Devil's exam

The school's infirmary, as well as most of the rooms in the institution, consists of glass walls. However, the infirmary contained curtains that allow you to leave the space more privative. The moment Homura and Mami arrived, they were closed.

Homura hit the door twice, but no answer came from inside.

Mami sighed. "Saitou-san. It seems there's no one here. Maybe in another..."

Homura effortlessly opened the door. "You're right, there's no one."

"T-they left it unlocked?" Mami feigned surprise. There must not be a single door in this world that is locked to Homura.

"See how incompetent people are in this world, with improperly installed lamps and unlocked doors? What else can happen? Hmm?" Homura said in a sarcastic tone unfamiliar to Mami.

Before Homura usurped the divine power of Madoka, she went through a lot. Mami remembered the stories that Homura told between the demon hunts. About time traveling in order to protect Madoka. Although she never judged that Homura was wrong about what she said, it was virtually impossible to empathize about the anguish she hid behind her cool personality.

Sorry Homura. I should have been your friend, tried to get closer.

It was only possible to see the extent of her despair when she became a witch. Probably it took a toll on Homura's psyche. Be taken by the Law of Cycles would be the only solution that remained, but...

"Tomoe-san?" Homura called from inside the infirmary to Mami, who was still in the hallway.

"I was waiting for whoever's in charge to return. I don't think that it's okay to enter without permission." Mami said as she passes her hand over her head. It seems that the pain subsided.

"If someone has the courage to rebuke us, I'll take the responsibility. Don't worry about it." Homura shook her head negatively seeking to strengthen the statement.

I know what I have to worry about. Mami thought as she walked in. The infirmary was quite large, which further reinforced the emptiness of that space with only two people. All the glass that makes up the walls of the room were covered with a green curtain, except the left side where the cabinets were. Each cabinet contained vials of medicine and material for making bandages. Mami had even forgotten how to use them since the fateful day where she became magical girl, she never needed it.

In the back, there was a desk with a monitor and keyboard. There was not any evidence that someone had been there recently. A glass or a cup, a personal object over the desk or a chair out of place. On the right side of the infirmary had several curtains with the role of partitions for the beds.

Determined, and with ease, Homura went past Mami who had just entered and closed the door. Soon after she went to one of the partitions and collected the curtain, then pressed a button on the floor with her foot. A part of the floor retracted and a bed began to rise silently from the newly revealed trapdoor.

"Stay here and rest." Homura pointed to the bed while she pressed another button on the floor with her feet, causing the neighboring bed to rise.

"I think the break is already over. I wouldn't like to see you late... Saitou-san." Mami tried to cover that she almost forgot the name of the 'new' acquaintance.

"I can't leave you alone. You suffered a concussion in the head and that shouldn't be mocked." Homura continued, as she stared at Mami. "At the moment, you're my responsibility. Your health is of utmost importance."

Well... I tried. Mami thought as she sat on the bed. It was clear that the only way to get rid of Homura would be through the 'battery of examinations'.

The bell rang.

"Speak of the devil..." Homura grinned.

"Yeah." Mami answered with a forced smile while watching Homura sat on the neighboring bed.

Homura may have changed, but some quirks still existed. While finished sitting down, Homura threw her long hair back with the help of one hand. In that moment, a glow drew the attention of Mami.

"Beautiful pair of earrings." Mami said while watching the little violet gem swinging next to Homura's left ear.

For a moment Homura froze, then she moved a hand in her hair to reveal the right ear.

"Oh... sorry, I thought it was a pair." Mami looked low, feeling the blunder she had committed.

"It was."

Mami looked back at Homura, curious.

Homura looked away, losing her gaze. "But I lost it."

Silence returned to reign in the infirmary, further accentuating the fact that there is no one but the two girls. While Mami observed the raven haired girl lost in her thoughts, she noticed something that was missing: her red ribbon, once tied in her hair. Homura once said to her and Kyouko, during a planning meeting for the next night hunt, that the ribbon belonged to Madoka and that she would one day return it.

"Is ninth grade too hard?" Homura broke silence again turning her gaze to Mami.

"I think not, although everyone is concerned with the tests to enter the high school... Hey! How'd you know I'm in the ninth grade?" Mami answered, trying to demonstrate how surprised she was about the deduction of her 'new' friend.

Homura raised her eyebrows. "You were close to the rooms of the ninth grade when I helped you. It seemed obvious."

"Oh yeah!" Mami smiled. "Although the rooms from eighth grade are not far away, right Saitou-san?"

Homura was with her eyes half closed and smiled slightly, Mami feel a chill go through the spine. With a soft, calm voice, Homura questioned. "Tomoe-san. So you know I'm from eighth grade?"

Damn! I was careless. She attacked with the same side of coin. I have to give a proper answer.

Mami kept her composure. "You asked about the ninth grade, wasn't? I assumed you would enter this grade next year."

Homura looked away down, mulling over the words that Mami had said. Then gently nodding in affirmation signal, Homura said. "Great insight. You're amazing Tomoe-senpai!"

