Disconnection

The area for sport activities of Mitakihara school, having a running track and baseball field, was large. However, the physical education class of female students from the eighth grade would only involve a small space, more specifically an area of dirt ground.

The girls wore a specific uniform for this class, a white shirt with the collar and the tip of the sleeves red, and mini navy blue shorts. They were doing their stretches while the teacher, using lime, demarcated a rectangular area. The area had dimensions similar to a volleyball court.

"What will it be today sensei?" One student asked.

"'Burned'." The teacher was now drawing a hazard by dividing the rectangle in half.

Hitomi was stretching her shoulders. "Hmm... Been a long time since I played that."

"'Burned'? What on earth is that? We throw fire or something?" Kyouko sat on the ground, without any interest in participating.

Sayaka was stretching her legs. "Never played it? You have to hit the opponent with balls."

"For those who don't remember the rules." The teacher spoke, taking into account the question of Kyouko. "I'll pass them on."

Rule One - two teams will be divided equally, each will be on one side of the field.

Rule Two - Outside of each team field, behind the endline, is the cemetery. This place starts with a member of the opposing team and cannot be attacked, while those in the cemetery can.

Rule Three - There will be only one ball in play. Whoever has ownership should throw it against the members of the opposing team. If the ball hits someone and lets it touch the floor, that someone will be eliminated.

Rule Four - If the ball touches the ground before reaching someone, it can be intercepted by any member of the opposing team safely.

Rule Five - Exiting the demarcated area or enter the opponent's field will be considered immediate elimination. When the ball leaves the field, it should be collected by the members who are in the cemetery.

Rule Six - The eliminated person has the right of possession of the ball and should go to the cemetery of their team.

Rule Seven - The team who send all members of the opposing team to the cemetery wins.

Madoka listened intently. "Hmm... It's like dodgeball, but with one ball, simplified rules and a 'cemetery'. Did you know that Akemi-san? "

Homura stood close to Madoka, crackling her fingers. "No."

The teacher was gazing over the field with a clipboard in hand. "Before class, I had done a sortation to define the teams."

Team 1 - Taniko Kiyoura, Naho Koguchi, Kyouko Sakura, Mihoko Shibasawa, Chiyo Noguchi, Sayaka Miki, Teruyo Aoki.

Team 2 - Aneko Shimazaki, Hitomi Shizuki, Haruhi Asano, Gin Yamakage, Toshie Hatakeda, Yoko Takeshi, Madoka Kaname, Homura Akemi.

Sayaka crossed her arms. Why am I suspicious of this lottery?

The girls of the team 1 were concerned.

"We'll have to face Akemi-san..." "Akemi-san is too strong! She's worth a whole team!" "Oh... I don't want to get dirty..." "I won this shirt in a donation."

"Hey!" Kyouko called their attention. "Are you already giving up? Huh?"

Sayaka put her hand on the shoulder of Kyouko. "Kyouko is right. Homura Akemi is strong, but that just means victory over her will be far greater. We'll show our strength, girls!" She finished punching the air.

Madoka was happy with the draw. "Good thing we were together, is it not, Akemi-san?"

"It is." Homura replied coolly. She opened her arms with an intention to group the team in a circle. "You should not be close to each other to avoid obstructions. Also avoid directly attacking Miki-san and Sakura-san, they're the strongest..."

The girls, in respect of that prodigy student, listened closely to instructions. Except for Hitomi, who was with the teacher.

"Shizuki-san, could you get the ball?"

"Of course sensei!" Hitomi was running up with a large bag containing red rubber balls, with a similar size of a handball's one.

Then the teacher used the whistle, calling the attention of those present. "I want a representative from each team here with me."

Sayaka and Homura went up to her while she was picking a coin from her pocket. "We'll decide who start with the ball."

Sayaka stared at Homura. "I'll take heads."

"Right." The teacher said. "So Homura gets tails." She threw the coin in the air, spun a few times before falling back in her hand.

Heads.

"Even luck is on my side." Sayaka said, lifting her chin a little.

