I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"..."

"I have conveyed your reasoning to you."

"I wonder... if this will inspire you as a 'Trickster'?"

During the long monologue, the world in which the girl lives seems to gradually show signs of collapse.

The girl was only briefly surprised, then felt very reluctant to part.

"Looks like it's time..."

The girl stood up, smiled, and waved goodbye as she was about to disappear.

“I’ve been waiting for you here all along.”

"And, I'm looking forward to it..."

"The day we reunited."

After her long monologue, her figure coalesced again into an inverted World Tarot card depicting her own portrait, and floated back into Amamiya's hand.

The president of the Federal Student Council has delivered a crucial message...

[It seems I have gained a better understanding of the Federal Student Union president.]

[Coopation Improvement!]

[Federal Student Council President (The World - Reversed) ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆]

[★6 Bond Ability "New Testament" is now unlocked!]

Amamiya flipped the tarot card over and over again, which always faced downwards no matter how she flipped it, and compared it to the situation when it appeared last time.

Compared to its initial state of being 'tattered and worn', and then to its recent state of having 'only shallow cracks', this reversed World card is now completely flawless, as pristine as new.

The portrait of the chairman, which was drawn above, was no longer stained with blood as it had been at the beginning, and his clothes showed signs of being torn.

The current portrait of the president conveys only a sense of tranquility, peace, calm anticipation, and composure.

Although it's a reversed world, it seems like it has already completed part of the transformation from reversed to upright.

As soon as Amamiya put the tarot card away, he felt a strong repulsive force.

In a flash, he found himself back in the carriage, where nothing seemed amiss.

Midori, who was holding a lot of 'date spoils' and 'gifts' for the game club members, was still 'enveloped in happiness' and probably didn't notice Amamiya's strange behavior at all.

After taking off the tarot card pendant from her neck, Amamiya held the tarot card, now a pendant, in her hand and stroked it.

Soon, the tarot cards emitted a warm and powerful feeling, as if they were radiating a gentle touch.

After observing Green for a moment, Amamiya put the pendant back on with a complicated expression.

...He didn't know why, but for a moment, he felt like he was "mourning Cyber's deceased wife".

The president's gentleness, her perfectly balanced sense of distance, and even the girlfriend-like feeling in her words and actions all have a fairly clear yet ambiguous boundary.

Moreover, every time she initiates contact, she transforms the scene into a train carriage at dawn or dusk that evokes the feeling of a "memoir of a deceased wife"...

After concealing the complex emotions in her heart, Amamiya leaned back and closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.

Having already undergone "judgment," the phantom thief is not afraid of a second trial.

As the chairman said... it's not yet time to truly confront and fight against a danger of the level of "Shido Masayoshi"—not even the "casino's" conspiracy has arrived yet.

It's too far-fetched to talk about planning for the future right now.

The task at hand is quite simple.

To put it bluntly, it means having a keen eye on one's own little plot of land.

As a Sensei of Charlene, I will do everything Charlene can do.

'Let's think about how to deal with tomorrow first...'

Chapter Sixty-Four: This is a topic that absolutely cannot be touched!

"Today, tomorrow, looking forward to it every day!"

"No need for forever."

Sunny days, cloudy days, no matter what day it is.

"Kindness and boundless affection!"

"La la~ la la~ la la~"

"At birth, human nature is inherently good."

Poke~

With her eyes lowered and closed, Amamiya reached out and gently poked the source of the sound with her index finger, turning the AI ​​girl's mesmerizing yet adorable humming with its surround sound effect into a series of disjointed sobs.

"Waaaa...Jok?"

Amamiya opened his eyes and looked calmly at the red-haired girl sleeping on her side next to his ear.

"Where did you learn that?"

He asked in an annoyed tone.

Sofia chuckled, her reply innocent and naive: "I dug it out of Jok's song library. Jok should really like it... this kind of light-hearted song with an easy melody, right?"

Amamiya's forehead twitched.

Thinking about the fate of the characters represented behind this seemingly light and cheerful ballad, all he could say was...

That's very "easy".

To reiterate... the lyrics and the song themselves cannot be equated with the intention they were created for a 'specific performance'.

Although Sofia was very considerate in switching to a more appropriate "wake-up alarm" today after experiencing the "cyber ghost" warning yesterday, this...

Sofia's concern was well-intentioned, but it can only be said that she 'did good intentions but caused more harm than good'.

Amamiya stopped dwelling on the song and instead asked, "Is Alona awake? What are your plans for today?"

"Senior Alona hasn't woken up yet... but she informed me of the arrangements last night!"

As the AI ​​girl spoke, her figure and the aura she possessed after gaining existence in Kivotos crumbled like a sandpile that could not be gathered together.

Most of the particles adhered to Amamiya's body and became the metal decorations on her clothes, while a few gathered in Amamiya's palm and turned into a cell phone.

The phone screen lit up automatically, and Amamiya saw a schedule that was probably hand-drawn in the style of Alona, ​​and its level of abstraction was no less than that of the president.

After staring at this quirky schedule that blends cuteness and abstraction for a while, Amamiya finally calmly activated the "image to text" function.

After some identification and re-verification, Amamiya confirmed today's itinerary.

"Finally, we'll go to Gehena to check on their situation, then we can wait for the upcoming opening ceremony..."

There was originally supposed to be a visit to the medical departments of Trinity and Gersner, as well as a segment featuring cross-age entrepreneurs and other key participants in the Grand Games.

However, due to time constraints, these activities will have to be scheduled during the sports meet.

After confirming the itinerary, Amamiya simply bought a breakfast bento at Angel 24 downstairs and prepared to head to the nearby station to catch the earliest and 'quietest' bus.

But once a plan is in place, changes are inevitable.

