I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Amamiya moved closer and, seeing the strange expression on the girl's face gradually turning pale, reached out to touch her.

'...'

After closing her eyes and adjusting her mindset and calming her breathing, Yuriko hesitated for a moment before finally taking the initiative to curl her tail around Amamiya's arm. With Amamiya's caresses, it kept curling, stretching, and contracting.

Initially, Amamiya made the request with the intention of "patting his tail".

Who knew... now, the physical sensation is more like 'being stroked by Yuriko's tail'.

Unlike the warm, fluffy feeling when you touch a tail, the sensation of being touched is slightly different.

"Yuriko's tail is so flexible... Miyuki Kagosaki, Utsugi, Shishigoshi + Gi..."

The fox-eared girl, who had taken the initiative to observe Amamiya's reaction, chuckled and replied, "We can also do other, more flexible things."

"What's more flexible?"

Yuriko maintained her smile, but it gradually became more meaningful.

"Want to try Sensei?"

[I conducted experiments with Yuriko to test the limits of 'tail dexterity'...]

My bond with Yuriko has deepened...

【Yuriko Tennishi (The High Priestess) ★★★★★★★★☆☆】

Chapter Ninety-Nine: This matter is also recorded in "Ninja Slayer"...

The 'foxes' of Chiwatos are all formidable.

This was the only thought that instantly formed and remained in Amamiya's mind when he experienced just how flexible Yuriko's tail could be, and then 'coincidentally' encountered Izuna again in Shalai.

"Princess, my lady~"

The short-haired fox-eared girl with her little tiger teeth smiled innocently, "Hehehe." The 20-centimeter height difference forced her to tilt her head slightly. Her brightly colored, dazzling short sleeves made her look like a hundred flowers blooming and then swirling under the night sky.

"Has my lord been thinking of Izuna?"

Swinging his conspicuous orange-yellow tail, Izuna, without even putting on an act, stood up, leaped high, and pounced—only to be caught by Amamiya before he nearly fell into her arms, and then gently placed on the ground.

Despite not achieving the desired effect, Izuna was not disappointed at all.

The fox-eared girl, being held under the armpits by Amamiya, was simply expressing her longing with boundless energy.

"Since Izuna temporarily left his lord to seek like-minded companions..."

"A long time has passed."

After the initial excitement subsided, Izuna, gently placed on the ground by Amamiya, feigned mystery and spoke in a deep tone: "In order to further my 'ninja training,' Izuna traveled to various places during the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, and finally..."

"Found a like-minded partner."

Like-minded partners...

Amamiya was slightly taken aback, then recalled the message from Izuna that she had seen not long ago: "Found a new partner."

"Yeah……"

Amamiya bowed with a sense of 'gratification', leaned close to the girl's cheek, touched her forehead, and then rubbed her cheek to show encouragement.

After reflecting on how fortunate she was to have recently encountered a 'fox,' Amamiya immediately realized—

Izuna came to find me, there must be another purpose besides "informing me that I have found my partner".

"Having found like-minded partners means that Izuna has taken another step forward in his training as a 'ninja'..."

【~???~】

The clingy 'little fox' followed him all the way to the entrance of Xia Lai's residential area before Amamiya finally got a free moment to use facial recognition.

"So... what trouble did Izuna encounter this time that brought him to see me?"

Amamiya's "straightforward remark" caused Izuna to show momentary excessive surprise.

"As expected of our lord! He was able to see through Izuna's thoughts and intentions at a glance..."

"Actually, it's because..."

Just as Izuna was about to say something, she suddenly and deftly twitched her fox ears, interrupting herself with her 'pre-planning' that she had just remembered.

"Izuna's ninja training... has encountered some trouble."

Have the ninja training encountered some trouble?

Izumi glanced at Izuna and immediately read a hint of guilt in Amamiya's tense expression as she looked down at the ground and clutched the hem of her clothes. Amamiya sighed inwardly.

When this 'clumsy and innocent' little fox is by my side, it really can't keep anything to itself.

Amamiya slowed down the opening of the door. Seeing Izuna's increasingly anxious expression, which even reduced the amplitude of his tail wagging, Amamiya seemed to sense something and slowly turned around to look at the night sky so close at hand.

"...My lord?"

Izuna, who noticed Amamiya's actions immediately, called out anxiously, "What is my lord doing?"

"I had a feeling that some students were hiding in the shadows, secretly observing us."

Amamiya narrowed her eyes slightly, her "third eye" silently scanning the seemingly ordinary night scene.

"Does Izuna have any clue about this feeling...?"

As Amamiya spoke, Izuna's fox ears drooped suddenly due to excessive tension.

Before she could say anything, a disappointed sigh echoed from a street corner.

"As expected, even this couldn't escape Sensei's notice..."

"Truly worthy of being called a 'phantom thief,' similar to a 'ninja,' active in the shadows and operating in a world unknown to others...!"

