I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

The moment the door opened, Hifumi seemed slightly surprised, then quickly forced an awkward smile and waved to Amamiya: "Sorry, Sensei... I'm sorry to bother you so late."

Amamiya showed a hint of surprise. He stepped aside and casually asked, "Hifumi? Is there something... private that you've come to see me so late?"

"Um……"

The girl pursed her lips tightly, and seemed to flinch for a moment.

Meeting the gaze of that young man, who always gave her a sense of warmth and reliability, her tension gradually eased.

"I... need to thank you specifically."

Her golden eyes gradually relaxed, and Hifumi suddenly tilted her head back, saying earnestly, "Thank you... for giving me this opportunity... for allowing me to participate in such a 'special stage'."

"Thinking back on it carefully, ever since that encounter at the black market near Abydos... Sensei, you really... changed me a great deal."

Amamiya remained silent, quietly watching Hifumi and listening to her increasingly fluent monologue, which seemed to be opening up a floodgate of words.

"Back then... I recklessly went to the black market, and by such coincidence and chance, I stumbled into Sensei's sight, and thus, I formed the first bond with Sensei..."

At this point, she couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"We barged into each other's 'world'... and from that day on, I... finally became the 'protagonist' of my own life."

Like a dream, it's just like a fairy tale where "there will eventually be a happy ending".

"So... thank you, Sensei. You've shown me a much wider world... and made me realize that everyone can be 'extraordinary'."

"Or rather... it was Sensei who made me realize that what is called 'ordinary' is actually a very unique kind of 'special'."

The girl's eyes held a look of reminiscence, as if gazing into the not-so-distant past—

"Looking back, I was really an 'idiot' back then... I kept misunderstanding Sensei's meaning, and then I unknowingly established such a special relationship with Sensei... and under the influence of a subtle mindset, I have maintained this feeling to this day."

"It started with 'observing other people's stories,' and then 'being inspired by these stories to try to become extraordinary and to try to help more people'..."

"During my time as the 'Phantom Thief,' Sensei... you really taught me so much, so much."

Amamiya nodded gently: "Hifumi did her best."

【~???~】

The girl, slightly embarrassed by the pat on the head and the compliment, chuckled softly, "Hehehe..."

"But... the life lessons I learned from Sensei taught me that simply 'effort without direction' is meaningless—"

After a brief moment of relaxation, the girl's expression turned serious again: "If it weren't for Sensei making me the 'protagonist'... even with all my efforts, the effect would probably have been minimal."

The girl knew it in her heart.

Faust is Faust because he has the help of the devil Mephistopheles—which is why Faust can experience the five acts of tragedy in a supernatural way and finally see the end of life.

But if it weren't for Faust... perhaps she wouldn't have experienced such a story, reached the end with her companions... and become the person she is now?

Without Mephistopheles, Faust might just be Jean Valjean from Les Misérables.

[The Phantom Thief]—a life of wandering beneath the otherworld constructed by the mind, upholding justice in the name of evil...

An act to sever an unfair fate and reclaim a future...

The resolute attitude towards the master of the hall after issuing the announcement...

The sincerity when sharing one's own "story of youth".

All of this is just like what Mephisto showed Faust—if only such a life didn't exist.

Can she get this far on her own?

【~???~】

"...Thank you, Sensei. Thank you again... for being my Mephisto."

Her breathing became slightly erratic, and her previously steady emotions wavered once more.

Her golden eyes were misty with tears, and the girl's voice trembled with sobs: "But the [Mephisto] in the story... will leave Faust after he sees everything clearly."

"That kind of 'tragic ending'... I don't want to see it. I don't want it."

The girl, who remained fearless in the face of oppression from the "False God Beatrice" in another world and delivered her unique "declaration of youth," now revealed a rare, intense, almost tangible, reluctance to part.

She thought of her persona, Faust; the last words that lingered in her ear before merging with Mephisto.

"'You are so beautiful, please stay.'"

The last line in the old opera—legend has it that it is also the last line spoken by Faust before his death.

"Sensei..."

She pressed her lips together tightly, whispering almost pleadingly, "So...so..."

"Although I know this is a rather capricious request, I will still say it."

"Could you... stay by my side forever?"

"Even though I've been through so much with Sensei, I'm still greedy."

"I greedily want this story to continue forever... I greedily want to stay by Sensei's side forever, I greedily want to experience more stories with Sensei..."

Amamiya smiled gently, pulled the girl into his arms, and held her close, expressing his meaning through direct actions that spoke louder than any words.

Leaning close to the girl's ear, Amamiya chuckled and teased, "You've fallen... Hifumi."

This clearly teasing remark made the girl breathe a sigh of relief.

She pouted in dissatisfaction and replied in a coquettish tone, "It's all because...Sensei is the seductive 'Red Devil'."

