I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

As Tsukuyomi tore off her own persona, her pupils were briefly covered with a layer of dazzling molten gold.

Amamiya picked up Akiko, leaped lightly, and landed on the roof. After setting Akiko down, Amamiya went first, and in the instant that 'Ibaraki's' shadow turned around, he extended his right hand to the legendary great demon.

The grappling hook landed without hindrance and became firmly attached to 'Ibaraki's' hideous demon mask.

"正体お见せる!"

Amamiya leaped up and landed in front of Ibaraki. Using the pulling force of the grappling hook, she ripped off the demon mask on Ibaraki's face with a hiss.

Having already witnessed the battle process in the other world, Tsukuyomi used a slightly peculiar 'ninja run' to approach at a suitable distance for combat, waiting for the monsters shaped from the shadows to complete their formation.

As a ninja, seizing the initiative is also very important.

"Wine Forest Nagato Shou..."

After striking a peculiar hand seal, she unleashed her highest note since approaching Amamiya, the highest she had ever uttered in her entire life.

"A fleeting slash of May rain—"

"Myriad Arrows: Deals 2-5 instances of minor physical damage to all enemies."

The ninja wielding his sword sheathed it and then briefly gathered his strength.

He drew his sword and then created a scene of 'May's gentle drizzle'.

However, this drizzle was not made up of simple raindrops... but rather of sharp and subtle slashes.

The various shadows that had just begun to take shape were already drenched by this 'May drizzle' and suffered heavy damage.

Before Amamiya could make a move, he heard the shadows cursing and swearing, as if they were saying things like "no martial ethics, sneak attack".

ridiculous.

Whether it's a phantom thief or a ninja... when facing an enemy, shouldn't you seize the initiative whenever possible?

What's the point of talking about martial virtue when it comes to these shadows?

"I won't give you that chance..."

"Psona! Lakshmi!"

With a soft shout, the mask on Amamiya's face shattered, transforming into the legendary goddess of happiness and wealth.

"Lullaby!"

"Lullaby: Puts all enemies to sleep."

Following closely behind, Akiko, perched on the roof, removed the "kind wolf mask" from her cheek.

"Psona... Little Red Riding Hood."

A blonde girl in a red dress, wearing a wolf-head hood, gracefully descended and slowly picked up an enormous pair of scissors that looked like they were used to disembowel the sleeping shadows.

"Cutting scissors".

The red-haired girl grinned maliciously as she slowly opened the scissors, then vanished in a flash of red light.

"Cutt of Wolf: Deals massive physical damage to all enemies, doubles damage to sleeping enemies, always a critical hit, and has a high chance of instant death."

After a flash of red light, the blonde little girl wielding large scissors pushed together a group of 'wolf grandmothers' who had been disemboweled.

After gathering the dying enemies together, Amamiya, Akiko, and Tsukuyo all pointed their guns at them.

"Do we still need to ask for information?"

When asked by Azuko, Amamiya simply shook her head.

The intelligence... is sufficient.

"Let's take them out in one fell swoop, all-out attack."

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Ajinko Also Wants to Be a Real Princess

The exploration of the other world ends, often accompanied by the fiery red sunset on the horizon.

After leaving the Impression Space at the evacuation point near the station in the [Hyakki Yagyō area], Amamiya bids farewell to the 'giant ninja girl' in the sunset.

"Shouldn't you be more alert, Tsukuyomi?"

As if she had undergone a 'baptism' or 'transformation,' and her temperament had changed significantly, the girl immediately nodded sharply and forcefully.

'Confront your inner world...'

Even if it's "knowing it's impossible but still doing it," one must remain steadfast and unwavering...

This 'way of the ninja' took root and sprouted completely from the moment the Persona was awakened.

In addition... she could somewhat understand Izuna's dazzling 'pursuit of dreams'.

Leaving aside the fact that he was the head of the Ninjutsu Research Club... let's talk about Izuna, who had always been 'going it alone' before he met himself and Xiaoman.

If a dreamer is alone, he will inevitably encounter some bumps and stumbles on his journey. Why bother with strange things?

The lightest price to pay for pursuing your dreams is "several times the effort and sweat".

And once you get entangled in something strange... the price you'll have to pay might not just be sweat, but also pain... and even blood.

She was covered in bruises and even bled while pursuing her dream... Although Tsukuyo had never seen it, she could subconsciously feel that inexplicable hardship.

The reason why Izuna, a 'dream chaser,' is still carefree until now must be because he has Sensei protecting him, right?

Under the watchful eye of their 'lord,' they made a romantic vow together: 'I will protect your dreams, and you will protect my safety,' and gradually grew into ninjas capable of standing on your own...

After experiencing that kind of 'romance,' just thinking about it makes one envious.

"Will it be okay for you to go back alone?"

【~???~】(Yue Yong)

The adult in front of me took off his glasses, facing the setting sun, and looked at me gently...

"No, no problem...!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Tsukuyo regretted them.

I wish I could have a relationship like Izuna's, where I could have intimate contact with Sensei without being suspected.

If only I could be a little more 'cheerful' like Xiaoman...

If any of these factors were present, Tsukuyo felt she would have the courage to ask Sensei to send her back at this moment, citing exhaustion or other reasons.

"Well then... see you at the meeting point at the Whirlpool Cinema Village tomorrow. Don't be late, Tsukuyo."

