In the morning, Chiori arrived at Chioriya Boutique with the breakfast she had purchased.
"Good morning, Miss Chiori."
"Morning, Eloffe."
Eloffe was a staff member at Chioriya Boutique, responsible for managing the shop when Chiori was away. Her primary duties included greeting customers and occasionally soothing their concerns.
Chiori was known for her bluntness and rarely bothered to consider whether her sharp words might hurt others. However, as long as no one provoked her, she generally kept her opinions to herself.
After working in the shop for a while, several elegantly dressed young ladies entered the boutique.
"Miss Chiori, it's been ages! I brought a friend here to commission a formal dress."
"It has."
Skilled craftsmanship naturally brought repeat customers. Chiori followed her usual routine, inquiring about their design preferences and taking their measurements.
"Miss Chiori," one of the ladies sighed, "do you think someone as petite as me would look out of place in a mature-style gown?"
"Not at all," Chiori replied. "I know someone only slightly taller than you who looks stunning in anything. It's all about facial proportions and body balance."
"You must be talking about Miss Luna? You two seem quite close."
"Just a twisted bond," Chiori murmured.
These wealthy young women loved to gossip, and as Chiori inadvertently remembered fragments of their chatter, one of them suddenly said:
"I heard Phantom Thief White Cat was taken down yesterday."
Chiori froze.
"Huh? What happened?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but apparently she kidnapped a bunch of people and held them at gunpoint."
"Then the Captain of the Special Task Force shot her—bang!—and she bled like crazy. Lady Furina even gave her a proper thrashing afterward!"
"How terrifying..."
"The Phantom Thief really has nothing to do with justice. Maybe she only saved people before because she found it amusing?"
"Who knows?"
Without waiting for them to finish gossiping, Chiori stood up and strode out of Chioriya Boutique without looking back.
"Eloffe, take care of them," she tossed over her shoulder.
"Huh? Oh, right..."
Eloffe watched Chiori disappear into the distance. She had worked at Chioriya Boutique for quite some time, but this was the first time she had seen Chiori so agitated.
No, not just agitated—it felt like...
Eloffe shivered as she watched Chiori's heavy footsteps.
"She's angry... Who could have provoked her like this?"
Through the hazy veil of her consciousness, Luna felt someone touching her.
A soft murmur drifted into her ears, a voice strikingly familiar. She slowly opened her eyes.
Chiori stood before her.
This was hardly surprising. After all, only Chiori and Navia had spare keys to her apartment, and they were the only ones who would barge in without knocking.
Warm fingers gently caressed her skin, searching for any lingering marks.
Luna focused her gaze. Her collar had been pulled down past her shoulder, exposing a smooth expanse of skin, which Chiori was intently feeling.
"Chiori."
"What?" Chiori glanced at her, unfazed by her awakening.
"Want a kiss?"
"...What nonsense are you spouting so early in the morning? If you're still half-asleep, go wash your face. Cold water will clear your head—maybe even cure you of this habit of blurting out ridiculous things."
Luna covered a yawn with her hand, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Neck kisses?"
"No kiss. Take it off."
Take it off? Luna thought, unbothered.
It's not like Chiori hasn't seen me completely naked before.
Still, Luna rolled over lazily and drawled, "If you want to see, help yourself."
Chiori's gaze pierced Luna's back, but Luna merely lifted a leg and swung it back and forth, utterly unaffected by Chiori's withering glare.
If that fat cat truly had a tail, Chiori swore she'd yank it hard.
"Haa..."
A soft sigh, tinged with annoyance, drifted through the air.
"Sit up."
"Why don't you just pick me up?"
Chiori clicked her tongue, grabbed Luna's cheek, and tugged it sharply.
"Ow! You're hurting me for no reason!" Luna cried out in pain, reluctantly sitting up with her back to Chiori.
"Turn around."
"Hmph, no way."
This girl... Exasperated, Chiori wrapped her arms around Luna's waist and began unbuttoning her shirt from behind.
"I'm not wearing anything underneath," Luna suddenly announced.
Chiori paused momentarily, then casually averted her gaze. "So what?"
"Nothing. Just thought you should know."
"Right. Not like I'm interested anyway," Chiori snapped, abruptly ending the conversation.
"Not interested?" Luna leaned back into Chiori's embrace, raising a hand to gently stroke her cheek.
Tilting her head back, she smiled. "Then let me see yours, Chiori."
"I could have you arrested for just saying that."
"And I could have you arrested for undressing me. I'd definitely win."
Chiori scoffed. "It's your fault for acting so recklessly."
Click. The last button came undone. Luna felt Chiori's delicate, warm hands glide over every inch of her skin, meticulously checking for any wounds.
