I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Amamiya, who was already under the test of 'remaining unmoved by a woman', felt a pang of anxiety as she met Akiko's upward gaze.

Saori, who was sitting next to her, and Misaki and Hiyori, who were sitting opposite her, all immediately showed different expressions.

Feeling inexplicably embarrassed by her 'secret being exposed', Saori, her heart also tightening, pressed down the brim of her baseball cap, trying to minimize her presence.

Misaki, sitting opposite, was more subtle in her expression. Although she had her head down, she was still staring at the carpeted floor, but the light in her eyes suddenly became much brighter and more abundant.

Hiyori let out a soft "Eh," though she was a little shy, she was mostly at a loss for words.

"...Sensei?"

Akiko called out again, with a hint of deeper meaning.

Amamiya's gaze flickered, realizing that if she didn't do something, she would have to answer this 'question' whether she wanted to or not.

Therefore... Amamiya decisively chose to switch targets.

He nudged Saori's waist with his elbow, making her jump.

"sen-Sensei?"

Saori blushed awkwardly at first, then straightened her back, unsure of what to do.

Realizing Amamiya's 'signal' and knowing what she had to do, Saori could only stiffen her expression and try to speak up to stop her: "Um, Princess, I think..."

"Sarana-chan is shy."

Saori was startled, then her heart skipped a beat, and her heartbeat quickened even more uncontrollably.

After her gaze shifted between Saori and Amamiya, who was hugging her, Akiko stretched slightly and said lazily, "Learning to be shy in front of Sensi... for Saori-chan... that's a big step forward, isn't it?"

Saori: "...?!"

She opened her mouth slightly in surprise, but didn't know what to say.

For a moment, Saori felt like she couldn't advance or retreat.

Since being 'adopted' by Xia Lai, has the princess's personality... or rather, her nature?

Not just the princess... everyone in Arius's team was 'released'.

but……

Is it a good thing or a bad thing that the princess has become like this?

In any case... it should be a good thing, right?

After a brief moment of confusion, Saori finally gave up.

But as the saying goes, 'silence is also the greatest form of recognition.'

Saori's silence could also be interpreted as [a kind of indirect acknowledgment]. [The rest of the text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.]

—Or rather, at least in Ajinko's view, this relationship, which was already quite suspicious, can now be confirmed.

Seeing that Saori's 'deployment' not only failed to achieve the desired effect, but instead allowed Azuko to 'take it a step further', Amamiya felt her brain buzzing.

Saori, why did you chicken out at such a crucial moment?

With a soft sigh, Amamiya stroked the girl's long hair in his arms with one hand and used his other hand to tap the next song on his phone's music player.

A sudden, strong sense of pause, accompanied by the melodious background music of a song brimming with the atmosphere of the era, fills the air.

"Children, never lose your enthusiasm. Help and care for the weak. There are friends everywhere. There may be misunderstandings or even disagreements among friends, but these are insignificant."

Listen to me, don't give up on this friendship. Even if this friendship has been betrayed a thousand times.

"You are the future ACEs."

The song began to play, accompanied by a loud and distinctive battle cry.

"Look at the stars shining in the distant night sky."

"When our wishes reach there"

"Across the Distant Galactic Federation"

"Coming with the glory"

"Now! Transform!"

"Hokuto and Nanyoko"

'From love songs to tokusatsu... what a big change in musical style!'

The next song that was randomly played surprised Amamiya, but she also breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, I didn't get any weird or strange songs...

In any case, at least the 'strange' atmosphere has been dispelled, and the goal has been achieved.

"Sensei..."

As Saori sat next to him, listening to the songs and encouragement that were so reminiscent of the times, a strange courage welled up in her heart.

"This is……"

I'm just waiting for someone to ask this question.

Amamiya sighed, then picked up Azuko and placed her on the other side of the seat.

"The opening theme of a tokusatsu film outside of Kiwatos."

Tokusatsu films...

Saori was somewhat dazed.

Kiwatos also has tokusatsu films.

However... the 'style' of tokusatsu films doesn't seem to reach that level of 'positive energy'.

When the keyword "tokusatsu" is mentioned, Saori's first thought is that strange "Sushi Man".

And related to it, there is a squad called "Sushi Sentai - Kaiten-san".

These people usually wear special effects suits and call themselves messengers of justice, but they cause trouble everywhere and call themselves "anti-heroes who rob the rich to help themselves".