"Oh no! I'm not all that." Mami held a sigh of relief.

"Let's talk about some other subject. Have any hobbies? Something outside school?" Homura tilted her head to the left side, shaking the earring.

She's more suspicious. I have to choose my words carefully and avoid mentioning anything about Nagisa.

Mami open a smile. "Yes Saitou-san. I have much interest in teas. I was even thinking of entering the school's garden club."

"Really? Are you thinking to cultivate herbs for tea?" Homura did not show much surprise in her voice.

Mami was more lively. "That's right. Some teas need fresh herbs to work. I would like to grow some in the large garden we have here in the school." And at home too, but I better not mention it.

"Your tea should be good. I bet you invite many people to drink at your home." Homura crossed her legs and started to interlock her fingers together. Her questioning glance seemed to be able to see Mami's hope collapsing.

The smile on Mami's face disappeared. Homura seemed to be about to laugh. "...Or you drink alone? Tomoe-san."

Nagisa.

Her heart squeezed. Mami would never mention her. This would lead only to more questions, that she would fear to answer, increasing the suspicions. However, saying that she drinks alone would be a lie that Homura already knows, which also applies to family members. Saying that she invites school friends also would not work, Homura would interrogate them at the first chance. She was trapped!

That's what I'll do will be a long shot, but I will not give myself easily. It's all or nothing!

Mami closed her eyes and smiled slightly. With a calm and serene tone, she made a proposal. "Saitou-san. Would you go to my house and try my tea?"

"Really?!" Homura, this time, seemed really surprised.

Mami raised her eyebrows. "Oh! You said yourself that my tea should be good. After school we could drink together. We might even become great friends."

"F-friends?" Homura babbled. "After school...I..can't. I can't Tomoe-san. Sorry."

"A pity. "Mami opened her eyes and saw that Homura is again staring at nothing. It even seemed that she was smaller, shrunken.

My instinct...

If Mami was still a magical girl and alive, it was because of her and that raised the questions: Why, after so long, Homura was only talking to her now? Because she was more suspicious? Or maybe she does not have time to spare? Owning the world gives you rights, but also requires responsibilities.

...was right.

"How is your pain?" Homura recovered.

"Pain? Ah yes. It seems to have disappeared. Hehe." Mami smiled, more confident.

Homura left the bed and approached Mami, who didn't understand the intentions of the raven haired girl. Homura examined the top of Mami's head. "No bruise. I thought it had been more serious."

"How nice." Mami knew that the accelerated healing of magical girls was still working.

Homura withdrew a little from Mami. "No one appeared. I will report this to the office. They should take appropriate actions."

It's over? Mami was eager for the next words of Homura.

"I will also ask them to release you for today and tomorrow, that's Saturday. So you will have the weekend to rest. Wait here until I come back with an answer."

When Mami observed Homura walking towards the door she can barely contain her joy. She had won the game. It was possible that Homura return to question her in the future, but she would be better prepared.

Arriving near the door, Homura turned toward Mami. "Mami Tomoe, I remembered something just now. Before release, we will need to warn your parents about the incident."

Mami's hands closed tightly, nails almost tearing the skin. Why are you being so cruel, Homura? This is too low...

Homura noticed that the happy expression of Mami fell apart, yet she continued. "Would be nice if they could take you to a doctor, but it's their choice. Could you give me a telephone number to contact them?"

"You can't contact them. They...they..." Mami looked at the ground and gritted her teeth.

"Gone away?" Homura tilted her head to the side.

"Yes..." Mami remembered that day. The traffic accident. Kyuubey. The contract. The regret. The loneliness.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Homura kept a cold expression, staring Mami. "It was in an accident?"

Mami looked back to Homura with wide eyes. She will really use this to test me? "Why do you ask Saitou-san?"

"Because I lost my parents that way." Homura said without hesitation.

Mami frowned. She knew that Homura had no contact with any relatives, as well as Kyouko and herself. However, Homura never talked about her family or any tragedy that has occurred. Just like the name 'Shizuku Saitou', she could be making up stories about it too. "Oh... I'm sorry too."

Homura looked down at her palms. "I couldn't do anything to save them. If I had a chance."

The contract. The regret.

Mami had her chance. When she signed up with Kyuubey that turned her into magical girl, she wanted to survive that accident. But she could have wished to save her entire family. She only learned about it when was too late.

The heart of Mami was beating so hard that she feared Homura could hear it. If Homura think this will make me despair and give up, she is wrong.

"Saitou-san. I see that you're suffering, but think of the following: Your parents, wherever they are, would be happy that you are well" Mami spoke in a gentle way, holding the feelings that wanted to emerge and dominate her. "I... I survived the accident while my parents died. I miss them, but I know I should move on. They would have wished that for me."

"I'm impressed." Homura said in a tone of surprise. "Really impressed. Mami Tomoe."

"With what?" Mami asked, feeling her goose bumps warning that something was wrong.

