Funinna, please let me steal your heart!

That's how it was from the beginning.

Navia said calmly, “I just wanted to thank you for saving a life—albeit in a way that caused chaos for others.”

"I prefer to call it stealing the future."

"Does it have to be said that way?" Navia asked, puzzled. Aren't they all the same thing?

Luna shook her index finger: "You might think it means the same thing, but the essence is completely different."

"People might think that phantom thieves only steal tangible things like money and jewelry."

"But that's because I wasn't born yet at that time."

Luna gently got up.

“As I said before, I’m not a thief who steals everything. Phantom Thief Mink is utterly uncharismatic; he’s just a thief in the name of a phantom thief.”

“But I’m different.”

She approached Navia.

Everything in the world has its corresponding value, but what is the most valuable?

"There are ten thousand answers among ten thousand people, but they can usually be summarized into a few things."

Luna gently placed her hand on Navia's smooth shoulder, her voice soft and gentle.

"hope."

Just as Navia was about to look at her, Luna shifted her stance, her fingertips gliding across Navia's skin, before she spun to the other side.

He hooked his finger around Navia's chin, making her look at him, and spoke in a gentle voice:

"happiness."

Navia tried to slap her hand away, but Luna's fingertips slid down, past her neck, and down to her chest.

"The future... and other such intangible things."

Navia grabbed her wrist, her face full of confusion and doubt.

"You mean you want to steal this thing... do you consider it a treasure?"

If that's the case, then it's truly appalling.

She had intended to say that, but considering what Luna had just done, she vaguely felt that perhaps that wasn't the case.

"Why not? This time I stole it this way, next time I might use other methods to forcibly take it, and the target—"

Luna chuckled softly, "Perhaps it's Miss Navia's heart?"

“No matter what you do, I will not do as you wish,” Navia said earnestly.

Steal her heart?

That's impossible, because she has absolutely no affection for the phantom thief, White Cat.

All I have now is curiosity and confusion.

Now, Luna has given her the answer.

Luna easily broke free from Navia's grasp and continued, "I don't steal everything, but it's not that I can't steal."

"And what kind of treasure to steal is up to me."

She only acts according to her own desires.

"Then why did you set your sights on Miss Sally?" Navia steered the conversation back on track, her gaze seeming to pierce through Luna's mask.

The answer she received was the same as always.

"Need a reason?"

Bathed in moonlight, Luna smiled and fell backward.

Wait, what's below—Navia hurriedly ran to the edge and looked down.

Nothing at all.

The phantom thief vanished without a trace.

"Is there really no reason?" Navia breathed a sigh of relief for some reason and muttered to herself.

At the end of the performance, for whom did the emotions that were revealed originate?

She always says there's no reason, no need for a reason, but would a person really do something without a reason?

The mystery weighed heavily on her mind, but Navia couldn't help but think:

"Perhaps no one really knows what the line she drew was."

However, no one knows the principles of the Phantom Thief White Cat, nor understands her way of thinking.

But then again, making others understand would only increase the risk of exposing oneself.

Navia sighed, "That's true."

It's not surprising that the phantom thief, White Cat, would do that.

Back home, Luna took out the card and transformed herself.

Quick outfit change!

"Phew, my fingers are so tired... I only chose the difficult one to show off my skills."

The treasure she stole tonight wasn't a trophy designated by the system, so of course she didn't get any points.

However, Luna didn't care about that, and her thoughts weren't on that right now.

Arecino was there at the time.

I watched her from the audience.

Lynette and the others too. Thinking of this, Luna looked at her hands, and memories of the past flooded her mind.

...............

As the music ended, Arecino lowered her hands.

She didn't chase Luna away, who was still sitting on her lap, but she also didn't continue playing, which meant that the rare, heartwarming moment was over.

Arecino isn't always home, and being home doesn't mean she'll always be free.

Luna was well aware of this, but she still felt reluctant to part with him.

"Could you play another song?"

Arecino placed her hand on her head, but did not stroke it.

“I’m very sorry, but I still have things to take care of. The information you provided has allowed me to determine tonight’s target. As for you, Luna, you should get some rest.”

If you get injured, you need to rest and recuperate properly.

Otherwise, it will hinder the next operation.

Of course, there are no written rules in the House of Hearths, but every child follows them because several children have paid a heavy price for it.

“.....Okay.” Luna obediently got off Arecino’s lap.

Arecino patted her leg and stood up: "But you don't have to feel lonely, after all... she's right outside the door."

"Ok?"

A glint of light appeared in the gap at the doorway.

Noticing their gazes, she cautiously opened the door.

"Linette?"

Lynette nodded slightly, pondering how to explain.

But Arecino simply gave her a gentle nudge: "It's your turn to teach her, Luna."

“Okay, but my hand…” Luna glanced at her bandaged hand.

Lynette wagged her tail: "It's okay, I have a tail."

"Can a tail replace a hand? I feel like your tail is sometimes completely out of your control."

Yes. Probably.

Luna immediately smiled and said, "Then I'll teach you!"

"Ok!"

"First you have to do this, then do this."

"...Please speak like a human being."

Perhaps it was an illusion, or perhaps memory had embellished it, but Arecino's eyes at that moment seemed to carry a rare gentleness.

So much time has passed, the wound has long since healed, and no scar has been left.

But Luna gently stroked her palm, still wanting Arecino to apply the ointment again and bandage her up neatly.

“I didn’t want to disappoint my mother,” Sally said.

Luna leaned back in her chair, gazing at the night sky.

"And I have absolutely no idea whether she's disappointed in me."

89: Chiori was born to be eaten (4th update)

The champion of the keyboard competition is none other than the phantom thief White Cat!?

The harpsichord competition was held at the Opipley Opera House at 6 p.m. the day before yesterday, but the winner was a complete surprise to everyone. The phantom thief White Cat disguised himself as Sally, a harpsichordist who had been disqualified, and won the championship.

Not only that, she also openly threw the trophy on the ground and publicly insulted the judges.

Fortunately, our reporter was able to interview... or rather, was found by Lady Funina and obtained the Water God's permission for an interview.

Reporter: "Lady Funina, what do you think the Phantom Thief White Cat did? She didn't steal any treasure, yet she claims to have stolen it."

Funina: "Good question, but asking this question shows you know very little about phantom thieves!"