Professor Layton and the Troublesome Tea Set

As Hershel Layton opened the passenger side door to the police squad car in front of him, he heard a yell above him. He recognized Luke’s voice and turned around to wave up to the window of their flat.
“Be careful, professor!” his protégé warned from the window.
Layton laughed. “Don’t worry, Luke. I’m sure I won’t be in any danger. Now remember, the manor is quite a ways away, so I won’t be back until late tonight. You take care of Flora, now.”
Luke grinned widely. “Don’t worry, professor! I’ll protect her!” Layton heard Flora insisting to Luke she didn’t need any protection. He chuckled as he entered the squad car. “See you tonight!” he yelled.
Inspector Chelmey grunted from the driver’s seat as he started the car. “You sure those kids’ll be awright by ‘emselves?”
“I wouldn’t worry about Luke and Flora.” Layton smiled. “They’re resourceful children- I’m sure they’ll find something to do. Now, about this case you needed my help on…”
“I never said I needed yer ‘elp.” Chelmey protested. “Yer jus’ ‘ere to consult.”
Barton, Chelmey’s deputy, piped up from the back seat, “But sir, earlier you specifically said ‘We need Layton’s help on…’”
Chelmey cut him off. “Pipe down, Barton! Let me concentrate on the road!”
Layton laughed at the pair as the car drove off down the sunny boulevard.

----

Luke watched them go from the window and sighed. “I don’t see why I couldn’t go with the professor this time!” he whined. A bright, eager young man of 13, Luke had been Professor Layton’s student and apprentice for several years. He was quite in shape from following the Professor around everywhere, and was rather handsome, with determined eyes and a head of dapper chestnut hair.
“He already told you- Chelmey said it wasn’t a case fit for children. And besides, what about me? You two are always going off on adventures without me!” Flora huffed. She adjusted her pink dress and sank into a soft armchair. Flora, a pretty young girl with light brown hair and a near-constant smile on her face, always seemed to maintain the perfect balance between being ladylike and tomboyish. Luke and Layton had taken her in after their first adventure, when they discovered her living all by herself in a small town filled with mechanical automatons. At 12, she was just beginning to develop the small breasts and other features associated with a growing young woman.
“But Flora, it’s not safe for you-” Luke protested.
“Well maybe this one isn’t safe for you, either!” She crossed her arms and looked at him expectantly, waiting for surrender. Surprisingly, Luke complied. He grunted as he sat back on the sofa across from Flora’s chair, removing his trademark blue newspaper boy cap and twirling it around in his hands idly.
“Maybe.”
A short awkward pause.
Luke adjusted himself so he was laying on his back across the sofa.
“Luke! You shouldn’t put your shoes on the sofa!”
“Sorry.” He stuck his legs straight up in the air. “There, they aren’t on the sofa anymore.”
Flora giggled. Why don’t you take your shoes off. That way you can lay on the sofa and not look like a monkey as well!”
Luke laughed. “I know, I was only fooling.” He sat up and removed his shoes. “So, what should we do to entertain ourselves?”
Flora put on a mock thoughtful expression. “Well, if I were the type of person to be left home all day while my flatmates went off and had adventures…” Luke threw a pillow at her. She laughed and batted it away. “If I were that type of person, I would read some books to occupy myself.” She pointed toward the large bookcases taking up one wall of the room. “In fact, I bet I’ve learned some things that you don’t know!”
Luke laughed. “I’ll take you up on that! Layton’s apprentice knows all!” he said proudly.
“We’ll see.” Flora said. She crossed her legs and put her hands together on her lap. “Where is… Easter Island?”
“In the ocean west of South America.”
“How many keys are on a piano? Including the black ones.”
“88.”
“Who wrote War and Peace?”
“Umm… Leo Tolstoy.”
Flora frowned. Those were the hardest questions she could think of. Except… There was one other thing she had learned, but it was rather unladylike to say…
Luke was beaming. “Are those your best tries? Come on, I can do this all day!”
He’s being so full of himself! I can’t let him win! Flora fumed. She sighed. She would have to ask her next question. “How are… That is, how do, um…” She squirmed uncomfortably in her chair.
Luke frowned. “What’s the matter? Come on, tell me the next question.”
Flora finally blurted out her question. “Where do babies come from?”