Chapter 35: Earth to Earth
Victoria reluctantly let go, slowly retreating back into her seat. She crossed one leg over the other, settling into a more relaxed posture. There was a new softness to her expression—something caught between quiet relief and a rare glimpse of genuine cheer.
"So then... what's your story?"
She leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the table, her eyes glimmering with curiosity.
"How'd you transfer to this world?"
She hesitated, then added quickly, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips:
"For me I just... well... slipped on a random soda bottle and..."
Her voice grew quieter, more embarrassed, as she twirled a lock of her silver hair between her fingers, gaze drifting downward to the grain of the wooden table.
"Died... hehe."
She gave an awkward laugh, the sound light and slightly self-deprecating.
Silas couldn't help the short chuckle that escaped his lips. He already knew Suzuki's backstory—had seen it unfold in the game like any other scripted cutscene—but hearing it from her, in person, gave it a strange kind of intimacy. It made her feel more real.
"Sounds stupid," he said with a crooked grin, watching her reaction, "It fits you, I guess—if this is your actual personality."