I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Amamiya: "...Oh. I will heed your teachings."

Is this what they mean by 'purging'...? That's quite 'harsh'.

Saori: "..."

I feel that my professional competence has been challenged.

Hiyori: "...Haha."

It seems... to be a very 'harsh' punishment?

However, compared to the punishment Beatrice received for breaking the rules, it was negligible...

Azuko: "So strict."

This kind of 'purge' doesn't exactly scream seriousness... it's actually kind of cute?

Misaki: "Poor thing..."

It must be very tiring for them to play along with their capricious pretend games...

However, seeing how much they enjoyed themselves, Misaki felt there was no need to feel sorry for them.

The saying goes... "Every pitiful person has something hateful about them."

Cerino clapped his hands, having completed a round of 'purging,' and led Amamiya and his group away from the supply department.

"A minor incident occurred... cough cough, comrades, and the 'guards,' don't worry about it."

"Next... let me take you to some other places."

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Cat's Melancholy

Around noon, after leading Amamiya and Arius's team on their 'exploration,' the white-haired girl, carrying a small backpack and wearing a fake beard, gradually showed signs of fatigue.

"Hooah..."

After letting out a tired yawn, she sighed with a slightly listless expression, "I overworked a bit... I'm so tired..."

Not caring much about his image, Cerino rubbed his eyes and waved to Ba, who had been by his side almost the whole time but hadn't said much.

"Ba, let's go back for our afternoon nap..."

The pink-haired girl, who had been accompanying the child like a waiter the whole time, breathed a slight sigh of relief, seemingly with a sense of joy that the mischievous child was finally able to rest after playing for so long.

"Hehe... I understand. I'll prepare a bed for your afternoon nap right away."

"Um……"

Cerino responded and turned to leave, only to remember that he still had a 'guest' to entertain.

"Oh, by the way... Comrade-chan, you should also get some rest while I'm taking my afternoon nap..."

Then, without even saying goodbye, she just walked away on her own.

Amamiya: "..."

how to say.

He was no surprise at such hospitality after spending most of the day with Cerino.

Cerino... he's just a 'brat' who keeps getting things going.

Ba seemed to have anticipated this situation.

The 'gentle and kind grey cardinal' chuckled lightly, bowing slightly to Amamiya with a hint of 'I'm sorry Sensei had to see this,' as if to say that he had made a fool of himself.

“Sensei…please come with me. We’ve prepared a lounge for you and the members of Arios’s team.”

"I'll show you the way... This way, please."

After bowing in greeting, Ba walked in one direction.

Amamiya didn't follow up immediately, but instead exchanged glances with the Arius squad members, who each had different expressions.

How does everyone feel about this?

"Have."

Saori, who is usually calm, composed, and taciturn, is unusually proactive, as if she has been 'stuffed up from not speaking for a long time'.

After nodding earnestly and answering quickly, Saori immediately spoke with a complex expression that was hard to describe as either amused or helpless: "The snow scenery here is beautiful... but I feel like I can't get used to it."

"Here... I always feel like I'm still at the Arios branch campus."

"Although the student council president is no longer the detestable 'Beateritch'... she doesn't seem to be much better."

"During the morning we spent with the student council president of the Crimson Winter Federation Academy... she shouted 'Purge' at least seventy times..."

At this point, Saori took a deep breath.

"Although her so-called 'purgation' only involved making the punished students do various heavy physical labor tasks or banning them from desserts..."

"But even the lightest punishment is still punishment."

"It's hard to imagine... what kind of environment the students of Red Winter are active in."

Saori's words surprised Amamiya.

It seems he really had to vent his frustration so much that he was about to explode.

In just one morning, Saori, who is known for her good temper and saying "if you don't push her too far," has so many opinions...

Amamiya stepped forward, ruffled Saori's hair, and said with empathy, "You've worked hard, Saori."

【~???~】(Saori)

Amamiya then looked at Akiko. Although Akiko wasn't almost 'full of complaints' like Saori, she clearly also had some 'things she only wanted to say in private'.

The girl had no complaints, only a slight disappointment and regret: "...I thought I could create a beautiful memory about the 'snowy field' with Sensei..."

"Um……"

As she turned her gaze to the tranquil and gentle snowscape under the midday sun, Ajinko's disappointment immediately melted away.

"Although the academy is strange... but being able to connect with Sensei..."

"It was still a lot of fun traveling to unfamiliar 'foreign lands' with everyone in Arios's team."

