It’s hard to realize that Maho Hiyajo might look like a kid but is far from it in her mindset. Considered Kurisu’s rival in all things science, Maho has quite a brain and isn’t afraid to prove it when she must. We always love smart girls here at Honey’s Anime and that’s what makes us love Maho so much in Steins;Gate 0.

While Maho might be use to standing tall in the face of big conventions and meetings of minds, she’s quite shy and that gives her a very cute demeanor. Some examples of this show up when her boss/mentor Alexis Leskinen and Amadeus—which we won’t spoil who that is—tend to tease her when it comes to Okabe and the feelings she clearly has for him. Seeing the usual calm and smart Maho falter and become meek is quite fun and it makes us skip some heart beats honestly.

Maho has faced numerous horrors in Steins;Gate 0 and, despite what these incidents should do to an individual, she continues to act tough and stay strong. There are times where Maho relies on Okabe’s confidence or words of wisdom to regain her composure but more often than not she finds strength in her calculating mind. It’s an admirable trait of Maho and we are glad to see it in a rival of Kurisu.

We mentioned it already but it needs to be pointed out by itself. One of Maho’s greatest traits is that she’s on par with Kurisu despite her thinking she’s weaker in mind to her. Maho has proven time and time again that she knows how science works to the point that even when she learns of Okabe’s time traveling feats she doesn’t seem too surprised and quickly sees how this is possible despite seeming far from it. Any character who can rival—if not surpass—Makise Kurisu is someone we have to love and give admiration towards.

Maho might be a scientist which should make her cold and cruel, but she’s actually far from it. After numerous attacks on her new friends and Okabe, Maho has shown that she truly cares for these individuals and longs for their safety. There’s a recent episode of Steins;Gate 0 where Maho and several others are attacked by a rogue group and she puts her own safety on the line to save her friends despite the possible chances of dying. Maho and Kurisu share that trait with one another that even as loners focused on science, they aren’t afraid to show they love their friends and will make sure they are safe in any way they can provide.