I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

'It feels like taking a bath...so comfortable...'

'Wait, this feeling... isn't this the same feeling I had when I was almost at my breaking point with Captain Iori last time...?'

"Huh? Has anyone else experienced this feeling? I felt it when I was almost unconscious after being taken on an operation by Administrator Ako not long ago..."

'So the support back then... was provided by Sensei?!'

The girls from the Disciplinary Committee, who were about to leave, all stopped and looked at Amamiya, who seemed to have done something insignificant.

"I hope this helps everyone... Alright, it's getting late, everyone should go back and rest."

The disciplinary committee members left.

Before leaving, however, they all expressed their heartfelt gratitude or apology to Amamiya.

"Um... thank you, Sensei!"

"I'm sorry... I misunderstood Sensei before..."

Meanwhile, Amamiya, under Ako's gaze that seemed to hold a hint of resentment but was actually quite thoughtful, patted the heads of each of the disciplinary committee members who had removed their hats in greeting, offering them simple encouragement.

"Don't worry, Administrator Ako shouldn't do anything to me."

"Hmm... Don't worry, everyone, I will provide support to everyone in the Disciplinary Committee in the future."

"If you encounter any problems that you can't solve, can you come to me?... Of course you can."

"Want a little encouragement? Hmm... Then, on behalf of Xia Lai, I thank you for your hard work in upholding discipline, maintaining justice, and resolving disputes."

"Will you be visiting the Disciplinary Committee often in the future? I'll try my best..."

"..."

A dazzling, sun-like, approachable charm...

Yako, watching this scene from afar, had already started biting her handkerchief.

After seeing off the reluctant disciplinary committee members, Amamiya looked at Ako standing to the side.

"So... what does Administrator Tianyu have to say to me?"

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Longing is the emotion furthest from understanding.

"So... what does Administrator Tianyu have to say to me?"

The moment Amamiya turned around and said those words, Ako seemed to see a hint of provocation in that face that was 'for some reason but just so repulsive'.

"..."

She tidied her slightly ruffled hair, which had been tousled by the evening breeze, and tried to find the right words to say.

...By the way, about the Chairman.

Seemingly having found a point of focus, Ako's gaze turned fierce again: "Because of you, recently Chairman Hina seems to sigh from time to time, and then inadvertently show that she is absent-minded."

"What exactly did you do to Chairman Hina?!"

As the 'secretary' who often accompanies the chairman, Ayako is well aware of the chairman's recent changes.

The chairman, who used to be focused and efficient in everything he did, seemed preoccupied lately, glancing frequently at his phone on the table, which was always waiting for new messages.

Occasionally, during my breaks, I would stand alone by the window, gazing at the scenery outside in a daze.

Even during breaks, she would inexplicably blush because she suddenly thought of something...

Based on the above anomalies, Ako has every reason to be certain that these changes were caused by the Sensei 'wearing a false mask' in front of her.

“What did I do to her? I just tried to comfort her in my own way, and tried to be her emotional support.”

Amamiya shrugged and said calmly, "Amamiya Administrator... haven't you noticed?"

"The burden called 'aspiration,' the boulder called 'responsibility,' and that... almost irresistible pressure, should not have been borne by someone her age."

“If you only see Hina’s abilities and only value Hina’s abilities... then this subordinate is quite unsuccessful.”

"..."

After a brief silence, Ayako clenched her fists and suddenly 'exploded'.

"I'm the one who knows the Chairman best... You, newcomer Xia Lai Sensei, clearly don't understand anything, so why do you have the right to speak to me like that?!"

Ayako was very confident. She spent almost all her time by the chairman's side. As the chairman's secretary, her understanding of the chairman far exceeded that of Natsumi Sensei, who had only been there a short time and dared to 'shamelessly' claim to understand the chairman.

"Oh... well, Chief Administrator Tianyu, have you ever heard a saying..."

"The higher a person stands, the farther they can see, and the colder they become. And in the process of 'standing higher,' they will have fewer friends around them."

"I hope that Hina, and Administrator Tenme... people like you, will still have companions when you reach the top, so that you will no longer feel lonely."

"Stop coming!"

Yako glared at him angrily: "You address me and the chairman in completely different ways!"

Amamiya shrugged silently, offering no response to Ako's statement.

Seeing his speechless expression, Ako seemed to have found a handle against him, which made her even angrier.

"You speak so 'openly and honestly,' but your behavior is completely different from what you described..."

"And they say they'll treat everyone equally... It's obvious they only have eyes for the Chairman!"

Amamiya said slowly, "It is only natural to wholeheartedly understand a person's hardships and pay attention to the bitterness and suffering they experience."

“Yako, of course I can also have ‘only eyes for you’.”

...?

Before Ako could even feel the disgusting nausea from those words, she first felt that extremely aggressive gaze sweeping over her.

[Cooping Abilities: Mind Detoxification/Lotus Mindset/Mindfulness Therapy/Instant Flow/Wakefulness Therapy]

[Assistant: Takuto Maruki (Arcana: Advisor)]

[Various psychological therapies learned from psychologist Takuto Maruki. Using methods that are not shortcuts, help the target relieve psychological stress and build a strong belief in them.]

