"What do you think this is?"
Suzuki Sonoko lifted the food container in her hand and looked at the little patient in bed. Then, without waiting for an answer, she revealed the surprise with a dramatic, "Ta-da!"
"Egg Porridge from Taruya Pavilion! Aren't you surprised? Didn't see that coming, did you?"
Haibara Ai: "..." This high school girl, whose mental age was far more childish than hers, was actually trying to coax her like a child...
Even so, when she looked at the warm food container placed on the bedside table, her expression softened considerably without her noticing.
Suzuki Sonoko watched this and gave a smug little laugh.
She did not actually like children that much, especially those bratty kids who were even noisier than she was. But for some reason, this mixed-race little girl only seemed adorable to her.
"Probably because she's pretty." Suzuki Sonoko puzzled over her own feelings. "And this kid is a little aloof too..."
Kids who threw themselves at people were a headache, but children who were cold and ignored others only made people want to poke at them a little more... Come to think of it, no wonder Aunt Yukiko had liked teasing Jiang Xia so much back then. Kids like this really were especially fun to tease.
As she thought this, she simply sat down at the bedside, eagerly opened the insulated container, and picked up a spoon, reminded of the games she had played feeding dolls as a child.
Haibara Ai sensed that something was wrong. Opening her eyes and looking to the side, she went, "...?"
She silently shrank farther beneath the covers. "No need. I can eat by myself."
"Oh, don't be so polite!" Suzuki Sonoko leaned closer with a smile. "I'll feed you!"
"..." Haibara Ai tried hard to