The girl, who had been crouching in the corner for a long time, stood up while leaning against the wall. Her expression seemed to be distorted because her legs were numb from crouching for a while and then suddenly standing up. Trying her best to maintain her 'ninja demeanor', the girl approached from a distance in a slightly strange running posture.

As the girl stepped out of the darkness and into the light near the door, Amamiya was able to see her clearly.

Her long, gray-to-black hair was tied into twin ponytails that exuded energy and beauty even as she ran. Her upper body, which was similar to but different from Izuna's, featured short sleeves and a pleated skirt. Her pink tie and long, color-changing ribbons accompanied the girl's dashing movements, creating a graceful and elegant look.

Similar to Izuna... the moment you see her, you are struck by her bright and refreshing appearance.

You'll then be inspired and infected by her energetic and confident aura.

Bright eyes, tender and cute cheeks, round ears, and a fluffy tail... it has the characteristics of a 'raccoon dog'.

'Fox' and 'raccoon dog'...

Amamiya muttered to himself as the girl who had been rushing towards him stopped in front of him. She then pulled up her black scarf, which she had probably specially equipped to enhance her ninja style, with a serious expression.

"Hehehe~ Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Standing ramrod straight with her sword fingers raised, the girl solemnly and ceremoniously introduced herself: "Chidori Mitsuru, head of the Ninjutsu Research Club, hereby reports!"

"Please take care of me from now on, Your Highness Se〡弃〢』叁〤零U丝?9棋彡事nsei殿下!"

[Assistant: Chidori Mitsuru / Otaku Ninja of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons]

[Arcana: The Magician (Le teleur)]

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

'As expected...'

'It represents boundless creativity, symbolizes intelligence, and... a 'magician' in need of help.'

"The head of the Ninjutsu Research Club?"

Amamiya also switches his Persona to [Magician], activating multiple Bond Skills suitable for cheerful social situations simultaneously.

"Indeed... in terms of both energy and cuteness, she's 'each with her own merits' compared to Izuna."

Her greetings are similar to Izuna's, displaying a cheerful and lively demeanor...

However, when praised by Amamiya, the girl unexpectedly became shy.

"Well……"

Amamiya's compliment made her blush unnaturally, and she almost lost her composure, unconsciously pulling her scarf up even higher.

【~???~】(Izuna, Mitsuru)

Izuna, on the other hand, accepted the praise from Amamiya without any hesitation.

"Hehehe~ Thank you for the praise, my lord!"

There should be one more, right?

Amamiya looked at Mitsuru, who was clutching his scarf, seemingly trying to maintain his 'grace' but was actually feeling unnaturally shy.

"I...I'm still here..."

[Assistant: Tsukuyo Ohno / The Giant Ninja of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons]

Arcana: The Hmit

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

As Amamiya's gaze swept across the area, a commotion came from behind a large tree nearby.

A purple-haired girl, who looked exceptionally 'large' in both height and physique, timidly peeked out from behind a tree.

The light purple clothing style, scarves and ribbons are exactly the same as those of Izuna and Mitsuru;

The outfit, featuring an ankle-length coat over a mini skirt and seemingly useless bandages wrapped around the thighs, is quite unique.

So tall...so big.

The moment the 'huge thing' came into view, Amamiya's first reaction was to rub her eyes, wondering if she was seeing things.

It's so big... It's even taller than Hasumi, right?

Are those ears on its head... rabbit ears?

"sen... Sensei?"

Noticing Amamiya's 'overlooked' disbelief, the purple-haired girl who had been peering out felt extremely awkward and even more unsure whether she should step forward and introduce herself.

Her naturally soft and gentle voice reminded Amamiya of Miyu again.

Why is Kivotos's 'rabbit' always in a strange duality, either strong or cowardly?

Even stranger than the foxes...

"I was just a little...surprised."

Amamiya beckoned to the girl who was starting to feel timid, and at the same time activated the bond skill she had recently obtained from Yukino - [Cunning and Helpless Fox] - to increase her 'sense of being relied upon'.

"Even in the entire Kiwatos, his physical development is exceptionally mature... It's amazing, a maturity that is different from immaturity."

Iori's bond ability, [Aggressive Aura], also takes effect at the opportune moment.

【~???~】(Yue Yong)

【~???~】(Mitsuru, Izuna)

The purple-haired girl hiding behind the tree didn't speak, but Man, who had been shy before, burst into laughter.

"Haha~"

"As expected! The predicted scenario has come true—'Sensei is taken aback by Tsukuyomi's figure, and then expresses his affection!'"

"Although my encounter with Sensei was completely unplanned... well, as expected, something did happen within the plan!"

Amamiya: "..."

Just pretend I was scared.

Maintaining an awkward yet polite smile, Amamiya continued to keep an eye on the girl behind the tree.

Seemingly having made up her mind, the girl finally abandoned the branch she was using for disguise and moved closer to Amamiya.

“Sen, Sensi… Hello… I… I am Tsukuyo Ohno… I’m a member of the Ninjutsu Research Club…”

"Please guide me...!"

Amamiya smiled gently, then teased, "Izuna's friends... are just as special as Izuna."