Holy mackeral. You guys are wonderful beyond wonderful; you're giving me Madoka level hope up in here, I tell you what. Thank you ever so diddly darn much for reviewing. It's awesome to see what you think, what you wanna know, and what you don't, heh. To answer a few questions:

Timmy Sparx: I'm trying to warp canon as much as possible while keeping it real, so you can bet your bunsen burner on Madohomu. Not to spoil anything, but I ship Kyouko (as bros or otherwise) with pretty much everbody...nonetheless, you'll know what I'm going with as soon as they meet, hehehe. The only pairing I can say without a doubt is not ever fucking happening is whatever the heck Kyousuke/Sayaka's called. I know being Meguca is suffering, but that's a bit TOO much despair for me. Merci beacoup for the review!

Ghostwriter73: Good grief, thank you so much. Yeah, Mami's got a pretty clean plate...or so we think, anyway. Dun dun duuuuun. Jigging? You've just given me a, er, interesting idea.

LockhartGuest: Kyousaya? Ahem...we'll see...*obvious coughing*

Again, thanks for the patience! I'll update tomorrow as well, considering the first ten chapters or so is mostly just world building and junk.

Here goes.

"Godammit." Sayaka cursed, as she ran through the exact same three measures for the umpteenth time, and messed up the exact same note for the umpteenth time. She had more than half a mind to throw the stupid trumpet, otherwise known as the source of all her angst and despair, straight out of the window. Or give it to some orphans or a hobo or something. Sell it for a bag of peanuts.

"I'm done. I give up." She moaned loudly, setting the trumpet back in its case, putting her head between her knees and rolling backwards on her bed in shame. Her oddly colored hair fell over her forehead.

Voice nearly inaudible, she muttered,

"I suck."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Kyousuke asked incredulously. "That was brilliant!"

She started. Brilliant? Really? Heat rushed to Sayaka's cheeks. With a peek out from behind her knees, she caught a glimpse of his smiling face. It was enough to make her face burn even brighter.

"N-no, I mean, I didn't play the C staccato enough…" She mumbled half-heartedly.

"Don't be ridiculous. I think it's plenty amazing the way you've interpreted it…better than the original, in fact. At this rate, you'll be joining me at Union in no time at all."

"You think so? I mean, I am pretty great, I suppose…heh." Sayaka scratched the back of her head with a nervous laugh.

A both uncomfortable and comfortable (depending on whose perspective it was) silence descended on the two friends. The twilight moon's light shone with a somewhat melancholy presence through Sayaka's open window, basking her face in shadow.

"Um…Kyousuke?" Sayaka's hesitant voice broke through the quiet. She glanced, eyes wide with uncertainty, at him from the bed.

"Yes?" He scribbled something on his music.

"Er, I just wanted to say, heh…uh, well, thanks." She stared at her feet. "Thanks for helping me out, with practicing and junk. I really don't think I would be nearly as good as I am without your advice and, uh… stuff…" What she didn't add was, I wouldn't even be playing an instrument if it didn't get me closer to you. And let me meet back up with Madoka...geez, I wonder how she's doing...

Of course, she had grown to love playing the trumpet, no matter how much she screwed up. Hours upon hours of practice tends to either make you love something utterly and completely, or despise it with the passion of a thousand suns. Thankfully, it had been the former.

"It was my pleasure. Oh, but while we're on the topic of gratitude…" Kyousuke frowned slightly. "Don't laugh at me."

"Never!" Sayaka sat up sharply. "I would never laugh at you! Unless you wanted me to, then I'll laugh as loud and long as you want! Um, I mean…" Smooth.

"Thanks, Sayaka." Her heart fluttered at his voice. "But, what I wanted to thank you for was, even though it was probably the marvel of technology and such…actually, it was definitely the marvel of medical science…I just have this really odd feeling that it was your support that helped heal my hand. Back when we were kids."

"Me? Really?" She asked with disbelief…but then, the thought struck her.

"Miracles and magic do exist!" Sayaka yelled with such force, and such conviction, that she herself almost believed the words pouring out of her mouth.

Where'd that come from? She thought.

"Yeah. You. I know it's silly, but, thanks anyway." He laughed.

She couldn't help but smile back. "You're very, very welcome."

"After all, what are friends for, right?"

That wiped the smile right off of her face. With a muffled groan, she flipped over onto her pillow.

"Sayaka? Are you okay? Sayaka?!"

She smiled widely underneath the cloth of her blue pillow.

Just you wait, Kyousuke. Just you wait.

You know, I figured with all the technology they had in the series, healing Kyousuke's hand would have been no big whoop, and the doctors were full of bologna. Either way, he's alive and well, and inspiring Sayaka! Blech. I tell you what, writing this chapter was difficult for me...way too much sappy Sayaka, and not in the good way. Oh well!

Quick side note: Section leaders are actually upperclassmen who have been appointed by the band director to lead a certain section of the band. For example, Thomas Richards is a senior in college who's playing ability has allowed him to rise to a leadership position and so on and so forth.

See you!