We use recently derived Ward identities and lattice data for the light- and strange-quark condensates to reconstruct the scalar and pseudoscalar susceptibilities ($$\chi _S^\kappa $$
χ
S
κ
, $$\chi _P^K$$
χ
P
K
) in the isospin 1/2 channel. We show that $$\chi _S^\kappa $$
χ
S
κ
develops a maximum above the QCD chiral transition, after which it degenerates with $$\chi _P^K$$
χ
P
K
. We also obtain $$\chi _S^\kappa $$
χ
S
κ
within Unitarized Chiral Perturbation Theory (UChPT) at finite temperature, when it is saturated with the $$K_0^*(700)$$
K
0
∗
(
700
)
(or $$\kappa $$
κ
) meson, the dominant lowest-energy state in the isospin 1/2 scalar channel of $$\pi K$$
π
K
scattering. Such UChPT result reproduces the expected peak structure, revealing the importance of thermal interactions, and makes it possible to examine the $$\chi _S^\kappa $$
χ
S
κ
dependence on the light- and strange-quark masses. A consistent picture emerges controlled by the $$m_l/m_s$$
m
l
/
m
s
ratio that allows one studying $$K-\kappa $$
K
-
κ
degeneration in the chiral, two-flavor and SU(3) limits. These results provide an alternative sign for $$O(4)\times U(1)_A$$
O
(
4
)
×
U
(
1
)
A
restoration that can be explored in lattice simulations and highlight the role of strangeness, which regulated by the strange-quark condensate helps to reconcile the current tension among lattice results regarding $$U(1)_A$$
U
(
1
)
A
restoration.