"Um... Sister Lumina, the Space Station is more like a researcher's lab, so there aren't any luxurious rooms here."
"If you're not comfortable, I can..."
"No need," Lumina said, gently shaking her head. She raised a finger and lightly pressed it against Asta's lips, silencing her.
"I've lived in environments ten, a hundred, even a thousand times worse than this."
"The conditions here on the Space Station are actually quite good."
"Sister Lumina..."
Hearing Lumina's words, Asta couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
Only a fraction of Lumina's countless deeds were recorded in textbooks.
Yet even that small portion had left a profound impression on Asta when she first studied them.
For several Amber Eras, she had selflessly devoted herself to helping any living being she encountered, asking nothing in return...
Asta couldn't imagine what Lumina had endured to keep going for so long.
"There's no need to pity me. I'm used to it," Lumina said with a faint smile, shaking her head.
"Alright..."
Asta desperately wanted to offer comfort, but she knew their relationship wasn't close enough for such personal sharing. To avoid making a bad impression, Asta kept her thoughts to herself.
"Sister Lumina, please get some rest these next few days," Asta said. "I'll be leaving now so I don't disturb you. If anything comes up, you can find me in the Master Control Zone. I'm there most of the time."
With these parting words, Asta turned to leave.
"Asta, wait," Lumina called out suddenly, just as Asta took a few steps.
"Hmm?" Asta turned back, puzzled, and saw Lumina waving her phone.
"Wanna add each other?"
-
["How can you act one way in public and completely different in private?"]
"What's wrong?" Lumina asked lazily, sprawled on the sofa and watching TV. To anyone who didn't know better, she might have seemed like a fallen angel.
[Nothing's wrong.]
In fact, the System was secretly pleased. Now, it was the only being aware of Lumina's dual nature. Wasn't that a testament to their unique bond?
Lumina: ...
Seeing the System's thoughts projected onto the screen, Lumina couldn't help but feel exasperated. Hasn't anyone told it that its internal monologue appears on the screen?
[Never mind, I won't bother telling it.]
[I hold your secret, while you know nothing of mine. Isn't that proof of our special friendship?]
[Precisely because I have leverage over you, and you have none over me, we can remain the best of friends.]
A mischievous, black-hearted grin flickered across Lumina's mind, sending an inexplicable chill down the System's digital spine.
"I still feel like something's missing."
Lumina lay on the sofa, watching the television with a bored expression.
Suddenly, she sat up, as if realizing she had forgotten something.
She pulled out her phone, found Asta's contact (which she had just added), and sent a message:
[Lumina: Asta, does the Space Station have anywhere that sells potato chips?]
Asta replied almost instantly with a flurry of messages:
[Asta: Potato chips?]
[Asta: If Sister Lumina wants some, I'll go buy them for you right away.]
[Lumina: No, no, I can get them myself.]
[Asta: Absolutely not! Sister Lumina, you're our guest. How could we possibly let you lift a finger?]
[Lumina: Nonsense. You're the Lead Researcher—you must be swamped. I wouldn't want to waste your time on something so trivial.]
[Asta: How could anything concerning Sister Lumina be trivial?]
[Asta: Besides, the Space Station has been quiet lately. Nothing's been happening...]
BANG!!!
A deafening explosion shook the entire Space Station.
Fortunately, Lumina had anticipated this outcome. She remained calmly reclined on the sofa, unaffected by the sudden tremor.
Seeing Asta's message sent before she could finish typing, Lumina chuckled softly and sent a voice message in response:
[Lumina: (Voice message: How about now? Is everything still alright? Looks like this minor task of buying chips is better left to me.)]
Asta didn't reply immediately, likely disrupted by the sudden commotion. Lumina remained unconcerned, her gaze fixed on the television screen, which remained undisturbed.
Several minutes passed before Lumina's phone finally buzzed.
[Asta: I'm so sorry, Sister Lumina! The Space Station has suddenly come under attack...]
[Asta: The location is xxxxxxxxxx. You'll have to go get them yourself, or wait until I've dealt with this situation and I'll buy them for you.]
Reading Asta's message, Lumina could vividly picture the pink-haired girl on the other end of the screen, clearly overwhelmed by the unexpected crisis yet desperately trying to maintain a composed facade.
Lumina found Asta's carefully maintained composure quite amusing.
I wonder what expression she's hiding beneath that mask?
A playful smile spread across Lumina's face as she tapped a message into her screen:
[Lumina: If you run into any problems you can't handle, just come to me~]
[Asta: Don't worry, Sister Lumina. I'll have this resolved in no time.]
Asta replied almost instantly, confirming that the situation was indeed manageable with her abilities.
But is she really alright? Or is she just putting on a brave face for me?
Lumina closed her eyes, sensing the energies within and around the space station.
Do I not understand the precarious state this station is in, Little Asta?
She chuckled softly, sat up, and raised her hand. A glowing green orb materialized in her palm.
The orb drifted downward, its light permeating every corner of the space station.
"Done~"
Having finished her task, Lumina collapsed onto the sofa once more, sprawled out like a beached fish.
"Little Asta, Little Asta~" she murmured, her eyes glued to the television screen. "This isn't over until I get my potato chips~"