౨ৎ 𝑺𝑰𝑳𝑬𝑵𝑻 𝑺𝑷𝑨𝑹𝑲𝑺 | 𝑴𝑰𝑾𝑨 𝑿 𝑴𝑬𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑴𝑨𝑹𝑼

𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑶𝑵𝑬

౨ৎ

A Glimpse Through the Glass

The sky above the Kyoto Jujutsu High was clear and bright, but Miwa Kasumi felt anything but bright and clear. The blade of her sword flashed in the sunlight as she went through her shape for the second time, but her movements felt mechanical. Her breath was shallow, the effort was not of a physical nature - it was the internal pressure that weighed on her.

Why am I not making progress?

The question echoed in her head. Despite all her efforts, despite the countless hours of training, she always seemed to be left behind compared to the others. Maki Zenin was so strong, Yuji Itadori was so talented, and Miwa... Miwa felt inconspicuous. She held her sword with trembling hands and stared at a point in the distance.

I don't want to fail. Not again...

High up, in the shade of an old tree, Mechamaru watched her silently and invisibly. Or rather, one of his mechanical dolls, controlled by Kokichi Muta. At a safe distance, Kokichi's real body sat, locked in his isolation, but his thoughts were with Miwa - as so often lately.

She's so different from the others. He could never really explain what fascinated him about her. Was it her gentle determination? Her way of walking through the world with an honest smile, even though she was fighting doubts inside? She was not a typical fighter, not so loud or full of self-confidence. That's exactly what made her so... unique to Kokichi.

Why is she trying so stubbornly?

Kokichi wondered when he saw her start her sword swing again, with an expression on her face oscillating between concentration and despair. She wanted it so much, and yet he could see that she was pushing her limits.

I wish I could tell you that you are good enough, Miwa. That you don't have to prove anything to anyone...

But he couldn't. Not as Mechamaru, not as Kokichi. He was a shadow, hidden behind his technique, trapped in a body that denied him any closeness.

If she knew who I really was... would she still look at me?

The thought tormented him whenever he was near her, even if it was only through his mechanical puppets. But it was better to stay far away than to risk disappointment.

Miwa again made a lunge that wasn't perfect – something she noticed right away.

Damn it!

Her anger rose in her, not against others, but against herself. She wanted to be stronger, wanted to show the people who believed in her that she was not just a pretty face that could defeat weak curses. She wanted to prove that she was a valuable member of her team.

What else do I have to do?

She bit her lip and looked briefly into the sky, as if she was expecting an answer there.

Am I really that weak?

At that moment, she stumbled slightly as her foot on a loose stone lost its grip. A moment of fright seized her, but before she could hit the ground, Mechamaru's doll moved forward unnoticed in the shadow to push the stone away. Miwa caught herself again, unconsciously relieved that she hadn't fallen, without noticing that someone had helped her.

"Concentrate, Miwa," she whispered softly to herself, making the next move. She didn't notice the tiny stone that was in the way before, and thought it was just a happy coincidence. But something in her felt a strange kind of closeness, as if she wasn't all alone. Maybe she was just imagining it.

Sometimes I feel like there's someone...

Mechamaru pulled back his doll and continued to watch her continue her exercises.

I wish you knew I was here.

He sighed inwardly, knowing that he would never find the right words to approach her. And yet... somehow it was enough to protect her, even if she didn't know it. Kokichi felt as close to him as possible in those quiet moments of secretly helping her.

I will always take care of you, Miwa, even if you never know.

౨ৎ