In the dressing room...
Furina didn't remove her performance costume. She sat on the sofa, sipping a cold drink through a straw, taking one gulp after another.
So tiring... she sighed.
The role of "Focalors" she was playing drained her mental energy;
While the leading lady she portrayed on stage completely exhausted her physical strength.
It was all due to overusing her skills.
If she'd known earlier, she would have cut down on the high-intensity performance segments. This singing, dancing, running, and shouting was truly torturous.
"Still, nothing beats a refreshing, sweet-cold drink after all that exhaustion." Furina slumped on the sofa, feeling like she could lie there all day.
The dressing room door suddenly opened. Furina sprang up, straightening her posture.
"Who barges in without knocking? Don't you know I'm resting here?"
Luna entered the dressing room with a soft chuckle. "I do know. But this is my dressing room too, you know."
Furina secretly sighed in relief. "Oh, it's you. I thought some rude person might have come in. Even so, I still wish you'd knock first."
She didn't want anyone to see her so disheveled. A god worthy of public recognition shouldn't appear so slovenly.
Luna curled her fingers and lightly tapped the door.
"Knocking now? A bit late for that, don't you think?" Furina couldn't help but say.
Luna closed the door with her foot and brought over a box. "What's this?"
"A cake delivery. There are many more gifts outside, but Miss Clorinde is carefully inspecting them first before presenting them to Lady Furina."
A cake! Furina's eyes lit up. Indeed, it was the perfect time for sweets.
She asked curiously, "Has this one been inspected?"
"Yes."
Truthfully, there was no need for inspection.
Because...
"Miss Luna, a lady named Arlecchino asked me to deliver this cake to you and Lady Furina," a Melusine said with a smile.
When Luna looked around for Arlecchino, she couldn't find her. But she had already opened the box earlier, and inside was indeed her favorite flavor.
"A friend's gift?" Furina blinked.
Luna smiled faintly. "Please enjoy it."
Opening the box, Furina couldn't resist leaning closer. Though small, the cake's exquisite appearance suggested it would be equally delicious.
"...You first," she said, pulling back slightly.
"Why?"
"This must be from someone close to you. Naturally, you should have the first piece."
Furina's words left Luna looking utterly astonished. Furina raised her eyebrows in displeasure.
"What's with that expression?"
"Seeing how much you love sweets, I thought you'd be eager to try it first."
Furina crossed her arms and snorted loudly. "That's something only children under ten would do!"
Though small in stature, her mind and age were no less mature.
She flashed a smug smile. "I'm a sophisticated lady several decades your senior!"
"As a generous and benevolent Archon, it's only proper to understand and yield the first taste to you."
"What can I say? Who else could be so broad-minded?"
Despite her repeated claims of maturity, her eyes never left the exquisite cake, clearly brimming with impatience.
Seeing this, Luna picked up a small knife and twirled it in her hand.
Then, with movements too swift for Furina to follow, she sliced the cake into perfectly equal portions.
Furina blinked repeatedly before remembering—Luna used to be an elite member of the Adventurer's Guild.
The knife moved with lightning speed, guided by hands of surgical precision. Luna speared a piece of cake with her fork and placed it on the plate.
"Open your mouth."
Furina froze momentarily before retorting, "I can feed myself. What are you trying to do?"
"Feeding the Archon?"
"You..."
Does she truly hold no regard for the Archon's divine status?
Furina's hand shot out in refusal. "No... I mean, how dare you treat me with such disrespect! Retract this immediately or I'll accuse you of blasphemy!"
"It's fine. Eat up, Juliet."
"The performance is over."
Yet the more Furina resisted, the more Luna persisted in her teasing.
Tormenting Chevreuse had its own charm, but provoking Furina offered a different kind of thrill. Still, Luna knew not to overstep.
"What if this is precisely what I demand from Lady Furina?"
Demand? Furina's mind suddenly flashed back to their earlier conversation in Neuvillette's office.
She recalled Luna indeed making a request, though the content had been left deliberately vague.
And she had agreed... agreed... she shouldn't have agreed! Furina now deeply regretted her decision.
"Whether you accept or not is my choice to make. I've said it before, and this time I'll say..."
Just as Furina opened her mouth to refuse, Luna seized the opportunity and stuffed a small piece of cake into her mouth.
"Mmph?!"
"How is it? This is my favorite flavor. I wonder if Lady Furina finds it satisfactory."
Furina was about to scold Luna, but the rich milky flavor that exploded on her tongue, paired with the smooth, velvety texture and a unique hint of sweetness, left no trace of cloying sweetness.
Everything was perfectly balanced, an absolute delight to the senses.
"Not bad."
"Another bite?"
Furina snorted softly. "I can feed myself. Hand it over."
Luna knew she couldn't keep feeding her anymore, feeling a twinge of regret.
Passing the plate and fork to Furina, Luna also picked up a piece and began savoring it slowly.
The nostalgic taste lingered in her mouth.
"It's a pity we can't have a small tea party without tea," Furina said regretfully.
"Then I'll host another tea party next time. If you're available, Lady Furina, I'd love for you to join."
Furina smiled. "Remember to send an invitation. I won't attend a tea party without one."
How could an Archon come knocking like this?
