The day hadn't even ended, and so many things had already happened...
It was a day full of surprises.
After arriving home, Mikan called her mother and briefly explained Asia's situation.
Ringo, their mother, remembered Asia and easily agreed to let Asia live in their house.
"Asia, you can stay in this room." Mikan led her to an empty room: "Make yourself at home."
Asia, who was led to the room and entered, seemed grateful.
In the church, she lived with little, without any luxury or abundance.
The most luxurious thing she ate was the parfait that Rito bought for her.
"Is it really okay for someone like me to live in this beautiful room?" Asia asked.
Mikan's expression changed a little in reaction to Asia's words, but she masked it with a smile, taking her hands: "Of course! Asia, you're the savior of my mother, you're practically family now!"
Mikan knew she was forcing it, but she felt that if she didn't do at least this, Asia would continue belittling herself.
Considering the toxic environment she lived in, it was understandable that she was like that.
And it was also surprising how she managed to remain so pure and innocent, even after everything she went through. This just proves that there are flowers capable of blooming with purity, even amid the trash.
...
Lala met Zastin on the spaceship.
"Miss Lala." Zastin asked: "Do you need something?"
"Zastin." She handed him some sheets: "Do something for me."
Taking the sheets, Zastin leafed through them very quickly: "This is..."
"Those cretins deserve to be punished, got it? How can they exploit the kindness of such a pure girl like that?" She crossed her arms with puffed cheeks: "I'm upset!"
Zastin wanted to ask about something, or more precisely, about her disappearance from the radar, but it seemed like it wasn't the right moment.
"Yes!" He replied positively: "Consider it done! I'll make sure those people are severely punished!"
"That's better." Her expression relaxed a bit.
...
Rito was in his room in a kind of meditation.
In his mind, everything that happened passed like scenes from a movie at 10x speed.
Every detail was not lost as he used the energy of a purple light orb.
When he finished, he opened his eyes and took a deep breath and sighed.
"My gains today are huge..." He murmured softly.
And, although bringing Asia to their home might represent some danger, it was a risk they committed to taking.
They are not cruel enough to abandon such a sweet girl like Asia who needs help just because a depraved, despicable, and very spoiled Devil had his eye on her.
'I'm still too weak!'
He felt frustrated.
The feeling of importance was something he didn't like at all.
He didn't know if he could handle the situation properly if, for example, Diadora appeared.
And, he didn't want to use Lala or Lala's father as a shield.
Copying several of Yami's abilities made him a little stronger. But he still hadn't reached the level of an Ultimate-Class Devil.
'With my current strength, I can finish the first map of the hunting dimension...'
If he manages to steal the powers of the Boss from the first map, even if it's still not enough, at least he would have a little more confidence.
Making his hand transform into a sharp blade, he murmured in his mind: 'Now, I can take 'weapons' to the hunting dimension.'
*Knock, Knock!*
"Rito? Are you there?"
Hearing Mikan's voice, he replied while making his hand return to normal: "Yes, come in."
Putting half of her body inside the room, she asked while looking at him: "Rito, I want to make yakisoba, can you help me?"
"It's rare for you to ask for help like this." He smiled while standing up: "Of course I'll help you. No, let me help you."
"Mooooh! You don't need to make it seem like I'm the type of person who likes to do everything alone because I don't like asking for help." She puffed her cheeks, but laughed right after: "I'll be waiting for you in the kitchen."
'She's really cute.' He thought while shaking his head.
Before leaving, he went to take a shower.
...
Later in the kitchen, Rito helped Mikan with the homemade yakisoba.
"Mikan, why did you choose to make yakisoba?" Rito asked, curious.
"Don't Italians like pasta?" She replied as if it were an obvious thing.
He didn't need her to say anything more.
"Mikan, you're really very kind." He touched her head while smiling: "I'm very proud of you, did you know that?"
"W-What are you saying like that, out of nowhere?!" She hit his hand and turned her face, with flushed cheeks. "And don't keep putting your hand on my head!" She grumbled at the end: "What a thing... Why is he always like this?"
...
Later when dinner was ready, everyone sat around the table.
"Wow!" Asia clasped her hands while looking amazed.
The yakisoba in the hot pan looked delicious.
Just the smell made her stomach growl.
"Asia, let me serve you." Mikan took a bowl and started putting a generous portion of yakisoba with plenty of shrimp and meat.
"Mikan, can I eat, can I eat?" Lala wiped the drool with the back of her hand.
"Yes, feel free, Lala." Mikan smiled at her.
"Yay! Thanks for the food!" After clasping her hands, Lala who had already served herself, took the chopsticks and didn't waste time, picking up the noodles and slurping.
The sound of her slurping echoed, followed by her praise: "It's delicious, so tasty!"
"Haha, you always say that, Lala." Mikan laughed a little.
"What's delicious, is delicious." Lala replied.
"You're right." Mikan didn't disagree and handed the bowl to Asia and asked cautiously: "Here, see if it's to your liking. By the way, Asia... Do you have any kind of allergy or something you don't like to eat? You don't need to force yourself."
"I don't." Asia smiled purely at her: "And, I'm not picky with food. Actually, this is my first time eating something so luxurious that made me think if it's really okay for me to eat something like this..."
"Of course it is!" Mikan replied immediately.
"..." Asia was a little surprised by her outburst.
"Sorry, I just..." Seeing that she might have scared Asia, Mikan apologized awkwardly.
"It's okay, I know you spoke for me." Asia smiled.
"Is she an angel?" Mikan looked at Rito while pointing to Asia.
"Maybe she is." He replied.
"I knew it?" Mikan was almost believing.
"No, no, I'm not an angel!" Asia denied nervously.
"Pffft!"
That drew some laughs from him.
Wiping the trail of tear from the corner of her eyes, Mikan said in a laughing tone: "Asia, you're funny~"
"Am I?" She tilted her head in an even more innocent way.
That just made Mikan laugh again.
After this episode, they finally broke the ice and Asia clasped her hands thanking for the food and used a fork that Mikan chose for her with tact and took the first bite.
When she tasted it, Mikan widened her eyes.
"What happened, Asia? Is there something wrong with the food?" She seemed very anxious as she said: "Was it the shrimp? In the end, you were allergic?"
"Wrong! It's not that..." Asia used her hands to wipe the tears: "I'm just happy...! Actually, I've never eaten something so delicious in my entire life and... I myself don't know why, but the tears... Hic, I'm so foolish... Why am I crying?"
Mikan felt a lump in her throat.
She stood up and hugged Asia.
With a teary voice, Mikan said: "It's okay, Asia. You're not foolish!"
Lala appeared beside Asia and gently rubbed her back.