Lillia was at a loss for words. “....How the hell do you accidentally kiss someone…? Let alone, our target?”

“I don't know, okay!? The tree’s branches cracked and I landed on top of her!” I uncovered my completely red face as I tried to defend myself. “It wasn't my fault! It was all that damn Blaze!”

Lillia looked at me with a judging stare, as if to ask 'Why were you standing in a tree?' but immediately froze once she heard Blaze's name. “....Blaze?”

“Yeah, Blaze! Blaze and her little Regret organization found Luna Ione first!” I gnashed my teeth in frustration. “Just thinking about it pisses me off!”

“Regret…” Lillia had a solemn look on her face. “So, that's why you were gone for so long. Did you run into them?”

“Yep. Even saw their abilities in action.”

I had a good memory so, I could easily recall the entire ability demonstration from start to finish.

“Those three all had interesting abilities… They would definitely be useful to Crime. I’d love to recruit them.” I frowned once I remembered the look of disgust on each of their faces. “They rejected my offer, though.”

“And our target?”

“Her ability….” I thought it was interesting, and I wanted to see more of what she could do with it. But her movements were also so beautiful, I couldn't look away. My excitement arising as I watched her must have been how Ettie Vernon was able to sense my presence. “...It definitely caught my interest the most.”

“What's with that grin? Creepy.”

“C-Cree—!? Why does everyone think I’m creepy?!” And was I really grinning? I didn't notice!

“You’ve been acting weirder than usual ever since you’ve come back from Regret’s hideout. Did you hit your head when you fell out of that tree or something?”

Did you hurt yourself when you fell…?

I recalled Luna Ione’s words again and giggled a little. “Ehehee…♡” The very thought of Luna Ione was making me feel giddy!

“...You definitely hit your head.”

“I-I did not! I just…” I put my fingers to my lips, tracing the parts Luna Ione touched with her own.

I could still feel her warmth from earlier… Strange. What was this feeling bubbling in my heart?

“...I want her…” I murmured without realizing.

“What.” Lillia stared, baffled.

“Bwuh?!” I gasped at the realization of what I just said and did, and quickly rushed to clear up the misunderstanding. “A-As in, I want to recruit her! I want her to be my partner!”

“Your partner.” Lillia repeated slowly.

“My partner in Crime, I mean! I don't mean it like that!”

“Denying it so vehemently just makes you sound more suspicious.” She sighed tiredly. “I don't really care if you've fallen in love with our target or not.”

“F-Fallen in lo—?!”

Was that true?! Was I really in love with Luna Ione?!

“Ahahahahah! Nooo way!” I laughed awkwardly, with several waves of my hand. “I'm just interested in her as an ally!”

Lillia nodded slowly. “Uh huh. Keep telling yourself that.”

“I mean, I think she’s really cute, but—” I paused. Since when have I ever called someone ‘cute’? Wasn't that completely out of character for me?

“I-I’m not in love with Luna Ione—!” I protested, but I was starting to doubt myself. “...Am I in love with Luna Ione?”

“Why are you asking me?” Lillia sounded completely disinterested in the topic.

“I don't know! You know about this kind of stuff, don't you?! What do you think, Lillia?!”

“First of all, calm down. And second of all, I don't care. What I think is that we should be focusing on the mission.”

Lillia had a point obviously, but I didn't like how she was brushing me off when she was more knowledgeable about this topic than I was.

“Even though you’re the one who brought up such a topic in the first place…” I muttered under my breath, but tried to bring my mind back to the mission, despite finding it extremely hard to calm myself down. I cleared my throat, hoping it would help. “...Anyway! Unlike the other three members, Luna Ione almost came with me. But…” I felt like I would get angry again if I thought about Blaze too much.

“...Blaze got in the way.” Lillia finished for me, sensing my feelings on the situation.

“Yep. That, and someone told me to come back while I was in the middle of the mission!” I sighed dramatically, but I was more teasing than anything.

“Are you still mad about that? It had been a day since you left. We were worried.”

…That made me happy. I could already feel a smile forming on my lips now that I knew my friends were worried about me.

I could never stay mad at them…

Unlike her. I would carry that everlasting anger to my grave.

Blaze…

I clenched my fists.

 “So, where do we go from here, Thorn?” Lillia asked.

I regained my composure once I heard Lillia directly call out to me. “First, we'll inform the others. And then…” I couldn't help but feel my lips curl into a grin. This was six years in the making, after all! “...We can begin the next phase of Operation: Retrieve Luna Ione!”

She hummed. “Sounds good to me. We should inform Violet and Eon right away, anyway.” As Lillia and I walked further down the hallway to go gather the other members, I let Luna Ione enter my thoughts again.

That ribbon of hers sure is cute... It matches her pretty purple eyes...

“'Ribbon'... That has a nice ring to it, actually. Maybe I'll call her that? 'Ribbon'...” I nodded to myself.

“...What are you babbling about now.” Lillia asked.

“Ah?! N-Nothing!”

I should keep that thought to myself!

— End of Thorn Shadows's POV —