I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Neither Shigure, who was standing next to Amamiya, nor Ba, who was behind Cerino, immediately tried to stop it; instead, they tacitly allowed the behavior to continue.

Amamiya learned a lot from the 'argument' between Kaori and Cerino.

So it turns out... after Cerino really "exiled" the 'Special Class 227' here, he completely forgot about these students who received temporary disciplinary action.

"...Temporary facilities? Why don't they go back to the old school buildings and instead continue living here?"

Cerino turned to Bar behind him and asked, "Is it because they don't want to?"

Tomoe closed her eyes and calmly replied, "...Probably because I can't go back without the chairman's permission, so I've been waiting for orders."

Amamiya: "..."

At that moment, Amamiya seemed to see the "Cake Queen's" "Since commoners can't afford to eat rice, why don't they eat cake?" and the "Meat-Eating Emperor's" "Why not eat meat porridge?"—a naive and simple statement that made one want to grit their teeth.

How could she ask such a cruel question with such an innocent expression...?

Amamiya felt that her blood pressure, which had stabilized after being separated from Cerino for some time, was starting to rise again.

His experience as a 'phantom thief' made him genuinely disapproving of Cerino's series of actions.

That is to say, Cerino is still young.

If she grows up like this... then she'll be no different from those adults who need to be repented for—kind on the outside but hateful on the inside, with twisted desires.

Even... his performance might be worse than Shido Masayoshi's.

After all, Shido Masayoshi at least knew to support his own faction and win people's hearts.

"Ah... I remember now!"

Suddenly, Cerino, who was deep in thought, had a flash of inspiration. Pointing at Kaori, he exclaimed, "Aren't you... that stalker and peeping tom who deserted his post without permission, took binoculars to Xia Lai to spy on our comrades, and was caught and suspended from school?!"

"I was so busy with all sorts of things at the secretariat that I forgot about it. Oh, there was such a thing..."

...A voyeur?

Amamiya raised an eyebrow, recalling his experiences during the period after arriving in Xialai.

Hmm... For a period of time, when I was active near Xia Lai, I could indeed feel a vague sense of being watched.

But it only lasted for a short period of time...

After a while, the subtle prying gaze disappeared.

So... the gaze I felt back then was from Kaori?

The reason she stopped spying was because... she was discovered and punished?

This……

Amamiya was at a loss for words.

As Amamiya pondered, the tension between Cerino and Waka continued to escalate.

"You lecherous brat!"

"Huh?! The chairman who said that, wasn't he being carried on Sensei's shoulders before he even got here?!"

"I'm so envious of being able to get so close to Sensei..."

"President Cerino is more like a lecherous brat!"

Cerino felt a little guilty after hearing what Kaori said.

After all... she really did want to experience what it would feel like to be 'carried in a princess carry'.

"That...that was just a bond between me and my comrades! You're the one with filthy thoughts who's abnormal...!"

"She's even shorter than me!"

"what?!"

"You're clearly the little one who's younger than us!"

what……

Amamiya was really having a headache.

Elementary school students arguing...

Helpless, Amamiya's gaze shifted between Shigure and Tomoe.

Shi Yu was quite interested and made no attempt to stop him.

After all... being 'forgotten' here for so long, it would be a lie to say I have no complaints at all.

But Ba, after watching for a while, stepped forward.

"Haha...we all have a really good relationship."

Ba's smile seemed slightly unnatural—it was clear that even the 'Grey Cardinal' had moments when he couldn't keep a straight face.

After awkwardly and stiffly drawing Kaori and Cerino's attention to himself, Tomoe suggested, "If the members of the special class also want to leave the old school building... why don't you lend us a hand?"

Cerino shook his head vigorously: "No way! Teaming up with this brat who calls us 'little devils'... we can't accept it!"

Kaori also stated succinctly and indignantly: "I refuse!"

Left with no other choice, Tomoe could only turn his gaze to Shigure and Amamiya on the other side.

"I have a question……"

Shigure asked curiously, "...When you and Sensei came, you clearly brought a small team with you."

"Why don't you... utilize the strength of this squad?"

Her 'reminder' left Cerino initially confused, then he blinked in sudden realization.

"Yes..."

"We still have the strength of our comrades to draw upon... How could I not have thought of that!"

Shigure: "..."

Is this what it means to be "sitting next to a gold mine but still worrying about being poor"?

Without Shigure saying anything more, Cerino eagerly ignored Kaori and ran to Amamiya.

