I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"Hehehe... Darling... Wakazao, it seems I'm completely infatuated with you..."

Then, Amamiya heard a series of very soft sniffing sounds coming from under her mask.

"Sniff... Darling, did you know... that 'we' who have animal characteristics also have some animal (meaningful) habits..."

For some reason, Amamiya now has a feeling that she is dealing with a female version of "Yusuke Kitagawa".

Is she the kind of person who doesn't care about her surroundings at all when she says or does anything?!

"Um……"

Noticing the gazes of the other students around the store, Amamiya hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not choose to 'break free from Wakazumi's arm,' an action that would definitely be heartbreaking for her.

"Wakazao, I've prepared a 'special gift' for you, but there are just too many people here... Shall we find somewhere else to talk?"

"Honey, you feel that having other people interrupt during intimate moments can really ruin the mood, right? Wakazama understands that feeling..."

...Why does it feel like we're not on the same wavelength at all?

Although the other party's mental state made Amamiya slightly worried, her actions and reactions were very decisive and efficient. As soon as Amamiya mentioned it, Wakazama decisively gave a soft "hmm" and then, with a 'well-behaved.jpg' expression, she was led out of the mask shop by Amamiya while clinging to Amamiya's right hand.

"Hehehe... What kind of gift will my darling prepare for Wakazama... Wakazama is so looking forward to it..."

Wakazama's 'overly enthusiastic' behavior made Amamiya suddenly feel like he wanted to recreate a famous scene from a novel he had read before.

However, given Wakazama's personality, it's unlikely she could replicate the classic phrase, "Tokyo Skytree, Meiji Shrine, Disneyland."

So I thought about it and decided against it.

Amamiya led Wakazama to a nearly deserted street bench. He helped Wakazama, who refused to let go of his hand, to sit down. Wakazama then naturally snuggled up to him, tilting her head slightly and resting it on Amamiya's right shoulder.

"This is a gift for Wakazama. I hope you like it..."

Left with no other choice, Amamiya used her free hand to take the gift box she had prepared earlier out of her shoulder bag.

This is a small box with a special shrine style, carrying an atmosphere of 'Kojiki' and a slight sense of holiness. What is inside the box... is a physical item made by Amamiya using the 'essence of desire' that he had captured from another world's shadows, refined and processed.

Amamiya's personal dagger, "Paradise Lost," was forged in a similar way by the heretical archangel (Satanyel). His personal pistol, "God of Destruction," was forged by the celestial judge (Metatron).

The shadow, in a sense, can be considered like the 'disobedient god' concept in [Godkiller]. In various senses, the items and equipment refined from the shadow can be regarded as true "divine gear".

Although its usefulness in the real world is negligible, it truly possesses 'divine power' in another world.

"This is……"

Wakazama finally let go of Amamiya's right arm, and she solemnly took the small box from Amamiya's hands with deep affection.

Instead of opening it immediately, I first took a gentle sniff of the scent emanating from the box, as always.

...She didn't know if it was just her imagination, but she seemed to feel something similar to herself, yet different, from the box.

"Let's take it apart and take a look."

Amamiya's simple words made Wakazamo, who was planning to take the gift back to her temporary base to open it, immediately change her mind.

"Since you say so, darling..."

With a sense of ritualistic anticipation, Ruozao slowly untied the ribbon on the gift box and gently opened it with a 'sacred' yet 'reluctant' gesture.

'Wow—'

In that instant, she seemed to see the golden light emanating from the box as it was opened.

After a fleeting 'shine', Ruozao saw... a fox mask that was similar to her own, yet different.

The similarity lies in the fact that both masks are fox masks, and the facial markings on them look quite similar at first glance.

The difference is that this fox mask is a half-face mask, only covering the nose.

"A 'mask'...?"

Feeling a familiar yet strange sensation emanating from the mask, Ruozao was unusually stunned and didn't immediately 'fall ill'.