I randomly picked a breakfast bento that tasted alright, paid the bill, and just as I stepped out of the convenience store, Amamiya was almost shoved into the face by a bright camera lens.

"I'm Shion Kawakami, a reporter from the Kronos News Department. Welcome to the Kronos Morning News!"

With her wheat-colored skin, blonde hair, and green eyes, dressed in a sexy style, and carrying a press release in one hand and a microphone in the other, she's clearly a reporter among reporters.

The girl, who was facing the camera sideways and whose attention was entirely focused on the lens, did not notice Amamiya's presence at first. Instead, she used the dramatic, punctuated tone of a classic news reporter and the pretentious, exaggerated, and theatrical style typical of media professionals to try her best to attract attention in front of the camera.

She had no idea that the camera that had been pointing at her was now focused on Amamiya instead of her.

"As you can see—I am currently in the office building of the 'Federal Investigation Department, Shalai,' which holds a very special place in the hearts of students!"

"Everyone has probably heard, to some extent, about the rumors surrounding Xia Lai—rumors that are sometimes bizarre, sometimes absurd, sometimes terrifying, and sometimes ambiguous and alluring..."

"Rumor has it that all sorts of beautiful girls with unique personalities come and go from Xia Lai's building every day. Rumor has it that Xia Lai's Sensei has developed 'special relationships' with at least 10 students at the same time, and is doing the legendary 'ten-boat jump' every day..."

"And the viral video of the students' visit to Xia Lai, recorded by the students of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, which came about not long ago, has also given rise to many legends such as 'Sensei is building a crystal palace for students with furry features' and 'Sensei is going to capture all the students with animal ears and tails'..."

“There were even students who shared their terrifying experiences of being physically strengthened by Sensei in the basement of Xia Lai!”

"But is that experience... true?"

"Today, let me, your idol reporter Shion-chan, further unveil the mystery surrounding Xia Lai..."

Amamiya, carrying a plastic bag containing a bento box and almost having the camera zoomed in on her face, seemed a little confused.

Although almost everything she said was accurate, it felt like there was far too much 'artistic embellishment' involved.

Journalism... can exaggerate news to this extent?

It really is the same everywhere.

Shion was about to turn around when Amamiya cleared his throat and said seriously, "I have objections to these press releases of yours."

Shion was clearly taken aback, then, like a shark that had smelled blood, she excitedly turned around and followed the direction of the sound.

"Look, everyone—this is Xia Lai's Sensei! The legendary 'gentle hero,' the 'compassionate phantom thief,' who is so kind even to thugs like the Helmet Gang, making them repent and reform!"

Holding the microphone, she approached enthusiastically and held it out to Amamiya: "Regarding these bizarre rumors about Xia Lai... how does Sensei intend to clarify them?"

Amamiya squinted and didn't reply immediately.

The experience of dealing with these kinds of 'unscrupulous media people' can be described as... Amamiya learned a lot in his dealings with Ichiko Otaku.

In their pursuit of sensational news, they are masters of manipulation and misrepresentation.

Not responding is tantamount to 'acknowledging the rumors as true,' but responding also requires careful consideration...

"First of all, it is true that students come and go in Xia Lai every day, but that is understandable. Xia Lai itself was a special institution specifically established by the president of the Federal Student Association before his disappearance, with the purpose of solving student problems."

“Xia Lai has no obligation to do anything, but for the healthy future of students, it is still necessary to address the different problems of students in each school.”

“Mmm…” Shion nodded, then suddenly winked playfully and said, “So Sensei doesn’t deny the rumor that ‘all the beautiful female students come to Sensei with various motives, and Sensei always helps them solve problems, thus cultivating relationships,’ right…”

Amamiya: ...

I knew it.

When something is said by people in the media, it always sounds strange.

"The rumors about my liking for 'fluffy' features... are pure nonsense."

"Recently, I've been interacting more with students from the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) event, and many of these students have a 'fluffy' appearance. In fact, in my opinion... students from all schools have their own adorable qualities."

"They all have their own troubles."

"Whether it's 'fluffy' (animal ears and tail) features... or 'soft' (wings) features... the absence of any of these doesn't mean that there aren't other students who are cuter or more worthy of attention."

“These special characteristics are ‘exceptional qualities,’ but they are not the key to getting help here—Charlene welcomes all students; if you have any troubles, you can come here and try to talk to them.”

Shion's eyes gleamed, and she continued with a 'malicious' tone, "Has Sensei ever fantasized about being 'surrounded by a 'fluffy heaven' made up of students' animal ears and tails'?"

Amamiya: "..."

Although I have indeed fantasized about it, it's definitely something I can't say directly.

“I already live in a world surrounded by students like Shion and Mai, who are lively, cute, and full of youthful energy from early morning. As a Sensei walking among you, I am lucky enough and don’t need to ask for more.”

【~???~】(Shion, Mai)

The brown-haired girl with half-rimmed glasses, holding the camera, momentarily lost her balance while trying to keep the camera steady.

How did Sensei find out his name?

I've never introduced myself before...

Shion was somewhat dazed by Amamiya's 'openness' and 'gentleness', swallowing hard, and her words gradually became a little incoherent: "Oh... truly, as expected of the 'heart-stealing phantom thief,' he doesn't even spare journalists like us..."

"Regarding the rumor shared by the last anonymous student—being taken to the basement and forced to exercise under Sensei's coercion! How does Sensei explain this rumor?"

Amamiya: "..."

This rumor is indeed true, but it may be ambiguous.

"This rumor... is actually because a student did 'make a mistake'. Not long ago, after Gehenna's exchange with the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, and the ensuing turmoil... after the mastermind behind it was caught, I did take her to the basement to 'strengthen her body'."

"But that's because Xia Lai's basement itself has a gym for personal fitness. And the student who caused the trouble is in poor physical condition."