Heartwarming / Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid

"What would you do... if you became free?"
"I'd become a maid!"

Heartwarming Moments from Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.

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Manga

• Kobayashi offering to take Kanna in - no strings attached - since she's all alone in a world that she doesn't understand.
  Tohru: I'm really glad I fell in love with Kobayashi-san.
• Kanna's adorable little smile when Kobayashi gives her a keychain for starting school.
  • Made even sweeter in the anime since Kanna had shown interest in it when they were out shopping for school supplies, but silently put it back when she saw how much money Kobayashi was already spending on her.
• Fafnir tries to point out the vast lifespan difference between humans and dragons to Tohru in chapter 15:
  Fafnir: The humans you love here will not last a century. So why?
  Tohru: I'm fine with that. If I treasure the time I spend here. I would indeed feel an equal amount of sadness. But, I don't think I will ever call that feeling of sadness "regret".
  Fafnir: Is there something of such value to make you say that? In this world?
  Tohru: Yes there is. Because Kobayashi-san is here!
  • What's notable here is that even though Fafnir still hates humans at this point, he's not attempting to joust Tohru away from Kobayashi out of prejudice; he's genuinely concerned about her emotional well-being and doesn't want her to be hurt when Kobayashi inevitably dies.
• Tohru starts to worry if she can keep living with Kobayashi in chapter 19, only for her worries to instantly disappear when she gets home.
  Tohru: Even when I have these thoughts, when I see Kobayashi-san's face, they all escape my head. Yes. Living with Kobayashi-san... living with Kanna... this is where I belong.
• Kobayashi standing up for Tohru when her father comes to take her home in chapter 20.
• The stinger for chapter 28, where the bandit gets to live out her dream of being a maid. The page image is the anime version from episode 12.
• Kobayashi working herself half to death to make sure that she'd be able to attend Parents' Day (manga)/Sports Day (anime) for Kanna.
  • When Saikawa mentions her parents, Kanna has an Imagine Spot of Kobayashi petting her on the head.
• Kobayashi protecting Ilulu from Clemene and helping her regain her love of humans in chapter 38.
  Ilulu: I really... (Us superior dragons, friends with humans? Shame) really... (They caused us too much harm. There will be no peace) really... (Humans are enemies) really... REALLY... (No) I WANTED TO PLAY TOGETHER FOR LONGER!! But nobody let me... they didn't do anything wrong...
  Kobayashi: I see, then [hugs her] let's play together next time.
  • And then there's the end of the chapter:
    Ilulu: Can you trick me?
• Lucoa helping Ilulu become friends with Saikawa in chapter 45.
• Ilulu spending most of chapter 63 trying to find the owner of a lost doll, having been reminded of one that one of her human friends had given her before her Start of Darkness.
• In chapter 64, Tohru and Elma finally reconcile their friendship.
• For most of chapters 65 and 66, Shouta is putting up with William insulting him. It's only after William insults Lucoa that he gets angry. Cue Curb-Stomp Battle.
• At the end of chapter 77, Kanna finally gets a hug from her father.
• At the end of chapter 78, Kanna decides to stay in the human world with Kobayashi, under suggestion from her father (since Kobayashi won't last as much as him due to being human). And receives a tearful hug from Saikawa.
  Kobayashi: Welcome home.
• Ilulu gets a warm feeling in her chest when Taketo checks to see if she's OK in chapter 81 after she called out sick the previous day. She might not recognize the feeling, but it's made blatantly clear that she's developed a crush on him.
• In chapter 83, to help Kobayashi get some sleep during a month where she's working on a major project at the office, Kanna uses her dragon wings as a down comforter and cuddles up next to her.
• The end of chapter 121, after a whole chapter of being amused by Tohru's pictures, has Kobayashi taking a selfie of her and Tohru which they promise to keep.
  • There's also the fact that when it came to Tohru's photos, the ones that were the most popular after Kobayashi posted them online are the ones featuring Kanna making a mud ball and Ilulu hanging out with some kitties.
• Chapter 122 features Jida, in her own awkward way, apologizing to Kobayashi and later Elma, for the actions of her children, with Telne helping her too. Kobayashi of course forgives her and apologizes herself for her actions during the Marriage Arc, leading them to be on very amicable terms.

