"Furina."
"Hmm?"
Back home, Furina had barely settled into her seat when Luna asked, "Where do you plan to sleep tonight?"
Luna leaned back against the chair, gently twirling a strand of Furina's hair between her fingers. "We didn't have time to tidy up yesterday, but we have some now. I could clear out the storage room and make it your own space."
Furina blinked, only now remembering this arrangement.
So, we could sleep separately...
"Or we could continue sharing a bed as usual? The choice is yours." Luna playfully tugged at Furina's cowlick.
Actually, Furina now felt that sleeping together wasn't such a big deal.
Last night, Luna hadn't done anything strange, and Furina had slept soundly.
But she had previously said, "No matter what, sleeping in the same bed is just too... too..."
If she now declared it was fine, it would be like swallowing a boomerang whole! Luna would definitely tease her mercilessly.
Furina's gaze flickered nervously.
"You... what do you think?" she asked stiffly.
"Geez, you're the one making the choice. Why are you asking me again?" Luna propped her cheek against her hand, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Could it be that Furina is still hung up on what she said before? You know, about sharing a bed being 'strange'?"
Furina's ears flushed hot. "Don't bring that up..."
So embarrassing! No, she's definitely doing this on purpose...
"Anyway, just tell me what you want. I don't mind where I sleep—I'm just worried you'll get lonely—"
"I want to sleep with Furina," Luna declared bluntly.
Furina's heart skipped a beat, then began pounding wildly.
Luna wrapped her arms around Furina's neck.
"I do get lonely," she murmured, "it just depends if you can tell, Furina."
Furina tilted her head back, gazing up at Luna's face.
I can't tell.
If there was one thing Luna and Arlecchino had in common, it was their inscrutable hearts. Neither woman allowed their true thoughts to surface.
"I don't need to see it," Furina insisted. "Just tell me plainly."
"Tell you everything?"
"Yes."
Luna nodded gently. "I'll try my best."
Don't just try!
"So, Furina, are you going to sleep with me or...?"
Even after all this, you still have to ask? That's just cruel.
Furina lowered her gaze and whispered, "Since you've already asked me to sleep with you, I'll agree."
"But there's one condition!" she suddenly declared, her voice serious.
Luna pondered for a moment. "A goodnight kiss every night?"
Furina startled.
A goodnight kiss? Every night? That would be torture for my heart!
"No! That's exactly what I wanted to say!—You absolutely must not do anything weird! I don't have any special feelings for other women."
"What do you mean by 'special feelings'?" Luna asked curiously.
"Huh?"
Furina, caught off guard by the question, stammered, "It's just... uh... you know..."
"Love?"
"...Mhm."
Furina felt she wasn't like that, and coincidentally, Luna felt the same about herself.
But what about Arlecchino's actions?
It wasn't as if only gay people would do such things. If she wanted to, Luna could mark Furina in the same way right now, leaving a red imprint on her skin.
However, Luna was curious about one thing.
"What if I am?"
Furina's face flushed even deeper red. "Are you... really?"
"Just hypothetically. I don't think I am."
If Luna really did have a special interest in girls... Furina's heart pounded faster.
She understood—this was a sense of danger!
"I'm so beautiful and adorable, you'd definitely fall for me. Then my situation would become extremely dangerous."
Luna exclaimed in surprise, "Even though it's true, I never expected you to praise yourself like that!"
"Well, it's just the truth."
The condition for sharing a bed was that Luna wouldn't do anything "strange," but what constituted "strange" seemed entirely arbitrary, based solely on Furina's subjective opinion.
If she deemed something strange, it was strange; otherwise, it was normal.
Extremely flexible.
But Luna didn't really care.
After all, whether it was her or Furina, they were bound to disregard this so-called prerequisite and unspoken rule sooner or later.
Night fell.
Furina, clad in her pajamas, emerged from the bathroom.
"A bath after a long day is truly divine," she remarked.
"Your bathtub is quite spacious, though not particularly cute. I'll lend you my little rubber ducky later."
She towel-dried her hair, her skin glowing with a rosy blush, droplets still clinging to her strands, neck, and collarbone.
Luna, who had finished bathing earlier, took the towel and patted the edge of the bed.
Furina obediently sat down, letting Luna dry her hair. Last night, she had been somewhat uncomfortable with such close contact, but today was entirely different.
"You're like a freshly baked pastry right now, Furina," Luna murmured.
Furina stiffened. "You're not thinking of biting me, are you?"
