Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid Episode 11: Temptation of the Kotatsu

The 11th episode of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid has the dragons and their friends all see in the new year.

This looks super comfy

Whilst out shopping, Tohru has some good luck and she wins a kotatsu. It proves to be quite a hit in the Kobayashi household. Besides that, Tohru also prepares for the new year.

Tohru and Kanna even prepare mochi

When Tohru tries to get comfortable under the kotatsu, the doorbell rings – and this happens on three occasions. It turns out the neighbours have some gifts they want to share. Tohru gives them all mochi as thanks.

Tohru is happy to receive Miss Kobayashi’s gratitude

I tell you what, that smile is just the thing I needed after the most recent episode of Kemono Friends…

Elma enters a competition that involves grabbing as many sweets as possible

New Year’s Eve arrives, and Riko has lent Kanna a kimono so they can go on their first shrine visit of the new year together.

Kanna wearing a kimono

Miss Kobayashi has a kimono that she lends to Tohru as well, and with that they set off for the shrine. There, they meet with Riko and a few other familiar faces.

Kanna warms her hands on Riko’s cheeks

Elma, Lucoa and Shouta

Fafnir & Makoto even make time to visit the shrine after Comiket

After spending some time at the shrine drinking some amazake, buying charms and getting fortunes told, it draws closer to midnight. Everyone counts down the new year together. After that, Kanna asks if they can invite Riko back to theirs, and Tohru suggests that everyone else should join them.

The younger ones go to sleep once they’re back at Miss Kobayashi’s place

Tohru serves up some ozouni soup to everyone else

Elma’s got a great reaction upon discovering Tohru’s soup is good

Tohru put a special surprise in Miss Kobayashi’s soup, but it doesn’t go unnoticed. No matter how hard she tries, I don’t think Tohru will ever get Miss Kobayashi to eat a piece of her tail… After the soup, almost everyone falls asleep.

I guess Fafnir is able to function with very little sleep

In the early hours of the morning, Miss Kobayashi gets everyone out onto the rooftop so they can enjoy the first sunrise of the year.

The first sunrise of the new year

After that, it’s back to lazing around under the kotatsu. Miss Kobayashi receives a phone call from her mum, and this ends up leading to a conversation where she and Tohru talk about family.

A teaser of one of Tohru’s family members

Miss Kobayashi asks Tohru if she has any intention of going back to see her family, but Tohru puts it plainly: living with Miss Kobayashi is her life now.

Tohru and Kanna receive New Year’s Money from Miss Kobayashi

Another warm and fuzzy episode of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, made even better by the involvement of the whole cast. We may be coming up towards the end of the show, but it’s nice to see that Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid is still sticking with its normal tone even this late on. Perhaps something dramatic could happen next time, but for me, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid is the very definition of a feel-good show.
There is one bad thing to come from this episode, though – and that is that we’re moving ever closer towards the end. Wednesdays will become desolate once this shows finishes airing (all right, I’m exaggerating, but I know myself and many others will miss Miss Kobayashi, the dragons and everyone else once the show ends.)