I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"So, Sensei wants to..."

Amamiya gradually became serious, and while adjusting the heat of his boiler, he said earnestly, "I want to... improve my cooking skills."

"Therefore... I would like to ask Fengxiang to teach me some knowledge and tips about 'cooking'."

Eh?

Teaching...Sensei...culinary knowledge and tips?

Fengxiang paused, momentarily feeling that the idea of ​​'asking a student for advice as a Sensei' seemed rather absurd.

"It's okay, it's okay..."

Fengxiang didn't hesitate—although it sounded a bit absurd and abnormal.

But... if it's about teaching others how to cook, I shouldn't have any problem with it...

With that thought in mind, she ultimately agreed to Amamiya's 'request'.

"If Sensei wants to improve her cooking skills... I can teach Sensei in my spare time..."

Amamiya was overjoyed and sincerely thanked her with her hands clasped together, saying, "Thank you, Kaede-kun. I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life."

Maple Leaf: "..."

【~???~】

'There's no need to be so formal...'

Suddenly adopting a helpless expression resembling that of a dead fish, she thought to herself, "I feel like I'm dead."

However, compared to the "Four Hungry Men" who would kidnap her at the drop of a hat, Sensei's "humbly asking questions" attitude was much more pleasant.

"After all, Xia Lai might become increasingly busy, so she might have less time to learn culinary skills in the future... Therefore, Feng Xiang, may I invite you to join Xia Lai in advance as a 'chef' or 'nutrition consultant'?"

"This might reduce the number of times Kaede is 'kidnapped'..."

...How can I reduce the number of times I get kidnapped?!

Thinking about it carefully... it does seem to make sense?!

Once I'm on duty at Xia Lai, I won't have to worry about... at least not about the supply department on my day of duty.

Moreover, Xia Lai clearly doesn't need to prepare meals at a high intensity for a hundred people at the same time... Even if she really had to cook, she would only be cooking for a dozen or so students, including Sensei...

For Maple Leaf, this level of intensity was practically like a holiday.

"I'll join."

Her tone and breathing became slightly more rapid, as if she had seen a glimmer of hope in life. The girl raised her head slightly and, with a resolute determination to sever ties with the past, immediately agreed to Amamiya's invitation.

[...I sensed the determination emanating from Kaede.]

……

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 "love"...

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

……

[Coopetition restrictions have been lifted!]

【Love Qingfengxiang (Romance): ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

【★Skill 1 is now unlocked!】

【★1·The Heart of the Chef】

[The Chef's Heart: By observing Fengxiang's cooking methods, we can summarize the focus and spirit she puts into cooking, and thus feel the heart behind her 'culinary skills'... If we add this heart to our dishes, perhaps they will taste even better.]

[Assistant's Profile: The head of the supply department at Gehenna Academy. It seems her exceptional culinary skills have caught the eye of the Gourmet Research Club… She possesses a submissive personality and an angelic aura that is almost entirely different from the rest of Gehenna's style.]

However, this same woman is a 'superwoman' who single-handedly maintains the entire food system of Gehenna. To resolve her own troubles, she decisively accepted my invitation and decided to join Xia Lai…

"Since Fengxiang has agreed to join Xia Lai... then sign your name here."

Amamiya took out the Shittei no Kita and showed the 'student file' interface that he had prepared beforehand to Fuuka.

Fengxiang naturally had no reason to hesitate—thinking that joining Xia Lai would significantly reduce the possibility of her being 'kidnapped,' she signed her name without hesitation.

"So... next, there's a gift that's like an advance payment to Fengxiang, roughly equivalent to a 'becoming a disciple' gift, which I'll give to Fengxiang."

Amamiya took out the jet-black 'feather hairpin' and, under the girl's slightly curious gaze, explained simply, "This is a special amulet... its name is 'Hermes' Wings,' and it is said to grant the wearer freedom from all constraints at any time."

As soon as Kaede received the hair clip from Amamiya, she immediately sensed its 'special nature'.

It's a kind of inexplicable feeling, a sense of 'unbound freedom' that you feel as soon as you wear it.

'Sensei... Is this a gift specially prepared for yourself...?'

Noticing the "unusual" nature of the gift, Fengxiang carefully used it as a hair clip, attaching it to the right side of her head to help secure her hair.

【~???~】

"Thank you for the gift, Sensei."

'...He firmly grasped Fengxiang's heart!'

I believe you'll like this gift even more once you understand its true purpose.

Amamiya turned off the stove of the curry pot she had prepared, and then served the steaming hot and spicy curry.

"Before coming to Kivotos, I had done some research on 'curry,' a special style of cuisine, which was taught to me by a café owner."

"Now... let's present it as a 'work' that allows Fengxiang to experience the basics of my cooking skills."

As she smelled the sweet and intoxicating aroma of 'spicy curry,' Kaede heard Amamiya's gentle and soothing voice again.

Lost in the unique fragrance, she suddenly snapped back to reality, only to find that Amamiya's figure seemed to have simply 'disappeared'.

In the empty kitchen, only the echoing words, "I hope Fengxiang will take good care of me in the future," remained.

【~???~】

'Is this curry that Sensei specially prepared... to let me define my culinary skills...?'

After taking a sniff of the steaming aroma, Fengxiang found a seat nearby and picked up a spoon...

She had barely taken a few bites and hadn't even had time to savor the aftertaste when she suddenly heard an explosion and felt the wind rushing through the air.

'boom--'

"I think... I smell it..."

"'The taste of delicacies never before experienced? I[I、令弍侕亿僄冥岜I ?I〢道'..."

