We've just arrived at my grandparent's house and my mother was walking with me to the door. She didn't even get the chance to knock at the door as a young man in a suit opened the door.
– The young man took a bow, "Welcome back my lady... young lady."
I swear he glared at me just now. I have no idea why but he seems to have a deep disgust for me, every time he looks in my direction, he glares.
– Is it linked with my hair issue? I hope not, I don't want mom to worry about leaving me here. Bending down she kissed me on my forehead and rubbed my head, "Be good ok dear?"
– "Yes!"
– "Good, tell grandma and grandpa I said hi now." After nodding to her she hugged me before walking back to her car, waving one more time she got in the car and drove off.
– After her car was no longer in sight, the man who went by Alfine turned and looked down at me as he stretched his hand out, "I'll lead you inside if you would?"
There it was again, that glare. I've visited this place so many times it would be no surprise to say I felt safe in this place, but that's not true! I always notice his glares because they remind me of the people from my school from before I reincarnated.
A look of disdain...
A look of disgust...
– "Ben here Befor." I could only huff and turn away from him before I became too emotional, It seems this life won't be too different from my last, and this time due to something I was born with...
I entered the large house with Alfine following behind me. I smelt something heavenly coming from the right side of the large stairs that were centered in the large hall. I started running in a trance as I rushed into the kitchen.
Pushing through the kitchen doors, what I saw was a mouth-watering sight. Since I rushed into the kitchen I slipped on the tiled flooring. Falling, I felt a light grip on my arm, the grip held me up, before settling me down, making me sit down on the floor.
– "Slow down there Lulu! You almost hurt yourself." The person who caught me spoke to me, chuckling at my clumsiness.
– "Gwampa! Smell good. Came to." Seeing grandpa I exclaimed and explained my rushing, in broken speech though.
Grandpa was a tall man perhaps between six and seven feet tall. He didn't have a strong or weak physique just something in between. He looked similar to mom, except his skin was a tad darker, while he had the same black hair in a shortcut. He also had a well-groomed black and grey beard.
He had a few wrinkles placed across his face and more revealed themselves when his mouth formed itself into a smile.
– "So you smelt it, huh, I guess I can't surprise you, can I Lulu?" He could only sigh at the surprise being ruined while I shook my head.
– "Well, I made this for you, Lulu." Holding the baked good in front of me I also started drooling.
It was a cake that was covered in a golden brown frosting. T-T-This is Caramel Cake! It looks and smells just like it! How? Wait that's not important.
I stretched my tiny stubby hands towards the cake only for it to be pulled away, I reached for it again, it was once again pulled away.
This game continued for a few more minutes, I want some cake. I stood there, pouting as grandpa couldn't help but laugh at me.
– "Alright, alright I was just playing Lulu, stop pouting, I'll give you the cake." Grandpa let out a hearty laugh.
Hearing his words my eyes sparkled as I quickly took the cake from him, "Thank you!"
– "Just don't tell your grandma that I gave you this." He once again let out another laugh before rubbing the back of his neck in nervousness.
– "Mmhm."
...
...
I finished the cake a while ago and was sitting on the edge of the large couch in grandpa's office I was swinging my legs and humming the Super Rangers opening song. While I was doing that grandpa was sitting at his desk and writing on filling out some papers.
Knock Knock
Grandpa lifted his head after hearing the knock on the door, a slight moment later he spoke up. – "Enter."
After gaining permission Alfine opened the door and held it open for the person who entered. The man that stepped into the office was quite aged, he had tons of wrinkles on his face, yet he wore somewhat regal clothing.
Walking in with his hands behind his back, the man exuded a majestic aura. The man had a closed verticle slit in his forehead, almost like a closed eyelid. What was even more strange was how this man's eyes were half-closed, the man appeared to be about to fall asleep.
He also had a mysterious smile on his face. He looked incredibly suspicious to me, luckily I was wearing my beanie.
– "Yooo~ I came as you requested, you said you needed a favor or something?"
He sat across from me while speaking in a nonchalant tone. I sat and stared at him in childish curiosity as grandpa spoke to him.
– "Well yes, Malto, and it's also quite important"
– "Then, this child? Will she be staying?" He asked while flicking his chin in my direction, hearing him, I turned towards my grandpa.
– He merely nodded his head, "I mean yeah, she is the main subject today. I did call you here to help my lovely granddaughter after all."
I tried to listen closely to what they said so far after the man entered the room, but I couldn't make out all the words. I heard a few words quite clearly, and concluded that grandpa invited him here for me? Something like that.
– "Quite a while ago my granddaughter developed something that will undoubtedly make her life more difficult to endure in the future. It is of no issue currently due to her only usually going in between this house, and her and my daughter's home."
– "And what is that "something" she's developed?" Malto crossed his legs as he placed his attention on me as if scanning me.
– "Mmm, yes I'll show you now." He turned towards me and pointed towards his head, "Lulu, hat, can you take it off please."
My hat? He wants me to show my hair to a stranger? Thinking about my mother's nervousness when leaving the house with me, I could only respond to him with nervousness as well. – "My hat?... B-but-"
– "It's okay Lulu. I trust him. Malto is a nice man."
– "O-ok..." I turned toward the man before moving my gaze down to my legs. Taking my hat off I revealed my blue hair to the man.
I couldn't see what expression had on his face due to my looking down, but I heard a light gasp come from him. I honestly didn't want to look up.
He spoke again and from what I could comprehend, he said something about blue hair and something else, I didn't understand.
But I heard him speaking start to speak to me.
– "It's ok to look up child." I looked up at him, and he had a genuine smile on his face. "I will not bother you with your hair, I must say it's actually quite beautiful."
I could tell by the look on his face that he was speaking in truthfulness, I understood the last thing he said and it caused me to blush in embarrassment.
I-I'm still not used to compliments. I've never gotten a true compliment in my past life before, so I could only reply to him shyly.
– "T-Thank you."
– Malto let out a light chuckle before turning back to my grandpa, who was smiling while looking at me. "So what was it you needed a favor for?"
– "Well, when she ages to her fifteenth cycle I was hoping you would permit her to enter your school. What do you think?"
– He put his hand on his chin, "Hmmm, that's quite difficult. I can think about it, but at the end of the day the only thing that will get her in would be her efforts." He paused for a second before speaking once again, "I'm assuming that due to her hair she won't be attending a public institute? Will you be teaching her at home?"
– Grandpa nodded his head at Malto's words. "Yes, that's what my daughter thought would be the best course of action."
– "Mhm, ok, well I'm quite busy, so I need to get going, I'll send a recommendation when she comes of age."
– "Thank you, old friend!" Grandpa practically beamed with joy, he stood and stepped to Malto and hugged him while laughing with joy.
I hopped off the couch after putting my hat back on and quietly followed them to the door. as he was about to step out he got down on my level.
– "You be good now, Lulu, and work hard. You won't be treated the best if people see your hair. Be careful got it?"
– "Yes!"
Mhm - He rubbed my head with a slight smile on his face, he got up and stepped out of the house.
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— Friendly reminder most of my characters are not speaking in English, they are speaking in the Detrid main tongue, more on that later.