Chapter 1: The Fellowship
(Collab by Larkabel and Shades 0f Dawn - Team Maple Syrup)
Shades 0f Dawn - Hey! I'm finally back from the dark, unforgiving depths of school! In case anyone was worried if I had died the past five months, I decided to update with a Collab Larkabel and I have been working on for some time. She's an extremely talented writer (I was very excited to work with her!), so go to her profile and check out her stories! And in case you're wondering about the strange timing of a summer fanfic when winter's approaching (for us Northern Hemisphere people, anyways), well... uh, only seven more months until summer! Anyways, I hope you enjoy!
Larkabel - Hellooo~! I guess I'm not quite dead either. (Only mostly dead.) Anyways, make sure to thank Kaede for making this happen in the first place, and go check out her stories while you're at it. Apart from being a great writer, she's so much more productive than myself and put a lot into this fic. So go do it. And hopefully you also enjoy this tiny snippet of summer.
It was a summer day in a sunbathed Mitakihara City.
The temperature was warming up as the mellow spring rains gave way to sluggish summer days. The sunshine peeking over the docile clouds was a promise of futurity for good weather. The warm colors of the season - honey gold, sky blue, and forest green - all melted with one another across the usual cityscape.
It was the time of summer when the parks rang with excited voices and the clear, brilliantly blue sky was colorfully dotted with stray kites that drifted along the lazy breeze. Ice cream trucks, along with the pursuing mobs of delighted children, were stopped at what seemed like almost every street corner. All in all, it was a...
"...perfect, summer day." Sayaka finished with a longing sigh. Her eyes, vividly cerulean like the sparkling, picturesque oceans they yearned to see, slowly flickered open as she returned to her drab surroundings. The brief, reminiscent smile on her face quickly gave way to a sardonic grimace as she folded her arms. "So what am I doing in here?!"
Her voice echoed loudly within the dark, deserted classroom as Kyouko, the only other individual in the room, barely glanced up from the small, shabby television in the corner to acknowledge her distress. As expected, the latter's prompt solution was tactlessly straightforward.
"If you're that bored, why don't you just leave?"
Sayaka hung her head and sighed dejectedly. The fact that Kyouko's statement sounded so convincing didn't help. Taking care to avoid setting her elbows in the piles of chipped pencil lead and eraser shavings that had long since begun to accumulate on the surface of her desk, she sullenly settled her face in her arms. "I wish I could..."
Her gaze momentarily alighted towards the front of the room, where the words "Study Hall" had been hurriedly scrawled on the chalkboard. The teacher's desk was bare as she, too, had long since rushed off into the inviting summer weather. In fact, the school was practically empty save for the two of them. The lights were turned off in an effort to conserve power, so the faint, yet beckoning sunlight that trickled through the windows provided the only source of light in the otherwise dim room.
When Sayaka was younger, she had always found the notion of exploring an empty school exciting. There was something about the eerie tranquility of the deserted building, once filled with the usual chatter of conversation, that had ignited her adventurous spirit. Of course, Sayaka had coerced a reluctant Madoka to tag along on such occasions. Much to her amusement, the subsequent light-hearted pranks and squeals of fright were almost too easy to pull off.
But the truth about an staying in an empty school turned out to be the same then as it was now - the grass always seems greener on the other side.
"Aghh!" Sayaka scratched her head in frustration as her disregarded pencil clattered onto the floor. The continents of text and formulas in her textbook started to blur and make her head spin. "Why do I have to do this anyways?! I barely failed one test!"
"Two, actually." Kyouko corrected, auspiciously taking the opportunity to finally glance up. The smug, teasing smirk deeply etched in her face made it seem like she had been waiting to savor this moment forever. "And y'know, if you'd studied a little each day instead of cramming the night before-"
Don't act like you didn't have anything to do with it, Sayaka wanted to blurt out in bitter frustration. It was mostly Kyouko's fault, after all. The day before the midterms, the ever-restless redhead had basically dragged her all around the city for her own satisfaction. They had wasted so much time at that arcade, and then that restaurant, and that party… But the more Sayaka reflected, the more she slowly realized how easily she had let herself be distracted. She had been trying to escape reality. And it wasn't like she had really disliked Kyouko's company that day either...
So instead, Sayaka simply silenced Kyouko with an indignant frown. "I don't want to hear that from someone who doesn't even go to school."
Kyouko laughed, wisely opting not to tease Sayaka any further, as her attention flickered back to the television. In the silence that followed, Sayaka let her gaze wander towards her companion with a hint of unease. She hadn't asked her to tag along - she hadn't even let her know about her situation - and yet, Kyouko had still stayed beside her with some sort of unspoken, nonchalant sense of obligation. The gesture was harmless and friendly enough, but strange nonetheless. Not that she didn't want Kyouko here, but it made it increasingly difficult to concentrate. I wonder if she feels the same way. Sayaka frowned, lapsing into deep thought. It's not like she's gaining anything by staying here anyways...
"Never mind that," Sayaka finally said, closing her textbook as if that would erase all of the unfinished math problems. Or at least the childish doodles in the margins of a textbook she realized she would soon have to return. "What are you doing here? If someone finds out that you aren't from this school-"
"Relax, would you?" Kyouko waved a half-hearted, dismissive hand, though her attention was still glued to the screen. The images from the television danced across her unblinking, crimson eyes. "No one's gonna care. I'm just trying to watch the game. And no one's even here besides us anyways."
Silently debating whether to expend useless energy to continue the argument or admit that Kyouko might actually be right, Sayaka craned her head for a better look. "What's the score?"
"Fifteen nil."
Sayaka sighed exasperatedly. As boring as studying was, it wasn't like watching a lopsided baseball match was any more interesting. To think that I could've been at the beach with Madoka, she thought ruefully. The fact that she's probably being led around by that Akemi Homura right now kinda pisses me off...
Unclenching her subconsciously tightened fists, Sayaka asked: "Why are you still watching?"
