I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Why is there nothing on this invitation card?

Holding this counterfeit product, Amamiya already had a vague, ominous premonition that it was the stuff of a conspiracy.

"This invitation card..."

Celery seemed to have mustered her courage, took a deep breath, and raised her voice slightly: "Regarding this invitation, everyone in Abydos means... let's go on vacation together."

"After receiving this invitation ticket, I immediately asked Hoshino-senpai about it... and Hoshino-senpai said, 'Although Abydos was able to completely get rid of its debt problem with Sensei's help, the wish to immediately revive the academy is still too unrealistic...'"

"We can't keep working tirelessly without any relaxation. A balance between work and rest, and taking appropriate breaks, is a good option..."

Mimicking the relaxed yet serious tone Hoshino used when he said those words, Serika then added, "...That's what Hoshino-senpai said back then."

“So…” Amamiya returned the ticket to Serika, “Does everyone in Abydos mean to use this unexpectedly acquired ‘resort invitation ticket’ and go on vacation to that resort together?”

Seemingly suppressing some immense shame and other emotions, and clenching her teeth, Serika managed to squeeze out these words from the overwhelming shame.

"Hmm...Sensei, you... will be coming with us, right?"

Chapter 51: Summer Girls and Mysterious Swimsuits?

While most of the school districts in Kivotos are still in springtime, the Abydos region, due to its almost entirely desert geography, has already entered summer.

The reason for making this judgment is because...

As the scenery outside the car window gradually became desolate, with a vast expanse of Gobi Desert and the desert bordering it filling the view, Amamiya could clearly feel the temperature inside the car rising.

As the train gradually slowed down and pulled into the station, Amamiya, carrying her backpack, got off the train and immediately felt a scorching sun shining on her as soon as she stepped out of the carriage.

Subconsciously squinting slightly and using her forearm to shield herself, Amamiya looked up at the 'mild spring' of Abydos, which was different from other regions, with the sun shining brightly early in the morning.

Is this what the seasons are like in desert regions...?

Indeed, they gave themselves a rude awakening right from the start.

With a soft sigh to herself, Amamiya gently shook out the relatively heavy spring clothes she was wearing.

Under the scorching sun, Amamiya, after exiting the station, planned to immediately head to the Abydos campus area, where the environment was relatively better.

Just as Amamiya was about to take action, she met four pairs of eyes, each with its own deep meaning, all staring intently at her.

"Sensei~ Good morning~"

"Sensei, long time no see."

"We've kept you waiting, welcome to Abydos!"

"It's so hot~ Even if I don't move, it's still so hot~ Ah... Sensei, good morning..."

Noticing Amamiya's gaze, the girls who had been waiting on the platform greeted her enthusiastically.

Apart from Serika, the other four girls from Abydos have all changed into relatively cool summer clothes.

The short skirts and thin school uniform tops could not conceal the charm and warmth hidden in their youthful and energetic bodies.

Yes, calories.

Although the girls of Abydos had all changed into summer clothes, they were still 'so hot they were almost melting,' their clothes were drenched in sweat, and Amamiya could clearly tell that spring, summer, and autumn were probably the most difficult seasons for the girls of Abydos.

Springtime feels like summer, and I can't even imagine how hot summer will get... Amamiya really doesn't want to think about it.

Wiping the sweat from her brow with her long sleeve, Amamiya then unbuttoned the first button of her shirt to relieve the stuffy feeling: "Everyone from Abydos, it's been a while..."

"Speaking of which... it's really hot..."

Amamiya's slightly bittersweet sentiments resonated with the girls of Abydos.

Perhaps because of the idea that 'human happiness is often built on the suffering of others,' the girls of Abydos felt a sense of satisfaction that 'the wait was worthwhile' when they saw Amamiya's bitter expression.

【~???~】(from Nomiya and Ayane)

【~???~】(from Hoshino and Shirako)

"Hmm..." Hoshino, his hair disheveled, sweat dripping down his face, and fanning himself constantly with his hand to cool off, smiled with narrowed eyes. "This is just the beginning of what's to come..."

After giving the 'warning', the pink-haired girl, speaking from her own experience, gave Amamiya a general overview of the not-too-distant future.

