Chapter 88

Kobayashi and Voice is the eighty-eight chapter of Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon.

Summary
Kobayashi contemplates her new job, and the future of the dragons on Earth.

Plot
Kobayashi thinks about how she avoided trouble until she started caring about others and got the role of neighborhood protector. While drinking, she exclaims how hard it is to be a protector because she doesn't want to be a guardian as she already has other problems. Takiya offers to help but Kobayashi turns him down. Elma asks if Kobayashi is okay, but Takiya tells her not to worry as Kobayashi has her breaking points. Elma points out one must always have a sense of duty but Takiya breaks her formality by inviting her to another drink at a kebab place. Kobayashi thinks how she doesn't have much alone time. She likes hanging out with the dragons but would like to have a day to herself or breathing room for self-reflection. Someone tells her to run away but Kobayashi thinks her time with the dragons is precious until she wonders who talked to her. Kobayashi arrives home to get some sleep and leaves for work the next morning. When she arrives, she realizes that the company has a day off and wants to go home but stops to take time for herself. Kobayashi walks around town and thinks about unpleasant things she wouldn't normally think about. She thinks about if dragons can peacefully co-exist with humans and how the time with her is very short. She is glad with that generosity but it feels depressing but feels glad she thinks about this stuff as it reminds her that time is very special and wants to protect it. Someone tells her if it is foolish to protect their time with her as it is very short but she answers she wouldn't be that negative but wonders if she's been hearing things again. She knows she shouldn't be worried about it and decides to head home but remembers Telne's asking what happened to the Holy Sword. Kobayashi decides to go to the mountain where she first met Tohru. She doesn't remember where it was but her body knows where she is going. She thinks of how she first met Tohru, how they first got drunk and pulling the sword out and wonders what happens to it. Someone calls out that they are closer than she thinks, being so close that she should hear their voice. Kobayashi turns to confront them but runs into Tohru. Kobayashi is surprised to see Tohru there, but Tohru is even more surprised but thinks that her love for Kobayashi brought them there, but Kobayashi doesn't want Tohru randomly summon her. Kobayashi explains she had a day off and visited the mountain and asks Tohru why she is there. Tohru explains she likes to come there as it was the place where it all started and reflect her busy life. Tohru would think about darker things to appreciate the light a lot more. Kobayashi start laughing, thinking it was weird to be thinking the same thing and Tohru starts joking as well saying they are telepathically connected. Tohru invites Kobayashi for a flight and Kobayashi asks if someone was with her using escape detection but Tohru denies as she would have noticed. Kobayashi thinks of who she was talking to earlier but instead thinks of how booze is very scary, bringing her to a mountain, and Tohru is surprised Kobayashi just realized it.

Characters

 * Kobayashi
 * Elma
 * Makoto Takiya
 * Tohru
 * Kanna Kamui
 * Holy Sword (Voice)