Luna had recently realized something.
Everyone around her was changing, and in ways she never could have anticipated.
For instance, Chiori had stopped being so stubborn.
And Chevreuse had made a lifelong deal with her.
And Navia, her gaze was strangely unsettling.
And...
"Furina, haven't you been wanting to do anything lately?"
Recently, Furina had been halfway to becoming a homebody. Yesterday, when Luna touched her stomach, it seemed she'd gained a little weight.
Of course, Furina vehemently denied this, insisting it was all Luna's imagination.
Hearing this, Furina, who was sprawled on the bed reading a novel, turned to look at her.
"Why are you suddenly saying that?" Furina asked, swinging her pale, slender legs.
Luna grabbed Furina's foot and gently pushed it back and forth like a joystick.
"Don't you get bored just waiting for me to come back like this? Though I've been quite free lately too—nothing work-wise has caught my eye."
Given Luna's position, it wasn't she who sought work, but rather work that sought her. Countless job offers arrived daily, but none piqued her interest.
"Stop playing with my foot!" Furina protested.
"It's fun, so I'll keep playing," Luna teased.
"Don't you have your own?"
"But I like Furina's better," Luna said with a grin.
Hearing this, Furina's inner dissatisfaction dissipated considerably.
It's strange... I feel like I'm becoming easier to fool... But that must be an illusion!
I'm not easy to fool at all.
"Saying things like that only makes me think you want to do something to my feet," Furina warned warily.
"Can I kiss them?"
Just as I suspected!
Furina's face flushed crimson. "There's no way I'd let you kiss them!"
But Luna had always been rebellious. When Furina told her not to do something, she'd insist on trying it. And when Furina said she could do something, Luna would take it to the extreme.
So Luna gently pressed her lips to Furina's... ankle.
"W-waah?!"
Pffft—
Furina reflexively kicked out, her foot connecting squarely with Luna's face.
"Ah..."
Well, this is what you get for asking for it! Furina hastily burrowed deeper under the covers.
Checking on Luna now would only encourage her to double down on her behavior.
But even if she ignored her, Luna would probably just stay the same...
Still, I should probably check on her.
"Uh... I didn't hurt you with that kick, did I?" Furina whispered, glancing repeatedly at Luna.
Luna touched her face. "With Furina's strength, there's no way you could hurt me. But that sudden attack was terrifying!"
"Well, if you hadn't suddenly—! This was self-defense!" Furina declared indignantly.
As for whether she had any ambitions lately, the truth was she didn't.
Her days consisted of waking up, reading novels, eating cake, drinking tea, and going on dates with Luna.
She occasionally dreamed of the stage, but even in her dreams, she never performed again.
She had resolved never to play any role again.
"I think things are pretty good the way they are now," Furina said casually.
Wait, is Luna getting tired of me just lazing around?
Furina clutched the blanket, probing cautiously, "Do you... think I should get a job or something?"
"I'm not your parent," Luna replied, settling back into bed and pulling the blanket up.
But Furina stubbornly refused to let go, terrified that if she released her grip, the perverted White Cat before her would try something again.
"I was just wondering if you might be bored."
Luna simply hugged the blanket tightly with both arms and legs.
So close! Furina's cheeks flushed slightly as she averted her gaze.
"Ahem, you just think I'm bored from watching, but actually, when I'm immersed in the story, I'm enjoying myself immensely. It's just—"
"Just?" Luna blinked.
"...I haven't been able to finish any novels lately. I keep feeling this emptiness once I reach the end."
"The characters either gain everything or lose everything, but regardless, their stories are over, leaving only 'spectators' like me staring at an empty stage."
"Freedom sometimes means emptiness too."
True, Furina and Luna's story had only just begun, but this faint sense of emptiness lingered persistently.
Only Luna's presence could fill the void.
Yet constantly telling Luna not to leave her would make her seem like an unbearably clingy woman.
Though she knew Luna would never refuse her.
She understood that the emptiness stemmed from Luna's return to the stage, transforming once more into the Phantom Thief White Cat.
