When Koh awoke, it was to the closest thing he had seen to a death match since his parents arguing over custody rights. His chief was standing there, full, ruffled regalia, her blue hair untended, but eyes narrowed down at Sayo like she was a bug. Sayo was at her full, diminutive height, and not cowed. Had to be Julia's daughter then. Everyone else would be cowed by that glare. He was, and for once she wasn't looking at him.
"He's a boy."
"Oh so it's not because he's a spy." Sayo's voice made deserts seem wet. "Didn't hear this when you wanted to shove him on me in the marriage department."
"Of course not. Rivals were about as far as we expected you to get."
"Because of my winning personality?"
"Because of your pathological hatred of someone being better than you."
Koh winced. He so did not belong here now.
Sayo however, only looked amused. "Well, apparently someone has to look after me with you falling asleep at your desk and dad having pissed off somewhere."
Julia winced. "Yes, he and I are going to have a chat about that." There was a brief silence. Then Julia pulled her daughter to her chest and murmured something. Sayo returned the hug after a few seconds and Koh flushed with discomfort.
He wasn't jealous. Nope, not him.
Eventually, Julia looked at him and he stiffened up. "Good work," she said, voice neutral.
Koh licked his lips with nervous energy. "Ah… thank you ma'am." He shifted on the futon.
"Can you give a report?"
Report? Work? Sure, he could do that. That would get rid of the awkward. Yep, totally.
He couldn't have gotten that too off the hook though. He was going to Thriller Ruins.