I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Hanako Gradually Understands Everything

"Sensei... could I borrow a little bit of your time?"

Leaning against the door frame, half her body bathed in the warm glow of the morning light, the pink-haired girl looked intently at Amamiya and asked a question in a serious and calm tone.

Amamiya was momentarily surprised and taken aback.

Hanako... came here on her own initiative to pour out her heart?

He had originally thought that his relationship with Hanako would gradually deepen through constant testing and twists and turns... but it seems that this is not the case.

After a moment of surprise, Amamiya nodded, her expression calm: "What do you want to say?"

"about……"

Her chest heaved slightly, and the usually erratic Hanako seemed to take a deep breath before speaking calmly: "The question about 'another world'."

Amamiya didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he watched Hanako go from leaning against the door frame to walking into the room, carefully closing the door behind her and leaning against the door frame to gently shut it, before using her body to block the door.

This smooth little combo made Amamiya inexplicably hallucinate the short animation of 'Talking Tom swallowing keys'.

After locking the door from the inside, Hanako didn't speak immediately. Instead, she slowly reached for the first button on her shirt and carefully observed Amamiya's reaction.

After confirming that Amamiya had remained completely calm throughout, Hanako decisively abandoned any further attempts.

After adjusting her bow tie, Hanako got straight to the point: "Sensei... about when you asked Hifumi to do chores at Hara last time..."

A complex mix of thoughts flickered in her eyes, followed by a near-truthful speculation: "With your 'counter-surveillance capabilities'... you must have noticed us long ago, right?"

Amamiya didn't deny it: "So, what does Hanako want to say?"

"I just wanted to ask..."

Hanako remained silent for more than ten seconds before looking down at the ground and asking in a very low voice, "Why?"

Amamiya could tell that the question "why" contained several different meanings.

"Because I want to 'change reality'."

Amamiya looked out the window, took a deep breath, and broke the girl's deep reverie with a casual remark.

“A phantom thief needs companions… Walking alone in another world is a very dangerous thing.”

'Need a 'companion'...?'

This wasn't for any lofty reason like 'justice and righteousness' that she had imagined, which made Hanako pause slightly.

But after a moment of surprise, Hanako was relieved.

Indeed... having the determination to take the world into one's own hands is a magnanimity that not every individual can easily possess.

'On the path to changing reality, we need "companions"...?'

Hanako slightly raised her eyebrows, her gaze towards the young man on the podium showing a hint of concern.

She really wanted to ask, "Why did you choose us?", but after thinking about it, she gave up.

Why choose them? Isn't that simple?

That's because... their 'situation' was already quite precarious.

Just like the Phantom Thieves described in the Persona story, they are controlled by an evil god and will be on the verge of destruction if they are not careful.

In Hanako's view, the current state of Trinity is remarkably similar to that of 'Tokyo Shibuya,' where public opinion was controlled by an evil god.

Undercurrents are stirring; a storm is brewing.

Dark pain and sorrow brew in the cradle of despair;

Once the 'demon' is awakened...

He will feed on despair and plunge the entire Holy Trinity into turmoil.

The reason for this judgment is that Hanako saw the lofty castle in the sky, the towering World Tree, and the City of Eden that was faintly visible on the World Tree.

Amamiya's two poignant remarks still echoed in her ears.

"That's right... it's 'Eden'."

"However... it is the so-called Garden of Eden built up from the purest 'negative desires'."

Hanako believed this claim... because the concept of 'Eden' itself had an extremely exaggerated and impractical appearance.

It's even more of a castle in the air than a castle in the air.

Hanako, who is well-versed in the ancient books of Kivotos, knows that there is another well-known legend about the World Tree.

According to the restorer of that ancient book, it seems to be related to the 'fault' that occurred in Kivotos.

That famous legend is called Ragnarok.

Humanity in the Garden of Eden was expelled for committing the grave sin of consuming the forbidden fruit of knowledge. From then on, they developed self-reflection, leading to the development and evolution of numerous civilizations—

however……

"Sensei, do you think... we can do it?"

Thinking about the 'Ragnarok' that would follow, Hanako found it hard to imagine how chaotic the scene would be.

Can a team consisting of only a few 'Persona users' really stop such a near-annihilation crisis?

“The important thing is not ‘whether or not we can do it’…” Amamiya smiled and shook his finger, correcting Hanako’s statement, “but whether or not we have the courage to do it.”

"Hanako, since you've played games, you should know... the assistant in the Velvet Room calls me 'Trickst.' Do you know the true meaning of that word?"

Hanako nodded slowly, and the text about the definition of terms naturally came to mind.

The explanations of some of the difficult-to-understand terms were made public by the secretary of the seminar.

