Chapter 2

Over the first few days after Sayaka's first sleepover at Mami's place, there was a lot of buzz and activity. Sayaka and Mami took to text messaging each other when far apart, and using telepathic communication a lot when Kyubey was nearby. Their friendship and comfort level with each other kept rising and rising, much like their physical selves when they fought a witch alongside each other on Tuesday evening.

Their mutual friends started to notice. Madoka took a very ganbatte approach to it, cheering on her friend Sayaka while trying to hide her own lingering second thoughts and brief moments of jealousy. Kyouko was much the same towards Mami, feeling happy for her old mentor while feeling a bit jealous over the fact that she may have let Sayaka slip away. Homura and Hitomi were too caught up in their own activities to get much involved, but they were not oblivious to the growing relationship between Mami and Sayaka. Which is why it came as no surprise to anybody when, five days after their first sleepover together, Mami asked Sayaka if she would join her for another.

"I agreed to us going out again on Friday, but I'm not sure about having another sleepover so soon…" Sayaka replied to Mami's invitation, and with a touch of regret in her voice.

"Why's that?" asked a concerned Mami, suffering a slight loss of confidence given Sayaka's seemingly half-hearted reply, "Did you dislike the sleepover from last…"

"No, no, of course not!" Sayaka loudly stated with a dismissing gesture of one hand, making sure to not let such incorrect thoughts take hold in Mami's mind, "It's just that… well…"

"…Yes?" Mami asked, growing a bit concerned and emotionally nervous.

Sayaka was now blushing slightly given how frank she'd have to be to clearly explain things.

"Two girls hanging out together is nothing strange, of course…" Sayaka said, "But if we have two sleepovers two Fridays in a row… Well, my parents might start suspecting things, if you know what I mean."

"…Wouldn't they just be suspecting the truth?" Mami asked in turn, with a slight smile and blush.

"Well, yeah…" Sayaka said, while she scratched her arm and smiled sheepishly, "But I know what my parents are like. Especially my mother. If they thought I was having a romantic relationship with a girl…"

"I see." Mami said, feeling a strange mixture of relief and irritation, "…Still, Sayaka, you will have to face that someday if… if you continue to consider romances with girls."

Mami shyly played with the curls of her hair while saying those last few words.

"I know." Sayaka stated, "…I know I'm being cowardly here, and I should be more courageous here, but…"

"It's Ok." Mami said, "I don't mind being discreet. I've had to be like that for a long time simply to carry out my Puella Magi duties, of course. However, I do have a suggestion for you, Sayaka…"

Mami grinned widely while saying that last line. Sayaka's eyes would then perk up in excitement over the idea that Mami came in close to whisper to her.

a-

b-

"The girl you had a sleep over with last Friday is offering to tutor you?" asked Sayaka's father, Kotetsu Miki, during a casual conversation with his daughter around the dinner room table in the evening.

"Yeah." Sayaka answered, "She's really busy during the week, but she's relatively free on the weekends. So that's why I'd like to sleep over her place every Friday night, so we can make full use out of all her spare time."

"That's mighty generous of her…" stated Sayaka's mom, Nanami Miki, raising an eyebrow, "I can't help but wonder what she hopes to get out of it."

Nanami's words made Sayaka sweat a little, as she was afraid that the truth could be discovered. Thankfully for Sayaka, her father took the discussion somewhere else.

"She doesn't expect payment, does she?" Kotetsu asked, "I can't afford to raise your allowance, Sayaka. Not with the new job I've had to take up since I was laid off from the last one."

"I know." Sayaka said, "She doesn't require any payment for tutoring me. She lives by herself, so she likes having company whenever she can. …I guess she focused on me since Madoka kind of let it slip to her that I'm struggling a lot in a couple subjects, ha ha ha!"

The part involving Madoka was a complete fabrication. Sayaka could only hope that it would stick, even as her mom peered over her cup of tea at her suspiciously.

"Well, it is certainly mighty nice of her." Kotetsu said with a grin, "I don't see a problem with it."

"…As long as it does, in fact, result in your grades getting higher, Sayaka." Nanami quickly added in.

Sayaka immediately saw a possible drawback to Mami's plan here.

'I guess mom's requirement is only fair' Sayaka thought to herself, 'I guess Mami really will have to tutor me some!'

"Sure." Sayaka said to her mother, "She's very smart, so I'm confident she'll help me get my grades up!"

a-

b-

So Sayaka and Mami's second date, second sleepover, and first tutoring session, was now set for the coming Friday, in just two days' time. However, Mami decided that instead of a conventional date, they'd spend most of Friday evening engaged in actual tutoring.

"If our relationship depends on you getting your school marks up, then I guess we'll just have to see to it that they do get higher." Mami said with relaxed eyes and a playful grin, while sipping tea at her place.

"I-I guess so, ha ha!" Sayaka replied nervously, while narrowing her eyes and scratching the back of her head.

"Sorry about this, Mami…" Sayaka then said, in a more somber and regretful tone.

"It's Ok." Mami said reassuringly, "Besides, I want to help you. It's important for your future for you to get better at school. And thankfully, I did pretty well last year, and this is all familiar material to me. I'm not quite as bright as Homura and Hitomi, I'll admit, but hopefully I'll do."

Mami made a suggestive grin while saying that, causing Sayaka to blush and utter "I-I'm sure you will…"

The two then engaged in a few hours of heavy duty tutoring. They started at around 6 PM, and didn't finish until 9:30 PM.

