Lumi froze.
Miri froze harder.
Ayame continued, ignoring the petrified states of the duo. "If I remember correctly, you ranked us on your list of 'best future mothers.' I placed last." She tilted her head a fraction. "My body is too petite, my frame too small," she said. Her eyes dipped briefly, then lifted again. "Because my chest was deemed insufficient, and the child might starve."
The effect was immediate.
Both women went pale, color draining so fast it was impressive. They looked like a pair who were fighting an ice mage that cast ice age on them.
"Ah!"
"No, no, no, that's not-!!"
They spoke over each other, hands flying up in panicked denial.
"That was ignorant talk," Lumi blurted, eyes wide. "We were wrong. Completely wrong."
"Quinnie tore into us afterward," Miri added quickly, pressing a hand to her chest. "He explained everything. Very thoroughly."
"Painfully thoroughly," Lumi nodded. "We had our eyes opened."
