I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

(Related plot: Chapter 30 of Volume [The Fool])

"What's the outside world like?"

From such a simple question, countless answers can be derived, as numerous as the stars in the sky and as abundant as grains of sand.

Her violet eyes, frozen like a lake as the girl's thoughts stagnated, clearly reflected the curly-haired youth sitting across the table.

The other party's slight doubts, their occasional little actions, and their unwillingness to give up their 'small greed' even though they had clearly accepted Yuka's kindness.

"What's the outside world like?"

At the time, Amamiya's answer to this question was, "Everyone sees a different world."

This statement is very philosophical, yet it seems to say nothing at all.

Just like "no two leaves are the same, no two snowflakes are the same".

It sounds philosophical, but from a rational perspective, such an answer is meaningless.

But Noah, being a 'literary girl,' simply loves such philosophical yet 'meaningless' answers.

"Sensei..."

She lowered her head slightly and looked at the tea and snack set that had been casually placed in front of her on a small plate.

A small teapot, a cup of tea, and a cherry-pink cookie that seems to be covered with cherry blossom petals.

Noah paused slightly as he caught sight of a signboard not far away that displayed 'Meal Package Details'.

【Cherry Blossom Time Set Meal: Cherry Blossom Cookies + Hundred Nights Tea】

[Introduction: This shop offers the most cost-effective and relaxing special set meals~ Currently, during the cherry blossom festival, there are additional discounts available~]

'Cherry blossom-colored days...?'

After a long pause, under Amamiya's slightly puzzled gaze, she asked her question: "Could you tell me... what is the outside world like?"

After asking the question, Noah couldn't help but chuckle.

The same question... brings up completely different feelings at different stages of getting to know each other.

Amamiya picked up the perfectly chilled 'Hundred Nights Tea', took a small sip, and gave a different answer quite frankly: "Now, Noah has seen it too, hasn't he?"

"I should be the most representative of the keyword 'the outside world'... In your eyes, is there anything different about my 'cognitive scope'?"

Noah gently shook his head.

Her 'observation' of Amamiya has lasted for a period of time that is short in the grand scheme of life but long in the grand scheme of daily life.

This "dawn star," which still shines in its own dark night sky, continues to emit a distant, fleeting, yet deeply familiar light.

The stars in the sky are quite distant to stargazers on Earth.

For them, the stars are untouchable, perhaps existing only in the brilliance of a distant past—

Noah once read a very romantic statement in a book: "The stars we know may originate from the brilliance of billions of years ago. The starlight that shines so brightly in our eyes today may have long since faded and crumbled."

Previously... the girl always thought that she was quite far away from the "dawn star" that shone on her.

But now... she feels as if this star has already fallen before her eyes.

It still shines brightly and is still dazzling, but it no longer gives people the feeling of being "unbearable to look at" as it used to.

"In my eyes... Sensei, you're not particularly special... but you're also quite 'special'."

Noah deliberately emphasized the word "special" when he said the second "special".

“Sensei, do you remember the first time I asked you this question?”

Noah asked a question he already knew the answer to.

To cater to the artistic and sentimental heart of the 'literary girl' in front of him, Amamiya patiently and earnestly replied, "Of course I remember."

"At the time, I told you... 'Because everyone sees the world differently, it's impossible to give an accurate answer to the question of what the world is like.'"

Noah nodded, smiling slightly as he pressed, "So, are you going to give the same answer now?"

"Do you think I'm some kind of dialogue AI that gives different conclusions in every conversation?" Amamiya smiled helplessly. "What's the point of giving the same or different answers?"

"Indeed, there's no point in dwelling on such questions..."

A gentle breeze drifted into the room, bringing a slight chill.

Noah, who was about to say something more, frowned slightly and looked out the window at the sky, which had darkened somewhat.

The sky, which was clear and sunny not long ago, now appears to be covered with dark clouds, as if frost is about to fall.

For areas where "Hyakki Yagyō" (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) takes place, such sudden climate changes are a common phenomenon.

It's even a fairly positive and common phenomenon.

After all... a cherry blossom festival with snow has a much better atmosphere than one without snow.

Turning his gaze away from the window, Noah sighed softly, "It looks like it's going to snow."

"Sensei..."

Exhaling a puff of dissipating white smoke, Noah asked in a very solemn and soft voice, "I'll ask you the same question one last time..."

Amamiya quietly watched Noah, waiting for this 'literary girl' to continue asking questions.

A wisp of cold mist seemed to gather between the girl's brows, and her naturally white hair was streaked with frost. Dressed in white, she resembled a 'snow woman' from an icy world.

“Sensei… could you tell me?”

What is the "world" you live in like?

