"Come, Acheron, take a look and choose which flavor you'd like."
Once the security personnel had vanished, Lumina arranged the ice creams in front of Acheron, letting her pick freely.
"I'll take this one." After sniffing all the ice creams to detect their scents, Acheron chose a peach-flavored one.
"Hmm... The flavor is a bit milder than real peaches, but it has a richer milky aroma and a refreshing coolness."
"It's delicious."
Acheron picked up the peach ice cream, took a bite, and offered this evaluation.
Then, looking at the dozen or so ice creams surrounding Lumina, she asked curiously, "You bought so much ice cream... can you even finish it all?"
One ice cream might taste great, but consuming so many would be challenging unless one suppressed their taste buds.
After all, this milky flavor was quite rich and cloying. Eating too much would likely be difficult to swallow.
"I wasn't sure what flavors you liked, so I just bought them all."
"Originally, I planned for just the two of us, but now... well, it's not just us anymore."
Noticing Acheron's puzzled expression, Lumina glanced at Misha behind her, then subtly shifted her gaze elsewhere, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.
Understanding dawned on Acheron. Following Lumina's gaze, she nodded slightly and greeted, "Hello. I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
The newcomers were none other than Stelle, Firefly, and Clockie.
"Want some ice cream? It's delicious." With a wave of her hand, Lumina presented the dozen or so ice cream bars before the two girls, gesturing for them to choose freely.
"Pick whatever you like, eat as much as you want, take as many as you want—it's on me."
Stelle didn't hesitate, immediately grabbing her favorite flavor and digging in. Firefly, however, seemed more reserved.
"Don't be shy," Lumina urged. "Eat as much as you want."
"Since you're Stelle's friend, you're naturally my friend too. It's just an ice cream, no need to be polite."
Lumina's gaze settled on Firefly, and she smiled gently, signaling that she didn't need to hold back.
"Mm... thank you," Firefly murmured. With the matter settled, she picked out her favorite flavor and slowly licked it with her delicate pink tongue.
Realizing everyone was watching her, she flushed crimson, quickly retracted her tongue, clutched the ice cream in one hand, and rested the other over her chest. She introduced herself formally:
"Greetings, Lady Lumina. I am Firefly, a stage performer from the Iris Family."
Firefly clearly recognized Lumina. Well... it would have been impossible for her not to.
After all, she had a black cat at home who constantly and neurotically rambled Lumina's name, not only making a racket but also shedding fur everywhere. It was hard to ignore such a persistent presence.
"Lumina, just an ordinary little physician."
Lumina gave a concise yet strikingly unique self-introduction.
"Um..."
Firefly was slightly taken aback by Lumina's unconventional introduction.
"Acheron, Galaxy Ranger," Acheron interjected, thankfully rescuing Firefly from her awkwardness.
Even Acheron herself, upon first hearing Lumina's self-introduction, had a flicker of strangeness in her usually calm eyes.
After all, even the most composed person would momentarily freeze in disbelief if a cosmos-renowned Emanator of Abundance insisted on being called just an ordinary little physician.
But Acheron's next words plunged Firefly into a different kind of confusion.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, beautiful lady."
"B-beautiful lady..." Firefly's cheeks flushed crimson as she stammered, unsure how to respond.
It's a pleasure to meet you too, handsome Miss Ranger?
Would that make me sound like a pervert?
Firefly's mind raced, spiraling into wild thoughts.
"Misha, are you alright?"
As Lumina, Firefly, and Acheron introduced themselves to each other, the little Clockie scurried to Misha's feet and began a thorough inspection.
"I'm fine, Clockie," Misha assured him with a smile, then turned his gaze to Stelle and greeted her, "Honored guest, we meet again."
Seeing this, Stelle smiled and waved back.
"Eh? Misha, you know this gray-haired friend?" Clockie asked.
"Mm-hmm," Misha nodded. "She's a distinguished guest. We became friends not long ago."
"I mentioned her to you, remember?"
"Oh, so she's the one!" Clockie nodded, a look of realization dawning on his face.
"Would you two like some ice cream?" Lumina asked with a smile, turning her attention to Misha and Clockie after introducing herself to Firefly.
"Eh? White-haired friend, can you see me?" Clockie tilted his head, surprised.
"Why not?" Lumina smiled, countering with a question. With a wave of her hand, she arranged the ice cream cones in front of Misha and Clockie.
"Choose any two you like. You can have more if you want."
"Just Acheron and I can't possibly eat all this ice cream."
At Lumina's mention of "two," both Acheron and Firefly's eyes flickered with a strange glint.
Acheron, with her formidable powers, likely sensed something. Firefly, however, was utterly bewildered.
Could there really be another Clockie here?
"I never expected Sister Lumina to be such a straightforward, innocent, and childlike person," Stelle remarked, a hint of surprise in her eyes at seeing her sister Lumina able to perceive Clockie.
"Hmm? What makes you say that?" Lumina feigned puzzlement.
Stelle placed her hands on her hips, a mysterious smile playing on her lips, and declined to answer her sister's question.
"Let me explain," Firefly interjected, snapping out of her shock. "The basis for that remark is probably related to this so-called Clockie."
"Even I'm still figuring things out, but that Clockie kid—you know, the cartoon character—he's manifested in reality... well, I mean, in the Dream."
"According to Stelle, only children who are straightforward, innocent, and childlike can see Clockie. Whether that's true, I don't know, but at least I can't see him."
"...Looks like I'm past that age too," Acheron nodded, letting out a wistful sigh.
She then turned to Lumina with a hint of surprise, seemingly particularly astonished that Lumina could see Clockie. "Miss Lumina's... well, Miss Lumina's personality is certainly quite lively."
As for whether only straightforward, pure, and childlike children could see Clockie, Acheron didn't know if it was true.
But at least Acheron couldn't see him.
It was precisely because Acheron couldn't see him herself that she was so astonished that Lumina could.
From Acheron's understanding, Lumina had been active in the Cosmos for several Amber Eras, witnessing the rise and fall of countless civilizations, the ugliness and wickedness of human nature... yet she had somehow managed to retain her childlike innocence. It was truly... remarkable.
Hmm, a bit quirky?
Acheron couldn't find the right words to describe Lumina. Hmm... maybe "badass" would fit?
"Hey! What's with that look?" Lumina demanded, hands on her hips, feigning annoyance as she huffed, seeing the shock in Acheron's eyes.
"Can't I just be a straightforward, innocent, childlike kid?" she continued. "In other words, can't I be a vibrant and beautiful eighteen-year-old girl?"
"Apologies, I didn't mean it that way," Acheron said, shaking her head. "It's just... well, I'm a little surprised."
"Hmph~" Lumina puffed out her chest, tilting her head back with an air of pride.
As for whether she's actually a straightforward, innocent, childlike kid?
Naturally, she wasn't. Lumina was already an old woman...
Lumina: Old woman? You piece of shit!