A Life Torn Asunder

Field Trip

The morning sun bathed the buses as they pulled up the winding road, finally arriving in the mountainous region of Japan where they'd be spending the weekend. As the buses parked, students chattered with excitement, stretching their legs after the long ride. The air was fresh, carrying a hint of pine and wildflowers, and the mountains loomed in the distance, dotted with patches of autumn colors.

"Alright, everyone, gather round!" called out Mr. Tanaka, one of the teachers. "We'll be assigning you to your cabins for the trip!"

The students buzzed with excitement as names were called. When it came to Lucifer and Masha, luck was on their side – their cabins ended up right next to each other. As they hurried to settle in, Masha shot Lucifer a grin.

"Lucky us! We can talk all night if we want," she said, nudging him playfully.

Lucifer smiled, brushing a strand of his long white hair away from his face. "And if you need anything, you know where to find me," he replied, his baby face beaming with his usual cheerful expression.

It wasn't long before a group from the student council, along with Masha and Lucifer, decided to explore the area around the cabins. The first place that caught their eye was the lake, its glassy surface reflecting the mountain peaks. The girls squealed with excitement, racing down to the shore.

As they reached the water's edge, the group turned their attention to Lucifer. The girls, who had grown close to him thanks to his kindness and playful nature, were already devising ways to include him in their fun. Without missing a beat, they began teasing him, calling him over to the water.

"Lucifer! Why are you so far back?" called out Emi, one of the girls from the student council. She gave Masha a sly look. "Aren't you going to come protect him from us?"

Masha grinned, moving closer to Lucifer. She took his arm, and Emi quickly latched onto his other arm, turning him into a friendly tug-of-war rope. The two girls giggled and tugged him back and forth, pretending to argue over who he should hang out with.

"Hey, he's my friend too!" Masha laughed, holding tight.

Lucifer, laughing along, looked between the two of them. "Okay, okay, one at a time! I don't think I can stretch much further!"

Eventually, Masha won the playful struggle, much to the group's delight, and she led Lucifer toward the water. The other girls started chanting, "The wife always wins!" making Masha blush as she let go of Lucifer's arm, lightly smacking Emi on the shoulder for her teasing.

After a few minutes, the group changed into swimsuits, eager to play in the lake. They took turns splashing each other, shrieking as the cold water hit their skin. Lucifer was especially good-natured, splashing everyone back with an even bigger smile.

Just as one of the girls was about to dive into the water, her swimsuit strap came undone, and she let out a little gasp of surprise. Masha, ever the quick-thinker, covered Lucifer's eyes before he had a chance to react, and the girls burst out laughing as they helped their friend with her swimsuit.

Lucifer, a bit embarrassed, chuckled and peeked out from behind Masha's hand. "Did I miss something?"

"Oh, nothing much," said Masha with a smirk. "Just protecting your innocent eyes."

The girls teased him about it for the rest of the afternoon, playfully asking if he'd enjoyed "the view," to which Lucifer could only laugh along, knowing it was all in good fun.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the teachers called everyone back to prepare for a bonfire that night. They all gathered around the flames, enjoying the warmth as the cool evening settled in. Students roasted marshmallows, exchanged stories, and played music, filling the night air with laughter.

"Hey, Lucifer!" a girl called out. "Who are you going to dance with?"

Without much hesitation, Lucifer glanced over at Masha, a gentle smile on his face. "Masha, would you dance with me?"

Masha felt her cheeks grow warm, but she took his hand, allowing him to lead her to the open area near the fire. As they danced, she overheard a teacher nearby mentioning the local legend – that if you danced with someone under the stars by a bonfire, you'd end up marrying them.

She blushed deeply but tried to focus on the dance. Lucifer noticed her sudden flustered look and raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. "You okay?" he asked softly.

"Yeah! Just, um... It's nothing," Masha replied, trying not to smile too widely. She held onto Lucifer's hands a little tighter, caught up in the moment.

The night continued, and the group eventually made their way to Lucifer's cabin to play cards. It was one of their favorite games, with a rule that whoever lost had to do whatever the winner said. Lucifer, as it turned out, wasn't very lucky at cards that night, and after losing a few rounds, the girls had already thought of the perfect dare for him.

"We want you to dress up in these!" said Emi, pulling out a couple of skirts and accessories from her bag. The girls had secretly planned this, hoping for just such a moment.

Lucifer laughed, shaking his head in amused disbelief, but he went along with it. Soon, he was decked out in a skirt and a bow in his hair, much to the delight of the group.

"Wow, Lucifer, you look cute!" Masha teased, grinning as she adjusted the bow in his hair. "You're really pulling off this look!"

Lucifer posed dramatically, making everyone burst into laughter. He looked around at the girls, giving them an exaggerated wink. "Should I keep this on for the rest of the trip?" he joked, striking a playful pose.

"Oh, definitely!" the girls chorused, giggling uncontrollably.

As the game wrapped up and everyone returned to their own cabins, Lucifer was just about to fall asleep when there was a soft knock on his door. He opened it to find Masha standing there, looking a little shy.

"Just came to say good night," she said, stepping inside briefly. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, her face lighting up in a bashful smile. "Thanks for making today so much fun."

Before Lucifer could respond, one of the other girls, who had seen the exchange from her window, peeked in and laughed, joining them with a big grin. "Hey! Save some of Lucifer for the rest of us!" she teased, mimicking Masha by planting a quick kiss on his other cheek. "Good night, you two!"

Lucifer shook his head, a smile never leaving his face. The trip was turning out to be one of the best experiences he'd had, surrounded by friends who made him feel valued and happy. As he drifted off to sleep, he looked forward to more moments like this – filled with laughter, friendship, and maybe, just maybe, something a little more with Masha.