I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Chapter 43 Rion: What happened to my turn?!

It is said that "hot springs and snowy days go together perfectly".

This wise saying for hot spring enthusiasts is not without reason.

After changing into a yukata, I stood in the corridor leading to the hot spring, looking at the thin layer of snow that had accumulated outside, and feeling the warm steam unique to the hot spring wafting towards me...

The feeling of being surrounded by a winter snowscape without feeling cold can truly be considered a unique and enjoyable experience for hot spring enthusiasts.

Following the corridor, Amamiya soon arrived at a curtain used to conceal the scene, which was painted with the "Chisaki Onsen" logo.

Before anyone could even peek inside, Amamiya could hear the rustling of fabric as the girls changed clothes, and the soft humming of some unknown tune, coming from the space separated by wooden partitions and other scenery.

A sudden spring snow disrupted Rion's original plan to visit the Onmyo Club, the student council of the Hyakki Yagyō Joint Academy, to learn from their experience and see if she could gain any useful insights.

At the same time, it greatly disrupted Xiaoxue's idea of ​​participating in the cherry blossom festival.

The only thing whose plans weren't disrupted was probably Yuka, whose initial goal was to soak in the hot springs.

At this moment, what Amamiya heard were the voices of Yuka, Koyuki, and Rion.

"It seems the time for the Akawa Grand Festival is approaching... This time it will be Millennium's turn to lead the event..."

"The upcoming Akawa Grand Festival is indeed a key issue that needs to be given priority consideration."

"Yuka-senpai, what are you worried about?"

"...No, it just suddenly occurred to me...that sports have always been a weak point for thousands of years."

Upon hearing this, Amamiya, thinking that it would be impolite to eavesdrop any longer, generously lifted the curtain of the hot spring area.

A fragrance, seemingly carrying some kind of shower gel or simply the scent of a young girl, wafted directly towards me along with the increasingly hot steam.

In the misty fog, Amamiya felt that her non-prescription glasses were blurred by the water vapor.

After a brief moment of blurred vision, the figures of three girls, each with a different build but all wrapped in a long bath towel, came into view.

"Oh...Sensei is here too?!"

The only one who hadn't started soaking in the hot spring yet, standing by the pool wrapped in a bath towel, immediately noticed Amamiya's movement and waved to her, saying, "Sensei, about..."

To avoid Xiaoxue immediately asking about Noah's whereabouts and causing unnecessary trouble, Amamiya spoke up before Xiaoxue could finish, asking, "I think I just heard a keyword I've never heard before... 'Kōrin Grand Festival'?"

As she naturally walked to the hot spring pool, Amamiya fixed her gaze on the purple-haired girl with a towel on her head, half of her body immersed in the hot spring, and an expression somewhere between shyness and embarrassment.

In preparation for soaking in the hot spring, all three girls present had their long hair tied up and had towels on their heads.

Yuka was no exception—after putting her hair up, she looked different from the 'childhood friend girl' feeling that came with her usual 'shoulder-length twin tails'; she became more mature and gentle.

Feeling Amamiya's gaze fixed on her, Yuka's shame grew, and she gradually felt an embarrassment that made her want to disappear into the ground.

“Hmm…Sensei, you only arrived in Giwatos not long ago,” Yuka explained softly, feeling a little uncomfortable under his gaze, “so it’s normal that you haven’t heard of the ‘Akiwa Grand Festival’.”

"The 'Kanrin Grand Festival' is one of the largest sporting events in Kiwatos, organized by the Federal Student Council."

"Each school takes turns leading the event, which will be held every two years..."

Rion, who had also entered the water early, took over Yuka's introduction and added: "The purpose of the Akawa Taisai is to learn and grow through sports, and it is a festival where students can communicate beyond the boundaries of the school."

"Under fair rules, students should challenge their limits and explore their potential to contribute to inter-school exchanges."

"As a festival that all students can enjoy and participate in, we hope that every student can offer suggestions and actively participate."

Amamiya: "..."

It must be said that Rion's "formulaic" style is indeed very suitable for explaining these things that sound and feel quite serious.

