As Michiru walked past Rei Ao, she instinctively picked up the pace.
She was terrified he might call out to her and see just how mortified she was.
After all, Kanna had spent the entire day going on and on about how Rei Ao should be her dad—which, by implication, meant Michiru's husband.
Absolutely humiliating.
Her eyes darted around awkwardly as she threw out a rushed, half-garbled line:
"Uh—we're heading off now, Rei Ao‑kun! Kanna, say bye to Da—ugh! I mean, to Rei Ao-nii!"
That last word nearly got stuck in her throat. And the moment it left her lips, she yanked Kanna along and bolted like her shoes were on fire, her ears practically glowing red.
Yor wasn't in much better shape.
She walked briskly, holding Anya's hand, posture straight and graceful as ever—muscle memory from years of training—but her steps were stiff and just a bit too fast.
The sunset lit up the delicate angles of her face, and that faint blush still hadn't faded.
She stared dead ahead, pretending Rei Ao and Kobayashi didn't even exist. But as they walked past him, the tension in her shoulders and the quickened rhythm of her heartbeat were undeniable.
Anya, of course, could hear her mother's chaotic internal chanting loud and clear: "Stay calm stay calm stay calm…"
Yeah, no calm there.
At least Michiru and Kobayashi were close with Rei Ao. Yor had only met him a couple of times. That unfamiliarity, paired with the situation, just amplified how awkward everything felt.
Once they were far enough away, Yor finally muttered through clenched teeth, barely audible, "Anya, pick up the pace. We've got a train to catch."
"Oh—right, I got it," Anya replied.
Rei Ao watched the two flustered "mom-and-daughter" pairs speed-walk out of sight like they were escaping a crime scene.
"…Phew."
Kobayashi let out a long, tired sigh.
It felt like she was releasing an entire day's worth of awkward tension and pure exhaustion all in one breath.
She leaned back against the cold apartment wall, completely wiped out.
Today was more draining than pulling three all-nighters fixing a bug that refused to die.
She swore, next time all three kids wanted to hang out, she was noping out of there. If three adults could barely keep up, how bad would it be if she were on her own?
"Ugh… finally… survived…"
She muttered to herself and rubbed her temples, exhausted.
"It's the weekend. Why does it feel like I just went through a spiritual cleansing… or a boss raid from hell?"
Honestly, this was ten times more soul-crushing than the day she found out Tohru was a dragon. Or that Kanna was a dragon. Or that Shin was literally a holy sword.
Kids were weapons of mass destruction.
Especially these three—each overpowered in their own right, and when they teamed up? Absolute chaos.
"Pfft…"
A low chuckle sounded from beside her.
Kobayashi froze.
Right. She'd forgotten the biggest boss hadn't left yet.
Stiff as a board, she turned and looked at Rei Ao.
The golden hour sun hit his profile just right, outlining that annoyingly flawless jawline. His deep, black eyes were clearly amused, watching her like he had all the time in the world.
The smirk tugging at the corner of his lips made it obvious—he was enjoying this.
"…What?" he asked, voice smooth, a little lazy, and definitely teasing.
"Taking care of kids… tough, huh?"
Could he sound any smugger?
Kobayashi rolled her eyes hard. "Tough? Try exhausting."
"Especially when one of them is a Holy Sword who doesn't play by any rules."
She almost added "literal demon" but stopped herself just in time.
"Hmph!"
Still latched onto Rei Ao's arm, Shin puffed her cheeks in protest. Her silver hair flared slightly with her irritation as she crossed her arms, staring up at Kobayashi with righteous defiance.
"Then just marry Rei Ao Papa! Let him take care of me! Problem solved—you won't be tired anymore!"
Her voice rang out loud and clear, filled with stubborn confidence.
Shin's logic was absurdly simple: If the current guardian was too weak, get a stronger one. If Kobayashi needed help, who better than Rei Ao‑Papa?
Two problems, one perfect solution.
And hey, if Rei Ao also married Michiru and Yor, wouldn't that make her, Kanna, and Anya official sisters?
"Pfft—cough cough!"
Kobayashi choked on her own spit.
She shot upright like a startled cat, her face flushing scarlet in seconds.
She pointed at Shin, her finger trembling. "Y-You—what kind of nonsense are you spouting?! Marry?! What even—what are you talking about?!"
The blush that had just started to fade came rushing back with a vengeance. She could feel her whole face burn.
In a panic, she turned to Rei Ao.
Her expression twisted into a painful half-smile, trying to salvage what was left of her dignity. "R-Rei Ao‑kun! Please don't take that seriously! Kids say the wildest things, totally random, totally just a joke! Nothing serious at all!"
Right now, all Kobayashi wanted was for the ground to open up and swallow her whole.
Why had she opened the door this morning?
Why did she let Shin answer it?
Why was this her life?
But Rei Ao's reaction completely threw her off.
He glanced down at the fuming Shin, a tiny smile flickering in his eyes, then looked back up at Kobayashi—whose flustered, desperate-to-clarify stare was screaming please pretend this never happened.
That teasing smile on his lips deepened.
"Heh."
He spoke softly, tone calm and steady.
But the words that followed hit like a sledgehammer.
"I mean… I don't think Shin's idea is that bad."
"…Huh?"
The sunset stretched his shadow out long behind him—and cast Kobayashi's frozen, slack-jawed expression into clear view.
The breeze blew through. A few leaves danced through the air.
Kobayashi stood there, utterly shattered.
"…???"
Rei Ao casually ruffled Shin's head, looking very entertained. "If you really think looking after her is too much, I can take over. I actually like kids."
Shin's eyes lit up. "Yes! Do it! Kobayashi, just marry Rei Ao Papa already!"
Kobayashi stared blankly, mouth opening and closing before she managed to croak out:
"You… I… She…"