The Parasitic Girlfriend

Chapter 1: The Encounter on the Day of Fall

At 5:30 PM, the setting sun bathed the private Sakura Academy school buildings in a vibrant orange-red hue. Third-year student Sato Misaki leaned against the wall behind the school building, her long legs crossed, the tips of her black loafers lightly touching the ground. She wore a standard girls' school uniform—a dark blue blazer, a white shirt, and a red plaid pleated skirt, but the hem had been deliberately shortened by at least ten centimeters, barely covering her upper thighs. Most striking were the black pantyhose that encased her legs, shimmering delicately in the sunset's glow, extending from her ankles to her thighs, revealing a small patch of her fair skin between the stockings and the skirt.

Misaki's figure is outstanding among high school students. Standing at 168 cm tall, she has model-like proportions, and her breasts are prominently displayed under her white shirt, appearing to be at least a D cup. The top two buttons of her shirt are deliberately left undone, revealing her delicate collarbone and a hint of cleavage. Her chestnut-brown hair is styled in soft waves and adorned with a delicate bow hair clip on the left side. Her makeup is so exquisite that it doesn't seem like that of a high school student—her eyeliner is drawn with upturned corners, her eyelashes are long and curled, and her lip gloss is the most popular coral color at the moment.

"They're here," Misaki said softly, a playful smile playing on her lips.

Her two followers—both third-year students, Riko Yamada and Yuka Nakamura—immediately stood up straight. Riko was a petite girl with sharp eyes; Yuka was slightly voluptuous, with a bust a size larger than Misaki's.

Emerging from the back door of the school building was Fujiwara Yuuma, a first-year student. He was short, only about 165 centimeters tall, thin, wearing black-rimmed glasses, and carrying a heavy-looking backpack. Yuuma walked quickly with his head down, clearly wanting to leave the school as soon as possible.

"Hey, you first-grader." Misaki's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough.

Yuuma froze, his steps halting. He looked up and saw the trio leaning against the wall through his glasses; his face instantly turned pale.

"S-Sato-senpai..." Yuuma's voice trembled slightly.

Misaki straightened up and walked gracefully towards Yuuma. Her legs, encased in black pantyhose, made a soft rustling sound as she walked—the unique sound of nylon fibers rubbing against each other. She stood in front of Yuuma, looking down at the junior who was half a head shorter than her.

"I heard you accidentally bumped into my book at the library yesterday?" Misaki's voice was sweet, but sickeningly so, and carried a clear threat.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" Yuzhen quickly bowed and apologized. "I just wanted to grab the reference book next to me, and I accidentally..."

"Accidentally?" Misaki reached out her right hand and gently lifted Yuuma's chin with her index finger, which was painted with light pink nail polish, forcing him to look up. "Do you know how important that book is to me? It's a must-read for me to prepare for my entrance exams."

Yuujin could smell the perfume emanating from Misaki—a floral and fruity fragrance mixed with her natural body scent. His gaze involuntarily fell on Misaki's chest; the full mounds beneath her white shirt were less than thirty centimeters from his face.

“I…I can pay for it…” Yuzhen stammered.

"Pay up?" Misaki laughed, her laughter clear yet cold. "Can you afford to pay up? That book is a limited edition."

She suddenly withdrew her hand, and Yuuma lost his balance and staggered. Misaki turned and winked at her two followers.

Riko and Yuka immediately stepped forward and grabbed Yuma's arms on either side. They were much stronger than they looked, and Yuma couldn't break free at all.

“Take me to the usual place,” Misaki said calmly.

Behind the teaching building is an abandoned storage area, a relatively secluded corner enclosed by several walls. It's rarely visited, and has become Misaki and her followers' private space for "educating" their disobedient juniors.

Yuzhen was roughly shoved into a corner, his back slamming against the rough cement wall, causing him to gasp in pain. His schoolbag fell to the ground, scattering his textbooks and stationery everywhere.