"A sports meet...? That sounds interesting."

Upon hearing this, Yuka revealed a smile that exuded confidence in the strength of her school's culture: "Sensei, if you find it interesting, you can look forward to it."

"This year's Akawa Grand Festival will be organized by us for a thousand years... We will do everything we can to make it the best it can be!"

Sensing the tension and unease hidden in Yuka's words, which were rapidly fading, Amamiya smiled and responded to Yuka's confident words: "Then let's look forward to Yuka... and everyone at Millennium Technology Academy."

After a pause, Amamiya continued, "If there's anything you need me to do, feel free to ask me anytime."

【~???~】(from Yuka)

【~??~】(from Xiaoxue, Liyin)

After chatting for a while longer with the three girls at the seminar about the 'Akiwa Taisai', it was finally almost noon.

After chatting for a while with the three girls at the seminar about matters related to the 'Akiwa Festival', Rion suddenly brought up the issue of Alice and Kei.

“Sensei… about the kids in the games club, and… Alice’s question.”

"Some time ago, when the game department and the engineering department were jointly applying for funding, they requested funds for the nominal purpose of 'creating a brand new bionic body for Kei.'"

Are we talking about this again?

Amamiya was somewhat surprised: "Have you not made a decision yet? Or... have you encountered other difficulties?"

The black-haired girl soaking in the hot spring hesitated for a moment before nodding and then shaking her head.

"What Sensei said... is part of it."

"Although I do feel guilty towards the kids in the game club, it's a very complicated matter, and I can't make any hasty conclusions."

"Regarding this matter... after you, I contacted Himari and sought her opinion."

"Regarding the 'bionic body' proposal, Riju's opinion is 'to retain' it. Or rather, at least it needs to be truly confirmed..."

As Rion spoke in a rather organized manner, as if she were outlining a plan, Amamiya roughly understood what Himari meant.

Interestingly, before her repentance, Rion was considered a "radical," advocating for the elimination or restriction of Alice, the "princess of the nameless gods."

Himari, on the other hand, is a "conservative" and views Alice as a "cute junior".

Now that Rion has repented, although her views on Alice have changed... she is still the "radical" one overall.

Previously, she was a 'radical' who was overly concerned about Alice's potential for destruction.

Now, she wants to take care of the game club's activities wholeheartedly, wishing she could be the game club's mother, and wants to make up for Alice's 'radical' behavior in various ways.

Rion's stance changed, but Himari's stance remained the same—and thus, an interesting reversal occurred.

The current situation is that Rion's excessive concern for Alice leans more towards the 'conservatives', and then [the conservatives (Rion) think the radicals (Himari) are still too conservative].

Because of their differing stances, Rion and Himari argued about whether to provide Alice's "potentially dangerous" Kei with a body suitable for daily activities.

After listening to Rion's long narration, Amamiya fell into thought.

'Should we give Kei a bionic body that she can move in?' This is indeed a question worth considering.

"Sensei, what are your thoughts or opinions on this topic?"

Meeting Rion's crimson eyes, Amamiya pondered for a moment before replying, "I will conduct thorough research on this matter when I return."

[...I sensed the expectation from Rion.]

【Coop↑UP!】

【Tsukigami Rion (Human or Animal/World) ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆

[★4 Ability "Aura of the Black Ruler" has been unlocked!]

Rion wasn't disappointed that she didn't receive an immediate and sincere reply from Amamiya.

Because Rion also knew very well that—planning before acting and thinking thrice before proceeding—was something that had to be done from Amamiya's perspective.

"Then... I'll leave this matter to Sensei."

Chapter 44: Lady Rion, is it over? It's my turn.

This unexpected spring snow, which occurred during a hot spring trip, continued until late at night.

As midnight approached, the clouds parted and the moon shone brightly. Perhaps due to the clearing weather, the "Cherry Blossom Festival" venue did not immediately regain its festival vitality, but distant fireworks were once again set off.

