Chapter Text
Kasumi entered her room at Jujustu High and shut the door using her feet, after that she dropped her studying material on the floor, right beside the door. Miwa exhaled, trying to alleviate the pressure on her chest, it had been a very rough day. She trained during the morning and studied like crazy after lunch. Only when her eyes started failing her, seeing things doubled and blurred all over her notes, she noticed it was already dark outside. Miwa returned to her room without having dinner, she was so stressed and tired that she barely felt any hunger.
As she undressed herself, the young woman could feel her body tense all over. Her legs were stiff, she felt a piercing pain in between her shoulder blades and her arms were aching even with the slightest of movements. She needed a hot, renewing bath.
Miwa left her clothes scattered on the floor, next to her bed, something really unusual for her, always so methodical with her chores. She entered her private bathroom and started running hot water inside her bathtub. While she was looking for some bath salts inside her bathroom cabinet, she heard a muffled sound that resembled her own phone. Oh, well, somebody was after her, but why? Why now?! Miwa sighed and began to search her phone inside every pocket of her clothes on the floor until she found it. It was no call, but a couple of messages from a chat group with the girls. She rolled the screen down, not paying much attention to it anyways, but then another notification popped up.
[Message from Mechamaru] appeared at the top of her screen.
She bit her bottom lip and rested the free hand atop her hip curve. Should she open it right now? He was a short tempered guy. Man. Boy? Whatever - she usually chose her words carefully when speaking to him, not because she was afraid, but because she really wanted to appear interesting to him. A while ago she was forced to admit to herself that she had feelings for him. Like, more-than-friends-feelings, even if she wasn’t sure she could call Mechamaru that. Miwa only knew him as a robot, a pretty skilled and powerful sorcerer, but a robot nonetheless. She had no idea what the person behind it was like. So it was really weird to feel that way towards him. Maybe. Oh, Gods! Being in love was already ridiculous for a normal teenager, but her situation made things even worse.
Kasumi placed her cellphone at the rim of the bathtub, leaving Mechamaru's message unread. The hot water felt like pure bliss when she finally lowered herself at the tub, soaking her whole body and the tips of her blue hair. She took a few long, slow breaths and started to relax.
Bzz. Bzz. [Message from Mechamaru] again. Being calmer now she felt comfortable enough to answer him. She unlocked her phone and opened their conversation.
Mechamaru: Hey
Mechamaru: Hey, Miwa
Miwa: Hello, there. What’s up?
[Typing…]
Mechamaru: Didn’t see you today after training. Are you ok?
Miwa: Yeah, I needed to catch up on my homework, sorry.
Mechamaru: Do not apologize.
[Typing…]
Mechamaru: Nevermind.
Miwa bent her head back, resting it over the rim of the tub and slowly moved it from side to side to release some tension. She didn’t want to stop talking to him, not yet. No one ever made her feel special like he did. All her life she was used to being just a wallflower, a nobody, you know? Just a normal daughter, a regular jujutsu sorcerer, the average-beauty one among her girl friends. But Mechamaru changed that, he always made her feel seen and even appreciated, it sent shivers down her spined and sometimes she was unable to hide the blush on her cheeks. He was her favorite companion and no one else understood why, but it didn’t matter.
Miwa: C’mon, you can tell me.
Mechamaru: Don’t bother, it wasn’t that important. Did you manage to get it all done? Do you need any assistance?
Oh, dear, that’s just so like him, so composed and collected all the time. That’s the reason why for a long time Miwa thought he was truly only a super developed robot and nothing else.
She typed a simple response like “It’s ok, I got it”, but it was too boring and would end their chat for sure. She needed something else to keep the conversation going. Miwa adjusted her position, straightening her back a little, and added up.
Miwa: It’s okay, I got it. So, what u doing, recharging a little? I surely am.
[Typing…]
Mechamaru: What do you mean?
Miwa: My day was ex-haus-ting, so I am taking a really well deserved hot bath rn.
