I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

But in reality, Abydos's impression space was hardly affected.

However, since Amamiya was not there to lead the group, and they were worried that if they went to the other world rashly, they would be affected by some strange magic, so the countermeasures committee did not rush to explore the other world.

Another point concerns the current situation of the countermeasures committee...

At this point, Ayane seemed a little curious.

"Sensei... what gifts did you prepare for the others back then?"

Thinking about the special gift she received that she could only use when she was alone, Ayane became very curious about the gifts that the other members of the Countermeasures Committee received.

The 'parting gift' she received from Amamiya was a seemingly ordinary notebook that, no matter how many pages she turned, seemed to have no end. This notebook could not only record her innermost emotions in real time but also draw maps of the surrounding terrain...

It even allows the owner to 'view' and truly experience the moment that was recorded anytime, anywhere.

Hearing Ayane's question, Amamiya feigned confusion and asked in return, "Didn't anyone reveal the gifts they received to others?"

"Um……"

Ayane hesitated for a moment and then slowly nodded: "Everyone values ​​the gift from Sensei very much... It seems like no one else has ever used it."

Amamiya smiled and said, "Since everyone has their own little secrets to hide, it's a bit inappropriate to ask me about them, isn't it?"

"makes sense……"

Ayane lowered her head, looking slightly disappointed.

To be honest, she was very curious about what gifts the other people received...

But it is indeed wrong to pry into other people's secrets.

In fact... the gifts that Amamiya prepared for the five girls on the countermeasures committee were all rather special.

"I really can't tell Ayane what the 'gift' was..."

Amamiya abruptly changed the subject, asking, "Ayane... could I touch your ears again?"

"Hey?!"

"Is...okay...?"

[...I sensed a sense of closeness from Ayane.]

Cooperative status has been improved!

【Ayane Okuzora (Moon) ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

【★Skill 3 is now unlocked!】

【★3·Like Welcoming the New Moon】

[Like the New Moon: Your presence is like a newly risen moon, bringing a serene and tranquil peace, composure, and reliability to others in the night. This further enhances your ability to gain favor with those whose personalities are associated with the 'moon', especially in the evening.]

[Assistant's Profile: A serious and adorable girl, and also the 'only normal person' in Abydos. Although she has escaped the academy's crisis, she is still working hard to revive the academy... Usually serious and adorable, she unexpectedly has a 'special side'...]

'Later, we discussed Ayane's ears for a while...'

'It wasn't until the afternoon, because the situation in Abydos was not optimistic, that Ayane was sent back ahead of schedule...'

Chapter Twenty-Four: What were the gifts everyone received...?

As evening fell, she returned to her familiar campus, which was usually almost deserted. After a whole day of 'anxiety', the girl, whose lively elf ears had been stimulated to the point that even a gust of wind and sand felt particularly unbearable, finally protected her ears with both hands and returned to the club activity room of the Countermeasures Committee.

'Woo...'

'Sensei's technique is just too...'

The thought of being repeatedly touched on the ear while on duty today filled Ayane with a shy feeling that she "absolutely did not want to be seen by the other members of Abydos in this state."

Just as she had made up her mind to 'take a short rest and then go back to rest', the door to the club activity room of the Countermeasures Committee was pushed open with a 'whoosh'.

With a squinting smile, Nomiya remained in the act of pushing the door open, his figure bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun.

Her smile, as always, naturally conveyed an indescribable sense of friendliness, yet her gaze relentlessly lingered on Ayane, whose emotions—shyness, guilt, and panic—were almost teetering on the edge of her seat.

The silence, though only a few seconds long, felt to Ayane as an eternity.

"Yo~ Ayane-chan, it seems like I haven't seen you all day..."

“Ah, ahahaha…”

Feeling guilty, Ayane gave a dry laugh, deliberately avoiding Nomiya's insightful gaze and trying her best to hide her obvious expression.

"Hehehe..."

Nomiya also 'laughed,' but compared to Ayane's embarrassment, her smile had a more 'meaningful teasing' quality.

"It seems... Ayane-chan had a very good day..."

As soon as Nomiya finished speaking, Hoshino, who had been waiting by the door behind her, peeked out and looked at Ayane, who was already blushing with embarrassment, with her unique blue-gold heterochromatic eyes.

"If we weren't bullied by Sensei, then we can rest assured..."

Just as Ayane was already so ashamed that she almost fainted, something even more despairing happened.

A pair of gray wolf ears, which kept repeating the sound of 'drooping' and then 'standing up', then popped out.

"..."

"It tastes like Sensei."

Ayane was startled.

Bai Zi's 'sense of smell' is far superior to that of the other members...

Did she sense something?

"Since you've been in contact with Sensei, it's only natural that you have a slight Sensei scent on you..."

Celery sighed, breaking the awkward atmosphere with an envious yet resentful look and tone.

Ayane: "...Ahahaha."

"But speaking of which... what exactly do you do as a student on duty in Xia Lai?"

The questions that Serika asked next further eased Ayane's tension at having her little secret exposed and being spied on.

