I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

However, Hanaya's proposal did remind him of the SRT Special School, which he had not dealt with before.

SRT Special Academy is a sharp blade in the hands of the Federal Student Council President, "a weapon held by someone who never makes a mistake."

Now, the person who used this weapon has disappeared... Logically and emotionally, this weapon should also be "dismantled"... No, a more accurate way to say it is "turned into a plowshare"?

Currently, Sharai has added the Arius Special Forces to his armed forces...

The demand for SRT is even lower.

Huaye's intentions are still to be verified... However, the final destination of SRT is now out in the open and a problem that must be faced now.

After a moment's thought, Amamiya finally wrote her opinion in the blank area of ​​the document.

Regarding the handling of SRT, Amamiya's idea was to maintain the academy's "reputation"—but gradually stop everything related to the academy.

Simply put, it's 'dead in name only'...

No, it should be said that it was streamlined to the level of the Abydos Higher Institute.

The academy still exists, and the Fox and Rabbit squads are considered its core members. Recruiting has ceased, and most SRT students have been reassigned to the Valkyrie Police Department.

“That’s all…”

Having finished today's tasks, Amamiya, feeling carefree, stretched and loosened her slightly stiff body from sitting for so long.

'Finally, it's my free time today.'

"Who should I ask out to today...?"

With this thought in mind, Amamiya was about to take out her phone to check out today's momotalk.

However, before he could do anything, a phone rang quickly in his ears.

Amamiya frowned slightly as she looked at the landline on the table.

—Normally, no one calls Xia Lai's landline... Students contact him directly through momotalk.

It's rare for someone to call the landline today... Who could it be?

Amamiya approached the landline and looked through the electronic screen at the IP address on the other end of the dialer's line.

"A Night Parade of One Hundred Demons...?"

Chapter Six: What Dose The Fox Says?

Amamiya paused for a moment when she saw the IP address of the caller displayed on the landline.

'...A Night Parade of One Hundred Demons?'

Amamiya's understanding of this academy falls into the category of "both knowing and not knowing".

He said he understood because he acquired the bond skill "Déjà Vu" from the president, which gave him knowledge about the various academies in the "Academy City" of Giwotos.

Amamiya's knowledge of the "Hyakki Yagyō United Academy" came from the student council president.

In the president's mind, this was a very... special academy.

Regardless of the jurisdiction of the academy, from the academy itself, it is a special academy that can be described in almost a single sentence.

【The castle tower from the Edo period, situated on water】.

The academy itself is conservatively estimated to be more than 60% water, followed by Japanese-style pavilions that resemble Edo-period architecture.

Furthermore... the academy's long history and mysterious nature seem to be second only to the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

Limited by the president's knowledge, which granted him the Bond Skill, Amamiya could only understand this much through the president's Bond Skill.

'A phone call from the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons...could they have some ulterior motive?'

With that thought in mind, Amamiya answered the phone anyway.

A brief commotion came from the other end of the line, followed by a panicked girl's voice: "Ah...? It really went through? What do we do, what do we do...?"

...It seems like there was no expectation of getting through in the first place?

Before Amamiya could even ask the standard question, "This is Xia Lai, what are your requests or requests?", another girl's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Calm down, Chairman! Inhale, exhale..."

Amamiya simply stopped and picked up the receiver to listen to what else was happening on the other end.

As the breathing on the other end of the phone gradually calmed down, Amamiya then heard the first girl's voice: "Excuse me, is this Xia Lai's phone number?"

Amamiya responded calmly, "Yes. This is the Federal Investigation Department - Sharai. I am Sharai's Sensei."

"Ah...right, that's great!"

A slightly relieved, soft sigh came from the other end of the phone.

"Excuse me, um..."

"Please allow me to introduce myself... I am Shizuko!"

"She's the chairperson of the 'Festival Operations Committee' belonging to the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) Joint Academy!"

"and……"

After a pause, Amamiya heard a slightly strained, business-like voice come from the other end of the phone: "Also serving as the mascot for Hyakuyado☆Nyan~"

Amamiya: "?"

One second she's saying she's the chairman of the committee, and the next she's immediately switching to a cute, business-like voice.

It feels a bit like...

Those telemarketers who change their tune incredibly quickly, or virtual streamers who suddenly change their tune every now and then to ask for donations?

Fortunately, the 'business voice' that made Amamiya feel slightly uncomfortable only lasted for a moment, and Shizuko's tone returned to normal immediately.

"Well... I'm calling you this time because... we're holding the Spring Festival at the Hyakki Yagyō Joint Academy, which is, the 'Hyakura no Haru no Sakura Festival'!"

"Calling Sensei to cordially invite you, teacher, to attend the event known as the 'Cherry Blossom Festival'!"

Amamiya immediately understood.

It is early spring now, and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

Hyakki Yagyō Academy is an academy that specializes in tourism and service industries and has a large number of tourist attractions—in theory, the cherry blossom season in early spring should be a good time to "generate revenue."

"Cherry Blossom Festival...?"

