Lucifer: The Bloody Christmas Arc

After a day-long journey, their plane finally landed in Lafiaza. As they stepped out onto the runway, a row of black cars awaited them in the distance. Leon emerged from another room and addressed them. "Change your clothes. Manabu, there's blood on your sweater. Get rid of it. There's a formal outfit prepared for you. Taiju, you too—there are separate changing rooms for men and women."

Without a word, Manabu walked toward the changing room. Taiju followed him, avoiding looking at Leon. Mion and Mai headed toward the women's section.As they went to change their clothing, the two men sitting in the air host seat approached Leon and whispered something in his ear. He didn't respond and just looked at the time on his left wristwatch. Those men then walked over to the pilot and ordered him to open the plane's door. An older man turned and, in the distance, called out to Leon in a loud voice. "Boss! They're asking to open the door. Should I?" The two men pushed at the door. Leon simply nodded. The pilot obeyed immediately, unlocking the aircraft's main exit.

By then, Manabu and the others had finished changing. Before they stepped outside, Leon reminds them— "The person you're about to meet is known worldwide. In Lafiaza, he's deeply respected. I don't know what connection he has with you, but be careful how you speak. Don't be rude. Listen to him, understand what he's saying, and then decide what you want to do. And whatever happened in Feropia… forget it. Otherwise…" Leon placed a hand on Taiju's shoulder and said, "Use your brain, friend, not your fists." Taiju removed Leon's hand from his shoulder but didn't say a word. With that little chat, they exited the plane.As soon as they stepped outside, the crowd erupted into cheers, clapping and shouting in excitement. At least a dozen people had gathered to greet them. Among them, three individuals stepped forward. They were dressed formally, holding bouquets of flowers. They handed one to Manabu. They started analyzing his facial structure and hair color. One of them placed both hands on his arms and said, "He looks just like Kami. I've seen Kami's face; I know how he looked back then. The white hair… he's also quite handsome!" He hugged him, his voice trembling with excitement. He introduced himself. "I am Dr. Nicolain Marcquaro," he said. He was Kami's friend and looked pretty glad. "We've waited for so long… all of us."One of them suddenly pointed toward Manabu's friends. "Who are they?"

Manabu simply kept it formal: "They're my friends." Dr. Nicolain looked at his companions, embracing them warmly. He then turned and said, "They're guests! Manabu's companions!" in their language (Lafia). The crowd's excitement grew even more. All together, they greeted them, shook hands with them, and led them toward the car. Manabu was confused. He glanced at Leon, who simply gave them a goodbye wave and vanished into the crowd. They were no longer his responsibility.

A few moments later, Krisna Das (Roy) arrived in one of the black cars. The moment he stepped out, he walked straight toward Leon and pulled him into a hug. They were like best friends."Leon! My friend! How have you been?!"Leon, suffocating from the tight hug, said he was fine, but Roy studied him carefully. "Hmm... Brother, you've lost weight… Have you been under too much stress?" Leon scoffed. "I'm perfectly fine. Something this minor isn't enough to stress me out." Roy exhaled. "It's been five months… No, six months? —Six? Anyways, it's been six months since you've come back. Everyone's waiting at home. Let's go."For the past month, Leon had barely spoken to them. His calls had become rare. Meanwhile, Manabu and his group were led to a separate vehicle while Leon rode alone in his own car that Roy drove. As they drove, Roy asked, "Do you want to eat something?"Leon shook his head. "I'm fasting today. Take me to a seven-star restaurant."Roy chuckled. "Aren't you fasting?"

Leon smirked. "Not for me. For my sister. It's her birthday today."Roy groaned and hit his palm on his head, letting go of the wheel. "Shit! I totally forgot! That's why Sumi hasn't spoken to me all morning!"Leon leaned back. "Last year, on her 8th birthday, she asked for a bag and a toy. I told her to pick one. She chose the bag as her gift. I got both. I'll put the toy inside the bag as a surprise."While Roy was concerned about what he should give Sumi, Leon said he'd take care of that, not to worry.They stopped at a seven-star restaurant and ordered both fast food and a proper dinner. Before leaving, Leon placed an order at a nearby bakery—a three-tiered cake.