Her question prompted Kyouko to shrug and fold her arms behind her head. "Oh, I dunno. I guess its in my nature to be drawn to watching pitiful things." Kyouko's crimson eyes seemed to scrutinize Sayaka as a teasing smirk slowly spread across her face. "Kinda like you right now."
"Oh, hush-" Sayaka felt her cheeks grow hot as she pouted and looked away in embarrassment, much to the delighted amusement of her companion. "Just you watch. I'll be out of here in no time!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say." Kyouko dug around in her pocket and pulled out another pack of snacks, using the motion to conceal her muted snickering. "Looks like I was right when I thought it'd be fun to watch you."
Kyouko's statement was answered by Sayaka sticking her tongue out at her as the latter returned to her dull routine of poring over endless pages. Soon enough, the room was back to its usual silence - the hollow ticking of the clock and faint chirping of cicadas acting as the only accompaniments to the duo's serene summer melody. Occasionally, the usual summer sounds - the sharp, high-pitched staccato of a faraway bat hitting a baseball or distant chorus of friendly conversations - would drift through the open windows.
But it was quiet. Too quiet, especially for a summer day. And as Kyouko watched the score skyrocket to the tune of twenty-five to nothing, she began to realize that soon, she wouldn't be able to contain herself any longer.
"Aghh!" This time it was Kyouko who scratched her head in frustration as the next home run made the score a thirty-point differential. "What am I doing here?!"
Sayaka calmly brought her palm to her face and tried to pretend that she hadn't almost jumped out of her seat. "That's exactly what I asked you a minute ago."
"Hmm..." A few seconds passed as Kyouko pondered her next move. Then, "I'm bored. Let's go somewhere."
Sayaka had to firmly grab her chair to avoid falling out as she doubled over. "You're bored?! You're bored?! What happened to 'I'm staying here to watch you'?"
"Alright, that settles it!" Ignoring Sayaka's remarks, Kyouko promptly turned off the television and strode over to her, grabbing her by the wrist. "This place sucks, so we're going somewhere else."
"No one asked you to stay here in the first place," Sayaka countered haughtily, fidgeting nervously in her seat when she felt the warmth from Kyouko's body as the latter leaned closer in an intimate gesture.
"Well yeah," Kyouko conceded, then proceeded to playfully poke Sayaka's blushing cheeks as the former's teasing smirk returned at the expense of the latter's embarrassment. "But I swear you seemed a bit happier when I told you I'd stay with you."
"That's not-" Predictably, Sayaka averted her gaze, determined not to let her flusteredness show.
"Not what?" Kyouko prodded expectantly as Sayaka withdrew her hand from her grasp, sighing.
"Look, I appreciate the offer... but I've got stuff to finish. Maybe some other time?" Sayaka softly offered. Her tone held no trace of unease, much to Kyouko's surprise. Or even exasperation, for that matter. It was… guilty? Kyouko was left puzzling over the sudden change as Sayaka dutifully returned to her studies.
What's her problem? Kyouko wondered, slightly irked. She mulled it over on another bag of chips, chewing with frustration. I even skipped my favorite show just to stay with her in this stupid building. And watch a TV that has three channels. THREE! And two of them are in black and white! You'd think she'd give me a little attention at least...
When Sayaka continued to ignore her, Kyouko's face clouded with disappointment. She glumly rested her cheeks in her hands and pouted in the faint hope that it would incite some sympathy from Sayaka. "Jeez, you're no fun Sayaka. Even though I stayed here with you…"
Her lackluster pleads barely prompted Sayaka to glance up from her textbook. "Don't try to guilt trip me now."
Annoyed, Kyouko gave an ambivalent shrug. "Why don't you just ditch this place? It's not like anyone'll notice anyways."
Sayaka remained nonplussed. "And who's gonna take my make-up test for me?"
Kyouko waved it off dismissively, though it was obvious she hadn't thought that far. At least she had Sayaka's attention again. "I'm sure you'll figure that out when it comes to that. Instead of worrying about stuff like homework and tests, life is about having fun. How does that saying go? You live only once?"
"It's you only live- ...never mind." Sayaka interrupted her retort with an exasperated sigh, as if to say that Kyouko would never be able to understand the pressures of school. "Besides, that's easy for you to say. Some of us actually care about our grades and future."
"Your future, huh?" Frowning in thought, Kyouko tried to imagine what more there was to life besides eating pocky sticks, freeloading off of Mami, and teasing Sayaka. There was the feeling of regret when she realized that inevitably, she'd never again see Sayaka in a school uniform, at the very least. Was coping with that what it meant to be an adult? "Well, my future is pretty much secure."
"Oh really?" Sayaka seemed to be more surprised with Kyouko's confidence than condescendingly sarcastic.
"Yeah, I'll just have you and Mami feed me for the rest of my life. So, you should work hard so that I don't have to!"
A pained smile spread across Sayaka's darkened face. "You know-"
"I'm in your care, Sayaka!" Kyouko closed her eyes and grinned, putting on the most innocent expression she could muster. "Please take good care of me!"
How can you say something like that so easily? Sayaka marvelled, internally cringing with captivation at Kyouko's cute antics. The way Kyouko looked and acted sometimes somewhat reminded her of a small animal. Like a stray cat. The thought of domesticating and then doting on her almost made Sayaka laugh - the thought of Kyouko wearing a collar and drinking milk from a dish while meowing almost sent her over the edge. Maybe she'd bring in some cat ears the next day...
"Besides," Kyouko added with a hint of pride, completely oblivious to Sayaka's fantasies. "I'm pretty smart too. I did graduate from elementary school, after all."
"Really?" Snapping out of her thoughts, Sayaka glanced down at her math textbook as she scanned the pages for a particularly difficult problem. "Then, what's 56 times 24?"
"Seven hundred and ten." Kyouko quickly answered without batting an eye.
"...Seriously?" Sayaka deadpanned, quickly realizing she wasn't smart enough to compute the equation in her head. Of course, she wasn't about to let Kyouko know that. "Not bad, I guess."