"Although it's a mask, it's not an ordinary mask."

After observing Wakazama's subtle movements and considering her level of closeness to him, Amamiya reached out and gently tugged at the tip of her deep red gradient fox ears.

Huh...? Is this what the animal ears of a beast-eared student feel like to touch...?

It feels very similar to the ears of a Morgana bird; they touch a lot...

While touching her ear, Amamiya continued, "This is a half-face mask that I made entirely by hand, using the most special materials, and specially tailored for Wakazama... I named it 'The Mask of the Jade-Faced Fox.' As for its effect... it can conceal the wearer's aura, making the wearer less conspicuous and less easily recognized."

After a pause, Amamiya looked up at the ginkgo tree overhead, its leaves rustling as it fell, and said softly, "I thought Wakazama would really need a mask like this... so I decided to have this mask specially handmade..."

"Oh right... it also has a 'self-cleaning' function, and its protective performance is excellent. It should withstand all kinds of gun attacks without being damaged, so it should meet Wakazama's needs for changing masks, right?"

Personally, Amamiya is quite satisfied with the effect of the "Jade Fox's Mask".

In the eyes of a third party, this seemingly ordinary mask has the following effect.

[Jade Fox's Mask: A mask that makes the wearer less noticeable. It significantly reduces the probability of being noticed and provides a certain degree of resistance to physical and firearm attacks.]

[Type: Equipment/Accessory]

[Jade Fox's Veil/Physical Gun Resistance; Luck +5]

[Jade-Faced Fox's Veil: Can be activated when concentrating, greatly reducing the likelihood of being noticed by other targets, either yourself or a target. If already noticed, the effect will be significantly reduced.]

[Physical and Firearm Resistance: Grants the wielder resistance to physical and firearm attributes. If physical or firearm attributes are a weakness, the weakness is eliminated.]

[Luck +5: Slightly increases the 'Luck' attribute.]

This is an accessory that comes with a skill effect.

While the attribute bonuses provided might be somewhat insignificant, far less than Amamiya's own [God of Destruction] (additional effect: all attributes +6), if it can improve luck, it can bring good fortune to the holder in the real world to some extent.

Even if the holder is unlucky enough, the increased luck attribute can significantly reduce the probability of bad things happening or affecting them.

"...Wakazama?"

Are you satisfied with this gift?

Noticing that the other person seemed to be in a 'dazed' state and that the favorability rating hadn't started to rise, Amamiya raised an eyebrow slightly and deliberately asked in a slightly nervous and expectant tone.

"Very satisfied...!"

【~???~】

'...It captured Wakazama's heart like never before!'

Upon seeing the newly displayed favorability indicator, Amamiya paused for a moment in surprise.

This is... a sixteenth note?

Cooperative status has been improved!

Amamiya: "..."

Why does she always want to increase the bond relationship...?

To be honest, Amamiya has met quite a few assistants with unique personalities.

But he had never even seen someone like Wakazama before.

"Huh...huh..."

He could clearly feel the increasingly heavy breathing of the 'Fox of Calamity' sitting next to him.

"Honey……"

Amamiya turned her head slightly to look at the girl who was slowly picking the fruit after a very brief silence.

“Darling…you are so 'gentle'…”

His amber-colored, almost golden pupils were exceptionally bright, and the flames hidden in his eyes seemed to no longer need to be concealed.

“Your gentleness… in Wakazama’s eyes, is like the sun… giving Wakazama a… burning sensation of being shone upon at close range…”

"Ah...a 'sun' like you, dazzling yet gentle, shining equally on all students...If only this sun could shine and be gentle just for Wakazama alone..."

Under the influence of two bond skills related to aura attributes, namely 'cute destructive desire' and 'malicious charm', Wakazama not only did not 'back down with shyness', but gradually developed a kind of... burning desire.

Cooperative status has been improved!