Meanwhile, Manabu and the others arrived at a house. It was a two-story building of moderate size. As they stepped out, their escorts gestured for them to wait inside. Dr. Nicolain had gone to bring Kami.They entered the house. The interior was striking—antique furniture, a grand old-fashioned sofa, everything was so clean. A quite young maid was working there. She said, "Just call me for anything, and I'll be there."They roamed around the house. The ornate drawers. The guest room was massive. The floor was covered in a deep cherry-red carpet, intricate patterns woven into its fabric. A chandelier hung above them, casting a warm glow.Manabu wandered toward the walls, where a series of portraits caught his attention. Something about them felt…familiar.One image stood out—a husband and wife. The woman held a small girl, no older than five. Beside them, the father had his hand on the shoulder of a five-year-old boy. Manabu's breath hitched. His fingers traced the edges of the frame. He looked at the little boy and thought. "Who… is he?"A memory tugged at the back of his mind. "I've seen this before."Before he could dwell on it, a sudden commotion outside caught his attention. Kami had arrived. The moment he stepped out of the car, he ran straight into the house, his footsteps hurried and frantic. The people behind him followed. He was rushing while the others were pretty calm and smiling.Then, he saw Manabu.Their eyes met, and he froze, breathless. He was panting as if he had run all the way here. But he was just anxious. Then, suddenly—He threw himself at Manabu, arms wrapped tight around his body, trembling uncontrollably. Manabu hesitated before placing a hand on his shoulder. Kami looked up at him from head to toe, taking in a deep breath."Twelve years… Twelve years…" He broke down. Tears streamed down his face, falling from his mask.Manabu held him. He had no clue about what was going on, his mind swirling with questions. "Who… is he?" he wondered.Kami tightened his grip. "I'm sure you're wondering what's going on. I'll tell you everything."Manabu glanced behind him—his friends were watching. Kami saw them and said he already knew they would be here. He told them softly, "You all should listen too."Then, he gestured toward the maid standing outside the room."Prepare dinner. They must be exhausted."The maid said she had already prepared everything and was waiting for their command. But Manabu and his friends were incredibly confused—just completely bewildered. Everything was so messed up. They said they wouldn't be eating right now; there were too many things to discuss.Mion stepped in front of Kami and demanded, "Who are you? And why did you kidnap Manabu?!" Kami calmly responded, "Listen, Ms. Sayuri, if I'm not wrong, I didn't kidnap Manabu. I am his father."Mion argued, "Regardless of who you are, no one should do something like this—" But then she paused, realizing what Kami had just said.Manabu stood silently, his mouth wide open in shock. Mai tugged at Mion from behind. Taiju, scratching his head, whispered loudly, his voice laced with disbelief, "I think I'm hearing things. Did the guy say 'father' or 'mother'?" Mai, even more confused, argued back, "Why would he say 'mother'? He said, "Father'!" Taiju still couldn't believe it. Mion turned and muttered, "Maybe this is some kind of scam." Mai remained silent, still drowning in confusion. So much confusing confusion.

