROYE)】

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

'Saori is the "guilty one who lures calamity"... another title related to calamity.'

'And... Arcana is actually the card in the Etteilla Tarot that corresponds to the Tower—'The Temple'.'

This card...it depicts a castle being burned down; destroyed by fire.

The upright English word is 【MISE】, which can be translated as hardship; suffering; misfortune; poverty; poor performance.

The reversed PRISON means prison; cage; symbolic restraint or predicament.

Printed on both sides is the French word for "temple," LE TEMPLE FOUDROYE.

A direct translation would be "the temple that was struck by lightning".

As for the symbolic meaning, that's interesting.

A destroyed temple; a ruined place. Used metaphorically to describe the loss or destruction of something.

This is a card that symbolizes the lament of poverty.

The upright position symbolizes poverty and an imminent financial problem.

Reversed, it represents: prison, achieving goals through improper means, and ultimately facing imprisonment.

If Amamiya only saw Saori's "Tower" image, then all she needed to worry about was...

Now, Amamiya is starting to worry about the future of this squad.

"Let's take a look at the others..."

"...This is Misaki Kaino."

As Saori introduced herself, the black-haired girl wearing a mask gently raised her head as a greeting.

"Hello."

[Assistant: Misaki Kaino / A person who has given up on life and is heading towards disaster]

[Arcana: Death (La Mort)]

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

'The Death card in the Etteilla Tarot is equivalent to the "Grim Reaper" in the Major Arcana...'

Amamiya maintained a gentle expression, but inwardly she sighed deeply.

After seeing that the student named 'Tsuchinaga Hiyori' whom Saori introduced was also an unconventional "Tower," Amamiya was genuinely worried about the team's future.

It was even worse than the darkest period of the phantom thieves group I used to run...

I briefly looked back at the time when Kuniwa Okumura, Sae Niijima, and Masayoshi Shido were all considered 'criminals who endanger social security' by all voices, but they were still being pushed forward amidst unease.

The 'death' symbol above the head of the girl named Misaki Kaino made him immediately worried about the situation of this team.

With so many terrible cards in their hand... can this team really turn things around...?

In the Etteilla Tarot, the card "Death" is quite similar to the "Grim Reaper" that everyone is familiar with today.

This card, upright, signifies death and a struggle with illness. Although serious, it is not advisable to consider suicide. Do not rush into anything or make any plans (especially suicide).

However, the upright meaning of "death" also carries the interpretation of birth within the death that brings an end to all things, a new beginning. Life flows on and on.

The reversed position signifies a loss of self-confidence, being stuck in the past, and refusing to accept reality, thus losing hope for the future.

This card generally conveys one message: You may have many, many things troubling you... but please don't give up.

Don't give up hope for life.

Keep going, and the wheel of fortune will continue to turn. Then, your efforts and sweat, and everything else, will not be in vain… they will blossom into the most dazzling flower.

"..."

Amamiya really didn't know what to say to Saori's team, and was already prepared that 'that masked girl' was also a bad card (an Arcana with a bad connotation).

Saori, meanwhile, turned her gaze toward the girl with strikingly long, light purple hair and red eyes who had been looking at Amamiya with a serene gaze the entire time.

To be honest, when Amamiya saw her, he had a feeling that she was the real 'squad leader'.

"She is……"

Before Saori could speak, the girl gently shook her head at her. Then Amamiya heard her voice, which sounded muffled and hoarse after being altered by the mask, but could not hide its calmness and gentleness.