Kasumi's eyes went from dazed to dangerously sharp in a fraction of a second. The blush was gone, replaced by a twitching eyebrow as she stepped out from behind the chair, pointing a finger directly at Agung's chest.
"Starting something on *your size*? Agung, you're calling me a shortie, aren't you? Tell me you're calling me a shortie to my face! I'll bite you to death!"
She stomped her foot, the "adorable junior" persona completely evaporating in favor of pure, concentrated indignation.
"I'm already in my twenties! But my height is still stuck in the high school era! It's a tragedy! A crime against idol-kind!" She gestured wildly toward the other side of the room. "Look at Rina! Look at Mia! They used to be shorter than me! Now they're looking down at the top of my head! Where is the justice, Agung? Where is the growth spurt I was promised?!"
The kitchen went quiet as everyone watched Kasumi's "World's Cutest" meltdown. Agung stood there, the holographic water park map still hovering between them, looking like a man who had accidentally stepped on a landmine.
Rina, who was sitting nearby with a tablet, looked up and tilted her head.
"Physiologically, my growth plates stayed active longer. It's just science, Kasumi-san. No need for biting."
Mia smirked, leaning back and popping a piece of fruit into her mouth. "Don't look at me, baby-chan. Maybe if you ate more than just 'cute' snacks, you'd have reached the top shelf by now."
Agung slowly raised his hands, palms out, trying to retreat without making any sudden movements that might trigger a literal bite.
"I didn't say 'shortie,' Kasumi! I said... 'ergonomically efficient'!" Agung stammered, his eyes darting to the other mothers for backup. None of them moved; they were far too entertained. "I was thinking of the safety of the smaller children! If the water trap is calibrated to your height, it's guaranteed to be safe for the kids!"
"You're just digging the hole deeper, Agung," Maki noted dryly, sipping her tea. "Calling a woman 'ergonomically efficient' is a bold strategy. Let's see if it pays off."
"I don't want to be a safety gauge!" Kasumi wailed, her face turning a different shade of red—this time from pure frustration. "I want to be the one who looks down on people! Manifest me some growth hormones! Use that creation magic for something useful, like making me five centimeters taller!"
Agung let out a nervous laugh, finally reaching out to gently pat the top of her head—a move he immediately realized was a mistake.
"Okay, okay! No water traps based on you. I'll use a... a standard metric. A ruler. A very tall ruler." He looked at the 3D map and quickly swiped the 'Kids' Zone' away. "Let's just focus on the giant bucket that dumps water on everyone. That's height-neutral, right? Everyone gets soaked equally! Total justice!"
Kasumi huffed, crossing her arms and pouting so hard it looked like her face might stay that way. "You'd better make that water park the cutest thing on earth, Agung. Or I'm not just biting you—I'm telling the kids you're the one who ate the last of the *Bubur Ayam*."