Kobayashi sighed and rubbed her temples, trying to focus on the bittersweet aroma of her coffee.
Was she used to this kind of chaos?
Kind of.
But "used to" didn't mean immune.
Especially not when all you wanted was to flop on the couch like a lazy blob and vibe in peace—only to get your eardrums assaulted by nonstop, high-pitched noise that drills straight into your brain.
"Shin."
Her voice was soft, worn out—more out of habit than energy.
"Tone it down a bit, okay?"
Shin pouted. "Kobayashi, you're way too chill. Come on, get hyped!"
Get hyped?
Kobayashi rolled her eyes. It was the weekend. A real one. No way she was "hyping" anything.
She raised her third—or was it fourth?—cup of coffee and took a sip, half her face hidden behind the rim like a shield.
Whatever. Let the world burn. Just hurry up about it.
"Ah! They're here! They're here!"
Shin lit up like a launch sequence had been triggered.
She dropped the drawing she'd been so proud of and zoomed toward the front door with a blur of motion. Her slippers slapped against the floor like drumbeats in a boss fight.
Kobayashi sighed, put her mug down, and stood up. She straightened the wrinkled front of her loungewear—thanks, Shin—and headed for the entrance, a bit confused.
Who would show up at this hour?
From the genkan, she could already hear Shin losing her mind with excitement.
"Kanna-chan! Anya! Michiru-nee! Aunt Yor! You really came! This is awesome! Hurry, come in, come in!"
When Kobayashi reached the entrance, she paused—just a beat.
The small genkan was suddenly packed.
Shin stood in front, gripping the hands of two girls just a bit shorter than her.
On the left was Kanna.
Her silver hair was tied into two neat buns, with the ends curling up playfully. She wore overalls with cartoon dinosaurs, and her tiny backpack looked like it was stuffed with mysterious treasures.
That doll-like face of hers still wore the usual unreadable expression—but her big violet eyes blinked once when she saw Kobayashi, and her long lashes fluttered like little fans.
"Hello, Kobayashi," she said in that completely flat, signature Kanna voice.
On the right was Anya.
Bright pink hair, two tiny pigtails. Her gemstone-green eyes sparkled with excitement, curiosity, and a bit of stage fright. She had on a cute red dress and a small bear-themed backpack.
She was doing her best to copy Kanna's calm vibe—face tense, trying to look like a reliable big girl—but her twitchy fingers and darting eyes gave her away completely.
"H‑hello! Thanks for having me!" she said, her voice chirpy but trying hard to sound grown-up.
Behind the girls were their very different guardians.
First was Michiru Hyoudou.
She wore a plain white T-shirt, baggy faded jeans, and beat-up canvas sneakers. A tote bag hung off her shoulder casually. She had the breezy energy of a sporty high schooler, with messy blue short hair that refused to be tamed. Her cheeks were still flushed from what looked like a morning jog, and she had a huge, easygoing smile.
"Yo! Sorry to drop in, Kobayashi-san. Shin was just way too excited, you know?"
And then came Yor Briar.
She looked like she walked out of a lifestyle magazine: cream-colored knit dress, light trench coat, sleek black hair pinned back elegantly with a few soft strands framing her face. She carried a beautifully wrapped dessert box, her smile warm and perfectly composed.
She gave a slight bow and said in the gentlest, most refined voice:
"I'm so sorry for coming without notice, Miss Kobayashi. Anya's been wanting to play with Kanna and Shin for a long time, and when she got the invite, she couldn't stop smiling. Please accept this little gift."
She offered the box with practiced elegance.
Kobayashi quickly accepted the hefty package—premium paper, solid weight. Yep, fancy.
"Oh, no need at all, Briar-san! You're too kind. Please, come in."
She stepped aside, smiling like she was back at work dealing with a client. But mentally, she was thinking: Seriously, how is this woman so gorgeous and classy? You'd never guess she's got a kid that age.
Shin, meanwhile, was already dragging Kanna and Anya down the hall, bouncing like an over-caffeinated sparrow.
"Come on! I've got so many new toys and drawings to show you—plus this super fun game!"
Her voice echoed down the hallway.
Kanna let herself be pulled along, calm as ever, taking small obedient steps.
Anya stumbled a little but quickly found her footing. Her eyes sparkled with excitement and a tiny hint of panic as she tried to keep up. She turned back once to shout:
"Mom! I'm going to play!"
Her voice was full of pure, unfiltered joy.
"Okay, sweetie—have fun, and don't trouble Kobayashi-san," Yor replied, smiling fondly.
The three adults stood there, watching as the kids disappeared around the corner.