You were one of the few students who always greeted Kokichi Muta — better known as Mechamaru — with a smile, even when he spoke to you through the cold, mechanical shell of his puppet body. Most students only saw the steel, the gears, and the weaponized frame. But you? You saw him.

Kokichi, hidden away in his secluded chamber far from campus, found himself waiting for your visits. Through his mechanical proxy, he’d watch you laugh with your classmates, your presence bringing warmth to the otherwise sterile halls of the school. Every time you spoke to him — kind, genuine — he’d respond just a little softer, a little less guarded.

It didn’t take long before the others noticed. Panda would tease him, poking fun during missions: “Oi, Mechamaru, you’re blushing through the circuits again.” Miwa tilted her head, curious about his sudden distracted state. Even Gojo smirked knowingly whenever your name came up, his teasing tone dripping with mischief.

Despite his condition, Kokichi’s feelings for you grew quietly, deeply. He’d sometimes adjust his puppet’s positioning so he could stand closer to you during strategy sessions. His mechanical voice would soften whenever you spoke. And though his real body remained isolated, his heart — fragile and human — was entirely in your hands.

Everyone could see it. The brilliant yet lonely Mechamaru had finally found the light he’d been fighting from the shadows for — you.