Furina, Please Let Me Steal Your Heart!

The trial ended, and the audience filed out. Luna and Navia rested briefly in the dressing room before leaving the opera house.

As they entered the main hall, Naviia stretched her arms wide, taking a deep breath.

"Whew... We closed the case in record time. You're every bit the detective, Miss Lulu! That was quite a show."

"I couldn't have done it alone."

"You shouldn't be so humble at a time like this," said Navia with a grin. "Even without me, you would've handled it just fine, wouldn't you?"

She had a point.

But Luna couldn't be sure about that.

"That's just a hypothetical. It doesn't matter. The fact is, Navia helped me."

Sure enough, Navia's face broke into a smile. It seemed her adorable grin was never far from her face, no matter the situation.

She suddenly took Luna's hands and pushed them together. "Well, we should celebrate! Come on!"

"Come on? Celebrate what?"

"High five!"

Luna understood immediately. She lifted her hands, and they exchanged a brief high five.

Just as Luna was about to pull away, Navia grabbed her hands again and started swinging them back and forth.

"What do you have planned next? Are you free? I'd like to invite you to our Spina di Rosula headquarters for a meal. I'll cook—it'll be just as good as what you'd get from a restaurant."

As Luna was about to reply, she saw Chiori approaching from the corner of her eye.

"Looks like I caught you at a bad time," said Chiori.

Navia blinked. "Chiori? How did you know we'd be here?"

"I heard my model made it onto the trial stage and became the detective she always dreamed of being. I was bored, so I decided to stop by and see for myself."

Model? Navia thought, somewhat confused. I didn't think Luna was a professional model.

As she spoke, Chiori rubbed her eyes.

"Turns out, I never expected to feel that having eyes was such a great sin. Seeing what's on the stage, there's no way I'm getting a decent meal tonight."

"Do you want me to feed you?" Luna asked with a smile.

"No need."

"What about a goodnight kiss?"

"If you do, I'll sew your mouth shut."

Navia listened, glancing at Luna.

"Turns out, I never expected to feel that having eyes was such a great sin. Seeing what's on the stage, there's no way I'm getting a decent meal tonight."

"Do you want me to feed you?" Luna asked with a smile.

"No need."

"What about a goodnight kiss?"

"If you do, I'll sew your mouth shut."

Navia listened, glancing at Luna.

Chiori placed her hand on her hip and softly said, "Unfortunately, this case has nothing to do with the 'Serial Disappearance case' you're trying to solve."

"Can't say for sure."

Navia posed the question, "What do you mean?"

Chiori stroked her chin thoughtfully. "... Are you suspecting that there's a close link between the mastermind behind these disappearances and the Sinthe Corporation?"

"It's very likely, yes."

An industry rarely exists in isolation, and this holds true even for illicit businesses.

The Sinthe-centric web likely still ensnares the dark corners of Fontaine, silently corroding people's normal lives... and brewing countless treasures stained with sin.

Let her be the one to gather these treasures.

Whether they're mired in filth or born dazzlingly pristine, she accepts them all without reservation.

What can be taken, will be taken; what can be stolen, will be stolen.

Her home is vast, specifically designed to house these precious treasures.

"True as that may be, the root of such a criminal industry network isn't so easily unearthed," Luna cautioned. "Navia, you must remain vigilant and careful."

Callas Caspar had likely fallen victim to this vast black-market operation.

Navia nodded slowly. "I understand, but I won't sit by and do nothing."

"I expected nothing less," Chiori said.

She and Navia were old acquaintances, naturally aware of each other's temperaments.

"Speaking of which, Chiori, you've arrived just in time!" Navia exclaimed, pulling Chiori's arm.

"What's the matter?"

"Why, to share a meal, of course!"

Chiori withdrew her arm, expression unfazed. "No thanks, I've said I'm not in the mood to eat."

Luna chimed in, "Then I'll have some on your behalf."

"You're on your own if you put on weight."

"You'd abandon me just because I gain a few pounds? How heartless!"

Chiori chuckled softly. "Oh, I never took you in to begin with, therefore I could never have abandoned you in the first place."

"What about that promise to provide clothes for me for life?"

"I never said that. If you agreed to be my model for a lifetime, I might consider it," Chiori responded casually, then found a bench to sit down.

