Furina glanced up at the clock and murmured, her arms crossed, "She's not back yet..."
Seeing Luna so lively again had eased her worries considerably.
Phantom Thief White Cat remained as formidable as ever; perhaps there was no need to worry at all.
Yet, waiting alone at home like this, she couldn't shake off a lingering anxiety.
Could something have happened on the way?
Like Arlecchino suddenly jumping out for another fight?
The dynamic between this mother and daughter always left her baffled.
Lost in these wild thoughts, a gust of Anemo swept in through the window.
"I'm back. Did I keep you waiting long?"
Luna removed her mask, revealing a warm smile.
"You certainly did make me wait! You... didn't encounter any danger on the way, did you?"
Furina anxiously studied Luna's face, her eyes searching for any sign of distress.
Luna spun lightly, her one-shoulder cloak swirling with the movement.
"As you can see, I'm perfectly fine."
"The Special Task Force has gotten rather lazy lately, lacking proper training. They used to be so much more alert when I was still the Phantom Thief."
"Well, you were their mortal enemy," Furina sighed.
Having an adversary naturally brings out different levels of strength.
Furina studied her closely, thinking, She does seem alright.
But is that really the truth? Furina's worry lingered. She knew all too well how skilled Luna was at disguises. Even during her weakest days, Luna had shown no outward signs of distress.
"Are you really alright?"
Luna smiled. "Want to check?"
"...Yes. I've already told you, if there's even the slightest scratch on you, I'll be furious!" Furina huffed.
And when Furina was angry, she'd make Luna realize just how easy she was to provoke...
No, how impossible she was to appease.
"Not even a small cake can soothe your anger?"
"No."
"Ten?"
"Still no."
Luna transformed, changing into casual attire, and sat beside Furina.
"You're quite the firecracker, aren't you? Go ahead, then."
She leaned back on the bed, her nonchalant smile grating on Furina's nerves.
"You don't even care, do you?"
Luna merely smiled, saying nothing.
Seeing this, Furina's frustration grew, but she reminded herself that the physical examination was more urgent.
They could bicker later.
Yes, checking her condition is most important, Furina repeated inwardly, yet her raised hand hovered awkwardly in the air.
An alluring blush crept across her cheeks, her eyes darting nervously.
Wait a minute... if I'm going to examine Luna, wouldn't I have to see her... her... body?! Furina abruptly closed her eyes.
"What's wrong? Not going to examine me?"
"Of course I am! But thinking about it, wouldn't I have to see your..."
Luna tilted her head slightly. "Your...?"
"You know, that!"
"Which that?"
Furina desperately wanted to avoid being explicit, but Luna was acting like a completely innocent, clueless young girl.
How could that be possible?! What kind of innocent young girl would steal her first kiss?!
"Stop pretending. You know exactly what I mean," Furina said with a frown.
"Luna doesn't know, though! How can anyone understand if you don't explain properly? Ehe~" Luna batted her eyelashes repeatedly, her voice pitched high.
Furina's expression twisted into a grimace. "Ugh, how disgusting."
"Your words truly wound me," Luna said, pulling Furina's hand closer.
She's just too embarrassed to watch, that's all, Luna thought. Since we're already living together, why bother with such trivialities? Just like Chiori, she'll get used to it eventually. And I don't mind speeding things up a bit.
"Don't want to watch?" Luna asked, rubbing Furina's fingertip with her own.
Furina's face flushed crimson. "Who would want to watch?!"
"So you don't want to watch?"
"...I just want to examine you, don't make it sound like I'm going to do something weird! I'm being serious here, so you should be serious too!"
Furina's expression was earnest.
Or rather, she was trying her best to appear earnest and solemn.
Luna couldn't help but chuckle. "If anyone's being weird, it's you, Furina, isn't it? If you hadn't been so hesitant and fidgety, the conversation wouldn't have spiraled into this."
"Only those with ulterior motives hesitate so much."
"If you truly have nothing to hide, why not just get on with it?"
As she spoke, Luna effortlessly raised her finger, the pad sliding from Furina's collarbone up her neck, coming to rest beneath her chin.
"Or could it be that Lady Furina does have... feelings for me?"
"No!"
Luna wasn't surprised. "Then please, go ahead. Even if you don't want to look, there are other ways to be sure, aren't there?"
Other ways?
Just as Furina guessed one possibility, Luna grasped the hem of her robe and kneaded her side several times.
"Like this."
Like what?!
Furina blushed. "Just so you know, I haven't gained any weight! I checked on the scale, and my weight is exactly the same as before!"
"Really? Then you deserve praise, little Furina! You've done so well!" Luna patted her head again.
Furina hurriedly shook her head, swatting away Luna's hand and pointing at her chest. "I can't just let that comment slide! Age-wise, I'm actually older than you!"
"You've done so well, old lady."
Furina's eyes widened. "You—!"
