No more Mechamaru but Iron Man

Ryosuke gently slid open the classroom door. Inside, the teacher was already deep in explanation, addressing the three attentive students. Without pausing, the teacher gave a simple nod, gesturing for Ryosuke to enter.

Ryosuke returned the nod in thanks and stepped inside. As he walked past the robotic entity seated in the front row—a new addition that hadn't been there before—he made his way to his usual spot at the back of the room. Once seated, he placed his bag down beside him.

The lecture continued, but Ryosuke's thoughts began to drift, pulled toward a vivid memory from the night before. His gaze lingered on the robot's back as the recollection unfolded in his mind.

The cliffside. Moonlight bathing the landscape. The wind tugging at his hair as he prepared to leave.

"It's getting late," he had said to Kokichi, who stood beside him, dressed in a simple tunic. "I should head back."

But Kokichi shook his head, his expression serious.

"I can't let your kindness go unanswered."

Ryosuke smiled, a little embarrassed.

"It's nothing, really. Think of it as a gift."

"No," Kokichi protested. "I want to help you in return… but I don't know how. How does someone help a person like you?"

Those words caught Ryosuke off guard. He stopped, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Then, after a moment, he turned to Kokichi, a soft smile lighting up his face.

"You want to be useful? Well, so be it…"

The memory cut off abruptly.

Ryosuke smiled faintly.

You're going to be very useful to me…

The class carried on uninterrupted, the teacher explaining a complex concept about natural energy. Ryosuke, resting his head on his hand, watched the diagrams appear on the digital board without really processing them.

Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson. Stretching with his arms above his head, Ryosuke sighed.

"I didn't think we'd have regular high school classes here."

Kasumi, already on her feet, approached Mechamaru's desk, where the robotic entity was methodically packing its belongings.

"Hey," she said, leaning slightly on the edge of the desk.

"Good morning," Mechamaru replied in a metallic tone.

Kasumi tilted her head, curious.

"You didn't show up at the usual time today. Did everything go okay last night with Ryosuke during the mission?"

At her question, Mechamaru finally looked up, his glowing eyes locking onto hers.

"My puppet was in bad shape," he said evenly. "I had to replace it before coming."

"Oh, so that's why."

Mai, who had been about to leave the room, froze at the mention of the mission.

"Another masterpiece by our resident genius, I assume," she remarked acidly.

Ryosuke, still slouched in his chair, sat up and cleared his throat lightly.

"Protecting a puppet is pointless. Honestly, it's insulting to suggest Mechamaru can't handle himself."

"Yes, it's insulting," Mechamaru confirmed in his metallic voice.

Facing her two unexpected allies, Mai crossed her arms and turned to Kasumi, clearly expecting some backup. But Kasumi shook her head, an apologetic smile on her lips.

"Sorry, Mai, but I can't side with you on this one."

Mai let out an exasperated sigh before clicking her tongue and storming out of the room. Ryosuke watched her leave, then stood up himself.

"Well, I'll leave you two lovebirds to it," he said, glancing at Mechamaru and Kasumi. "You do know that school relationships are forbidden, right?"

Kasumi opened her mouth to protest, but Ryosuke was already gone, ignoring the indignant protests behind him.

Ryosuke strolled out of the classroom, his bag slung casually over one shoulder. The moment he stepped through the door, a booming voice greeted him.

"BROTHER!"

Ryosuke narrowly dodged Todo's enthusiastic embrace, the older student waiting like a predator at the entrance. Straightening up calmly, Ryosuke raised an eyebrow.

"Don't you have class, senpai?" he asked in his usual placid tone.

Todo, his face splitting into a wide grin, shook his head.

"I was on a mission! But guess what? I heard about your exploits. Amazing work, Brother!"

Ryosuke sighed.

"News travels fast, apparently."

Todo laughed and gave Ryosuke a hearty pat on the back—hard enough to stagger an ordinary student.

"Congrats on your promotion to Special Grade!" he declared proudly. "You're ahead of your senpai now, but don't get too comfortable. It's only temporary!"

At that moment, Kasumi and Mechamaru stepped out of the classroom. Kasumi froze in her tracks, her eyes wide.

"Ryosuke, you were promoted to Special Grade?!"

Todo beamed with pride.

"Of course! It's well-deserved for my Brother!"

Kasumi turned a curious look toward Mechamaru.

"If you teamed up with him, then surely you must have…"

But Mechamaru, ever impassive, interrupted in his mechanical voice, "No. Ryosuke did most of the work."

Kasumi seemed ready to argue, but Ryosuke, unfazed by the slightly tense atmosphere, placed a hand on Mechamaru's shoulder.

"Don't be modest. Your contribution was essential."

Mechamaru said nothing.

Todo, meanwhile, attempted another triumphant hug, but Ryosuke dodged effortlessly with disarming grace.

"Seriously, senpai, stop."

"But it's to celebrate!" Todo insisted, arms wide open.

Ryosuke raised a hand as if to ward him off from a distance.

"Keep it up, and I'll call harassment."

The playful threat, delivered with a light tone, finally made Todo back off, hands raised in mock surrender.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop… for now."

Ryosuke smirked faintly and walked off down the hallway.

Kasumi, still a bit dazed, turned to Mechamaru.

"He was really promoted to Special Grade?"

Mechamaru nodded.

"He earned it," he said simply.

Todo crossed his arms, his expression now more serious, though still proud.

"My Brother is amazing, isn't he?"

Kasumi could only whisper under her breath, "Yes… he really is."

Todo suddenly leaned closer to Mechamaru, catching Kasumi off guard. He tilted his head slightly, rubbing his clean-shaven chin thoughtfully as he scrutinized the robot with an unusual intensity.

"Hey, scrap metal. You're… different today."

Kasumi blinked in surprise. "Really?"

Mechamaru, as unflappable as ever, replied in a neutral tone, "In what way am I different?"

Todo took another step forward, placing a hand on Mechamaru's metallic frame. He tapped it gently, almost experimentally. "It's weird," he said, his tone surprisingly serious for once. "I can't put my finger on it, but… you feel more alive."

Kasumi opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Todo suddenly straightened up, his trademark grin spreading across his face once more.

"Eh, whatever," he said, dismissing the thought with a hearty laugh. "Anyway, I'll leave you kids to it. Later!"

With that, he walked off, his laughter echoing down the hall.

Kasumi watched him go, a mix of curiosity and disbelief flickering across her face. Then, she turned to Mechamaru, her expression shifting to one of playful annoyance.

Without warning, she stepped in close—too close. So close that Mechamaru's mechanical voice sounded almost disapproving.

"You are standing too close."

Kasumi crossed her arms and tilted her chin upward, feigning innocence. "I don't see the problem," she retorted with mock defiance.

Mechamaru remained stoic, unmoved by her antics. But Kasumi, undeterred, grabbed his metal arm with surprising determination.

"Come on. We're training."

"It is not scheduled for today," Mechamaru pointed out, his tone unchanged.

But Kasumi wasn't listening. With boundless energy, she began dragging her robotic teammate down the hallway, ignoring any protests—or lack thereof—as she marched forward.

TO BE CONTINUED!

Next Chapter: We really Shouldn't Have... (1)