I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

After expressing his gratitude with his eyes, Ba also went into Cerino's side room, probably to help Cerino glue on his beard.

Amamiya: "..."

I knew it.

Where can you find a loyal subordinate who enjoys seeing their boss make a fool of themselves?

Looking out the window, Amamiya couldn't help but feel worried about the upcoming trip to Red Winter.

Originally, the purpose of coming to Chidong was simply to celebrate the "Ivan Kupala Festival" and, incidentally, to escape the heat...

Judging from the current situation...

Is this festival really something we can celebrate?

I have a feeling that this 'journey through the red winter' might be fraught with difficulties...

Forget it.

Let's take it one step at a time...

Chapter Twenty-Four: Saori: Don't lump me in with an idiot.

Red Winter Federal Academy, Reception Room.

When Amamiya pushed open the door to the reception room, she immediately noticed the pudding placed on the reception table, which was meant for everyone.

Saori's corresponding flavor is blueberry, and like her hair color, it presents two colors: dark blue and light blue, crystal clear. Hiyori's seems to be refreshing mint, Akiko's is lavender and hyacinth, and Misaki's is dark red strawberry.

The pudding had barely been touched; it sat on the table, radiating coolness, like a work of art just taken out of the freezer.

As Amamiya pushed open the door and entered, the girls waiting in the reception room naturally focused their attention on him.

After only a brief hesitation, Saori stood up and awkwardly greeted, "Sensei..."

“The meeting has already…”

Before she could finish speaking, a white-haired girl wearing a strange fake beard and winter clothes suddenly appeared from behind Amamiya.

As soon as she appeared, she scanned the room with a look that was somewhere between skepticism and admiration, focusing her attention on the members of Arius's team.

"Um..."

"As expected of the Sensei Guard, they are truly... all elites!"

"She can even resist the temptation of pudding..."

Saori: "?"

The other person's dismissive and condescending evaluation left her somewhat speechless.

Not only her, but also Misaki, Hiyori, and Akiko turned their attention to her.

Misaki's gaze was calm and silent.

Hiyori felt a little timid, but more than that, she was filled with subtlety and curiosity.

Akiko, on the other hand, has a strange 'observational eccentricity'.

Amamiya sighed softly and shrugged at the members of Arius's squad.

He was just about to speak when Cerino tugged at his sleeve.

There was no response from any of the members; on the contrary, Cerino, who was being given strange looks, was slightly 'dissatisfied'.

While tugging at Amamiya's clothes, she 'reminded' her, saying, "...Comrade."

Amamiya reluctantly turned to the side and looked down at Cerino.

"Comrade, your 'guard team' is indeed very elite and loyal... But the guard team needs to learn more than just loyalty and dedication; they also need to learn the necessary etiquette for dealing with outsiders."

Amamiya: "..."

Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, he replied in a gentle, almost childlike tone, "Yes, yes, yes... Chairman Cerino is right. 'The guards must know proper etiquette,' remember that."

【~???~】(Cerino)

He straightened up and exchanged glances with Saori again.

Saori: "..."

So, this short student who looks 'strange' is actually the student council president of the Red Winter Federation Academy...

To be honest, he was so different from the image of a "student council president" I had of him.

It was so large that Saori felt a distinct sense of 'disconnection'.

Before being 'adopted' by Charlene, Saori's impression of the student council president was that of Beatrice, who had usurped the authority of the Arios branch school.

Cruel, bloody, ruthless, and terrifying suppression...

After joining Xia Lai, Saori also got to know the student council presidents of several large academies.

They wouldn't quite call themselves 'all far-sighted,' but they certainly have their own considerations, and they are all the kind of students who don't easily show off their talents.

Even the student council presidents of various schools are the kind of people who can sit on equal footing with Sensei, come and go with her, and even secretly admire her... some even openly show their goodwill without even pretending.

The student council presidents of the other large academies are all quite... 'profound'.

Why does coming to the Red Winter Federation Academy feel like "playing house with kids"?

Saori turned around, exchanged glances with each of the team members, and then went to each of them and whispered something in their ear.

Misaki: "...Hmm."

Hiyori: "Huh?"

Azuko: "Ah."

Immediately—Cerino sensed that the gazes from the members of 'Sensei's Guard' became even more peculiar.

"Cough cough..."

Realizing he was probably being looked down upon, Cerino felt he should demonstrate his foresight.