Misaki slowly walked over, her legs, encased in black pantyhose, appearing exceptionally long in the dim light. She stopped in front of Yuuma, then raised her right foot, gently pressing the toe of her black loafer against Yuuma's calf.

"Kneel down," Misaki said, her voice eerily calm.

Yuma was stunned.

“I said, kneel down,” Misaki repeated, applying a little pressure with the tip of her shoe.

Yuuma trembled as he slowly knelt down. The rough cement floor hurt his knees. From his current position, his line of sight was level with Misaki's thighs. The texture of the black pantyhose was clearly visible at this close range—a mesh of fine nylon fibers tightly wrapped around Misaki's slender legs, extending from her ankles to the top of her thighs. Below the hem of her skirt, the edge of the pantyhose formed a clear dividing line at the absolute territory, above which was the fair skin of her thighs, and below which was the black stockings.

Misaki looked at Yuuma kneeling before her with satisfaction. She slightly parted her legs, a movement that caused her skirt to rise a little higher, and Yuuma could even see the shadow at the very top of her pantyhose.

"Do you know you were wrong?" Misaki asked.

"I-I understand..." Yuuma lowered his head, not daring to look at Misaki.

"Raise your head," Misaki commanded.

Yuuma raised his head, trembling. From this angle, he could see the hem of Misaki's pleated skirt and her legs encased in black pantyhose. Misaki's legs were perfectly shaped, with slender, long calves and full, well-proportioned thighs; the black pantyhose made her leg lines even more fluid and alluring.

Misaki suddenly bent over, a movement that made her breasts even more prominent in front of Yuuma. The collar of her white shirt was open, and Yuuma could see the edge of her black lace bra and her deep cleavage.

“Since you know you’re wrong, you have to accept the punishment,” Misaki said softly, her breath almost hitting Yuuma’s face.

She straightened up and said to Riko, "Hold him down."

Riko immediately grabbed Yuuma's shoulders from behind, immobilizing him. Yuka stood to the side, took out her phone, and started recording.

Misaki lifted her right foot, this time not with the tip of her shoe, but with the entire sole. She placed her foot, clad in a black loafer, on Yuuma's shoulder, applying pressure.

“Lick it,” Misaki said.

Yuuma was stunned, not understanding what Misaki meant.

“I said, lick my shoes.” Misaki’s voice turned cold. “You dirtied my book, so use your tongue to clean my shoes.”

Yuuma's face flushed crimson. A wave of humiliation washed over him, but he dared not resist. Misaki was a notorious delinquent at school, and her family was said to have powerful connections; anyone who offended her never fared well.

Under Misaki's cold gaze, Yuuma trembled as he lowered his head, stuck out his tongue, and licked Misaki's black loafers.

The shoes were made of smooth calfskin, covered in dust and street stains. Yuujin could taste the dirt and grime, along with the faint chemical smell of shoe polish. He mechanically licked them, tears welling in his eyes.

Misaki looked at her trembling junior and a satisfied smile appeared on her face. She shifted her foot slightly so that the sole of her shoe was facing Yuuma's face.

“I want the soles too,” she said.

Yuuma closed his eyes and licked the sole of the shoe. Small pebbles and dust were stuck in the tread pattern, making the smell even worse. He felt nauseous but **** himself not to vomit.

This process lasted about three minutes. But for Yuma, it felt like three hours. Every second was ****, every second was humiliation.

Finally, Misaki withdrew her foot. She looked at her shoes; the surface had been licked clean, so clean it even reflected light in the dim light.

"Not bad," Misaki commented, "but it's not enough."

She suddenly reached out, grabbed Yu-chan's hair, and **** him to lift his head. Yu-chan was in so much pain that tears finally streamed down his face.

“Remember today’s lesson.” Misaki leaned close to Yuuma’s ear and whispered, “If you dare touch my things again, it won’t be as simple as just licking my shoes.”

Her breath brushed against Yuzhen's ear, warm and gentle. Yuzhen could smell an even stronger perfume from her, along with a faint, lingering natural scent.

