I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

If you just show Sensei your invention ideas and some project prospects... Sensei, as a kind adult who treats students well, should allocate some funds to support your research!

Ge Yuan lowered his eyes and sighed, "Then, the replacement and construction of the equipment in the Xia Lai Building should begin today."

There was a slight hint of disappointment in his words, but he quickly rallied.

"Now that we've accepted this 'special commission,' we will do our utmost to fulfill it to the best of our ability—a good impression is the beginning of long-term cooperation."

As she said this, Amamiya could feel the burning passion in the girl's purple eyes as she looked at him.

"Yes, what Kahara said is right..."

"A passion must never be extinguished, even if that passion has been betrayed a thousand times. I have clearly felt the passion of everyone in the Engineering Department for engineering-related matters... and coincidentally, I myself have some research experience in engineering, mainly in the area of ​​tool making."

Amamiya reached out to Utahara and grasped her outstretched hand.

"I think...we should have other topics besides 'formal cooperation'."

'The spirit of enthusiasm must not be extinguished...? What a wise saying...'

【~???~】(from the original song)

'Sensei also likes engineering...?'

【??~】(from Hibiki)

'As expected of Sensei, who commands such high expectations from all the academies…'

【??~】(from Kotori)

'Oh... this sparkly feeling! Sensei seems so easy to touch!'

【~???~】(from Yuka)

'He said something very philosophical without even realizing it... It feels like we've seen another side of Sensei.'

[...a collaboration invitation was extended to Utahara.]

I am you...you are me.

Here you receive a new covenant.

[As the saying goes, "Break through destruction to find the wings of resistance."]

Here you are bathed in the light of hope and blessed. You have obtained a fragment of the ultimate mystery of the "Pope"...

[To further propel us toward the future...]

……

[Coopetition restrictions have been lifted!]

[Shiraishi Utahara (Pope): ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆]

[★1 Ability Unlocked!]

【★1·The Soul of Craftsmanship】

[The Soul of the Craftsman: Learned from Chihiro, representing the 'soul of the craftsman' in making and inventing.' It greatly enhances creative and imaginative abilities when crafting tools and creating inventions. It also improves dexterity and observational skills.]

[Assistant Profile: Head of the Engineering Department at Millennium Technology Academy. Her inventive and creative abilities seem to be second to none throughout the entire millennium. She seems quite curious about the grappling hook I'm using, made from materials from another world...]

When should Sensei begin the 'renovation' and 'construction' of Xia Lai?

Holding Yuka's planning list, Utahara carefully checked the overall plan several times before asking Amamiya a question.

Thinking that Xia Lai might have even less time to deal with things like today, Amamiya decisively said, "Of course, the sooner the better."

“Okay…” Ge Yuan put away the planning list and said seriously, “Starting today, we will prepare various repair tools and purchase the necessary materials. Starting tomorrow, we will upgrade, replace, repair, and renovate Xia Lai’s infrastructure according to priority.”

Out of personal curiosity, Amamiya then spent the remaining one or two hours in the engineering department watching over the various bizarre inventions they had come up with.

Many of the inventions of the engineering department... in Amamiya's opinion, can only be described by a certain internet troll's words.

"If you were even slightly useful, you wouldn't be completely useless."

All things considered, the "Ranger One" is actually a fairly respectable invention—at least this "Hulkbuster Armor," apart from its somewhat unique pop-up function, can actually run and jump like the war armor Amamiya knew, and launch various hidden weapons.

It's practically like a mini Gundam.

Unfortunately, it still couldn't overcome the energy limitation issue. Despite being equipped with a powerful firepower system and AI fire control, it was just a device that could only operate for a maximum of half an hour.

Eight hours of charging and half an hour of activity is acceptable.

According to Utahara, Amemiya learned that they originally wanted to install a miniature reactor on the armor (similar to the Arc Reactor in Iron Man), but unfortunately, they were not yet able to compress the miniature reactor to be as small and safe as the Arc Reactor in Iron Man.

Listening to Utahara's longing for 'equipment improvement', Amamiya was truly sweating profusely.

If you explained the concepts of 'Kamen Rider' or 'Super Sentai' to them, they might actually be able to recreate them.

After the engineering department spent some time there, Amamiya Kasa prepared to go back in the evening.

"Let's talk about some 'special equipment inspiration' later... it's getting late."

As Amamiya spoke, she glanced at Yuka, who had been accompanying her the whole time and occasionally giving her 'secret hints', and finally waved to Utahara, declining the 'overnight invitation' from the three members of the engineering department.

“...That makes sense. Well then, Sensei, I'll be bothering you starting tomorrow.”

I love Yuka the most in Chapter 4!

When they returned to Xialai, it was already nearly dusk.

As the sun sets, its dappled rays fall on the Xia Lai Building, then refract through the glass and reflect onto the ground, transforming into clusters of warm-toned light.

"Phew... I really have to thank Yuka for this 'trip to the Engineering Department'~"

After letting out a long sigh, Amamiya exhaled a puff of white vapor that became increasingly visible as the weather grew colder in the setting sun.

【~???~】

The girl beside him paused slightly, and then Amamiya heard her 'sigh'.

“Sensei…it seems you have absolutely no resistance to those strange ‘mechs’ or similar creations…”

"Luckily, I went with you and stopped you at the crucial moment... Otherwise, you would have gotten excited about the strange mechs and invested a lot of money, right?"