After clearing her throat to boost her confidence, she extended her arms in a gesture resembling a hug, began with a classic self-introduction, and then got straight to the point.

"As a Sensei from Sharai... you must frequently interact with students from other academies, right?"

"In order to make good use of this network of relationships... to expand the influence of the Crimson Winter Federation Academy..."

"I want to bribe Sensei of Charlene."

"..."

Realizing his wording was a bit off, Cerino paused for a moment, then a small circle quickly appeared in his eyes.

"Uh, no... betrayal?"

Amamiya sighed and whispered, "Is it about winning them over...?"

【~???~】(Cerino)

"Oh... it's about winning them over!"

"I believe... winning over Xia Lai's Sensei will be the most effective way to improve the reputation of the Red Winter Federation Academy!"

"so……"

"Comrade!"

"And to all the members of the guard!"

"Enjoy this 'Ivan Kupala Festival,' imprint everything here firmly in your eyes, and then spread it throughout Kivotos through the students of each academy!"

Saori: "..."

'Is this really the student council president...?'

Misaki: "..."

'If the student council president of the Crimson Winter Federation Academy is like this, then this academy is doomed from the start.'

Hiyori: "Eh..."

'I feel... even a student council president shouldn't act like this...'

Azuko: "I'll enjoy it."

'Although the student council president is an oddball... the festival customs, the atmosphere... and being with Sensei when it snows.'

These are still worth looking forward to...

At least this time he received a reasonably positive response, and Cerino's dissatisfaction immediately vanished.

"Alright, then I will now lead you all... to explore the various parts of the Crimson Winter Federation Academy..."

The girls of Arius's squad, having prepared their gear, followed silently behind Amamiya.

The main problem is that... even the most eloquent of them, Azuko, didn't know what to say, let alone the other three.

After greeting him, Cerino strode away.

Amamiya and the girls from Arius's squad had to slow down and follow behind her.

'It's a strange feeling...like being led along in a line by a mother duck...'

Following behind Cerino, Amamiya felt quite absurd.

It's as if they're not visiting the academy, but playing a game of 'eagle catching chicks'.

Next, led by Cerino... Amamiya and his group headed straight for the 'Supply Department' of the Red Winter Federation Academy.

Similar to Gehenna's supply department, the Red Winter Federation's supply department is actually responsible for the cafeteria for all students in the school.

After entering the supply department, Cerino first introduced the place and then talked with a member of the supply department on the spot.

From her conversation with this member of the supply department, Amamiya and the members of Arius's squad heard all sorts of news that would sound absurd to normal people.

To double the pudding rations, all the students in the supply department are working day and night to make puddings...

Cerino was greatly impressed and wanted to award the Supply Department the First Class Bearded Medal...?

They ate a very bland pudding, so they have to 'purge' the supply department members...?

Setting down the watered-down pudding, Cerino slammed his hand on the table with an air of authority and called out loudly.

"...Marina-/Yo-/Yi-/First*-Goal!"

A short-haired, capable and stylish blonde girl suddenly appeared.

"Are you calling me, President Cerino?"

Cerino didn't respond, but instead angrily pointed his index finger at the kitchen: "Purge! Purge all those despicable staff members who added water to the pudding!"

And so... Amamiya and her group witnessed Marina, whose aura was somewhat similar to Saori's, dragging away the Akafuyu Supply Club students who were trying to argue, with an unquestionable and forceful attitude.

Watching Marina drag the supply department members away, Amamiya sighed softly, "The Red Winter Federation Academy... is truly terrifying."

While adding water when making pudding is indeed a bit...

But that was also due to a lack of materials.

Is this going to be 'purged' too...?

"Comrade, did you see that?"

With a smug look on his face, Cerino, who had casually arranged the 'purge,' turned to Amamiya and said, 'That's the efficiency of the Security Committee Chairman!'

"Their professionalism and aura... are quite similar to the 'guardian team' members brought by Sensei, aren't they?"

Amamiya: "..."

It gives you the feeling of children showing off and comparing with each other.

Amamiya didn't respond, but instead asked tactfully, "What will happen to the students who are 'purged'?"

"That would certainly mean... receiving a very terrible punishment!"

"For example...one person has to clean the toilets for a week."

"Or stop the snack rations for a month!"

"so……"

At this point, Cerino 'warned': "Comrade... while you're at the Red Winter Federation Academy, don't do anything that could undermine the student council president's authority."