I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"……Um."

Zi, with a hint of panic and hesitation, softly hummed in agreement.

After giving a gentle warning, Amamiya planned to find some excuse to call Hifumi away and have a little intimate time with her...

However, at this moment, Hanako suddenly started to 'perform normally' again.

She licked her lips, then suddenly half-closed her eyes with great interest. Her emerald green pupils and mature face seemed to instantly reveal a rather obvious seductive charm because of this action.

“Sen~sei~!”

Deliberately drawing out her tone to attract the attention of the four students in the tutoring department, Hanako then asked with great enthusiasm, "Is there anything special... like an 'extracurricular tutoring session'?"

Amamiya opened her mouth, but before she could answer, she was interrupted by Haru's urgent shout, "H-behavior is not allowed!"

"'Extracurricular tutoring'..."

Azusa, focused on the term, didn't misunderstand. Her calm and composed expression revealed a steady expectation as she looked at Amamiya.

Hanako continued her 'steady performance'. She chuckled as she dodged Koharu's attacks, while effortlessly 'retaliating': 'Koharu~ have you misunderstood something again? The 'extracurricular tutoring' I mentioned was just reviewing some 'special knowledge points'.

"Who would believe that!"

Xiaochun jumped up and down in a panic: "In short... indecent behavior is absolutely unacceptable! Extracurricular tutoring and the like... are also strictly prohibited!"

Amamiya: ...

It seems that it's unlikely I'll be able to build a bond with them anytime soon.

He sighed, having originally intended to invite Hifumi out.

"Well, it's getting late, so everyone shouldn't put too much energy into studying. Remember to balance work and rest..."

After uttering this final 'instruction' in a slightly weary tone, Amamiya left the cram school under Hifumi's reluctant yet somewhat helpless gaze.

The tutoring session at the tutoring center took up almost the entire day – by the time I left, it was already dusk.

Night has fallen; it's time to deal with the invitation from the night shift helper...

Thinking this, Amamiya was about to take out her phone when she suddenly heard the sound of a new bond being unlocked.

[...I sensed the admiration from Shirasu Azusa.]

Coopation is now unblocked!

【Baizhou Azuki (Tall Tower) ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Amamiya: "?"

Amamiya paused slightly, then began to recall her interactions with the 'Ice Witch' with whom she had barely spoken.

She was the one who initiated the least interaction with Amamiya among the four-person tutoring group throughout the day…

As a result, apart from Hifumi's bond relationship improving, only her bond relationship was unlocked?

And it's not even unlocked on the spot...

The reason it wasn't unlocked on the spot can be understood as 'deliberately deciding to relax guard after contact'.

Previously, the girls on the countermeasures committee were the same.

interesting.

What was her reason for 'admiring' him?

Is it because of...Arios?

After a slight pause, Amamiya took out her phone as usual and checked today's news.

[Saori: I heard that Sensei has been looking into Trinity Church recently...]

[Saori: We've gathered quite a bit of information too. Sensei, shall we make contact?]

'...'

[Iroha: Today I went to Sharai to look for Sensei, but Sensei wasn't there... (sighs)]

'...'

[Utahara: There's good news regarding the progress of the research...]

'...'

[Yuzu: Our game has been released, and we'd like to invite Sensei to the party...]

Among the messages, Amamiya even saw a message from the extremely special and mysterious 'Classic of Mountains and Seas'.

[Friend request from Ryūka Hisaki]

[Feisaki: I am the president of the "Xuanlongmen" student council at Shan Hai Jing High School. On behalf of Shan Hai Jing, I extend an invitation to you. Would you mind coming to Xuanlongmen for a chat?]

'...'

[Friend request from Yakuko Saa]

[Saya: I wonder if Sensei is interested in the 'mysterious alchemy'...]

[Friend request from Shigure Izayoi]

[Shigure: It seems Sensei hasn't been to Akatsuki yet. But Sensei's reputation has certainly spread throughout Akatsuki. If you're interested in coming here... perhaps I can host Sensei.]

Good guy.

Has his 'fame' already extended to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, and even to the realm of Chidong?

After accepting all these strange new friend requests, Amamiya opened Saori's chat page directly.

It's almost time.

Let's coordinate with Saori's team and also check on the situation of this squad...

Chapter Thirty-Two: My favorite character is Saori...Azuko!

Having made up her mind, Amamiya planned to arrange a meeting with Saori and her Arios squad via momotalk.

Saori's reply was very quick—even with an eagerness that suggested she had been waiting for a long time.

[Saori: Sensei, are you free? That's great...]

[Saori: Well then, I'll lead the team to Xia Lai immediately... We'll send you a message once we arrive.]

After this message, Saori fell silent for a while.