"Told ya'," Kyouko grinned as her ego swelled. "Call me Sakura-Sensei already!"
Like Sayaka would ever admit to her supposed intellectual superiority. She shook her head, returning to the situation at hand. "Well, regardless of how smart you think you are, I still need to stay here to study for my test."
Kyouko frowned. "You're still going on about that?"
"I'm pretty sure I already explained this to you."
"Tch," Kyouko sighed irritably, finally losing interest in her companion. "Fine. I guess I'll go to Mami's place or something. At least she knows how to have fun sometimes."
"Like I said-!"
"See ya later," Kyouko started off towards the door, scornfully waving back. "Have fun with your test while I go fill up on Mami's cakes."
"Yeah, fine." Sayaka said dryly, watching Kyouko leave. "And don't you dare eat all of the-!"
But Kyouko had already left, leaving Sayaka all alone in the dark classroom.
Grumbling to herself, Kyouko left the school with an overbearing headache, feeling immensely bored. As she walked out from the cool, dark building, the ever glaring rays of sunlight and sweat-inducing humidity that instantly greeted her certainly didn't help.
"So hot..." Kyouko complained to no one in particular, fanning herself with a book she had swiped from the classroom.
Before long, she had wandered to a nearby park bench. With her good mood and most of her energy having been evaporated in the heat, Kyouko slumped down with half-lidded eyes sullenly gazing straight ahead.
A faint rustling beside her feet caught her attention, and she reached down to pick up a stray magazine before it skidded away in the warm breeze. A certain golden-haired girl posed in graceful elegance and smiled dazzlingly up at her from the cover.
Wonder what she's been up to lately… Kyouko thought to herself as she idly thumbed through the pages.
Of course, she didn't really plan on spending time with Mami. She had only said that because, other than occasionally killing time at the arcade, there was nothing else she did besides hang out with Sayaka. But Kyouko wouldn't readily let her know that.
Annoyed and disappointed in herself for leaving without convincing Sayaka to pass the day with her, Kyouko sucked in an exasperated sigh. Of course, it was partly Sayaka's fault too, Kyouko affirmed. The blue-haired girl always had some excuse or justification to be doing something else with someone else. Even now, she still committed all of her time to school. Kyouko was foolish to think that anything would have changed when summer began. And with autumn approaching on the horizon, her chances to voice her desires were quickly slipping away.
But instead of worrying, Kyouko tilted her head up to gaze wistfully into the vividly blue sky. Maybe this was fine too - to let these mundane days slowly drift by like the distant clouds. Perhaps it was better this way. But even so, she wasn't naive enough to miss the obvious discomfort in Sayaka - like there was something bothering her. Like she held a hidden sadness.
But what am I supposed to do about it? Kyouko wondered, justifying herself. It's her fault she's forcing herself too much. It's not like I could convince her otherwise, anyways...
"H-Hey, Sayaka..." Mustering up her courage, Kyouko bashfully glanced nearby as if the girl in question was sitting beside her. "Do you wanna... p-play with me?"
The only answer she received was the rustling of leaves in the warm breeze and a few curious sidelong stares from casual passbyers.
"Aagghh! I can't say it!" Kyouko grabbed her head in humiliation, blushing furiously at her shameful attempt. "How embarrassing would THAT be?! I'd never hear the end of it!"
"But you want to spend time with her, right?"
"W-Well, yeah..." Kyouko quietly conceded, before realizing that something was awry. She gave a sudden start and quickly snapped her head to the side, recognizing Mami calmly sitting beside her on a spot that had been previously empty a few seconds earlier. "Woah! W-When'd you get here?!"
"Just now," Mami reassured a blushing Kyouko, though the patronizing smile she wore didn't help. Her sudden presence invigorated the lackadaisical girl with a newfound, defensive energy - similar to the primal impulse of fear a prey senses when its predator is lurking nearby.
"W-What are you doing here?" Kyouko asked nervously, instantly wondering how much of her performance Mami had witnessed. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion as an icy chill ran up her spine. The only person that could consistently make her feel uncomfortable was right next to her. Not that the usually kind and generous older girl was normally a shady person. She was kind enough to lend Kyouko a place to stay, at the very least. Not to mention that her cooking was top-class, and she always had some delicious treat for her eager roommate after spending hours honing her culinary skills to rival even the fancy, pricey pastry shops only found in the upper-class section of Mitakihara - the ones with the lavish, enticing displays that Kyouko could only longing gaze at with her mouth watering.
But it was that obvious, all-too-familiar look of 'I'm bored, so I want something amusing to do' that made Kyouko uneasy. There had been unfortunate instances in the past where similar circumstances coupled with a naive trust in a supposedly reliable senpai, sometimes with the seductive promise of food, had led to distressing and oftentimes utterly embarrassing consequences, and she was determined not to repeat history. As such, her dignity and sanity lay with her ability to level-headedly navigate out of this suddenly precarious situation.
"Just enjoying the scenery," Mami coyly explained her alibi, seemingly unaware of the redhead's inner turmoil and conviction. "Anyways, calm down - I just wanted someone to talk to. So, what's the matter?"
"Uh, what's what matter?" Kyouko mumbled evasively, focusing her attention on the ground as if the truth was evident in her eyes. The brief emphasis Mami put on the word 'someone' made her wonder if she had been specifically targeted.
"You were talking about Miki-san, weren't you?"
She's onto me, Kyouko realized with dread. Hoping with lost optimism that she could somehow wriggle her way out of this one, she kept her poker face. "...Was I?"
A razor-thin smile spread across Mami's face as Kyouko inwardly cringed. "Don't try to fool me, Sakura-san. You're not being very honest with yourself, are you?"
"...Okay, maybe a little. But don't get any wrong ideas-"
"Where's Miki-san?" Mami asked in a conversational manner, expectantly looking around with a puzzled expression as if the person in question was supposed to be here.
