"You don't need to feel guilty toward us. Or rather... if you truly feel guilty, then join us in this performance. Don't hesitate—unleash your full brilliance."
Luna spoke softly.
Furina nodded. "Exactly."
She stepped briskly to Focalors' side.
"I still remember what you told me back then—that I hadn't failed anyone. Now I'm returning those words to you!"
Furina placed her hand on Focalors' shoulder and grinned. "You are the most ideal God in my heart, and that remains true to this day."
"I acted for 500 years, while you prepared for a death sentence for 500 years. Such unwavering will surpasses that of anyone else!"
Luna took Focalors' hand. "You haven't wronged anyone. You can hold your head high."
"I wasn't part of your plan. I was merely someone who suddenly stepped onto the stage. You have no reason to feel guilty about my actions."
"On the contrary, I should thank you. The drama you prepared allowed me to become a figure etched in history, enabling me to protect Furina."
"I never sought fame. Whether it's infamy or glory, neither holds any value for me."
All she desired was treasure.
More precisely, the hearts of her Precious Ladies.
Focalors gazed at Furina and Luna's smiles, and the lingering mud-like gloom in her heart seemed to dissolve. From beginning to end, they had never once felt that Focalors had wronged them.
Furina snapped her fingers. "To put it in Luna's words—"
Luna smiled gently. "—Don't you dare take away our right to accept you."
"That sentence structure really is universal," Furina remarked with a sigh.
Luna nodded. "Right?"
Furina said brightly, "If I hadn't chosen to play the role of a god, I would never have met Luna, nor would I have become friends with you, Focalors."
Luna added, "If I hadn't seized your authority, a great and selfless life would have vanished from the world. The Hydro Dragon would probably have unleashed three days and three nights of torrential rain, potentially flooding all of Fontaine."
Furina shuddered. "Please don't mention flooding again... I still have some psychological trauma from that."
Luna joked, "Don't worry! If it floods again, I'll just steal all of Fontaine's water."
"Then we'd have a drought instead," Furina retorted with a laugh.
"Just have Neuvillette chop some onions, and the water will come back."
"...I suppose you're right."
As Luna and Furina bantered back and forth, they effortlessly restored the lighthearted, playful atmosphere, leaving Focalors to sigh with a wry smile.
"Your nonchalant attitude only makes me feel like I've made a fool of myself."
But they genuinely didn't care.
Furina never blamed her, and neither did Luna. Their eyes held only admiration and respect.
As expected, Furina was the most perfect human being in Focalors' eyes.
And as expected, Luna was...
"Luna."
"Hm?"
A soft, damp touch pressed against her lips. Furina, standing beside them, widened her eyes in shock and panic, pointing a trembling finger.
"Y-you... what do you think you're doing?!"
With that, Furina swiftly wedged herself between Luna and Focalors, shielding Luna protectively like a ruffled bird.
"How dare you kiss Luna right in front of me—!"
Focalors touched her lips, smiling faintly. "Then cover this kiss with your own, right here, right now."
"Haaah?!"
Luna was equally bewildered. What kind of development was this?
Focalors continued with a sly grin, "So, if you just kiss Luna back in front of me, wouldn't that solve everything?"
"What kind of logic is that?! I don't understand at all! You really do have feelings for Luna—"
"Yes, I adore Luna. Or rather, when she stole my God "Heart", she also stole my true heart."
A debt of gratitude can indeed cause a surge of affection. Furina understood this perfectly well.
But she couldn't make sense of the current situation at all!
"You—you knew she was my girlfriend, right?!"
"Isn't it the other way around?"
"Either way, it's the same! And you're actually doing this right in front of me—"
Furina's expression soured. She knew Luna, that thieving little cat, had stolen the hearts of many women. As long as she remained number one, she could tolerate it.
But she absolutely wouldn't stand for another woman kissing Luna right in front of her!
Furina glanced at Luna's lips, their glossy sheen resembling the water-like radiance of Focalors, and felt a surge of irritation.
"Hey, Luna."
"Hmm?"
"You... you're not falling for her, are you?"
