Furina, Please Let Me Steal Your Heart!

Luna already knew why Chiori had come to the theater, but she playfully poked her on the shoulder.

"Why the sudden visit? Are you here to watch my rehearsal? Missed me?"

"Just passing through, I was so lonely," Chiori replied half-heartedly. "Here are your costumes for Villainess Noble Daughter. Take a look; if anything's wrong, I'll fix it right away."

"I'm sure they're perfect, Chiori."

Chiori smiled. "I know, and I don't think there would be any issues either. It's just customary to say so." She set down her large bag, filled with neatly folded costumes for the play.

Navia grinned brightly. "I've got the accessories here."

"Nana, you're here to watch me rehearse?"

"Mm-hmm! Come by when you have time. You know, countless people would love to see these costumes but can't get their hands on them. Just one glance at them, and I'd be winning big time."

"In other words, Nana has become my devoted fan now."

"Exactly, I'm Lulu's number one fan! Though not the first, it's not too far off to call me that, right?"

Rather, anyone who understands Luna's charm would undoubtedly become her fan, wouldn't they?

Luna took out her performance outfit. From the design alone, it was clear this was meant for one of the leading female roles, including hers.

The fabric felt luxurious, the material undoubtedly premium. Even in the minutest details, the workmanship was meticulous, as if each piece was a work of art. The more one delved into the intricacies, the more evident the creator's intent became.

This revealed the painstaking care Chiori had put into it.

"Well then?" Chiori lifted her head slightly, pride evident in her tone.

"I love you too."

"Huh?" Navia replied, genuinely confused.

"I meant, what do you think of the outfit?" Chiori replied, gently caressing the costume.

"My feelings are just as you see here. With such attention to detail, what else can I say?"

"Just a simple 'it's wonderful' would suffice."

"Then, it's wonderful."

Chiori nodded contentedly, gathering the hair by her face to mask a faint blush at her ear.

"Lulu, you always say such things that can be misconstrued," Navia sighed.

"Isn't it the ones who misunderstand who have the problem?" Lulu replied.

With her open demeanor, there wasn't even a hint of ambiguity. Only those harboring impure thoughts would take it the wrong way.

"It's really the ones who say such things who should be careful," Navia retorted.

"Fine, then. Put it on and try it out?" Navia suggested, lifting the costume dress and draping it over Luna's body. "I'm sure you'll look every inch a noble young lady!"

"Could Nana help me change, then?" Luna asked sweetly.

Navia's face immediately turned beet red. Help her change? That would mean seeing... seeing... seeing her unclothed! But they were just girls, so there shouldn't be anything odd about that, right? Especially since they were close friends and confidantes.

Before Navia could answer, however, Chiori firmly refused for her: "She'll change by herself."

"Stingy," Luna teased.

In this situation, saying "I don't mind" would have been more awkward than the silence, so Navia had no choice but to let the matter drop.

Luna went to the dressing room, changed into the costume, and returned to stand before Chiori and Navia.

By now, Furina had also finally "returned without rival."

Though Luna didn't bother counting, she was certain that Furina had taken the opportunity to gossip about at least 80% of the troupe's members.

Creating a stage for deities to perform on was no easy feat.

"Oh, your troupe really does have its share of issues," Furina sighed.

"But I must say, the costumes are not one of them. Please, show us the garments."

Luna lifted her skirt to display her performance attire.

Furina stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... Now, run."

Luna bounded forward with swift, graceful strides, her costume unaffected by her movement.

"Perform a dance sequence."

The skirt flowed and swayed with Luna's steps, exuding elegance.

Furina reached out, feeling the back and sides of Luna's costume, as if assessing the precision of the stitching.

After thorough examination, she praised, "These costumes are exceptional! Who is the creator?"

Luna gently pushed forward Chiori, placing her hands on her shoulders.

"This is the one you seek."

The sweet fragrance wafting from them tickled Chiori's nose. She quickly brushed aside Luna's face, then proceeded to introduce herself with feigned nonchalance, "I am Chiori from Chiori's Boutique. I'm sure you've heard of me."

Furina crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow as she replied, "What a bold claim. You seem to assume that I, Focalors, would naturally be familiar with you."

Her words, however, carried an unmistakable tone of admiration.

"You're right, though," Furina continued. "Your name is indeed thunderously famous in the fashion world."

Chiori smiled. "That's only because everyone else is too weak."

Wow, she sure doesn't hold back, Furina thought to herself.

"Chiori speaks her mind even to the Hydro Archon," Navia whispered to Luna, edging closer.

"She might be different with the Raiden Shogun," Luna replied softly. Considering she's from Inazuma, after all.

But probably not by much, Navia thought to herself.

"If you said that at fashion week, you'd probably anger a whole bunch of people. But I respect your designs and skills. Feel honored!"

Chiori's expression seemed to say, "Of course I should be honored." Her face remained largely unchanged.

"Thank you very much," she said, nevertheless, with proper gratitude.

Furina picked up Chiori's performance outfit.

"... Wait a second."

"What is it?"

"This area, on the chest... isn't it a bit..."

No matter how she thought about it, it just wasn't working.

Luna, Navia, and Chiori all turned their gaze to Furina's chest.

Oh.

It was indeed a problem.

It was rehearsal time.

Since it was only a rehearsal, naturally nobody came in their performance costumes. Luna and Furina were still wearing their original clothes.

And below the stage sat the unfortunate employees, who were making props by hand.

They wanted to see Furina and Luna's dream collaboration, but they couldn't put down their work.

If they picked up their tools, they couldn't watch the performance;

If they set down their work, they couldn't embrace their careers.

It was too painful.

But Navia and Chiori didn't have such worries. The two of them sat in the front row, gazing at the pair on the stage.

In truth, Furina didn't need to rehearse.

Hundreds of years' experience, coupled with her constant portrayal of "Hydro Archon Focalors," had made acting a part of her.

For her, acting was as natural as breathing.

She wasn't the real goddess of water, but she was the only divine being on the stage. And what god needed training?

Nevertheless, this is what Furina said:

"Coincidentally, I have nothing to do today, so I'll take a good look to see if you've made any progress over this time."

"You and I are both the stage's main characters."

"But the audience's eyes will never fall on both of us at the same time; they will never gaze equally upon the luminescence of our two figures."

A faint smile appeared on Furina's face, full of confidence and anticipation.

"Therefore, although we are both protagonists—co-stars in this performance—we are not partners."

"Rather, the center stage exists for only one person. Those whose radiance is overshadowed, or even stolen, have no place at the heart of the stage."

Luna, not the least bit nervous, chuckled, "So, we're actually competitors then?"

"That's right."

So which protagonist would steal the limelight?

Let their acting and singing prove it.

Furina, proud of her position, boasted, "I've always been at the center, you know."

She didn't possess any extraordinary powers, but when it came to acting, even a god wouldn't outshine her!

Most people might simply nod in agreement.

After all, how could someone less than a hundred years old compare to one who was hundreds?

But Luna thoughtfully countered, "This time might be different, you know?"

"How bold! hmph, hmph. Well, that makes it more interesting! Come on, show me everything you've got, Luna! If you can truly impress me, I might just give you a reward."

Furina was brimming with confidence.

Would she win?

Of course! She couldn't possibly lose.