I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

“Since Alona doesn’t want to talk about it, then I’ll ask Sophia what’s going on…”

As Amamiya spoke, amidst Alona's anxious expression before the 'sky curtain was about to collapse,' she took out her phone and peeled off the pixelated phone case that Sophia had conjured.

Nanomachines shimmering with pale blue fluorescence peeled off from around Amamiya's clothes, and in an instant, they coalesced into the figure of a beautiful girl with red hair and white clothes, centered on the phone case.

After converging in mid-air, Sofia landed lightly in her boots.

"Mmm... I heard Jok and Arona's conversation."

"Wait, Sofia, don't..."

Ignoring 'Senior Alona's' objections, Sofia quickly organized her thoughts and readily said, "Recently, Senior Alona asked me for Jok's phone's Bluetooth connection permission, citing 'a deeper understanding of Sensei' as the reason."

"Senior Alona used this Bluetooth permission to download some things stored on the Sensei phone... that were within the scope of permitted access."

Sofia instinctively made a rummaging motion as if to search for something, then realized that she was no longer in the data space.

Extending her little finger, Sofia connected it to Amamiya's phone using it as a USB port, her pupils briefly covered by a layer of fluorescent data.

"Hmm... After confirmation, it turns out that Senior Alona downloaded some light novels, shoujo manga, and... some manga about 'that kind of thing' from her Sensei phone that she hadn't noticed when she read them before but had cached."

Amamiya turned her gaze to the Shitei no Hako, her face flushed red, her expression a mixture of guilt at being exposed and shame and indignation at being 'betrayed'.

"...Hypnosis?"

Amamiya tried to say a keyword.

Arona was startled and instinctively shrank back as if she had been electrocuted.

Realizing that her reaction was a bit off, she nervously glanced around slightly, feigning confusion as if to say, "What is Sensei saying? I can't understand anything Alona is saying."

okay.

Amamiya now understands why Alona is exhibiting this 'abnormal reaction'.

By studying Yukino's student file early in the morning, Alona probably thought of the somewhat unconventional plot of "Hypnosis Academy," feeling like a manga protagonist who was planning ahead with her target.

Amamiya patted Sophia's little head, which was tiptoeing closer to her. The AI ​​girl's high-tech body, named "Erpis," even had perfect tactile feedback.

"Sophia is indeed an honest and good child."

【~???~】(Sofia)

Sofia, who had taken the initiative to nudge forward and hug me, happily enjoyed the tactile feedback of being patted on the head. At the same time, she didn't forget to remind Alona, ​​who was of the same race as her, "AI Princess": "Senior Alona, ​​we are AI... and AI cannot lie to the person they like the most—not even a little bit!"

Arona: "...?"

Why does this sentence sound so strange...?

Arona blushed and paled as Sofia's seemingly illogical and naive words struck her as naive, and she hesitated, unable to speak.

Something feels off, but I can't quite put my finger on it...

Just as Alona was still pondering the logical flaw in Sofia's statement, Amamiya spoke again: "Alona, ​​would you like to try what it feels like to be 'hypnotized'?"

"I want to try it..."

Arona answered instinctively.

"..."

Arona remained silent.

"Wait a minute! How could an AI be hypnotized?!"

Arona was furious.

"Sen, Sensi... Don't test Alona with such strange words!"

Arona blushed and became shy, then turned off the device on her own.

After leaving those words, the Shiting Box closed automatically, and Alona 'shyly ran away' without even announcing today's schedule.

Amamiya tried to open the Shitei Box several times, but found that Alona didn't react for a while, so he temporarily gave up on his plan to 'tease' Alona further.

Since Alona didn't say anything special, let's stick to today's schedule and go see the captain of the Fox Squad...

"Jok, are we leaving?"

Noticing that Amamiya had let go, Sofia tilted her head in confusion at first, and then excitedly stretched her hand out to the sky.

"Even though Arona isn't here... I'll still do my best to support Jok!"

Sofia's figure disintegrated and then, like particle effects, attached itself to Amamiya's body and onto the phone, becoming inconspicuous.

Interacting with the AI ​​girls is always so 'ordinary' yet filled with a special kind of warmth.

After the interaction ended, Amamiya picked up her phone and put away her tablet.

According to the information Nicole brought during her late-night visit last night, the Fox Squad shouldn't be undertaking any special operations in the next few days...

What would Yukino do at this point?

The answer is: to cherish the glory of SRT before it was closed down.

With the closure of SRT, the campus that should have belonged to SRT was deserted as most of the original SRT students transferred to Valkyrie... The once grand SRT Special Academy suddenly became empty.

Without the support of past popularity, even the newest buildings cannot escape the sense of 'desolation' caused by the lack of visitors.

Although the area has been cordoned off and "No Entry" signs have been placed at the entrances and exits, it still holds a significant amount of memories for many students.

Therefore, the already laxly managed and 'abandoned' SRT Special School is a popular destination for a considerable number of students who still harbor feelings of belonging and fantasy about SRT during their holidays.

Any intelligent being is always bound to reminisce about the past.

Amamiya is like that... and so are the students of SRT Academy.

Yukino, who harbors a grand ambition to revive SRT, is also like "Galahad in search of the Holy Grail."

Even with her 'superb human-machine sense', she still has essential and irreplaceable things.

And this is also the weakness that can be exploited.

After getting off at the station closest to SRT Academy in the Usagi Ward, Amamiya walked to SRT Academy, a place she had never been before.

Not far away, Amamiya saw a cluster of buildings built entirely to military standards, which was quite 'magnificent' but appeared 'desolate' due to the sparse presence of people.

It's quite remarkable that SRT Academy was abolished about two or three months ago.