Anime

Season 1

• From episode 3 of the anime: Kanna, looking for a place to take a nap, finds the perfect spot in Tohru's lap.
• A subtle one, also from episode 3: While they're cleaning before the move, Kanna seems to be wearing a headscarf purely as a decoration (that is, over her horns, and tied in a way that won't keep out the dust or hold her hair in place). She's mimicking Kobayashi.
• Kanna was so excited to be going to school that she wore her backpack nonstop for the rest of the day after buying it, only taking it off while rolling around in her sleep.
  • The entire episode qualifies as moment of heartwarming with the concept of a parent shopping for their excited child's first day of school.
  • Kanna realizing how much Kobayashi was spending on school supplies and putting back the charm she wanted, followed by Kobayashi noticing this and getting Kanna the charm as a present.
• Any moment with Kanna and Saikawa together, in general.
• Tohru notices that Kanna's been labeling all of her school items because she was told that she needs to know which things are hers. Tohru then makes her own little label and puts it on Kobayashi's cheek.
• Episode 6 shows Takiya and Fafnir sharing a comfortable life as room mates. Their segment ends with Fafnir thinking over his philosophy that humans are often hits and misses. He considers Takiya a hit, and tells him so. The shot of them walking together in the rain is followed by two birds, sitting together on a wire.
• Kanna dancing in the rain while Tohru invokes an Umbrella of Togetherness with Kobayashi.
• The end of episode 6, with Kobayashi, Tohru, and Kanna watching the falling rain together, followed by a shot of teru teru bōzu versions of them. The scene (especially the teru teru bōzu) perfectly captures the family element of the Kobayashi household.
• Tohru learning why everyone loves Comiket (and her drawing a comparison between it and her own love for Kobayashi) in episode 7.
  I think it's something that only exists in this place in this moment right now. And I think everyone loves that.
• In episode 8, Kanna receives a compliment from Kobayashi when she uses an expression she learned at school (subtitled as "fighting like dogs and cats") to describe the rivalry between Tohru and Elma.
• Kanna thanking Saikawa for how hard she tried during the relay race (she had been depressed due to dropping the baton and nearly costing the class first place). She also made sure to win by a hair's length so that Saikawa wouldn't feel like her efforts were in vain.
  • The first thing Kanna does when thanking her? She licks her on the cheek, which, if translation notes are any indication, was the thing Kanna wanted to do to Saikawa when she visited her house (only to be interrupted by Tohru, who was trying to escape from Kobayashi and Georgie) a few episodes earlier.
  • Before that, Kanna realizes how hard Kobayashi actually works after spying on her workplace, and decides to tell her it's okay if she doesn't come to the sports festival so as to avoid guilt-tripping her, despite having desperately wanted her to attend.
  • And in spite of this, Kobayashi decides to pull overtime on work so she can attend after all. While she's not really obligated to do such a thing as she's not Kanna's real parent, she makes sure that she can attend the sports festival as Kanna's Parental Substitute (and since Kanna made it clear she wanted her to go).
• Kobayashi immediately says that she'd show up when she finds out that Kanna will be starring in the Christmas play (in contrast to the sports festival, where Kanna had to guilt her into going).
• Kobayashi giving Tohru her Christmas present (a scarf with a dragon pattern) while they fly through the sky. Then she sneaks into Kanna's room with a present while the latter sleeps so she'll think that Santa came.
  • Despite how inconvenient it is (it goes right through her home office/computer room) Kobayashi lets them keep the fireplace so as not to ruin Kanna's belief in Santa Claus.
  • Tohru wears her scarf every time she goes out for the remainder of the season (barring when she wore a kimono to the New Year's festival).
• Shouta and Lucoa performing mamemaki. Then he gets immediately terrified that he actually banished her and rushes out the door to find her... fortunately Lucoa was just distracted playing with a cat, but it shows he really has grown to care for her despite his embarrassment.
• Takiya gets surprised by rain on the way home. When he arrives, Fafnir is playing games as usual but there is a towel and a change of clothes neatly folded and prepared for Takiya's arrival.
• Tohru is taken away by her father back to their world, leaving Kobayashi and Kanna without her for a few days. Kobayashi, while understandably shaken by her sudden departure, tries her best to take care of Kanna by herself.
• During the confrontation with Tohru's father, Kobayashi is clearly scared shitless when he shoots off her glasses with a warning shot but proceeds to talk back to him anyways because she cares for Tohru too much to just let her get taken away again.
  Kobayashi: Don't take my maid away! She's mine!
• The end credit sequence of the final episode, with Kobayashi taking Tohru and Kanna to meet her family. No matter what her exact orientation, that's adorable.
• In the OVA, Takiya buys Shouta the sword charm that he was too embarrassed to admit that he wanted.
  • Even better, Lucoa can be seen watching this from around the corner with a big smile. She likely suggested that Takiya buy and present the charm to Shouta, knowing that it would be too awkward if she gave it to him.
• Tohru gives Kobayashi proper Valentines Day chocolate during the hot spring trip, and Kobayashi lets her hold her hand as they walk back to the hotel.

