Homura

Normally she'd breeze through the problems on her paper, but her thoughts kept returning to what had happened in the nurse's office. Mami...

"Akemi-san."

I did the right thing, she told herself. Even if Homura wanted to, she couldn't reciprocate the older girl's feelings. Focus on the banshees. Madoka's happiness is my happiness. I have to protect the city. Mami will definitely get over me.

"...Akemi-san."

Why now, though? Why, in this timeline, did Mami like Homura so much? When knowing someone who you have known for an impossible amount time to calculate suddenly acts different towards you, things become complicated. Understanding people in general was difficult. Always had been. Only one thing was clear in Homura's head: two people truly cared for her. The thought made her happy and sad, and further conflicted her.

"Akemi-san." Fingers tapped at her desk.

Homura's eyes shot up towards the voice. "Oh. Yes, Ms. Saotome?"

The teacher smiled. "Daydreaming, are we? Well, since you're one of my best students, I'll let it slide. Everybody has their moments. I wanted to ask you something."

"Yes, what is it?"

"It seems Shizuki-san was reported running out of the school with a strange-looking, black-haired girl ten minutes ago. Do you know anything about this? I figured you might have seen them on your way back from the nurse's office."

Never a moment's rest.

"I'm afraid I don't know anything about it." She was afraid Oriko Mikuni was behind it - no, she had to be behind it. The main question was why? What use could she find in Hitomi? Perhaps to lure out Homura and Mami, kill them and take over Mitakihara? The one timeline Oriko appeared in, she wanted to kill Madoka to prevent her from becoming Kriemhild Gretchen and destroying the world. What Oriko's altered goals were now, Homura could not say, but she'd stop her.

"When that young lady gets back, I'm going to lecture her until her ears drop!" Kazuko said.

"May I visit the nurse again?" Homura rubbed her temples. "I feel ill."

Kazuko sighed. "If you must. You're not thinking of ditching school, like Shizuki-san, right?" she asked jokingly. Probably.

"I'm not."

Homura took her time walking out of class. A girl running around hallways where everyone could see her would rouse suspicion, and she would need help.

Mami, I require your assistance, she said telepathically. You too, Kyubey. He probably knew Kirika's daily routines. He could point them out in the right direction.

Right now? Mami asked.

Yeah. Please meet me on the rooftop of the school. Hurry.

I have information regarding the other Magical Girls, Kyubey said.

Good, Homura said, near the entryway for the rooftop's stairs. You can explain later. I want you to tell me where Kirika Kure usually is around this time. Let me know if you find any demons as well.

Usually I wouldn't give away much on other Magical Girls, but since she's one of those helping out against the Banshees, I'll make an exception. Why do you need to know?

She's gotten a civilian involved in our world, Homura said. Or at least I suspect so. It's time I tell both of you about Oriko Mikuni and Kirika Kure.

The blue sky, giant fence, and Kyubey were waiting for her. He hopped onto her shoulder. A minute later, Mami arrived. Her face was no longer flushed or covered in tears. She wasn't smiling that faint smile she always wore, but she didn't frown either. Overall, an improvement over when they last met.

Homura explained to them how she encountered Oriko and Kirika in an irregular timeline, and what their goal was, and how she never saw them again until now. Then she told them about Hitomi.

"Where would Kirika be at around this time?" Mami asked Kyubey.

"Whenever she skips school, she tends to hang around an arcade center north of here. It's about a few miles away."

"I know exactly where it's at," Homura said. Purple light swallowed her clothes, transformed them into her magical outfit.

Gold light shimmered around Mami's body. In a second, her magical outfit replaced her uniform.

"Do you have any idea why they've taken an interest in Hitomi?" Mami asked Homura. "From what you've told me, it doesn't sound like they would care about someone like her."

"I think it's a trap made for you and me."

Mami frowned. "You think they're after our territory? But wouldn't it make more sense to kill us after the battle with the Banshees? Why try so early with something like this?"

"Yeah, you're right. Maybe they want to force Hitomi into a contract?" If so, Homura couldn't figure out the point of it. A girl with little potential as Hitomi would only hinder everyone else, especially since she would have no experience in fighting demons.

Kyubey's tail wiggled. "Hitomi does have a small amount of potential."

"I'd rather you not contract her," Homura said.

"Same," Mami agreed.

"The more allies the better," Kyubey replied.

"Not if they're complete amateurs," Homura said.

"From what I've gathered with my conversations with Oriko, she rather thinks like an incubator." Kyubey tilted his head. "Even if a Magical Girl is weak, there's always a good use for one. She might believe that."

"Maybe she wants Hitomi to make a wish that would benefit her." What wish could aid Oriko, Homura did not know.

The clouds were reflecting in Mami's eyes. "We can all believe what we want, but it's up to Hitomi, in the end, to decide. Assuming it even comes to that. I just hope it doesn't..."

"I believe it's time we make our move," Homura said. "When we reach Kirika, I want you to subdue her with your ribbons. I would like to speak with her." She knew Oriko's location. Oriko was better off dead than alive. She couldn't be trusted.

"You won't do anything drastic, will you?" Mami asked.

"I won't," Homura lied, but Mami was better off not knowing the truth. As to how Homura would explain Oriko not joining the fight... well she'd come up with something. Her angelic wings sprouted out. She wrapped her arms around Mami's waist.

Mami squealed. "What are you doing?"

"We're flying. It's the fastest way." Homura caught a view of Mami's reddened cheeks. If the situation was reversed, how would Homura feel? she wondered.

Her cheeks warmed.

"Alright, fine... I trust you won't drop me?"

Homura smiled. "No promises."

"Not funny."

They took off.