I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

As a result, the boss focused on this department because of this major client, without getting to know the boss at all... Then the boss became jealous and wanted to suppress this high-performing department?

Workplace dramas... is this how they're written?

Amamiya's lips twitched, she took a deep breath, pinched the bridge of her nose, and really didn't know what to say.

That said, Hina had mentioned several times before that she needed to contact the Pandemonium...

Then Iroha from the Pandemonium also sent messages to me every day.

However, because I had other things to do, I neglected and made excuses about it...

In Makoto's eyes, could this be a manifestation of "that hateful Hina Sorasaki is so close to Sensei, yet she refuses to help her contact Sensei"?

...Don't say it.

Perhaps that's really possible.

After pouring out her grievances, Hina seemed to feel much better.

Keeping things bottled up will only make things worse.

The best way to express emotions is through tears, followed by venting through tears.

"……That's it."

Throughout the entire process, Amamiya continued to stroke the girl's head and cheeks, listening as the exhausted girl finished speaking her last words.

"I see……"

After responding with a slightly amused and exasperated tone, Amamiya continued softly, "Hina, it's getting late... it's about time you rested."

"Have a sweet dream."

Under the hypnotic influence of Amamiya's "Voices of the Stars," Hina finally succumbed to the overwhelming drowsiness, yawned, and gradually closed her eyes.

【~???~】

[...I felt a sense of security coming from Hina.]

Coopation has been improved!

【Hina Sorasaki (Judgment) ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

After leaving a text message for Iori, who would see it the next day when she opened the office door, Amamiya lightly picked up Hina and teleported back to her residence with a single 'teleport'.

Afterwards, Amamiya settled the sleeping Hina in his bed for the time being.

'This can't go on forever...'

'To prevent Hina and the Disciplinary Committee from suffering any longer, it's time to make contact with the Pandemonium.'

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Blue Devil's 'Christmas Gift'

The snow continued to fall softly during the Christmas season.

'Sensei...'

“Sen~sei~ Ah…no, Jok~”

Compared to yesterday's tranquility, today, almost as soon as Amamiya opened her eyes, she heard two blessings from the 'AI beautiful girl', almost one after the other, at the exact same time.

"Merry Christmas~"

"Yay, Merry Christmas, Jok!"

As usual, I got up and glanced out the window—the snow-covered landscape and the leaden sky created an exceptionally serene atmosphere that was breathtaking.

After rousing himself, Amamiya first picked up the tablet in the Shitei no Hako and looked at it.

The interior scenery of Shiting Box seems to change along with the weather.

The once sunny and bright ocean-view classroom is gone, temporarily transformed into a cozy scene next to a fireplace, similar to an indoor space. The desks in the scene have been pieced together in a strange way to form a Christmas tree.

Correspondingly, Alona also changed into a bright red 'Christmas dress' with white velvet trim.

Seemingly realizing the 'order of priority' that Amamiya had taken, Alona's mood noticeably improved.

She leaned close to the tablet screen, waved to Amamiya at very close range, and then took out a student file.

"This is a special 'Christmas gift' that Alona prepared for you, Sen~sei~!"

The AI ​​girl smiled sweetly, slapping the file onto the screen with one hand while shaking the bell decoration hanging around her neck with the other.

'Ring ring~ Ring ring~'

'Jingle bells~'

As she swayed somewhat clumsily, a 'tone-deaf' Christmas carol began to play.

Amamiya glanced at the colorful file Alona had posted on the screen and casually signed his name in the signature area.

With a whoosh, accompanied by a reversal of colorful light effects, a young girl with upright fox ears and a large fox tail swaying behind her emerged from the file folder.

Amamiya paused for a moment, inexplicably feeling a sense of familiarity that seemed to emanate from through the file folder.

[Assistant: Kuda Izuna / The Lord's Apprentice Ninja]

[Arcana: The Magician (Le Magicien)]

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

'This is……'

After carefully examining the file, Amamiya realized that these were students from the Hyakki Yagyō Academy.

Speaking of this name, haven't I seen it before...?

After thinking it over carefully, Amamiya remembered when she last saw this name—shortly after she formed a bond with Sora, when Sora gave her a list of visitors she knew, and Izuna's name was on it.

(The Collapse of the "Tower" - Chapter 12)

At that time, Amamiya was someone whose name was known but not who he was.

Now, we can see the person through the full-body photo attached to their student file.

I feel she looks a bit like Wakazama for some reason...

Are they all 'foxes'?