Amamiya came to Azuko's side and touched her cheek as well.

"The snow scene might be even more beautiful at night."

【~???~】(Ajinko)

"Yes, I will continue to look forward to it."

After 'taking care' of Akiko, Amamiya went to Misaki's side and petted her with a special gesture he had learned from Morgana to soothe a cat.

Where's Xiaomi?

The black-haired girl looked up helplessly and gave Amamiya a calm 'glance'.

"..."

【~???~】(Misaki)

Then, she lowered her head slightly shyly, not resisting Amamiya's touch, but correcting him in a slightly unnatural tone.

"First of all... I am not a cat."

"Also... as I've already mentioned before, the nickname 'Little Mi' is too common."

"Finally... do you have any comments? Hmm."

"Ha ha……"

Perhaps feeling that her experiences that morning were too absurd, Misaki smiled 'gloomily' after reflecting on them.

"Red Winter Academy... I don't really care."

"But from an experience standpoint... it was quite interesting."

Amamiya was genuinely surprised this time.

Among Arios's squad, Misaki was the most deeply poisoned by Beatrice's nihilism, and even once had self-destructive tendencies...

It's hard to imagine that Misaki, who felt that 'nothing was interesting,' would use 'quite interesting' as a way of evaluating her own experience.

The cat is so melancholy.

Amamiya, finding it rather novel, gave Misaki another rub, and naturally attracted a look that seemed to be asking, "What exactly does Sensei want to do?"—like a cat not in the mood to respond.

Adhering to the principle of 'knowing when to stop', Amamiya looked at Hiyori again.

The green-haired girl lowered her head and didn't express any opinion about the academy. Instead, she turned her gaze and blushed slightly as she spoke about some of her personal thoughts.

"Snowy scenery... I've never seen anything like it. I want to roll around in it... I also want to try what snow tastes like."

"Hehehe... Such thoughts again, aren't they a bit dirty..."

Amamiya interrupted Hiyori's negative mood with a thoughtful expression: "Eating snow is out of the question... but rolling around in the snow... if Hiyori wants to do that, let's do it together after we confirm the location of the rest room later?"

"If 'running wild in the snow' can release one's emotions... then it's a necessary behavior."

【~???~】(Hiyori)

"Eh?!"

Surprise...astonishment?

When she looked up suddenly, stars appeared in Hiyori's eyes.

"Rolling around in the snow together...and 氵斯⊙V f2?。〕》二四〨四群且还是与Sensei……eh hehehe..."

After confirming the individual emotions of the girls in Arios's squad, Amamiya led the team to catch up with Tomoe, who had deliberately slowed down to give them space.

At a leisurely pace, Amamiya was led to a spacious and well-equipped building, similar to a café.

After all, it was a deliberately prepared lounge with an excellent location, good lighting, and even excellent visibility.

After leading Amamiya and his party to the lounge, Ba, who still had the "important task" of preparing a nap bed for Cerino, hurriedly took his leave.

After Ba left in a hurry, Amamiya and the members of Arius's team quickly checked the situation in the lounge.

It's called a lounge... but it's actually more like a place that can serve as a temporary residence or base.

In addition to a full range of facilities for passing the time, there are even beds for resting, as well as a kitchen with fairly complete facilities, some fruit and vegetable reserves, and the ability to perform simple cooking.

Let alone just resting here... these conditions are more than enough to stay here for several days.

"At least we've settled down for now..."

Although I don't know what awaits me ahead, I've completed the 'plot' I needed to complete, and I'll soon be able to move freely.

With that thought in mind, Amamiya began preparing lunch for the members of Arius's squad as usual.

'Since it's almost time for 'free time,' should we go find that address...?'

Amamiya recalled the gift she had received during the Akawa Grand Festival, which was given to her by Shigure Masaya, a student from the Akatsuki Federation, through Hasumi.

A bottle of homemade, high-proof fruit wine.

In addition, the box containing the liquor also included contact information and the location of Special Operations Squad 227.

'Which squad member should I take over to check it out over there...?'

Chapter Twenty-Six: Me? Temporarily Avoiding Her Adversity?

"Destroy Cerino's tyranny! The academy belongs to President Marina!"

"Oh—destroy Cerino's tyranny!"

"Oh—the academy belongs to President Marina!"

"President Marina has drawn her scythe!"

"Has this day finally come...?"

"It's time to swing the hammer at that rotten Cerino and her cronies!"