"Idiot! What are you doing?!"

Ling gasped, heart flaring like a startled bird, and rushed in. She caught Alicia’s hand and bent the dislocated finger back. Green magic unfurled like spring moss, sheathing the crimson joint. In two breaths, bone knit; color returned like dawn to skin.

"Idiot! Doesn’t it hurt? Even if you don’t feel it, it still hurts me!"

Alicia finally saw how crazy that was; two tears shone in Ling’s eyes like dew. She dipped her head.

"Sorry for worrying you…"

"Idiot, idiot, idiot! If you really wanted to go, just beg me a few more times. Why agree to such an unreasonable demand? Idiot!"

"So that means you agree?"

"…Mm. I’ll go with you. But don’t let me see you do that to yourself again."

"OK. I promise."

Where Ling couldn’t see, Alicia’s lips curled in a small, victorious crescent.

Smack.

A heavy palm landed on her crown. Ling cradled her head, cheeks puffing like a tiny pufferfish, eyes lifting to her own scalp.

"Idiot, don’t just whack someone’s head! I’ll never grow taller!"

"Ah, sorry, sorry. You looked spaced out, and my hand moved on reflex. Anyway, forget that. Let’s head in before they get impatient."

Alicia’s tone apologized, but her face stayed breezy, like she couldn’t care less. Then she swapped topics, neat as a street magician.

Could Ling stomach such irresponsibility? Could she?!

Of course she could; what else could she do? Outside of combat, she could never beat Alicia’s big-sis aura buff. It was an iron law learned through long practice.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…"

Resigned, Ling followed Alicia inside.

"We’re coming in."

Alicia lifted the curtain with a rustle like falling silk and nudged Ling through.

Ling took in the hall at a glance. Her resistance thawed like frost in sun. She used to hear "stage play" and picture stubborn, inflexible people. Self-righteous types who sneered at modern culture. She had no idea why she carried that bias. It didn’t matter. Because—

"Oh—whose child is this? So cute!"

"Come here, little sister, come here—let big sis hug you♡"

"Back off, you loli-obsessed lot! Don’t stain such a cute child with your filthy hands. A beauty like me should be the one to corrupt her!"

That was the welcome the moment Ling got pushed into the so-called theater. All the big sisters rushed over the instant they saw her, arms wide, claiming dibs on a hug. They crowded her, grabbed her, tugged her back and forth. Worse, someone even copped a feel—bold as daylight, sticky as honey.

Such a thing… such a thing—was so, so comfortable!

To be fought over by a swarm of big sisters—back in her past life, that would’ve stayed a dream. Now, as a loli, she could taste it for real. It was amazing, okay!

"Hey! That’s enough. Don’t play with Ling till she breaks, or where are you gonna find another loli like her?"

Alicia’s voice cut in, tart as vinegar despite the warning.

It worked well enough. Everyone finally stopped tug-of-war and shuffled back to their seats, sitting prim and straight—textbook good-student posture.

Seeing a pack of girls her age act twice as childish settle down, Alicia exhaled. She eased Ling’s small body into her arms. With her free hand, she pointed around the room.

"Nobody uses real names here. See the purple-haired one? She’s Zi."

The purple-haired lady gave a languid wave. The loli answered with a sugary smile—a direct hit to Zi’s heart, critical damage.

"This black-long-straight is Zha."

In a sailor uniform, the black-haired girl opened a book. She set a frosty expression—convincing, if the book hadn’t been upside down.

"And the green hair… yeah, it’s a wig. She calls herself Youxiang."

In a vest and long skirt of crimson crossed with dark-red checks, the short green-haired girl sent Ling a sweet smile. Ling felt no sweetness, only a chill—queen’s pressure rolling off her like a field of thorned roses.

Maybe that was the tyrant-of-flowers aura. Even if she wasn’t the real deal… Especially since Ling herself was a half knockoff of Youxiang. The discomfort of a bootleg meeting the original pressed even harder.

Ling gave an awkward but polite little wave, then burrowed deeper into Alicia’s arms. She made up her mind: unless it was vital, she’d never get close to Youxiang.

"This one is…"

With the grown-ups introduced, it was finally the loli’s turn. She’d been lurking in the corner, staring at Ling with a resentful gleam.

Truth is, after Youxiang’s intro, Ling’s wandering gaze had already picked up the loli’s image. First she was surprised there was someone her size here. Then she felt the spark of recognizing her own kind. She started sketching a plan—lure that loli to her side. Have her help block a wave of big-sis attacks whenever needed.

The plan was halfway drawn when the black-haired loli’s eyes locked on hers. Two lolis’ gazes met. Ling opened her mouth to greet her—only to be hit with a look so woeful it made her wonder what sin she’d committed.

"She’s a loli like you—Xi. Today’s my first time meeting her too. Didn’t expect such a cute black-haired little loli~"

The black-haired loli walked up to Alicia and spread her arms, a posture that begged to be hugged.

Alicia felt the curse of her loli-magnet physique, then spread her other arm wide—clearly aiming to take both.

The black-haired loli slapped away the incoming arm and pointed at the loli in Alicia’s embrace.

"I want this one!"

Ling: What—?!