Distorted reflections

'A new school for a new era' was one of the mottos used by Mitakihara school, translated into fewer traditional rules and more technology, which applied in all spheres of the institution, even in the most depressive ones.

Madoka looked at a vacant space in the classroom, where there was a desk, but it was retracted into the floor. A red luminous sign said the reason:

Hitomi Shizuki – Absence

"This is the third consecutive day," she said.

In a desk next to Madoka, Homura replied, "We know why."

"But three days..." Madoka looked at her. "Hitomi-chan was better, no one is blaming her anymore and she wasn't missing school. Even more for so long."

"Memories only fall asleep, nothing can be done."

Madoka nodded at the other girl's statement.

"She's trying, fighting." Homura glanced at her. "Don't you believe in your friend?"

"Of course I do," Madoka affirmed.

"Nakazawa-kun!"

The two girls watched the scene unfolding in front of the room.

A girl with glasses and green hair was standing next to the boy's desk. She carried a pile of papers with her. "Are you joining our club?"

Nakazawa scratched his head and grimaced. "Ehhh... Will I?

The girl closed her eyes and sighed. "We've already talked about it. If you don't want to join ours, fine, but you have to choose a club."

The brown-haired boy bowed in dismay. "I don't know which one..."

The girl shook her head, disapproving that attitude. "Your grades aren't good. Having attended a club in your school history will help you when you try to qualify for high school."

With both hands, Nakazawa scratched his head more vigorously. "I know... I know..."

"What do you think of that?" Madoka said to Homura, "of us joining a school club."

The girl with braids replied, "We need?"

"It would be fun." Madoka was more concerned about the lack of enthusiasm of her companion. "But only if you want..."

"Yes, it looks good." Homura looked at her with a faint smile, but soon averted her gaze.

The girl left him. "I'll give you some more time to think."

Madoka and Homura noticed that she was coming toward them.

"Another day..." the girl commented in a sad tone.

"Yes." Madoka smiled. "Maybe... Maybe she's sick."

"Let's believe that." The girl offered the pile of papers. "These are the accumulated homeworks. I'm busy today, could you give it to her?"

Madoka stretched her arms. "Sure, I-"

But another pair of hands had reached the papers. "No problem."

The two girls looked at Homura.

Feeling the silence that had settled, Homura continued, "I know where she lives."

Madoka turned to look at the girl who was standing and smiled. "Yes, we do."

She nodded and smiled back. "Thank you."

Madoka waved as the girl walked away.

[I'll go alone.]

With Homura's telepathy, she stopped smiling. [Why?]

[To her, you were Miki-san's closest friend.] Homura was already packing the papers in her bag. [We don't need to remind her of this.]

Madoka said nothing. It was true, there were afflictions beyond her reach.

/人◕‿‿◕人\

After school, with them passing through the gate, Madoka asked again, "Do you really want to go alone?"

"Yes." Homura gave firm steps, looking forward. "If you don't want to mention anything about Shizuki-san to your parents, tell them I went for a checkup."

Madoka moved closer to her, their arms touching. "I should go with you. I understood what you said about Sayaka-chan, but Hitomi-chan is my friend too. I can comfort her... I can..."

Homura stopped. "Why do you insist?"

Madoka was startled.

Seeing such reaction, Homura relaxed her expression. "Why to worry? It's just a delivery of accumulated homeworks. Do you think I can't do this? Do you think I would hurt her feelings? "

"No..." Madoka shook her head. "This never get close to my mind."

"So..." Homura smiled. "I'll see you soon."

"Okay." Madoka nodded and smiled too. "Goodbye and take care."

The two parted, with Homura heading for the subway station. Without looking back or she could lose her chance.

I hope Shizuki-san is accepting visits.

In her steady pace and cautious gaze, the dark-haired girl was already seeing the movement in front of the station.

I must think well before each word...

A girl in school uniform with long white hair crossed the street and disappeared around the corner.

Charlotte? Homura stopped and squinted. Was her? This wouldn't be the route she would use to return to Tomoe-san's apartment.

She felt compelled to follow, but her bag was heavy with the pile of papers.

... I'll see you soon...

Homura pressed her lips together, resigning herself to keep going to the station.

The trip was short but of many views. Through the windows of her wagon, Homura watched the vehicle in and out of tunnels, on elevated tracks over the old part of town, and stopping at other stations. There were still many cranes working, rebuilding old or raising new skyscrapers, accelerated by the commotion that united the nation after disaster.

