"Is Kokomi senpai acting weird?" Taikya asked.
"What makes you say that?" Kobayashi asked. Her coworker pointed and saw Kokomi glancing at them on occasions from their lunch. "Oh...has been acting weird before?"
"Seriously, you never noticed him?"
Kobayashi chewed her food while sighing. Torhu's food was excellent as usual. "I mean he was my senior when I began working here. After training, I never really talked to him unless it was work related. Why?"
"He just keeps looking at us. You think you did something wrong?"
Kobayashi rattled her head to think of the reason. The reports were fine. There was no major change to the order of things. Maybe it was something more…
The woman shook her head. "Nope, can't think of anything. Maybe we should ask."
"Ask me, what?"
Taikya and Kobayashi flinched to suddenly see Kokomi standing over them. Their history with their workmate wasn't too spectacular. Kokomi was usually just a quiet individual. He hung out at office parties, was the first to arrive, last to leave. Kobayashi's late nights were nothing compared to how long he worked the evenings. So there was nothing substantial to go off of.
Yet now, it seems different. It seemed he was, for the first time, driven.
"You've been looking at us recently. Any reason why?"
"...no reason." He sniffs the air and Kobayashi notices his eyes darting over her. A chill ran through her spine. "Something smells. Anyways, I've got to go."
He walked off and Kobayashi shivered. "What's he smelling? Damn it, Tohru did you lick my clothes again?"
"She licks your clothes?"
"Yeah, something about it taking out all the germs through the purest of whatever it is." Kobayashi said. "Still, I don't smell, do I?"
Taikya shrugged. "I don't know. Hm, maybe...he has a crush on you."
"What? No way!" Kobayashi said. "I doubt a guy loves me even though we've never done anything together."
"Yeah, that's crazy. Not like…" He gestures with a sword being drawn and Kobayashi rolls her eyes. "Still. Wouldn't it be crazy?"
"It would be crazy."
The two finished their lunches and went on with their day. However Kobayashi kept noticing that Kokomi was watching them. His eyes darted away whenever she looked at him. And if her limited maid manga experience told her anything, it might be a crush.
"Great. Now there's two."
The day came to an end again and now Kobayashi and Taikya were walking together. If there was ever a time to avoid Kokomi, for some reason, it would be by leaving as early as you can.
"You're not going to talk to him?"
"Don't want to and…" She stopped when a small mass hit her stomach. She looked down and saw her own Kanna Kamui. The child dragon was never really out in the evening.
"Kobayashi."
"Kanna? Where's Tohru?"
"Here Miss Kobayashi!" The salary women felt a bountiful weight on her back. "Kanna wanted to see the nightlife and wanted you to join us!"
The dutiful maid of the Kobayashi household had made her appearance. With the cosplay maid outfit and horns, she stuck out the most. Too much so to the person watching from inside the building.
Kobayashi smiled as Taikya tried to say something only for Tohru to stick out her tongue. Her roommates would always-
KRSCH!
Suddenly the world stopped moving for a second. The group suddenly was covered in a green layer. Tohru and Kanna suddenly turned around when Kobayashi and Taikya were yanked into the air.
"Miss Kobayashi!"
"Tohru!"
The dragon maid was about to fly when she felt something above her. Grabbing Kanna, she rolled out of the way as the concrete shattered. Clouds of dust covered the area.
Kobayashi and Taikya tried moving closer, but they couldn't. "What the hell! Show yourself!"
"Kobayashi, Taikya. Calm down." A familiar voice said. The dust settled and they saw their coworker standing in the crater. His sleeves were rolled up and his coat rested on his shoulders like a cape. "I'll take care of these dragons."
"Take care? Hey, hold on!"
"Lady Tohru?" Kanna said before Tohru set her down.
"A sorcerer. A powerful one at that." The Dragon Maid urged Kanna to stand behind her. "I didn't know any sorcerers were hiding among the humans. What are you doing with my Kobayashi?"
Mako laughed. He clapped his hands together, with electricity sparking between them, he pulled it apart and summoned a black staff. "Two dragons. I'll let the child go back to our world if it promises to stay there. You, however, have taken in a person of interest within my contract."
"Kokomi! Don't ignore me! What's going on?"