"She's... Wait, hold on-" Kyouko arched an eyebrow, feeling uncomfortably patronized. "Why're you making it sound like we're always together?"
"You're not?"
"Hell no!" Kyouko exclaimed, clearly irked by the genuine surprise in Mami's voice.
Mami dissolved into laughter, taking the opportunity to casually sidle closer which prompted a wary Kyouko to scoot further away. "Well, well, all joking aside, I think it would be delightful if everyone spent some time together."
"R-Right..." Kyouko wasn't sure if she liked where this conversation was heading. She knew from prior experience that whenever Mami suggested something seemingly innocent, there was always some other motive lurking behind that otherwise cheerful expression. Things could turn troublesome in an instant.
"So, in that case, I believe I have a fantastic proposition!" Mami proclaimed, her enthusiasm rushing back as she scooted closer.
"W-What?" Kyouko inched away again. Quite obviously, she didn't share Mami's enthusiasm, instead trembling with apprehension.
Mami pointed towards the clear, blue sky as she continued to slide closer. "In order to experience the joys of youthful vitality, we should all go on a vacation."
"We… what? B-But aren't you busy with modelling nowadays?" Stalling for time, Kyouko tried to move away again, but the feel of metal against her side made her realize that she had reached the end of the bench. With no other alternative, she silently calculated how long she would last if she took off running in a dead sprint. She was definitely faster than Mami. True, the throbbing pain in her ankle when she had frustratedly kicked the TV earlier in the classroom would slow her down, but the high-heels the older girl was wearing would outweigh that disadvantage. She could easily lose Mami by slipping into the network of alleyways and then crashing at a hotel for a day or two. Then she'd come back to Mami, and they'd laugh about the whole matter over a cup of tea and some cake. Maybe, just maybe, if she could divert Mami's attention for even a fraction of a second, then-
"And so!" Mami pointed at Kyouko as she trapped the hapless girl. "You and Miki-san should come as well!"
"Wait, wait, wait! Why should I have to go?" With nowhere to go, Kyouko frantically brought her hands up to shield herself, already mentally drafting her will as her short life flashed before her eyes. She'd give her leftover stash of snacks to Madoka, because she'd always struck her as relatively frail, and then her collection of games and manga to Sayaka, because most of them probably used to be hers anyways, and then those yoga tickets she had randomly found on the street yesterday to Homura, because... well, she needed to chill out sometimes. It would be good therapy for her anyways - something she always looked like she could use.
Mami's face was wrought with that same, puzzled expression from earlier. "Well... Miki-san will be there-"
"Enough of that!" Kyouko demanded vehemently, temporarily forgetting her predicament in lieu of defending her dignity. "And what makes you think Sayaka will go anyways?"
"You could ask her-"
Kyouko sighed and slumped over. As the excitement of the moment passed, her headache had started to return. Somehow, inexplicably, the two of them had gone full circle. "So we're back to square one, huh? And where would we go?"
"Hmm..." Mami pursed her lips as she mulled it over. For all of her enthusiasm and crafty way with words, Kyouko was surprised that she didn't have an immediate plan. "Perhaps we should take a vacation in my summer home."
Kyouko gave Mami a skeptic look, layered with a tinge of envy. "You have a summer house? Seriously?"
But instead of answering immediately, Mami whipped out her phone, quickly pressed a few buttons, and then glanced back at Kyouko with a faintly satisfied smile. "Now I do."
"Ah, right." Kyouko sighed as she remembered the astounding fame and wealth of the person she was talking to. A world-class model, no less. Her answering machine was loaded with thousands upon thousands of messages, many of them from other celebrities with household names for crying out loud. "Sorry for asking such a stupid question."
It was amazing, really, for Kyouko to think about the person she was living with - to the point where she almost wanted to blurt out 'That's my roommate!' to everyone she saw reading a fashion magazine, in the faint hope that some of the admiration and wealth would pour onto her as well. Then maybe she could finally get her hands on those expensive, high-class pastries...
"The only thing that's left is for you to ask Miki-san!" Mami blissfully continued, clapping her hands together the way she always did when everything was going according to her plans.
"Why are you getting so excited over this?" Kyouko muttered sullenly, though her eyes narrowed in thought. Although she looked like she lacked the willingness and energy to deprive Mami of her amused satisfaction by this point, her mind still raced for an opportunity to escape.
"Because it's funn-" Mami subtly caught herself put on a sly smile, feigning sincerity. "Because it's fun!"
"Ah, is that so?" Kyouko said, using the cover of indignant irritation to stand up to leave. When Mami didn't immediately stop her, she inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and congratulated herself on her tenacity and focus to overcome this predicament. "Well, don't bother. And besides, I never said I'd go-"
"Now, wait a moment," Mami quickly said, placing a hand on Kyouko's shoulder as the latter noticeably flinched. "I have a plan for that."
"...A plan?" Her curiosity piqued, Kyouko stopped and turned. She just hoped her keen interest didn't show on her face.
"Of course." Mami's lips twisted in a devious smile, looking for all the world like a predator that had its prey successfully cornered after employing deliberately nuanced and effective traps. "Listen carefully, and just do what I'm about to say..."
Homura couldn't have been any happier.
At the moment, she was in downtown Mitakihara, surrounded by the resplendent sights and sounds of summer. Certainly being outside in this balmy weather had a soothing, remediating effect on the mind and body after spending day after day cooped up in a stuffy classroom or at home. Although Homura was generally an indoors person, preferring the company of her books over anything that required physical exertion, she too could relate to the impulsive phenomena of having your excitement triggered every time the splendidly shining sun rolled out from behind the clouds to awaken an enticing, new day. But it wasn't just the warm seasonal weather that had her excited, nor the fact that school had become a distant memory.
It was the person she was with. As Madoka strolled alongside her down the sidewalk, Homura hummed to herself.
I, Akemi Homura, am spending the whole day with Madoka! Homura inwardly exclaimed, trembling in excitement when she could barely contain her feverish restlessness. With the responsibilities of school and other external issues, the two of them had not had the time to interact often. However, now that it was summer, things were different.
