Twilight Street, afternoon.
Usually, at this time of day, Aponia would be in the small courtyard telling stories to the children. But today, a special patient had arrived.
Unlike the children, who were all afflicted by the Honkai to some degree, this guest was extremely irritable. If one had to describe him, he was a man like fire.
Yet, this very man was covered in old, barely concealed wounds, lying silently on a clean white bed without a word.
Outside the window, a group of little rascals stacked their heads one on top of another, discussing curiously amongst themselves.
"Hey, hey, have you guys noticed? That big brother's aura is so scary."
"Yeah, but he looks so badly hurt. Should we go ask him if he's okay?"
"W-we can't... I'm scared. Besides, Sister Aponia told us not to disturb that big brother."
Just as they were arguing about whether to approach him, a vibrant voice rang out.
"Hey, what are you little rascals up to?"
'Huh? It's Sister Pardo and Brother Li!'
Seeing the newcomers, the little ones' curiosity immediately shifted. Compared to a grown-up like Kalpas, they clearly preferred young people like Fu Li and Pardofelis.
"Hehe, you little rascals are really something. Alright, here's some candy I brought for you. If you want some, line up properly, one by one."
While Pardo expertly handled the children, Aponia slowly emerged from the shadows, a gentle and harmless smile on her face.
This was very much like the Aponia Fu Li remembered from this age; she must have practiced in secret for a long time to appear so natural.
"Long time no see, Li. And Pardo," Aponia said with a smile, the deep red in her eyes flashing for a moment before disappearing.
"Long time no see, Sister Aponia."
Fu Li smiled and waved. Although he now looked to be around seventeen, he was actually the youngest of the three. It was all thanks to the Honkai Beast genes.
Aponia nodded, feigning confusion. "What brings you here? I don't recall today being a day off."
"Er..." Fu Li thought for a moment and came up with a good reason. "I heard you picked up a rather strange man, so I came to see if you were alright."
Liar...
Although Aponia knew the truth in her heart, hearing Fu Li personally say he was worried about her safety was naturally a very happy thing.
"If you want to see him, then go on in. Also, Pardo, don't give the children so much candy. They'll get cavities."
"Oh, I know," Pardo replied nonchalantly. Seeing the pitiful looks in the children's eyes, she helplessly took back half the candy and handed the rest to the child at the front of the line.
"One for each of you, don't take more. Your big brother and sisters have things to do, so you all can go play outside now."
"Okay, we got it, Sister Pardo!"
After sending the little rascals away, Pardo stretched and, with practiced ease, pounced onto Li's back, a triumphant smirk on her face.
Cats are animals that like to declare their sovereignty.
Seeing this, although Aponia felt an impulse to teach her a good lesson, she had to maintain her persona on the surface and led them inside.
"His name is Kalpas. He came from a city not too far away. Although his injuries are severe, his recovery speed is astonishing."
Hearing the incessant chattering by his ear, a wave of irritation surged in Kalpas's heart.
"Enough, Aponia." His voice was laced with aggression, startling Pardo so much that she instinctively dove behind Li.
Little did she know, her frightened, small-animal-like reaction only made Kalpas feel more smug.
However, this smugness didn't last long, for he soon saw another gaze that gave him a headache.
He had just seen that kind of gaze not long ago—a look of tolerance, warmth, as if looking at family.
Dammit, didn't they say Twilight Street was a paradise for corporations and a haven for villains?
Why are this man and woman I've met so damn annoying?
"Hello, Kalpas." Fu Li took Pardo's small hand and led her to Kalpas's bedside, introducing them with a smile. "My name is Li, and this is Pardofelis. We're friends of Aponia."
Friends?
The word spun in Kalpas's mind for a moment before he scoffed, "The name's too long, I'm too lazy to remember it. If you're done talking, then scram."
When he said the word "scram," the corner of his mouth curled up in satisfaction.
"Hey! You! How could you..." Pardo was about to retort, but when her eyes met Kalpas's glare, she couldn't help but swallow her words.
She quietly shrank behind Fu Li, peeking out from behind him with half her head, glaring back at Kalpas with all the ferocity of a kitten.
"Alright, then." Fu Li rubbed Pardo's head, unbothered. He simply smiled and said, "If you don't mind, after you've recovered, would you like to stay and help out? Perhaps... you could think of this place as a home."
"Home?" Kalpas sneered, his tone growing more irritable. "I don't need something like that! All of you, get lost!"
"Sigh, fine."
Knowing Kalpas was a tsundere, Fu Li could only helplessly lead Pardo and Aponia out of the room.
Though normally a fight with Kalpas was all it would take to become friends, he couldn't very well start one in front of the two of them.
"Goodbye, Aponia."
"Goodbye."
As dusk fell, Aponia and the group of children waved goodbye to Fu Li and Pardo.
Whether intentionally or not, from Kalpas's sickroom, one only had to lift their head slightly to look out the window to see this exact scene.
And he did indeed see it. But with his mask on, it was impossible to discern the emotions hidden beneath. Only his tightly clenched fists indicated that his feelings were not as calm as they appeared on the surface.
"Hmph. Once I'm healed, I'd rather die! Die outside than suffer in a place like this!"
Kalpas swore to himself, lifting his head slightly.
[Kalpas's injuries healed in just two weeks. During that time, you brought Pardo to see him a few more times, only to be driven away by his angry roars.]
[However, over time, perhaps because she got used to it, even Pardo was no longer that afraid of him.]
[Later, when Kalpas's wounds had healed, he never mentioned leaving again and quietly stayed at the sanatorium, working as an ordinary handyman.]
[Until one day, a certain pink-haired elf, leading a little black-haired furball, knocked on the door of the Cat Cafe.]
"Hi, Li! Look who I brought for you!"
Elysia pushed open the door with Seele, the former Herrscher of Death of this century, and looked at the utterly shocked, cat-like expression on Pardo's face, tilting her head in confusion.
"Um? And you are?"