Added to the Gacha as Rukkhadevata (Honkai Star Rail)

"Sister Lumina, you're leaving tomorrow..."

"You could stay a few more days at the Space Station..."

In the Master Control Zone, Asta pursed her rosy lips, trying to persuade Lumina to stay as she heard her farewell.

"I've already spent several days at the Space Station," Lumina replied gently, shaking her head and declining Asta's offer. "It's time for me to do something meaningful."

"So..." Asta's heart couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.

She looked up, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Spending time with me here at the Space Station... isn't meaningful to you?"

Asta's voice trembled with emotion, sounding as if she had been abandoned by her own mother—filled with hurt, confusion, and a deep sense of injustice.

Realizing her words might have been too impulsive, Asta quickly waved her hands apologetically. "N-no... that's not what I meant... I'm sorry..."

"Sigh..." Lumina sighed, seeing Asta's expression. She reached out and gently stroked Asta's head, her voice soft and tender as she said, "Of course not, Asta. Spending time with you is very meaningful to me."

Lumina's gentle voice was like a soothing balm, washing away all the negativity in Asta's heart.

"Then... Sister Lumina, can you stay a few more days?"

Though her negative feelings had vanished, seeing Lumina's tender expression stirred a selfish desire within Asta.

She wanted to keep Sister Lumina all to herself, to have her stay on the Space Station forever, always by her side...

Asta knew this was wrong, impolite even, but she couldn't help wanting it... She didn't understand why she felt this way.

Perhaps... deep down, she had already come to see Lumina as an indispensable part of her life.

So... had she started thinking of Sister Lumina as a mother figure?

Asta pondered this in her heart.

"I can't, Little Asta," Lumina replied, shaking her head despite Asta's hopeful gaze.

Seeing this, Asta's eyes instantly filled with disappointment. After a moment of inner turmoil, she reluctantly accepted the situation.

Just as Sister Lumina had said, spending time with her was meaningful, but Sister Lumina had even more important things to do.

Therefore... she couldn't be too selfish.

Asta's heart felt a little lighter as she reached this conclusion.

She lifted her head and asked Lumina nervously, "Um... Sister Lumina, will you... will you come back?"

As she finished speaking, Asta squeezed her eyes shut, clearly terrified of hearing anything other than the answer she desperately wanted.

Lumina: ...

Lumina paused, taken aback by Asta's adorable, closed-eyed expression.

I didn't expect to have earned so much of Asta's affection in just a few days, Lumina thought. But honestly, she's so cute like this...

Her tightly closed eyes, her trembling body from fear, and her fingers clutching the hem of her dress—her pitiful demeanor stirred an overwhelming urge to protect her.

Indeed, beautiful girls are heaven's greatest gift to humanity!

Lumina couldn't help but sigh inwardly before giving Asta a gentle smile.

"Don't worry," she said. "I've partnered with Herta, and I'll be visiting the Space Station regularly to conduct experiments with her."

"But..."

Lumina paused deliberately, hoping to tease the adorable Asta before her.

Asta clearly fell for the bluff. Her initial joy at Lumina's words was quickly replaced by anxiety at the "but..." from her sister. Her fingers tightened their grip on the hem of her dress.

As Asta closed her eyes, her heart pounding with tension, Lumina's lips curved into a faint smile unseen by the younger girl. Her mood brightened considerably.

"But even if I hadn't partnered with Herta, I'd still visit the Space Station from time to time."

"Because..."

"Asta, you're here! ♪"

Lumina smiled tenderly, gently stroking Asta's small head.

"So, you don't need to worry. We'll definitely meet again someday~"

"Umm... Okay then..."

Hearing Sister Lumina's words, Asta's racing heart finally calmed, and her anxiety gradually dissipated.

Asta closed her eyes, savoring the gentle head pats from her dear Sister Lumina.

Mmm... This feels so nice... so warm... just like Mom used to...

"Lumina... Mom..."

Lumina: "Huh?"

Perhaps overwhelmed by the comfort and warmth, Asta blurted out her innermost thoughts.

Hearing the word "Mom" slip from Asta's lips, Lumina froze, completely stunned.

Wait, you actually see me as your mom?

I thought we were best friends, and you want me to be your mother?

This... this doesn't feel right.

"Hmm?" Sensing Lumina's sudden stillness, Asta opened her eyes in confusion.

She stared at Lumina, who was frozen in place, slightly puzzled. Just as Asta was about to ask what was wrong, she suddenly remembered... she had just spoken her thoughts aloud.

And those thoughts... had involved calling Sister Lumina "Mom."

"U-um... Sister Lumina, you... you mustn't misunderstand! What I said earlier was just... just..."

Asta's face flushed crimson as she realized she had actually voiced her innermost thoughts aloud. She stammered, desperately trying to explain, but the overwhelming nervousness in her heart made it impossible to form a coherent sentence.

"Pfft..." Lumina chuckled at Asta's flustered state, her hand continuing to stroke Asta's hair. "You know, if you really want, you can call me 'Mommy Lumina' too♪"

Asta: ...

Frozen in place, Asta stared at Lumina's gentle, understanding expression, basking in the warmth of her touch. Then, a radiant smile blossomed on her face, her overflowing joy spilling out in a single, heartfelt sentence:

"I'll just stick with 'Sister Lumina' for now!"

From that day forward, Lumina's shadow filled the young girl's heart completely...