Misaki released her grip, and Yuuma slumped to the ground. Misaki straightened her skirt and said to her two followers, "Let's go."

After the three left, Yuuma remained kneeling in the corner for several minutes before slowly standing up. He picked up the books and stationery scattered on the floor, dusted them off, and put them back into his bag. His knees ached, his shoulder where Misaki had stepped on it hurt, but his pride ached even more.

He wiped away his tears, slung his schoolbag over his shoulder, and limped home.

Yuuma lives in an ordinary residential area in Tokyo, in a two-story detached house with a small yard. Next door to him lives a young couple: the husband is an office worker who often works late, and the wife is a housewife named Ayako Suzuki.

When Yuma arrived at her doorstep, she saw Ayako taking out the trash. Ayako was twenty-eight years old, a typical Japanese housewife—gentle, virtuous, and sweet-looking. She was about 160 centimeters tall with a well-proportioned figure. Today, she was wearing a beige knitted cardigan over a light blue dress that reached about ten centimeters above her knees.

What was most eye-catching were the flesh-colored stockings Ayako wore. These weren't ordinary thin stockings, but rather thick pantyhose that shimmered delicately in the evening light, perfectly outlining the curves of her legs. Ayako's legs were beautifully shaped, with slender calves and full thighs; the flesh-colored stockings made her leg skin appear even smoother and more delicate.

"Yuuma-kun?" Ayako smiled gently when she saw Yuuma. "You're back... Oh dear, why are your clothes so dirty?"

Yuuma looked down at his school uniform; his knees and shoulders were indeed covered in dust. He **** a smile: "N-nothing, I just tripped and fell."

Ayako took a few steps closer and carefully examined Yuuma. Her eyes were sharp, and she immediately noticed Yuuma's red and swollen eyes and his still slightly trembling hands.

"It wasn't just a wrestling match, was it?" Ayako asked softly, her voice full of concern. "Did someone bully you?"

Yuuma bit his lip, not answering. He didn't want Ayako to worry, but a wave of grievance welled up inside him, and his eyes reddened again.

Ayako sighed and gently patted Yuuma's shoulder. Her hand was soft and warm.

"Come, come sit at my place first," Ayako said. "I'll pour you a cup of tea and help you straighten your clothes."

Yuuma wanted to refuse, but Ayako had already grabbed his hand. Her hand was small, but her grip was tight, leaving no room for refusal.

Ayako's home was decorated warmly, in a typical Japanese style, clean and tidy. She asked Yuuma to sit on the tatami mat in the living room, while she went to the kitchen to make tea.

Yuma sat there, looking around the living room. Ayako and her husband's wedding photo hung on the wall; Ayako wore a white kimono and smiled very happily. A small succulent plant sat on the coffee table, next to several home cooking magazines.

Ayako returned carrying a tray. On the tray were two cups of green tea and a small plate of snacks. She sat down opposite Yuuma, her legs together and slightly crossed, a posture that caused her skirt to ride up slightly, fully revealing her calves encased in flesh-colored stockings. Yuuma could clearly see the texture of the stockings, as well as the indoor slippers Ayako was wearing—light pink, fluffy slippers, very cute.

"Have some tea first." Ayako pushed a cup of tea in front of Yuuma. "Tell me slowly, what happened?"

Yuuma held the warm teacup, hesitated for a moment, and then told Ayako what had happened after school that day. He omitted the details of licking the shoes, only saying that he had been cornered and bullied by his senior.

Ayako listened quietly, her expression growing increasingly serious. When Yuuma finished speaking, she sighed softly.

“Kids these days are really…” Ayako shook her head. “I’ve seen Misaki a few times, and she doesn’t dress like a high school student at all. Her family seems to be very rich, and the school doesn’t really dare to discipline her.”

Yu-ma lowered his head and sipped his tea. The refreshing aroma of green tea calmed him down a little.