It had been a long time coming as well, Homura reflected with a touch of pique, though she conceded that there were certain protocols that had to be followed. She should have introduced herself to Madoka's parents, making sure to bring a welcoming gift and pay attention to her manners. After leaving a good impression of a responsible and studious school girl, not to mention a close friend of Madoka, she would then request their permission to spend time with their daughter. That was how she would have normally done it.
But it was summer - a new season would inevitably invoke new changes to an individual's demeanour and personality. Realizing that she was too impatient to wear her usual, polite facade, Homura had instead allured a gullible and amenable Madoka into leaving the house to elope with her for the day.
As Homura continued to stroll down the sidewalk, she inwardly chucked. Oh, I am such a bad girl...
And then there was also that whole issue concerning how to take Miki Sayaka out of the picture. But even that had already seemingly been taken care of by an unwitting Kyouko.
Everything is going perfectly to plan, Homura thought in triumph, letting an uncharacteristically villainous smirk contort her lips. I even managed to get rid of that annoying third-wheeler, Miki Sayaka! I didn't even have to infiltrate the school to change her test scores - she failed on her own! It's as if the goddesses of fate and luck have decided to look down on me with favor for a change. Madoka is now mine!
Homura took a moment to give a passing glance in a nearby store window, catching a brief glimpse of herself. It was odd, indeed, for someone like her to be this excited. After all, her usual cold and emotionless countenance had never given the slightest suggestion that there was another warmer side of her deep down. Homura herself had been surprised by her change in attitude - the almost unnoticeable, nuanced bounce in her step and softened expression would have normally never existed. But the surprise was a pleasant one, and Homura relished the raw, honest emotion of simply being content. After all, today was going to be her special day with Madoka!
"You look happy, Homura-chan," Madoka innocently observed, wondering if there was something different about the normally composed girl on this particular day. "Did something good happen?"
"Well..." Homura tried her best to suppress her excitement, though a faint smile slipped out. Emboldened by the current success of her plan and armed with the money she had been saving the past month just for this day, she was brimming with uncanny, even arrogant, confidence. "You could say that, I suppose. By the way, you still haven't finished your summer homework yet, have you?"
"Ehhh-?!" Reminded by that troublesome fact, Madoka tried her best to look mature and more adult-like - as if to protest that she was old enough to handle her own problems - in the still-childish way Homura always found endearing. "I'll do it later!"
Homura sighed in an attempt to look calm and collected, giving into Madoka's pleading look. "I suppose it can't be helped. I'll help you tomorrow."
"Thank you, Homura-chan! You're the best!" Madoka beamed as Homura nodded curtly, inwardly bursting with self-satisfaction.
"Ahh, it's so hot!" Madoka exclaimed after they had reached the park, fanning herself.
Homura glanced at her, noting her flushed cheeks, before agreeing: "Indeed it is."
Madoka gave Homura a curious, studying glance that was tinted with a hint of childish jealousy. "How can you be so calm in this weather?"
"I have slow blood circulation, so I become cold more easily." Homura explained. Inwardly, her excitement continued to bubble. Madoka thinks I'm cool! Everything's going well so far!
"Would you like a drink?" Homura casually asked as they stopped by a nearby vending machine.
"Ah, okay-" Madoka started to reach for change until she was stopped by Homura.
"Don't worry," Homura flipped her hair, mustering the most casual, cool demeanour she could. "I'll pay."
"Really? Thanks, Homura-chan!" Madoka beamed.
As Homura started to insert the coins into the machine, her lips curved upwards in a triumphant smile over her successful endeavor. Ahh, thank you summer, for letting this special day happen. Thank you, weather, for being so nice - the countless hours I spent last night making and hanging those teru teru bozu's were all worth it. Thank you, Miki Sayaka, for being so conveniently dimwitted. Thank you, vending machine, for letting this opportunity-
Homura had just pressed the button when the drink started its descent, but became wedged at the last second. She spent the next several seconds blankly staring through the glass as her mind tried to make sense of the current situation.
"Ah, it's stuck." Madoka observed.
Homura clenched her fist in frustration as a slew of choice words ran along the forefront of her mind. I take that last one back...
To Madoka, she smiled with infinite patience. "Don't worry, this happens sometimes. You just have to nudge it a little bit."
Still smiling, Homura placed a hand on the side of the vending machine and gave it a push. Complying, the machine shook slightly. But the drink still stayed wedged.
"...You just have to push it, a little..." Homura's smile was growing thin as she gave the vending machine a harder shove. Still nothing.
"...have to force it, sometimes..." By now, Homura was using both hands to forcibly rock the vending machine as it teetered dangerously. But the drink stubbornly remained stuck. The irregular, diagonal pose it was making in-between the metal bindings seemed to be mocking her futile attempts.
"U-Um, Homura-chan..?" Madoka looked unsure, her eyes quickly darting around to make sure that there was no passbyer around to notice their predicament. Luckily, this side of the park was almost free of people. "Maybe you should stop… We could always just buy another one-"
"Ahaha, I see." Homura wasn't smiling now. She had retained her usual emotionless expression, and was coldly glaring at the vending machine before her as if it was an old foe that had returned to challenge her again. "It looks like it has to come to this all along."
"E-Ehhh..?!"
In the blink of an eye, Homura lunged forward and punched the vending machine with all the power she could muster. Finally, from the impact of the blow, the drink dislodged and the satisfying sound of it clattering to the bottom echoed within the machine.
"Wow! That was so awesome, Homura-chan!" Madoka said, clapping her hands together in awe and relieved that no one had gotten hurt. Or caught.
"It was no problem," Homura said as she flipped her hair. Inwardly, she let out a big sigh of relief. Well, all's well that ends well, I suppose.
Homura retrieved the soda and offered it to a grateful Madoka. However, right before the pink-haired girl was about to accept it, an idea crossed Homura's mind and she stopped her in time.