"My job Kobayashi. I'm doing my job." Mako said as he grinned. His eyes turned completely blue. Tohru's draconic eyes sharpened as her hands turned into claws.
"I will ask you this once, sorcerer. Release Kobayashi."
"Tohru! Kokomi! Stop!" Kobayashi tried moving, but couldn't. Kanna looked up and down before scampering up and jumping onto Kobayashi. "Kanna!"
"Bad move kid." Mako twirled a finger in the air and formed a magic circle. Tohru did the same and opened a portal behind Mako. His eyes flickered to the back to see when Tohru rammed him in the stomach.
The two went through the portal and Kobayashi and Taikya dropped to the floor. Kanna let her wings out and caught both of them.
Tohru and Mako rolled around in the ground when the dragon kicked him off. Rolling to his feet, he swung his staff and created piercing gusts of wind. Tohru covered her face and had several slashes hit her scales.
"Take this!" Mako appeared above Tohru and slammed down. Tohru blocked that hit, but her knees buckled. He pulled back and tried thrusting. She caught the staff in her teeth and glared.
"You think you're the first to hit me with a stick?" Mako grinned and twisted his grip. The black staff turned blue and it blew up. There was a bright blue explosion.
Mako appeared just outside of the blast zone. He glances at the staff and cringes at the bite marks. "Strong bite."
A glimmer of light in the corner of his eye, he raises his hand. "Shield."
Blue sigils appeared and took on multiple firebolts. Tohru broke out of the debris in her dragon form. Her body is steaming with a few black patches on her scales. Grunting, her form returned to that of a human.
"Dragon. Leave this world and Kobayashi. You have no right to this world."
"Like you do?"
Mako smirked. "Just following my contract. Float."
His feet were lifted off the ground as Tohru stood in the air. The wind billowed between them as Tohru bared her teeth.
'This sorcerer...I haven't gotten soft have I? There are wizards, but none have given me this much trouble.'
Mako took in a deep breath and gripped his staff. Lightning crackled between his fingertips when he raised it in the air. A large bolt of lightning struck the staff and Mako swung down.
Tohru brought out her fist and slammed the electricity.
Back in the City
"Kobayashi, Taikya, are you alright?"
"Just fine. We need to follow them."
Kanna nodded. Kobayashi turned to Taikya. "You ok?"
"Just fine. Why don't you and Kanna go? You're more used to the action than I am. You can fill me in on how it goes later."
"Getting out of the way? I can respect that." Kobayashi said as Kanna reopened Tohru's portal.
Kobayashi and Kanna walked through.
They stepped onto an empty field when Kobayashi almost fell down another crater. Kanna caught her. "Careful Kobayashi. We should wait. If we get too close, you'll die."
"Really?" She looked up.
A loud boom was heard and light filled the sky. A green and blue blur streak across the sky. On occasions, they'd clash and create another boom.
Tohru gritted her teeth as she grabbed Mako and dragged him down. He grasped her shoulders and twisted them around, landing on top of Tohru.
"Mako, what the hell are you?" Kobayashi said. "I thought my life was crazy enough with the dragons."
Tohru and Mako exchanged blows. Twirling his staff and aligning himself right, he struck Tohru a couple times before she caught it. Yanking it away, she snapped it in half and threw them at him.
Raising his hands, he blocked the bits and slammed his hands on the ground. The ground rumbled and a pillar of earth smacked Tohru in the air.
"Dragons are one of the most forbidden forms in this world. I will fulfill my duty and eliminate you."
"Bull crap." Tohru said.
Mako raised an eyebrow.
"Don't act all sanctimonious, sorcerer. I know humans that love battle and you love this." Tohru said.
Kobayashi watched Mako's expression shift ever so slightly. He snapped his fingers and multiple portals opened. Tohru unhinged her jaw as a fireball began to form. Kanna gripped Kobayashi's hand and looked at her.
"Lady Tohru might get hurt."
"Kanna, get me in the middle." Kobayashi said.
Tohru and Mako were about to unleash their attack when Kanna got between them. "Move child!"
"Kanna!"
"Enough! Both of you!" Kobayashi yelled.
"Kobayashi?!" Both combatants yelled. "Get out of the way. They've got this coming!"