"Your knee is injured, isn't it?" Ayako suddenly asked. "I noticed you were limping a bit when you walked."

Yuma nodded.

"Let me see," Ayako said, moving closer to Yuuma.

She gently rolled up Yuzhen's trouser legs, revealing her knees. Both knees were scraped, bleeding, and surrounded by bruises.

"Oh dear, that's quite a bad injury." Ayako frowned. "Wait a moment, I'll go get the first-aid kit."

Ayako rose and walked towards the storage room, her back view elegant. Beneath her knitted cardigan, the fabric of her dress swayed gently with her steps, outlining her slender waist and full hips. Her legs, encased in flesh-colored stockings, made a soft rustling sound as she walked—the sound of the stockings rubbing against the dress fabric.

Soon, Ayako returned with a first-aid kit. She knelt down in front of Yuuma, a position that caused her skirt to ride up slightly, allowing Yuuma to see the edge of her stockings at her thighs. The flesh-colored stockings left a faint mark at the top of her thighs where the edge of her panties had been digging, but it quickly smoothed out again, tightly hugging Ayako's full thighs.

"It might hurt a little, just bear with it," Ayako said softly, opening the first-aid kit.

She first used a cotton swab dipped in iodine to gently wipe the wound on Yuzhen's knee. The moment the cotton swab touched the wound, Yuzhen gasped in pain.

"Just bear with it, it'll be over soon." Ayako's voice was gentle, but her hands moved with practiced ease.

She carefully cleaned the wound and then applied a band-aid. Throughout the process, Ayako knelt before Yuuma, leaning slightly forward. From this angle, Yuuma could see the neckline of Ayako's cardigan and the V-neck of her light blue dress underneath. Ayako's breasts weren't particularly large, but they were beautifully shaped, forming graceful curves under the dress. With her movements, the neckline would occasionally open slightly, revealing her collarbone and a small patch of fair skin.

After treating the wound on his knee, Ayako checked Yuuma's shoulder. Although there was no broken skin, there was a noticeable bruise.

“This area needs some work too,” Ayako said. “Take off your coat.”

Yuma hesitated for a moment, then took off her school uniform jacket. Underneath was a white school uniform shirt, which was already a bit wrinkled.

Ayako made Yuuma turn around so that his back was to her. She poured some ointment into her palm, rubbed it to warm it, and then gently pressed it onto the bruises on Yuuma's shoulder.

Ayako's hands were soft, her palms warm; the coolness of the ointment contrasted beautifully with the warmth of her hands. She gently massaged the bruises, her technique professional yet tender.

“My husband sometimes comes home from working overtime with sore shoulders, and I often massage them for him,” Ayako said while massaging him. “So I’ve learned a little bit about it.”

Yuuma felt the comfort coming from his shoulder, and his tense nerves slowly relaxed. Ayako's fingers were strong, and the pressure was just right, neither too light to be ineffective nor too heavy to cause pain.

Ayako stopped massaging for about five minutes.

"Okay, tomorrow should be much better," she said. "But we still need to be careful these next few days and avoid lifting heavy objects."

Yuma turned around and looked at Ayako gratefully: "Thank you, Mrs. Suzuki."

"Just call me Ayako-nee," Ayako said with a smile. "We're neighbors, no need to be so polite."

She packed up the first-aid kit and sat back down opposite Yuuma. They chatted for a while longer, mainly Ayako asking Yuuma about his situation at school and offering him some advice. Yuuma felt much better; the shadow of being bullied seemed to have faded somewhat.

"It's getting late, you should go home, right?" Ayako glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost seven o'clock. "Your parents should be back soon."

Yuuma nodded and stood up: "Thank you, Ayako-nee. I'll head back now."

"Okay, be careful on the road." Ayako also stood up and saw Yuuma to the door.

At the door, Ayako suddenly called out to Yuuma: "Yuuma-kun."

Yuma turned around.

“If anyone bullies you again in the future, you can tell me,” Ayako said earnestly. “Although I may not be able to help much, at least I can listen to you and give you some advice.”