When it came to bantering, Luna was confident she wouldn't lose. After all, this was a skill she'd honed through years of "training" with Chiori.
Still, she steered the conversation back on track.
"Getting back to the point, since Furina wants to examine my body, there are two options."
Luna gripped a button.
"First, you can look."
Then she lifted her hem.
"Or you can feel."
Either use your eyes to search thoroughly, or use your fingertips to touch and feel every detail.
Luna smiled gently. "I'm fine with either option, even both together. But the final decision rests with you, Furina."
Of course, there was also a third option: giving up.
Though unspoken, Furina knew she could choose this path.
But that option was meaningless to her. All she wanted was to ensure Luna's well-being.
Considering this, the answer naturally emerged.
"...Then you should change your clothes," Furina said, averting her gaze.
Luna nodded slightly, unbuttoned her attire, and began to change.
Furina had expected to glance briefly and look away, but when the rustling sounds subsided, she forced herself to look directly at Luna again.
Then, pursing her lips, she cautiously reached out a hand.
A gentle touch.
"Does it hurt?"
"...No, not at all."
Suppressing the urge to look away, Furina whispered, "That's good."
Another touch.
"What about here?"
"It tickles a little."
Furina nodded, seemingly too shy to speak.
Her fingertips traced every inch of Luna's skin, pressing and probing, searching for any wounds or discomfort.
"Did you make that Phantom Thief outfit yourself?" Furina suddenly asked, breaking the increasingly awkward silence.
"No, Chiori helped me make it."
"Chiori?" Furina exclaimed in surprise.
So Chiori already knew Luna's identity?
Not only that, but she actually helped Luna?
"Didn't she say anything about your Phantom Thief identity?" Furina whispered, squeezing Luna's shoulder.
"She did. She said my old Phantom Thief outfit was terrible. Furina, which one do you like better?"
"Me? It doesn't really matter to me."
After all, it's not the clothes that matter.
"But if we're just talking about looks, the current one is definitely better," Furina continued. "Don't be discouraged, though—amateur work can't compare to professional craftsmanship."
The reassurance was truly heartwarming.
"Um, could the necklet also be...?" Furina trailed off.
"Mm, she gave it," Luna replied. It seemed to have been made in a rush.
"Oh," Furina murmured, falling silent again.
Normally, you wouldn't give someone a necklet as a gift, right?
Stroking Luna's neck absentmindedly, Furina asked, "Will wearing it for a long time leave a mark?"
"I don't know," Luna replied, "but I won't be wearing it all the time anyway."
"That's true!" Furina laughed, feeling much more at ease.
Luna stared at her for a moment.
"Do you want to leave a mark?"
"Eh?"
Luna tilted her head and tapped her neck. "If you're really concerned, you could leave a mark like you did that time when you were drunk. It'll mostly fade by tomorrow morning anyway."
Furina's eyes remained fixed on Luna's neck. A mark...
"No, that's okay."
Luna looked away. "I see."
A faint disappointment lingered within her.
She didn't care much about leaving marks or being marked, whether willingly or unwillingly. To her, the most important thing was physical contact—skin against skin.
"...Are you disappointed?" Furina asked.
"A little."
She's actually disappointed over something like this?
Furina thought for a moment, then leaned in and pressed a fleeting, dragonfly-light kiss to Luna's cheek.
Luna stared at her in surprise.
Is this... the first time Furina has taken the initiative?
"Ahem. I just didn't want you to cry, and besides... there's no need for regret. I'll get you a gift later, though I can't say what it is yet."
"A necklace?"
Furina's eyes widened. "How did you—"
Ah...
She quickly covered her mouth, but Luna nodded knowingly.
"I was just guessing, I didn't expect to get it right."
Furina whispered, "I-it might not be a necklace! It could be something else entirely. Don't jump to conclusions!"
"Otherwise, you might be disappointed if I get you something different from what you're expecting."
As soon as the words left her lips, Furina felt a familiar softness press against her own, sealing them completely. Not even a breath escaped the contact, only a honeyed warmth blooming between them.
Their lips parted, and Luna smiled, her cheeks flushed. "Whatever it is, I won't be disappointed," she said. "After all, Fontaine's greatest treasure is right here before me. No trinket could ever outshine that."
Furina lowered her head and murmured, "That's good."
"Should I get Furina a gift too?"
"No, don't bother," Furina replied quickly. "Everything you've done for me is already more than enough. I don't need any presents."
"Not even a small cake?"
Furina hesitated for a long moment, then cleared her throat. "If it's for eating, then yes!"
Such flexible principles.
Luna lifted Furina's hand and placed it back on her own body. "Come, let's continue checking for injuries. It might be hiding in some hard-to-find place, you know?"
They had already examined Luna thoroughly, and there was indeed no wound on her body. Yet Furina still moved her hand to Luna's chest.
She wanted to feel Luna's racing heartbeat for a little longer.