Charlotte instantly grabbed her Kamera.
"Don't come any closer! If you do—I, I… I am someone with a Vision!" Charlotte tried her best to sound dignified and imposing.
But Luna gently raised her hand, and a radiant, unusual Vision swayed lightly with her movement.
"This one, you mean?"
"Huh?"
Charlotte looked down.
Where's my Vision? How did it end up in her hand?
Did it just fall off on its own?
Wait a minute—if that's the case, doesn't that mean she never actually attacked me? Charlotte's expression shifted.
Luna gave a knowing smile, then leapt out the window.
"If you really didn't do anything wrong, Miss Charlotte, why are you so nervous? Haven't you been sneaking around this place for days? Then you should already know exactly what kind of person I am."
Luna placed the Vision on the table and used her other hand to lift Charlotte's chin.
Her fingernails lightly pressed against Charlotte's cheek. The warmth of her blood flowed through the touch, sending a jolt of adrenaline through her body, and Charlotte's heart pounded faster.
But it wasn't from fear.
Charlotte, flustered, stammered, "If you dare touch me, I—I'll call for backup! My mom's still at home, you know!"
"I don't mind."
"You…!"
No—she had to calm down!
Looking at it objectively, what made the Phantom Thief Cat so dangerous wasn't her strength, but her ability to effortlessly drag someone into her rhythm and territory.
Her tone, her attitude, the tilt of her head, every word she spoke—none of it missed its mark. She wielded charm like a blade that pierced straight into the heart.
The Special Task Force Captain had fought her up until now, and yet Charlotte still couldn't get a read on her.
She might very well be the most dangerous journalist of them all.
Charlotte took a deep breath and pushed down the sudden rush of emotions. "Y-You never intended to hurt me. I've looked into what you've done in the past."
"You never slashed anyone's face, and those firearms of yours… looked more like fancy fireworks launchers."
"After all, when a muzzle flashes, it usually means a bullet's already tearing through someone. Real weapons don't just light up and stay glowing like a Vision..."
Luna let out a soft "Mhm, go on."
No reaction at all to being exposed?
Charlotte gathered her courage and said, "You were putting on a show for the court, weren't you?"
"Miss Reporter, that matter is already behind us. Chasing after an outdated story... isn't that a bit beneath you?"
Luna sat casually on the table, leaning forward, smiling down at her.
Don't just hop onto other people's desks like that—are you a cat or something?
...Actually, she kind of is.
But looking at her now, Luna really didn't seem to harbor any malice.
Charlotte finally started to relax a little.
Even if she couldn't completely let her guard down, a criminal with a bottom line was still better than a villain without one.
Charlotte shook her head. "News should be timely—otherwise it wouldn't be called 'news,' would it?"
"But blindly chasing speed at the cost of accuracy just turns it into a tool for misleading people and making money. I'm not like them. I care about the truth."
...And maybe also about how explosive or entertaining it is.
Luna casually picked up Charlotte's pen, spinning it nimbly between her fingers.
"Absolute truth," Charlotte continued, "means exclusive stories."
"Also means it might never pass review, no?" Luna said with a sly smile.
Uwah—how did she know that?
Charlotte chuckled awkwardly. "W-Well… it's still grounded in reality, you know? But one day, the truth will come to light."
Luna stopped twirling the pen, resting her cheek on her palm as she murmured softly:"And if that day comes—"
"What if I just don't want you to write the truth?"
"Then give me a reason."
She wasn't the type to act on impulse alone.
As long as the reason made sense—was fair, logical—then she'd accept it…So long as it satisfied her own curiosity.
Charlotte had been mulling over all kinds of reasons why the Phantom Thief White Cat would help the court.
Possibilities included:
1. She's actually a vigilante of justice… just in denial about it.
2. No deeper reason. She just thinks it's fun.
3. There's someone she likes in the Court of Fontaine…
…but that last one felt like total rom-com delusion. Way too far-fetched. Least likely of them all.
As long as her curiosity was satisfied—She wouldn't do anything.