One after another, beams of light shot into the air with a 'whoosh', rising from all corners of the cherry blossom festival venue, and then exploding in mid-air into dazzling flowers of various colors that flashed by in an instant.

Such a peaceful night... but Amamiya had no time to think about anything else—because his room had welcomed another 'uninvited guest'.

Why do we say 'again'?

Because... just ten minutes earlier, Amamiya had just seen off Yuka, who had come to 'vent her stress'.

The faint fragrance lingering in the room from the girl had not yet dissipated when Amamiya saw a blonde girl bathed in the cool moonlight standing outside the Japanese-style window of the hot spring inn, which reflected the lights of thousands of homes in the kimono district where the night parade of a hundred demons was taking place.

She seemed to have just arrived, yet she also appeared to have been 'lying in wait' like a predator waiting for its prey.

When Amamiya turned her gaze over, the blonde girl outside the window naturally returned the gaze reflected in her icy blue eyes, like those of a frozen lake.

"……hour?"

Amamiya exclaimed in surprise.

He could anticipate that he might be 'climbed through the window' at night, but the person climbing through the window wasn't Noah but Shi... which was somewhat unexpected.

Amamiya went to the window and opened it. The blonde girl landed gracefully and immediately gave Amamiya a practiced, seemingly deliberately rehearsed, bow.

"Sensei, good evening."

Amamiya: "..."

He really didn't know what to say about this so-called 'maid' who lacked common sense.

After all, before officially gaining 'freedom', Toki had always been Rion's personal bodyguard—most of the time, he did the work of a secret agent.

Asking someone who is used to efficient and decisive combat and obeying orders to 'explore the meaning of life' or 'act cute and adorable like a maid' is really asking too much of her.

"……Good evening."

Meeting the girl's gleaming eyes in the night, Amamiya remained silent for several seconds before responding to her 'greeting' with a helpless expression: "What are you doing here at this hour?"

"If there's really a need or invitation... knocking on the front door and going through the front door... might be more... formal?"

After some deliberation, Amamiya ultimately chose "formal" as the adjective.

Faced with Amamiya's 'hint', Toki's answer was simple and straightforward, with a kind of helpless nonchalance: "Personal habit, please understand, Sensei."

Amamiya: "..."

So, it's because he was Rion's personal bodyguard, constantly going through ventilation shafts and other entrances besides the main gate, that he developed a professional habit?

Forget it, let's not say anything more about this...

Amamiya sighed softly, then patiently continued, "So, what brings you here?"

"Hmm." Shi nodded quickly and carefully. "I want to report to Sensei... on the progress I've made in my training with my seniors (the four members of the maid club) during this time."

Amamiya: "...Oh?"

While thinking to herself, 'She really does consider herself the only master,' Amamiya also became slightly interested: 'Tell me about it?'

"Well, firstly, regarding my training as a 'maid'... During the month or so I spent with my seniors, I learned a great deal of maid-related knowledge and skills from them."

After sorting out her thoughts, she then listed on her fingers what she had learned during her time away from Xia Lai and with the four members of the maid club, as if reciting a menu.

Um... including but not limited to:

I understand now that clothes shouldn't be washed together. Different fabrics, tops, bottoms, intimate clothing, and other personal accessories each have their own washing methods.

I learned about some efficient cleaning methods and ways to utilize space.

I've learned how to make some home-style dishes in the styles of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Gehenna, Holy Trinity, and Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.

In addition, I learned a little about clothing matching.

As he listened, Amamiya reported what he had learned in a serious, unchanging manner, leaving Amamiya with a very complicated expression.

Just...how to put it?

It was less like a secret agent reporting on the results of their work over the past period...

Rather than saying it's like "my daughter, who just started elementary school, comes home today and excitedly tells you that she learned how to safely sharpen a pencil from her teacher in class," and then she seriously insists on demonstrating it to you... that kind of feeling.

Although she was a little tired, Amamiya did not interrupt his serious narration, but listened patiently to the end.

Amamiya only spoke after the girl finished narrating, slightly raised her eyes, and looked at him with a 'Sensei, please give your evaluation, and quickly praise me' gaze.