Kami, overhearing their conversation, let out a deep sigh and spoke, "I understand that you don't understand. But trust me, I am Manabu's father. The last time I saw him was twelve years ago. He was maybe four or five back then. But after an incident, everything fell apart, and we were all separated."None of them seemed willing to trust Kami. Manabu, still silent, looked into Kami's eyes. His eyes… they're just like mine. The light orange shade, a blinding brightness—it was strange, yet painfully familiar. A sharp sting ran through him. Kami's eyes were beautiful.Taiju agreed that their eyes looked the same, but everything was still so strange. Manabu couldn't help but ask, "Why do you wear that mask?"Kami explained, "My face... it's disfigured, completely burned. Children are frightened by it. That's why I wear bandages and a mask on top. The hairstyle of the mask is just like my actual hair, but the facial structure is a little different. This mask has become my signature look."Mion turned to Kami and asked, "Mr. Kami, do you have any proof that you're Manabu's father?" Before showing them proof, Kami asked a valuable question, "What kind of proof does a father need to recognize his own child? And what does it take for a son to recognize his father after so much time?" Everyone fell silent. Manabu understood those words clearly. From the moment he saw Kami, he had looked into his eyes… and his heart had filled. As if he had finally found what he had been searching for for thousands of years.

Mion looked at Manabu, but it seemed like there was nothing more she could say.Kami continued, "And suppose I am his father—what kind of crazy man would search for a single person for twelve years straight? Who else would go this far to find someone they don't know, someone they've never seen? But a father would."Behind Kami, they all stood silently. Manabu looked at Dr. Necolain, who smiled and nodded. It became clear to them that Kami had indeed been searching for Manabu all this time. For twelve years.Mai asked, "Then why didn't you come to get him sooner?" Kami spoke softly, "I didn't know where Manabu was. Whether he was alive or not… he might've been dead. I was searching for you cluelessly. At some point, I thought you were no more. But I always heard your voice. Every time, I could hear you calling out, 'Papa… Mama…' and I would start looking for you again. I never gave up on you, my son."Manabu's heart clenched. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he tried not to cry. He stood there, overwhelmed by emotions but unable to voice them.Kami turned and asked for the documents. One of the men standing behind him handed over a file. Kami took out a few papers and gave them to Manabu."This is the paternity test," he said.Manabu took the paper and looked through it carefully. It was a test from sixteen years ago, along with more recent paperwork, a DNA test, and Kami's identity card.

Taiju, Mai, and Mion all looked over his shoulder. Mion's voice faltered as she read aloud, "Father's name: Satoshi Kamiuza...? Child's name: Satoshi Manabu?!?"They compared the papers to Kami's identity card, confirming the matching names and other details. The realization was almost too much to process. No one spoke a word. Mai smiled a little and said, "Manabu! He's your dad! Your dad found you!" Taiju quickly grabbed her mouth, whispering in her ear, "Let Manabu decide!"

Manabu kept looking at the papers. One of the men behind Kami stepped forward and addressed Manabu directly, his voice filled with concern.

"Mr. Manabu! this man right here is your father. He's been searching for you like crazy for twelve years. You were thought to be dead, but you're here. He didn't know if you were alive or not. If he had wanted to, he could've abandoned the search, but he didn't. What kind of father would leave his child behind?" Everyone was trying to convince him. For Kami's sake. But Kami silenced them.—"Let Manabu decide himself."

Manabu looked at Kami, his eyes filled with disbelief and something deeper—something almost unnameable. His heart ached as he stared at the man, the father he never knew. His mind raced, but the memories… the feelings… they just wouldn't come."I know him... I... I know this man," Manabu thought.His chest tightened. There was something about Kami's presence that felt familiar, like a missing puzzle piece he couldn't place.But despite the agony and confusion in his heart, Manabu couldn't say a word. The love, the pain, the years apart—they were all tangled inside him, like a knot he couldn't undo. What did it mean to have a father after all this time? How could he face the man who had been searching for him, yet had never been there when he needed him most? The gap between them—between father and son—felt impossibly wide. But deep down, Manabu couldn't deny the connection that pulsed in his chest. Kami saw Manabu struggling. Suddenly, Taiju grabbed him and took out an inhaler from his pocket. Manabu inhaled, breathing heavily.

Kami blamed himself for their stress and told them to rest. He had to leave. Suddenly, the doorbell rang—loud, urgent, and nonstop.One of the men in the room, annoyed, opened the door. Without warning, someone ran inside. Everyone was stunned. Kami turned and saw Maria—she had arrived, completely out of breath from running. Manabu and his friends just stared. Before Kami could say anything, Maria leaped onto Manabu, hugging him tightly as she screamed in joy, "Manabu!!"