"Wait, I'll open it for you," Homura said with a generous smile. She flicked open the lid, and then...
Five minutes later, Homura and Madoka were sitting on a park bench. Homura's shirt was drenched, and wads of wet paper towels were all scattered around her.
"Should I get some more towels, Homura-chan?" Madoka asked worriedly, wondering why she looked so heartbroken. In the end, it was just a shirt, wasn't it…?
"No," Homura closed her eyes in defeat, veiling her utter humiliation beneath her calm countenance. Just a few minutes earlier, she had had the surprise of her life as the can, upset by Homura's blows, emptied its contents unto her face. "...I think that's enough for now."
When Madoka had left to dispose of the trash, Homura glowered at the can that had committed the grievance and flung it away in disgust. To think that I could have witnessed a flustered, embarrassed Madoka with wet clothes! She thought in rueful frustration. If only I hadn't opened it myself! But what am I supposed to do with this now? Drown my sorrows in soda?!
"Should we get ice-cream instead?" Madoka offered when she had returned, her tone underlaid with a hint of pity.
"Yes, let's do that instead," Homura said, sighing. After a quick trip to the nearest ice-cream vendor, she continued on her trip with Madoka, albeit mellowed. Even the fact that they were walking hand-in-hand didn't seem to raise her spirits all that much.
How did it turn out this way? Homura lapsed into bitter thought. After all the effort I put into planning our day, to think that it would be undermined by some vending machine-!
"Ahh, this is so refreshing!" Madoka exclaimed as she took a lick from her ice-cream.
"Mm..." Homura nodded distractedly, still deep in thought.
Madoka looked at her in uncertainty. To think that the raven-haired girl had been so excited earlier in the day... "Are you okay?"
"Yes, sorry." Returning to the situation at hand, Homura calmly smiled to reassure her fretful companion. "I was just thinking about something."
"Oh." Madoka nodded. Then, a contemplative look crossed her face. "Hmm..."
Homura noted the change in her companion's expression with an air of curiosity. "What is it, Madoka?"
"Oh, um, I was just wondering how everyone else was doing." Madoka said, fidgeting guiltily. "I'm sorry. Even though you took the time to spend time with me today, which I'm really, really thankful for, I'm letting myself be distracted. It's just that when I think about how Sayaka-chan is stuck in school still-"
"Don't worry about that," Homura said, casually shrugging it off though she felt a sting of remorse for almost dishonestly undermining Madoka's friend. But just because Madoka was worried, she told herself. Not because she really cared about that always mistrustful, bothersome Miki Sayaka. "If I'm correct, Sakura Kyouko should be with Miki-san. And Tomoe-san also told me that she would watch over the two."
"Oh, that's good," Madoka said, feeling much better when she heard that Sayaka would at least have some company. Kyouko's presence worried her slightly, but if Mami, a responsible senpai, was there, then everything had to be alright. "Mami-san will look after them, won't she?"
"Yes, that's correct. Tomoe-san will… watch… over them." Homura trailed off, inwardly cringing when she considered that unenviable situation. If someone could ruin her carefully, painstakingly, formulated plans, it was that woman. My apologies, Kyouko, for giving her the tip on your whereabouts. But it was either you or me-!
"Ooh, Homura-chan, look!" Madoka suddenly released her hand from Homura's grasp as she ran towards a nearby store. She elatedly pointed through the window where a litter of puppies were on display. "Let's go in!"
Homura sighed, but smiled when she saw how happy Madoka was and she acquiescently followed suit. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt."
When the two of them entered the store, Madoka rushed over to a nearby litter of kittens and focused her attention on the nearest one - a black-furred kitten with white spots.
"Aww," Madoka giggled as the kitten she held in her hands twitched its ears. Eyes sparkling with a newfound vitality and gushing with happiness, she turned to Homura with a smile that could melt hearts. "Isn't it so cute?!"
"Mm," Homura nodded in return. When Madoka had returned her attention to the kittens, Homura buried her face in her hands. Ahh! You're so cute, Madoka! That ribbon, the clothes you're wearing today, your bashfulness, your innocent expression... I can't control myself any longer! I can't-!
"Oh, Akemi-san," Mami strode into the store, smiling when she noticed the two girls. "I didn't expect to meet you here."
"..ghh-!" Homura winced at the older girl's sudden entrance. She, too, knew about the infamous antics Mami employed whenever she was looking for something amusing to do to spend time. Of course, she'd justify herself by saying that it was all in good fun and designed to help everyone become closer, but Homura simply could not let her dignity become compromised, especially in front of Madoka. What terrible timing! And why is she here anyways? Has Kyouko already been finished off? Eyeing the unwitting girl's impeccable smile, she involuntarily shuddered. What a frightening girl...
Keeping an equally straight face, Homura deduced that it would be best to play along. Mami would never normally enter an animal store - she must've known that they were here. So, there had to be a reason for her interference. If only she could find out what it was before it was too late… Homura inwardly shuddered again when she imagined the valiant fight Kyouko must've put up, only to fall prey in the end. "Hello, Tomoe-san. The weather is nice today, isn't it?"
"Yes..." Mami arched an eyebrow, hesitating as if debating whether or not something was amiss. "...It's rather pleasant."
Homura inwardly smirked. Being able to act like a cool beauty certainly comes in handy...
"Mami-san!" Madoka beamed, waving when she noticed her favorite, reliable senpai.
"Hello, Kaname-san," Mami politely smiled back. She indicated towards Madoka's hair. "That ribbon looks cute on you."
A faint blush rose to Madoka's cheek as she gently touched it. "Ehehe... really?"
Mami nodded. "It suits you."
Frowning, Homura cleared her throat to make her presence felt lest Mami forget. "I-I think it looks cute too." She quickly added. She then turned her attention to Mami. "If you were coming, you should have called me."
"Oh, yes. I suppose I should have…" Mami slowly nodded. Confusion clouded her face when she tried to recall if Homura had ever let her know that she was in possession of a phone. "...What was your number, again?"