She froze, looking in the direction of the sound.

A huge hole was blown into the kitchen, and amidst the billowing smoke and dust, a nightmarish figure emerged through the smoke and mist.

Fengxiang paused, looking at the imposing 'Four Hungry Men' and then at the curry she had only eaten a few spoonfuls of.

...That's it!

Chapter Nineteen: The Girls of the Engineering Department Open the Door to a New World

As dusk fell and the city lights began to twinkle, Amamiya arrived back in Sharai just in time for the last train, 'without incident'.

'Thank goodness I made it back just in time for the last train... otherwise I would have had to use my Persona ability to fly back...'

After returning to the club activity room in Xia Lai, Amamiya realized that Yuka had left early, perhaps because she hadn't been able to wait for him to return.

Before leaving, she compiled the progress of the engineering department's work into a complete form, pressed it down with a book she found on a bookshelf, and placed it on Amamiya's office desk.

Putting aside the book "Youthful Girl Gun," which has a strange title, Amamiya was surprised to find it was actually a literary work. She picked up the form and looked at what the engineering department had done that day.

It must be said that the infrastructure in Kiwatos is indeed admirable.

While it can't compare to directly repairing a broken mirror with magic like "Reunion," which can be done with a wave of the hand...

But it's already quite efficient and very pleasant.

"The three-person team from the engineering department are still resting in Xia Lai today..."

After gazing at the night sky outside the window and pondering for a moment, Amamiya made her plans for the day.

After declining the invitation from the students who were free to move around at night, Amamiya planned to go directly to the engineering department's camp to discuss the manufacturing of the "bionic body" with them.

After busying herself in the 'kitchen' of the velvet room, Amamiya packed the three-part bento boxes she had made, which were even more delicious and 'psychedelic' thanks to the blessing of the 'Chef's Heart,' into different boxes.

Looking at the bento box carved from the trunk of the World Tree, Amamiya nodded gently.

[The Feast of the Fates: A dinner prepared with the assistance of the three Fates—Uld, Verdandi, and Skadi (Arcana: Fate)—that seems to contain a trace of the power of fate, bringing good luck to the diner for a period of time.]

This would also be a good opportunity for the three girls in the engineering department to showcase the uniqueness of these 'otherworld materials'.

After preparing the bento, Amamiya carried the bento box, which looked like it was filled with the 'wild and untamed beauty' of primal life, and went downstairs.

Just like last night, the three girls from the engineering department were sitting around a technological creation shaped like a 'campfire' with twinkling stars floating around it, seemingly discussing something.

The commotion as Amamiya approached the camp naturally drew their attention.

Just as she was about to say something, Utahara noticed Amamiya approaching and deliberately interrupted herself. She then got up and came to Amamiya's side, smiling and waving at her in the warm yellow glow of the 'campfire': "...Sensei, good evening."

The girl's bright light purple hair was blown by the evening breeze, and the night in front of her and the warm colors behind her were coated with a color that was almost like 'inner highlights', which was a blend of cool and warm colors.

"It smells so good... Did Sensei prepare dinner bento boxes for us again today?"

Kotori quickly moved closer, squinting her eyes and gently twitching her nostrils like a puppy, sniffing the aroma from the bento box in Amamiya's hand.

Finally, there's Hibiki. Compared to Utahara and Kotori, she seems more reserved and hesitant to approach Amamiya too abruptly.

"Um... Sensei, good evening."

After greeting the three girls from the engineering department, Amamiya distributed the bento boxes she was carrying to them.

"Oh... today's bento box... looks like it was just roughly made of raw wood?"

After receiving her own bento box, Kotori felt a very slight, yet very noticeable, cute 'gurgle' sound coming from her stomach.

Even though she knew the sound was from hunger, she wasn't embarrassed. Instead, she chuckled and said, "I've been waiting for Sensei for ages... If this keeps up, I'll really get addicted to Sensei's bento boxes..."

Although Kazuhira and Utahara were not as direct as Kotori, they both showed a hint of melancholy when they heard this unintentional "remark".

They inexplicably developed a 'habit that's hard to break'... which is indeed a problem for them.

"Oh...today's bento box...!"

"Is it just my imagination...? It seems even tastier than yesterday?!"

Kotori has already started showing off her food.

While eating, she even gave her own 'food appreciation comments' in real time.

"Today's bento box is different from yesterday's... Yesterday's bento box gave me a sense of security and mystery, as if I were 'merging into the darkness.' But today's bento box gives me a novel feeling, as if every bite is different..."

"It's like grabbing a box of chocolate chips with a completely unknown flavor and eating it! Also, the texture is somewhat... 'natural' compared to my previous evening bento. It felt like eating an entire wilderness in one bite!"

【~???~】

In comparison, Utahara and Hibiki were not so 'out of control', or rather... they were not the type of people who liked to talk so much that they couldn't wait to express even how they enjoyed their food.

However, they all praised Amamiya's bento, which seemed to have undergone another transformation.

【~???~】(from the original song)

"Indeed... Sensei's bento boxes seem to taste even better now."

【~???~】(from Hibiki)

"Sensei's cooking skills have improved again... It's delicious."

After the girls had finished their bento boxes and scraped off every last bit of grease, Amamiya finally spoke formally: "Let's continue the topic we didn't finish last time... about the creation of the 'bionic body.'"

Utahara seemed to have something to say as well. After wiping the grease from her lips, she nodded eagerly with bright eyes: "Perfect timing... I also have something I want to say to Sensei."