A New Normal [A Dragon Maid Story]

A Nice Friendly Chat

A load was lifted off of everyone's shoulders as the dark sky greeted the exhausted workers. From that mundane display, a discussion was starting.

"You guys want to go for a drink?" A bland man spoke up, getting a rise from his other co-workers. "It's on me. You've been helping me out a lot and I kind of want to make it up to you." He continues, getting Kobayashi to think it through for a moment.

"I can't really turn down free stuff." Hutch spoke up without hesitation, making the man smile while Kobayashi had her attention fully on the larger one.

"At least pretend like you're having second thoughts you freeloader." Kobayashi said calmly

"It's fine. I'm the one who offered after all." The other man waves off Kobayashi's concerns

"If you say so. Don't say I didn't try to help you out."

While the other man seemed to remain calm, cold sweat was running down his back. "Just... be nice with my wallet. It's the end of the month after all."

And on that note, the three coworkers make their way out of their office towards their usual place, until they were met with a certain maid.

"Uhm. Does any one of you know this girl?" The office worker asked, rightfully wary of the dragon who glared into their general direction.

As the group approached the dragon maid. Her expression softened into a polite smile. "Nice to meet you! My name is Kobayashi Tohru! I'm a maid living together with Miss Kobayashi!" To that revelation, Kobayashi got confused, Hutch was holding his laughter and the other man was just confused.

"She's a relative I'm looking after." Kobayashi cleared up.

This was somehow enough to convince the man, as he started to introduce himself. "I'm Takiya Makoto, I work with these two. Nice to meet you."

"My pleasure!" Tohru responded, seemingly normal but the display of bloodlust had Hutch flinching.

"Anything wrong?" Kobayashi noticed the knight's reaction.

"No, nothing. It's just... weird how on edge she seems to be." The man attempted to lie, with very little success.

"You know her, Adler?" Takiya wondered, getting himself into his co-worker's line of sight.

"Oh yeah, I helped her getting around. You know how Kobayashi gets when she has spare time?"

"Yeah, that's the plan. You're definitely not trying to get into Kobayashi's house more often." He side-eyed Hutch with a large smile.

"It's true you've been hanging in there a whole lot lately." Kobayashi adds, creating a moment of silence.

"I'll pay my share of taxes. Promised." The man ran into the bar the moment it was in sight.

"Wait, that's not the end of that conversation!" Kobayashi ran along as her complaints fell into deaf ears.

Takiya rubbed his forehead, still displaying a soft smile, motioning to the maid. "Do you want to come with us? If you can drink that is."

Tohru walked past the office worker towards the bar. "Of course I can. Stultus." She muttered that last word, leaving Takiya reasonably confused.

As the two of them entered, they found the rest of the group was already enjoying a few pints, judging by the fact the table was already filling up.

"Nothing beats a good beer after work!" Kobayashi raised her pint, relief lighting her face.

"Tell me about it. Nights should be spent outside." Hutch was still halfway into his pint, resting confortably on his seat.

Kobayashi slouched on the table, looking at the pints piling up on the knight's drink. "Y'know, we're friends and all. You don't need to hold back? Five more pints over here chief!" She waves to the counter.