I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Amamiya held the camera in one hand and pressed the button to take a delayed shot.

Without hesitation, he extended his other hand.

"of course."

[They've developed a special relationship...]

There's no going back...

【Coop↑UP!】

【Izayoi Nomiya (Belief) ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

[★3 Ability "The Belief of Accumulating Strength Through Small Accumulation" is now unlocked!]

[Leave of Absence Request 2025.3.18]

I've gradually built up a few drafts recently, but I really don't want to update...

Sigh, I'll take the day off today. Let me see if there's anything else I need to revise...

Okay, then that's settled.

P.S.: Starting with this volume, the 'tradition' of 60 chapters per volume may be broken. I'm just giving you a heads-up.

Yeah, that's about it. My eyes feel a little uncomfortable, and so does the back of my neck.

So I'll rest today.

Chapter Sixty-One: Nomiya's Gift

They spent some time together near the beach, and Yu Nonomiya felt her 'intoxicatingly gentle care' before it got late at night.

"So... this is what 'kissing' feels like..."

The blonde girl chuckled softly, pursing her lips as she recalled the unique, heart-pounding, and unforgettable feelings that still lingered in her mind.

really weird……

It was a pirate night with a cool breeze blowing, a sky full of stars overhead, and the rolling waves and sandy beach before my eyes...

It should have been a very quiet environment.

However, after engaging in the "romantic kiss" that you envisioned, your body will gradually become hot.

"I'd like to be a little bolder... but if I do that... Hoshino-chan and the others will definitely notice~"

The blonde girl, who was trying to hide her shyness by touching her cheek with one hand, hesitated for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh of regret.

Looking at the shimmering moonlight and the swirling waves on the wet beach, Nomiya turned around and made his 'final request' to the curly-haired young man holding a camera.

"Sensei...can you take a few more photos of me before we end?"

Although she only said that one sentence, Amamiya still understood from those words that this was a rare and precious opportunity, and Sensei must choose the right angle and take what she thought was the best photo.

Holding the camera, Amamiya slowly stepped back, choosing a suitable distance and angle to permanently capture the image of the 'blonde girl under the sea breeze and moonlight' in her camera.

As Amamiya moved her feet and changed the shooting distance, the girl also cooperated by making actions such as 'holding down her sun hat' and 'bending down to scoop up a handful of seawater with both hands and then splashing it out,' which are very suitable for shooting 'static scenes in motion'.

After taking more than a dozen photos, Amamiya waved to her.

The blonde girl, who was standing on the beach pondering her next move, paused slightly, then took off her sun hat and 'wobbled' as she ran towards Amamiya through the sand.

After taking the camera from Amamiya, she immediately checked the photos that had been taken.

After only a brief glance, she was pleasantly surprised and expressed her appreciation and approval of Amamiya's filming techniques.

“Sensei…it seems you’re quite adept at ‘seizing the moment.’”

Amamiya smiled but didn't reply.

As a "phantom thief of the heart," seizing fleeting opportunities is the most basic skill among basic skills.

"So it seems Sensei was right after all..."

Nomiya continued flipping through the photos on the camera, letting out a soft sigh with a complex meaning: "I... really am a 'greedy' person..."

"When I was kissing Sensei on the beach, I always wished time could stand still, and I wanted to take things a step further with Sensei and do more things..."

“When taking photos with Sensei, I always want to make the poses that best highlight myself and show you my best side…”

Her voice gradually lowered as she silently felt the warmth that the coat had unknowingly draped over her from behind—a warmth that might be inconspicuous against the backdrop of the island's night, but could still instantly warm her.

Nomiya, who was supposed to continue expressing his feelings, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"But... as expected, even though I've already managed to save these 'photos,' I still want to be a little bit more greedy..."

After reviewing the photos, the girl did something that surprised Amamiya—

She first turned off the camera, then decisively removed the memory card from the camera and placed it in a small bag she had prepared beforehand.

"I'll treasure the photos~" After waving at Amamiya, the girl handed the brand-new camera, which looked like it had only been used once, back to Amamiya. "As for the camera... let's keep it for Sensei as a 'special memory'?"

Amamiya: "..."

The heavy weight in his hands, and the cold beauty unique to precision mechanical creations, piqued Amamiya's curiosity—so he tried using his "third eye" to check the camera's basic information.

【Memories of the Sea】

[Type: Gift/Valuable Item]

[Item prototype: Leica M10-R Platinum Handcrafted Edition]

Price: 3000 million

[Description: Limited edition valuable items that look ordinary, but are actually unbelievably valuable.]

Without batting an eye, he simply handed me this camera, which might be a limited edition Kiwatos model...

Nomiya, as expected, is terrifying.

"Then I will gladly accept the 'precious memories' that Nonomiya has given me."

Nomiya did not respond to the heartfelt thanks, but instead smiled and gently reminded her.