"Comrade, lend us a hand..."

They even want to imitate the keywords that B just mentioned?

Amamiya sighed, but had no choice but to answer.

Just because Cerino is the student council president of the Red Winter Federation Academy.

In the 'magical land' of Red Winter, where rebellions break out every day... there must be a reason why she was able to hold onto the position of student council president.

In order to gain Xia Lai's support... and subsequently the entire Red Winter Federation Academy, she had to be coaxed.

"President Cerino..."

Shigure offered a 'kind' reminder: "Pure 'friendship' can't make up for the shortfall Sensei made when issuing orders. Sensei can't just 'take it for granted' to help you, can he?"

Having been so clearly "reminded", Cerino naturally realized this point about "human relationships".

"...As long as comrades help us resolve this crisis."

"The disciplinary action taken against Special Team 227 can be revoked immediately!"

"Furthermore... the Red Winter Federation Academy will also establish contact with Xia Lai and support Xia Lai's activities!"

[...Cerino made a promise to them.]

[Coopation Improvement!]

【Lianhe Cerino (Tower) ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

[★3 Bond Ability "Crimson Pact" is now unlocked!]

Now that things have come to this... what can we do?

I'll help you.

"Well... it's already very late today."

"Let's postpone the event until tomorrow."

Chapter Thirty-One: Snowy Night Bride Azuko and the Pure White Vow

That night, the moonlight cascaded like a waterfall, and the starry sky seemed to solidify into sand.

As the light snow began to fall, the warm yellow lights of the old school building, nestled in a spacious area surrounded by mountains, gradually went out, leaving only the glow of stars and moon in the vast open space.

The coniferous forest, covered with a layer of light snow, was quiet and serene under the moonlight.

Following the trail of high heels on the snow, Amamiya soon found the girl who had asked him to meet her late at night in a clearing in the woods.

Bathed in moonlight, she held a bouquet of blue roses in her hands.

"Sensei..."

The girl's clothing was very unique; it was pure white, almost blending into the snowy night.

Or rather... it's silvery-white, symbolizing a 'vow'.

A white veil, a white gown with a train so long it could fall onto the snow, fabric with an intricate, star-like texture, long gloves for special occasions, stockings and high heels...

This is a 'pure white wedding dress' with such exquisite craftsmanship that it takes your breath away.

"We met in the spring, right?"

She tilted her head slightly, her red eyes clear, and her tone was a mix of emotion and nostalgia: "And spring is the best season for flowers to grow."

"If you plant a seed in spring, it will sprout new buds in summer, autumn, winter..."

Amamiya remained silent, offering no 'inappropriate words of concern,' but instead nodded slightly, walked over, and helped the girl lift her long skirt, bringing it to a level that was barely adequate for movement.

"Flowers come in all shapes and sizes... The amount of care required during their blooming season, and the 'colors' they display after they grow, all have their own characteristics..."

"Various and wonderful differences."

She awkwardly shuffled in her high heels, struggling to maintain her balance, barely managing to move a few steps in the snow before deliberately losing her balance and falling.

She didn't struggle to get up immediately, but instead sat down on the snow where the back of her skirt was still spread out.

"Summer sunshine is ideal for flowers to grow."

"But summer is also the harshest time of year. If the flowers are not cared for... they may wither and die under the scorching sun, or they may perish due to sudden storms."

Holding the bouquet, the girl looked up at Amamiya and the star-studded night sky behind him.

"Autumn... Autumn is refreshing, and the whole world is painted gold."

"For the flowers... this must be the most suitable, and also the shortest season."

Winter is a harsh season for most flowers.

"But some flowers can bloom proudly in the snow and frost, or survive the whole winter and bloom in the spring of the following year."

"Sensei..."

The girl's tone was ethereal: "You mean... at night, do flowers also look up at the sky like this?"

Amamiya did not answer immediately, but came to her side, bent down and extended her hand to her.

"...Perhaps there will be."

He slowly grasped and handed her his hand. Her soft hand, as cold as jade due to the night's heat, trembled slightly. Amamiya used her Persona slightly to transmit a little warmth.

"So...Sensei, what do flowers think about when they look at the sky? Do they dream of becoming a star?"

"What's so good about becoming a star?"

As Amamiya pulled the girl up from the snow, he scoffed softly and said dismissively, "She'll hang high in the distant sky, becoming a cold existence that no one else can ever touch."

"If the distance is too far... even the brightest star will only attract attention at best."