I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"Currently, I have a preliminary plan..."

Amamiya listened attentively, intending to hear what 'brilliant insights' Sakurako had to offer.

Hearing this, he nodded with a 'surprised' expression, "Oh... does Sakura have any special ideas?"

"Our nun's order..."

Sakura lifted her chest slightly, her expression gradually becoming serious.

"We plan to join forces with the Order of the Rescue Knights, who also have a poor reputation and are plagued by stereotypes..."

"And, it shone brightly at the Trinity College Festival!"

Amamiya already had a vague sense of foreboding.

He straightened his back, placed his hands together on the conference table, and leaned back tactically.

"Oh? What exactly is it like?"

Sakurako said earnestly, "I want to..."

"Let everyone become an idol!"

Chapter Sixty-Five: Unnecessary Emotions Arose in Mary's Heart

After listening to Sakura's grand plan... no, it should be called an 'idol project', Amamiya pondered for a long time before finally replying that 'the feasibility needs to be considered in detail'.

The idea of ​​"the doctor teaming up with the nuns to form an idol group at the school festival"...

Honestly, it's gotten to the point where "if you say it out loud, the listener will find it utterly absurd."

After discussing the 'reversal of public opinion', Amamiya, surrounded by Sakurako, Hinata, and Mary, left the nun's meeting room as night fell.

After seeing Amamiya out of the meeting room, Sakurako and Hinata hurriedly left one after the other to prepare for the convent's evening prayers.

Only Mary remained steadfastly by Amamiya's side, accompanying him all the way to the Grand Cathedral.

As the cool night sky and moonlight streamed through the church's stained-glass windows, warm-toned lights illuminated the long benches on both sides of the spacious church.

Accompanied by Mary, we emerged from the side room and entered the Rain Palace of the church, where the first thing I did was look up towards the source of the light—

The cathedral's interior lighting uses modern chandeliers that also have a distinctly Gothic style.

Although the lights are bright, the distance is still more than ten meters, so the light will naturally be slightly dim, which will create a 'tranquil atmosphere under the night sky'.

Seeing those interconnected chandeliers that crisscrossed the church dome and offered excellent views and privacy, Amamiya felt a strange urge.

—I want to use the grappling hook to fly up to the top of the chandelier and then shuttle back and forth on it.

The reason for this impulse is that... this 'church chandelier' decoration gives Amamiya a feeling of elation, as if he were "moving around in a palace in another world".

After pulling back her thoughts, Amamiya kept her movements so subtle they were barely noticeable, and glanced at the 'cat-eared little nun' beside her out of the corner of her eye.

Because of Sakurako's recent "explosive statement," the orange-haired girl walking beside her seemed somewhat uneasy.

Her head was bowed, and her expression was blurred by the nun's veil, her bangs, and the dim lighting.

But from her cat ears that drooped to the sides, which were supporting her veil, and her hands that were occasionally intertwined, Amamiya could clearly 'see' her underlying unease.

Amamiya tried to get closer, and after noticing that the girl seemed oblivious, he spoke softly with concern.

"...Is something troubling you, Mary?"

"what……"

After a brief moment of surprise, the girl, preoccupied with her own thoughts, realized that she had subconsciously overlooked what she was supposed to be doing.

After realizing what had happened, her first reaction was to apologize.

"Th-that...Sensei...I didn't mean to..."

Amamiya waved his hand dismissively, then naturally sat down on a church pew.

The pews in the Holy Trinity Church are made of a precious mahogany wood and crafted with exquisite workmanship, making them incredibly beautiful and very expensive.

“Mary is thinking about the current situation of the Sisters, right?”

Mary forced a smile and gave a soft "hmm".

“Sensei, Sakura-senpai and the others’ project is really…”

Mary initially wanted to question the feasibility of Sakurako's 'idol project' statement, but when she thought that it would also be disrespectful to her senior, the girl immediately became troubled.

Amamiya shifted slightly to the back of the bench, replying gently, "There's still some time before the Trinity Academy Festival, isn't there? Even if we're thinking about the future... there's no need to start now."

“Mary, if you have something bothering you… sit down and talk about it?”

In the quiet church, one could almost hear the nuns' evening prayers rising and falling like waves, creating a melodious sound that carried a sense of holiness and epic grandeur.

After a moment's hesitation... the girl finally took a deep breath and sat down awkwardly in the empty seat that Amamiya had previously left, then moved slightly to the side.

Such close contact... I should be a little nervous...

But perhaps it was the atmosphere of the church itself that influenced them, or perhaps it was simply the sense of security brought by the adults around them...