It seemed she had no intention of leaving the Opera House anytime soon.

Navia looked surprised. "You're not going back?"

"Now? I can't leave unless you go first. Listen up."

They pricked up their ears, and the sound of noisy voices came from outside the opera house.

A familiar feeling crept up Luna's spine.

Though she hadn't consciously paid attention to it before, she knew at once what this was—the scent of reporters!

Without a doubt, a horde of reporters were waiting like ravenous zombies just outside the door, eager to "dig in."

As both the prosecutor and the star investigator, Luna had no doubt that the moment she stepped out, she'd be swarmed by camera flashes and interview requests.

"Nothing but reporters, are there?" Luna asked.

Chiori nodded. "You guessed it. I'm a famous person too—anyone would be snatched for an interview if we went out. Even if I said the right things, they'd always exaggerate and stir up trouble, driving me to fury. It's better not to see them at all."

"And chances are you'd resort to violence."

"Don't make me sound like some sort of violent woman."

When presented with someone I don't like, I march up and toss them out the window without saying a word.

Can't say that doesn't make me sound violent, though.

Curiously, Navia asked, "Lulu doesn't want to be interviewed?"

"Lulu"... Chiori muttered. The nickname made her skin crawl with irritation; she'd never call Luna that.

"It depends on who's doing the asking," Luna said with a smile. "I might just give them a chance if they are polite."

"It wasn't from someone outside, was it?"

"Of course not."

A smile played on Navia's lips. If that's the case, I've got a brilliant idea!

"Very well, let this owner of the Spina di Rosula satisfy your curiosity! Come with me." She led Luna to the entrance of the opera house.

Why does she insist on pulling me along? Luna wondered. In the past two days, I've been holding hands more than I have in the whole year.

Luna couldn't help but ponder: If I were to say I want to kiss her cheek, would she agree to that as well?

No sooner had the curious thought flashed through her mind when Navia suddenly placed her hand on Luna's chest.

Wait a second.

"Breathe in!"

Luna instinctively tried to protect her chest. "What are you doing this for?"

"Just get ready beforehand, alright? Now, listen up, breathe in—"

Feeling somewhat helpless, Luna complied and took a deep breath. Alongside the musty scent of the old opera house and the faint aroma of fresh air, she also detected the subtle fragrance of perfume.

"Breathe out."

"...And then?"

Navia abruptly pushed open the door. "Then, run for your lives!"

"Huh? Wait—"

"Go! Run away!"

Navia dragged Luna along, clutching her skirt as she bolted away. Luna had no choice but to keep up with her frantic pace.

"Hey, they're getting away!"

"Hurry up and catch them!"

"Miss Navia, Miss Luna, we're from XX Newspaper...!"

"Quick, write this headline: 'Leader of the Spina di Rosula elope with New Theater Star'! Yes, yes, hurry up and take photos! Hot news is the lifeblood of journalism!"

"Beep, beep— if you reporters don't stop right now, I'll arrest you all!"

"You, you, and you too! All of you, you're headed straight for jail!"

Ahead, Navia sprinted with Luna in tow, her arm looped around Luna's neck.

Behind them, reporters gave chase, cameras flashing and tape recorders whirring.

Further behind, a group of Melusine guards sounded their whistles, joining the pursuit...

At that moment, Luna felt...

So slow!

It would have been faster if she'd been running on her own.

"Ugh, we can't run like this..." Navia said grimly. "There's no other way. You'll just have to bear it for a bit!"

"Huh?"

Without warning, Navia's arm tightened, pulling Luna closer to her side.

In one swift motion, Navia swept her arm around and lifted Luna effortlessly. In the blink of an eye, Luna found herself transformed from a girl being dragged to a child cradled in Naviya's arms.

"Haha, isn't this much faster?" Naviya chuckled with a delightful yet endearing laugh.

Luna, however, couldn't bring herself to smile.

The sight of the notorious Phantom Thief being carried like a princess by another young girl was undeniably peculiar.

This really isn't something to laugh about, Luna thought to herself.

"Lulu, hold on here or you might slip," Naviya gently prompted, gesturing to her neck.

With no choice, Luna wrapped her arms around Naviya's neck and clung lightly.

Isn't this a bit... strange?