Yuma felt a warmth in her heart and nodded vigorously: "Thank you."

He left Ayako's house and returned to his own. He took out his key and opened the door; sure enough, no one was home yet. His parents were both at work and usually wouldn't be home until around 7:30.

Yuzhen put down his schoolbag and suddenly remembered that it was his turn to water the flowers and plants in the backyard today. He changed into slippers and headed to the backyard.

Yuzhen's backyard is small, about twenty square meters, with some common flowers and plants and a small cherry blossom tree. In the evening, the backyard is shrouded in twilight, appearing exceptionally peaceful.

Yuma picked up the watering can, ready to fill it with water. Just then, he noticed something reflecting light in the grass in the corner of the yard.

He walked over curiously, parted the grass, and then froze.

There was a small pit, about thirty centimeters in diameter and ten centimeters deep, with the soil at the edges radiating outwards, as if it had been formed by an impact. At the bottom of the pit lay a silvery-gray object, about the size of an adult's palm, with a very irregular shape.

Yuma crouched down to examine it closely. The object had a metallic sheen, but its texture resembled some kind of biological tissue. It undulated slightly, as if it were breathing.

"What is this?" Yuma murmured to herself.

He reached out, wanting to touch the object, but pulled back just before his fingertips made contact. What if it was something dangerous?

But the object suddenly moved. Yuma saw a crack appear on its surface, revealing pinkish fleshy tissue inside. Some transparent mucus seeped from the crack, gleaming faintly in the twilight.

Then, Yuma heard a sound.

It wasn't a sound he heard through his ears, but rather a sound that resonated directly in his mind. The sound was faint, intermittent, like the groan of a wounded animal.

It hurts...it hurts so much...

Yuma was startled and took a step back. But the voice rang out again.

Help...help me...

Yuma crouched at the edge of the pit, staring at the silvery-gray object. It was still undulating slightly, and more transparent viscous fluid seeped from the cracks in its surface. The voice in her mind rang again, this time clearer.

[So cold...so cold...I can't...take it anymore...]

The voice was filled with obvious pain and weakness, like a dying person pleading for help. Yuzhen bit her lip, her heart wrestling with fear and sympathy.

"You... what are you?" Yuzhen asked softly, unsure if the other person could hear her.

[Parasitic...creature...from...stars...] The voice trailed off, [Falling...injured...energy...insufficient...]

Yuuma took a deep breath. Although he was terrified, he remembered Ayako's kindness earlier. If even a stranger could lend him a helping hand, how could he ignore this obviously injured creature?

He cautiously reached out, this time without flinching. His fingertips touched the surface of the object—the texture was peculiar, like damp leather, yet also like some kind of gel-like substance, carrying a faint warmth. In that instant of contact, fragments of more information flooded Yuuma's mind: the impact of the fall, the scorching heat of friction with the atmosphere, the excruciating pain of hitting the ground…

"Take me... away... from here..." the voice pleaded. "I need... warmth... and moisture..."

Yuzhen nodded. He looked around and found a small plastic box in the tool shed, which he used to keep hamsters in and had already cleaned. He then found some old towels and laid them at the bottom of the box.

"It might hurt a little, just bear with it," Yuma said softly, just like Ayako had told him earlier.

He carefully lifted the object with both hands. It was lighter than it looked, weighing only about a kilogram. The surface was indeed damaged, with several deep cracks revealing pinkish fleshy tissue inside. A clear, sticky substance covered Yuuma's palms; it felt slippery but had no odor.

Yuma gently placed the object into the plastic box and covered it with a towel. After thinking for a moment, he went to the kitchen, fetched a small bowl of warm water, and used a cotton swab to gently apply the water to the surface of the object.

[That feels good...] The voice in my mind clearly relaxed a bit. [Thank you...]

"You're welcome," Yuzhen said, a strange sense of accomplishment welling up inside her. "I'll take you home first."