"A little."
"Absolutely not! Hold it in and learn some restraint. Look at me—I've endured for five centuries. I'm practically the model of self-control!" Furina added.
Luna vigorously rubbed Furina's hair with the towel. "You're actually using your own experiences as a joke?"
"I wasn't joking!"
Luna set down the towel and pulled Furina back by the shoulders.
Furina didn't resist, leaning against Luna's chest. Her hair was still damp, her skin remained radiantly flushed, and a soft, sweet fragrance wafted from her.
"It's just... sometimes the past feels so distant, so ephemeral..."
Has she finally let go? Furina wasn't sure.
"That's how it always is when a story ends," Luna murmured softly.
"Viewers who witness a story's beginning and end—no matter what emotions the finale evokes, whether anger, sorrow, or pain—will ultimately exhale a hollow sigh."
"Especially since you were the protagonist on that stage." Luna picked up a towel and gently wiped Furina's neck.
Furina smiled faintly. "Indeed, that's how it feels."
"Even now, I still find that time agonizing, tormenting. I won't miss it, nor do I regret it, but its ending has left something behind in my heart..."
Furina closed her eyes.
Then she nodded and opened them again.
"But the end of one story often marks the beginning of another!"
Furina patted the back of Luna's hand and grinned. "You'll stay by my side, won't you? After all, you're the only one who's ever shared the stage with me, competing to the very end."
"Didn't you say you didn't want to play any roles anymore?"
"That's true, but what I meant was... never mind, you get it." Furina sighed.
"I don't get it."
Who would believe that?
She's known me all along, but I don't think I've explained myself clearly enough. To prevent her from doing something like today's stunt again, I need to make myself perfectly clear.
Furina grasped Luna's hand and said, "Then let me put it even more plainly."
She squeezed Luna's hand gently.
"Don't leave me. I'll do everything I can to protect you too..."
Furina added awkwardly, "Even though I don't have much power, just know I'm on your side!"
Since Luna had chosen to stand by her, Furina would reciprocate.
"There's one more thing I forgot to say—something I should have said much earlier."
What is it? Luna's eyes flickered with curiosity.
Furina took a breath, her smile softening.
"Thank you. You're the greatest Phantom Thief in the world!"
The greatest Phantom Thief in the world. The words instantly filled Luna's heart.
She had never accepted anyone's expectations, choosing instead to follow her own heart, unwavering and true. She would not respond to any desires or change her course for others; their hopes would ultimately be disappointed.
"...I never thought I'd hear those words," Luna murmured softly.
"First time?"
"Mm-hmm."
Furina puffed up with pride. "That's because everyone else lacks the insight!"
A smile flickered across Luna's face.
"Could you say it again?"
Furina chuckled. "Of course! I can say it as many times as you want."
This was the one phrase she would never hesitate to utter.
"Thank you, Luna. You're the greatest Phantom Thief in the world, bar none!"
A warm feeling surged through Luna's chest. Her heart raced as their eyes met, and that pure joy seemed to quietly transform, growing even more intense.
Luna gently caressed Furina's face. The warmth of her skin only deepened her conviction that the thought that had just crossed her mind was no fleeting whim.
She lowered her head and pressed her lips against Furina's.
A soft, warm sensation brushed lightly against her lips. Furina's eyes widened.
She tried to speak, but her lips remained frozen, sealed by that sweet tenderness. Even her breath seemed to still.
Instinctively, Furina closed her eyes and reached out to grasp Luna's shoulders.
But in the next instant, the warmth on her lips vanished.
Luna touched her own lips.
"...So that's what it's like."
That's what kissing feels like.
Blushing, she smiled. "All right, we've had our goodnight kiss. Let's go to sleep, Furina."
"Ah-um..."
Eh?
The lights went out, and Luna pulled her onto the bed.
"Goodnight, Furina. Being protected feels pretty good."
Huh...?
Luna let out a soft, gentle breath, indicating she had already fallen asleep.
Furina, however, remained wide-eyed, staring at the ceiling, feeling the presence and warmth of the person beside her.
What did Luna just do?
Furina touched her lips, still faintly lingering with the sensation from before. At the thought, her chest burned hot, and her face and the tips of her ears flushed crimson.
I was kissed...
"Luna and I..."
...kissed?
Furina couldn't help but glance at Luna.
"Don't fall asleep at a time like this!"
"I told you not to do weird things!"
"Now I can't sleep!"