"Let me see your back. Sit up straight and stop leaning on me."
Instead, Luna turned to face her directly.
"Is this better? Go ahead and check, though you won't find a single scratch," Luna murmured softly.
Chiori ignored her words and personally inspected Luna's back.
Indeed, there were no injuries.
"Should I check your legs too?"
"No need. I doubt Chevreuse's aim is so bad she'd hit your toes when aiming for your torso," Chiori said with a sigh.
A warm breath brushed against her nose.
"Relieved now?" Luna leaned closer, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
"Sort of. Don't do that again. The Court of Justice doesn't matter anyway."
Chiori buttoned up Luna's shirt, deliberately averting her gaze from the glimpse of smooth, crystalline white skin visible between the fabric. Though relieved, the lingering irritation in her heart refused to dissipate.
"Their downfall stems from internal flaws," Chiori stated. "They alone will pay the price."
Even without the Phantom Thief White Cat's intervention, the Serial Disappearance Case would have exposed their glaring incompetence and systemic failures.
How could an organization riddled with moles possibly claim legitimacy? Were they some inept villain from a detective novel? They should be grateful a Phantom Thief exists to salvage what little dignity they have left.
Luna smiled. "Chiori's upset with me?"
"I'm angry at you," Chiori retorted.
"Same thing, right?" Luna teased.
"Hardly," Chiori snapped irritably.
Luna wrapped her arms around Chiori and tumbled back onto the bed, pulling her along.
"Relax. I'd never do anything that doesn't benefit me. Getting shot would be nothing but trouble—not to mention the earful I'd get from you. The risks far outweigh the rewards."
"And I'd have to stitch up your wound. What a pain," Chiori sighed.
The renowned "Sherlock Holmes" couldn't afford to seek out Miss Watson. After all, who would suspect that the brilliant detective solving high-profile crimes was actually "Moriarty" herself—a Phantom Thief dancing under the moonlight, outwitting everyone?
"One more thing," Chiori said.
"What is it?"
"Remember to tell your family you're safe."
Luna silently stroked Chiori's hair for a moment. "They..."
"Even if they trust you, they'll still want that weight lifted from their hearts."
Chiori sat up, disentangling herself from Luna's embrace. She swung her legs off the bed and glanced back. "Just like me."
"You'd understand if you put yourself in their shoes. If you heard that the members of the House of the Hearth were injured, how would you feel?"
Luna smiled wryly. "ChiChi, your way with words is getting better and better."
"I told you not to call me that."
As Chiori tried to stand, Luna tugged her back down, pulling her into another embrace.
"Luna," Chiori murmured, her voice low and clearly annoyed.
"You brought this up, so you have to help me."
"...Sigh, what's your plan?" Chiori gave up arguing.
Luna pulled out her Kamera. "Naturally, we'll take a picture."
-
Not long after, a letter arrived in the mailbox of the House of the Hearth. The recipient's name was clearly written on the envelope. When the children found it, they immediately handed it to Arlecchino.
Arlecchino glanced at the envelope and handed it to Lynette.
"Open it."
"Me? Isn't this for 'Father'..." Lynette's nose twitched, as if catching a familiar scent. Her cat tail swayed as she tore open the envelope, releasing an even stronger aroma—one only she could detect, leaving the other children completely clueless.
Who could have written this to 'Father'?
And what could it possibly say?
To their surprise, instead of a letter, the envelope contained a photograph.
"Is that... Luna?" Lyney leaned closer.
The photo showed Luna in an off-the-shoulder gown, her radiant smile instantly captivating.
Freminet joined them, observing the background. "It looks like this was taken today..."
Lynette's cat ears twitched. "What does this mean?"
"The meaning is simple," Arlecchino said coolly. "Yesterday, she toyed with all of Fontaine. Even Miss Captain of the Special Task Force couldn't land a single shot on her."
Lynette's expression softened, the dark circles under her eyes seeming to fade slightly.
"I see. So this photo..."
Lyney immediately backed away. "I don't want it. You keep it."
Freminet murmured, "I don't want it either..."
Lynette turned to Arlecchino.
"Keep it," Arlecchino said with a slight nod. "This is likely a genuine treasure—a one-of-a-kind collectible in all of Fontaine."
Lynette immediately put the picture away.
"Fine, if neither of you wants it, I'll take it then."
Who would dare?
Who was the one who couldn't sleep last night after hearing the news?
Lyney and Freminet exchanged glances. Lyney shrugged, and Freminet scratched his cheek.
"But... why would Luna do something like that?" Freminet couldn't help but ask.
Arlecchino settled into an armchair and crossed her legs. "Because she loathes worthless theatrics. When she detests or fears something, her first instinct is always the same: to destroy it."