Homura was static, seemed like she was not breathing.

The teacher had also held her breath with that animosity.

It was only broken when Homura turned away from the two, returning to the field. "I don't need it."

The girls began to position themselves in the field.

Homura approached Madoka. "Kaname-san, do you want to start in the cemetery?"

"Ah. Takeshi-san said she wanted to go..."

"All right." Homura said. "So be careful."

"You can leave it to me!" Madoka expressed her determination.

"So let's start!" The teacher whistled, starting the match. "Wait."

No one moved, something was missing.

"Where is the ball? Shizuki-san!" The teacher went to see the bag with the balls.

Hitomi was still there, holding a ball with one hand and typing on her mobile phone with the other. "Sorry sensei, I am almost done."

The teacher extended her palm. "No cellphone in class."

Hitomi knew it was wrong, but could not wait to answer that person. Now she would have to pay the price.

"Here sensei." Hitomi handed the phone.

The teacher gave a wink. "You can talk with him later, during the interval."

"Oh... hmmm..." Hitomi was completely inhibited.

Giggles and whispers took over the field. In contrast, Sayaka was silent, as was Kyouko and Homura.

The teacher pointed to the side of the field of Homura's team. "The match has begun."

"I-I'm going." Hitomi rushed to enter, with the ball in hand.

Sayaka ran to the centerline of the field. "HEEEY! The ball is ours."

"Oh!" Hitomi walked to Sayaka. "Sayaka-san, sorry for my distraction."

"Haha. No problem." Sayaka received the ball.

Hitomi nodded and turned to join her colleagues waiting at the endline. It was then that her perception warned of the concern that her team expressed.

Madoka began opening her mouth, wanting to say something.

Homura just turned away.

"Hi?" It was the last thing Hitomi said before taking a blow behind her head and falling on her face to the ground.

"Yeah! A nice start!" Sayaka celebrated.

Madoka ran towards Hitomi, in desperation while the rest of the team was watching. "Shizuki-san. Shizuki-san!"

With help, Hitomi stood up. Her lips were full of dirt. "Auuuu... This ball is harder than it looks..." She said as she ran her hand on the back of her head.

Madoka directed the word to Sayaka, furiously. "Michi-san! She was close. Why throw the ball so hard?"

Sayaka stepped back, not because of that anger, but because of the look. A look that is given to a stranger and that her best friend was now doing to her.

"It's 'Miki'! Spelt 'M' 'i' 'k' 'i'!" Sayaka said angrily.

Madoka looked away, but still expressed outrage. "Sorry..."

Sayaka's heart sank. What am I doing? At this point, she turned to who was responsible for it all.

Homura watched the scene without expression, until she exchanged glances with Sayaka and gave a simple smile.

That minimal movement on the lips was like a trigger for Sayaka. Her body tensed, took a deep breath and pressed her lips.

Homura's smile was getting bigger, malicious. She pulled her hair back and then, in the hand that she used for this, appeared a black feather between its fingers.

"C'mon!" Kyouko appeared next to Sayaka. "Stop all this crying. I want to finish this game before the class ends."

Sayaka came to her senses. "Yeah... Let's finish this."

The feather escaped from Homura's fingers and was being carried by a stream of air.

"Okay Shizuki-san?" The teacher used a towel to clean the dirt on Hitomi's face.

"Uh-huh." Hitomi said, already with the ball in hand.

"Right. Let's continue."

Hitomi before moving towards the cemetery, Homura instructed. "Shizuki-san, I want you to play the ball high. Don't try to attack."

"Understood."

In the cemetery. Hitomi watched the girls of the opposing team, already distant towards her. Kyouko had her hands on her hips, confident. Sayaka stood with her arms in front, ready to catch any incoming ball.

Hitomi felt some desire to throw toward Sayaka, but the instructions of Homura were clear. "Okay. High." She stammered.

Holding with both hands, Hitomi placed the ball behind her head before throwing it. But the movement was so awkward that the ball rose high in the air and just kept rising until gravity started to claim it back.