"Oh great! Another character. More confusion," Mai muttered. Mion blushed, her jealousy flaring. A young, pretty girl their age had just appeared out of nowhere and hugged Manabu like that.Taiju steadied Manabu, keeping him from falling over.Mion grabbed the girl's arms and yelled questions at her face, "Who the hell are you?!"

Maria yelled back, "Stop yelling at me, Miss! And I've got the same question—who the hell are you?!" Mion introduced herself. Maria turned to Manabu and smirked. "Oh, I get it! You're my brother's jealous girlfriend!" Mion sputtered. "What do you mean by jeal—" She froze; realization hit her like a sniper bullet.

"Oh great. Now Manabu got a sister! Confusion over another confusion over confusing confusion," Mai said sarcastically.

Maria is Manabu's actual sister.

Mion turned to Manabu, eyes wide. "Manabu! What are these twists?!" Maria laughed. "I'll explain everything slowly. But first, I'm starving." Kami sighed in relief and asked Maria to take care of them since he had to leave. Before he left, he hugged Manabu and Maria one last time. As he walked away, the maid approached Maria. "Ms. Maria, I think my time has come. I'll be returning to the orphanage." Maria blinked. "Why?" The maid smiled. "Master Leon has arrived today. My job here is done." Maria blushed. "Leon is back?!" The maid giggled and nodded. Maria, got extremely happy. Manabu said he had a question, if she don't mind. But instead she turned to Manabu and before he could say anything, she punched his head. "Call me sister, dumbass!" The maid chuckled and asked again if she could leave. Maria nodded, allowing her to go, and the maid took her leave respectfully.

As Maria was setting the plates and food, she refused to answer any questions before lunch. She pushed Mion toward the dining room and pulled out a chair for her. Sitting beside her, Maria asked, "Would you like anything to drink? There are tons of soft drinks and other options." Mion shook her head. "I'm fine. Just water will do." Maria's expression shifted, turning somber. She looked at Mion with her big lashed sobbing eyes. Mion noticed and, after a brief hesitation, asked for a can of soft drink instead. Maria immediately grabbed two cans, handing one to Mion while keeping the other for herself. As they ate, Maria turned to Manabu. "How's Grandma doing?"

Manabu stopped mid-bite and looked at her. "How do you know about my grandma?" Maria rolled her eyes. "Are you an Idiot? she's my grandmother too. Of course, I'd know. So tell me, How is she?" Manabu turned silent; and placed his spoon down and exhaled. "She passed away a few months ago." Maria froze, her expression darkening; she realized why Manabu got quiet suddenly. "I see… How did it happen?" she asked in a softer voice.

"It was my fault," Manabu said flatly. "She had a heart attack." Maria stood up and smacked him on the head again. "How the hell is that your fault?dumbass!" Manabu chuckled and nodded. "You're right. I am a dumbass." Maria sat back down and started eating again. "What kind of person was she?"

Manabu smiled remembering her, "She was kind and caring. An old lady with a big heart."

Maria grinned. "And she had a pretty loud voice too."

Manabu laughed, recalling memories of her. Taiju joined in, sharing how their grandmother once hit him and Manabu with a stick when he and Manabu got into a fight with other kids as children. Manabu then brought up a memory of how he once made Mion cry when they were little. His grandmother had comforted Mion by braiding her hair, which made her happy again. Mai also shared a story. "Once, your grandma shook a candy box machine until some candy fell out… then she secretly gave it to me."Everyone laughed as they reminisced. Taiju added, "I could never tie my necktie properly. Every time it got undone at school, I had to ask her to fix it for me." As they shared these moments, Maria sighed. "She really was an amazing person. Look how much everyone loved her." A silence fell over them as they realized, once again, how much she had meant to them.

