Ryuuko felt like she was protecting Blake more than he was protecting her. He was a dragon slayer who hung up his sword and now taught at a school. She saw how other teachers treated him, and she felt a need to help him. On days he looked like he was having a harder time, she would show him some things she made for him out of origami, or give him the candy she constructed like she was doing now. She liked them, so he should too.
"That is subjective," Ryuuko responded, using a word she'd acquired more recently, "There are children who know how to do those things and adults who know nothing at all. Blake makes delicious milkshakes." The last part was just for Alicia's information, not for any part of her argument.
"They would respect me more if they knew what I really looked like," Ryuuko said softly, knowing that her dragon form demanded respect more. She wanted to grow up more and look less like a little girl. But her dragon form was not for everyone to see.