Added to the Gacha as Rukkhadevata (Honkai Star Rail)

"Hmm? Asta, you're up early," Lumina said, emerging from her room. She soon spotted Asta sitting on a bench in a lounge area, munching on a steamed bun. Lumina walked over and greeted her.

"Hmm? Sister Lumina!" Asta looked up, her face lighting up with delight. She quickly scooted over to make room for Lumina on the bench.

Lumina didn't hesitate and sat down.

Once Lumina was settled, Asta paused her meal and asked, her voice tinged with excitement, "Sister Lumina, why are you up so early? Didn't you want to rest a little longer?"

"No need," Lumina replied with a gentle smile, shaking her head. "I usually wake up around six, so it's not particularly early for me."

[Really? Say that again with a clear conscience!]

"Shut up!" Lumina silenced the System's skepticism with a gentle mental command.

[You'll go to any lengths to deceive a beautiful girl, huh?]

[Lumina! Stop pretending! Show your true self already!]

"Asta? Why are you up so early?" Lumina asked gently, ignoring the System's tactless interjection. She turned to Asta with a warm smile.

Asta took a bite of her steamed bun, then shook her head. "Like you, Sister Lumina, I don't have any trouble waking up early. I always get up around this time."

"Oh, right," Asta said, glancing at her bun as if remembering something. "Have you had breakfast yet, Sister Lumina?"

"Not yet."

"Then... would you like some?" Asta looked at the steamed buns in her hand, picked up a few, and offered them to Lumina. "Arlan always packs me so many, but I can never finish them all."

Asta grumbled about this, then quickly added as Lumina accepted the buns, "I haven't touched these ones yet, Sister Lumina. If you're worried about germs..."

"Not at all," Lumina replied with a warm smile. She gazed at the bun in her hand and took a small, elegant bite.

Lumina chewed slowly and thoughtfully, a soft light gradually spreading through her eyes.

She couldn't help but murmur in admiration, "Delicious!"

"I'm so glad you like it, Sister Lumina," Asta said with a smile, pleased by Lumina's reaction.

For some reason, even though the steamed bun tasted exactly the same as always, Asta found it unexpectedly delicious today.

I'll ask Arlan about this later, she thought to herself. She'd never realized how good these buns were before. Maybe the chef added some special seasoning...

Asta attributed the bun's enhanced flavor entirely to the chef's skill, never considering any other possible reasons.

What Asta didn't realize was that the taste of food wasn't just about the ingredients themselves. The company you kept also played a part...

The two young girls continued eating breakfast, chatting and laughing. Time seemed to slip away like a dream.

Soon, Asta's phone rang, jolting them back to reality.

Asta took out her phone, turned off the alarm, and glanced at the time. With a reluctant sigh, she knew it was time to part ways with Lumina, at least for now.

"Sister Lumina," Asta said apologetically, "it's almost 7:30. I need to head to the Master Control Zone to prepare."

"Alright~" Lumina nodded with a smile.

"Oh, wait!"

As Asta stood up and took a few steps, Lumina suddenly remembered something and called her back.

"What is it?" Asta turned around, her expression puzzled.

Lumina walked up to Asta and whispered, "Herta needs to talk to me, but I don't know where her office is."

[This is a lie.]

Asta's eyes lit up at this. "Madam Herta's office is also in the Master Control Zone," she offered eagerly. "I can take you there, Sister Lumina."

[This is her true motive.]

"Really? Thank you so much, Asta♪"

Lumina glanced at the two lines that had appeared on the System screen. Barely restraining the urge to curse it, she forced a smile and thanked Asta.

"No problem at all! Let's hurry—we don't want to keep Madam Herta waiting," Asta said dismissively, waving her hand. With that, she strode ahead to lead the way.

"Work hours at the Space Station typically start at eight in the morning. It's almost time, so it's getting quite crowded," Asta explained to Lumina as they walked through the steadily growing crowd.

"Asta, do these staff members find you intimidating?" Lumina asked, noticing how they parted to make way for Asta despite the congestion.

"Huh? No, Sister Lumina, why would you ask that?" Asta paused, visibly surprised by the question, and shook her head in denial. She couldn't understand why her sister would think such a thing.

Then, glancing at the staff members' eyes, she noticed the unmistakable look of reverence. A soft giggle escaped her lips as she suddenly understood.

"Sister Lumina, they're not looking at me—they're looking at you!" Asta managed to say between giggles. "Given your reputation across the cosmos, it's only natural for them to react this way."

"When I first met you, Sister Lumina, I also thought you'd be difficult to approach."

"But it turned out..."

Asta trailed off, leaving Lumina curious about the image she held of her.

"But what?" Lumina asked gently, genuinely intrigued.

Sensing Lumina's curious gaze, Asta placed a hand over her chest and finished her thought. "I never expected you to be... so easy to get along with."

"Is that so?" Lumina smiled tenderly and patted Asta's head, offering no further comment.

"Mmm..." Asta closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of Lumina's touch. So comfortable, so warm... she thought, thoroughly enjoying the feeling.

In truth, Asta had one more thought she didn't dare voice aloud: an overwhelming urge to draw closer to Lumina, to be near her. This impulse defied her understanding, unlike friendship or romantic love.

Could it be familial affection? she wondered. Have I come to see Lumina as a... mother figure?

After pondering this, Asta finally settled on that explanation.