“Wakazama’s idea is indeed a bit of a ‘wishful thinking’. As a Sensei, I have a lot to do, and it’s a little unrealistic to think about it just for personal reasons.”

"However... Wakazama, although I cannot become the 'sun,' I can still try to bring light and warmth to others."

Amamiya smiled as she spoke, gently tidying the wispy strands of hair in the bangs of the girl beside her who hadn't yet put on her mask. Under the girl's increasingly 'abnormal' gaze, she continued earnestly:

"Ruozao, I can feel the coldness of longing to be loved and the loneliness of not being understood hidden beneath your fiery passion."

“If… Wakazama approves of me, then I can also… become Wakazama’s own ‘light that pierces the darkness’.”

【~???~】

"...Yamashiri, you Japanese devil!!!"

"Honey……"

Very good... It must be that special type with 'high attack but weak defense'... In that case, let's take it all in one go.

Seeing that the other party was ashamed and wanted to run away, Amamiya took the initiative and grabbed Wakasa's hand.

"I want to take Wakazama somewhere."

Chapter Nineteen has developed a special relationship with Wakazama; there's no going back...

The sunset glow and falling leaves harmonize, and the cool, slightly chilly mountain breeze of late autumn carries through the mountains.

The setting sun slowly sank into the sea, forming a complete circle with its reflection.

Sensing the sudden change to tranquility, Ruozao, with her eyes closed, gently twitched her fox ears, which were unusually lively with excitement.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now."

Hearing the voice in her ear, Ruozao slowly opened her eyes.

This place is no longer the 'Subculture Street of Holy Trinity' as before, but... a high mountain near the sea.

With just a simple glance downwards, one can clearly see rows of bright red torii gates nestled among the dense forests of the mountains below.

Wakazama turned to the side and glanced behind her—behind her was a completely unfamiliar, large shrine building that looked like it belonged to the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.

It was clean and tidy, and apart from myself and Sensei... there seemed to be no other outsiders.

"This is 'Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine,' although it's not the real 'Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine,' it's just a temporary landscape I've created..."

Before Wakazama could ask any questions, Amamiya first explained the origin of the scenery before them.

He documented the scene of Fushimi Inari Shrine when he lived in Shibuya, Tokyo, and brought it to life in a way that resembled a temporary temple.

"The scenery here is beautiful, and because of its beauty, it is a popular place for worshippers. It is said that many couples also come here to pray for a good marriage."

"Of course, when it comes to 'seeking a good match,' you should also visit another famous attraction—Meiji Shrine. It can be considered a 'royal sanctuary for lovers,' where couples often hold their weddings to pray for divine witness to the steadfastness of their love."

As Amamiya spoke, his smile gradually softened. He thought of the time he visited Meiji Shrine with Sumire Yoshizawa, and the few days he spent with the Phantom Thieves in the 'other world' created by Takuto Maruki, which were relatively happy.

"...So that's how it is."

As Amamiya began to recount some 'human stories' about this world, which was clearly outside of Giwatos, Wakazama gradually became fascinated.

"Ruo Zao..."

Startled by the sudden call, Ruozao felt a sudden surge of panic.

"I noticed your presence from the very beginning."

“I also know that you are one of the most special few among those students…”

“V叁linKg師镹七珊逝…”

After a brief pause, Amamiya continued, "I brought Wakamo here specifically this time... actually to express some of my personal... opinions about Wakamo."

"Wakazama, in the future, can we... have a more normal... 'relationship'?"

Amamiya, who deliberately used ambiguous wording, glanced at Wakazama's 'pupils dizzying' reaction and her 'emotional control gradually slipping out of control' expression, and then added: "Wakazama, in the future you can use other methods that are as 'legitimate' as possible to approach me."

However, even with the added benefits of numerous bond skills, Amamiya's words were still far too devastating for Wakamo.

With just a casual remark, Ruozao's brain immediately overloaded, her thoughts nearly scattered by a jumble of chaotic and terrible ideas.