I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"Train number ATPX4869, en route from Trinity College to the Federal Student Council Self-Government Area, Shiratori District, is about to depart..."

"Passengers on this trip, please keep your luggage safe and make sure that nothing is missing or forgotten. Please board the train in an orderly manner."

The mechanical announcement of the train's announcement grew louder as it approached. A blonde girl sitting on the platform, using her phone's DAC decoder and a special edition Perolo in-ear headphone, suddenly looked up, a glint of anticipation flashing in her bright, pale yellow-gold eyes.

'I'm a shape shift~At Poe's masquade~'

(I am a thousand faces, dancing alone at this ball)

The soundtrack for the popular game "Persona," which recently caused a sensation online, is sung with a melodious and languid vocal style, primarily by the game development department of Millennium Tech Academy and supported by the engineering department, Beritas, and other well-known Millennium clubs.

'call……'

The gust of wind blew across her skirt, and the girl gracefully lifted her skirt and stood up. The wind generated by the train's gradual deceleration did not make her flustered in the slightest.

Hifumi skillfully found a seat and opened a webpage with a black and red concentric circle theme and a distinctly phantom thief art style. She then looked at the messages on this anonymous message board.

[Seeking help: I'm a Trinity College student and I've been bullied recently...]

Hifumi frowned slightly, marked it for the time being, and then continued scrolling down.

[Can the Phantom Thieves steal my heart...? I want to find out what that feels like.]

If only all the students at Gerina Academy could repent and admit their mistakes!

'...'

Lately, my companion seems to be distancing herself from me... I suspect there's something wrong with her. Phantom Thief, can you help me?

'...'

"Most of the requests are meaningless... Everyone seems to be caught up in the phantom thief craze, and the voices of those who truly need help are hard to be heard..."

Softly murmuring to herself, the girl couldn't help but ponder how to more effectively find those who truly needed help.

"If we could contact the ancient Beritas, with their technological prowess, to maintain this [Phantom Thief Anonymous Message Board]..."

The sound gradually faded away, and Hifumi kept the second half of the sentence to herself.

'Could I, as a fan of thieves, go to their door and offer them money to invite those cyber geniuses from Beritas to help me...?'

After thinking about her 'plans', the solemnity and seriousness in the girl's eyes gradually faded.

'Isn't my idea... a bit too audacious?'

'But... if it were before, I definitely wouldn't have even had such thoughts, right?'

'Now, I actually want to perfect all sorts of plans, want to put them into practice... want to use my phantom thief powers to help more people who deserve help...'

So, having experienced that unknown battle deep in the desert to "reclaim the future," have you grown a lot as well?

In gaming terms... that would be an increase in "courage," right?

Of course, perhaps even "thoughtfulness," "dexterity," and "knowledge" have improved along with it...

It's unclear whether "Charm" will be increased... but it should be, right?

'...How about we take this opportunity to talk to Sensei about the "Phantom Thief Request Channel"?'

'I'll tell Sensei my plan, and then Sensei will definitely come up with a more detailed and improved plan based on it...'

……

"Hifumi-chan is like a completely different person..."

"Just like... Cinderella in the Cinderella story, who was blessed by the midnight magic."

"Huh? Xiao Zi Nie feels the same way... Indeed, Hifumi-chan is giving off a feeling of 'shining and warm like the sun' right now..."

"Could this be... the growth she experienced through her contact with Sensei?"

"Contact?!"

"Xiaochun, don't be so sensitive... I'm just making a very serious guess this time, okay? I didn't say anything about 'unspeakable topics'..."

"An indescribable topic?!"

"Sexy... Ugh...!"

……

"...I think I just heard a strange sound?"

Hifumi, who suddenly became somewhat alert, looked around.

The train carriages weren't exactly crowded, but they were definitely packed with people—after all, it was rush hour.

There are an unusually large number of students who need to travel to the college by train or have other things to do, especially during this period.

As Hifumi looked around, her gaze was lost in the skirts made up of various school uniforms of different lengths and colors, as well as the over-the-knee socks that highlighted the vitality of young girls.

'I didn't see any familiar figures... Was the voice I just heard just my imagination?'

Hifumi packed away the DAC decoder and headphones, ready to get off the bus.

A slight dragging sensation gradually appears as the vehicle slows down upon entering the station.

Hifumi slung her backpack over her shoulder, nimbly squeezed through a large group of students, and then deftly slipped out of the station.

Under a clear blue sky, the Xia Lai office building came into view under the slightly chilly winter sun. Although it was far on the horizon, it was already very close.

With a curious yet subtle gaze, Hifumi observed everything that happened in her life and walked briskly toward Xia Lai's office building. Soon, she saw the tall young man who had gradually become the only 'sun' in her world.

Upon seeing her arrival, the young man put one hand in his pocket, freeing the other, and greeted her with a slightly 'casual' and lazy gesture.

"Hifumi-chan, it seems like it's only been less than a week since we last met... but it's already time to say 'long time no see' again."

Amamiya, who was ready to set off, waved to the girl who was running briskly towards him.

Then... to the girl's unexpected and adorable gasp, he gently embraced her.

"Ugh~"

Subconsciously, she slightly tiptoed, getting a little closer to the 'sun' in her heart. After a surprised 'exclamation,' the girl naturally squinted her eyes and began to enjoy it.

However, the embrace that made her feel so warm was quickly released after only a little care.