"If this stage is enough to make Sensei 'back down,' then the summer in Abydos will be the real 'torture'?"

"The days are long and the heat is so intense that staying indoors feels like being in a sauna, while going outside feels like being grilled on a hot plate..."

"It gets a little better in the evening..."

Amamiya twitched the corners of her mouth, and once again sighed with emotion at the hardships the girls of Abydos faced.

At this moment, Ayane pushed up her red-rimmed glasses: "Hoshino-senpai, who always complains about how harsh the weather is, is now giving us some advice from the perspective of someone who's been there... Is that really okay...?"

"Let's put the weather aside for now..." The blonde girl, who was also sweating profusely, forced a smile. "Let's take Sensei back first, shall we?"

Surrounded by the girls, Amamiya was led to a vehicle that looked somewhat like a modified pickup truck with tracks, a rather 'hybrid' vehicle.

Perhaps noticing Amamiya's puzzled expression and curiosity about the vehicle painted in desert camouflage, Ayane, who usually drives, gave a brief explanation of the vehicle's origins before getting in.

"No longer burdened by monthly debt repayments, Abydos recently managed to accumulate funds and purchase some large-scale equipment beneficial to the club's activities—"

The girl ran a hand through her slightly sticky, sweat-dampened black hair, her tone brimming with the confidence of someone introducing something they'd painstakingly saved up to buy: "Now, Sensei, the vehicle you see here was specially customized by the Engineering Department of the Millennium Technology Academy for team mobility and other official business—"

The wolf-eared girl, who had already opened the back door and invited Amamiya to sit down, unusually chimed in to explain, "Its name is 'The Ship of the Desert'."

“The reason it was named this is because…” Hoshino, who was carefully observing Shirako’s micro-expression, continued, “…using it to roam the Abydos region is like sailing a ship on the sea.”

Feeling the blast of cool air from the vehicle's air conditioning, Amamiya shivered, but her spirits, which had been somewhat low due to the sweltering heat of Abydos, were also lifted.

It's important to know that... ordinary car air conditioners are basically ineffective when the outside temperature is high enough—they might even 'heat up the car in reverse'.

This custom vehicle, named "Desert Ship," demonstrates its high level of technology simply from its cooling system alone.

All I can say is... millennia of technology, truly awe-inspiring.

Amamiya, sandwiched between Shirako and Hoshino as she boarded the car, then heard the blonde girl in the passenger seat remark with an even greater sense of energy than when she was standing under the blazing sun: "This 'ship of the desert' truly feels like an 'ark that will never break anchor.'"

'Hmm...should we ask the engineering department to order a few more units later?'

'Then open a desert racetrack...'

Amamiya was speechless as she listened to the girl's rambling.

That's truly a classic 'Nomiya-style proposal'...

While some ideas might seem impractical, like "turning the playground into a water park," they are certainly feasible given the significant financial investment required.

Ayane, who was in charge of driving, twisted the car key hard and started the engine.

"Everyone, are you all seated? Fasten your seatbelts, we're about to depart."

With a 'whoosh', Amamiya felt a slight vibration and the roar of an engine, which sounded like the howl of a raging beast.

Ayane didn't start moving immediately, but instead turned around to look at the three people sitting in the back row.

Bai Zi nodded calmly: "Mm."

Hoshino leaned slightly forward, resting her head gently against Amamiya's shoulder, and nodded, feigning sleepiness: "It's okay, Ayane-chan, let's go."

Amamiya was a little confused as to why Ayane had to turn around and check before starting the car—although wearing a seatbelt is a necessary safety rule for driving, in many cases, it doesn't matter whether the back seat is wearing one or not, and most people don't wear seatbelts anyway.

Although she didn't understand, Amamiya still replied, "It's already tied."

As Ayane stepped on the gas, Amamiya, who had been somewhat confused, immediately understood.

This feeling of being pushed back in your seat, this acceleration from a standstill...

I have to say, it's a technology spanning millennia... it's truly awe-inspiring.

The sudden push-back sensation relieved Amamiya, but it also raised new questions—

How did the engineering department, with its millennia-long history, manage to make a tracked, heavily armed pickup truck achieve such an incredibly fast start when it was being built?

The "ship of the desert" began its high-speed journey.

