Furina, Please Let Me Steal Your Heart!

"Does 'Nana' refer to Navia?" Chiori couldn't help but ask.

Navia was equally curious. Didn't we just decide against nicknames? Why the sudden change of heart?

Is this an elaborate puzzle for me to solve?

Despite her doubts, Navia took a deep breath, her heart brimming with anticipation.

Luna, puzzled, responded, "Well, who else could it possibly be?"

"But why the sudden..." Chiori began.

Why the sudden switch in names? Chiori trailed off as her peripheral vision caught something utterly captivating—irresistible brilliance emanating from none other than Navia herself.

Her eyes widened, surprise and delight intermingling, yet gradually joy took the upper hand. Her gaze shimmered with dazzling radiance, her entire person seemingly bathed in a golden glow.

If one had to describe that gaze, it could only be likened to "a child's eyes upon discovering hidden treasure."

"Say it again!" Navia immediately seized Luna's hand and began vigorously shaking it up and down.

"Hold on, don't shake me..."

"Say it again, pretty please!"

To avoid having her brain rattle out of her skull, Luna relented and spoke once more: "Good morning, Nana."

That's it!

The smile on Navia's face grew even more radiant. Seizing Luna's fingers, she beamed with such enthusiasm it seemed she might topple Luna over, her voice brimming with excitement:

"Mm-hmm, I'm Lulu's Nana, all right!"

"Sounds awfully cheesy," Chiori remarked, rubbing her arm as goosebumps threatened to rise.

"Not at all cheesy," Navia protested.

Well, well.

Chiori pressed further: "Do you truly feel that way?"

Navia fell silent for a moment, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Yes, there is a little of that, but I'm just so happy!"

Luna's face split into a mischievous grin: "Is Chi-ooori feeling jealous? Come here, Lulu will give you a big ol' hug—"

Before she could finish, a sitting cushion flew through the air and smacked Luna square in the face.

Chiori clapped her hands mischievously. "Whoa, whoa, don't call me that. It's seriously giving me the willies."

"That's absurd! You can't just resort to violence over a disagreement."

"Maybe if you didn't say such silly things."

Chiori exhaled deeply. "I'll only call you Luna, and you can call me Chiori. We don't need any overly intimate nicknames."

"Of course," Luna agreed.

Curious, Navia asked, "Then can I call you ChiChi?"

"No," Chiori firmly rejected, then proceeded to open Luna's wardrobe.

"Don't just barge into someone else's closet," Luna protested.

Chiori glanced at Luna, deliberately ignoring her comment. She gently pulled out garments one by one, occasionally glancing at lingerie hanging there before nonchalantly looking away.

"What made you suddenly decide to call me that way?"

Navia's soft breath and question drew Luna's attention back.

Luna subtly withdrew her hand, smiling. "Just a whim, I suppose?"

Better not reveal that the phantom thief has already inquired about it, she thought.

"So it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision! But now that you've started calling me that, we can't go back to the old way, or else I'll be hurt."

"I didn't say I wanted to go back," Navia chuckled. "Mm-hmm, this is how it should be. Lulu and Nana... oh! That's your name, Luna! Isn't that a coincidence?"

So their act name would be Luna?

Navia's expression radiated sheer satisfaction, her spirit bright and refreshed.

This single piece of good news seemed enough to sweep away all the gloom that had been weighing down her heart these past days.

Luna, on the other hand, wished she could remain just a bit calmer, preferably without waving their joined hands back and forth again.

"Your clothes are still the same," Chiori suddenly remarked.

"Does that bother you?"

"It does. You're already quite famous; you should at least pay attention to your image."

She sighed again. "I should've known this would be the case. Last time I visited, your wardrobe was just as disheveled."

From her bag, Chiori produced a set of clothes: a jacket reminiscent of a suit, paired with a black skirt, sheer tights, and silk stockings...

"That's way too much," Luna exclaimed, astonished.

"It's just something I pieced together using leftover fabrics and scraps of time. Even so, it's far better than what you usually wear. Go ahead and try it on."

"Now?"

"Now."

"But I'm not planning to go anywhere."

"Just a fitting."

Though lacking enthusiasm, Luna couldn't refuse, knowing it was all out of kindness from Chiori.

"I'll agree if you help me get dressed," Luna said with a smile, crossing her legs.

Chiori didn't answer but silently thrust the clothes into Luna's hands instead.

Luna had no choice but to break free from Navia's embrace and accept these precious garments.

The answer was clear: No way.

Figures.

Well, I didn't seriously expect anything else.

Luna shrugged it off as just a casual remark and headed straight for the restroom.

Chiori wiped the tip of her chin, stood still for a few seconds, then followed in Luna's footsteps, entering the restroom together with her.

"Hold on! Why are you coming in too?"

"Who said they'd want help to put them on?"

Luna was caught off guard. "That was me, but I surely didn't expect you to actually do it."

Has this started happening more often lately—when things I blurt out without thinking come true?

"I've surprised you plenty of times before," Chiori replied half-heartedly. "One more or less doesn't make much difference. Besides, if anything's off, I can always adjust it on the fly."

"Yeah, yeah, got it."

It's not like this is the first time Chiori's seen me completely naked anyhow.

"...A whim, then?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your nickname-Nana."

Luna laughed nonchalantly. "Ah, right. You also want a different name?"

"No thanks. Your naming sense is abysmal."

"Hmph. Well, I'm not telling you then!"

Faint sounds of conversation drifted from the direction of the bathroom, stirring Navia's curiosity.

But I shouldn't eavesdrop, she thought, suppressing her urge to listen in.

Her hand, still warm from their earlier touch, felt comforting as she scanned the room.

Luna's bedroom couldn't be described as quaint; it lacked any decorative items.

Instead, her bookshelves were piled high with books, while adventure merit awards from the Adventurer's Guild adorned the shelves as well.

I bet Luna lived with her family before...

What might her family have been like?

Navia imagined there might be photos or drawings of her family around, but after circling the room several times, she found nothing.

"Hm?"

Just then, Navia's attention was drawn to an unassuming little box sitting on Luna's desk.

Gently picking it up, her fingertips touched the spring mechanism on the side.

As she opened the box, the spring began to turn, emitting a slightly shrill melody... It was a music box.

Despite careful maintenance, time had taken its toll, and the internal mechanisms had rusted.

Inside the lid was stuck a card with a neat yet youthful handwriting:

To Father –

The signature read: "Luna."

Was this Luna's gift to her father? But why would it be here...?

Navia grew even more curious about who Luna's father was. She then noticed that there were a few more words on the card, but they were too blurry to read.

Arle-... mm... can't make it out.

"Is Luna's father named Arle?"

Why did that sound like a woman's name?