I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

In her agitated state, a voice, with a slightly gloating tone, reached her ears.

"Administrator Ako seems to be in a difficult position?"

Frustrated, I responded with a deadpan expression, as if to say, "Isn't this just common sense?"

Then, the other person immediately stopped being playful and teasing, and asked seriously, "The opening ceremony is about to begin... Ayako, is there any problem that's still difficult to solve?"

The adult's voice... carried a gentleness that made one 'grit one's teeth in hatred,' yet one that one couldn't help but be drawn to.

Sensei... is a despicable guy.

...It made all the members of the disciplinary committee, including myself, uneasy. They felt like they were experiencing some kind of strange withdrawal reaction if they didn't see him for a while, and it felt like time was passing by... Damn it.

“These are the problems of the disciplinary committee members themselves, Sensei doesn’t need to worry about them… We just need to pay a little more attention to them, and they can be easily solved.”

While possessing a 'despicable' face, this adult who always approaches you at the most unexpected moments also has a special charm that makes you subconsciously confide your troubles...

That is... the weariness of adults, the composure of adults, the worries of adults.

"Oh... let me guess."

He stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then spoke: "Is Ayako considering... the issue of the chairman?"

“Yes. Originally, the representative of the ‘Executive Committee’ on Gehenna’s side was the chairperson. But in order to help the chairperson share the burden… I volunteered to take on this responsibility.”

"As for the Chairman... our initial plan is to temporarily place him in the 'Joint Medical Department,' which is jointly established by the Emergency Medicine Department and the Ambulance Knights."

"Let's take this opportunity to let the Chairman, who is already on the verge of falling ill from overwork, get some more rest."

"That's it..."

The 'detestable' adult paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Ayako is always thinking of the chairman in every way. It seems she is a very caring and considerate administrator."

"I wish Ako would start thinking about me someday."

Is this... the cynicism of adults?

angry.

But there's also a feeling of being... intensely provoked.

At that time, I seemed to be 'so angry I was gritting my teeth,' but I really couldn't get angry.

“I think it should be the other way around—Sensei should at least consider my needs sometimes.”

“Sensei is very gentle to the class president and Chinatsu. And to Iori too... he’s quite witty.”

"But why is your attitude towards me so...special, especially towards me?"

"It felt like being treated like a pet..."

Faced with her complaints, the adult who made her grind her teeth in anger simply replied calmly and matter-of-factly, "Isn't Ayako my pet?"

...Although I genuinely want to agree, this is just too...

It feels like this is a bit too much of a trampling on one's own dignity...?

"Sen~sei~?"

Faced with his own drawn-out 'threat,' the adult, whose expression changed drastically, immediately scratched his head and apologized sheepishly: "...Sorry, I was just joking. If Ayako feels that this joke was too much, then I will correct it now and change my impression of Ayako from now on."

"..."

"No."

After receiving his 'rejection,' this glib and shameless adult immediately began to 'pull his luck' again.

"Is there anything I can do to help Ayako? About the Akawa Grand Festival that's being prepared. As an executive committee member, Ayako must be having a tough time, right? I can help relieve some of the pressure on her..."

"no need."

“If Sensei really wants to help me… then… remember to keep an eye on the chairman.”

The adult, who was clearly unreliable, confidently patted his chest and made a promise.

"Okay, I will take good care of Chairman Hina."

But then he changed his tone and revealed his true intentions.

"However... I also have a favor I'd like to ask Ayako for."

"Oh... what kind of help?"

“Ayako, regarding the ‘Executive Committee’… after all, there are Trinity students among them. They contacted me and said that they don’t want the Grand Festival to be considered a failure this year, so they’ve decided to put aside the ‘grudge’ between Gehenna and Trinity for the time being…”

"According to the order of events... it was Trinity who made the 'plea for leniency' first."

"Yako, what are your thoughts?"

Humph……

They're quite adept at distorting the truth and deceiving people.

Do you think a mere smooth-talking adult can make me let go of my long-held impression of Trinity through this method? Impossible!

However… this only applies to the Akawa Grand Festival; it doesn't involve targeting the Holy Trinity at every turn. (Regarding the other characters: 聊仪冥翅捌寺旗司5溜一)

"If it's Sensei's request..."

A reassuring weight and warmth came from above my head.

"Alright, alright~ Yako is truly my good puppy."

"Woo..."

Those despicable adults, they become arrogant and domineering once they get their way!

"Sensei, if you keep doing that... I'll bite you!"

That being said... at the time, I found it hard to resist the weight and warmth being placed on my head, and I didn't want that feeling to leave so quickly.

……

Amamiya raised her voice, calling out meaningfully, "Ayako?"

"..."

After being called out by Amamiya, Ako's expression and attitude softened noticeably.

"...While I am indeed somewhat surprised by and skeptical of the character of the Trinity students...I do not intend to say more."

Yuka, who had already prepared to set the mood, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

'fine……'

'The executive committee, responsible for mediating disputes and maintaining the fairness and security of the competition, didn't start arguing amongst themselves before the sports meet even began...'

Otherwise, we'd really become a laughing stock...