"Thank you, Alona!"

Amamiya reached into the screen and rubbed Alona's cheek as she squinted and happily hummed a Christmas carol.

【~???~】

After entering this student's file, which felt strangely connected to Xia Lai, into Xia Lai's records, Amamiya also paid attention to Sophia.

Unfortunately, Amamiya's phone doesn't have the kind of "black technology" that Shittei no Hako has, so under "normal circumstances," Amamiya can't interact with Alona like she does.

Having partially digitized himself, Amamiya reached out and poked Sofia's cheek through the screen, then smiled and greeted her, "Merry Christmas, Sofia..."

"The 'Christmas present' prepared for Sophia may be a little delayed—but Sophia probably already knows what it is, right?"

Sofia, who was inside Amamiya's phone, certainly knew what the 'Christmas present' was.

A body that she can move around in, infinitely realistic.

【~???~】

After a brief silence, Sofia's voice, choked with emotion, came through the conversation.

"Thank you Jok for the 'Christmas gift,' I'll be looking forward to it."

After interacting with the two AIs beside him, Amamiya pondered what he should do today...

A rare Christmas.

The Federal Student Council even gave everyone a rare day off, so as a member of Sensei, Amamiya naturally wouldn't be assigned any work today.

Therefore, even the morning business processing procedures were skipped.

After changing her clothes and tidying herself up, Amamiya went out—and unsurprisingly, she ran into Toki, who was also dressed in a Christmas outfit, near a shared living room in the residential area.

This common living room seemed to have been cleaned early in the morning, and its unique arrangement, from the wooden floors and the retro brick and stone wall design to the specially added fireplace, all exuded a Christmas atmosphere.

The girl sat by the fireplace, half of her body illuminated by the warm, flickering light of the flames.

She sat near a Christmas tree with boxes piled up below, clutching a Perolo plush toy, and looked slightly tired.

Sensing the gaze, the girl, who was resting alone, slightly raised her head, curled her lips slightly at Amamiya, and revealed a smile that was probably quite 'luxurious' to her.

"Master, good morning."

Although his voice remained as cold as ever, the 'concern' in it was noticeably better than in the first few days after he arrived.

"Morning..."

Amamiya responded somewhat lazily, then carefully examined her unique attire...

A red camisole bra paired with a strangely-looking off-shoulder dress, simple white socks, and slippers that looked even more 'dry and unrefined'... In addition, the reindeer-shaped headband pendant on her head was also particularly interesting.

But isn't this outfit a bit too...?

Did they treat Xia Lai as their own home?

Feeling Amamiya's gaze, Toki hugged the pillow tighter, showing a rare hint of 'shyness'.

"Master...do you have any objections to my attire?"

“There’s not much to object to,” Amamiya shook her head. “I’m just a little curious why you’re dressed like this.”

She rested her cheek on the cushion and tilted her head to think for a while.

Then, she suddenly showed an expression of sudden realization, as if she had just understood.

"I learned about this from some 'Christmas maid culture.' It's said that maids dressed like this can effectively increase their master's interest and motivate him."

Amamiya: ...

Now he has every reason to doubt whether Shi really 'failed to learn'.

After helplessly looking up at the sky, Amamiya calmly praised, "Well done... Remember not to learn this kind of nonsense next time."

“If you really want to learn ‘what a maid should do,’ I can teach you.”

【~???~】

Shi nodded silently without giving a verbal response.

She was slightly surprised when she saw that Amamiya seemed to be planning to go out: "Sensei... are you going out?"

"Well, it's Christmas after all... there are quite a few agreements to take care of."

"……so."

Shi's voice paused for a while, and then, whether with resentment or loneliness, she let out a long sigh and offered her blessings in advance.

"Mry Christmas."

"Yes, Merry Christmas."

……

After leaving the Xialai residential area, Amamiya began to consider how to 'visit' those assistants with whom he had established special relationships in order.

After all, it's Christmas, a great opportunity to deepen your bond with someone you have a special connection with...

Hina was still in a deep sleep, and Amamiya estimated that she definitely wouldn't wake up until noon.

This way, I should have one opportunity to go out and develop a relationship in the morning, then spend time with Hina at noon, and another opportunity to develop a relationship in the afternoon...

In the evening, it was Yuka and Noah's 'pajama party'...

Let's think about where to go in the morning first.

That being said, it's been a while since I've paid attention to Abydos...

How about we go to Abydos in the morning and then to Trinity in the afternoon?