I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Amamiya was slightly surprised to see this latest news.

The Special Phenomena Investigation Department... Amamiya does have some recollection of that.

However, it wasn't the 'déjà vu' bond ability that brought it to me, but rather something that Rin mentioned casually during a bond event with me not long ago, when we were testing the strength of the Personas.

At the time, Rin meant that Amamiya's 'Persona' ability had attracted the curiosity and investigation of both the "Special Phenomena Investigation Department" and "Beritas," and that the hypothesis that Persona was based on the power of the mind was also proposed by the "Special Phenomena Investigation Department."

Now that Chihiro has posted this message and there's this channel, Amamiya really wants to meet the head of this so-called "Special Phenomena Investigation Department".

Being able to immediately perceive some of the Persona's settings, this minister, whom I've never met before, must be some kind of 'genius beauty', right?

With that in mind, Amamiya typed a reply in the group chat.

[Amamiya: @Maki, don't worry, I won't treat everyone in Beritas unfairly. I'll make it up to you in other ways after this is over.]

[Amamiya: Chihiro, do you have the contact information for the person who 'recommended me to meet them'?]

Clearly, the geeks at [Beritas] are all 'cyber creatures'. Almost the instant Amamiya sent those two messages, Chihiro replied.

[Chihiro: I'll send the department head's friend card to Sensei privately later.]

[Chihiro: Is there anything else you need us to do for Sensei?]

Amamiya thought about it for a moment, and there really was one.

But this is not something that's convenient to say in a group chat.

[Amamiya: Well, there is. But it's not convenient to talk about it in the group chat, so let's schedule a time to meet in person later.]

Xiaoyu: !!!

[Xiaoyu: [Xiaoyu shocked.jpg]]

Chihiro: ...?

Chihiro: ...Okay. We'll discuss the related matters later. See you then.

Amamiya was slightly surprised to see Tama suddenly pop up.

Why did she react with such shock, as if she knew what I was going to say, when I said I had something private to discuss?

Could it be... that she heard something before?

Remembering her title of 'eavesdropping expert', Amamiya decisively used her [Third Eye] to scan her surroundings.

There were no eavesdropping or surveillance devices.

If it were true, I should have sensed it long ago...

Suddenly, Amamiya had a subtle premonition.

—Could it be that the surveillance equipment wasn't placed on him at all, but on the girls in the countermeasures committee, or that they simply hacked into their devices to obtain the intelligence records?

"Guest, your two 'Classic Shiba Seki Ramen' are ready."

A cool female voice interrupted Amamiya's thoughts.

Amamiya looked up at the sound and met the gaze of a girl with long, gray-blue hair, with blue highlights, who exuded a fierce aura.

She wore a simple uniform for a Shiba Seki ramen shop employee, with an apron and an unremarkable baseball cap of the same style. However, the sharpness that occasionally flashed in her eyes and her imposing aura of "keep away" made it difficult for her to hide in front of Amamiya, and she was full of stories.

【Spinning Saori / Qiwa 3 Linjiuqi Yiyinchai, the sinner who tempts calamity】

Arcana: The Tower (XVI.The Tow)

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

'The tower... ah.'

The information captured by the "third eye" caused Amamiya to frown slightly.

The Tower card is typically described in various Tarot decks as "the Tower of Babylon destroyed by God".

This card is opposite to [The Chariot].

The Chariot achieves victory through its own powerful will and righteous means. In contrast, in the Tower, humanity, in its pursuit of success, neglects self-cultivation and instead builds a towering structure reaching to the heavens. This act of blasphemy and defiance of the divine will naturally incur divine retribution.

Simply put, this card, whether upright or reversed, is the worst card in the entire Major Arcana.

Upright: Unexpected disaster, loneliness, being all alone, unexpected events, a sudden turn for the worse, and loss of everything.

Reversed: Easily resolves immediate troubles; solves problems; minor disasters; takes the blame; accidents or troubles leave lingering effects.

……

'Making choices in the process of rebuilding order; change is stability; we are not in control of our own destiny; we undergo transformation and reconstruction; we must bravely face and make choices.'

Arguments, breakups, conflicts, plateaus, and danger.

Thinking about the various meanings contained in this card, Amamiya couldn't help but worry about the other party.

When Amamiya saw the "tower" above the other person's head, he thought of the "super player" he had known before, the assistant who taught him all sorts of unbelievable shooting techniques, "Oda Shinya".

Alone and misunderstood by outsiders, despite possessing a special skill, he is unable to make friends due to his arrogance and various other reasons...

'Perhaps... I could take this opportunity to get to know the other person beforehand...'

Chapter 54 The "Promise" with Saori

"Guest, this is your order of 'Classic Shiba Seki Ramen,' please enjoy."

After calmly and stiffly finishing her sentence in a tone that didn't sound like a waitress at all, the girl used her almost machine-like precision and steady movements to lift the two bowls of ramen off the wooden tray, then tucked the tray under her arm and prepared to leave.

"Wait, Saori-san."

"..."

Saori, who was about to leave, suddenly stopped when her name was called. She stood there without turning around, but her mind was already considering various tactical maneuvers and the actions she would take next.

The following background music is, of course, not the [DJ version on the last page], but... [Sweet - Meguro Shoji].

"Don't be so wary, I mean no harm..."

