Ding Dong

Chapter 2

From Now On, Everything Will Change

Homura Akemi found it difficult to focus on what Miss Kazuko Saotome was writing on the blackboard. Everybody else was jotting down notes, while a brave few were asking questions on poetry by Edmund Spenser. The one she loved so much was back, she was seated next to her, and she could not stop the tears of joy from falling down her face. Life had become beautiful again.

"Madoka," Homura thought, "I want to kiss you so bad, so bad, so bad...mmmm..." She tried to creep in closer, but Madoka Kaname shook a finger as if to say, "Not here, Homura-chan. Uh-uh."

"Miss Akemi," the teacher said, "would you like to do us a favor and read this poem by Mr. Spenser?"

Homura was flustered. It was a wrong move to capitalize on her treasure this early in the early going. And now she was going to pay for it...by reading something she could not even pronounced. Her hands were clammy, and her face was sweating. "Sensei..."

"Is it all right if I read it instead?" Madoka asked. "My friend here apparently didn't sleep well last night and she needs a break."

"Saved by Madokami again," Homura thought. "My lifeline and my hope!"

"But you've already read the last three poems," Miss Kazuko said. But it couldn't be helped. "Fine, go right ahead."

Madoka cleared her throat before reading. "Rapt with the rage of mine own ravish'd thought, through contemplation of those goodly sights, and glorious images in heaven wrought, whose wondrous beauty, breathing sweet delights do kindle love in high-conceited sprights; I fain to tell the things that I behold, but feel my wits to fail, and tongue to fold..."

"How does she read this with a British accent?" Homura wondered. "Don't tell me she can read in French with a French accent, or Spanish with a thick Catalonian tone either! This is a much more cultured Madoka than when I last saw her!"

When Madoka finished reading the poem, the whole class gave a collective sigh of amazement.

"Are you actually a princess from Europe trying to gain dual citizenship?" asked one student.

"Can I come to your house for tea?" asked another.

"We should all start a Madoka fan club right here!" suggested a third.

"Can we all get your autograph?" asked the others, save for an exasperated Miss Kazuko and a traumatized Homura.

"Why can't they all leave my Madoka alone?" Homura moaned.

"Everyone, please. You can talk with Miss Kaname later; class is in session," Miss Kazuko said.

"They can't leave her alone after all," she conceded.

Soon enough, the period ended, and most of the students took off for their next class, leaving Madoka and Homura in the room. "Homura-chan, we have to head over to the gym for P.E.," Madoka said. "Come on, let's go."

"Madoka..."

"Homura-chan?" She felt an embrace of relief.

"MADOKA!" she sobbed. "I've been so lonely for so long! I'm so glad you're back! My life is worth living again thanks to you!"

"I missed you too. It hasn't been that long, though."

"Still, I don't want to be all by myself," Homura pleaded. "You saved my life so many times that I want to be your damsel in distress any old day!"

"Don't be silly, Homura-chan. I did this for you."

"Will the world be all right, though? You can still collect those Soul Gems for those that can't finish the job, right?"

"Of course. But I don't sense anyone losing hope. The morale for all the Puella Magi is pretty good, so you don't have to worry about them."

"Madoka..." Homura was unable to wipe the smile off her face.

"Come, let's head off to P.E.! Hurry!"

"I'll race you over there. Ready...Go!"

"Hey you two, no running in the hall!" said one of the instructor shaking an angry fist at the two girls making the mad dash for the gym.

Shibuya City was full of lights, glitz and fashion. Kogals chatted with yankees over school, clothing, and social odds and ends while random hordes of nerds roamed to look for figurines and take photos from below of women...while being roughed up for their dirty deeds done dirt cheap.

Kyubey walked the sidewalk, looking for someone to take over for Homura. He saw a group of kogals talking to each other about the latest goods from 109.

"Um, ladies, I can give you a wish if you want to make a contract with me," he hesitantly said.

They all squealed.

"Oh god, she looks so cute!" one said.

"I'm not a girl," Kyubey whimpered.

"Is that a new breed of puppy?" asked another.

"I'm going to take you home!" exclaimed a third.

"He's making my lab collection tonight! After him!" hollered an otaku with killer body odor.

Kyubey gulped. "I shouldn't have asked them about this...dammit!" Soon enough, he was being chased by a mob of would-be owners across the streets of Shibuya. "This isn't good...Madoka, save me!"

"Does this shirt look tight on me, Homura-chan?" Madoka asked in the girl's locker room, putting on her school-issued gym uniform top.

Homura did her best to hold in a nosebleed. "Madoka, it fits you."

"I think it looks a bit tight. Maybe it's because of my bust. I wonder..."

"It fits you too well!" Homura thought, her not-safe-for-work fantasies kicking in. She watched Madoka adjust her bloomers a little, admiring her curves and figure. This was not the Madoka she knew before. This was a different Madoka. Faster. Sleeker. And drop dead gorgeous. It didn't matter what she wore, she had the look worthy of a goddess.

"Are you having perverted thoughts of me again?" Madoka asked her, a concerned look on her face.

"No, I just...I was just thinking how great a day this has been for the two of us, that's all."

Madoka knew she was lying. But it was important that this was not talked about. She loved Homura, too, but it surprised her to see Homura have such lascivious thoughts about her. She really did miss her that much, it seems.

"All right class," said their P.E. teacher, Mr. Kinzo Watanabe. "Welcome to the final year of P.E. here at the school. We will begin by having you go through the vaulting horse to my right. Have a seat on the floor, and when I call your name, stand right on this spot marked with an X. When I say, 'go!' run to the horse and vault over it. Easy stuff. I've had some people fall though, so if you don't do it right, you're going to have to do it again until you clear it correctly. Now then, ahem...Akemi!"