This was not the case for the luxurious building where Hitomi lived. It was close, but not inside downtown, a location that increased its value even more and was what saved it from destruction.

Homura left at the nearest station, a few blocks from the place, in a matter of minutes she was already at the security cabin.

A woman in impeccable uniform spoke to her. "May I help?"

"I'm Homura Akemi, Hitomi Shizuki-san's classmate and would like to deliver something to her."

"Just a moment." The woman picked up the phone.

While she waited, Homura watched the movement on the street, the sounds of the city, a few lights that lit up... The sun was already showing signs that it was going to leave. Suddenly, the flapping of a bird's wings close to her ear. She turned and found nothing except a small black feather attached to the fabric of her uniform. She picked it up and examined.

"Yes, Homura Akemi."

The peculiar way of asserting the woman used distracted the girl, causing her to let the feather slip from her fingers.

The woman put the phone on the hook and opened the gate. With a polite smile, she said, "She will meet you in the lobby. Please, make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you."

The lobby was well lit, with a polished ceramic floor and walls of a light color with mirrors. The furniture was made of wood to bring some warmth to the environment. Homura sat in an armchair, standing face to face with a large mirror. She noted in the reflection that above her there was an old pendulum clock working, continually repeating its mechanical sound.

Time passed. People came in and out of the elevators, but none of them were who she wanted to meet. She had the power to stop time, but when it came to the next second, she was helpless.

Came a moment that the lobby was empty. Homura rubbed her face, already worried that Hitomi had changed her mind, fearing that the delay would convince Madoka to go after her, that her voice crying out her name would break that silence at any moment.

Silence?

Homura looked back at the mirror and confirmed her surprise. The pendulum clock had stopped.

A mechanical sound. It was the elevator door that opened.

Homura stood up. From there came a girl in a fine set of high waist skirt with a lace blouse and sandals. Her skin had a fresh aspect, her glistening lips showing a smile, well-combed lashes and her vibrant, wavy green hair... Homura knew very well, no matter what, that was how you would always see Hitomi Shizuki.

With some hesitation, she said, "Sorry for the delay."

"You sound surprised," Homura said, "expecting for someone else?"

In an almost imperceptible movement, Hitomi had raised her well defined eyebrows, and then opened her smile. "Yes, by the class representative. You came here to bring the school work."

"You're right." Homura tilted her head. "But you know it's not just that."

Hitomi grew more serious and nodded slightly. "Yes. What do you want?"

Homura smiled. "A walk, me and you."

Hitomi's expression froze. "N-Now?"

"Certainly. You even are ready for it."

The green-haired girl looked at her clothes and smiled. "But... But I can not go far."

"We won't."

They left together and crossed the street to a promenade. The sky was already dark and the lamp posts lit.

"The classroom should be pretty worried about my absence," Hitomi commented.

"Everyone is." Homura glanced at her. "Madoka too."

"I believe." She lowered her head. "I would like to be the others and move on about what happened to Sayaka-san, but there are times I can not stop thinking... go to school and see that she is not there, nor Kamijou-kun..."

Homura looked at her again.

"Sometimes I think he died too and the worst thing is that I can be right about it in parts. My hope is that Germany will be distant enough for him to forget."

They had entered a park with countless marble statues, many of them representing angelic figures. They walked between two large but shallow pools of water. One contained a fountain that looked more like a waterfall, leaving the water turbulent. Because the narrow path resembled a bridge, it created an illusion that the two pools were connected.

Hitomi was concerned about her companion's silence. "Sorry... I started talking and I did not even consider whether you were interested in hearing..."

Homura stopped in front of her.

That sudden movement, that intense look, made Hitomi take a step back.

"I'll be honest with you," said Homura, "Kyousuke Kamijou loves Sayaka Miki."

Hitomi's face twitched as she nodded. "I know... I know... that's why I gave Sayaka-san a chance to confess to him. I wanted this dream that consumed me to end."

Homura lowered her gaze.

"I convinced myself, I masked this selfishness as an act of friendship. I..." Hitomi turned her face and pressed her lips together. "I am so cruel that I did not see the fragility of my friend. I always considered her better than me when it came to relationships. Now... I have lives destroyed in my dirty hands."

"You've heard enough of this, but I'll tell you. Don't blame yourself for her death." Homura searched Hitomi's gaze in the reflection of the pool. "It was declared suicide, but the police consider the circumstances of her death mysterious. They found several packages of food near the body, but none consumed by her, which means that there would be someone else involved."

