He spotted two figures down below on the training grounds. One sat back on the bleachers, while the other moved with a smooth, relentless rhythm, drawing and sheathing her sword with a precision that betrayed countless hours of training.
The figure on the bench looked like a brown mechanical puppet in humanoid form, almost robotic. Black, stylized lines adorned the back of its head, and a black spiral symbol marked its forehead. It wore the school uniform, with a gray scarf wrapped around its neck.
As for the girl, she wore a dark tracksuit, and her long, light-blue hair, tied back in a ponytail, flowed with her every move.
Suddenly, Aoi raised his hand, calling down, "Hey, you two! Come greet your new classmate!"
The two exchanged a quick glance, unfazed. They didn't budge, keeping to their activities. Aoi, not one to wait around, added in a booming voice, "What? Do I need to come down there myself?!"
In a flash, both of them shot up the steps like rockets and arrived at the top in no time. They stopped in front of Ryosuke, bowing respectfully.
The humanoid robot greeted him with a serious look, while the girl offered a slightly nervous smile. Ryosuke nodded back, feeling a bit awkward but also a little flattered.
He was about to chat with them, but Aoi grabbed him by the shoulder. "Come on, we don't have all day!" he said, already steering him in another direction.
Ryosuke looked back, exchanging a final glance with the two.
"She's not here yet…"
The two watched the duo walk away.
The girl in the dark tracksuit watched Ryosuke go with Aoi, a thoughtful expression on her face. She turned to the robot beside her, arms crossed. "It's strange to see Todo-senpai being friendly with anyone, let alone a first-year," she murmured, almost to herself. "Do you think they already know each other?"
The robot fixed his gaze on Ryosuke's back, his mechanical eyes glinting with a strange light.
"Hm," he answered in a low tone. "That must mean he's strong."
The girl straightened up and stretched. "If that's the case… one more reason to keep training!" She turned to the robot, a smile on her face. "Come on, help me out this time, Mechamaru?"
The robot looked at her for a moment, then nodded silently. Together, they headed back down the steps to the training grounds. The girl picked up her practice sword, adopting a determined stance.
---
Standing in front of his new dorm room, Ryosuke took a deep breath, letting out a long, exhausted sigh. Aoi had dragged him everywhere, showing him every nook and cranny of the school without giving him a moment's rest.
Finally, he put his hand on the door handle and entered. The room waiting for him inside was simple yet surprisingly spacious, with bright white walls and freshly laid tatami mats covering the floor. At the center, a plain bed—just a mattress with no sheets or pillows. It was minimalist, almost spartan.
He moved closer to the bed, then let himself fall backward, arms spread wide, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. Silence filled the room, broken only by the distant call of a bird outside. A small smile played on his lips.
Slowly, he sat up at the edge of the bed, his smile turning playful. "Well, since I'm here... might as well make things interesting."
The next morning, just as dawn broke over the horizon, Ryosuke stood on the training grounds, arms crossed, taking in the view that stretched before him.
He took a deep breath, savoring the calm around him. A smirk crept onto his face as he thought about all that lay ahead. But the peace didn't last. He felt a strange sensation, like someone was watching him.
Raising his eyes, he spotted a figure a few rows up on the stone bleachers. It was the humanoid robot from the day before. Motionless, it stared at him, its red, mechanical eyes glowing.
Feigning indifference, Ryosuke watched it out of the corner of his eye for a long moment, as if testing its patience. After a few minutes, he turned his head and shot it a mischievous look. "So, you planning to spy on me forever, or is there something you want to say?"
The robot didn't move at first, frozen in its silence. Only a faint mechanical hum escaped it, as if its internal system had come to life. Finally, Mechamaru spoke, his deep voice resonating in the cool morning air: "Kusami told me to wait here. That's all."
Ryosuke tilted his head, perplexed. "Ah, got it." He shook his head with a smile. "Anyway, we didn't properly introduce ourselves yesterday. I'm Tsukumo Ryosuke."
Mechamaru remained still for a few moments before responding in his robotic voice: "Mechamaru. That's... my name."
Ryosuke climbed the few steps separating him from the robot and stood in front of it, arms crossed. After studying it in silence, he tilted his head. "Tell me, Mechamaru... You're really a robot, right? And yet, here you are... as a student? That's kind of surprising, don't you think?"
A nearly imperceptible flicker crossed the robot's red eyes. He turned his head slowly toward Ryosuke. "Stop pretending to be surprised. You already figured out what I am yesterday."
Ryosuke shrugged, feigning innocence, then let out a small laugh. "Alright, alright... You got me. I did notice. That must be... how should I put it..." He paused, searching for the right words. "That must be kind of a pain, huh?"
At that, Mechamaru looked away, deliberately ignoring him.
Ryosuke stepped closer, leaning in until he was just inches from the robot's metallic face. "Tell me, Mechamaru... Would you want to be free of it?"
Mechamaru remained impassive, only a faint electrical tick betraying his unease. After a heavy silence, he asked in a low voice, "What do you mean?"
Just then, a lively voice broke the tension.
"Well, well! Looks like you two are already getting to know each other!"
Ryosuke turned and saw the girl from the day before. Beside her was another girl, with short, jet-black hair and wearing a similar training uniform.
The short-haired girl with a bright smile waved at him. "So, settling in alright?" she asked cheerfully. "I'm Miwa Kasumi, nice to meet you!" She gave a playful wink before turning to her friend, who stood back. "She wasn't here yesterday to meet you, but she's in our class too."
Ryosuke returned her smile and held out his hand to the other girl. She looked at his hand for a moment, her gaze slightly wary. Then, slowly, she reached out, giving him a firm but brief handshake. "Zenin Mai," she said in a calm, almost neutral tone.
Ryosuke didn't immediately release her gaze, taking a few seconds to note her stern features. He eventually nodded, a subtle smile on his lips. This prolonged attention made Mai frown, and she looked away with a hint of irritation.
TO BE CONTINUED!
Next Chapter: Greeting a little too... Friendly?