"Chiori!"
The doorbell's violent clang made Luna push open the door. She strode directly to the sofa where Chiori was reading.
"What?" Chiori asked without looking up.
Luna plucked the book from her hands and set it aside.
Chiori's brow twitched. "I was reading."
"I know."
Luna lifted her leg, planted her knee on the sofa, leaned forward, and seized Chiori's face in both hands. She began examining it closely.
Pulling open eyelids, lifting the chin, tugging down the lower lip.
"Stick out your tongue."
Chiori turned her face away impatiently. "What now? After being a detective, do you want to be a doctor now?"
"Stick out your tongue. Now."
Luna patted her chest gently, but the touch was particularly irritating—especially when Chiori noticed the unfamiliar bandage wrapped around her finger.
A yellow rose-patterned bandage, not the type she would ever use.
"...Sigh."
She knew Luna could be just as stubborn in certain matters. If she refused, who knew what lengths Luna would go to pry information out of her?
Chiori reluctantly stuck out her tongue.
Luna leaned closer for a careful inspection. Finding nothing unusual, she remarked, "It looks perfectly healthy—like a vibrant, plump apple."
"Is that enough?" Chiori sighed.
Luna stroked her chin. "Hard to say. Let's perform a test."
"First the physical examination, now the mental? Unfortunately, the primordial sea water doesn't have any dumbing-down effects. And I certainly don't plan on drinking another drop."
To be honest, it tasted absolutely revolting.
From Chiori's disgusted expression, Luna understood this sentiment perfectly.
"1000 - 7 = ?" Luna pressed on, ignoring the objection.
"993. What's this?"
"A classic question."
Luna relaxed slightly. "Alright, you pass!"
"Yes, yes, thank you very much," Chiori responded half-heartedly, her fingers trailing down a strand of hair.
Then she suddenly smiled.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Detective Miss is flustered for once. For some reason, it makes me want to laugh."
Luna had just been about to get up from the sofa, but upon hearing this, she felt a surge of displeasure.
Instead, she returned the smile, pressing her forehead against Chiori's. "Chiori, what do you think your mouth tastes like? I suddenly feel like biting it off."
"Huh?"
Chiori quickly covered Luna's face and pushed her away.
"If you can do it, then go ahead. But don't expect it won't hurt when you hit the floor." She stood up and took a few steps back.
"Why did you drink it?" Luna asked softly, collapsing back onto the sofa.
"Was it forbidden?"
"No."
"But I drank it anyway. Even if you forbade it, it's too late now. Besides, I don't have to obey your orders."
Good relationship ≠ Right to give arbitrary commands.
Especially someone like Chiori.
A request? She'd consider it. A demand? Occasionally she might comply. But an order? She'd never accept it.
In fact, the more you ordered her, the more likely she was to do the exact opposite.
Luna rolled over and moved to face Chiori.
"At least tell me!"
Chiori sighed softly. "Are you my mother? I don't need to report every action to you. You do the same, don't you? Keeping things from me?"
She turned away. "Courtesy? Not quite. We're both the same."
Luna understood the unspoken meaning in her words.
But the gravity of their situations wasn't equal.
"Don't play games with me. Why did you drink it?" Luna reached out, forcing Chiori's face toward hers.
Chiori glanced at the bandage. "Injured?"
"Even if we know the Primordial water only affects Fontaine people, that doesn't mean it's completely harmless for Inazuma citizens."
"Whose bandage is this?" Chiori asked.
The irritation in Luna's eyes intensified.
"Stop evading the question." Her voice dropped to a growl.
Chiori studied Luna's expression more closely.
The more dissatisfied Luna grew, the more profound her inner satisfaction became.
Chiori chuckled softly. "Because your question was utterly pointless. Someone had to verify the authenticity of this information, and it just needed to be someone not from Fontaine. And I succeeded."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you'd have drunk it first!" Chiori jabbed Luna's chest forcefully.
Luna was always like this.
She'd scrutinize everyone around her before arbitrarily making decisions.
Luna puffed out her chest, hands on her hips.
"Of course I should test it! I'm half-Mondstadt and half-Liyue."
"Even if the primordial water might affect others, my innate awesome physique would halve any negative effects!"
