I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Compared to the clear blue sky and snow-covered landscape outside, the indoor corridors and interiors of the Red Winter Federation Academy exude a quiet warmth.

Bright and gentle.

After a brief pause in front of the "President's Office," the pink-haired girl who had led the way knocked firmly on the door.

Seemingly just out of politeness, and certain that her knocking would go unanswered... she simply opened the door after knocking.

Because of the snow, the girl's high-heeled boots left light water stains on the ground.

Amamiya had already prepared herself mentally, but when she followed Tomoe into the room, her eyes were still involuntarily drawn to a particularly striking and strange portrait.

A portrait, framed in an ornate frame, hangs alone on a grid-like wall. The surrounding walls and floor have been deliberately cleared out, with only a long cabinet and flower pots placed directly below it.

What is worth paying attention to is not the surroundings of the portrait, but the portrait itself.

The portrait is depicted in a surrealist style, showing a figure in military uniform with white hair, resolute and upright, with a calm gaze and an imposing presence.

Even the curl of his mustache was just right...

This reminded Amamiya of the leaders he had read about in history books before coming to Kivotos—leaders who guided the rise of a federation and almost witnessed its decline.

...That's too abstract.

The thought of a white-haired girl, about the height of an elementary school student, being depicted in the style of "JoJo" made Amamiya feel a little dizzy; it just felt absurd and abstract.

"Are you very concerned about that portrait painting?"

Noticing Amamiya's unusual gaze, Tomoe blinked, then smiled gently and intellectually, taking a deep breath to prepare for a long, rapid-fire monologue.

With a slightly quick but admiring and proud tone, Ba began the introduction: "Sensei... the portrait you see is that of our Red Winter Federal Academy's student council president, head of the environmental beautification department, secretary, representative of the sports department, head of the cleaning department, head of the disciplinary committee, and head of the supply department... President Cellino."

Amamiya: "...???"

This series of fluent job descriptions, delivered with the fluency of reciting a menu, sounded like a tone rehearsed a thousand times, exuding pride and a sense of loyalty…

This reminded Amamiya of a despicable content creator who used a mouse as his profile picture and delayed updating his content, as well as the "hardcore ruthless person" he described—'Su Xunzong'.

Not knowing what to say, Amamiya could only manage a dry laugh that was both gentle and elegant, and managed to say, "It sounds like you're very busy."

【~???~】(巴)

"President Cerino is, after all, a core member of Red Winter."

Ba nodded slightly in deep agreement.

Amamiya: "..."

That day, the conversation had become unsustainable.

With a thousand faces and an untamed talent, Amamiya, who was extremely experienced in adapting to different people, really didn't know what to talk about at the moment.

Fortunately, Tomoe probably sensed Amamiya's 'awkwardness' and immediately changed the subject.

"Secretary General, I have brought Sensei."

With that, Ba went to a side room inside the room and knocked on the door rhythmically, just like before.

This time, a response came quickly from inside the door.

"Thanks for your hard work……"

It's a cute, childlike voice that sounds young, but it pretends to be mature.

"Chief Secretary Ba. My loyal right-hand man... As a reward, I will award you a medal in the future."

To Amamiya's great surprise, Tomoe responded with great anticipation, "It's my honor... Secretary-General."

Amamiya was speechless at the sight.

What is this... playing house?

Amamiya's impression of the 'Cerino' whom she had never met was instantly shattered from 'Konjong' and reassembled into another character.

'The only emperor with exceptional intelligence - Norton I'.

The man who crowned himself "Emperor" in a special way was initially considered too "crazy" by the world. However, through decades of playing "house" day in and day out, he truly practiced the virtues of an "Emperor," and even the profession of "Emperor" was recognized... "An emperor who is not an emperor, but is better than an emperor."

'Could it be... that the entire school is just playing house with this so-called student council president...?'

After responding, Ba quietly retreated.

The lock on the side room door clicked open.

"Well then... welcome to our Red Winter Federation Academy, comrade."

Then, the door was pushed open roughly, and a white-haired girl, who looked less than 1.3 meters tall even with a Cossack hat that significantly increased her height, and wearing a fake beard in winter clothes, suddenly made a 'shining appearance'.

"I am Lianhe Cerino!"

"I am the student council president of this Crimson Winter Federation Academy, and also..."

As she continued her rambling, repeating the same 'fully buffed' introduction from Ba, Amamiya glanced out of the corner of her eye at the portrait of a resolute, mature, and decisive man hanging on the wall in the distance, exuding an iron-blooded aura. Then she turned her gaze to the white-haired girl standing beside her, barely reaching her waist, who was trying to stand on tiptoe, feigning majesty.

……

The "Pictures may differ from the actual product, for reference only" label that appears on various items for sale shouldn't be this outrageously different, right?

"Next is... what was next again...?"

Amamiya: "..."

I really want to sigh and rub my forehead.

After a moment of 'helplessness,' Amamiya quickly adjusted her mindset and, intending to cooperate with the pretend play activity, 'sincerely' reminded: 'You are also the secretary-general, the representative of the sports department, the head of the cleaning department, the head of the disciplinary committee, and the head of the supply department.'