She wanted to simply walk over and join the gathering, but being a lofty Archon came with its inconveniences. She couldn't act on every impulse. Her performance couldn't afford any mistakes.
"..."
After leaving the stage, she returned to her original one.
It was as if her soul had shifted from one character in a story to another.
"Luna, your acting is truly exceptional. How do you practice?" she asked.
To perfect one's performance, one must become the character they portray.
And given how refined her acting had become, was she also playing a role? Furina knew this was mere speculation, but curiosity still gnawed at her.
"Do you ever play roles in your daily life?"
What a strange question.
But Luna's answer was simple and immediate: "No."
"Ah..."
No. Furina's emotions were complicated.
She had thought Luna might share some similarities with her in this aspect.
But thinking about it, it made sense. Luna didn't need to play the role of a god like she did, where success or failure could mean life or death for everyone. Why would she wear a mask in her daily life?
I wonder what the Phantom Thief White Cat is like...
"I don't need to play anyone," Luna's voice brought Furina's consciousness and gaze back to her.
She smiled and said, "I can't meet anyone's expectations either. Those who expect something from me will inevitably receive absolute disappointment. It was like this before, and I imagine it will remain so in the future."
It was as if she was saying she would only live by her own principles.
"...That's truly remarkable."
"Hm?"
Furina snapped out of her thoughts and hastily said, "Nothing! I just think you're really strange. I'm amazed you could even find friends."
Wait, did I say something really rude? Furina's expression stiffened.
But Luna didn't mind, instead smiling gently. "I think the same. Even if our relationship might change completely in the end, I'll still cherish this connection..."
"Of course, this applies to Lady Furina as well," she added.
"Me?"
"Hm? I thought I was already friends with Lady Furina."
Friend... Furina's gaze flickered away.
If that were truly the case, it might not be so bad. But she shouldn't have friends. More precisely, she shouldn't have anyone close to her.
This wasn't because she liked solitude or being alone.
The reason was simple—she couldn't reveal her true nature.
The closer the relationship, the greater the risk of exposure.
The success of her plan determined the fate of all Fontaine. How could she justify claiming what "Furina" could rightfully possess?
"I am the Hydro Archon Focalors."
Furina's expression remained cold. "I do admire you, but I have no intention of becoming your friend. Don't imagine that our shared performance makes us companions!"
Furina rarely displayed such distant indifference. It was as if she would reject anyone who approached from a thousand miles away, ready to severely wound anyone who dared get close.
Luna nodded nonchalantly. "That makes sense."
"...Hm?"
"But Lady Furina will still continue performing with me on stage, won't she?"
Furina's cold demeanor gradually shifted to confusion.
"Perform... I suppose I will."
Isn't she angry? Isn't she afraid?
By brushing this off so casually, isn't she making my earlier outburst and words terribly awkward?! Furina felt a tightness in her chest, her dissatisfaction growing.
Luna placed a fresh piece of cake on Furina's plate.
"...After I said such things to you, don't you feel anything?" Furina couldn't help but ask.
"I do," Luna replied softly. "But this doesn't conflict with my anticipation of performing with you on stage."
Furina suddenly found Luna incomprehensible.
Is she the type who can bury any emotion deep inside? Like Neuvillette? Or is she simply not bothered at all?
Furina opened her mouth slightly, wanting to apologize.
But the words still wouldn't come. She couldn't apologize for her earlier remarks.
She couldn't afford even the slightest concession on this matter.
Furina ate the cake, but it tasted bland, devoid of any flavor.
At that moment, hurried footsteps approached, and the door burst open with a loud bang.
"Lulu, it's terrible!" Navia gasped, out of breath.
"What happened?"
"The Phantom Thief White Cat has appeared! And she's brought a flying creature that looks exactly like that famous Traveler!"
Furina: ".....?"
Furina froze for a moment before suddenly standing up.
"What?! The Phantom Thief White Cat has appeared!?"
What a delayed reaction!
Luna blinked. But isn't the Phantom Thief White Cat sitting right here?
If the Phantom Thief White Cat is outside, then who am I?
And the Traveler...
Could it be that the Traveler herself is the Phantom Thief?
Regardless, Luna and Furina followed Navia out of the Opera House.
Night had fallen, yet the streets outside buzzed with commotion.
"The Phantom Thief White Cat is over there!"
"That wicked Phantom Thief, disguised as the Traveler!"
"Miss Phantom Thief, we're your fans!"
Clorinde approached. "Lady Furina, please come this way to avoid the Phantom Thief's activities."
"What about the Special Task Force?"
"...Over there."
Following Clorinde's gaze, they saw Chevreuse - still in her uniform - leading her team in a frantic sprint, gun in hand.
"...I'm going too!" Navia declared, already striding away at full speed.
Luna: "....."
Chiori approached Luna with measured steps.
"Heh, this is getting quite serious. What do you think about the Phantom Thief being chased by an entire city in broad daylight?" she sneered with malicious glee.
What could Luna possibly say?
-
Meanwhile...
Lumine glanced back at the sea of figures pursuing them, a flicker of bewilderment crossing her face.
"Why are there so many more now?"
Paimon turned to look and let out a startled cry: "Wah?! D-does that mean the whole city is chasing us? What did we do?!"