As everyone knows, Phantom Thief White Cat is a cunning woman.
It was the same whether she wore the mask or took it off.
Maybe I should call her Phantom Thief Golden Fox or Silver Fox or something, Furina mused, lost in wild thoughts.
First, she touched Luna's fingertips, then her palm. As their skin pressed together, Furina glanced up, searching for any flicker of reaction on Luna's face.
But there was none.
Luna simply gazed back at her, as if silently conveying, You may continue.
But continue... how?
Furina was no naive girl. Some literary works contained surprisingly detailed descriptions that made her blush crimson.
Even a famous writer had once said: Humans have three fundamental desires.
1. Appetite; 2. Sleep; 3. Need I say more?
No, no, I've been thinking about this all wrong from the start!
Furina snapped back to reality. She had no intention of actually doing those things with Luna.
Luna might want it, but Furina didn't.
As she had already made clear, it was all about the atmosphere and the timing! Without those elements, she wouldn't consent.
"Um... Luna?"
"Hm?"
"Don't make any weird noises, okay? I'm warning you in advance," Furina whispered.
If she didn't say this, Luna would likely tease her deliberately.
Luna replied with interest, "What kind of weird noises are you talking about? Demonstrate?"
Furina muttered, "You're certainly calculating."
It was like the abacus beads were about to hit her in the face. No way she'd demonstrate.
"You clearly know what I mean."
"No guarantees," Luna replied tersely.
She hooked her leg around Furina's calf, pressing close. "But if you find my noises unpleasant, why not figure out how to stop them yourself?"
Making demands was never as effective as taking direct action.
"Stop...?"
Stuff a towel in her mouth? No, that would make things incredibly awkward and dangerous!
It would look like she was tying Luna up and doing something to the defenseless woman.
She didn't have that kind of fetish.
"Then—"
Furina came up with an idea.
Or perhaps, it was simply what they had been doing all along.
Luna blinked, watching as Furina cautiously leaned closer, sealing her breath.
Indeed, this would prevent Luna from saying anything strange. Provided they ignored the soft sounds that followed... just pretend it was the wind.
Luna closed her eyes, guiding Furina's hand to rest over her beating heart. The warmth surging through her chest made her crave more.
But Furina was acting like a rabbit at this moment.
Only by showing her own harmlessness could Luna coax Furina closer.
Any hint of initiative would make Furina's head pop with an exclamation mark, prompting her to curl up under the covers and retreat into herself.
Though this shy demeanor was endearing in its own way, Luna still longed for Furina to embrace a deeper, more intimate connection.
"Um, Luna..."
"Hmm?"
Luna replied absently, still savoring the afterglow.
Furina pursed her water-glossed lips and whispered, "If... if we actually did that kind of thing, what would you do?"
You'd take responsibility, right?
Though no little Lunas or Furinas would come of it anyway.
"What would Furina do?"
Luna held Furina close, her fingertips gently stroking the nape of her neck.
"Don't answer a question with another question."
"Because the crucial thing is what you want, Furina."
Luna's thinking was simple: If you want to do it, then do it.
After all, they no longer needed any formal agreements. But if Furina desired it, Luna would gladly accept.
Furina stammered, "You're asking me, but I don't even know..."
She gazed into Luna's eyes, suddenly wanting to ask a question.
Do you like me?
Furina longed to ask.
But if she did, things might spiral out of control. Confessing their feelings in this situation would be undeniably dangerous. Even a spark could ignite an explosion.
So Furina simply sealed Luna's breath with her lips again. What words couldn't yet confirm, she could reveal with something warmer and softer, trace with trembling fingertips, and confirm with the palm of her hand. The longer and gentler the response, the clearer the answer became...
"We can't do that yet," Furina whispered.
"When can we?"
"...Are you in such a hurry?" Furina murmured, nuzzling against Luna's chest.
Luna smiled gently. "After all, we see each other every day. If we weren't so close, how could I yearn for you so intensely?"
"Don't even think about suggesting, 'Let's just separate for a while!'" Furina warned sharply.
"Do you really think I'm that kind of person?"
A little...
But it was hard to say. Right now, Luna was probably more likely to either devour Furina completely, or be devoured by her instead.
Luna hugged Furina tightly, whispering, "But since you say no, I'll endure it."
Furina breathed a sigh of relief.
"Though..."
Furina's heart tensed again.
I knew it wouldn't be that simple!
"I don't know how long I can hold back, you know. The longer you make me wait, the more explosive I might be when I finally snap," Luna said with a mischievous smile.
"I-I know, I know."
Just give me a little time.
Furina propped herself up and gently nipped Luna's neck. The bite was too light to leave a mark, merely a gentle sting to remind her—endure with this for now.
"At least wait until after the premiere of The Little Oceanid!"
Otherwise, she'd have to stagger to the Troupe, clinging to the walls for support—what a humiliating sight that would be!
No, maybe Luna would go, trembling and unsteady, Furina thought.
Luna was undeniably strong, but not perfect. Just because someone excelled in combat didn't necessarily mean they were equally skilled in other areas.
I still have a chance to take the initiative! Furina felt her confidence swell.
"You should prepare yourself too," Furina whispered.
"Mhm, of course," Luna replied.
After all, Furina had always loved romantic atmospheres.
Luna didn't say stop, so Furina grew even more curious about every inch of Luna's skin, continuing to lean against her and explore with her fingertips.
She tickled Luna's side. "Ticklish?"
"Not really," Luna replied, gently tickling Furina's side in return.
"Waaah?! Wait—ha, ha ha ha... Stop it! Ha ha ha ha..."
Furina had to be grateful they lived in a detached house rather than an apartment. Otherwise, her uncontrollable laughter would have surely drawn complaints from the neighbors.
After playfully tapping Luna's head, she finally escaped the tickle hell.
"You really don't know when to quit," she grumbled.
"Because that word isn't in my dictionary."
"I'll buy you a new dictionary, go look it up," Furina retorted, annoyed.
Luna chuckled, "I'm rather forgetful, you know. Why don't you write it down?"
"Write it? On my palm?"
"No, write it here."
Luna poked Furina's stomach.
Furina froze for a few seconds, then flushed crimson. "Stop thinking about such things, you perverted Phantom Thief!"
"You could write it on me too, you know."
"...No way."
In "The Little Oceanid," there's a line that goes: "To become human means to hide secrets, endure suffering, and embrace solitude. Even knowing this, would you still choose it?"
Replace "human" with "God," and it becomes a perfect reflection of Furina.
If someone were to ask her that question now, Furina would answer, "Yes."
But that doesn't mean she wants to suffer. She won't glorify such pain.
Suffering is always just suffering.
Yet these pains are also part of her, the very catalyst that led her to meet Luna.
"Looking back now, I almost want to thank my past self for persevering," Furina sighed.
If she had to endure the same trials again, she definitely wouldn't be able to.
It was a mission only someone whose heart was filled with solitude could have accomplished.
From now on, she would always have this radiant golden presence by her side.
Everything has receded like the tide, Furina thought.