"It's-"
"Ah, I know!" Madoka said excitedly to Mami. "Do you want to come with us? I'm sure we could all have fun together!"
"Well, that's-" Homura started, frowning.
"I appreciate the offer," Mami said, smiling as Madoka's contagious enthusiasm spread to her. "In fact, I had already invited Sakura-san and Miki-san to my summer house."
"Kyouko…?" Homura thought, momentarily confused. It seemed odd that she would agree to something like this. Was this the result of Mami's manipulation? In that case...
"Would you like to join us on a vacation?" Mami asked an innocently excited Madoka.
"Sure!" Madoka beamed. "I'd love to spend time with everyone!"
So that was it. Mami had preemptively taken control of the situation before Homura even knew it was coming. The older girl's crafty suggestion and initiation of interest in Madoka roused Homura's vexation, and she struggled to reclaim the situation in her favor.
"B-But Madoka-" Homura elegiacally started, her outstretched hand quivering in futile resistance. Her dream of spending the day alone with Madoka was slipping away just as quickly as her composure.
With Mami and Madoka already walking away towards the seemingly distant sunshine outside, Homura racked her brain for an adequate response and an opportunity to intervene.
"I-I apologize Tomoe-san. We're pretty busy, to be honest." Homura finally lied, pretending to look down at her watch impatiently as she deftly intercepted Madoka's path.
"Is that so?" The polite smile on Mami's face never wavered, even when she noticed Homura wasn't wearing a watch. "That's a pity."
"Y-Yeah, so if you'll excuse us," Homura quickly wrapped an arm around a confused Madoka and started to lead her outside and away until...
"I'll make sure there's plenty of opportunities for you and Kaname-san to do all sorts of things together." Mami's soothing voice whispered in Homura's ear. "Alone."
"H-Hmm... I see..." Homura whispered back as a faint blush rose to her cheeks.
"After all, I am known as the 'Love Guru' of Mitakihara City."
"Seriously?!"
Luckily, Mami hid her amused smile with her hand in time. "Seriously."
"T-Then..." Homura glanced at a still-confused Madoka from the corner of her eyes. "I-I guess just today wouldn't hurt..."
Mami winked. "That's the spirit! So, shall we leave right away?"
There was nothing Homura could do but agree.
Pacing restlessly in the lonely school hallway, Kyouko let out an anxious sigh. She had always known that maintaining relationships with others required a great deal of patience and effort, whether family or friends. The thought of compromising, struggling through misunderstandings, and finding a medium between conflicting personalities and values had never appealed to her. So, she had lived alone for a good portion of her life, hoping that she would never have to expend that effort and that would be the end of it. But it wasn't.
Kyouko stood before the classroom door and gulped. She narrowed her eyes in the familiar darkness as her mind raced.
Calm down, she thought as a bead of sweat trickled down the back of her neck. Was it from the outside heat or her inner nervousness? She couldn't tell. I finally made it here. But... Kyouko looked down at the boxed cake that was dangling from her fingers and sighed again, this time in exasperation. For all of Mami's assurance, how is this supposed to help me? I still don't know what to say or how to start. Maybe this is a bad idea...
Overcome with anxiety, Kyouko turned and was just about to walk away when her foot caught on a nearby stack of cardboard boxes. She unceremoniously tripped as they noisily tumbled to the ground.
"Kyouko?" Sayaka's puzzled face emerged from around the classroom door when she had heard the commotion. Her attention was drawn towards the scattered pile of boxes, and she noticed that Kyouko was sprawled in the middle of the mess. "I thought you left? What are you doing?"
"N-Nothing!" Kyouko hurriedly sprung to her feet. "I was just... you know-"
"What's this?" Sayaka picked up the box of cake as Kyouko froze.
"A-Ah! Well, that's, uh..." Kyouko started nervously, her face paling. She feebly held out a hand as if she could have stopped Sayaka from discovering her plan at this point. But if she was lucky, the fall might have done a number on the cake, rendering it an indistinguishable mess-
Sayaka opened the box and peered inside, noticing the unscathed pastry resting securely in the bottom. "Cake?" She looked up at Kyouko in surprise, who was in the middle of cursing her bad luck. "What for?"
"W-What for, you ask..?" Kyouko focused her attention on the ground as she blushed and scratched her cheek in thought. Continuing to mentally curse herself for her trembling, unsteady voice, she stuttered out her justification. "W-Well... y-you know... I mean... it's... uh..."
"Pff-!" Sayaka stifled a knowing laugh as she slowly pieced together the unusual situation. Beckoning playfully, she held the door open. "Wanna come in? We can eat this together."
So as a result, a few minutes later, Kyouko found herself sharing cake with Sayaka in a dim classroom.
What's with this situation...? Kyouko thought to herself in-between hesitant bites. She glanced at Sayaka, observing the casual expression on her face. How am I supposed to ask now?
"Kyouko?"
"W-What?!" Kyouko jumped and almost choked.
Sayaka leaned forward with a concerned expression. "...Are you alright?"
"Huh?" Kyouko tilted her head, suspiciously examining Sayaka's expression for a hint of knowledge. "O-Oh, uh, of course I am."
"Really?" Sayaka's curious gaze seemed to pierce right through Kyouko. "You were acting kind of strange..."
Kyouko nervously averted her gaze. D-Does she know...? No, there's no way she could. But after realizing how I've been acting strange, there's a chance that she could've figured out my purpose-
"Since when did you share food?"
Kyouko hung her head. THAT'S what she pulls on me? Seriously?! "I thought you were busy studying," Kyouko casually pointed out in an attempt tried to divert the conversation. "What happened to that?"
"I'm just taking a break," Sayaka explained. "And besides, weren't you going to Mami's place?"
"Oh, that!" Kyouko nervously smiled as she remembered her incident with the older girl. In hindsight, that hadn't turned out as well as she had hoped. But when had it ever? "She was... busy."