Kobayashi took a deep breath, covered Kanna's ears, and her glare got harsher. Opening her mouth she screamed-
"YOU *****, ***** *** ****** *** **** ** *** ****** ***!"
Mako and Tohru were shocked to say the least as Kobayashi pointed at the field. "Home, now!"
Mako didn't know what happened as he found himself in another apartment, still dirty and injured as Kobayashi was sitting in a chair while Tohru was bowing in front of her.
"What the-" He felt a tug on his sleeve and saw Kanna holding a soda.
"You should be bowing down like Lady Tohru or else Kobayashi will give you the Kobayashi glare."
"What's that?"
"This." Kobayashi said. Mako felt a shiver run down his spine as Kobayashi was glaring at him. Similar to the greatest of demon lords, dictators, or monsters, few could match up this feeling of fear that he felt at this moment.
Now he was bowing alongside the dragon he was fighting a few minutes ago.
"Let's start with you. Kokomi, you've been my senior coworker for years and now you attack my maid with untold magical powers." Kobayashi stood over him as Mako began to shiver. "Any particular reason why?"
"I'm a wizard." He stammered.
"A powerful one at that!" Tohru said. "Kobayashi, how could you not know such a human existed?"
Kobayashi glanced and huffed. "Clearly I didn't or else Tohru, I would've said: "Don't come to work. My psycho coworker might kill you.""
"Hey!" Both of them said.
"No way, I would've let a stupid sorcerer kill me. For not only taking you away, but for that to be my end?/I'm not a psychopath! I'm an accomplished monster slayer and sorcerer. You will respect-"
Kobayashi clapped her hands and stopped them both. "And I don't care. We're going to make this work because if Kokomi's gone then more work will be on me and I like having a maid."
"Miss Kobayashi!" Tohru said with hearts in her eyes. Mako just stared at her.
Tentatively raising a hand, Mako waited for Kobayashi to nod at him. He got up and patted his knees. "So if I understand, Kobayashi, you're not under the control of either of these dragons?"
"No."
"Taikya isn't either?"
"No. The dragons I know are just living here as peaceful beings here. Not planning any takeover."
"Unless the takeover includes Miss Kobayashi's heart!" Tohru said before Kanna bapped her on the head. "Kanna!"
"Read the room." She said.
Mako watched as the dragon he fought to a standstill was put in her place. He looked at the ground as he fixed his sleeves. "Then I'll take my leave. Make sure to be at work on time this evening."
"Wait, are you seriously leaving?" Kobayashi said.
"There are no threats to you or anyone employed, much less the city. If the dragons are truly living in peace then there's no need."
"Not going to check Taikya?"
Mako shook his head. "I trust if you two are both aware of each other's company then there's no need. I should take my leave."
Walking out, he grabbed one of the unopened beer cans. "I'll buy you a case as an apology."
Cracking it open, he swigged a big sip as he walked out. Normally a man leaving a woman's place with frazzled hair, clothes, and a drink would indicate something but this was not the case. He sighed as he walked out.
Kobayashi just stared at the door. Tohru took a deep breath and fixed up her appearance. "I'll just get started on something light for dinner."
"We're not just going to go back to what things were."
"The sorcerer has just left us alone. He said he won't come after us and that we present no threat to the people. We should take the out. Now Kanna, go wash up. I'll start cutting the chicken."
"Ok!" Kanna left to change.
Kobayashi just watched them go about their business. "Tohru, you ok? You look like you took some hits."
"Please, as if a human could do something like that. If I'm gonna die in a fight, it'll be with a god. Now Miss Kobayashi, why don't you change while I start the rice."
"Uh, sure."
The salary woman walked to her room but not before glancing at Tohru. She's seen Tohru play around with Kanna. She may act like that it was just a light sparring match, but Tohru's bloodlust was as recognizable as her cosplay outfit was.
Tohru grimaced as she massaged her jaw.
Mako winced as he crushed the beer can. Both combatants left with some stings for sure. Yet they won't let the other see that.
The sorcerer stopped at his convenience store and bought two packs of alcohol. This was going to take some of the sting away.
Unknown to everyone involved, the portal through the magical world cracked open on the field where the battle happened. A long reptile slithered through as it sniffed the ground. It's eyes lit up as it looked up.
"Tohru!"