He carried the plastic box back to his room. His parents still hadn't returned—in fact, Yuuma's parents worked at a seafood processing plant in Hokkaido and only came home for New Year's and Obon. He was usually home alone, and his living expenses were regularly deposited into his account.

Yuzhen's room was on the second floor, about ten square meters, simply furnished: a bed, a desk, a bookshelf, and a wardrobe. He placed the plastic box on the desk and turned on the lamp.

Under the bright lights, Yuma finally saw the creature in its entirety.

It was about twenty centimeters long, and its shape did indeed resemble a large, shell-less snail, but much more slender. Its body was a translucent silvery-gray, revealing the faint internal organ structures. Its head had two small tentacles, now drooping limply. The surface of its body was covered with fine lines, like some kind of circuit diagram. The cracks were mainly concentrated in the middle of its body, the deepest of which almost severed it in half.

"Did my appearance frighten you?" the voice asked, tinged with unease.

“No.” Yuuma shook her head, though she was indeed a little uneasy. “I just… I’ve never seen a creature like this before. Where did you come from?”

"From a distant... galaxy..." the voice said. "Our spaceship... suffered an accident... I... as... an escape pod... separated... and crashed... here..."

"An escape pod?" Yuzhen looked at the palm-sized creature in surprise. "You mean, you yourself are an escape pod?"

"Yes..." the voice explained, "Our technology... can encapsulate consciousness... within a biological carrier... for... interstellar travel..."

Yuma was dumbfounded. Extraterrestrial beings? Interstellar travel? This was like something out of a science fiction novel.

"Then... what kind of help do you need?" Yuma asked. "I mean, besides warmth and moisture."

"Energy..." the voice said, "It needs... organic matter... to repair... the body..."

Yuzhen thought for a moment, then took some chopped vegetables and a small piece of sashimi from the refrigerator. He picked up a little with tweezers and carefully offered it to the creature.

A small opening, like a mouth, appeared at the front of its body. Yuma put food inside and watched as the opening closed and the food was slowly swallowed. After a while, the crack on its body seemed to heal a little bit, though the change was very subtle.

[It worked...] The voice was noticeably more invigorated. [Thank you...]

"What's your name?" Yuzhen asked.

"In our language... it means 'starlight traveler'..." the voice said. "You can... call me... stardust..."

“Stardust…” Yuuma repeated, “It’s a very nice name. My name is Fujiwara Yuuma, nice to meet you.”

"[Yuuma...]" Stardust's voice echoed in his mind, "[I will remember... this name...]"

## Section 5: A Week of Care

For the next week, Yuuma's life took on a new routine: taking care of Stardust.

After school each day, instead of going straight home, he would go to the supermarket to buy fresh ingredients—mainly vegetables, fruits, and a small amount of fish and meat. The supermarket clerk had gotten to know this high school student who regularly came to buy small amounts of ingredients, and sometimes she would even give him some extra discounted scraps.

"Are you doing experiments again, Yu-chan?" the cashier asked with a smile once.

"Um... sort of," Yuzhen answered vaguely. He couldn't very well say that he was raising alien creatures.

Upon returning home, Yuuma's first action was to check on Stardust. He placed a plastic box on his desk, lined with damp towels that he changed daily to maintain a suitable temperature and humidity. Stardust's body was slowly recovering; most of the cracks on its surface had healed, and its silvery-gray color had become even more lustrous.

Yuma discovered that Stardust reacted differently to different foods. Vegetables and fruits provided basic energy, but their repair effects were limited; fish and eggs were more effective, especially the protein-rich parts; once, Yuma tried feeding Stardust a little honey, and Stardust reacted particularly strongly, its body even emitting a faint glow.

"This...energy density...is very high..." Stardust said, his voice noticeably stronger.

So Yuuma began consciously searching for high-energy foods. He used his allowance to buy nutritional supplements, ground them into powder, and mixed them into his food; he also bought glucose powder from the pharmacy, dissolved it, and fed it to Stardust with a dropper.