Under the influence of a strange psychological effect, Mary felt that her anxiety and unease dissipated like ice melting in a short period of time.

'Last time I said I was ready to listen to Sensei's troubles anytime...'

There was a voice inside me urging me on.

Closer, just a little closer...

Mary moved closer and closer, trying to get closer to that feeling of peace and tranquility that she had never felt before.

Just a little bit more, just a little bit more to get close to it...

'However, this time Sensei took the listener's perspective and immediately felt his own troubles...'

“...Mary?”

Amamiya's perfectly timed soft call snapped Mary, who was leaning against his shoulder, back to her senses.

Realizing she had inadvertently closed the distance to someone in an ambiguous situation, the girl hastily tried to distance herself again.

"..."

After hesitation and inner struggle, Mary finally gave up the internal conflict.

"Sensei, do you have any special thoughts on Trinity's school festival and Sakura-senpai's plans?"

It really does.

Meeting the gaze from the girl's clear blue eyes, Amamiya calmly adjusted her glasses: "A little... Mary is worried about the 'joint project' between the nuns and the Knights of Rescue. It feels... very unreliable, doesn't it?"

"……Um."

"In fact... I think this could be a 'breakthrough strategy'."

"Hey?!"

Mary was particularly surprised, seemingly not expecting Amamiya to offer such a supportive view.

"When conventional methods fail to achieve the desired result, 'taking an unconventional approach' is actually a viable winning strategy."

...A surprise move?

Marie, whose attention was drawn to the keywords proposed by Amamiya, frowned and pondered.

Thinking about it carefully... based on what I know, Sensei's "Phantom Thief Story"...

The 'phantom thieves' always seem to like solving problems in 'unconventional ways'.

Is it because they don't want to solve problems in the conventional way?

It's not because I don't want to, but because I can't do it the conventional way.

What kind of 'conventional method' can expose the fangs of a hypocrite who appears to have done no evil in the eyes of outsiders?

What 'standard methods' can nip any impending danger in the bud?

When conventional methods failed to solve the problem, the phantom thieves opted for an unconventional approach.

Therefore, the phantom thieves can stay one step ahead and keep staying ahead, able to expose the false masks of hypocrites and reveal their fangs, and nip impending dangers in the bud.

'Sensei means...'

'Perhaps this approach could drastically reverse the reputation and image of the Sisters of Mercy and the Knights of Salvation...?'

Noticing the gradually easing expression on Mary's face as she pondered, Amamiya knew that her 'psychological guidance' had worked.

He made a move to get up and slip out from the other side of the bench.

After thinking for a moment, he stopped and, through the nun's veil, quickly and accurately pinched Mary's cat ears, which were gradually perking up as she regained her composure.

"The Trinity School Festival is still a long way off... Let's focus on the Akawa Grand Festival, which is about to begin."

“Mary, if you encounter any problems that are difficult to decide, or any other worries, big or small, you can contact me anytime.”

【~???~】(Mary)

A subtle feeling, which I couldn't quite define as either 'guilt' or 'immorality,' rose up from within me like a flame.

The girl, whose cat ears had been pinched, snapped back to her senses, her pupils trembling.

My ears were...

Sen, what... what did he do?!

The girl, belatedly realizing what was happening, made a 'follow-up reaction'—lowering her head to protect her ears.

But realizing that it had already happened, she felt there was no need to do it.

This feeling……

No, no... I'm a nun, I can't...

You must repent...

Thinking of this, the girl immediately got up, faced the direction Amamiya had left, closed her eyes, and made a prayer gesture with her hands.

[...I felt the genuine emotions emanating from Mary.]

[My bond with Mary has deepened...]

【Ilomarie (Star) ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

A lot happened today...

"Instead of helping Sensei solve its problem, I unintentionally caused Sensei more trouble..."

"I repent for my immaturity as a nun..."

"also."

"Wishing Sensei a safe journey..."

Chapter Sixty-Six: Xia Lai, Rainy Night, Little Rabbit

The sound of rain at night was pattering.

The streaking lightning illuminated the sky, and then the rumbling thunder echoed through the dark night.

Sitting at her desk, Amamiya put down the pen she had just used to write a document, interlaced her fingers, rested her elbows on the desk, and looked at the glass balcony door and the window outside the balcony amidst the rising steam of coffee.

It's raining...

Moreover, it was the first rain since the beginning of summer.

Amamiya let out a breath and had just stood up when she heard the girl's calm yet clearly puzzled voice. Her eyes were also drawn to the 'maid girl' with long, straight blonde hair, looking at her with deep blue eyes.

"Sensei, it's raining outside."

She calmly 'reminded' you: "Is there something special you need to do?"