"Glossary - Trickster: A 'trickster' of fate. Resisting unjust fate, representing the existence of a 'spirit of rebellion'."

"If fate is unfair, then rebel against fate. If the world has problems, then correct the world. If God has made mistakes, then summon the King of Demons to punish him."

"It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the great sin of 'arrogance'... But I would say that no matter how desperate we are, we will never give up. Whether it is a beautiful illusion or a harsh reality, we have the 'arrogant courage' to face it and to negotiate..."

"If the Garden of Eden created by God contained no wisdom or hope, but only blind and foolish happiness, then the charlatan would not hesitate to launch a painful rebellion against the God who created it all."

"Leave the 'wisdom' for facing life to others, and send them away from the reality that is so hypocritical and unpleasant to them..."

As for right and wrong, let future generations judge.

"..."

Hanako clenched her fists slightly.

If I were to put myself in Sensei's position, would it be possible for me to ignite a rebellious will and summon my own Persona?

Will I become that rebel who will stand up and correct reality without hesitation when it becomes problematic?

She was a little afraid to think about it.

I dare not imagine how much "courage" it takes to make the choice to "go my own way even if it goes against the will of the whole world".

As the secretary of that seminar commented... it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the great sin of arrogance.

But it is precisely because of the idea that "once a decision is made, one should do it one's own way" and "leave the judgment of future generations to decide right and wrong" that it carries a unique and distinctive charm.

Hanako hesitated.

Just then, Amamiya's voice suddenly rang in her ears: "Have you noticed Hifumi's behavior lately?"

Hanako nodded silently.

Of course she noticed...

Hifumi's recent changes are quite significant...

Just like the ugly duckling in the fairy tale who turned into a swan...

Such a change is hard to go unnoticed.

"Then tell me..." Amamiya slowed her pace, "What caused Hifumi's change?"

Hanako shook her head, somewhat confused; she didn't know.

To be honest... she didn't know much about Hifumi.

How could anyone know what kind of beliefs would drive the other party to fight with their Persona mask?

"Actually, it's because she 'wanted to use her gradually maturing strength to protect more people'."

Amamiya's gaze was distant, and her voice gradually became ethereal.

"I don't want dark and depressing stories; I want more people to have the best ending."

"You decide the direction of your own story, you decide your own 'daily life of youth.'"

Hanako fell silent.

Hifumi's reason for using her Persona is so simple it's almost unbelievable—

Amamiya is 'just so I won't be lonely anymore'...

Hifumi's goal is to 'protect the youth and daily lives of more people'...

Is it simple? These reasons are unbelievably simple...

At least, it's much simpler than the so-called reasons Hanako imagined, like "saving the world" or "for the greater good."

The starting points are all very original and pure, and impeccable.

Is it difficult? As for the difficulty... Hanako can only think of a description from the ancient book "Classic of Mountains and Seas".

"The road ahead is long and arduous, but I will persevere in my pursuit."

"Hanako..."

"The reasons why Personas fight are actually very 'simple'. Their starting point is very pure... and it is precisely because of this purity that they have the courage to 'plunder even if the opponent is the whole world'."

"Even if you have the superpower to see into the future, so what... Humans are ultimately short-sighted and clumsy creatures."

"They are so clumsy that they exhaust all their strength just by grasping the happiness in front of them."

"But... that's fine, isn't it?"

"Is being able to grasp the happiness right in front of you... something to be 'disappointed' about?"

"People can only see and grasp the happiness in front of them... So what's wrong with that?"

"What's wrong with this carefree, sometimes ripple-like 'youth,' 'daily life,' and 'guns'?"

"What's wrong with maintaining the 'deep bond' that you've worked so hard to build?"

Amamiya's long string of questions left Hanako speechless.

indeed……

Why should we take such a long-term view?

Looking too far ahead isn't necessarily a good thing...

Being able to see and grasp the happiness in front of you is, most of the time, the right thing to do is to be able to see it and grasp the happiness before you.

It seems that the Phantom Thieves who ultimately climbed the World Tree and defeated the god in the story also harbored such a belief, which enabled them to endure the god's powerful attack that swept away all things, and ultimately gather the hope of all mankind to hunt down the god.

'...Why do you do that?'

The reason is simple... it's not to save the world.

'It was simply to protect my family and friends from harm, nothing more.'

“…I understand, Sensei.”

The girl's calm, serene eyes relaxed, and as if she had suddenly understood something, she gave Amamiya a gentle smile.

She parted her lips slightly, her tone exceptionally gentle as she expressed her gratitude: "Thank you for 'clarifying' my doubts, Sensei."

[...I felt Hanako's trust.]

Coopation is now unblocked!

【Hanako Urawa (Plants and Birds/Moon) ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