"With you surviving a plane crash where there are no reports of survivors." Homura was now pure malice, from her voice to the smile that was plastered on her face. "Besides, you never boarded that flight."

Mami's mouth was open. Her eyes flashed endlessly confused by that statement. She lost her parents in a traffic accident. No?

"Saitou-san..."

"My name is Homura Akemi or you don't remember that yet, Mami Tomoe? Fufu." Homura came back to approach Mami.

Mami's hands were clutching the mattress where she sat, her eyes almost in tears. Her eyes strayed from Homura in the vain idea that it was enough to run away from her tormentor. Her face contorted in a mixture of fear and anger.

"You know what's the problem with memories?" Homura was in front of Mami. While playing with her hair with one finger, she continued. "It's difficult to discern fact from fiction."

Seeing that Mami turned away her face even more, Homura took on her chin and turned with force so that the two stayed eye to eye.

Mami's face was in tears, not repressing over what she felt, her teeth chattering. "You hurt me! So much!"

"Oh my! Then I must compensate, no? I had a commitment, but I think I can postpone it and accept your invitation to a tea. Fufu."

Homura realized that Mami had stopped breathing. Perhaps by surprise or maybe... "By the way, I have to check on how your relationship is with that witch."

Witch.

A slap on that devilish face was all Mami wanted at that moment, but she failed to raise either of her hands. Her body was paralyzed. The only thing she could do was watch that face get even closer to her and kiss her forehead.

/人 ◕‿‿◕ 人\

"Bye Nagisa-chan!"

"Bye Ayako-chan. See you tomorrow!"

In front of the school gate, the two girls separated. One went to her mother who was waiting to pick her up.

The other stayed. Her long white hair gently swayed in the afternoon's late breeze along with her pink dress with white polka dots. She wore a pair of chocolate brown shoes with pink bows and wearing a pantyhose of burgundy color. Her eyes, orange with a touch of yellow, watched the setting sun. Nagisa Momoe waited eagerly.

"Chocolate cupcake with mint. Hmmm..." Nagisa mumbled to herself. Today was another day of temptations. Her hunger was great and only Mami, the person she waited for, knew to quench it like no one else could.

"Bebe!"

The voice that came behind her made Nagisa's body froze. It was Mami voice, yes, but she would never call her this way so loudly and much less in school. Bebe was the pet name that Nagisa received from Mami when the two were in Homura's barrier. This was a memory that Homura made them forget when she recreated the universe.

"Bebe!" Mami put her hand on Nagisa's shoulder.

Nagisa turned and saw a smiling Mami with tenderness in her eyes. Mami was like she knew, but there was something wrong. Call her by the nickname once might have been a mistake, but twice...

"Why are you calling me Bebe?" Nagisa asked.

"Huh? Don't you like being called that?" Mami was confused by the question.

Nagisa was now certain that something was really wrong. Mami was well aware of what Homura had done. She was very careful to not reveal that she had recovered her memories and would not be acting this way.

"Don't call me Bebe! My name is Nagisa. NA. GI. SA." Nagisa crossed her arms and made a pout face.

"She's rebellious, no? Fufu."

A figure appeared behind Mami, as if it had come out of the shadow. Her dark, long straight hair and her violet eyes left little doubt who it was.

"It's true. I think she's at that age where it begins." Mami answered the question of Homura Akemi.

Nagisa felt a chill and an urge to run away, even knowing it was useless.

"Can you give me a minute alone with my dearest?" Mami smiled gently at Homura.

"Of Course. I will wait." Homura shook her head affirmatively.

Mami and Nagisa moved a few feet away from Homura. Mami then stooped down to the same height of Nagisa and whispered in a scolding tone. "Nagisa Momoe. I didn't teach you manners? You can't do that in front of strangers. What will they think?"

Nagisa looked down sadly. Homura must've changed Mami's memories again. The best she could do was keep pretending and find out what the new memories of Mami reserved.

"Who is she?" Nagisa stammered.

"A new friend. She is very interested in teas and I invited her for some at our house." Mami said.

Nagisa looked back at Mami. Her heart felt like it had stopped beating. All these months, they have struggled to not draw Homura's attention. Now she would be having tea with them. The situation was bizarre.

"I want you to behave. Hum? If you feel ashamed that I call you Bebe, I will stop ok?" Mami rubbed Nagisa's long hair.

"Ok... Sorry Mami. I love you." Nagisa gave a kiss on Mami's cheek.

Mami, now a bit embarrassed, rose. "Haha... I love you too. Come on." The two approached Homura, who was looking at the orange sky. The night was coming.

"I want to introduce my friend. Shizuku Saitou." Mami waved a hand toward Homura.

"Sa-saitou-san. My name is Nagisa Momoe." Nagisa bowed.

"Nagisa Momoe. Tomoe-senpai spoke so little about you. I'd love to know you better." Homura said as she flipped her hair back with her hand.


Next chapter: Memories in ruins