I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Having developed a slight sense of dependence due to the recent incident of "cuddling on the rooftop at night," besides seeking advice on the Rabbit Squad's development goals, she should also...

Are you planning to take your relationship to the next level?

As Amamiya pondered, the complex emotions swirling in the girls' hearts were temporarily suppressed by the 'stability' created by the aroma of food and the lingering warmth of cooking.

With the same politeness and formality one would show when eating "kaiseki cuisine," they began to enjoy their slightly late dinner.

Because they had to adhere to 'table manners', both Yukino and Miyako upheld the style of 'maintaining SRT traditions', keeping etiquette while also being efficient.

The warmth of the dining table froze and shattered the moment Amamiya put down her chopsticks.

Miyako and Yukino, who put down their cutlery at almost the same time, exchanged glances briefly, and the air seemed to crackle with electricity.

After gathering her thoughts, Gongzi took the initiative to strike.

“Yukino-senpai, in order to protect Sensei’s personal safety… even though you have received a secret mission from the Federation Student Council, you should only disclose the details of the mission to Sensei.”

“If you’re ultimately going to do something…that will put Sensei in a difficult position, then…”

Gongzi stopped there, not saying anything more, but she expressed her attitude with a serious and alert expression.

Yukino was taken aback, then realized that Miyako was referring to her previous 'casual remark'.

With her fox ears drooping, Yukino's first reaction was not to respond to Miyako's words, but to nervously and cautiously cast a glance at Amamiya.

Sensei, I hope this won't cause any misunderstandings...

"I……"

Xue Nao wanted to speak but stopped.

Amamiya waved his hand, stopping Miyako from continuing to spread vigilance.

Amamiya knew Yukino's current 'mental state' all too well.

Yukino is currently in the most vulnerable stage, at the beginning of her 'shattered and rebuilt beliefs'.

If I were to even slightly reveal a malicious intent like 'throwing a small pebble'... it would fall into Yukino's heart like a meteorite, shattering her hard-won and temporarily restored inner world.

"I believe in Yukino."

【~???~】(Yukino)

Amamiya looked at Miyako with a sincere expression: "Miyako and Yukino are both from SRT, gentle, obedient, kind and strong students."

“I can face you without any defense because I completely trust you…you won’t hurt me.”

【~???~】(Yukino, Miyako)

Amamiya, whose auditory perception was momentarily overwhelmed by the chaotic sounds created by the numerous sixteenth notes, experienced at that moment—

What does it mean that "a sixteenth note is only the upper limit of hearing, not the upper limit of increasing favorability"?

Feeling the bright, sparkling gazes from Yukino and Miyako, Amamiya breathed a sigh of relief.

Very good, the conflict was nipped in the bud.

Amamiya stood up and, under the pretext of clearing away the dishes, waved goodbye to the two girls, a rabbit and a fox.

"I'll go wash the dishes first."

"After dinner, it's a good time to rest. If you really have nothing to do, take a break first."

"The night is still very long."

Chapter 91 Yukino: Foxes don't hunt on their own, but I'm not a fox...

Summer nights are short, and the days are long.

This is the unchanging law governing the cycle of celestial phenomena.

Even though the early summer nights are quiet and the heat is mild, they can feel exceptionally long for a small number of people.

Yukino is one of those who can feel the 'long early summer nights'.

It wasn't because of pain or reluctance...

Rather, it's because of satisfaction and enjoyment with the status quo.

And the uncertainty about himself and the future of the Fox Squad.

Digesting the sponge-like "consideration" she had absorbed in a short time, the hesitant fox-eared girl finally felt a little more at ease.

Her hair, which had just been dried, was still damp with moisture. Her fluffy fox ears shook lightly, scattering tiny water droplets. Yukino sat on the edge of the bed by the window, her arms wrapped around her knees, half-curled up, with her head resting on her knees.

The girl, who had just finished showering, still carried a faint, moist fragrance.

After a brief silence, Yukino finally asked the question that had been lingering in her mind—

"Sensei..."

"What should the Fox Squad do from now on?"

What should the Fox Squad do next?

Given that Huaye is unreliable, the Fox Squad can no longer unconditionally obey Huaye's orders... at least, they can no longer act like tools without any autonomy.

So what exactly does the Fox Squad need to do to move forward on the path of "restoring SRT"?

Amamiya had already considered Yukino's doubts.

"The nature of the Fox Squad is different from that of the Rabbit Squad, which is currently 'homeless'."

"Currently... under Huaye's management, the Fox Squad has already established a certain degree of partnership with the 'Federal Student Council's' defense department—"

"If we were to use a ship as a metaphor, Huaye had tied the Fox Squad to the same ship."

"However, the one piloting this ship is Huaye, who knows nothing about navigation and how to operate a ship. If she takes the helm, the ship could capsize at any moment... And regardless of whether the ship capsizes or not, the Fox Squad will not have a good ending from the moment Huaye obtains the authority to operate the ship."

At this point, Amamiya paused, giving Yukino time to process the information.

"...Yukino should understand what I mean by that, right?"

Yukino nodded silently.

Amamiya used this analogy because he saw the shadow of "Shido Seigi" in Hanaya.

Of course, it really was just a shadow.

If Huaye had the shrewdness and execution ability of Shido Justice, the Federal Student Council would probably have been turned upside down by her long ago.