While replying to messages from the other assistants, Amamiya pondered whether it would be better to give Arius some special equipment that would facilitate their movements as a gift.

He thought of the gun parts he had previously purchased from Angel24, and the book he had read when he first met Yuki at the seminar that Yuka had taken him to.

Considering the unique nature of Arius's squad... I'll try making a weapon myself and see what happens?

……never mind.

It seems like Arius's squad isn't lacking in equipment.

Based on the tarot card warning of "Total Tower," Amamiya felt that rather than weapons symbolizing destruction, what suited them better were souvenirs that could be carried with them at all times to heal loneliness and provide comfort.

After making some preparations regarding the gifts, Amamiya took the evening train back to Charlemagne.

It was the same park we met last time, and the night was still dark and hazy.

After sitting under a conspicuous street lamp, Amamiya crossed her legs and leaned back on the bench, tilting her head back and starting to 'daydream'.

Shortly after, he heard a message coming from his cell phone in his pocket.

[Saori: The routine security and clearing operations have been completed...]

In the quiet park, where the moon was dim and people were few, footsteps gradually echoed.

A well-trained 'professional squad' came through the darkness, gradually appearing before Amamiya through the light of the streetlights.

Amamiya abandoned her relaxed posture and adopted a more formal stance, greeting Saori and her group.

"Good evening, Saori... Hiyori, Misaki, and Azuko."

Seemingly because it was their second meeting, the four-person group of Arius's team were at a new low in their wariness of Amamiya.

At least they are no longer distant, and they even openly show their wariness.

Just because she was greeted by her name, the girl with light green hair lowered the brim of her beret, and her eyes, which were already almost invisible under her bangs, became misty.

After displaying such a pitiful, almost tearful expression, Hiyori said, deeply moved, "Eh... I thought Sensei would forget about us side students who are left unattended..."

【~???~】(from Hiyori)

"That doesn't mean..."

Amamiya twitched the corner of her mouth, thinking to herself that this was far too much of an inferiority complex...

"In my opinion, everyone in Arius has a very 'deep' memory."

After a pause, Amamiya took out various desserts that she had recently bought from Trinity College and which were still warm and fresh from her shoulder bag, and said earnestly, "Everyone here is a very unique student... how could we possibly forget them?"

【~???~】(from Azuko)

【~??~】(from Misaki)

【~???~】(from Saori)

"This is……"

Azuko, who was given a small purple cake sealed in a box, seemed to have a hint of curiosity in her hoarse voice behind her mask.

After a moment's hesitation, the girl lifted her hood, which she used to keep warm.

With her movements, her long, light purple hair cascaded out of her hood like a waterfall, swaying in the wind like a purple iris blooming in an instant.

The girl, who seemed to have become much more 'refreshed' in an instant, slightly raised her head and looked at Amamiya with her red eyes.

"Hmm... dessert. I bought it before coming, a little gift for you."

Yajin blinked and stared quietly at the small box in her hand for a long while.

"so beautiful……"

She stared blankly at the pastry in her hand and sighed.

"While food should indeed be judged by its 'color, aroma, and taste,' appearance is not the most important factor."

Amamiya chuckled and handed Hiyori another box of cake: "Any food is good only if it makes people genuinely feel the happiness brought by the 'warmth of life'."

【~???~】(from Saori)

"What flavor is this...?"

Hiyori also noticed that her 'cake box' was light green, giving it a subtle, natural feel.

Looking at the box in her hand and the one in Akiko's hand, she compared them and asked curiously, "It seems to match our hair color... or the color of our aura. Is it custom-made?"

Yajinzi's cake was a light purple color, resembling a fragrant and beautiful flower.

"That's right..."

【~??~】

Amamiya then gave Misaki a small box decorated with deep red thorn roses.

Finally, he handed the cake box, which was decorated with several gingerbread men and looked like a 'hand-in-hand reunion', to Saori.

Among the four, Saori is probably the only one who has a relatively good grasp of common sense.

The other team members realized that these 'small cakes' were a 'delicious treat' that they probably wouldn't get to eat most of the time.

But Saori was very aware of just how expensive these personalized pastries, each with its own unique packaging, could be.

“Sensei… Thank you for thinking of us.”

Saori felt a little uneasy at the thought that "so much money was spent on something completely unworthy."

After a moment's hesitation, she said tentatively, "However... while I appreciate your concern, please... don't continue to spend money on us and buy such... gifts that have a particularly low cost-performance ratio."

The implication is that if you have so much money to burn, you should use it wisely.

Even buying basic necessities like vegetables and fruits, strategic resources like energy bars and stamina boosters, or stockpiling ammunition and supplies... which of these is less worthwhile than spending money on desserts?