"That's me," Homura said. "This should be a piece of cake."

"Good luck, Homura-chan!" Madoka said, pumping her fists.

"Right here, on the X," Mr. Watanabe said. "Ready...Go!"

With a mad dash, Homura vaulted the horse with perfect timing and superb elevation before landing softly with both feet. As the students applauded, she flipped her hair before taking her seat on the floor next to Madoka.

"That was awesome, Homura-chan," Madoka said, still applauding.

"I told you this was easy. He makes us do easy things because this is the easiest of the classes."

Minutes passed as Madoka waited her turn. "Kaname!" the instructor called.

"Excuse me for a bit, Homura-chan," she said.

"Right here on the X," said Mr. Watanabe, pointing to the spot.

"Is it all right if a move down over there?" Madoka asked him, pointing to the center of the gym. "This would be 25 meters from the vault."

"Are you sure?" he asked. "This isn't the gymnastics club."

"Don't worry, I can do this," she replied, going to the spot.

Homura sweated. "Is Madoka really going to be all right?"

"Well, all right then," the teacher said. "We can trust you. Ready...Go!"

With a burst of speed, Madoka executed a handspring, Yamashita, round-off with longitudinal-axis turn in 1st and 2nd flight phase. The toupee came off Mr. Watanabe's head as his jaw dropped and the crowd oohed and awed at the spectacle. Madoka's landing was as light as a feather, and she bowed before taking her seat.

"Unbelievable," Homura gasped. "You did not just do that...how did you do that without falling?"

"I told you," she whispered, "I'm a goddess. Of course I can do this, even though I don't do this very often unless asked."

"That's just showing off right there; you might as well be on the Olympic team next year!"

"I think being a student will be good enough for me."

"In all the years I have been teaching," Mr. Watanabe said, "I have never seen a girl so beautiful execute a gymnastics feat so flawlessly. All right...Kaneda?"

"Yes, sir!" a young boy said, walking to the spot.

Homura continued to admire Madoka in her gym uniform. Those warm golden eyes, those cute white bows, that long pink hair and those perfect proportions...it was difficult not to think the world of the two of them visiting the world forever and a day. It was their destiny.

Madoka also looked at Homura, and could see that it was starting to sink in. She studied the red ribbon on her hair, the deep blush on her face, and the eyes that still misted a little, and a smile of relief that broke the chains of loneliness that lingered for far too long.

"Homura-chan, I've always considered joining a club since I first returned to this school," Madoka said during lunch break, snacking on a sandwich. "Is there a club that you would recommend for me?"

"I'm not really that much into clubs, because you have to go through all of these meetings and if it's for a sport, you have to practice," Homura said.

"I see." Madoka scanned the queues of students for something, and saw a few archery targets being used. "Homura-chan, let's head over there! Come on!"

"Wait, where are you taking me? Madoka!" Homura was being dragged to where the Archery Club was recruiting members. "Oh, it's this place."

"I want to join this club, Homura-chan."

"Archery Club, huh? Hmmm. Excuse me," she asked one of the members practicing, "but we would like to consider joining the club."

A girl with twin brown ponytails walked over to them. "Hello. My name is Mei Honda, the president of the Archery Club. A pleasure to meet you."

"I'm Homura Akemi, and this is my wi—er, best friend, Madoka Kaname. We're third-year students."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mei-chan," Madoka added.

"Congratulations," the president replied. "Did you want to try out for the team?"

"We don't have anything else to do," Homura said, "so we'll have a go at it."

Mei handed the two of them a bow and some arrows. "Just stand over there, and when you are ready, fire away."

"Do you want to go first, Homura-chan?" Madoka asked.

"For you, my princess, I will," she smirked.

"Go right ahead."

Madoka watched as Homura got into her stance, her body perpendicular to the target and the shooting line with her left foot forward and her right foot back. She loaded the bow, nocking the arrow with the cock feather pointed away from the bow. She held the bowstring and arrow with three fingers, her instinctive shooting technique kicking in. Homura then raised and drew her bow, releasing her arrow within seconds.

"Wow...right on the bulls-eye," Mei said.

"What happened?" asked the club vice-president, Shiga Koyama, a second-year student with short brown hair and spectacles.

"Shiga-kun, one of our prospective members hit a bulls-eye. Take a look."

He took a closer look. "Right dead center. Wow. We might actually win some individual awards this year with this prospect. Mei, you have really outdone yourself."

"Thank you, Shiga-kun."

"My turn," Madoka said. She emulated the same technique as Homura, but also took some time to position herself as she raised and drew her bow. "How about that?"

"Another bulls-eye?" Mei gasped. Both arrows were exactly next to each other: Madoka's symbolically on top of Homura's. "You're in, both of you. Welcome to the club. Just complete these forms and you will be full members. Our next meeting is tomorrow, after class at the campus track. We hope you can make it because we have our first meet in three weeks."

"Cool," Madoka said. "We'll be looking forward to it."

Her friend responded with a flip of her hair and a little dash of idiosyncrasy. "Homu."

"Lab collection! Lab collection!"

"It's the cutest thing imaginable! Moe!"

"I got dibs on the alien!"

"We can't let the little rascal get away! Come on!"

"That freak is mine!"

The chase continued as the mob of people in pursuit of Kyubey increased. Kogals, biker gangs, yankees, nerds, salarymen and even lonely old ladies were chasing Madoka's current and Homura's former familiar. Even the cops were joining in the hunt.

Within minutes, Kyubey found himself backed up against a wall. Phone cameras were out, and the local TV news agencies were catching wind of what would become the night's top story. National headlines, even.

"I knew I shouldn't have come to Shibuya...Nooooooo!" The end was near for poor little Kyubey.

END CHAPTER 2