Literally. She meant that in the most literal sense.
"Tell me why you're helping the Court," Charlotte asked, unable to resist the urge any longer as she leaned closer to Luna.
"Miss Charlotte, your curiosity really is something else."
"Without curiosity, I wouldn't be much of a reporter, would I?"
Luna smiled."Good counter. But it seems you've forgotten something—In a trade, one has to be qualified. You need to have something the other party actually wants."
She hopped down from the table and walked toward Charlotte.
That's when Charlotte suddenly realized—the distance between them was far too short.The Phantom Thief White Cat could easily reach out and touch her!
"H-Hey wait! Just sit back down—" Charlotte stammered as she backed away, clearly flustered.
Please don't come any closer!
What she didn't realize was: the more she reacted like that, the more it spurred Luna on.
Those who resisted too much piqued her interest.Those who overreacted caught her attention just the same.Whether someone stood their ground with defiance, or melted under pressure—Luna found both fun to tease.
The tough ones? Like Chevreuse. Like Chiori.
The soft ones? Like Furina...and like the Charlotte standing before her now.
"Miss Reporter," Luna purred, "there's something you should understand."
"Wha—!?"
Charlotte's heel bumped into the edge of the bed—She lost her balance and toppled backward.
She was going to fall!
In a flash, a thread of frost gleamed in the air like spun silk, wrapping gently around her waist.Luna held the ice-thread in one hand, leaned down, and closed the distance between them.
"Curiosity," she whispered, "killed the cat."
Her breath was warm, her words fragrant.
"And perhaps... the thing I'm most curious about—Is you, Miss Charlotte."
Charlotte's cheeks turned crimson. She couldn't bring herself to meet Luna's eyes."T-Teasing girls like this—do you really find it that fun?"
"Oh dear, you're the second person to ask me that."
"Who was the first?"
Luna didn't answer. Instead, she took Charlotte's hand, unlooped the ice-thread, and gently helped her steady herself.
"But let's make it our little secret.""Since you've earned it, I'll answer what you've been dying to ask."
She sat on Charlotte's bed with a graceful motion, crossing her legs.
"You're allowed to interview me again. Go on—ask away. I'm sure by the time you hear everything…"
One moment she's saying there'd be a price to pay, the next she's brushing it off like it's nothing…She really loves to keep people dancing in the palm of her hand, doesn't she?
Charlotte pressed a hand to her chest—Her heart was still pounding like mad,though at least 90% of that was pure panic.
"C-Can I take pictures?" she asked.
"Go ahead, but only for your private collection, alright?" Luna smirked.
As if I'd ever want to collect photos of a phantom thief…
Charlotte sighed and grabbed her pen and notepad.
"First question: Why are you helping the court, anyway?"
"Because Fontaine needs order and justice."
Charlotte blinked in surprise.
"Something wrong?" Luna asked with a knowing smile.
"…No, not really. Just a bit surprised.""But somehow, not all that surprised, either."
"Miss Reporter, you're quite the contradiction," Luna chuckled.
"Haha… yeah. I get that a lot…" Charlotte replied with an awkward laugh.
"But," Luna tilted her head playfully, "what if I told you that everything I just said... was a lie?"
Charlotte froze. "You were lying?"
Luna propped her chin on her hand, smiling softly."Maybe. Maybe not. Whether you choose to believe me or not... is up to you."
"…I believe you."
Luna blinked, genuinely a little surprised."That fast? Miss Charlotte, that kind of trust might get you in trouble one day, you know?"
Without lifting her head, Charlotte continued writing, finishing her interview notes. Only then did she look back up.
"My belief isn't blind—it's based on the facts in front of me.""You've never tried to mislead me. Not really. And even if you did try, I wouldn't be confused. I follow the facts, and report them as they are."
"Whether what you do is just or unjust… I don't care all that much."
Charlotte's expression turned earnest."If you've done good, I'll write about it. If you've done wrong, I'll report that too—without holding back. It's really that simple."