Similar, yet different.

Noah's voice quickened slightly, perhaps due to the sudden chill that caused a slight tremor.

"I want to know for sure... in your 'world,' does that star called 'Noah of Salt' exist?"

"Do I still shine in your eyes?"

"Will the night sky you see continue to shine from this day forward?"

"Although I had already suspected it..."

As the girl spoke, a thin mist welled up in her eyes.

"Until the moment you said it yourself... I always looked forward to it..."

"I have received your answer personally."

Amamiya sighed, leaned back in his chair, and carefully considered the wording.

"In my opinion... the night sky in Kiwatos is exceptionally different from the night sky I saw in other places before I came to Kiwatos."

To borrow a romantic metaphor... [The stars we can see may have already withered and shattered millions of years ago.]

Noah was slightly taken aback by Amamiya's offhand analogy—Sensei, he had actually thought of the same thing as him?

Could this... also be considered a kind of telepathic connection?

Amamiya continued, "...But even if we use that argument to look at the night sky above us, which is filled with stars every night, is the night sky something that has remained unchanged for billions of years?"

"The stars are changing every moment. Lonely stars may appear to us as close as a fingernail apart, but in reality they may be separated by the distant Milky Way, shining brightly on each other."

"Starlight is indeed distant, indeed unattainable... But when I think of these stars in the sky, echoing each other from afar. This was true before, and it will be true thereafter..."

"After many years, people may no longer be able to find those stars because of changes in the star map, but they are still shining for each other and still reflecting each other from afar."

"In my opinion... Noah is such a 'star'."

"—Though not bright, wherever I go, it will 'reflect my light from afar'."

To shine, to glow, for each other...

Sensei really is...

It offers a completely different, yet romantic, perspective.

"Is this so..."

Noah chuckled softly: "...I understand."

"Then...from now on."

"Can I continue to be an insignificant star in your vast world... and continue to shine in the night sky of your world?"

Faced with the girl's words, which, though seemingly lighthearted, carried a weight that was tantamount to 'entrusting my life to you,' Amamiya responded in a similarly light yet earnest tone.

"of course."

[...I felt a deep bond from Noah.]

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 'Stars'."

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

"I grant you boundless power..."

【Coop↑UP!】

【CoopMAX!】

【Raw Salt Noah (Star) ★★★★★★★★★★ (MAX/MAX)】

[★10 Super Awakening - "Radiant Stars" is now unlocked!]

A tender gaze exchanged between them, a long silence.

——Everything is implied.

Noah began to savor the set meal, which was named "Cherry Blossom Time."

Only after the flower tea in the teapot had dried up and the cherry blossom cakes had been eaten up did the girl leisurely look at the windowsill, which had gradually accumulated a layer of fine snow.

"It's getting colder outside."

Amamiya nodded, got up, took off her coat and draped it over Noah's shoulders, while echoing the girl's meaningless remark: "Snowy scenery like this is becoming more and more suitable for soaking in hot springs."

"Ah."

Sitting in his seat, Noah smiled and responded with a gentle smile, feeling the warmth coming towards him: "Even though it's snowing... I feel like I won't be cold at all as long as I'm with Sensei like this."

Wearing Amamiya's coat inside out, she playfully waved the sleeves, which were unusually wide for her.

"Sensei..."

"Before we go back, could you help me pick out a yukata?"

Chapter 41: Noah's Strongest Attack

The first snow of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons came later than usual.

Strolling along the shopping street shrouded in dark clouds and frosty blossoms, the 'literary girl' wearing her Amamiya coat inside out has only happiness on her face.

"It's such a privilege to be able to witness such a snowy scene with Sensei..."

The white-haired girl tilted her head slightly in the swirling snow, exhaled a breath of warm air, and then watched as the breath quickly dissipated into the gray sky, where the snowfall seemed to have intensified slightly.

After looking up and sighing, Noah maintained his happy smile, then looked at Amamiya walking to the side.

"It reminded me of those two lines of poetry in the style of the Classic of Mountains and Seas that Sensei sent me before."

"Two hearts yearning for each other, bathed in snow together; in this life, we may grow old together..." Upon closer reflection now... it is indeed a rather, rather ordinary, yet exceptionally evocative line of poetry.

(Note: This poem appears for the first time in Chapter 10 of the "Love" volume.)

Is this... the little surprises in life, and the little joys that come with them?

It seems plain and simple, yet it carries an irresistible...ordinary emotion.

Initially, Noah didn't feel anything about this very relatable line of poetry.

But now... after personally 'experiencing' this feeling, she has gradually fallen in love with this kind of "miracle" that comes together from the little things in your daily life.

Amamiya smiled but did not respond.