"Like a sponge," Alessa repeated, looking at the food warily. She had never eaten a sponge before, the idea seemed strange to her. Humans definitely had weird ideas about food sometimes.

Alessa raised an eyebrow. "If you're comfortable with each other in that way, of course." What was Miku getting defensive about? She didn't think she would ever understand this girl.

But at what she said next, Alessa felt a surge of actual anger there. Had she forgotten that she'd actually helped them, even though she'd been virtually diminished in strength? That was almost insulting.

"Nevermind," Alessa said duly. "Forget I asked. I was making conversation."

See if she ever did something like that again. Now she actually felt as if she could hear other demon laughing at her, wherever they were now.