You May Call Me a Dragon

"Wait, don't..."

Before Yuko could finish speaking, Yachiru's tender little hands had already grabbed the roots of the Demon Horns without the slightest hesitation.

"Waaah~ They're warm~"

As if she had discovered a new continent, Yachiru not only touched them, but even grabbed both horns with her hands and hung from them like she was doing pull-ups, swinging back and forth.

Yuko sat there with dark lines covering her face. She should have known this would happen.

"Huh? Didn't Yuko just let Soi Fon play with them?" Yoruichi narrowed her eyes and teased, "Why are you frowning now that it's this little girl? Could it be that you don't like her?"

Yuko retorted, "What kind of wording is 'play with them'?"

Yachiru seemed to hear Yoruichi. She let go, slowly sat on Yuko's lap, and looked at her dejectedly.

"Little Yuko, do you hate Yachiru?"

Her large eyes brimmed with tears. Her lips trembled pitifully, as if the moment Yuko gave her a definite answer, the dam would burst.

"..."

The corner of Yuko's eye twitched. What kind of joke was this? How was she supposed to say that?

"I don't hate you."

"Really?" Yachiru blinked, and the tears instantly vanished. The speed was astonishing.

"Really." Yuko wore a helpless smile as she reached out and rubbed Yachiru's short pink hair. While Yachiru lowered her head, Yuko glared fiercely at Yoruichi.

Yoruichi shrugged and spread her hands, her expression becoming even more malicious.

"Teacher, what's the matter with those horns?" Orihime Inoue asked in surprise as she stepped forward.

With one hand resting on Yachiru's head, Yuko casually replied, "Oh, these? They're decorations."

Uryu Ishida examined them carefully twice and pushed up his glasses. "For decorations, they're excessively elaborate."

Chad silently nodded.

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Of course they are.