"Miss Chevreuse, could you say something like 'I like you' to me?"
After their passionate encounter, Luna asked curiously.
She was sitting in front of Chevreuse—or rather, they were sitting face-to-face. Chevreuse took a few deep breaths, feeling the weakness in her lower back.
But I should be fine after a short rest.
Her stamina and recovery were far from weak.
"What?"
Chevreuse's voice trembled, as if she hadn't heard clearly.
"Tell me you like me."
It felt a bit late to be asking for this now, especially since they were already "married."
But thinking back, she realized she'd never actually heard Chevreuse say anything of the sort.
In fact, she'd heard the opposite—"hate"—far more often.
Luna had always found the idea of being told "I hate you" while having her way with Chevreuse quite appealing—but that was just a fantasy.
The Chevreuse of today would neither say "I like you" nor "I hate you."
Still, if she could just hear her rival, Miss Chevreuse, say "I like you" once, Luna would be deeply satisfied.
"And then what?"
"Hmm?"
Chevreuse asked coolly, "After I say 'I like you,' then what?"
"We do it again?"
"...Then I don't want to say it."
Luna wasn't rough; on the contrary, her soft whispers and gentle touch were anything but. Yet she always managed to find Chevreuse's weaknesses and exploit them.
If Chevreuse hadn't been biting her lip to endure it, she would have already succumbed to exhaustion and drifted off to sleep.
But enduring also drained her mental energy... She was already tired and had no desire for another round.
"I was just kidding. I only wanted to hear you say it once."
If it was a demand, then she had no choice.
One of the terms of their deal was that Chevreuse would not resist Luna.
But Luna leaned closer to Chevreuse. "It's not a demand, nor a request—just a small wish. It would be wonderful if Miss Chevreuse could grant it."
"But if you can't, I won't object."
The implication was clear: she wanted a genuine confession.
Chevreuse remained silent for a moment.
"Hmm, it seems my adorable Miss Captain needs a little more time—"
"No, I can say it now."
Chevreuse gripped Luna's shoulders, a faint sting piercing her skin. It was the lingering pain from the light bite marks Chevreuse had left earlier, but neither she nor Luna paid it any mind.
"I love you, Luna."
Luna? Luna chuckled. "And what about the 'Phantom Thief White Cat'?"
"I want the Phantom Thief to disappear."
No matter how much time passed, Chevreuse would never change her mind on this.
She wanted the Phantom Thief White Cat to vanish.
Even if it was impossible. But whenever asked this question, she would always give the same answer.
"I want the Phantom Thief White Cat to disappear, leaving only 'Luna.' Discard the Phantom Thief's Mask and wear the Special Task Force's hat instead. Or become a detective, a star, an adventurer—anything but a phantom thief."
Luna's eyes flickered. Chevreuse is still the same as ever, she thought.
She pinched Chevreuse's chin. "But if I discard my mask, what happens to our deal?"
"I'll truly marry you."
"Wow."
The answer genuinely stunned Luna.
Chevreuse stated bluntly, "Surprised? I'm serious."
"That's why I'm shocked. But even if I don't discard my mask, can't we still truly marry?" Luna smiled.
"I don't want my wife living with me by day and opposing me by night."
A perfectly reasonable argument.
But isn't that more or less what's happening already? We've just swapped roles.
"I'm afraid I won't be discarding my mask."
Luna gently caressed Chevreuse's face, watching as her gaze slowly lowered and drifted away.
"I know."
So everything she'd said was nothing more than a dream.
An illusion destined never to exist in reality.
"As long as our deal remains, that's enough," Chevreuse whispered.
As long as the vow they'd made in the church that night still held.
She would continue to pursue Luna in her mask, to hunt the Phantom Thief White Cat, until the Phantom Thief fell or their time ran out.
If she reached retirement age without ever catching the Phantom Thief White Cat, Luna would also retire with her, removing her mask for good and letting the Phantom Thief White Cat vanish from the world, becoming a part of history.
That would be enough.
Chevreuse suppressed the regret in her heart. An illusion, after all, was just a dream.
She took Luna's hand, the warmth flowing from it as fiery as a flame.