【~???~】

Seeing the Tarot cards floating nearby, symbolizing the helper, Amamiya did not engage in further 'intimate contact' with Hifumi. Instead, he gently bent down and patted the head of the girl, who was still surrounded by the warm aura of the sun and felt happy and shy.

After helping her tidy up her "elf ear hairstyle" that accentuated her ordinary cuteness, Amamiya said seriously, "Hifumi seems to have matured even more than before. She will soon become a truly qualified 'phantom thief'."

'Hehehe...'

Hifumi gently scratched her cheeks, which were slightly red from the winter chill, with her index finger, and unconsciously squinted and chuckled.

'It seems my growth is "obvious to all"...'

Hifumi did not become arrogant or complacent just because she was praised for her 'growth'.

The girl, ready to take her first steps and follow the silhouette of the person who had given her warmth, knew clearly in her heart—

not enough.

I need to become more 'mature' and more 'independent'.

I must at least live up to my phantom thief codename, "Copain," and become a stronger, more mature person who can truly share the pain of my friends (Coopation, Co)...

With a serious expression, she looked around at her surroundings and then fixed her gaze on Amamiya.

"So...Sensei, what kind of phantom thief activity will we be carrying out today? Will we be searching the Space of Impressions, or exploring the Palace?"

"Should we summon the other 'phantom thieves' (countermeasures committee members)?"

Amamiya glanced discreetly at Arcana, who was floating in the hiding place of the other three members of the cram school who had secretly followed her all the way here, completely unnoticed by Hifumi.

Well... Hifumi has truly grown into a 'phantom thief'...

Despite her significant growth in personality, she's become quite lax in the things a phantom thief should truly be mindful of...

At least in terms of counter-surveillance by phantom thieves, they are far superior to Saori's team, who are professional members.

“No need… This is just a routine exploration of the Trinity’s Impression Space. In addition, we also need to determine the relationship between the Trinity’s Impression Space, the Impression Space of another academy, and the Temple.”

"Although it's morning now... we might have to go to a lot of places today."

"Hifumi-chan, are you ready?"

Amamiya was met with the confident head held high by the girl before him, along with her resolute gaze and sweet smile.

"Ok!"

I could feel Hifumi's determination.

Coopation has been improved!

【Ajitani Hifumi (The Fool) ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆】

[★5 Ability "Ordinary Girl Su" is now unlocked!]

After extending the influence of the Otherworld App to Hanako and her two companions who were secretly observing, Amamiya then specially created dozens of completely different concealment and defense spells for them.

"Then... let's set off, heading towards..."

"[Impression Space]."

Chapter Thirteen: Beatrice's "Godhood Plan"

Regarding the connection between the [Samurai Impression Space] and the [Arius Impression Space], and the corresponding exploration, Amamiya believes... this is a 'long and arduous task'.

Considering the mysterious techniques known as "secret rituals" possessed by the Numerology, Amamiya felt that the possibility of the Numerology mastering a portion of cognitive science was something that needed to be guarded against.

It should be understood that once cognitive science and the existence of other worlds become known and are exploited... even an ordinary 'psychologist' could easily gain the power to distort and dominate the world.

During the Abydos incident, Black Clothes somehow managed to enter the Caesar Group's 'hall' and had a conversation with Amamiya.

—Then, using the 'consciousness' of the Caesar Group as a guide, he transformed himself into [Shadow Sun God Ra].

Although she was first hit by a "Sin Armor-Piercing Bullet - Ultra-Low-Tier Version" from [Satanyel] summoned by Amamiya, which shattered 90% of her health bar, she was then dealt with by the girls of the Countermeasures Committee.

If Beatrice was also a member of the Mystic Arts, she would most likely know that Black Clothes had suffered a setback in this regard.

If Beatrice has indeed interfered with the [Trinity's Impression Space], intending to annex it and merge it with the Hall of Impressions... it's not hard for Amamiya to guess what she really wants to do.

'Seize power and become like... "The God of Ruler, Yardabat."'

'Using one's control over the "collective unconscious" to exert influence on the real world entirely through cognitive means...'

If Beatrice's plan is to 'become a god,' she is very likely to try to do so.

'We have to be on guard...'

While pondering his exploration plan for the hall and the space of impressions, Amamiya glanced discreetly at the hiding place of Hanako and her group.

To be on the safe side of Beatrice's arrangements, Amamiya may have to mobilize quite a few Persona manipulators this time. In addition to the Arius Special Squad, Amamiya has decided to train a team within Trinity that can form at least a four-person team, including himself.

The tutoring center and the dessert center are both excellent choices.

Since the tutoring club arrived first... let them experience the 'other world' first.

Taking out his phone, Amamiya opened the [Otherworld App] under Hifumi's slightly expectant gaze.

I found the tag function and clicked on the tag for 【Impression Space·Holy Trinity】.

The moment they entered the other world, Amamiya cast several concealment and protective spells on Hanako and her companions, spells that could only be cast by the most powerful Personas.

Let's just let Hanako and the other two see this from an outsider's perspective for now...

"[Start Navigation]".

'Om...'

A sense of anticipation for something "unexpected" outside of daily life began to stir within Hifumi.

The last time she went to the 'other world' was when she went to Xia Lai for her duty...

Although only about a month has passed in terms of time... she feels as if a long time has gone by.

Amamiya's action of pressing the buttons on her phone suddenly reminded the girl of the story that had taken place deep in the desert, a place almost unknown to anyone.

A city steeped in sin and haunted by lurking shadow monsters...

The Tower of Babel from mythology recreated...