I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

'Alright, next... let's go for a bike ride and relax...'

Chapter 4: Shiroko: Cycling, for fun. Sensei, wanna come along?

“Sensei…I’m here.”

In that instant when their eyes met, Amamiya clearly caught a fleeting tremor in the girl's heterochromatic pupils as she stood beside her road bike, having just lowered the bike rack and was drinking from a sports water bottle.

After screwing the cap back onto the water bottle and placing it back into the strap used to tie the bottle to the frame, Shirako seemed to think for a moment before trying to put on an unnatural smile, something she didn't do often.

Amamiya, riding out of the garage in his red and black Phantom with its 'phantom camouflage', waved to Shirako: "Good morning, Shirako."

A multitude of emotions are accumulating within me; surging and dangerous like a flood about to burst its banks—

But she didn't know how to express everything at once.

'Well……'

His gaze was fixed on Amamiya, and he hesitated for a long time before finally saying nothing.

The reason she couldn't express it wasn't because she couldn't understand what the emotions accumulating in her heart were—

Rather, it was because she found it difficult to say it...

I always feel that if it's just a casual, calm "confession," it's... not that profound?

Thinking back to the day the group went to Chaiguan Ramen for a celebratory feast, and the sunset I saw from another world after awakening my Persona—

Soon, Bai Zi understood... why he 'couldn't say it'.

It turned out to be like this...

Is it lacking something like... "artistic conception"?

All it takes is the right time, the right place... when everything is at its most profound... to speak out naturally...

"Sen, Sensei..."

My breathing became slightly rapid, and my throat, which had just been moistened, inexplicably became dry again.

Before she could lose her temper, Shirako tugged at her scarf, calmed herself, and reached out her hand to Amamiya: "Sensei... Let's not delay, let's set off immediately."

Amamiya rode his "Phantom" and came to Shirako's side.

"Before we officially set off, can I confirm with you... Shirako, do you have any cycling route plans?"

Bai Zi was prepared; the wolf ears on his head twitched several times in succession. "Hmm. The cycling route planned for Sensei this time is about 500 kilometers. Starting from Xia Lai, it will pass through the Trinity area and the vicinity of the SRT Special Academy area, all the way to the vicinity of the ancient Spring Leaf Plain, and then pass through the edge of the area of ​​the Classic of Mountains and Seas and the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons..."

When the topic of the 'cycling' arrangements came up, Shirako became a little more lively, as if he had opened a floodgate of conversation—Amamiya even thought for a moment that this might be the longest sentence Shirako had ever spoken to him since they met.

Following Bai Zi's instructions, he opened the electronic map and marked a few points. Amamiya couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Such a long distance...

Even outside of Kiwatos, under normal conditions with no interference and with wind speed and weather parameters in normal, a seasoned cyclist with plenty of stamina would need about a day (at least 24 hours) to complete the task.

can only say……

The students of Kivotos really have extraordinary physical abilities...

However, besides these examples of exceptional physical strength, there are also examples of people who are utterly humiliated by having "mediocre physical strength."

"Sensei... is everything alright?"

Shirako, noticing that Amamiya was checking the cycling route, did not speak. Instead, she waited until Amamiya put away his phone before lowering her head slightly, a little uneasy, and asked softly.

Amamiya shook her head and answered calmly and confidently, "No problem, Shirako's arrangement is very reasonable."

Hmm... for someone like Amamiya, whose physical strength is at the limit of human capability, it's still a bit of a challenge...

But for some students with average physical strength, running hundreds of kilometers a day is an extreme challenge that could exhaust them to death...

Moreover, there are also some students (I won't name names) who are physically weak...

For those students who were physically weak, this was practically a death sentence.

Feeling that his arrangement had indeed come in handy, Shirako seemed to naturally breathe a sigh of relief and reveal a 'successful' smile.

Then, in a slightly excited, almost eager tone, she asked, "So...shall we set off right away?"

“I’m fine… Is Shirako fine too? After all, you just cycled all the way from Abydos…”

【~???~】

Bai Zi was taken aback.

Sensei... is she concerned about me?

A subtle, indescribable warmth emanated naturally from her heart, intensifying the burning desire hidden within the girl's chest.

Why... why does the dryness intensify as soon as I feel this sensation, like a fire burning inside me...?

About a year or two ago, starting in winter, my emotions began to fluctuate like this...

But it seems that my emotional fluctuations have never been as intense and unbearable as they are today.

"...White piece?"

The girl, suddenly snapping back to her senses, quickly perked up her wolf ears and slowly shook her head to indicate that she was alright.

“I’m fine…Sensei, this level of riding is nothing to me.”

"In that case... let's set off immediately."

As Amamiya spoke, he stepped onto the pedals of his road bike.

"Ah."

With slightly chilled hands, which appeared even paler due to the cold, he patted his cheeks, then, after concentrating, Bai Zi deftly turned the bicycle around and rang the bell that symbolized departure.