A short while later, Amamiya felt the vehicle slowly begin to decelerate again.

Finally, the "Desert Ship" came to a steady stop in the garage inside the Abydos Academy.

As Amamiya let out a soft sigh of relief, she also saw the 'black cat' that was already waiting in the garage.

To Amamiya's slight surprise...

Serika was not wearing her usual black school uniform top and short skirt and safety shorts outfit.

Instead, she wore a set of...

swimsuit?

Chapter 52 Who is the idea king of Abydos?

Seeing Serika's swimsuit, which she had already changed into, Amamiya felt for a moment that he was 'feasting for the eyes'.

The 'Black Cat Girl' seemed to have simultaneously shed her arrogant defenses and haughty armor when she changed into her swimsuit. The simple black swimsuit with white trim and ruffles, along with her slightly shy and awkward expression, brought out her girlish charm to the max.

After having a 'feast for the eyes', Amamiya realized... something seemed a little off.

"Sensei, please."

The 'Grey Wolf Girl' sitting to the left of Amamiya calmly opened the car door and gestured for 'please'—as for why Serika was wearing a swimsuit, she seemed to have no intention of explaining.

Not only Shirako, but even Hoshino, who was sitting on the right, and Nomiya, who was sitting in the passenger seat, adopted an attitude of 'ignoring' them.

"Hmm~" The pink-haired girl sitting to the left of Amamiya lazily sighed as she got out of the car, "Going out to pick up Sensei like this, I feel like I'm melting from the heat..."

Nomiya was wiping her face with a wet wipe when she heard Hoshino's bitter sigh. She smiled and replied, "There's an old saying in Giwatos: 'No pain, no gain'... Maybe if things are a little bitter now, things will be more comfortable in the future~?"

Nomiya's suggestion seemed to make Hoshino realize something.

Hoshino's gaze shifted slightly, lingering briefly on Amamiya before she finally got out of the car with a fleeting look in her eyes.

At this moment, Ayane, who was in the driver's seat, also unbuckled her seatbelt to conduct a final inspection of the vehicle.

Noticing Amamiya sitting still in the same spot in the rearview mirror through the windshield, she reminded her with some confusion, "Sensei, are you getting off the bus already?"

Amamiya: "..."

Something is wrong, something out of ten or even nine points is wrong.

For some reason, Amamiya clearly sensed a faint but palpable sense of danger emanating from the smiling, squinting girls.

For some reason, it gives me a feeling of... attending a banquet at Hongmen.

After becoming slightly more cautious, Amamiya finally got off the car at Shirako's repeated prompting.

As Amamiya got out of the car, Ayane and Nomiya, who hadn't gotten out yet, exchanged a brief glance.

Immediately, Nomiya raised his voice slightly without any hesitation, deliberately issuing the 'action signal' in a rather energetic tone with considerable intonation.

"Phew... Well then, let's get right to the 'plan'!"

……plan?

Before Amamiya could even ask questions, the girls of Abydos had already begun their operation with perfect coordination.

First was Serika. She quickly came to Amamiya's side, gritted her teeth, hesitated for a moment, and then decisively grabbed Amamiya's arm.

"Um... Sensei, shall I take you to see another piece of equipment we recently purchased?"

Saying the lame excuse she had prepared beforehand, Serika led Amamiya out without saying another word.

Amamiya was genuinely a bit confused.

If you're going to change into a swimsuit, shouldn't you do it at the beach? How come Serika is already dressed in her swimsuit?

Furthermore... what exactly is their so-called "plan"?

What Amamiya didn't know was that if Hiyori were here and witnessed this scene, she might be surprised—

She was surprised that this "plot" was so similar to the first half of the story she had read, "The Girls of Abydos and the Swimsuit Anecdotes of Sensei Chalai".

Unfortunately, Hiyori wasn't there, and Amamiya hadn't seen the 'special magazine' that Haru had brought to Natsumi.

Unaware of the situation, Amamiya remained completely confused and was half-pushed and half-pulled away from the garage by Serika.

Although it is early spring, the mornings in Abydos are already as refreshing as those in the height of summer.

Under the scorching sun, a girl in a swimsuit walks through the campus... which doesn't seem so strange.