Moreover, it's the funniest joke in the history of the Akawa Taisai, which has been held many times before.

After all, the fact that 'members of the executive committee almost got into a fight before the sports meet officially started' might be something the students participating in the sports meet would talk about with amusement, but it was definitely not something to be proud of.

This is especially true for the organizer, Millennium Science Academy.

If the Akawa Grand Festival is handled like this, the school's reputation will definitely collapse...

Yuka breathed a sigh of relief, while Hasumi, who had originally wanted to argue, hesitated for a moment and gave up.

Mary, who was already preparing her words to 'mediate' the moment she noticed the atmosphere, which had seemed ready to erupt into an argument, suddenly softened and relaxed, was a little stunned.

'As the vice-president of the Justice Realization Committee, Hasumi is not good at swallowing her anger. And Ako, the administrative officer of the Disciplinary Committee, is at least similar to Vice-President Hasumi in her attitude of not swallowing her anger…'

Mary glanced between Hasumi and Ako, then fell into thought.

'But in this environment, they all chose to stop fighting... Was it also because of Sensei...?'

'Sensei is here...'

'The executive committee should be able to fulfill its responsibilities properly...'

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Chairman Hina's "Behind-the-Scenes Work"

With the opening ceremony of the Akawa Grand Festival now completely over, the first competition began...

The members of the executive committee office also began their busy work with clearly defined tasks.

Mary's 'worries' ultimately did not change due to Murphy's Law, which states that "what you least want to happen is what is most likely to happen."

Picking up her handbag, specially designed for carrying water bottles and bearing the logo of the Trinity Emergency Medicine Department, Mary headed to her 'first stop'—the 'Joint Medical Department,' a joint unit of Gerina's Emergency Medicine Department and the Trinity's Knights of the Awakening, responsible for providing medical support to students during the Akawara Festival.

As a member of the executive committee, it seems my role is merely that of a 'mediator' to ease internal conflicts within the committee…

"There's not much I can do to help with macro-level matters."

'But at the very least, as a member of the executive committee, I should also contribute my own small share to this grand event…'

The little cat-eared nun's gaze gradually hardened, her faith solidified, and her steps became steady and brisk.

'My lord, please forgive my greed... Please bless me.'

'I hope everyone can enjoy this grand sports meet together...'

The joint medical team, comprised of medical personnel from both Gersner and Trinity, employed a unique combination of on-site tents and indoor medical facilities.

To prevent heatstroke, dehydration, and other emergencies, the girls from the Joint Medical Department set up a 'hydration station' and an emergency treatment station outside the sports field. Any minor injuries or emergencies can be treated on-site before being transferred to a more well-equipped indoor facility for further treatment and observation.

As a member of the executive committee, Mary finds herself unable to offer much help in handling macro-level conflicts, so her efforts naturally have to be focused on the 'micro' level.

Even if it's just providing a bottle of water to help athletes avoid dehydration and heatstroke after sweating it out, it's already doing our best to help the executive committee.

Why does Amamiya know so much?

Because Amamiya followed Mary almost exactly, entering the Joint Medical Department at slightly different times.

Have the duplicate testing results for medical equipment been properly documented?

Following behind Mary, Amamiya heard a voice that was quite familiar to her as soon as Mary lifted the tent flap.

She is a nurse in the Knights of Rescue, and also the 'last conscience' of the Knights of Rescue - Washimi Serina.

Dressed in a cool and lovely summer nurse's uniform and wearing a nurse's cap with the Red Cross symbol, the pink-haired girl was capable and efficient. When questioning the members of the ambulance knights next to her, she was both gentle and strict.

"Yes, Head Nurse Qinna. We have double-checked the medical equipment you brought, and there are no problems."

"Head nurse or something..."

Feeling unworthy of the title and not quite mature enough to be addressed in this way, Qin Na hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly frowned slightly and looked at Mary, who was lifting the tent flap...

More precisely, it was Amamiya who followed Mary in at a leisurely pace.

'Sensei...'

After giving Serina a reassuring, gentle look, Amamiya also took a look at the rations for the members of Gehenna's side.

The members of Gehenna are mainly the cool, straightforward, and expressionless white-haired girl that Amamiya had met at the academy exchange meeting.

"Is the bed ready?"

"After the sports meet starts later, there might be... some new corpses... wounded."

When Sena questioned the girl from the Emergency Medicine Department, Gehenna shrank back, looking scared and hesitant, but not daring to call her name.

"It's... all ready."

Sena nodded slightly: "That's good."

Amamiya: "?"

She just... meant to say 'a corpse', right?

Reading "patient" as "corpse"... Is this some kind of peculiar practice in the Gerina Emergency Medicine Department?

But judging from the hesitant expressions of the emergency medical staff members who were being questioned, Amamiya felt that this might just be Sena's personal habit.

However, having such a verbal tic is quite...unique.

Besides Sena, Amamiya also saw another familiar student, Ghena.

Hina, dressed in her leotard, sat in the corner with her eyes downcast. She had clearly noticed Amamiya immediately, which was why her posture and expression looked unnatural.

"Um... I'm here to get some water..."