April 4th, Clear Weather

Even the weather can be so heartless sometimes. This other world is, after all, another world. No matter how similar it is to Earth, it’s still different. Between the two worlds lies a distance where longing cannot reach.

During Qingming season, I missed my hometown’s timely drizzle. But here, spring sunshine warmed everything, with life blooming everywhere.

It looked beautiful, yet out of place.

“What are you doing, spacing out the window again? Planning to run away?” Lott had appeared beside me, gazing where I stared.

“It’s Qingming today,” I reminded softly. He’d probably forgotten the old calendar—no one here tracked dates anyway.

“Qingming already?” He paused, then his expression normalized. “What’s wrong? Missing home?”

“Tch… I don’t miss home that easily. Just… wanna play on my computer back there,” I retorted stubbornly. “This world’s so old-fashioned—no computers at all.”

“You could play real-life Hero vs. Dark Lord…”

I glared, cutting him off. “Looking for trouble?”

He chuckled awkwardly, his joke failing. His gaze softened. “Spill it—who are you missing?” He reached out, ruffling my hair.

“Stop it, pervert!” I swatted his hand away, glanced at the wall painting, and bit my lower lip. “I… miss my mom and dad.”

“Missing family?”

“Yeah… My dad must be lonely since I left.”

“What about your mom?”

“She passed when I was little. She watches us from that world but can’t meet us.” I sighed deeply. That was safe enough.

“Sorry…”

“No need. If she weren’t my mom, I’d punch her.” I angrily waved my little fist. Just remembering her wish for a daughter made me furious.

“Uh…” The Hero hesitated. “That’s not right.”

“What’s wrong!” I punched Lott’s chest—he was my punching bag anyway. “She’s living it up in heaven…”

“Heaven… you’ve been?”

“I have… and came back.” I shook my head. “No use explaining.” I brushed away the anger. “You had family on Earth?”

“Gone.” His answer shocked me.

“My parents died in a plane crash. Left little for my sister and me…”

“Your sister?”

“Pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency. Drained our savings, but… we lost her.” Lott showed no sadness, only happy memories. “She was silly—like you sometimes. Hope she’s with them in heaven.”

I couldn’t tell him heaven’s truth. I echoed softly, “Sorry. I peeked at your phone, thought it was just cosplay…”

“You powered it off? No chargers here.”

“Don’t worry,” I nodded.

“Honestly, you resemble my sister—white hair, red eyes. If not for your deep red shade, I’d think God sent her back.” He leaned against the window. “What do you think of her?”

“Cute… and pitiful.”

“So are you.”

“You… never mind.” Cute? Fine—no!

“What’s pitiful about me? If you pity me, why not let me go?” I turned, cornering him against the wall, one hand braced by his waist.

“Tch… loli frame heigh—oww, my tongue!”

Serves you right. Don’t you know short girls can headbutt chins?

“Spill it! Where am I pitiful?” I glared, demanding answers.

“Oww… tongue—boss lady, I’m sorry!” He ducked as I lowered my head. “Read ‘The Moment I Wish to Be Human’?”

“No… too obscure. Why?”

“You’re like its characters. Do you hate being the Dark Lord?”

“None of your business!” I stammered. “I hate my setup—the world’s setup. Why do others get ‘The Loli-Changing Me Dates the Princess,’ while I get damn ‘The Loli-Changing Me Gets Captured by the Hero’!”

“Reality~ accept it.” He ruffled my hair again. “Be my little sister, okay?”

“No way… hey!” I was suddenly hugged. “Promise me.”

“Just as a sister?”

“Mm.”

“Idiot…” A tiny disappointment crept in. Why?

(This scene takes place the day before the public trial.)