Mini Dora

• In SP 2, during a walk home from school on a rainy day, Kanna brings out her left dragon wing to protect Saikawa from getting drenched due to a car speeding through a puddle.

Season 2

• Episode 10 has some absolutely adorable parent/child bonding moments as Kobayashi and Kanna spend the day wandering around town. There's even a followup to Kanna's rain song from season 1.
• Episode 12 is full of these moments, especially during the festival. Of note is Kanna and Saikawa's interactions where they make a promise to keep coming back to the festival every year despite Kanna knowing full well the lifespan difference and wishes Saikawa live a long life. There's also Ilulu telling Taketo about how Kobayashi taught her that it is okay to be a kid too. And when Taketo is impressed by how mature Ilulu is and agrees with this it causes Ilulu to clutch her chest.

Kanna's Daily Life

• Fafnir letting kids use the private arcade that he made.
• Kanna going out to perform her first errand while Tohru and Kobayashi tail behind her like doting parents in chapter 10.
• Saikawa and Kanna going to a florist to buy carnations for Mother's day (even if they do end up getting lost) in chapter 13.
• Saikawa and Kanna both wearing the hair decorations that they bought each other in chapter 14.
  This is a secret that they share only between each other.
• When Kanna turns into a dragon to search for Kobayashi and Tohru during a day where she's dealing with her fear of being all alone, as soon as she literally bumps into dragon-form Tohru, she then precedes to give her a hug.
• The end of chapter 20, after Kobayashi went into the office on the weekend.
  Kanna: Is your job hard?
  Kobayashi: Hmm... Well, sometimes it is, I suppose. But now, I have you and Tohru... and that makes it all worth it.
• Kanna's third wish during the Tanabata festival:
  I wish to be friends with Saikawa forever.
  • Likewise, everyone wishing that Kobayashi would be able to arrive before the party ended.
• In general, Ilulu's new life under the Kobayashi household.
• Kanna, after attending a firefly viewing event, talking to Tohru about coming to terms about her Mayfly–December Romance with Saikawa.
  Kanna: (But) Tohru-sama, you said that if you stop thinking about it, it becomes a lie. You said before that we should treasure the moments spent together with them! Yes! I'll resist a little longer for her!
• When Kanna and Saikawa are going around handing out boxes of cookies to everyone in "Christmas Time", Ilulu asks for a second box so she can give it to Taketo.
  • And while the girls are out distributing cookies in an effort to become "good", Kobayashi and the others are buying Christmas decorations and putting them up while the girls are asleep.
• In "Telepathy Time", Lucoa gets drunk with Tohru, making her feel a bit out of it. Mistaking her for being sick after a case of miscommunication, Shouta spends the rest of the chapter taking care of her.
• "Magical Girl Time"
  • Fafnir encourages Kanna and Saikawa to craft costumes for Kanna's favorite Magical Girl and her familiar. While this is done in Fanfir's normal style of treating otaku stuff as Serious Business, what isn't is that, once the costumes are done, he plays out the villain part for them. Later Tohru joins in the game.