"Also, remember to remind Izuna and Koman when you get back."

"Ok!"

Seeing Tsukuyomi's overreaction, Amamiya simply maintained the 'calm and gentle demeanor befitting an adult'.

Psychological counseling cannot instantly transform an introvert into an outgoing and cheerful person—that's not psychological counseling, that's 'hypnosis' or some deeper form of magic.

Although Tsukuyomi has awakened her Persona, her personality and behavior will not undergo a dramatic change immediately.

Because Persona isn't 'hypnotic magic,' but rather it helped her establish a firm and effective belief and a philosophical patience to try and face things.

This overblown state will soon return to normal... but there won't be any 'bottoming out and rebounding'.

At least, Tsukuyomi will become braver.

I felt the conviction emanating from Tsukuyomi.

[Coopation Improvement!]

【Ono Tsukiyomi (The Hermit) ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

[★2 Bond Ability "Giant Ninja Way" is now unlocked!]

Akiko, who hadn't said a word the whole time, watched until the figure of this 'temporary partner of the Ninjutsu Research Club' disappeared into the sunset street before looking at Amamiya.

“Sensei… seems to have unintentionally ‘watered’ a budding flower again.”

Carrying bags of her spoils, her straw hat and white summer dress, bathed in the simple glow of the setting sun, perfectly highlighted the gentle beauty of the young woman in a serene and tranquil light.

Calm yet subtly ironic...

Yet it carries a subtle, almost imperceptible, devilish aggression.

Faced with Azuko's teasing, Amamiya surprisingly felt a little guilty, something he hadn't felt in a long time.

"...Ajinko?"

To Amamiya's feigned confusion, as if he didn't quite understand what she was talking about, the girl simply responded with a sweet smile.

"It's getting late. If we don't go back now... the rest of Arius's team will worry."

"On the way back, could Sensei tell me the details of the 'Academy Exchange Meeting'?"

Get closer, closer, and closer still...

Then, maintaining a 'subtle and ambiguous distance,' she tilted her head back and cast a hopeful, yet not pleading, gaze.

She seems to know she's cute...

What's even more frightening is that she not only knows, but also understands how to make good use of her 'talent'.

For a moment, Amamiya felt as if she had been electrocuted.

Purchase tickets online, verify them, enter the station, and wait for the train.

Soon, Amamiya and Azuko boarded the late-night train back to Xialai.

After sitting in the inner seat by the window, the girl looked at Amamiya with a subtle, impatient gaze.

After Amamiya took his seat, he noticed that there were almost no passengers in the carriage. So, he stopped pretending and, feeling tired from exploring the other world, yawned slightly and then leaned on Amamiya's shoulder.

Her brows were lowered, but her red eyes were not dim. Pretending to be tired, the girl let her hand fall down and intertwined her fingers with Amamiya's.

The cuteness of being "petite and dependent" and the danger of "blurred distance" fermented almost simultaneously in a small space.

Amamiya was genuinely confused. How did the innocent and earnest 'Princess Arios' who she met at the beginning become like this?

Maintaining a subtle, ambiguous distance, Akiko spoke almost whispered in Amamiya's ear, "Sensei..."

Left with no other choice, Amamiya could only briefly recount the story of what happened between the Ninjutsu Research Club's visit to him and the Yin-Yang Club's request to "ensure the safety of the academy exchange meeting," in order to satisfy her curiosity.

To put it simply, Amamiya has been busy with the requests Nia gave him, and he also took the opportunity to officially recognize the Ninjutsu Research Club as a formal club.

Yajinzi listened with great interest to these everyday stories full of life.

After all... in every sense, these were things she had longed for but could never experience when she was in Arius—the 'daily life of an ordinary student'.

As Amamiya started talking about the performance of "Warakuhime," Azuko, who had been feeling sleepy, woke up again.

"【Warakuhime】...A period drama in the style of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons...?"

Judging from the name alone... it's a play called "Princess Wagaku"? Since the name includes "Princess," there should be a student with a princess-like demeanor playing the lead role, right?

That sounds interesting.

Upon hearing the keyword 'princess', Azuko, who was no longer sleepy, shared her curiosity with Amamiya.

"...What kind of 'princess' would participate in the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons?"

Being stared at closely by Azuko, whose cheeks still held a hint of sleepiness and made her even more adorable, Amamiya suddenly felt a subtle sense of 'being reversed and receiving more affection'.

"【Warakuhime】is indeed the 'princess' that Azuko mentioned..."

Recalling the information Xiaoman had given him, Amamiya briefly described the general plot of the story of "Warakuhime": "Warakuhime's script has a certain degree of 'audience interaction' elements."

"A princess from a prestigious family is kidnapped one day by villains who covet her fame... and the guests participating in the performance... can play the role of 'samurai who rescue the princess'..."

"Or, to describe it in a framework that's easier for Azuko to understand, it's like this: 'The princess has been kidnapped, and the knights involved in the play begin to use their various skills to try and rescue her.'"

I see……

Yajinko immediately understood the core selling point of the script—

The sense of presence experienced by actually participating.

The script sounds cliché? But the 'cliché' only applies to the actual audience.

When you're actually immersed in the experience, you won't care about the clichéd script anymore. You'll want to wholeheartedly play the role, fiercely compete with other participants whose ultimate goal is also to rescue the princess, and ultimately stand out from the crowd.

'...'

Ajinko thought of herself.