"Uunhhh…" Sayaka groaned, placing a hand on her head, "I don't think I can read another word!"

"I'll admit that I need a break as well." Mami replied, "But I think it's been a very productive evening. I think you're making progress already, Sayaka."

"Thanks." Sayaka replied in turn, "But I don't want to even think about school after all that!"

"Then why don't we watch a 3D movie together?" Mami suggested, "I find that nothing takes my mind off of the real world like a good 3D movie!"

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Sayaka replied enthusiastically, "Ok then. So what are we gonna watch?"

"Ever see Keanu Lee as Neo Nights in the movie Fifteen Feet of Fury?" Mami asked with a grin.

"That's an awesome action flick!" Sayaka stated excitedly, "I'd love to watch it again!"

"It's actually where I got my muskets idea from." Mami stated.

"I can see why." Sayaka said, "It also has a lot of great sword-fights!"

"It's perfect for us then." Mami said with a grin.

Mami and Sayaka then settled in for a couple hours of action extravaganza, in the form of Real 3D holographic imagery on Mami's living room floor.

"Wow, with this being the first time I've seen this movie since becoming a Puella Magi, watching it is like being in a witch's realm!" Sayaka exclaimed, during one of the darker and more elaborate action scenes.

"I have to admit that during this scene I instinctively summoned a musket…" Mami replied blushingly.

"You must have been planning to blow away Shanghai Smith!" Sayaka exclaimed.

"Neo thankfully took care of Smith before I could damage my own home…" Mami stated with embarrassment.

Sayaka and Mami then laughed loudly together over Mami's humorous account.

Sayaka and Mami thoroughly enjoyed watching the movie together, often talking about what each of them would do if in Neo's shoes in certain scenes.

"I guess watching this movie doubles as good Puella Magi training." Mami mused with a grin.

"Right!" Sayaka replied with a chuckle.

Sayaka and Mami had both been pumped over watching the movie, but at the same time, midnight was drawing near and sleepiness would soon follow it.

So after talking a bit more about the movie while drinking some soda, the two decided it was time to head to bed.

"Between all the tutoring help and the great movie, I feel a bit badly…" Sayaka stated.

"Why's that?" asked a puzzled Mami.

"Well, I don't know how I can make it all up to you." Sayaka replied with a strangely sad smile.

With her inhibitions lowered by watching a great action flick, and her manners lowered by her own tiredness, Mami's response would startle Sayaka.

Mami drew in close to Sayaka, and whispered seductively to her "You can make it up to me by… cuddling with me tonight."

"C-cuddling?" Sayaka asked, sweat appearing on her head.

"I'm too tried for anything more than that, I'm afraid…" Mami said in a playful tone.

That line startled Sayaka a bit.

"A-Are you just pulling my leg?" Sayaka asked, suspecting that Mami was simply teasing here.

"Not entirely…" Mami said, while playing with her curly hair, "I just thought it would be… comfortable. And nice. I don't really mean anything perverted by it. I'm just…"

"Ok." Sayaka said with a gentle smile, as she could detect a sincere neediness in Mami's voice, "I don't mind. It's the least I can do really."

Mami and Sayaka then changed into their pajamas, and headed to the same bed they slept in last Friday night. But this time they didn't just sleep alongside each other. Sayaka now carefully wrapped her arms around Mami's shoulders and upper torso, while Mami wrapped her hands around Sayaka's waist and nestiled her head on Sayaka's shoulders.

"D-Does that feel good?" Sayaka asked nervously.

"Yes. It's very nice. Thank you." Mami replied in decidedly soft and vulnerable tones.

Sayaka was still a bit shy and nervous, but she also felt herself become overwhelmed by a deep affection for Mami. So Sayaka started petting Mami's head and hair with one hand. This comforted and relaxed Mami, to the point that Mami began speaking very openly.

"I've been terribly lonely for so long…" Mami stated, "I've really come to miss human warmth and contact, like what we have now."

"I understand. I get it." Sayaka replied, "You just want someone in your life that you can rely on for that sort of warmth and contact. And friendship."

"…Some romance as well might be nice." Mami stated teasingly while winking at Sayaka.

"R-Right." Sayaka shyly replied.

"But you're basically right…" Mami said, "I've missed my parents so much. I miss not having a family at all… Hardly any friends…"

Mami's eyes started watering up, and soon she would be crying. This alarmed Sayaka.

"Mami, are you Ok?" Sayaka asked.

"…Honestly, I haven't been Ok for a long time…" Mami finally answered honestly, while choked up, and after a tense pause, "But I thank you, Sayaka. I thank you for hopefully changing that."

Sayaka felt deeply moved and inspired by Mami's words. Inspired to comfort and reassure her beloved mentor, friend, and potential lover…

"I will change that." Sayaka said firmly to Mami, "I… I didn't know how badly you were hurting, Mami. I should have known. It's only common sense, but I guess I was too focused on my own life and desires. It was selfish of me. But from now on, I'll be here for you. I promise that!"

"…That's a great comfort to me." Mami stated, "Because I know how serious and sincere a person you are. Well… good night."

Mami soon fell asleep while held in Sayaka's gentle embrace. Sayaka herself would soon drift to sleep, feeling a great sense of caring and dedication for the sempai currently held in her arms.

A relationship blossoms further and promises have been made. But will promises be kept? The answer to that question, and many other reveals, would soon be there for Sayaka and Mami.