As soon as Amamiya asked, Shizuko on the other end of the phone seemed to have triggered some kind of conditioned reflex, and immediately began to enthusiastically introduce: "Yes, the Cherry Blossom Festival of a Hundred Nights of Spring, or Cherry Blossom Festival for short—this time, we plan to carry out an unprecedented innovation!"

"Considering you might be very busy, would you be willing to attend our celebration when it's convenient for you?"

It sounds like the kind of promotional language tour guides use to attract customers...

Amamiya chuckled inwardly.

As Sensei of Charlene, and also the "phantom thief" who is widely known throughout the Giwatos network, Amamiya felt that he was probably a very popular public figure within Giwatos.

And to attend the cherry blossom festival yourself... in a way, is it like inviting a celebrity to be your spokesperson?

"There's one more thing, though it's not a big deal, but I'd like to discuss it with you, Sensei."

"If you could come... we would be very happy! Well then, goodbye!"

The person on the other end of the phone seemed certain that Amamiya would attend, and hung up before Amamiya could say anything.

Amamiya: "..."

Tell me some details about the event.

Feeling helpless, Amamiya put down the phone.

Immediately, his phone received a new message notification from momotalk.

[Received a friend request from a new contact - "Kawa and Shizuko".]

Amamiya clicked "accept," and immediately he received several messages from Shizuko.

[Shizuko: [Image]]

[Shizuko: Because it includes a map of the venue, we sent you the promotional poster for the "Cherry Blossom Festival".]

[Shizuko: Also, Shizuko is really, really looking forward to it when she heard that the teacher could come!]

[Shizuko: Well then, we look forward to your visit at Hyakuyado!]

Amamiya opened the brochure with the activity point guide map and looked at it... Then she realized that it really felt like a travel agency salesperson suddenly calling you and trying to sell you a certain travel agency, making you want to go on a trip.

Since things have come to this, why don't we go and take a look?

Remembering the promise she made with the girls at the seminar not long ago about a "hot spring trip to the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons," Amamiya thought for a moment and then decided to accept Shizuko's invitation to go and see the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.

The hot spring culture of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons is second only to... no, it should be said that it may even surpass Gehenna.

Gehenna is built along a volcano and has natural hot springs.

And the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons... Due to the same natural elements of terrain and climate, hot springs are also quite popular.

Consider it a preliminary scouting trip...

With this in mind, Amamiya took a short rest.

After informing Arius's squad, the current security force of Xia Lai, of his departure and destination, Amamiya boarded the train to the Hyakki Yagyō Joint Academy.

After waiting in the car for about an hour, Amamiya could feel that the scenery in front of him was gradually... "returning to its original simplicity".

Suddenly, the feeling of modernity brought by reinforced concrete disappeared, and the scenery rushing past the train windows on both sides turned into a vast wilderness in early spring.

As the train entered the territory of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, Amamiya could clearly feel a... kind of 'rural climate' enveloping him.

It evokes a sense of nostalgia.

After getting off the train and leaving the station, Amamiya stood for a short while on this 'country road' within the jurisdiction of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.

After reminiscing about the past, Amamiya followed the navigation and headed to the location of the cherry blossom festival that Shizuko had mentioned.

Soon, Amamiya gradually felt the lively atmosphere of a festival celebration.

At the same time, a touch of cherry blossom pink appeared in his eyes.

The pink color doesn't come from the cherry blossom trees beside me, but from the enormous cherry blossom tree at the far end of my field of vision, nestled in the middle of a cluster of ancient Japanese buildings. It's so huge that it can be described as reaching to the sky and touching the ground.

For some reason, the moment Amamiya saw that enormous cherry blossom tree, the image of another tree flashed into her mind—

【Touhou Project】- Saigyou Ayakashi.

Legend has it that the tree associated with Yuyuko Saigyouji was also an enormous cherry blossom tree.

Tapping.

Whistle rustle~

As Amamiya's gaze lingered on the enormous cherry blossom tree, a landmark of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, he gradually heard the chaotic footsteps that seemed out of place with the festive atmosphere.

It sounds like they're chasing each other...

Amamiya squinted and looked in the direction from which the noise was coming.

Relying on the phantom thief's hawk-like sharp eyes, Amamiya saw the scene in the distance—

Three girls of completely different builds, but all dressed in similar red and white shrine maiden outfits, are chasing each other...

Another girl, dressed in a dazzling Japanese haori, with a refreshing and unique look... a fox-eared girl?

The fox-eared girl, who was being chased and had no choice but to run, quickly surveyed her surroundings under Amamiya's watchful gaze. Then, with the agility of a ninja, she leaped up and moved lightly between the buildings.

After landing steadily in Amamiya's spot, the girl felt Amamiya's gaze as if it were 'destined' or 'telepathic'.

The pair of light yellow, fur-lined fox ears on her head twitched, and sensing something, she turned her gaze toward Amamiya.

"...My lord?!"

Chapter Seven: Izuna: Aspiring to Become the Strongest Ninja

"...My lord?"

Upon seeing Amamiya, the fox-eared girl seemed somewhat 'out of her mind'.