Amamiya sighed softly, and at the same time silently activated Kayoko's bond ability - [Malice's Charm], which enhanced her aura, and also activated Hifumi's bond ability [Cute Destructive Desire], instantly maximizing her own friendliness.

At the same time, the passive bond abilities [Twin Stars Accompanying the Moon], [Déjà Vu], and [Shadow of the Past] also begin to take effect simultaneously.

Saori stiffly turned her head to the side—for a moment, she felt as if she were seeing things and saw her companions who needed her 'protection'.

Under the effects of maximally activated [cute destructive desire] and [enhanced aura], Saori experienced a moment of disorientation, thinking that she seemed to see a "pure white flower on the ruins" blooming in the post-war wasteland and architectural ruins, making people feel pity and care for it.

Although... it is indeed a bit strange to describe a man as a 'flower'...

But somehow, Saori has a perfectly natural feel to it.

"Saori-san, why don't you sit down and rest for a bit?"

Talking to someone who helps you in the "Tower" usually requires a lot of "consideration".

With his current 'compassionate' thoughtfulness and so many bond abilities that provide negotiation bonuses, Amamiya is confident that he can completely win Saori's heart.

As it turns out... that's indeed the case.

After a very brief moment of hesitation, Amamiya could see a faint blush rising on Saori's cheeks, almost imperceptible in the dim light.

She pulled down the brim of her baseball cap and sat silently opposite Amamiya without saying a word.

Amamiya didn't say anything more, but instead took out her phone and sent Saori a private message on MomoTalk in front of her.

[The encounters between people are full of magic. It's truly fate that I met you, Saori.]

Aren't you going to look up? I'm right in front of you.

Thinking she had received a job offer or a message from her friends, Saori hurriedly took out her phone to check it—then, a second later, she looked up in slight surprise at Amamiya across the table.

"Nice to meet you, Saori-kun. I'm Sensei from the 'Federal Student Council - Federal Investigation Department, Sharai,' and I'm currently here working to resolve the issues at Abydos High School."

That Federation student council member...Sensei?

Saori paused, feeling a sense of disconnect between her impression of reality and the reality she witnessed.

In her mind, 'Sensei' should be the kind of "career woman" who is decisive and efficient in doing things and has a similar temperament to her, or perhaps someone who is aloof and looks down on others.

I never expected her to be so approachable...

“Spinning Saori, a member of Arius’s squad. ... Nice to meet you, Sensei.”

Help Abydos Higher Institute solve its problems...

Saori, who has relatively good access to information due to 'personal reasons' (frequently running errands, working odd jobs, etc.), is somewhat aware of Abydos's current predicament.

That's why, after carefully considering Sensei's explanation of why he came here, Saori felt a subtle sense of absurdity.

How to solve Abydos's current problems...?

Are you dreaming?

How could the situation in Abydos be easily resolved by human effort?

Let alone the newly established "Federal Investigation Department - Sharai", even the Federal Student Council would probably be somewhat helpless in handling this.

"This ramen was specially ordered for you. Let's eat and chat."

Amamiya gently pushed one of the two bowls of ramen toward Saori.

Looking at the steaming hot ramen, so close yet so generously filled with ingredients, Saori fell silent and hesitated.

In the end... she decided to pick up her chopsticks.

There's absolutely no way they could have tampered with the ramen. I watched General Shiba make it, and I brought it out and put it here myself... It's perfectly safe.

The enticing aroma of meat and ramen broth filled her with a sense of nostalgia.

Even ramen like this... isn't something you can eat all the time...

After finishing half a large bowl of ramen in one go, Saori slowly raised her head, wiped the ramen soup from her lips, and cautiously tried to find a topic of conversation.

"Sensei... how do you plan to resolve the issue regarding the Abydos Higher Academy?"

Consider it 'intelligence gathering'... Talking to this Sensei won't cost me anything...

With that thought in mind, Saori asked the question and then silently waited for Amamiya's response.

“I am prepared to solve the current problems of Abydos College in one fell swoop—not the problem of desertification, of course, but the problem of ‘the college being encroached upon’.”

Amamiya smiled and continued, "However, the solution might sound a bit unbelievable... Even if I told Saori-san frankly, she definitely wouldn't believe it."

...You definitely won't believe it?

"Why are you so sure I won't believe you, Sensei?"

Amamiya leaned back in her chair, stretched, and then spoke in a tone that Saori knew all too well, with a hint of softness (Azuko's) as she said, "Saori-san... do you believe that fairy tales can happen in reality?"

Saori: "..."

Saori was visibly taken aback when Amamiya suddenly started talking about fairy tales in a tone she was familiar with.

A fairy tale happening in real life...?

"For example, someone who has done bad things might suddenly repent and repent for their mistakes. For example... using the power of a fairy tale to take back everything that the bad guys stole..."

Amamiya looked up at the ceiling of the Shibasaki Ramen restaurant, as if looking at the stars in the night sky through the ceiling, and her tone became ethereal.

“A power like this, like something out of a fairy tale… If it happened to you, would you believe it, Saori?”

Saori remained silent and did not react.

She definitely doesn't believe in things like 'fairy tales'...

How could such a thing possibly happen in the real world...?

Reality is always cruel.

“So…” Amamiya smiled and shook her head, “I knew Saori wouldn’t believe it.”

【~???~】

The feeling of gradually growing closer, for some reason, made Saori lower her guard a little.

"Saori, do you know why the helmeted guild that was active in this area suddenly stopped being active?"