Besides food, Yuzhen also paid attention to the importance of the environment. Stardust doesn't like strong light, so Yuzhen always draws the curtains and only turns on the desk lamp; it needs a certain level of humidity, so Yuzhen put a humidifier in the room; temperature is also crucial, too cold will slow down the recovery speed, and too hot will cause dehydration.

Yuuma even kept a detailed record book, noting the types and amounts of food he fed each day, the stardust's reaction, changes in his body, and so on. The seriousness with which he took this matter surprised even himself.

And Stardust was getting better day by day. On the third day, it was able to move its body on its own, although it was still very slow; on the fifth day, its antennae could move flexibly; on the seventh day, when Yuzhen came home from school, he saw Stardust gently touching the inside of the plastic box with its antennae, as if it was exploring its environment.

【Yuuma...you're back...】Stardust's voice echoed in my mind, now very clear and fluent, no longer broken.

"I'm back," Yuuma replied naturally, putting down her schoolbag. "How were you feeling today?"

"Very good..." Stardust said. "The body's repair... is 62% complete... Energy reserves... have recovered to 41%..."

Yuuma opened the plastic box and carefully took out the stardust. Now he was no longer afraid of the touch at all; on the contrary, he found the slippery, sticky substance quite comfortable, like the texture of some kind of high-end skincare product.

He examined Stardust's body. The largest crack had mostly healed, leaving only a shallow mark. Its silvery-gray surface gleamed with a pearly luster, and the internal organ structure was even clearer—it was a complex system with beating organs similar to a heart, clusters of nerve ganglia, and some structures that Yuuma couldn't understand at all.

"I brought you salmon today." Yuma took a small lunchbox out of the bag. "There's also avocado and some nut butter."

He used a knife to slice the salmon into thin slices, mashed the avocado, mixed it with nut butter, and made a small ball of nutritional paste. Stardust's body opened at the front, revealing a round mouthpart containing pink fleshy tissue. Yuuma placed the nutritional paste inside, watching the mouthpart close and the food be slowly swallowed.

"Delicious..." Stardust said, her voice filled with satisfaction. "Earth's...food...is so plentiful..."

“I’m glad you like it.” Yuuma smiled. Over the past week, he found himself becoming more and more accustomed to communicating with Stardust. Although it was through telepathy, it felt like talking to a real friend.

After feeding him, Yuzhen started doing his homework. Stardust stayed quietly in the corner of the desk, keeping him company. Sometimes when Yuzhen encountered difficult problems, Stardust would offer suggestions—its knowledge base seemed vast, and although much of the content about Earth needed to be relearned, its logical thinking and problem-solving abilities far surpassed those of humans.

“This physics problem…” Yuma frowned.

"According to the law of conservation of energy..." Stardust's voice rang out, "You can try... setting up the equation like this..."

Under Stardust's guidance, Yuuma quickly solved the problem. He was surprised to find that Stardust's way of thinking was very efficient and always got straight to the heart of the problem.

"Your planet must have very advanced technology, right?" Yuma asked curiously.

"Yes..." Stardust said, "Our civilization... has reached... Type III civilization level... and can control... the energy of the entire galaxy..."

"Type III civilization?" Yuzhen recalled the Kardashev Index from science fiction novels. "Then how could you..."

[An accident...] Stardust's voice lowered slightly. [An experiment... went out of control... the spaceship was destroyed... I could only... make an emergency escape...]

Yuuma sensed Stardust's emotional fluctuations—a complex mix of sadness, regret, and a hint of fear. He gently touched Stardust's body; it felt warm and smooth.

“It’s okay, you’re safe now,” Yuma said. “I’ll take care of you until you’re fully recovered.”

"[Yuuma...]" Stardust's voice was filled with gratitude, "[You are the first life I... encountered... on this planet... and also the kindest...]"

Yuzhen felt a warmth in his heart. He had actually enjoyed taking care of Stardust this past week. With his parents away and being bullied at school, Stardust's presence filled a void in his life. Having a life that needed his care, someone to talk to, made him feel less alone.