Hitomi shook her head. "I still feel responsible for that. If I had not talked to her about Kamijou-kun, maybe Sayaka-san would not have meet this fate."

"Remember that in the last few weeks she was missing school. She has other motives that are not of your knowledge that could lead to this."

Hitomi looked at her. "She has..."

"She would have..." Homura corrected herself. "So you're being unfair to carry this burden by yourself."

The other girl sighed. "It is easier to say than believe..."

"Want more proofs? Cherish what you have. Look for your family, your friends, your classmates. Listen to what they have to say and compare with me." In a lost gaze, Homura slightly closed her eyes. "I'm sure Miki-san doesn't want to see you like this and... Kamijou-kun has the same hopes you have for him."

Then moments where only the sound of the water of the fountain could be heard, with the two facing each other.

Hitomi gaped, then her face contorted once more, swallowing hard. She then approached and hugged her.

To the surprise of Homura. "Shizuki-san..."

"Thank you... thank you..." Her voice was tearful. "I wanted so much to talk about it, but at school I did not have the guts. Madoka-san... I do not want to reopen wounds."

Homura returned the hug, feeling her sobs. "I understand."

"Akemi-san... you would be a good friend to Sayaka-san, better than I was."

"Don't sell yourself short."

Hitomi pulled away, calmer, but still with bloodshot eyes.

"Are you better?"

"Yes." She sniffled and smiled. "Thanks again. I... I will go to school tomorrow, you can say that to Madoka-san. I guarantee that I will."

"Good." Homura's voice dropped and sounded more like a whisper. "Before you go home, I have a question to ask and I believe only you can help me."

"M-Me?" Hitomi was confused.

"It's about Madoka." Homura raised her eyebrows slightly. "Do you see anything different in her?"

"Different?" Hitomi was even more confused. "But would you not know that better than me? You are living with her."

Homura brought a hand to her chest. "I need a second opinion. You've known her since childhood, after all..."

"Of course." Hitomi looked away, pondering, "But I must say I did not see anything, except if..."

Homura's eyes widened and she blinked. "Except?"

Hitomi smiled at the reaction. "It is nothing special, just something I know she does."

Homura nodded. "Then it would be a secret between friends..."

"It is not a secret, it is just this must be your first time, even though you are such a close friend already," Hitomi said, without hesitation, "she must be hiding something."

The girl with braids shuddered. "What?"

"Do not be alarmed. Huhu..." Hitomi hid her laughter with her hand. "Madoka-san is a good girl. When she commits something wrong, or something she thinks is wrong, she tends to act more cheerful and confident, to ease the tension."

Homura clenched her fists.

"When I and Sayaka-san realized that she was acting like this, we always tried to guess what it would be. She always became very embarrassed and..." Hitomi felt the nervousness in the other girl. "Akemi-san?"

She controlled her breath as best she could. "Are you sure?"

"I thought she was acting this way because of you, but since you are asking..." Hitomi clasped her hands together. "Then I know why. Do not worry."

"What would it be?"

"She must be hiding the pain for Sayaka-san's death." Hitomi nodded, more sad. "And she is managing to handle it better than I am."

Homura looked away, her lips trembling. "Yes... must be it..."

"Akemi-san? Are you all right?"

She sighed and smiled. "Yes, yes... I thank you for telling me. Now I can take better care of Madoka."

"You are already doing this by being her friend." Hitomi pressed both hands to her chest. "I would like too, but I am not in position."

"She still considers you as her friend."

"Yes, but I feel that the wounds still have to heal," said Hitomi, "today you helped me with that and I thank you again for this da-"

Homura frowned at the other girl's sudden paralysis.

"F-For this talk..." Hitomi lowered her gaze and ran a hand through her hair. "Okay, hmmm, my parents should already be worried, I need to return."

Homura nodded. "Of course, I won't take more of your time."

Hitomi started to walk backwards. "So..."

"Shizuki-san!"

"Y-Yes?!" She blushed.

Homura opened her bag. "Your homeworks..."

"Oh, yes! Yes..." Hitomi received the pile of papers. "We will see each other tomorrow at school."

"Yes." Homura waved and watched her leave in a hurry. When the girl was far enough, her polite smile was gone.

She looked at her own hands, which were still tense.

She must be hiding something.

"Madoka..." As she whispered to herself, her eyes caught something familiar.

In the reflection of the pool, above a statue, there was a shadow with a pair of bright red eyes.

She quickly turned, but there was nothing above the statue, it was only her and the sound of water.

Homura threw her braid back and left.


Next chapter: It's a date!