The hesitation in her voice earned her another curious, sidelong glance from Sayaka. "Oh," Sayaka nodded, trying to understand. "I see…"
The two of them fell silent and remained sitting as the seconds agonizingly crawled by.
I can't take it any longer! Kyouko thought, grinding her teeth together in distress. What am I getting so nervous about? Am I an idiot?! I talk to Sayaka all the time! You wanna come with us, Sayaka? Sure, why not? That's all I've gotta say! ...But wait, come to think of it, I've never really asked her to spend time with me before...
Kyouko snuck a shy look at Sayaka when she thought she wasn't looking. S-Sayaka... I-I need you! Kyouko blushed furiously and vigorously shook her head. Like hell I'm gonna say that! What am I thinking?!
"S-Sayaka!" Kyouko suddenly exclaimed, louder than she had intended.
Sayaka, who was just as startled as Kyouko was, immediately snapped her head up. "W-What is it?"
"D-Do you..? Umm-" Unable to think of what to say next, Kyouko immediately shot up and took off running. "-I'll be right back!"
"Kyouko? What're you-?" Sayaka asked in utter confusion. She looked in the direction Kyouko had gone, but the redhead had already bolted out of the classroom.
Once Kyouko had raced down the hallway and rounded the corner, she rested her head on the wall, panting heavily. "Damn it..." She muttered in-between gasps. "Seriously, what am I doing? I look like the world's biggest idiot right now. I bet Sayaka's laughing her head off back there-"
"All you have to do is talk to her normally, right?"
"Well yeah, but-" Kyouko started before promptly glancing sideways to notice Mami, arms nonchalantly folded in thought, standing nearby. She jumped - her nerves had already become so weak by this point due to her agitation and whirlwind of emotions. "Hey! Stop randomly appearing like that!"
"I don't see what the problem is then." Mami mused, ignoring Kyouko's surprise.
"It's... complicated..." Kyouko managed, before an indignant thought crossed her mind. "And your 'cake idea' didn't help!"
The first inkling of suspicion and the thought that something had gone awry began when Kyouko noticed that the older girl failed to meet her eyes.
"So you really did it..." Mami muttered, bringing a hand to her mouth as if to hide a smile.
"Of course I did!" Kyouko demanded, her frown deepening in a mixture of confusion and annoyance.
"Awww..." Mami smiled and gently patted Kyouko on the head like one would do to a innocent child. "Would you look at how hard she's trying to talk to Miki-san?"
"Don't screw with me!" Blushing furiously, Kyouko swiped Mami's hand away.
"Now, now," Mami held up her hands to justify herself. "It was because of the cake that you had a reason to return. Now all that's left is to convey your feelings."
"Oh, I see..." Kyouko slowly nodded in agreement as Mami's logic dawned upon her. "But wait, that doesn't tell me anything-" She turned to Mami for an answer, but found the hallway empty once again. "Hey! She's gone!"
Sighing, Kyouko trudged back to the classroom with no other alternative except to face her consequences head-on.
"Welcome back," Sayaka said when Kyouko reentered the room. Her eyes wandered over Kyouko in curiosity, but luckily, she didn't ask what had happened.
"Yeah..." Kyouko slumped down in her chair, feeling immensely tired.
"So," Sayaka started, pointing at the slice of cake. "You didn't answer my question earlier. What was this for?"
"ggh-" Kyouko quickly looked away. She's not letting me off the hook this time...
"I thought you were acting weird ever since you returned, but..." Sayaka trailed off in thought. Then, her eyes lit up with understanding. "...Could it be?!"
"W-What?"
Kyouko's fears were confirmed when Sayaka smirked at her with an all-too-knowing expression. "Oh, now I get it! You thought I was acting down, and tried to cheer me up with this."
Oh god-
Before Kyouko could speak for herself and provide another alternative, Sayaka cupped her hands around her mouth and proceeded to tease her. "That's what happened, didn't it?"
"That's not-!"
"I didn't know you were this kind of person! You sly girl!"
Kyouko covered her ears with her hands to block out Sayaka's teasing. "Shut up!"
"How adorable!"
"Shut up! I-It's not like that!"
"I know, I know," Sayaka waved it off as her amused smile lingered. "I'm just joking. I'm not naive enough to think that you'd do something like that."
"S-Sayaka...?" Kyouko uncovered her ears and curiously glanced at her companion. Wasn't there something just a bit... off?
"I'm sure you have your reasons. Anyways, thanks for the cake," Sayaka said, getting up to return to her desk. "I should get back to studying."
"Ah... um-" Kyouko brought her hand up, but let it drop back down to her side. "...yeah."
She made no move to leave, hesitating as if she had something meaningful she still wanted to say or do, but didn't know exactly what herself. So instead, Kyouko simply watched as Sayaka stooped over to gather her books and start to walk away. Faint golden cascades of sunlight trickled down her distant back. And even if it was just the other side of the classroom, it felt as though she was going somewhere far away. But for all that was said and done, this wasn't how it should end.
Without thinking, Kyouko reached up and grabbed Sayaka by the sleeve.
"Kyouko?" Sayaka stopped and looked back. "What is it?"
"W-Would you..?" Kyouko started, before finally mustering up enough courage to finish that question. "Would you like to come with me?"
"Where?" Sayaka tilted her head in confusion.
"Mami's inviting everyone to her summer house," Kyouko said as the words began to flow faster and easier. "I know you're busy with summer school and all, but... it's only for a day, and-"
"Sure." Sayaka smiled. "I'd love to."
"R-Really?" Kyouko was more surprised by how quickly Sayaka had accepted than the fact that she had finally asked.
"Of course!" Sayaka nodded and laughed. "The teacher just stopped by to tell me that my make-up tests have been postponed to tomorrow, so I was just thinking that I could use a break anyways." She held out a hand towards the redhead. "Could you take me there, Kyouko?"
Kyouko glanced at the offered gesture, then grinned as her worries melted away. "Sure!" She exclaimed, taking Sayaka's hand in her own...