—Mephisto is the red devil who plans to entice Faust to fall.

His plan failed, but instead it allowed Faust to see the truth of life.

And yet, with Faust as his Persona... knowing full well the considerable danger lurking in the phantom thief's actions and the ensuing future, he willingly follows.

In a way, he can be considered a "Faust who actively throws himself into temptation".

"So...Sensei, would you be willing to stay by my side as the 'Red Devil' in my life from now on?"

The girl in his arms tilted her head slightly, looking hopefully at Amamiya.

Amamiya's response was simple, gentle, and resolute.

"of course."

[...I sensed a deep bond emanating from Hifumi.]

You are me, you are me.

"Here, you transform the promise into a blood oath, binding it for rebirth."

"The bonds that bind us are becoming wings of rebellion, shattering the shackles of our souls."

"Now you have obtained a fragment of the ultimate mystery of the 'Fool'."

"Bathed in the light of bonds, I find blessings."

"I grant you boundless power..."

Coopation has been improved!

[Coopation level is maxed out!]

【Hifumi Ajitani (The Fool) ★★★★★★★★★★ (MAX/MAX)】

[★10 Super Awakening Skill - 'One-Act Duet' is now unlocked!]

【★10·One-Act Two-Person Play: From Hifumi's profound bond, one can feel the satisfaction she derives from being the 'protagonist of her own life'.】

[When two people are together, significantly increase the goodwill gained from the person providing assistance during collaborative activities.]

"Life is a one-act play—it begins at birth and ends at death." "So, may I invite you...to join me in constructing that one-act, two-person play?"

"Well, since Sensei has already agreed..."

After letting out a long sigh, the girl chuckled mischievously: "Sensei... this was specially prepared for you."

"Exclusively for you..."

"A special 'one-man show'."

[...he and Hifumi engaged in a special "one-man show."]

Chapter Forty-Nine: A Special Invitation from the Classic of Mountains and Seas

(Savings: Drove all night.)

(What? You're asking where to read the missing chapters?... Haha.)

A ray of light at dawn temporarily roused the girl, who was still in the afterglow of her frenzy.

As the sunlight streamed through the window, she rubbed her eyes, still half asleep.

"Um..."

After unconsciously letting out a cute and innocent sleepy sound, a slightly chilly feeling on her body suddenly woke Hifumi up.

Sigh... myself...

Wearing only pantyhose?

She wasn't even properly wearing her pantyhose; they were pulled down to her knees...

Oh right, yesterday...

Thinking about what happened yesterday, the girl's cheeks suddenly flushed red.

Looking around, and seeing Amamiya sleeping beside her, Hifumi's already shameful thoughts instantly intensified.

No...no...

After shaking her head to temporarily dispel the strange thoughts, Hifumi dismissed ideas like "good morning kiss," which might be almost like giving something away for free.

She had a feeling, a feeling that "if I did this, the consequences would definitely be dire."

"I'm so thirsty...I really want some water..."

Licking her lips, which were dry from lack of moisture, the girl tried to climb out of bed to find something to drink.

However, as soon as she tried to move, she discovered...

My body was still as weak and limp as it had been the night before.

Not only that, my legs were so weak that I couldn't stand up at all.

After letting out a soft sigh, Hifumi finally wrapped herself in a blanket and stopped making pointless attempts.

【ding dong——】

The tablet that was charging on the bedside table suddenly emitted a notification sound, which was probably a good morning alarm. Immediately afterward, the voice of an energetic and refreshing AI girl came out before the screen even lit up.

"Sensei—Sensei~? Are you still sleeping?"

"It's already morning~~? Sensei... wake up!"

"If Sensei doesn't wake up soon, Alona will... will stop talking to you!"

Hifumi, who was curled up in the blankets recovering her strength, paused for a moment. She reached for the tablet on the bedside table, unplugged it from its charging port, and pointed the screen at herself.

The screen automatically lights up when a face is detected.

An AI girl, like a sea sprite, suddenly appears as the screen lights up.

"Sensei, really, you're so lazy today..."

Alona, ​​who was half-closing her eyes and looking 'reproachful', suddenly stopped when she realized that the target of "automatic wake-up by facial recognition" was not right.

"Hmm...? Not Sensi?... Hifumi from Trinity Academy?"

Hifumi was also stunned.

She looked at Alona on the screen with some curiosity: "You... how do you know my name? And why are you on the Sensei tablet?"

"I am Sensei's AI assistant, Alona."

On the screen, Alona briefly introduced herself, then suddenly realized something, made a disgusted face, and said in a cold, disdainful tone, "The one who got the Shitei Box is Hifumi-san... So, Hifumi-san is with Sensei...?"

'At this time...with this performance...'

'That womanizing Sensei, he really couldn't resist making a move on a student after all...'