They had all had cried at her funeral. Manabu placed a hand on his chest. "That's right. She was something I could probably never become… but at least, I want to do something for everyone. Something that will make them remember me—just like we remember her. My old, noisy grandma." They continued talking for hours, sharing memories and stories. Mai, who had been somewhat reserved at first, gradually became more comfortable around them. Maria then shifted the conversation, asking about their life in Feropia, their friendships, and their families, hoping to lighten the mood. The conversation stretched long into the evening, even after dinner, as they sat around the dining table, lost in discussion. Manabu found himself invested in it. It had been a long time since he had experienced a real family dinner conversation. But then Maria asked a question that changed the atmosphere completely. "So, how was your journey to Lafiaza? Did you guys meet Leon?" The room fell into silence. The lighthearted mood vanished instantly, replaced by a thick tension that settled over their faces. Maria blinked in confusion. "Why did everyone go quiet all of a sudden?" Sensing the shift, Mai spoke up with a light tone, "Maybe we should change the topic." But their expressions remained serious. A sudden, heavy cloud had settled over them.

Mai, noticing the tension, quickly changed the subject. She turned to Maria and asked, "Hey, is your hair naturally white? You and Manabu have the same hair color, and maybe… you both are a little similar in behavior too." But Maria and Manabu both immediately waved off the comment and spoke in unison, "I'm nothin' like him—I'm nothing like her!" Mai raised an eyebrow, smirked, and giggled while clapping her both hands. "Yeah! totally. You two are nothing alike. Completely unique… and unbelievably different," she said sarcastically. Ignoring them, Manabu walked over to the fridge and grab a soft drink, he opened the fridge and saw tons of dinks, he had never seen before. "Lion's Roar"—the name was unfamiliar to him. Some kind of local Lafiazian drink, maybe? Shrugging, he popped it open and took a sip. The moment the liquid hit his tongue, he spat it out. "What the hell?! It's beer!!" Manabu yelled. Maria's eyes widened, and she immediately rushed and snatched the can from him, throwing it back into the fridge and slamming the door shut. "It's nothing! Here, take this one instead!" she said quickly, handing him another drink. But Manabu wasn't letting it slide. He cracked his neck dramatically and gave her a suspicious look. "What's your age, sis?" Maria laughed nervously, avoiding his gaze. "What are you talking about? H-hehe…" Now even more suspicious, Manabu turned to Mai and Taiju. Without hesitation, they grabbed Maria by the arms, holding her in place while Manabu swung the fridge door open. His suspicion was confirmed—most of the drinks inside were beer or alcohol. Maria, at 18, wasn't legally allowed to drink. And even if she were allowed… she shouldn't be drinking beer.

Maria sobs dramatically in defeat and admitted, "I don't drink! It's just… my friends ask for drinks whenever they come over, so I keep some stocked for them." Manabu crossed his arms and exhaled. "As far as I know, drinking under 20 is forbidden in Lafiaza. Are your friends over 20?" Maria looked away, clearly embarrassed. "...They're 17. Or my age, probably." Manabu shook his head in disapproval, but then, with a mischievous grin, he grabbed a bunch of non alcoholic and alcoholic drinks from the fridge. "Well, let's enjoy some real drinks ourselves!" Maria watched as everyone except her started chugging their drinks like it was a party. "Wait—WHAT?! You're all under 20!!" But they ignored her, cheering together, "Who cares?!" They spent the rest of the night like that—laughing, chatting, and messing around. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and one by one, they fell asleep.

Taiju, being the responsible one, didn't drink much, avoiding being hungover. When it was time to sleep, Maria showed them to their rooms. Mai and Mion shared Maria's room, while Manabu and Taiju were given a separate one. It was evening already; Taiju was tired as well. Maria suggests he take some rest. Taiju thought the same and dove onto the soft bed. Maria turned off the light and got ready. She takes her purse and leaves for the orphanage. Today is Sumi's birthday.