[Typing…]
[Typing…]
[Typing…]
Mechamaru: I see.
Miwa looked away from her phone, completely embarrassed for her inadequate behavior. He didn’t need to know that! What now? Ugh! She chewed on a cuticle and felt her stomach contract. It was all ruined for sure, he would step back.
Just as she was thinking about typing the most sincere apology of all times, her cell phone buzzed again.
Mechamaru: Being inside a bathtub can be healing, for sure.
She placed a hand over her chest and thanked in silence. Maybe the hot water and vapors from the bath salts were messing up her already super tired mind. She quickly washed her body, massaging it a little and then stood up, ready to grab a towel to wrap over her wet skin.
Still unsure about what to answer him, she walked over to her bedroom and turned off the ceiling light, leaving only the bedside lamp on. The dim light ambiance started to melt her nervousness away. Miwa dried up her body, feeling kinda sore all over, but a little more refreshed than before. She sat on the edge of her bed and grabbed a body lotion to put on.
Bzz. Bzz. Her cell phone screen lit up. Triple texting? That was a welcome surprise. Mechamaru was well known among their friends for being a reclusive and reserved guy, but little by little he was showing Miwa that was not entirely true.
Mechamaru: Wish I could join you.
Her phone almost jumped out of her hands. Kasumi was not sure if her hands were slippery because of the lotion, or maybe she was just too shocked from Mechamaru’s text. What did he mean?! She could feel her heart hammering inside her chest and suddenly her hands were shaking, but the thrill took over soon enough and spiked her curiosity.
Girl, you got this - she told herself.
She smiled broadly and decided to joke a little.
Miwa: That wouldn’t work out, you’d be all rusty, lol.
Mechamaru: Silly girl. Not the puppet, I mean the real me.
Wow. She actually knew nothing about him. Maybe now was the right time to ask, he seemed to be enjoying this conversation as much as she was.
Miwa: Tell me… About you. The real you.
Kasumi knew she would still love him no matter what. Come on, she fell in love with a mechanical puppet, why wouldn’t she love the real Mechamaru? Oh. Mechamaru couldn’t be his real name… Right? Although she loved to pronounce it. Mechamaru , she whispered to no one, rolling her tongue slowly, savoring every syllable.
Mechamaru: I’d rather not. Not now, at least. And call me Muta. Kokichi Muta, that’s my real name.
She felt so excited she forgot how to breathe properly and became a little light headed. It didn’t matter he was not comfortable to share anymore details for now. She knew his real name and felt even closer to him than ever before.
She lazily laid down naked and on her stomach, crossed her ankles and started typing again, surrendering to all those new feelings. Her whole face lit up as an idea popped into her mind.
Miwa: So, one day, I will come to see you. - She confessed through text and decided to update his name on her contact list.
[Typing…]
[Typing…]
[Typing…]
Kokichi Muta: Maybe I’ll be able to reach you first.
Her whole body started to warm up at his words, she knew there was a good chance he was provoking her and truth be told, it was turning her on, it was the first time ever he was talking to her in that manner. There was no way to know where this would end up, so she decided to go on.
Miwa: Hm… and?
Staying behind a screen made her feel more confident, more daring, she was putting her own limits to test.
Kokichi Muta: I don’t know, there’s so much I’d like to do with you.
Kasumi covered her face with her free hand and let out a squeaky sound. Who knew Mecha- I mean, Muta could be so flirtatious!
Kokichi Muta: Are you still enjoying your bath?
Miwa: Nope. Already in bed.
Kokichi Muta: Going to sleep?
Miwa: I should, but… I’m too agitated, gotta find a way to calm down a bit, otherwise I will turn into an owl.
Kokichi Muta: Would you let me help you with that, Miwa?
She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and felt shivers all over her body, even though she wasn’t cold. Oh Gods, this is happening. Miwa was quite nervous and shifted her position in order to make herself more comfortable. She took a deep breath and succumbed to his will.
Miwa: Yup.