As the Golden Theatre vanished, the raging storm began to subside, and a steady drizzle fell upon Luna's mask.
"Until next time, my dear Miss Captain."
Before Chevreuse could respond, Luna disappeared from sight.
Chevreuse turned her head. Arlecchino had also vanished at some point, leaving only the couple—their bleeding stopped, but unconscious—on the ground.
The Maison Gardiennage arrived just then with medical personnel.
"Whoa, what happened to these people? So many wounds, and so precise..."
Chevreuse stated calmly, "The Phantom Thief White Cat did it."
"Oh, that explains it."
Well, that settles that.
They were lucky to be alive.
After securing the scene, the Marechaussee Phantoms and the Maison Gardiennage took over. Chevreuse immediately dismissed her team and headed back to the Special Task Force Headquarters.
She wondered where Luna had gone now.
Did she go home?
"...I'll deal with it later."
It had always been Luna who sought her out, never the other way around. Perhaps she'd see that little thief cat again tomorrow night.
Despite this thought, Chevreuse took a slight detour and knocked on Luna's door.
Furina answered, tilting her head. "Looking for Luna? She's not back yet."
"I see..."
"Did something happen?" Furina asked, her senses on high alert.
"You should ask her when she gets back."
Furina eyed her suspiciously. So secretive... But Luna had been acting strangely these past few days, even stealing a sword from her own home.
Could it be...
"...Then I'll wait for her to return and ask her myself!"
If Luna wanted to be pampered, she wouldn't hesitate. Her not coming back immediately meant she wanted some time alone.
-
Luna sat on a rock on the hillside, gazing absently at the night sky.
With the clouds dispersed, the familiar expanse of stars returned.
"Do you regret it?"
Arlecchino approached, her words concise—did Luna regret not killing her enemies?
Luna simply smiled faintly. "If I were the type to have regrets, I wouldn't have made that decision. I don't do things I'll regret."
Arlecchino sat down beside her.
"If that's the case, I won't say any more. It was your choice."
Luna spoke softly, "Yes. I couldn't forgive them, so I pulled the trigger. I tore their flesh apart and branded them with pain."
Lowering her gun was impossible; she couldn't do it.
Between shooting without killing and not shooting at all, the better choice was self-evident.
"You made a deal with the Captain of the Special Task Force?" Arlecchino asked.
"Yes. I promised not to kill anyone."
"...And what did she give you in return?"
"Herself."
Arlecchino fell silent for a long moment, then nodded slightly. "Then the deal was indeed worthwhile. Death is the ultimate form of judgment, but it's not the only way to punish an enemy. A fate worse than death is also an option."
She picked up Luna's Vision.
Its design was identical to her own, and it also wielded Pyro Elemental Power.
"'Father,' there's something I want to show you."
Luna then took out the final letter left by her biological mother and handed it to Arlecchino.
Arlecchino read it carefully for a long time before speaking. "Your biological parents were admirable people."
"I think so too. That's why I'm so furious."
"'Why do people as fiercely righteous as them have to die, while such utterly vile criminals get to live?'
—Every time I think that, I want to pull the trigger and kill them."
A trace of melancholy and sorrow flickered in Luna's eyes.
These were emotions she shouldn't have allowed herself to show. Anger bred impulsiveness; sorrow bred hesitation. She needed to constantly manage her state of mind to face the many hardships ahead.
But for now, she didn't want to care about that.
"Curiously, more than the fact that my own biological parents were killed, I'm bothered by the loss of another pair of righteous people from the world. That's what my anger is truly aimed at."
Am I angry that my parents were murdered? Yes, of course.
But I'm even more furious that this righteous couple, these heroes, were killed while the criminals who committed the act still live, having never faced true punishment.
Arlecchino said, "That's not strange at all."
Luna remained silent.
Arlecchino returned the letter to Luna, who quietly put it away.
Even if she never read it again, she had to keep it safe.
"Thank you, 'Father,' for accompanying me this far—for traveling with me, for acting alongside me. You've worked hard."
Luna offered a faint smile.
"Witnessing a child's choices is also part of my duty."
Arlecchino gently guided Luna to rest her head on her lap. She removed her white mask and began stroking Luna's hair.
"Anger breeds impulsiveness; sorrow breeds hesitation. Always remember to manage your state of mind. I believe you still recall those words."
"I remember," Luna whispered.
Arlecchino nodded slightly. "Managing your state of mind doesn't mean hiding all your emotions. At least, not right now. You are my daughter; you don't need to hold back. You can be as spoiled as you like."
Luna couldn't help but gaze into Arlecchino's eyes as she raised her hand.
Touching Arlecchino's face, Luna smiled involuntarily. "It feels just like when I was a child. You used to let me rest my head on your lap back then, too..."
"No, you were the one who demanded it."
Don't go fabricating memories.
Luna didn't feel awkward. Well, it was something like that, anyway.
"I used to think I was a child abandoned by my biological parents, but now I see that wasn't the case at all."
"No one ever abandoned me. They were simply treasures I could never possess."
Luna closed her eyes and chuckled softly. "To think that I, who could steal the seat of a god, have treasures I can never obtain."
Then she fell silent.
Gently stroking Luna's face, Arlecchino felt a trace of moisture on her fingertips. She slowly drew her hand away, revealing the glint of tears in the corner of Luna's eye.
Arlecchino lowered her gaze. "Come here, Luna."
She pulled Luna up, letting her lean against her chest.
The faint scent of Arlecchino's hair and the warmth of her body brought Luna immense comfort. But it was precisely this comfort that caused tears to finally stream down her cheeks, dripping onto Arlecchino's clothes.
Arlecchino continued to stroke Luna's hair, pressing her face against Luna's forehead.
"Let it all out. Then, tomorrow, come see me with your usual smile. I much prefer it when you smile for me."
Luna slowly opened her tear-filled eyes, her breath trembling. She cupped Arlecchino's face and, unable to hold back any longer, kissed her on the lips.
The softness of their lips trembled slightly.
Arlecchino didn't refuse Luna. Instead, she responded bit by bit, her expression showing no blush, no daze—only a fleeting flash of pity and affection.
Wiping away Luna's tears with her thumb, Arlecchino whispered, "Rest well, my daughter."
"Mmm..."
Exhausted, Luna closed her eyes again, leaning against Arlecchino.
Only after Luna had fallen fast asleep did Arlecchino gently brush her own lips with her fingers.
"..."
My first kiss was with my own adopted daughter?