But Hana doesn't have that ability, nor does she have a 'Goro Akechi' to assist her—if we're going to make a connection, the 'Goro Akechi' that Hana can use is the current Fox Squad.

"So... what the Fox Squad should really do is to stop Huaye from taking that crucial step at the most critical moment."

"Stop Huaye's next move before she achieves her ultimate goal, and make her fail at the last minute."

That is to say...

Will the Fox Squad betray us at the most crucial moment...?

Perhaps this is indeed an opportunity for the Fox Squad to make amends and take remedial action for what has already been done.

Amamiya's suggestion gave Yukino a glimpse of a future—

Completely record and organize all the 'evidence' of Huaye's crimes along the way, and then, in Xia Lai's name, deliver a crushing blow to Huaye at the most critical moment.

In this way... the Fox Squad can 'draw a line' with Huaye, greatly reducing the possibility of being dragged into the mess by Huaye on the spot.

“…I understand, Sensei.”

After a brief moment of unfocused gaze, Hua Ye nodded with a slightly heavy expression.

If this is the purpose of their actions... then now is not the time for the Fox Squad to 'draw a line' between themselves and Huaye.

“We will follow Sensei’s idea… to begin collecting information about Chief Hanaya’s actions and any clues related to her… and secretly cooperate with your operation.”

The fog that had shrouded the Fox Squad had been dispelled, and Yukino should no longer be confused.

After secretly observing Amamiya's reaction, Yukino 'felt at ease' moved closer to Amamiya and rubbed against him in an 'awkward and cute' way.

The scent of Sensei, everything about Sensei... made me feel a longing to stay in this moment forever.

But it is precisely because she felt this 'long' time, and lingered over this 'long' time, that Yukino felt the same unease.

"..."

The fox-eared girl, who was dawdling and using this subconscious behavior to ease her unease, suddenly asked out of the blue, "Sensei, what... do you think of our Fox Squad?"

What's your opinion?

After a moment's thought, and meeting Yukino's expectant yet apprehensive gaze, Amamiya replied, "In my opinion... everyone in the Fox Squad is a student with very distinct characteristics."

"It's definitely worth paying attention to."

【~???~】(Yukino)

Yukino was slightly disappointed to receive the answer she expected.

"That's it..."

Turning her gaze away, Yukino looked at the office floor, so clean and tidy it was almost reflective, and sighed softly.

Sensei is gentle and the only one the Fox Squad can rely on.

The Fox Squad can only rely on Sensei now... but Yukino always feels that this 'one-sided dependence' is abnormal, a fragile relationship that could break at any time.

He couldn't bear to see himself and the Fox Squad go astray, blindly following the unreliable path of Shiranui Hanaya, ultimately becoming 'sacrifices' and 'stepping stones'. That's why Sensei helped him even when the Fox Squad was desperate and verbally abusive...

But what kind of return could the Fox Squad... or rather, myself, offer...?

Or rather, what kind of 'personal characteristics' should be highlighted?

How can I... be "liked" so that my relationship with Sensei can be eased... and I can stay by Sensei's side more naturally and enjoy the sense of security that Sensei brings me?

Yukino recalled the 'junior' who had looked strange not long ago, and who had hurriedly said goodbye after the meal and headed to the Xialai residential area.

Because her heart was filled with anxiety, Yukino's thoughts became exceptionally sensitive.

She could clearly feel it...

Sensei treats himself differently from how he treats his juniors.

Sensei seems to show more gentleness and consideration towards that 'junior'...

There were also some strange attitudes that I couldn't quite explain...

She pondered, trying to recall all her impressions of this 'junior,' attempting to uncover from her own recollections the reason why the 'junior' was more popular.

Is it because the younger generation is more 'cute'?

Or perhaps... it's because the younger generation is 'more individualistic'?

Why on earth...

After thinking for a long time, Yukino finally realized the gap between herself and her 'juniors'.

She recalled the so-called 'righteousness' and 'justice' that she had been instilled in her by SRT-style education when she first joined SRT.

Before I truly opened my heart to Sensei, I was constantly being carried forward by this almost completely solidified belief—it seemed as if I was 'chasing after a belief'.

But upon closer examination... isn't it also a kind of 'being unable to control one's own destiny'?

Compared to myself, who has been 'solidified' by the knowledge and concepts instilled by SRT...

Clearly, she joined SRT, and after only completing her first year, she was forced to sleep at Usagi Park due to SRT's disbandment, temporarily homeless. This 'junior' is even more... lively.

Or to put it another way, they... are more malleable.

It's only natural that Sensei would prefer it.

So what should I do?

This question lingered in her mind, and Yukino racked her brains but couldn't come up with a solution.

Because she hadn't had time to think about anything else before, Yukino felt a bit like she was 'regretting how little she knew when she needed it'.

When faced with a knowledge gap, Yukino could only think of the "trade-off" tutorial in the SRT textbook.

It's impossible for the Fox Squad to have a 'shared interest' with Sensei; that would be too obvious.

Then, we need to bind it through "another form"...

Recalling the various descriptions of Sensei's gentleness that Nico had occasionally interspersed between the lines when advising her to get closer to Sensei, as well as Nico's expression while describing her, and her own experience in the evening... Yukino suddenly 'realized'.

The confusion and unease in my heart were completely dispelled by Yi⊙ 柒??岜斯捂翏.