【~???~】(巴)

【~??~】(Cerino)

"……?"

The drifting notes of favorability made Amamiya glance at the corridor outside the door.

So she didn't leave after all...

It seems I'm still not at ease.

"...That's right!"

"I never imagined Sensei would value our wisdom so much!"

"To meet like this... comrade, you can feel honored!"

Amamiya: "..."

What's so glorious about that?

He'd seen student council presidents from all over the university, from Trinity to Millennium, from Gehenna to Hyakki Yagyō...

Some of the student council presidents even developed special bonds with him and had been "tasted" by him.

However, it's just playing house after all...

"Yes, it is indeed an honor to meet the student council president of the Red Winter Federation Academy."

As he spoke, Amamiya began to use his "third eye" to examine the white-haired girl in front of him, who had to strain to stand on tiptoe and tilt her head back to barely look him in the eye.

[Assisted by: Lianhe Cerino / The 'Great Helmsman' of the Permafrost]

【Arcana: Tower (Башня)】

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

'Great Helmsman...'

Upon seeing the title, Amamiya narrowed his eyes slightly.

The titles displayed by the "Third Eye" are generally very clear in their summary and direction... Of course, occasionally some strange and funny titles may also appear.

However, in most cases, the title "Third Eye" is quite accurate.

The word 'helmsman' reminded Amamiya of Masayoshi Shido and his 'luxury cruise ship' transformed from the National Diet Building.

The Lion Child, however, believed himself to be the sole helmsman of Noah's Ark.

Amamiya then subtly turned her gaze toward the door facing the corridor.

"A 'Grey Cardinal' and a 'Great Helmsman'... This Crimson Winter Federation Academy truly lives up to its reputation as an academy that experiences minor chaos every three days and major chaos every week, with 'rebellion' happening every single day."

"...Comrade, why are you focusing on our portrait again? Do you have any objections to it?"

Amamiya snapped out of her daze, straightened up, and chuckled as she tried to be polite as she replied, "I feel the portrait... is very different from the real person."

"W-Where is it different?! Comrade, don't worry about those minor details! That's just depicting my magnificent figure when I'm mature, so there's absolutely nothing wrong with it!"

Cerino initially jumped up in a panic, but then, probably realizing that jumping up directly would be unbecoming, she looked up at her with an air of authority.

"Or... Comrade-chan, do you have some complaints about my portrait?"

"Since you're an adult, you should be able to read the atmosphere..."

As he was talking, Cerino, eager to show off his "authority", accidentally tripped on the carpet and fell backward.

"Eh?"

Amamiya: "..."

After letting out a silent sigh, he shifted to the side, flashing with the air of a rather elegant thief, supporting Cerino's legs with one hand and steadying her back with the other, his chest also pressing against the tilting hat that was falling.

"...??!"

【~???~】(Cerino)

The moment he 'embraced' her, Amamiya felt the petite girl in his arms stiffen at first, then her pupils trembled violently.

Due to the imbalance, half of the fake mustache stuck to her cheek fell off, leaving the other half hanging there in a very comical and cute way.

After a few seconds of silence and eye contact, Amamiya asked with concern, "...President Cerino, are you alright?"

This concerned call brought the 'crashed' white-haired girl back to her senses.

Ignoring the fact that half of her fake mustache had fallen off, and still frozen in Amamiya's arms, she shouted, "Pa—!!"

The pink-haired girl who had been waiting quietly in the hallway outside immediately rushed into the room with a worried expression: "What's wrong... Secretary, Chief Secretary?"

With a flushed face and round eyes, Cerino scolded in embarrassment and annoyance, "Didn't I tell you it's easy to slip and fall here...didn't I tell you to tidy up the carpet?!"

"You can't even handle this small thing... Do you want to be purged?!"

Amamiya: "..."

Why do they keep talking about "purging"?

Amamiya turned her gaze to Tomoe, only to find that Tomoe seemed to be unexpectedly 'enjoying' the scene.

From her feigned anxiety, Amamiya caught a glimpse of unspoken joy.

It feels like... like sisters with a large age gap, the older sister seeing the younger sister's unexpected 'cute moment', with a touch of maternal instinct, but more of a blind, unconditional doting affection.

'...Potential siscon?'

Ba, who was 'reprimanded', was neither angry nor annoyed, and felt no sense of danger whatsoever.

"Cerino-chan, your...your beard..."

She still pretended to be nervous, even deliberately lowering her voice to 'whisper a reminder' in front of Amamiya.

"Um……?"

"Hey?!"

"Ouch... my... my beard!"

Cerino suddenly 'struggled' and, under Ba's 'cover', jogged into the side room where she had previously hidden.

Amamiya: "..."

There really is no one else like him.

He stood up and greeted Ba with a slightly apologetic but mostly grateful expression of thanks to Sensei for letting him witness President Cerino's actions.

【~???~】(巴)

I felt grateful to Pakistan.

【Coopation is lifted! 】

【Zoshiro Tomoe (Empress) ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