Such a deathly question.
Focalors chuckled. "Luna can just say 'Of course not, dear.' I wouldn't mind."
And now she's blocked my escape route too.
"Anyone would be captivated by Furina's charm," Luna said with a gentle smile.
"That's like saying nothing at all!" Furina puffed out her cheeks.
Fine, I've made up my mind!
She grabbed Luna by the shoulders, forcing her to sit down, and then, her face flushed crimson, leaned in for a kiss. She never wanted to do this in public, but she couldn't bear the thought of another woman's mark on Luna.
Luna saw Focalors approaching from the other side and forcibly turning her face.
"Wait! What are you—"
Furina gasped in surprise.
Focalors, her cheeks flushed, exhaled softly. "Don't you think that by working together, we could give this adorable and passionate Miss Phantom Thief quite the punishment?"
"I don't think so," Luna replied.
Furina pulled Luna closer protectively. "Absolutely not! I won't hand her over to you! I'll handle the punishment myself—even if I haven't succeeded yet. I don't want anyone else meddling in this."
"But I want to see Luna fail."
"..."
Me too, Furina thought.
But to involve Focalors as well... that would be... that would be... Furina hesitated for a moment.
Luna tried to speak, but Furina, ever vigilant, clamped her hand over Luna's mouth.
I can't let Luna say anything right now!
"Do you think I would ever agree to such an absurd proposition?" Furina scoffed.
"Why not?"
Focalors pulled Luna closer, then curled her fingertip, conjuring strands of shimmering water that bound Luna's hands, signaling her point.
"I simply wanted to see Luna unable to bear the pleasure you bring her. Occasionally, this Miss Phantom Thief needs to understand that greed has its limits—stealing too much treasure will only lead to the treasure turning around and pinning her down."
"Rest assured, I won't do anything beyond restraining Luna as much as possible."
Focalors concluded, "Please."
What about my opinion? Luna's eyes seemed to ask.
But clearly, they had both chosen to selectively ignore that point. Not that it mattered; whether she was the one pushing down or being pushed down, Luna would find satisfaction either way.
Luna tried to break free from her restraints, but a voice whispered in her ear:
"Do you really want to miss this opportunity?"
"Two 'Fufus' kissing you, caressing you... If you miss this chance, it may never come again."
Focalors' tone was filled with amusement and delight, clearly relishing the situation.
In the next moment, a familiar pressure pressed against Luna's lips. She looked up and met Furina's gaze. The Archon looked as flustered as she had during their first encounter, her face flushed crimson.
But she did want to see...
"Ahem, just this once, okay? I just want to see Luna utterly immobilized, her body limp, covered in sweat and tears!"
After all these times of her being the one to end up like this, it's finally Luna's turn!
Beneath the shade of the tree, golden hair was sandwiched between strands of white and blue. Sometimes the blue hair lay atop the golden, sometimes it fell to her neck. The only constant was the voice that blended seamlessly with the sound of the wind.
We promised we wouldn't do anything!
Furina and Focalors each leaned against Luna's shoulder, Luna herself had closed her eyes, resting.
We won.
Furina felt utterly satisfied, finally having witnessed an expression on Luna's face unlike any she had seen before. Though achieved through their joint assault, Luna had offered no resistance or counterattack throughout the entire encounter.
It felt almost like she was deliberately letting us win.
But seeing it is winning! Furina thought, flexing her aching fingers.
...The cost was that even moving her lips and fingers now felt exhausting.
Focalors, on the other hand, seemed perfectly relaxed, humming a cheerful tune. Her voice was melodious; if she ever sang openly, it would undoubtedly stir the hearts of listeners.
"I'm not giving up my role as the female lead," Furina suddenly declared.
Especially not when it came to Luna.
"I know, and I wouldn't want you to. Because I like you too, Furina—not in that way, of course, so please don't worry. The only one who could ever make me fall in love is this Miss Phantom Thief."
"Let's all come together again next time," Focalors said with a smile.
Though her words were directed at Luna.
Furina immediately retorted, "There won't be a next time!"