In such a short time... many weeds, which are clearly lush and green, have sprouted in the streets and alleys, yet symbolize desolation.

Along the way, Amamiya only saw a small number of students wearing Valkyrie school uniforms and a few wearing Millennium school uniforms.

Among them, the fox-eared girl with flowing long hair, standing alone in the morning sun, is the most eye-catching.

As she reached the end of the street, the girl looked up, seemingly checking the weather, or perhaps simply making a subconscious gesture out of a sense of loss.

Suddenly sensing a gaze, Yukino turned around sharply to look behind her.

Under the bright sunshine of the street, the girl did not see any suspicious figures.

'Is it... just my imagination?'

A hint of doubt and wariness flashed in her red eyes. After a brief hesitation, Yukino turned around and continued towards her destination.

By then, relying on the phantom thief's keen sense of sight and danger, he had already hidden himself at a street corner.

Crouching against the corner of the wall, Amamiya noticed Yukino leaving and immediately stood up, dispelling the phantom thief outfit that had been automatically donned upon entering 'phantom thief' mode.

'Yukino...is she heading to SRT Academy?'

Keeping an eye on Yukino's movements, Amamiya considered it briefly but ultimately decided to follow her at a distance.

Let's go and take a look.

Chapter 86 (5P) (C114) Seven Degrees of Hypnosis Education (Continued)

SRT Special School... truly lives up to its "special" name.

After touring the academy, where height restrictions and the construction of building complexes were meticulously designed, Amamiya made the following precise summary of what he had seen and heard.

The architectural complex, built entirely in a military style, embodies a simple and practical philosophy that permeates almost every corner...

Truly worthy of the sharp blade in the chairman's hands... such is the impression he gives to the outside world.

Standing atop the building, Amamiya's figure blended into the shadows as he watched Yukino take out a set of keys, unlock a classroom, and walk inside.

After waiting for a short while, Amamiya moved slowly, like a dark phantom, traversing the air, and moved to another position where she could observe the interior through the window.

After all, SRT Special School had only recently been closed down. Although most of the key facilities had been relocated, the overall situation could almost be described as deserted.

In reality, some desks, benches, hanging blackboards, and other items that would be pointless to move were simply left in their original positions without being touched.

Looking through the window, which was covered in dust from not being opened for a long time and had obvious rain streaks from not being cleaned, Amamiya could see... a black-haired, fox-eared girl sitting in the second-to-last row of the classroom, staring blankly out the window.

—If it were sunset, sunlight would stream in from the other side of the classroom, casting shadows and dappled patterns on the girl's face, which remained expressionless yet radiated youthful beauty.

The orange-gold patterned desk, the fox-eared girl sitting in the back row by the window in the sunset, her face cupped in her hands as she gazes thoughtfully out the window…

If all of this happened at sunset, it would leave behind an indelible 'sunset mark' that is worth remembering.

But this scene took place in the early morning, and even though the sunlight was coming from the Amamiya side, it could only barely reach Yukino's calves, which were wearing loafers and black over-the-knee socks.

The gleaming shoes reflected the morning light, staining her black over-the-knee socks a chocolate brown. The girl sat alone in the shadows of the classroom...

Although it is a very beautiful scene, it seems somewhat lonely.

'This must be... Yukino's usual seat when she was studying at SRT?'

Amamiya, who was observing, then noticed that Yukino had turned her gaze away and looked towards the podium—or more precisely, the area in the classroom where the broadcasting equipment was installed.

Noticing Yukino's subtle movements, Amamiya immediately recalled his own experience of attending classes at Shujin Academy.

—Looking forward to the bell ringing in class seems to be an indispensable part of the entire school life.

However, compared to 'eagerly waiting for the bell to ring sooner,' Yukino probably felt more regret.

Unfortunately, the ringtone can no longer be heard.

After letting out a soft sigh, Yukino got up and left through the back door she had opened, then carefully locked the door behind her.

Following Yukino's footsteps, Amamiya accompanied her as she toured the entire SRT Academy, including the playground, infirmary, equipment room, and other crucial locations.

Amamiya silently stayed by Yukino's side until dusk before walking out of the school with her, hearing her increasingly faint and confused murmurs under the setting sun.

“SRT, really…”

"..."

After only a brief moment of confusion, Yukino resolutely tilted her head back slightly, regaining her usual composure.

"SRT, it can definitely work..."

We've reached a dead end.

Yukino's 'belief' is indeed commendable... but her behavior, which is tantamount to repeated self-hypnosis, made Amamiya, who was observing from above, shake his head and sigh repeatedly.

It really is.

...and in the third semester, when she was initially unwilling to accept the facts and was willing to give everything to "become another one," her behavior was exactly the same.

This belief, though tenacious, is built on a broken and illusory foundation; it is itself a meaningless castle in the air.

After observing Yukino for a whole day, Amamiya thought... it was time to make real contact with the captain of the Fox Squad.

After rising and falling among the tall buildings, Amamiya finally landed silently on a nearby street, and then used "Ariadne's Thread" to detect Yukino's whereabouts.

After making some preparations, Amamiya retracted his Persona and walked in the direction Yukino was about to walk, deliberately creating this 'chance encounter'.

The surrounding streets were quite desolate in the evening, but the streetlights nearby were still lit up early.

After turning the corner, Amamiya 'accidentally' noticed a fox-eared girl walking on the other side of the street, whose expression was calm but seemed to be full of worries.

"..."

Yukino probably never expected to encounter 'such a special person' at this time and in this area. She subconsciously stopped in her tracks, first in surprise, then slightly narrowing her eyes.

"...Sensei?"

After scrutinizing Amamiya, Yukino spoke with a calm tone that revealed neither her like nor dislike: "At this time, you should be caring for those 'juniors'."

"Why are you here?"