Liking girls isn't the problem…" She paused for a moment. "I actually do like… liking girls, no matter what kind of stupid nonsense I said earlier. I, myself, am the problem in the equation. I couldn't properly deal with being… different, to the point of not even being able to talk to girls anymore. It's all my own personal fault, and I know that, but… I can't change myself so easily now. I have no plans to change my sexuality instead. I hate myself for what I said, even just as a joke in the spur of the moment. I really like girls, and I'm more than good with that. Though I had no luck with them regardless, but like I said… that's my fault entirely. I want to change who I have become and not what I am. If that makes any sense whatsoever to you… Or wait, is it the other way around? A-Anyway, I hope you get what I mean." She confused herself towards the end.
"I see. Yes, I understand. That's fine, then." He seemed satisfied with her answer. "So, instead of a proper start from zero, you would prefer a stat boost, I take it?"
"Stat boost?" Lila tilted her head, wondering whether the two were using the same language.
"Instead of starting over in a new body from scratch, you want to keep being your current self in your given body, but with better specs. For example, having the powers to overcome your current flaws in your personality, getting a good Boost in every aspect."
"Well, I wouldn't mind being a couple of years younger again, but-"
"Noted."
"Eh? A-Anyway, by boost, you mean… like improving my self-confidence, making me able to talk to girls and something like that?"
"Sure, that too will get boosted."
"Too…? W-Wait, what are you even talking about?!" Lila wasn't able to make sense out of their conversation.
"I'll get to that eventually."
"No, wait…" She suddenly remembered something. "W-Why am I here in the first place?"
"You only start questioning that now?"
"There was a lot to keep up with… Wait, being in an all-white space, talking with someone equaling god or whatever… D-Don't tell me!" The girl realized something horrible. "A-Am I dead…?"
"Technically not, I suppose?"
"H-Huh…?"
"Well, I summoned you about a second before your certain death."
"Thank you very much! Wait! What's that supposed to mean?! I was just walking around in the city… How can that kill me all of a sudden?!"
"Walking around, lost in thoughts and not minding their surroundings, failing to notice the red light when crossing a street and-"
"Stop right there! I can piece together the rest myself…"
"It won't be something nice to look at. It sure was a big bus."
"I said stop!" She didn't want to imagine her own death, especially when it's such a gruesome image.
"Unfortunately, I was too late, though."
"W-What does that mean…?"
"You see, while I can stop time and summon people to this place, I can only send them back to the same place at the exact same time, meaning-"
"I'll die the moment I go back…" Lila had become as white as the room she was in.
"Well, a second after that, but yes, that's how it is. I'm sorry for not summoning you earlier."
"No… Thank you… for having a final conversation then… It was… something else, but… nice…" Her voice sounded really heavy.
"Not so hasty, lady!"
"…Huh?"
"While it's true that your future on Earth will only last another second, there are other options."
"O-Options...?"
"As I said, I'm the overseer of many worlds, not just yours. If you want to, I can send you to a different world. A world where you'll be able to continue your life for a long time. That's the reason why I asked you if you want a retry in a place where truly nobody knows you when I called you over to this place."
"…S-So it's either that or sure death, is it?"
"Pretty much."
"Ahahaha…" She snapped. "D-Don't tell me all those books I read to kill time were actually legit…"
"Oh, right, Earth does have a significant amount of literature around reincarnation and transmigration, does it not? I should've started with that to make things easier… So, how about it, want to give it a try?"
"G-Give me a moment here… This is too much to take in at once." Lila naturally was having a hard time with the situation. "W-What kind of world do you intend to send me…? If it's a ruthless and brutal one, the powerless me will end up in this white place soon again anyway, won't I?"
"Don't worry, few of them are any more vicious than Earth."
"That doesn't mean much!" Depending on the area, it can also mean certain death, after all, and those places weren't few on her planet.
"…" The overseer stopped for a second. "You got me there… Well, worry not. I'll make sure you won't get harmed."
"O-Okay…" Lila only weakly nodded.
"Can I take that as a yes?"
"What is the world you want to send me like? Ah, don't tell me there's magic and all that?!"
"Do you want to go to a place where the usage of magic is possible? Sure, there are a few of them under my supervision."
"Of course… But there are surely monsters all over the place as well, right? Going by the template and all…"
"You can't have the one without the other. After all, that would be too boring to oversee."
"Is that really something you should admit…?" She began to doubt the intentions of this so-called overseer.
"Again, worry not. Even if there are monsters, they won't pose a threat to you, girl." He decided not to answer Lila's question.
"Are they all like super weak?"
"Sure, let's go with that."
"Hmm…?" She was getting more dubious.
"Anyway, with that being decided, are there any other wishes for your new world?"
"So it's decided, huh?" Lila lost the will to argue. "Okay, sure… might there be a world where… my preferences are not discriminated against? Or at least… not to a worrying degree…?" She wanted at least a little reassuring about the state of her new world.
"A world where homosexuality is widely accepted, huh? Hmm… Ah, there actually is a world that fits perfectly!"
"Really? I-I want to go there then!"
"As long as that's okay, the rest doesn't matter?"
"Well, I don't want to be too greedy… You're doing me a favor after all… to grant me a new chance…" Lila remembered that she's basically dead in her old world already.
"What a nice girl you are. Okay, I'll decide the rest, including the fine details on my own then."
"N-Nothing too crazy, okay?"
"Where's the fun in that? I want to enjoy watching your new life, too, after all."
"Ever the creep, huh?"
"What a nice girl." His voice sounded completely different compared to earlier.
"Ehehe~." For the first time in a good while, Lila was genuinely smiling in front of someone.
"You… You have quite a charming smile." He had to pause for a moment.
"T-Thank you very much… That's the first time someone ever told me that…"
"Isn't that just because you haven't shown it to anyone before?"
"T-That... That might not be entirely unrelated…" Lila shrunk down a little. "Ah, but don't you fall for me now, okay? I already told you, but there will only be heartbreak for you there."
"You cheeky little… You being shy was a total lie, wasn't it?!"
"If only… I don't know what's going on with me. I hope I can find a GIRL I can talk with in a similar manner in the new world…" She emphasized a crucial word in her sentence.
"Maybe I did mess too much with the personality stats…?" His mumble was barely audible to the girl.
"Did you say something?"
"Ah, no… you'll find out about it sooner rather than later."
"Hmm…" Being suspicious about the guy had already become normal to her.
"Well then, have fun in your new world." With a voice much more powerful and dignified, he ended their conversation.
"H-Huh?! Ah, uh… Again, thank you very mu-…" Before being able to finish her sentence, the girl's vision turned dark.
"Sorry, Lila… I could've summoned you a couple of seconds earlier, but where's the fun in that. Well, I can guarantee that you're going to enjoy your new life much more than the previous one, though.".