Lucifer found herself developing a soft spot for the girl before her. Kasugano Sora was clearly a child starved of security, clinging to her plush rabbit as if it were a lifeline. And yet, for reasons she couldn't quite place, Lucifer sensed a quiet strength beneath the surface, a resilience that didn't match her fragile appearance.
Her gaze softened as she studied Sora's complexion. It was delicate, fair, and undeniably beautiful, but it held the translucent quality of soone suffering from malnutrition. Lucifer had noticed it before, but now, seeing the dark circles faintly smudged beneath the girl's eyes, it was even more apparent.
She recalled Ren's uncharacteristic panic upon learning Sora had a nightmare. It was the first ti Lucifer had ever seen him so rattled. There was clearly more to this story.
Clearing her throat gently, Lucifer began, "Um... Sora, your physical condition seems rather poor, doesn't it?"
At the question, Kasugano Sora gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Yes... It's very bad. I've been frail and sickly since I was a child, in and out of the hospital. When my parents passed away, I was bedridden at ho, recovering from another illness..."
"Is it that serious? Haven't you received proper treatnt?" Lucifer asked, her voice laced with concern.
Sora shook her head, her silver hair shifting with the motion. "The doctors only ever tell to get more rest and supplent my nutrition, but it's completely useless. My condition hasn't improved at all..."
"Does it relapse even after you seem to get better?"
Sora nodded again, her grip tightening on the rabbit doll. "Yes... My health has deteriorated to a very bad state. Before, when I used to order takeout, it wasn't because I was too lazy to move. It was because I genuinely couldn't leave the house anymore..." Her voice dropped to a near whisper. "Brother Ren would always have to put his work on hold to deliver als to . He'd stay and supervise until I finished everything and took my dicine before he would leave. Thinking about it now, I really troubled him so much..."
Lucifer opened her mouth, wanting to offer so words of comfort, but Sora continued, her voice heavy with mory. "As for why Brother Ren was so nervous when he heard I had a nightmare... it's also because of my health."
"Eh?"
"Yes. I tend to get a sudden, high fever whenever I have a nightmare. I also get one if I'm badly startled. Since I'm always alone at ho and don't go out much, Brother Ren and the others worry a lot..."
"They?" Lucifer prompted gently.
"Mmm..." Sora confird. "Brother Ren, and Sister Yumiko, and the others. Once, Kirari-nee even started a video call just to watch take my fever reducer..."
Lucifer nodded in understanding. Then, a practical question ca to mind. "Sora, you should be of school age, right? But in your current state, what about your studies...?"
"I applied for a leave of absence," Sora explained quietly. "I want to focus on recuperating this year and see how things are next year. If I'm better, I'll try going back to school. If not... then this is fine, too. After all, no one likes a student who takes so many sick days, right...?" She added with a faint, self-deprecating smile, "And I have to use an umbrella whenever I go out. If the temperature gets too high, I might get heatstroke and faint. The sun makes my skin hurt, too... Luckily, Brother Ren's restaurant is a diner that opens at night, so there's no sun to worry about."
Lucifer listened, her heart aching for the girl. After a mont of thought, she offered a solution. "Then, Sora, you should just move in here. Ren would definitely agree, and you could recuperate properly and nourish your body."
To her surprise, Kasugano Sora shook her head firmly. "Although I really want to, and Brother Ren always suggests it... I've always refused."
"Why?"
"Because... I feel that if I moved in, I would be too much trouble for Brother Ren. I'm already causing him so much difficulty as it is. I definitely can't move in..."
Lucifer was taken aback by her words. That such a helpless and exceptionally fragile-looking girl could possess such a resolute, considerate core was unexpected. An idea began to form in Lucifer's mind, but it would require Ren's cooperation.
She sighed softly. "Sora, are you worried that your health will be a burden?"
Kasugano Sora nodded, her eyes downcast.
A small smile played on Lucifer's lips. "In that case, if your health were to improve, even just a little... or even if you were to fully recover, would you be willing to move in then?"
Sora looked up, a flicker of surprise in her gaze. "Eh? That's a beautiful thought, but it has nothing to do with . Still, thank you for your concern, Sister Lucifer."
Lucifer's smile widened, a playful glint in her eyes. "Maybe it's not just a kind thought..."
"Eh?"
"Let's not talk about that for now," Lucifer said, changing the subject. "Sora, what school do you attend? You look like you could be in middle school. Hyotei? Seigaku?"
Sora's voice was barely a whisper. "Sister Lucifer... I'm actually a high school student... A first-year."
"Eh?! Sora, you're in high school?!" Lucifer couldn't hide her shock. "But... you don't really look like one..."
Kasugano Sora's cheeks puffed out in a slight pout. Her gaze drifted to Lucifer's well-proportioned figure, then down to her own petite fra. "Although I don't look like one in many ways, I really am a high school student..." she said, a little dejectedly. "Because I've been frail and a picky eater since I was little, so... ugh..."
Lucifer nodded, briefly imagining Sora with the sa commanding presence as Kirari or the others, and imdiately shook her head. The image was too ridiculous. She smiled warmly. "But Sora is very beautiful. What high school are you from?"
"Katagiri..."
"Oh, Katagiri... Katagiri?!"
This ti, Lucifer was genuinely startled. Was Katagiri High really that incredible? A veritable hotbed of beauties? Then again, she recalled that Koyo Girl's Academy, under Sou Ryuin Shion's Koyo Academy Group, also seed to produce an exceptional number of stunning young won. What a strange coincidence...
ntally, she ran through the list of Katagiri students she knew: Hori Kyoko, Hinami Aoi, Yuki, Minami, and Asuna. And now, Kasugano Sora. Was the school holding so kind of secret beauty pageant?!
Suddenly, another connection sparked in her mind. Kobayashi Rindou had ntioned to Hori Kyoko that she knew another student from Katagiri. It seed highly likely that she had been talking about Sora.
Lucifer leaned in slightly. "Sora, have you ever won any awards at school?"
"Ah? Can you even call that a prize?" Sora looked confused. "It was just a spiritual encouragent award... for promoting the spirit of attending classes while sick, or sothing like that..."
Lucifer considered this. It didn't seem right. Hori Kyoko had specifically ntioned that the person Rindou knew was excellent in both academics and sports, a description that clearly didn't fit Kasugano Sora's situation.
Seeing the conflicted look on Lucifer's face, Sora asked softly, "Sister Lucifer... what's wrong?"
"Ah, I'm fine. It's just... Sora, do you know anyone else from Katagiri? Do you know Rindou and the others?"
Kasugano Sora shook her head. "I don't... I rarely attended a full day of classes, and later I just took a leave of absence. So, I don't even know who's in my own class..."
Lucifer let out a small sigh. "You Katagiri students are really sothing else."
"Eh?"
Just as Sora looked at her quizzically, a new aroma drifted into the room, cutting through their conversation. It was a warm, sweet scent, rich with the fragrance of simring milk.
"Hmm... it slls like milk," Lucifer murmured, her nose twitching. "Brother Ren is making that dish again..."
"Eh? What dish?" Sora asked, her own attention captured by the comforting sll. "It does sll wonderful..."
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