'Jingle Bell--'

As the crisp sound of a bicycle bell rang out, the girl familiarly bent her body slightly and began to lead the way, gradually accelerating.

Amamiya followed closely behind on his "Phantom".

Experienced cyclists maintain a speed of 20-30 kilometers per hour for long-distance road cycling.

Clearly, Shirako deliberately slowed down to accommodate the possibility that Amamiya might be a novice rider.

But this slowdown is based on the feedback from Kiwatos's students...

Even experienced cyclists would get exhausted after riding at such a "super high speed" of 30 kilometers per hour for a little while.

However, Amamiya was very comfortable following along. No matter whether Shirako sped up or not, he could stay by Shirako's side without creating too much distance between them.

As everyone knows...

What Amamiya saw as nothing special following was an unprecedented and novel experience for Shirako.

You should know that... Bai Zi had always ridden alone before.

Given Abydos's situation, there aren't many students who enjoy cycling like she does... and there are even fewer other students she knows who enjoy cycling.

Even when I occasionally go on long-distance bike rides, I get to know a few students from other schools...

In Bai Zi's mind, the cyclist who could stay by her side like this all the time must be one of the best.

'Sensei...that's amazing...'

……

The highway stretched endlessly, with occasional vehicles coming from the opposite direction before slowing down and passing each other.

Amemiya offers a unique experience through long-distance cycling. While cycling, don't forget to divert your attention and observe the changing scenery around you.

Soon, they passed the border between Charlemagne and Trinity College and saw Trinity College's Victorian-era architecture, which resembled a castle.

At the same time, as Amamiya entered the vicinity of the Trinity self-governing area, he gradually saw many students with Trinity characteristics (wings on their backs).

It was early morning, the time when students were active.

As I passed by, Amamiya saw many interesting sights—

First, he saw the white-haired girl from Trinity who had played a significant role in the battle to disperse the thugs during the 'attack on the Sharai Building' when he first entered Givotos.

A girl with only a small white wing on her head, and distinctive white hair and red eyes.

She looked like she was on patrol alone...and stood out indistinguishably among a group of elegantly dressed or distinctive Trinity 'young ladies'.

Unlike Hasumi, who also comes from Trinity... Suzumi seems like a child who is often alone...

'Perhaps I should find some time to get in touch...'

At that moment, Suzumi seemed to have noticed Amamiya as well. Her eyes brightened slightly as she waved to Amamiya from a distance, greeting her.

Amamiya waved in response.

After the daily 'intersections'...

Amamiya then noticed several other noteworthy Trinity students.

A 'stranger' who walks by with Koharu, whom Amamiya knew, and who has long pink hair reaching her hips...

Holding an old book and dragging a small leather suitcase, the 'librarian' seemed to have just completed an 'old book transaction'...

A pink-haired 'little pink nurse' wearing a winter nurse's uniform and a nurse's cap, seemingly on her way to rescue the wounded somewhere...

and also……

A group of four girls, hesitating in front of a dessert shop...

Three nuns were preparing to go somewhere for morning prayers...

The number and peculiarity of the 'special beings' that the Holy Trinity can access are truly... no less than those from the Millennium era.

After memorizing the characteristics of these noteworthy assistants, Amamiya silently quickened her pace slightly to catch up with Shirako.

Chapter Six has developed a special relationship with Shirako; there's no going back...

“Haa…haa…Sen, Sensei…”

"Amazing……"

As the girl gradually warmed up from the 'continuous and prolonged exercise,' she slowly untied her scarf and wrapped it around one of her arms.

In order to 'dissipate heat', she seems to have started using a very primitive method of 'sticking out her tongue' to cool down.

With her pink, nimble little tongue lolling out, seemingly oblivious to the 'naturally adorable charm' she shook her slightly transparent shirt, which was damp from sweating during the long journey.

After taking a dry towel from her shoulder bag and wiping the fine sweat from her forehead and neck, the girl, who had been panting lightly, seemed to have calmed down. Her voice, which had been slightly unsteady, no longer carried a naturally alluring charm.

"Sensei... has amazing stamina."

His eyes were clear and bright, yet within them lay a chaotic flame—

She remarked this with a calm yet hopeful tone.

Amamiya thought to herself that her stamina was naturally high...

After all, before he entered Kivotos, he went to the gym every day to practice on the wooden dummy or went to the temple to meditate and hone his mental strength to reduce his 'weaknesses', so his endurance was naturally high.

As Amamiya handed him a bottle of purified water that she had just taken out of her bag, perhaps because of the long-distance exercise, or perhaps because of the emotions she couldn't suppress, Amamiya noticed a faint blush on Amamiya's cheeks, which were usually expressionless.

After taking the bottled water the girl tossed him, Amamiya leaned against the tree trunk, immediately unscrewed the cap, and drank a third of it in one gulp.

Then, he waved the hand holding the water bottle at Bai Zi and said, "Thanks, Bai Zi."