Her grip slid down to Luna's wrist.
"This doesn't count as catching me, you know," Luna smiled.
"...I can understand how you felt back then."
"..."
"But the choice you face is even more difficult, and I'm well aware of that. So if you ever find it unbearable, come find me. I'm not good at socializing with ordinary people... but you're not ordinary, and you're not just anyone."
Luna's smile was gentle. "Then who am I to you?"
"My rival. My 'marriage' partner. The one who shines brightest in my eyes. The person I most want to fight alongside..."
Chevreuse stared into Luna's eyes, as if to burn this moment's feelings into her very soul—an indelible brand that Luna could never ignore or forget.
Her hand moved to Luna's neck. "My White Cat."
Since only she could catch the Phantom Thief White Cat, then the White Cat naturally belonged to her.
"How embarrassing. I never thought Miss Captain could say such cheesy things."
Luna lightly licked Chevreuse's thumb.
"...I have something for you."
"What is it?"
Chevreuse felt some strength return to her waist, enough to finally get out of bed.
She pulled open a drawer and took out a pistol—a revolver, similar in design to the firearms currently issued to the Special Task Force.
Luna chuckled. "Is Miss Chevreuse's gift a gun shot wound?"
"I can give you a few rounds if you'd like."
"But if you do that, your team members will rush in and see... all sorts of traces we've left here, won't they?"
Chevreuse ignored Luna's teasing and handed her the pistol.
"Take it. It's my service pistol."
"The Captain of the Special Task Force giving her weapon to a Phantom Thief... Isn't that a bit improper?" Luna asked, not immediately accepting it.
Chevreuse had anticipated this question.
She gave the answer she had prepared long ago.
"I trust you."
She repeated the words.
"I trust you won't turn your gun on innocent people, that you won't resort to lethal force again—and this is proof of our deal."
Hearing this, Luna accepted the pistol.
Then a hand reached out, lifting her face. Chevreuse's earnest, serious expression filled her vision. "Don't forget, you are a Phantom Thief."
"The Phantom Thief White Cat that only I can catch."
[Treasure Information Updated: Chevreuse's Service Pistol]
[Chevreuse's Service Pistol]
[Information: Despite having the latest technology, the sturdiest construction, and the best accuracy, it is still just a mass-produced pistol. The only thing that makes it special is the vow and promise that eternally bind them together.]
[Treasure Rarity: S]
[Fixed Points: 1000]
Luna holstered the pistol and asked, "What if they find out your service pistol is missing? I remember the regulations for that are extremely strict."
"I'll just say you stole it. My superiors won't find it strange when they hear that. At most, they'll just punish me once."
"How despicable, blaming it all on me," Luna chuckled.
Chevreuse offered a faint smile. "It's not despicable. It's called being flexible."
If she were a rigid Captain of the Special Task Force, her relationship with Luna would never have progressed this far.
Luna changed back into her own clothes.
"Leaving already?" Chevreuse asked.
"Yeah."
"...I see."
Chevreuse's expression was blank.
"Are you angry?"
"No. I don't get angry over things like this," she said.
It was none of her business who that flirtatious cat went to see.
But Luna could still feel Chevreuse's gaze turn razor-sharp—a look that screamed it was very much her business. So she walked over and kissed the beauty mark by the corner of Chevreuse's mouth.
"Next time, Miss Chevreuse, you can punish me however you like."
"...I don't believe you."
"Oh? So now you don't trust me."
Chevreuse said calmly, "Because you love waiting until your opponent is nearly exhausted before turning the tables. Do you think I don't know your tricks?"
"Well, not every time," Luna replied playfully.
She leaped onto the windowsill, bent down, and blew a kiss. "Goodnight, my Miss Chevreuse. I love your gift, you know."
"Good."
In the blink of an eye, Luna vanished, leaving only a fleeting shadow under the moonlight.
The room fell silent once more.
Chevreuse lay back on the bed, inhaling the lingering scent of Luna, and slowly closed her eyes.
Let me dream that beautiful fantasy that doesn't exist in reality.
No Phantom Thief's Mask, no other women.
Just Luna and Chevreuse.