After secretly letting out a sigh of relief, Ayane expressed her gratitude in her heart to Serika for 'unintentionally defusing the situation'.

Regarding the responsibilities of the "duty student"...

Ayane selectively recounted some of her observations and feelings in Xia Lai—of course, the things about touching her ear first and then having her ear bitten... she definitely couldn't talk about them.

As Ayane narrated, the other girls became thoughtful, and then they all looked at Ayane seriously with eyes that were either inquiring, doubtful, or 'insightful'.

It's obvious—Ayane must be hiding something.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been in such a strange state after coming back.

(ii) O二侕1 鏾0捌$ But what exactly was being concealed...?

That makes me really curious.

Feeling a little uncomfortable being the center of attention, Ayane hesitated for a moment before ultimately choosing to run away.

Escape is shameful but useful.

"Well, it's getting late, and I still need to organize my experience in helping Sensei with paperwork... Well, goodbye everyone!"

After hastily dealing with a few questions, Ayane decisively chose to 'run away'.

……

The other four girls on the countermeasures committee watched as Ayane left prematurely due to excessive shyness and emotional turmoil, and they all fell into deep thought.

"Sensei's 'duty clerk quota'..."

Muttering to himself, Hoshino reached into his shirt pocket and gently gripped the peculiar puzzle piece.

This was the 'parting gift' she received—a jigsaw puzzle called 'The Sun God'.

[It is said that the jigsaw puzzle was made from the remnants of a broken sun. Holding a fragment of the puzzle in your hand, even when it is incomplete, gives you a feeling of warmth and comfort.]

'Hoshino—always remember, a jigsaw puzzle is made up of many pieces. Even if just one piece is missing, the whole puzzle becomes incomplete and imperfect. Admittedly, perhaps an imperfect puzzle has a certain poignant beauty in its incompleteness…'

'But I think you wouldn't want to see the countermeasures committee truly 'fall apart,' would you? If we consider Abydos as a puzzle piece now…'

'Until you find the newest puzzle piece, your best course of action is to protect it.'

Feeling the warmth and comfort emanating from the puzzle pieces of unknown material in his hands, Hoshino's wavering belief gradually strengthened.

Perhaps it's time to begin my "training as a senior" ahead of time...

"It seems Ayane is alright... Well then, let's call it a day for now..."

Hoshino's departing figure trailed the afterglow of the setting sun, leaving behind a long shadow.

'What exactly happened...? I really want to know...'

Celery seemed to be lost in thought.

Thinking about her recent situation and the 'gift' she was wearing, her inexplicable desire to see Sensei grew stronger.

The 'parting gift' that Celery received was a pair of shoes—a very special pair of shoes.

【Cinderella's glass slipper】.

These shoes seem to embody the hope of Cinderella's transformation and the magic of a glamorous midnight. Light as a feather, they can transform into any type of footwear. However, only a chosen princess can wear them. They enhance the wearer's charm, movement speed, and the power of their kicks.

'This is the legendary glass slipper that Cinderella received... and it's also an important proof that the "prince" recognized her identity.'

"Celice is always busy and needs to run around, right? I hope these crystal shoes that can transform into any shoe can help Celice... They can help 'my dear princess' relieve foot fatigue, remove dirt from her feet... and truly make them 'spotless'."

'However... it should be noted that, as these are "midnight magic" shoes, their transformation and self-cleaning functions will temporarily cease to work at midnight.'

"..."

With light steps, Celery ultimately chose to leave.

Although she no longer has to work odd jobs or worry about financial difficulties... perhaps because she used to work odd jobs so often, she finds it hard to stay idle.

'I need to be more proactive in the future...'

"The road bike prepared for Sensei has been painted, and all the customizations will be completed tomorrow..."

Shirako is probably the only one among the girls of Abydos who is very easy to understand even if she doesn't show her emotions on her face.

Because she directly expressed her thoughts.

"Let's invite Sensei out for a bike ride next time... Let's plan the route first..."

After taking a sip from his personal sports drink bottle, Bai Zi nimbly started running, his figure disappearing in an instant.

The 'parting gift' she received was a special sports water bottle.

Water bottle for desert travelers

[A sports water bottle embodying the resilience of desert travelers. It automatically refills every thirty seconds. If the user wishes to drink a different type of water, it can be replaced after thirty seconds.]

'This is a water bottle that'll never be finished... Shirako must really enjoy cycling and similar sports, right?'

This water bottle contains an inexhaustible supply of water and provides a faster and more convenient way to replenish energy and fluids than drinking high-energy sports drinks.

"..."

After Ayane, Hoshino, Shirako, and Serika left one after another, Nomiya was left alone in the club room.

'Sensei really is... always so unpredictable.'

Looking at the empty club activity room, the girl sighed softly, turned off the lights, and locked the door.

Shaking the barely noticeable chain bracelet in her hand, she hummed an unknown ballad passed down from ancient Abydos, her figure swallowed by the afterglow of the setting sun.

The 'parting gift' Nomiya received was the most special one—a 'broken chain' made of an extremely unique material.

The Iron Chains of the Unruly