  • At the end of the chapter, Saikawa tucks the photo of Kanna and herself dressed as a Magical Girl and her familiar underneath her pillow and then dreaming of her and Kanna flying in the air while wearing said attire.
• Tohru and Kanna going out for a fish dinner, which is basically the two having a bonding moment together while in their dragon forms.
• Near the end of "Harvest Time", Lucoa gives an explanation to Kanna about why Good Feels Good as they watch the sunset.
• "Chloe Time II"
  • When having to decide whether to sleep next to either Saikawa or Chloe, Kanna opts to sleep in the middle after thinking about she, alongside Ilulu and Tohru, would sleep together with Kobayashi.
  • Kanna and Chloe taking the opportunity of a sleeping Saikawa to give her a chance to ride dragon form Kanna.
• The ending of "Caricature Time", in which Kobayashi uses Kanna's drawing of the Kobayashi household as the home screen image of her cell phone.
• In a chapter where Kanna and Ilulu learn how to make perler bead art, the final page shows the two making perlers based on Saikawa and Taketo.
• The "Treasure Time" chapter, in which Kanna receives a letter from her father and, with some help from Kobayashi, makes a treasure box to keep it in.
• During a period where Kanna is stuck in her dragon form, Tohru gives her the opportunity to go outside with her by having the young dragon pose as a plush backpack.

Elma's Office Lady Diary

• The real reason that Elma keeps trying to bring Tohru back to the other world and challenging her to all those ridiculous contests? She wants her best friend back.
• In chapter 9, Tohru's flashback explaining why she joined Kobayashi on her company's post "Death March" trip to a hot springs resort features one of the most adorable shots of Kanna hugging Kobayashi.
• In chapter 12, Elma get to see firsthand Ilulu at her job and is surprised firsthand how much she takes her job seriously and how good she is at making others happy. Taketo makes note of this that he first had doubts too but she really became the kind of person to make an atmosphere that makes others smile. Elma then notes that is why he is smiling so much around her to which he confusedly blushes.
• In chapter 19, Elma, Kanna, and Ilulu are trying to come up with a theme for making a vlog. Elma and Kanna go with what you'd expect (food and something funny), but Ilulu...
  Ilulu: I want to make one showing off candies so children might come and buy... I want to make granny Aida and Take happy!
  (Everyone else wordlessly agrees to her suggestion, Kobayashi in particular seems to by crying Tears of Joy)
• Chapter 41 features Elma reverting back into a baby, with the Kobayashi household babysitting her while she's in that form. One moment in particular has her taking a nap, with Kanna and Ilulu sleeping by her side.
• Chapter 42 features Elma and Ilulu taking care of Taketo's summer fatigue, which leads to a bunch of cute interactions between Ilulu and Taketo. Such as with Taketo saying he is thankful for how much Ilulu cares about him and with both Ilulu and Taketo getting flustered when they do stretches. And there is also Elma noting how much Ilulu has changed for the better and how both of them found a place to belong in the human world.

Lucoa is my xx

• Chapter 4 has Shouta getting a part-time job so he can get his mother a present for Mother's day.
• Ilulu dreams of being spoiled by Taketo in chapter 12.

Fafnir the Recluse

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