I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"It's alright, it's alright..." Amamiya responded to the girl's guilt with a gentle smile, "If Azuko wants to contact someone or confide in someone, it's fine even if it's this late."

The girl in the picture smiled faintly as dusk approached.

"Sensei... I have a question I'm curious about. Could you tell me... where you learned your experience in 'flower cultivation'?"

“A doctor friend of mine told me this.”

Amamiya paused for a moment before speaking with certainty.

A flicker of joy at having her request granted crossed her crimson eyes, and Ajinko's voice seemed to brighten slightly as well.

'Um……'

Amamiya heard her soft response coming through the screen, as if she was anticipating what would happen next.

My doctor friend told me: "Life is something that will eventually fade away. Life is a cycle, a painful pilgrimage. But it is not a story that ends with death."

The girl on the other end of the communication channel pondered the seemingly profound philosophical statement, lost in thought.

After a pause of more than ten seconds, her gaze gradually focused and became bright again.

"...Sensei, could you grant me...a more capricious request?"

Amamiya felt a little helpless about the girl whose eyes seemed to be gazing into the distance.

"...Hmm? Is there anything Yazuko needs me to do?"

“Come find me…Sensei.”

After saying that, Yajinzi sent a location sharing message, and then she hung up the video call.

Chapter Thirty-Five: The Current Situation of Arius's Squad

The location sent by Ajinko was an area within the Trinity Self-Government District, resembling a 'slum'—

Following the trail, Amamiya soon spotted the old-fashioned apartment building standing in the wilderness, its lights dim.

To be honest... Trinity College, a self-governed school district that seems to be filled with 'magnificent splendor' and gives people the feeling of a 'rich area', actually has slums... This is something Amamiya didn't expect.

From afar, Amamiya could see several old-fashioned vehicles parked near the open-air parking lot. The ground, overgrown with weeds and covered with gravel, was exceptionally flat, yet it gave people a sense of 'tranquility'.

After finding the right angle, Amamiya leaped lightly, jumping dozens of stories high, and landed as lightly as a feather on the balcony where Azuko's phone had sent the last signal.

As she gently dusted herself off, Amamiya, who was standing on the balcony, also tried to open the glass door of the balcony.

Just like when the photo was taken, the balcony glass door was 'shattered'... The old-fashioned handle and the stiff, sticky feeling when you push it made you want to kick it hard a couple of times.

—That's probably how those extremely obvious cracks were left on.

Upon entering the room, Amamiya immediately took in the small but well-furnished 'cozy little nest'.

There was almost no decoration; everything was simple and practical.

On one wall of the entrance hall hangs a tactical whiteboard that was probably bought cheaply. The whiteboard is densely covered with clues that are obviously summaries of various intelligence and other traces collected by Saori.

Each member's bedroom door has what looks like an elaborately crafted cartoon portrait as a sign indicating 'private space';

There are four pairs of slippers of different sizes and styles on the shoe rack at the entrance.

In the corner were piles of gas masks and various strategic materials and equipment...

It's so full of life that it couldn't be more so.

"Sensei..."

The girl's deliberately lowered voice still seemed to hold a considerable degree of disbelief: "You... you actually came here because of my 'whimsical request'..."

“After all, Akiko is a ‘princess’,” Amamiya said with a wry smile. “A princess can make some demands as she pleases… and as a ‘knight’, I also have a duty to fulfill these ‘wishful demands’.”

【~???~】

"Sensei..."

Assuming no other members would disturb her, she cautiously approached Amamiya, blinking curiously and looking up at the young man in front of her, who, despite being dressed in all-black attire, shone brightly like a flame in the night.

After gazing at each other for a brief moment in those eyes veiled by the moonlight, Amamiya heard her ask such a 'complex' question.

"...'My lord,' has it always been this complicated?"

Amamiya knew what Azuko's seemingly nonsensical question was trying to express.

'...To risk one's life for others, even if it means facing death multiple times, is to try to pave a path for future generations.'

'Being able to sacrifice oneself for a complete stranger, and overcome any pain together...'

Fighting in a world unknown to others, risking death with every mistake, all for the sake of 'upholding justice' in this unconventional way…

'They seem to show an inexplicable tolerance for our "willfulness," but on certain issues, they are absolutely uncompromising...'

Have 'adults' always been such a complex group of beings?

"That's not always the case."

Amamiya answered confidently without hesitation.

Gently stroking the girl's long, light purple hair, which resembled a hyacinth, Amamiya then answered earnestly and gently, "The world of 'adults' is far more complicated than this... Let's not think about those distant futures for now."

The feeling of having my hair stroked by a strange, gentle hand... was very strange.

This was the first time Azuko had been treated this way—however, she neither disliked nor resisted the feeling that brought her a strange sense of warmth.

'...'

This enduring and stable warmth and care that could be drawn from Sensei through simple touch gradually gave Ajinko a sense of clarity, like the clouds parting from the sky.

Closer, even closer...

To experience this even more intimate tenderness, she almost subconsciously moved closer and closer... and then leaned on Amamiya's shoulder.

is that so……

So this is what it feels like to have someone to rely on and a home to live in.