"Well... it's getting late. If we don't go back soon... Hoshino-chan and the others will get suspicious, won't they?"

makes sense.

Turning back to glance at the faint lights of the resort in the distance, Amamiya said wistfully, "It's time to go back."

Amamiya's apparent disappointment at not being able to take their relationship any further prompted the girl who had offered the suggestion to chuckle.

【~???~】(from Nomiya)

Judging from Sensei's behavior... perhaps Sensei is a rather love-starved adult?

'Should I try to find more opportunities to get closer to Sensei in the future...?'

Or perhaps, try caring for Sensei "like a mother"?

With unrealistic thoughts swirling in her mind, the girl put on the sandals that were stored aside, no longer barefoot as she had been during the previous photoshoot.

"If Sensei wants to spend a little more time with me, feel free to come find me anytime~"

After leaving those words behind, Nomiya, in a cheerful mood, hummed a tune that was probably a pop song and turned to leave with light steps.

Amamiya paused for a moment before catching up with her.

After the two returned to the resort, Amamiya noticed that most of the lights in the surrounding buildings were off, with only a few places like bedrooms still lit.

As for the open space outside the room... the barbecue truck, various tableware, and other traces of daily life had all been cleaned up to a minimum.

It seems that Serika, Ayane, and Shirako have finished packing and are starting to rest.

Realizing there was really no popularity, Nomiya, who had originally planned to show off his photos, gradually lost interest.

After looking around the open space of the resort, she yawned.

"It's getting late... Sensei, remember to get some rest so you can prepare for tomorrow's plans, okay?"

Amamiya, who was pondering whether to use the remaining time to look for Hoshino, who was supposedly going on a night patrol, or Shirako, who was supposedly going night fishing, raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

Are there any plans for tomorrow? What kind of plans could there be?

Is this also part of their "plan"?

Although he was slightly curious, since Nomiya didn't intend to go into details about the so-called arrangements or 'plans', he didn't plan to ask any further questions.

"OK, good night."

Goodnight, Sensei too~

Chapter Sixty-Two: Ruozao Arrived Carrying a Speaker

The mornings at the island resort have a slightly different feel compared to most other areas of Kiwatos.

Perhaps it was the sense of urgency brought about by the helmet tour, or perhaps it was simply a greater enthusiasm for "island vacations"...

The girls of Abydos got up very early.

As for why Amamiya knew they got up so early...

That story begins with the incident where five girls in swimsuits broke into the house while I was changing clothes.

Amamiya, who was tidying his appearance by the full-length mirror in the room, suddenly heard a knock on the door—but before he could respond, the door was opened from the outside with a 'click'.

Immediately afterwards, a group of girls dressed in all sorts of swimsuits, all exuding youthful energy, burst into the room.

They chatted casually about everyday topics while constantly stealing glances in my direction.

"Sensei..."

"Good morning, Sensei! ☆~"

"Hmm... I never expected to stumble upon Sensei changing clothes... (peeks)"

"Looks like Sensei got up early today too..."

“Sensei, do you remember the Helmet Corps that was planning to call for reinforcements not long ago, and the things related to the Helmet Corps?”

Amamiya, who was putting on her clothes, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

His gaze swept back, and he caught a glimpse of shame on Serika's cheek, a sense of novelty about himself in Nomiya, and an unusual 'girlishness' in Hoshino's demeanor.

Even Shirako was briefly drawn to Amamiya's 'just the right amount of ruggedness'.

Only Ayane, after a fleeting, flustered glance, hurriedly and 'seriously' brought up the main topic of the day.

Under the watchful eyes of five people, Amamiya casually put on her shirt and then looked at Ayane, who was standing at the front.

"..."

The black-haired girl, who had been stealing glances every now and then, immediately looked away with a distracted expression.

After clearing her throat, Ayane spoke hesitantly, "Um...Sensei, there's a reason we bothered you so early in the morning..."

"what reason?"

"Sensei, there's new information about the signal tracker you gave me... The signal tracker's address, which hadn't changed overnight, has changed unusually today..."

The girl, feeling guilty, answered under Amamiya's probing gaze: "We speculate... that the 'reinforcements' called for by the Helmet Group may have arrived..."

That is indeed important news worth getting in touch with so early in the morning.

Amamiya was still very curious about what kind of "reinforcements" the Helmet Group could actually summon.

Who exactly gave the helmet group the confidence to stand up for them?

Indeed, it deserves attention...

"Let's follow the signal tracker and take a look."

After giving her opinion, Amamiya planned to continue changing her clothes.

After shifting her position, Amamiya noticed that the girls on the Strategy Committee showed no intention of moving. She asked curiously, "Are you planning to continue watching?"

Ayane: "Hahaha..."

The girl, touching her elf ears, chuckled awkwardly and stepped back.