Author's Notes: This is an idea I've been toying around with for a while. Finally got around to writing it, so here it is!


Pumpkin, Raspberry

Cherry blossom petals floated gently down to the ground along the stone path to the Mitakihara Junior High School early in the morning. The skies were blue and the breeze that blew by was gentle. In the midst of that peaceful setting, however, an air of tension was brewing.

Just to the side of the path was a small, round table with two brass chairs underneath a large, black-laced parasol with an intricate design. Homura Akemi sat on one chair and rested her elbows on the table. She wore a sly smile on her face and focused her attention on a glass of purple-tinted liquid set on the table before her. Standing a few paces away was Sayaka Miki clenching her fists and glaring at Homura.

"In this situation, it seems that you still…" Homura started, then paused to choose her words, "... have an understanding of things, Sayaka Miki."

"You took apart the Law of Cycles!" Sayaka accused angrily, "A Puella Magi's hope… the power of her salvation… all of that is-"

"What I snatched away was merely a fragment." Homura interrupted, locking her fingers together contemplatively, "I have simply established that Madoka is back to being Madoka - back to having her memories as a person."

"What do you hope to achieve by doing this?" Sayaka demanded, "Do you just wish to see all of us suffer?"

"All I wish for is Madoka's happiness. You should know that by now." Homura replied, "Whatever pains that may arise from that are merely byproducts… but I will not apologize for any of it."

"That sounds like something you would say…" Sayaka lowered her head defeatedly, "There's no use trying to talk you out of it huh?"

"That's a given." Homura said with a sharp glare, "What do you intend to do then? Will you try to challenge me?"

"No." Sayaka shook her head, "No, I won't."

Sayaka's response took Homura by surprise. The black-haired girl whirled her head to face Sayaka in disbelief.

"Hey, transfer student." Sayaka then spoke in a livelier tone, "We're not really that different from each other, you and I. Your love was fruitless… and so was mine. We understand each other better than we think."

Homura was stunned for a moment and Sayaka smiled.

"So then, if you really are doing this for Madoka's happiness, count me in." Sayaka walked on over to the table and took a seat on the second chair, "Madoka is precious to the both of us after all. Also... I want to apologize to her for all of the things I've said to her back then. I guess you could call this atonement."

"T-that's…" Homura started to protest but she stopped halfway. Sayaka Miki was seated before her casually now, making Homura's stern voice start to crumble away, "But I am the devil now… and this world I made…"

"I don't care about that." Sayaka interrupted, "Akemi-san is Akemi-san, right? You're just being more honest with your feelings now, that's all. I wish I could be as honest as you, you know?"

"Miki-san…" Homura then said, at a loss for words.

"So let's both make Madoka happy here in this world, huh?" Sayaka grinned at Homura, "What do you say, Pumpkin?"

Homura turned away from Sayaka, trying to hide the smile that was growing on her lips.

"Very well then." Homura said, running a hand through her hair, "I'll be counting on you then, Raspberry."

There were now two glasses on the round table - one tinted in purple, and the other tinted in blue. Cherry blossom petals continued to fall, and the light clink of glass echoed through the bright stone path.

The End

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