"Ha ha……"

Suddenly I felt like laughing out loud.

As she slowly squinted her eyes in enjoyment, Akiko quickly recalled in her mind the changes she had witnessed in Saori and Misaki during this period.

After obtaining accurate clues about the Hall of Fame, Saori trains her body every day to maintain her energy and replenish her nutrition in order to awaken her Persona.

Even Misaki, who was always pessimistic, seemed to have a glimmer of hope for the outside world, as if she had been rekindled from the ashes... and began to practice her pistol shooting and close combat skills.

Even Hiyori, whose changes were the least noticeable, has recently shown some subtle, almost imperceptible changes—she has started collecting magazines on topics such as dressing up and fashion.

The changes in Saori and Misaki... must have been caused by Sensei.

They pulled us out of the mire of despair and showed us true "hope"...

"...Sensei."

Amamiya 'sensibly' slowed down his head-patting motion and looked down slightly at the hesitant girl.

"Well, what happened?"

Yajinzi did not hesitate for long.

She turned her head and looked at the deepening night outside the French windows: "In the future... when I'm alone, can I invite you to spend time with me like this?"

Amamiya composed herself and nodded seriously: "Of course."

[...I sensed a sense of dependence from Azuko.]

Coopation is now unblocked!

【Azuko Shirabe (Hope) ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

Upon receiving Amamiya's prompt and earnest reply, the girl smiled once again, revealing a pure and sweet expression.

"Well... as 'Princess,' Sensei... could you allow me to be a little more 'willful'?"

Amamiya maintained her 'serious' demeanor, exuding the aura of a wealthy noblewoman, and earnestly asked, "So... what else is there to do, my 'Princess'?"

【~???~】

After a moment of surprise, Azuko pursed her lips and gently shook her head.

"……No."

Sensei... Thank you for addressing me as "Your Highness" so calmly and gently.

If... I could really become a princess.

Then, without a doubt, you will be my "Prince" alone.

The girl, who did not show the complex sense of loss she felt at that moment on her face, thought for a moment and then asked, "Sensei, I want to know the specific dates for the exploration of the 'Hall'."

Yue—Yi Jiu Qi Liu Jiu Yi Shan (8) Liu Zhe…

What a coincidence that Ajinko asked such a 'good question'.

After a moment's surprise, Amamiya replied after a brief moment of thought, "If there are no unforeseen circumstances, this palace will be breached using a three-stage attack method..."

After telling Azuko about the current situation of the three people at the tea party and the current situation of Holy Trinity, Amamiya briefly described his own speculations.

"First of all... the three members of the tea party are 'imprisoned' in the temple. We need to break into the corresponding temple in the Holy Trinity area and rescue the members inside."

"Then, proceed to the palace in the foggy city to dispel the fog."

"Next, we need to rescue the second member and clear away the thorns in the halls of the foggy city."

"Finally, there will be the third member of the tea party... At that time, if all goes as expected, we will most likely face 'Madam' directly."

Amamiya did not explicitly state that at that time, the World Tree's temple might be partially integrated with the real world, resulting in a terrifying scene resembling the descent of a 'false god'.

Not only is it bad news to say it, it will only add to the sense of danger.

"so……"

As a good listener, Azuko, who hardly agreed or spoke, only nodded calmly and steadily after confirming that Amamiya had finished telling her all the news.

"We will prepare in advance."

Chapter Thirty-Six: Final Preparations Before Exploring the World Tree

The next morning, the bright winter sun rose as usual.

Amamiya yawned as her alarm clock rang precisely in the bedroom of an unfamiliar mansion. She got up and glanced at the room, which had an antique and elegant interior that gave off a 19th-century feel.

It has to be said that Nagisa's arrangements were quite thorough... She not only specially prepared a luxurious single room, but also meticulously planned out some details that could have been less important.

"Arona, there's no 'special contact' today, right?"

As Amamiya washed up and tidied herself up, she casually asked about the tablet she carried with her, which was currently tucked into her shoulder bag.

Alona's confident reply came quickly from the tablet: "Hmm... nothing special planned for today. Sensei, are you going to 'become a phantom thief'?"

By now, she has gotten somewhat used to the tablet occasionally 'losing its connection to the outside world (being blocked when entering another world)'.

"Of course I'm going to 'become a phantom thief'... Please contact Jing for me and tell her to meet after school this afternoon."

After talking with Alona about paperwork, Amamiya arrived at the tutoring department early and sat on the lectern to start working remotely using the Shitei no Hako.

After all, he was nominally sent here by Nagisa to "improve the academic performance of the cram school and prevent them from being expelled"...

Leaving aside the work of nurturing people, the most important thing is to do a good job of teaching.

Shortly after Amamiya took her seat, the sound of footsteps gradually began to echo in the corridor.

Amamiya sensed a shadow passing through the corridor and slightly shifted her gaze—then her eyes met those of Haru, who was peeking out from the doorway.

"..."

After their eyes met, Xiaochun, like a 'pink cat' reacting to stress, quickly looked away with a guilty and stiff expression.

'Difficult to imprint the ball's meaning, L enterprise Z dance (nine) Si. The leek that didn't open its mouth is a strange thing...'