Luna pushed open the main doors of the House of the Hearth and stepped inside.
Lynette, who was sipping tea alone, immediately perked up her ears. She could distinguish the footsteps of everyone in the House, and even more so, the unique scents of each person.
Among them, Luna's was the most distinctive.
Her scent was often mingled with those of other women—most frequently Furina, but also Chiori, Navia, Chevreuse, Focalors, and Clorinde... and lately, Arlecchino's had been present as well.
If scents could be visualized, Luna's would undoubtedly be the most chaotic and dazzling of all.
"Welcome back."
Lynette set down her teacup with a faint smile.
"Mm, I'm back."
Lynette shifted aside, patting the seat next to her as an invitation for Luna to sit.
But Luna shook her head. With a flick of her wrist, she produced two tickets.
"Another performance? How did I not know about this?" Lynette asked, puzzled.
"Take a look at the details first."
Lynette took the tickets. Printed on them were the words: Adventures in the Night Kingdom 2 Stage Play... Setting aside the "2," the title Adventures in the Night Kingdom alone was enough to astonish her.
Clearly, Luna wanted to take her to see the play.
A stage play of a story that held great importance and sentimental value for them.
Lynette's cat ears shot straight up, and her eyes lit up. "Are we going to see it together?"
"If you don't want to, Lynette—"
"I never said I didn't want to."
Luna smiled teasingly. "But I've heard from everyone that you used to put on a reluctant face, only to end up obediently tagging along anyway."
"That's because you and I... Ugh, I suppose things from the past really do become jokes once they're over."
Lynette sighed with a look of resignation.
But this is what makes it feel like everything has truly passed, she thought.
The immaturity she and Luna once shared had become a running joke. Wasn't that a sign of growth in itself? Of course, she still wished the joke was told a little less often.
Lynette shook her head, deciding not to dwell on the topic.
She handed one ticket back to Luna. With a flick of her wrist, the other ticket vanished.
"Ta-da. The ticket has disappeared. Guess where it is. There's a reward if you guess correctly," Lynette said in her usual deadpan tone.
Luna reached out and stroked her ear.
"Not here."
Lynette shook her head.
But the sensation was so pleasant that she nuzzled her head against Luna's palm, silently inviting her to continue. At this point, there was no need to hold back or hesitate.
If it weren't for Furina, Lynette would have gladly spent the entire day clinging to Luna at her home.
Unfortunately, the mere fact that they were "living together" was enough for Furina to single-handedly shut down most of Lynette's clingy impulses.
"If it's not here, then I guess it must be... here?"
Luna raised her hand and gently scratched Lynette's chin.
"Hmph... Not there either, but... if you think it is, you can keep trying. I don't mind."
Lynette's cat ears tilted outward—a clear sign of relaxation.
"Found it."
Luna plucked a ticket from the ribbon in Lynette's hair.
She found it so quickly? No, wait, I never put it there... Lynette instinctively reached into her glove to check for the ticket, then froze.
She'd been tricked.
"That's low," Lynette grumbled, annoyed that Luna had pulled such a move while she was completely relaxed.
"I was just performing a magic trick."
"You were just committing fraud."
Luna twirled lightly. "But it worked, didn't it? Of course, I have an even better trick that will make you willingly show me the ticket. Want to try it?"
Lynette narrowed her eyes. "Bring it on. I won't let my guard down this time."
"Then..."
Luna leaned in close to Lynette, forcing her to back away. Her calves bumped against the sofa, and with a gentle push, Luna pressed her down onto the cushions.
Is Luna planning to do... that kind of thing with me right here?
No, the other children might see us!
Then again, even just this position was enough to cause a misunderstanding—though it wasn't really a misunderstanding, since they were dating.
As her thoughts swirled in chaos, Lynette suddenly felt a warmth against her cat ears.
"——!"
A shiver ran through her, draining all her strength.
"Meow."