Amamiya stroked his chin, scrutinizing Ako with his penetrating and unsettling gaze.

"Chief Administrator Tianyu... If I'm not mistaken, have you been feeling increasingly stressed lately? Have you occasionally heard subordinates or others say that you're neurotic?"

"You should probably tone down your arrogance a bit. Because the more magnificent something is, the greater the impact when it's destroyed..."

"With the Eden Treaty about to be signed, it's perfectly understandable that some psychological issues might arise due to excessive tension..."

“Chief Administrator Tianyu, if you have any unspoken pressures weighing on your mind, perhaps you can tell me. You know… recently, there seems to be a legend about a phantom thief circulating in all the academies. Perhaps the phantom thief can hear your voice and might employ some special tactics.”

...? !

He... he's never even met me, how did he know?!

Could it be the Chairman...?

No, logically speaking, the Chairman shouldn't be saying so much about my inner thoughts...

The unease of feeling as if her inner thoughts were being spied on caused a moment of panic in Ako's heart.

"When I say 'I only have eyes for you,' I don't mean it from the perspective of a lover or anything else, but from the perspective of a 'psychologist.'"

Amamiya remained calm, his gaze fixed on Ako, looking directly into her slightly trembling pale blue eyes.

"From a psychological perspective... to truly understand a target, you must first approach it. However, the 'identity' and 'method' you use to approach the target will completely change the feelings you gain from it and your understanding of it."

"Psychological observation must be free from any subjective emotions or assumptions—in other words, the more you 'know a person,' the less you may actually 'know that person.'"

"Because your so-called understanding will be limited and directly influenced by various interpersonal relationships such as aspirations, admiration, friends, relatives, close friends, etc."

After letting out a soft "heh," Amamiya pushed up her non-prescription glasses, and for a moment the glasses seemed to reflect a chaotic and hazy light, like a mirage.

"Chief Administrator Tianyu... do you know? 'Aspiration' is the furthest distance from 'understanding'."

Yako felt a jolt, and for no apparent reason, she felt as if those words had struck her hard.

"...!!"

"You're 'admiring' the Chairperson, right? What kind of person is she in your eyes? Do you think that she, who can resolve everything decisively, is truly her real self? Can you see through that impenetrable exterior and truly find her inner self?"

"Can you share her pain? Can you heal her vulnerability? Can you contain and absorb her negativity? Can you be her support?... Ultimately... do you really understand her?"

"..."

Yako was slightly confused by what was said.

Ultimately, as a 'student,' no matter how much life experience she has, it's only a little over a decade, and it's limited to the academy and the circles between those academies.

She was unable to answer any of the 'sharp questions' that Amamiya had posed.

Do I really understand Chairman Hina?

If she could have given a positive answer not long ago... now, that certainty is now highly questionable.

Yes, she does know very well the Chairman's daily life, what he does every day, and some of his personal habits.

But aside from these things... what else could she possibly know?

What is the Chairman thinking?

She had no idea...

What is the Chairman worried about again?

While those troublesome and unpleasant gangs may make up a portion, they certainly don't make up the whole picture.

What is the Chairman hoping for?

...It certainly won't be a simple 'retirement' or no longer serving as the head of the disciplinary committee.

"I……"

My vision suddenly became a little blurry, and then my nose started to feel a little sore.

'The "cathartic therapy" taught by Professor Maruki... is indeed effective for this particular type of case.'

"I……"

After a brief period of confusion, Ayako's emotions erupted once again.

Realizing she was about to cry, she broke down completely, raising her voice slightly and venting her emotions with a tearful tone: "I... I really don't understand anything!"

"What...what should I do?"

"How can I better understand the Chairperson and help her cope with the pressure?"

“If…if you know, please tell me, Sensei!”

"Since you're a Sensei... you should have a responsibility to teach us these things!"

It really did break through my defenses directly...

"Of course……"

Amamiya nodded gently: "As a Sensei, I have an obligation to help you resolve your psychological issues."

The dual psychological therapies of mindfulness therapy and flow therapy allowed Amamiya to see that Ako's personality was clearly characterized by being "too rigid to break, too flexible to bend."

I will help you... but not now.

"After all... it's already quite late, isn't it?"

Ayako seemed to realize that it was unlikely to drag things out any longer, so despite feeling a bit unsatisfied, she nodded in agreement with Amamiya's suggestion.

“Sensei is right… Both Xia Lai and the Disciplinary Committee still have a lot to do. So, let’s part ways here today.”

Perhaps it was because she had truly vented her emotions that the 'blockage' in her heart was suddenly cleared away, and an extraordinary sense of relief and comfort made her take a few more glances at the face in front of her that she had only felt 'disgusted' not long ago.

【~???~】

Hmm...it seems to have suddenly become much more pleasing to the eye.

[...I sensed a slight trust from Ako.]

……

I am you...you are me.

Here you receive a new covenant.