Yor: "Anya talks about them all the time when she gets home—says she has so much fun playing with them."
"She does have a wild imagination sometimes, though. Honestly, I just hope she's not causing too much trouble for the teachers or the other kids."
Her words were perfectly polished—gentle, protective, filled with love for her daughter.
She played the role of a caring, nurturing mom flawlessly.
And it wasn't an act.
To Yor, Anya was her daughter in every way that mattered.
Kobayashi: "Oh, no no, it's Shin who's the real handful!"
She felt herself starting to sweat.
Yor was way too perfect—so perfect that Kobayashi, as the parent of a loud, messy kid, didn't even know how to respond.
Her eyes drifted to a seemingly more "approachable" target—Michiru Hyoudou.
Kobayashi: "Michiru, is Kanna still living with you?"
She was genuinely curious.
Could Michiru really handle raising a literal dragon?
Michiru: "Yep! Kanna still lives with me."
She leaned forward, short blue hair bouncing as she moved, her whole face lit up like sunshine.
Michiru: "Though, I'm in school most of the time, so Tohru usually takes her back to her place."
Technically, Tohru's the real guardian.
She said it so naturally—casual, honest, with that typical high schooler bluntness and just a dash of self-deprecation.
In that moment, she completely shattered the prim and slightly distant aura Yor had built up.
But if it's Tohru taking care of Kanna, then yeah, that tracks.
She's a dragon too—and older, at that.
Kobayashi finally felt her nerves ease up a bit.
Yep—talking to younger people was definitely less stressful.
Kobayashi: "Taking care of Kanna must be tough, huh? I mean… her appetite's kind of… next level?"
She remembered the way Kanna could inhale food like a vacuum—especially anything electric—and asked the question gently.
Michiru: "Oh totally! Kanna can seriously eat!"
Michiru: "She lights up every time she sees an outlet. No joke."
Michiru: "Tohru even had to install this special locked breaker box at home—like a mini safe just to keep Kanna out. Total hassle!"
Even as she "complained," her voice was full of affection and amusement.
The story was so vivid and funny, Kobayashi couldn't help but laugh along.
Kobayashi: "Same here. Shin's always full of energy—it's exhausting. My head's constantly pounding."
Michiru: "Right?! Kids are wild."
She'd clearly found someone who got it—like they were speaking the same language.
Meanwhile, Yor just sat quietly beside them, sipping her tea with a flawless, pleasant smile.
The image of a perfect listener.
But… outlets?
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Why do kids like electrical outlets again?
Did I mishear?
She refocused, occasionally glancing at Kobayashi and Michiru with subtle evaluation.
Observation was second nature by now.
Kobayashi: standard working adult, kind, a little passive, worn down by life, but easygoing.
Michiru: bubbly high schooler, straightforward, maybe a bit naive, nothing out of the ordinary.
Yor filed it all away internally, still playing the role of the sweet, harmless Forger-san.
Just as the topic of kids wound down and the awkward silence started creeping back—
BAM.
Michiru's gaze suddenly locked dead-on to Kobayashi's chest.
The casual look on her face was replaced by intense focus, like a scientist staring at a new discovery.
Kobayashi froze.
She glanced down at herself—old T-shirt, nothing special.
Kobayashi: "Wait… did I spill something?"
Yor raised an eyebrow, clearly confused too, and looked over at Michiru.
Michiru looked up, her eyes clear and full of curiosity—and in a perfectly serious, crystal-clear voice, she asked:
Michiru: "Hey, Kobayashi-san?"
Kobayashi: "…Yeah?"
Michiru's stare didn't budge.
Her brows furrowed slightly, like she was solving a major mystery, and then—with complete honesty and zero hesitation—she asked:
"Does drinking papaya milk… really work?"
PFFFFTTT—!
Kobayashi almost died choking on her tea.
She slapped a hand over her mouth, coughing uncontrollably.
Her face turned beet red.
Half from choking, half from total embarrassment.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Even Yor—calm, collected Yor—visibly twitched.
Her hand shook the slightest bit, sending ripples across her tea.
For the first time, a flicker of actual shock passed through those soft eyes.
Her perfect mask cracked, ever so slightly.
Who… asks something like that?!
Silence crashed over the room like a tidal wave.
Even heavier than before.
Even more awkward.
The only one unfazed was Michiru—still staring earnestly at Kobayashi with her big, innocent blue eyes, clearly expecting a serious, scientific answer.
Back when they were vacationing at the beach, someone had mentioned the papaya milk thing.
Kobayashi even joked she'd try it.
Now that she looked… was it working?
Kobayashi kept coughing, mentally screaming:
"What even IS this conversation?!"
"Michiru, what is going on inside that brain of yours?!"