"It could double the damage instead," Chiori remarked calmly.
"You're so annoying."
"I'm merely offering logical counterpoints."
"What's the reason for not telling me?" Luna pressed.
"Did you need a reason?"
Luna: "...."
Chiori: "...."
It was indeed quite irritating.
Luna took a light breath, then suddenly pushed Chiori to the ground.
The sudden dull pain made Chiori frown. She sat on the ground, looking up at Luna who was pinning her shoulders.
"Want to fight?"
"Don't do that again," Luna murmured.
Chiori's eyes were calm. "I don't want to. I won't obey anyone's orders."
"I don't care."
"Then I don't care either."
Luna pursed her lips. "What will it take for you to listen to me?"
"Simple. You have to listen to me too."
What is this?
"I've always listened to Chiori, haven't I? No one's more obedient and sensible than me. Chiori, you should be grateful to have such a good friend." Luna's fingertips scraped against Chiori's ear.
Chiori's face filled with disgust.
"No one's more difficult to deal with than you. How dare you call yourself obedient and sensible?"
"What do you mean?" Luna feigned ignorance.
"...Lie down."
"Hm?"
"If you were a cat, you'd lie down and listen to me. Then I'll listen to you too." Chiori lifted her chin, her smile radiant.
Her beauty was so dazzling that one might wonder if she'd eaten mushrooms and started hallucinating.
Luna didn't mind, but she demanded, "Then promise you won't do this next time."
"I can only promise I'll tell you beforehand."
"But telling doesn't mean you won't do it, does it?"
Chiori smiled without responding.
At least she'd give some notice first.
Luna sighed and lay down on the sofa. "I'm lying down."
"I can see that."
"What are you doing?"
Instead of answering, Chiori placed her hand on Luna's belly and began rubbing it casually.
Through the clothes, Luna couldn't feel her hand's warmth, but the ungentle strokes still made their way to her skin.
"What on earth are you doing?" Luna asked helplessly.
"Didn't you say you're a cat? Then show me your belly."
After a moment of staring at each other, Luna gently lifted her shirt. "Here you go."
"...That's kinda gross. Put it back down."
First she wants it, then she doesn't. What's the point?
Luna gently kicked Chiori's arm. "The one who wants me to expose my belly is the real gross one here."
Chiori opened her mouth, realizing she had no counterargument.
Yet she showed no embarrassment. Her finger traced down Luna's chin, following the elegant curve of her neck.
Luna felt a tickle in her throat.
Chiori's technique shifted as she hooked her finger, lightly scratching Luna's chin. Naturally, Luna showed no sign of enjoying the sensation, only feeling perplexed.
"What are you doing?"
"Relaxing your mood."
Luna responded absently, "Oh."
"What's with the bandage?"
"Got bitten by a big dog."
Big dog? Chiori pondered for a moment. "...No matter what, Navia wouldn't do that. What did you do?"
Luna tapped her lips. "If you want to know, why not try it yourself? I still have nine fingers—counting toes, that's nineteen fingers and toes you can bite."
Chiori gazed at her silently, as if saying: I'll pretend I never heard that.
"Having someone leave marks on you like this can't be good, can it?"
"Chiori can do it too."
Chiori inhaled sharply. "I don't want that."
The cheek kiss was already more than enough.
"And I've told you before—stop saying things like that."
One day, it might come back to bite you.
Luna responded half-heartedly, "Yes, yes, I'll be careful."
For a moment, Chiori considered whether she should truly make Luna understand her mistake. But before she could think it through, Luna had already taken her hand.
"You're very important to me," Luna murmured.
Chiori pressed her lips together. She turned her gaze slightly. "So?"
"Mm."
"What does 'mm' mean? Be clear."
"If I explain, you'll just say I'm ordering you around again. I won't say more than this."
Chiori gathered her hair. "The one who always does stupid things isn't me, it's you, you fat cat. You're important to me too, so I won't listen to you."
"You're such a troublesome woman."
Chiori raised her eyebrows, her anger flaring instantly. She grabbed Luna's belly. "What did you say?"
"You're such a stubborn woman."
Chiori's eyes held no trace of amusement, yet her smile remained radiant. "...You won't be leaving here today."