…Whether the editors would approve it for publication, though—that was a whole other story.
Luna leaned back with a fascinated look."I see now."
Charlotte didn't align herself with justice, nor did she side with chaos.She simply chased the truth—through her lens, and with her pen.
She wrote the truth with her pen.Or rather—she stood on the side of truth, and truth alone.
Charlotte frowned."You really don't need to keep trying to mess with other people's heads, you know."
"Prejudice tends to wrap around the truth like a veil," Luna replied casually."And for me, that's not such a bad thing."
"That's not wrong—for everyone, really."
"A castle built on lies isn't necessarily fragile," Luna said, tone light."And one built on truth isn't always unbreakable."
Charlotte shot back, "You could say the opposite, too."
Can't let herself get spun around by the Phantom Thief's words.
Luna gave a soft smile and gestured with her hand."Go on."
Charlotte resumed her interview, asking several more questions. Luna answered them all—some directly, others so cryptic they may as well have been riddles.
It gave Charlotte a headache.But then again… she hadn't expected the Phantom Thief White Cat to answer her honestly anyway.
Still—It was enough.
Just knowing that the Phantom Thief truly was working with the court…That alone was enough.
"Sigh… Since you answered me, I'll keep my word—I won't write about this truth."
Luna looked pleased."A wise decision."
"However! I still have one more question for you."
"Go ahead."
Charlotte pulled out her notebook."Do you have any sisters or something like that?"
"I do."
"Is her name… perhaps 'Black Cat'?"
Luna replied smoothly,"My family consists of a light-brown cat, a friend who's a golden retriever, and another who's a fierce-looking stray. Lately, I've been more preoccupied with blueberry cake."
What kind of animal friend group was that?
Charlotte had no idea what to make of that answer as she handed over her notebook.
"Then what's the deal with this 'Phantom Thief Black Cat'?"
Luna took the notebook and skimmed over the pages.It was filled with intelligence and reports concerning the recent appearances of a mysterious "Phantom Thief Black Cat."
Interesting
"Who knows? But from what I've seen so far, that person's hardly worthy of being called a phantom thief."
No sense of aesthetics whatsoever.
Charlotte nodded in agreement."That's what I thought too! So, what are you—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a familiar voice called out from the hallway.
"Charlotte? Who are you talking to in there?"
Oh no!Charlotte's expression changed instantly.
If her family saw the infamous Phantom Thief White Cat sitting on her bed… she didn't even want to imagine what would happen!
"Meow." Luna let out a surprisingly convincing cat's meow.
"A cat? Since when did you start keeping a cat?"
"Uh—this, this isn't mine! It's someone else's cat! It just jumped in through the window! Really, it's nothing!" Charlotte rushed to cover it up with a forced laugh.
At that moment, her father's voice sounded again at the door.
"A cat? I heard it too. Charlotte, I'm coming in. One of my friends is looking to adopt a cat—I'll take a look for him…"
"No, wait!"
Charlotte dashed to the door in just a few quick steps and pressed against it, blocking it shut.
"You can't come in! I-I'm still changing!"
She immediately shot a look.
Go, go! Hurry! If they see you, even jumping into the sea won't wash this clean!
Luna suddenly understood and said,"Then I'll see you next time, Miss Charlotte."
"You..."
Don't talk!!
This was definitely on purpose. Absolutely.
"Charlotte? Did your cat just talk?"
"I thought I heard a girl's voice... Did you bring a friend home? Why didn't you say anything?"
Cold sweat beaded on Charlotte's forehead."You misheard, you misheard! A cat talking like a person? Impossible!"
"Woof." Luna suddenly barked.
"Why is there barking now too??? You've got a cat and a dog in your room?"
Charlotte was on the verge of tears."Really, it's nothing!"
When she turned around, Luna was already gone. That made Charlotte breathe a sigh of relief—only to puff up her cheeks in frustration, feeling thoroughly annoyed.
As expected, nothing good ever happens when that phantom thief is involved!