A cute sound whispered near her ear, followed by a soft, ticklish sensation sliding across her cheek. Lynette exhaled hotly; this feeling was completely different from being licked by a kitten. She tried to capture the source of that warm breath, but Luna's fingertips easily held her down.
"If you want me to continue, give me your ticket."
So this was her method.
Lynette narrowed her eyes, deeply dissatisfied. "Still just as low."
She handed over the ticket. It was a meaningless gesture, just a game between them, but Luna still wore the smug expression of a victor.
"See? I told you Lynette would obediently show me her ticket."
Luna stood up, pulling Lynette to her feet.
"Come on, let's go see the play together. I'm curious what this so-called 'Part Two' could possibly be about."
Lynette took Luna's hand.
"Maybe it's just a pointless sequel."
"If that's the case, we can just treat it as a way to improve our sleep quality," Luna replied. "I just wanted to see a play with you again after so long."
Me too, Lynette thought.
She squeezed Luna's hand. "Just us?"
No other women?
"If Lynette thinks it's too quiet, I can invite 'Father.'"
"No need."
It wasn't that she disliked seeing plays with "Father," but right now, she only wanted to be alone with Luna.
Though they couldn't return to how they were as children, they had the "present" and the "future."
Lynette glanced at Luna walking beside her.
Then, silently, she moved a little closer.
...A little closer still. It's not enough.
Closer, until their skin could feel each other's warmth. Lynette closed her eyes in contentment.
"Walking with your eyes closed isn't safe, you know," Luna said.
"Some things can't be felt with your eyes open," Lynette murmured. "So let me close them for a moment and savor this. I trust you won't let me get hurt."
She linked her arm with Luna's and whispered, "And I won't let you grieve alone or be lost anymore. I'm not very good at comforting people, but at least..."
She gently bit Luna's fingertip.
"...I can lick your wounds."
Luna whispered back, "Me too."
-
Surprisingly, Adventures in the Night Kingdom 2 turned out to be quite good.
It told the story of the female protagonist facing a new crisis after collecting the Seven Spears, then having to gather the Eight Swords to seal the demons who had broken through the world's barrier. The formula was the same old trope, but it was entertaining enough to work.
It was the kind of play everyone, young or old, could enjoy.
Throughout the performance, Lynette's hand never left Luna's palm.
Luna remembered taking Lynette to a play once before. Back then, neither of them had fully grown into their features, and their fingers were still a little plump and soft.
Some of the other children had even jokingly called their hands "meaty paws."
But now, both her and Lynette's fingers had grown long, slender, and bony. The marks their fingertips left were no longer confined to the surface of the skin, and the places their lips landed were no longer just cheeks.
Only they truly understood the full extent of these changes.
After returning to the House of the Hearth, Lynette pulled Luna into her bedroom, locked the door, and drew the curtains.
Ears.
Tail.
And then...
The mingling of their breaths. Lynette still remembered every single thing she and Luna had done together in the past, every detail of their faces and the scents they had exuded back then... and all of it was completely different from now.
Luna had become even more delectable, and to Luna, she was clearly the same.
An endless torrent of desire and memories surged forth. Lynette and Luna wanted only to immerse themselves in it, to feel each other more deeply, more intimately.
In a daze, Lynette recalled something from long ago.
-
"Lulu, let's make a pinky promise."
Under the shade of a tree, the two sat together.
Luna asked curiously, "A pinky promise? What for?"
"So we can always be together in the future."
"We don't really need a pinky promise for that, but since you're the one asking, Lynette, let's do it."
Luna raised her pinky.
They hooked their fingers, then shook them up and down.
This wasn't the first time Lynette had asked Luna to make a promise to be "family forever." Looking back now, Lynette felt only a fond nostalgia, not a trace of sadness.
Because Luna was right here before her.
Their glistening fingers intertwined, their hands clasped tightly.
I'll never let go, Lynette thought.
Never again, no matter what.