That evening, Yuuma returned to her room after taking a shower. Stardust was gently touching an open book with its antennae; it was Yuuma's biology textbook.

"The life forms on Earth... are... very interesting..." Stardust said. "Although... their structures are simple... their diversity... is astonishing..."

"Are you studying?" Yuma asked, drying her hair.

"Yes..." Stardust said, "Understanding the host planet... is necessary... and..."

It paused for a moment.

And I want to... learn more about you... understand your world...

Yuma sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at Stardust on the desk. The soft light from the desk lamp bathed its silvery-gray body, reflecting a delicate sheen. A week ago, it was a strange, injured alien creature; now, it had become an indispensable part of her life.

“My world…” Yuzhen said softly, “is actually quite boring. Going to school, going home, doing homework, sleeping. Day after day.”

"But do you have... a dream?" Stardust asked. "What kind of person do you want to become in the future?"

Yuzhen fell silent. Dreams? He once wanted to become a scientist, to explore the mysteries of the universe. But the reality was that his grades were only average, his family's financial situation was modest, and his parents expected him to find a stable job after graduation. Those dreams seemed increasingly distant.

"I don't know," Yu said honestly. "Sometimes I feel like the future is very uncertain."

"Then..." Stardust's voice was gentle, "perhaps we can... find the answer together..."

Its antennae swayed gently, as if making an invitation.

"You saved me...you gave me a second life..." Stardust said. "In return...I'm willing...to help you...realize your potential..."

Yuma looked at Stardust and suddenly smiled.

“You’re starting to sound more and more like an earthling,” he said. “The phrase ‘realizing your potential’ sounds like something out of a motivational book.”

[I'm studying...] Stardust seemed to smile too—though it had no expression, Yuu could sense the joy in it. [From your books...from TV shows...from our conversations...]

It paused.

[And I'm telling the truth... Yuuma... You have... a kind heart... and a sharp mind... You just need... a little guidance... and an opportunity...]

Yuma lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the humidifier. Stardust sat on the desk, its body rising and falling slightly, as if breathing.

“Stardust,” Yuuma suddenly spoke.

【Um?】

"After you recover... will you leave? Return to your planet?"

Stardust remained silent for a long time. So long that Yuu really thought it had fallen asleep.

"My spaceship... is destroyed..." Stardust finally said. "Even if it's fully restored... I can't... return alone..."

Its voice was calm, but Yuu could sense a deep sense of loss.

I might... be left on Earth forever...

Yuma sat up and looked at Stardust.

“Then you should stay here,” he said firmly. “My home is your home. We can live together, study together, and... find your meaning here.”

Stardust's body trembled slightly. Yuuma felt a surge of strong emotions welling up—gratitude, warmth, and something akin to a sense of belonging.

"[Yuuma...]" Stardust's voice choked slightly—if extraterrestrial beings could **** up, then... "[Thank you...]"

"You're welcome," Yuzhen said. "We're friends, aren't we?"

"Friends..." Stardust repeated the word. "Yes...we are friends..."

That night, Yuzhen slept soundly. In his dream, he saw the starry sky, distant galaxies, and a silver-gray creature soaring among the stars. And that creature turned around and said in a familiar voice:

Let's go see a wider world together...

Outside the window, the moon was high in the sky, its silvery light streaming into the room and illuminating the quiet alien creature on the desk. Its body glowed faintly, as if absorbing the moonlight's energy. Its tentacles swayed gently, as if performing an ancient ritual.

Inside its translucent body, an organ began to pulsate rhythmically, emitting a faint light. The rhythm of that light gradually synchronized with Yuuma's steady breathing.

Two lives from different worlds forge a wondrous connection in this small room. And this connection will change their destinies in a way they cannot yet imagine.

But that's a story for the future.

Tonight, there is only moonlight, tranquility, and a promise between a high school student and his alien friend.