Instead of continuing their ordinary life together, as Furina had hoped.
"Luna."
"Hmm?"
Furina stated plainly, "I still don't want you to be a phantom thief."
"I know."
"...Still, seeing you so active makes me happy, and at the same time, it fills me with a sense of pride. The greatest Phantom Thief in my eyes would never fail."
She wiggled her fingers and muttered, "Such complicated and contradictory feelings."
A hand reached out and covered hers.
As she looked up, her lips were gently sealed by a kiss.
The familiar touch, fragrance, and sweetness allowed Furina to relax completely, drifting into a daze. During their cohabitation, she hadn't deliberately counted the kisses, and she'd long lost track of them anyway.
"I can stay home as long as Furina wants."
Forever?
Furina asked, puzzled, "What about your work?"
"I don't need to work. I don't crave fame or money."
Luna pulled the blanket off Furina, draping it over both of them instead of letting Furina monopolize it.
Furina murmured, "Isn't that... bad? I can't play anyone else anymore, but you're different..."
"Furina ignited my passion."
"Huh?"
"Didn't I tell you before? I wasn't really interested in performing until I shared the stage with you. That's when my passion truly ignited."
Luna chuckled softly. "A stage without Furina is like flavorless food to me—I wouldn't mind throwing it away."
Furina thought to herself: Do I really mean that much to Luna?
She remembered Luna had indeed said something similar before, back when quite a few acquaintances had come to watch their play.
Looking back now, it felt nostalgic, even though less than a year had passed.
"But I adore Luna's performances," Furina said, gazing into Luna's eyes. "I fell in love the moment I first saw you perform."
Even though it sounded a bit selfish, I want to keep watching you perform forever.
Even if it's just from the audience.
Luna still held Furina's hand, her voice soft. "So, Furina is my biggest fan, then."
"Exactly! You should feel honored," Furina replied with a laugh.
"But I'm Furina's biggest fan too," Luna murmured, embracing Furina tenderly.
She would never forget the sight of Furina on stage—vulnerable when she needed to be, furious when the moment demanded it—perfect acting, transcendent expression... it left her spellbound.
"Then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."
"In that case, what compensation does Lady Furina propose?"
Compensation?
Furina's immediate thought was: "How about I cook you something delicious?"
She had learned quite a few new dishes recently—enough to open her own restaurant, if she wanted.
"Just that?"
"...What else would you like?" Furina asked.
Her gaze drifted involuntarily to Luna's lips.
"Sometimes I wish Furina would take the initiative for once," Luna murmured.
Me take the initiative?Uh, no, I mean, me take the initiative for once?
Furina's heart pounded. She really wanted to know how Luna, who had always been the one to make the first move, would react if Furina kissed her first.
But wouldn't that make her seem like she was enjoying it too much?
"I..."
"If you like me, don't hesitate," Luna said with a smile.
Furina stammered, "You... you're really not..."
Really not a lesbian?
It felt like every time Furina tried to back down, Luna would find a way to tempt her. And whenever Furina mustered the courage to act, Luna would accept her warmly, only to ask for more.
She's winning big time.
"Furina, I want you to do that."
Furina's heart pounded faster than ever.
Her eyes flickered nervously, her face flushed. "S-since you're begging me so earnestly... I'll indulge you just this once."
"Only this once, understand?!" she emphasized.
"Mmm-hmm."
Did she even hear me properly?
Furina propped herself up slightly, scooted closer to Luna, and gently pulled Luna's face toward her. The moment she closed her eyes, she remembered she needed to watch Luna's reaction.
I can't miss it! she thought, forcing her eyes open again.
Lowering her head, Furina's lips once again pressed against the soft, unfamiliar warmth. But this time, her heartbeat thundered louder than ever.
Through her half-lidded gaze, she saw Luna slowly close her eyes, completely immersed in the lingering sweetness. Furina felt an unexpected sense of satisfaction and finally closed her own eyes.
Five seconds passed.