This girl's arrogance, with its mix of pride and coquettishness, and her self-satisfied charm that makes Amamiya feel an inexplicable urge to pull the girl beside him into his arms right now, as if to say, "I really can't do without you, Sensei."

What exactly is meant by 'tsundere'?

They say all sorts of reluctant things, but their bodies are actually already doing the deed.

Even though they say all sorts of harsh things, they still unexpectedly care about you in the end?

Arrogant, arrogant... The most important part is not the 'arrogance' at the beginning, but the 'charm' at the end.

'Arrogance' signifies the expression of one's own personality, while 'delicate' signifies the 'fragile yet adorable side' hidden beneath this firm personality.

In Amamiya's view, the girl beside him, with her three parts arrogance and seven parts coquettishness, was the best and most perfect interpretation of the keyword 'tsundere'.

"Hmm... Sen, Sensei...?! Why are you looking at me with that smile?"

After his gaze met the girl's unique, clear, hibiscus-purple eyes, Amamiya sincerely remarked, "It's just that I feel that Yuka, who is genuinely thinking about me, is also very cute."

【~???~】

"Huh?—"

After a brief moment of stunned silence, the girl facing the setting sun deliberately put on a serious face, hiding the slight blush that was barely noticeable when facing the sunset.

"Sensei! I already said... no, don't say things that could be misunderstood!"

"As an adult, it's really... awful of you to always make fun of us students in such a 'disrespectful' way, isn't it?"

Amamiya promptly put on a troubled smile, as if she'd been lectured: "Sorry, sorry... I'll be more careful next time."

He scratched his head and chuckled softly, then muttered to himself, but Yuka could just barely catch the sense of distance in his voice, "But it's really because Yuka is just too cute, so I can't help but want to get closer to her..."

【~???~】

Her steps faltered again, and Yuka ultimately couldn't bring herself to utter any more harsh words.

"Um... anyway, I'd like to thank Yuka in advance for her help and promise..."

As Yuka walked into the office, Amamiya slowly, formally, and with great ceremony began to express his gratitude: "The initial construction of Xia Lai's various facilities... will be entrusted to Yuka's supervision."

When it came to the issue of Xia Lai's future security, Yuka took the topic very seriously.

She gave a confident "hmm" and replied, "Please rest assured, Sensei... I will do my best."

"So……"

"This is a 'special reward' paid in advance... Yuka, can you accept this?"

After making some preparations, Amamiya took out a sky-blue scarf from her desk drawer and, to the girl's surprise, put it on her.

"Why……?"

"Is this... a scarf...?"

Feeling the comfortable, fabric-like or velvety texture of the special material falling on her neck, Yuka was slightly surprised.

"Yes. Winter is gradually setting in in Kiwatos, and the weather is getting colder. Even with the protection of the aura, remember to keep warm."

The scarf of the goddess of wisdom

[Type: Equipment/Accessory]

[A scarf woven from otherworldly silk fabric, crafted with protective power by the goddess of war and wisdom, Athena (Arcana: Chariot). This is an extremely precious work of art imbued with the protective power of the goddess of wisdom.]

[Olive's Blessing: The wearer will not suffer any negative effects on physical health, such as "epidemics," "poisoning," or "diseases."]

Of course, Kiwatos has a scarf.

But this fabric, this material... I don't think I've ever seen it before.

Gently stroking the scarf's unique fabric texture with her hands, and referring to the two gifts she had received before... Yuka already had a clear guess in her mind.

This scarf... was probably knitted by Sensei in her 'spare time' while handling her affairs.

Or perhaps it was one of the personal belongings brought from outside Kiwatos.

Feeling the warmth the scarf brought her, Yuka suddenly had a feeling that 'the season between autumn and winter doesn't seem too cold.'

An indescribable warmth ignited within her, giving her increasing courage and a sense of comfort.

"...Thank you, Sensei. I...will cherish it."

【~???~】

'...I've captured Yuka's heart like never before!'

Seeing the three blue sixteenth notes floating from Yuka's body, Amamiya also breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at the setting sun.

If we don't count the 'automatically free' Calamity Fox, this is the first time he has truly gained the highest level of 'Sixteenth Note' favorability from the person he helped through his own actions.

[...I sensed Yuka's unwavering conviction.]

Cooperative status has been improved!

【Yuka Hayase (Temperance) ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

……

★3 [Assistant's Profile: Not cold-hearted at all, a 'cold-blooded Calculator,' a member of the Millennium Research Conference. After getting to know her better, I sensed a 'shining quality' emanating from her. Beneath her 'cold' exterior to outsiders lies a lovely, special 'inner self.']

"Although it's getting late... there's still a little time left..."

"Um……"

After seemingly pondering for a moment, the girl looked up at Amamiya, who was about to move space for the engineering department.

"Well... before we leave, let's use this last bit of time to help Sensei with the work from the Federation Student Union as much as possible..."

With considerable work experience, Yuka's work efficiency is clearly admirable.

Moreover, when Yuka is by Amamiya's side, she will receive the blessing of Amamiya's "Most Perfect Omen" (Aru's bond skill), which will make her already amazing work efficiency "go up to another level".

Just half an hour before the last train back to the millennium, Yuka helped Amamiya process nearly a hundred paperwork assignments sent by the Federation Student Council that day with astonishing speed.

……

"Well... Sensei, thank you for your help today..."