In reality... in the eyes of most students, they are just a troublemaking group that uses the guise of justice to demolish houses everywhere.

For some reason, this team is particularly enthusiastic about 'big robots', to the point of being somewhat obsessive.

They used the stolen money and various supplies to invest in building a large robot called "KAITENGER".

Legend has it that the squad did this in order to 'deal with a major threat that will one day'.

These outrageous rumors were heard by Saori from her 'coworkers' when she worked on the black market.

To be honest... Saori really couldn't understand the thought process of these students.

Saori, whose preconceived notions were based on her impression of the abstract team of "Sushi People," never imagined that tokusatsu films could have such positive words and such powerful songs.

Out of curiosity about the lyrics and the song itself, Saori wanted to ask more about the tokusatsu series behind the lyrics and the music.

"Sensei, about this tokusatsu film..."

Amamiya wagged her index finger, signaling to Saori not to ask any more questions.

This tokusatsu film... and the significance it carries afterward, cannot be easily explained in just a few words.

"We'll be arriving at the Red Winter Federation Academy soon... Let's leave the 'tokusatsu' matter for later."

After temporarily ending the conversation, Amamiya sat down in the other row where Hiyori and Misaki were.

Misaki was still idly hanging her head when she suddenly felt her chin being gently scratched.

After a few seconds of silence, the girl looked up in confusion: "...Sensei?"

What are you doing?

Although she didn't say anything more, Amamiya clearly sensed this 'intention' from her questioning gaze.

Amamiya replied matter-of-factly, "I'm just playing with the cat."

"...?"

"?!"

“…Sensei, I’m not a cat.”

Amamiya continued to evade the question: "What I mean is... Misaki is very similar to a cat I knew before that was nicknamed 'Mimi' by its owner."

Misaki: "..."

【~???~】(Misaki)

"The nickname 'Xiao Mi' is too common."

Azuko watched this scene unfold with a smile.

Although that's the case...

However, while there is 'common opposition to the title,' there is no opposition to Sensei calling itself that.

At that moment... Misaki must have felt... that special 'heart-fluttering' feeling when she was alone with Sensei, right?

Amamiya withdrew her hand, thought for a moment, then pinched Misaki's cheek one last time, encouraging her, "Good luck."

I sensed a slight sense of helplessness emanating from Misaki.

My bond with Misaki has deepened...

【Kasano Misaki (God of Death) ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆】

[★5 Bond Ability "Everyday Longing" is now unlocked!]

Amamiya then turned to Hiyori, who was alone in her reverie, and observed her expression of 'something I don't know why but I feel a little wronged'. Then, she flicked Hiyori's forehead with her finger and spoke leisurely amidst the girl's soft cry of "Eh?"

"Is Hiyori... thinking about something like being 'abandoned in a corner where nobody cares'?"

Hiyori, who had been flicked on the forehead, covered her forehead and froze in shock.

Sensei guessed so accurately...

No, I should say that my thoughts were too easily seen through.

Sure enough, students like myself...

Amamiya reached out and rubbed the green-haired girl's cheeks, calming her burgeoning self-emotion.

“Hiyori, ‘abandoned in a forgotten corner,’ now that I’ve ‘adopted’ you, I won’t do that.”

"If Hiyori is really not at ease... then... how about 'regular payments', let me touch my little tummy every now and then?"

"Hiyori's tummy must feel really nice to touch..."

【~???~】(Hiyori)

Hey?

So there's something special about me... that Sensei would notice...?

It's a bit strange, but... since it's a 'special quality' that makes me needed, then...

It seemed like she was about to lift her shirt to reveal her belly, but then Hiyori belatedly paused and stopped.

It's probably better to do these things when the two of you are alone...?

Although it's a bit odd that I was needed... well, I was needed nonetheless...

"Hehehe...I'm so happy..."

The bond between me and Hiyori has deepened...

【Tsuchi-ei Hiyori (Temple/Tower) ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

[★3 Bond Ability "Requires Aspiration" is now unlocked!]

'Besides Akiko... what are the members of Arius's squad all "dreaming" about?'

As requested by Azuko before departure, Amamiya breathed a sigh of relief after taking care of all the team members equally.

Their gazes fell upon the snow-covered platform and the group of students from the Crimson Winter Federation Academy who had been waiting there, eventually settling on the pink-haired girl at the head of the group.

That must be the Secretary-General of the Red Winter Affairs Bureau who came to greet me in advance?

We've arrived at the Red Winter Federal Academy.