"It's mine!" Kyouko ran to where the ball would fall.

"Let hit the ground first!" One of the team members warned.

"Nah. There's no need." Kyouko jumped, reaching one meter and half high. As she picked up the ball in the air, she was already looking for her victim.

"GAME OVER FOR YOU!" She threw the ball, with one hand, towards a girl who seemed to be the most scared on the opposing team.

Perhaps due to intuition or experience, Kyouko had chosen a good target: the girl, instead of trying to dodge, tried embracing herself and turned away to protect the body. Unfortunately, the ball hit one of her legs. The impact was so strong that made the leg stand up, knocking the girl down.

"We increased our advantage. Heh." Kyouko was bragging.

Sayaka ran to her. "Good! Kyoukooo!" During the exclamation, she was keen to keep her back to Homura. Now, with a more serious expression, she whispered. "Don't exaggerate."

Kyouko understood, but sought to act naturally. "That's it Sayaka! As you said, we showed our strength!"

While the opposing team celebrated, Homura tried to help the girl to her feet. "You all right?"

The girl ran her hand where she had taken the blow. "I think it'll become a big bruise, but I can endure."

"Great." Homura continued. "I ask that you also to throw high and, preferably, to our field."

"W-We'll have a comeback." The girl said as she received the ball.

Fortunately, the girl managed to follow the advice. The ball came to the field of Homura's team.

"I-I'll catch." Madoka ran to the ball that was bouncing. "Got it!" But before she could think about the next step, the ball got ripped from her hands. "Huh?"

"Leave this to me." Homura went to the centerline with the ball.

The girls of the opposing team were already at the endline. "It's Akemi! It's Akemi!"

Kyouko rolled her eyes. "Yeah... I know."

Sayaka raised her voice. "Dodge! Don't try to catch the ball!"

Homura evaluated her opponents. The ball she held firmly brought her memories of the times she threw bombs against witches. Memories that she would like to, but should not, forget. She lifted the ball with her right hand and positioned slightly behind her head.

"Get ready!" Sayaka commanded.

Homura then began to turn the body and extended her right arm forward.

The opponent team replied, getting away from the estimated trajectory where the ball would pass.

But Homura did not drop the ball and continued turning.

She fooled us! Sayaka had already started to run to one side.

Before she got her back to the opponents during the turn, Homura chose who she would attack exploiting the back foot. At the end of turning, she released the ball. As calculated, the centrifugal force had given to the ball a stunning speed and curve.

The red ball followed its path to the abdomen of one of the girls. With the rebound, it ended up in the ass of another and finally landed on the foot of one more.

"WHAT?! THREE IN ONE STRIKE?!" Kyouko gaped.

"Now we have the advantage." Homura said with little enthusiasm.

The teacher whistled, interrupting the match. "Only the first one counts."

Homura turned to face the teacher. "That wasn't in the rules."

"Because that's unusual." The teacher replied. "If you had asked..."

"If I had asked?" Homura interrupted, frowning, before calming herself. "It doesn't matter... no more."

The teacher had been confused with that reaction. "Well... then continue the match."

The teacher blew the whistle.

The match went normally. Soon the girls realized how tiring it was running from one side to the other in their field, in order to stay away from those who were with the ball. One by one was being eliminated.

Madoka was one of the exceptions. She was watching her colleagues looking breathless. I think that healthy diet of father's has paid off.

The others were Sayaka, Kyouko and without much surprise, Homura.

In the end, only they remained within the field.

The possession of the ball was with Sayaka. All her attention was focused on Homura. Her target did not move a finger. She seemed a sentry robot programmed only to react.

"So Sayaka? What will it be?" Kyouko was beside her.

Sayaka pondered for a moment, looking at the ball in her hands.

Then she left the field.

"What are you doing Miki-san?" The teacher asked in surprise.

"I should be saying that!" Kyouko's eyes looked like they were going to jump out.

"I got tired teacher. Hehe." Sayaka said.

"You don't look tired..." The teacher looked at her wristwatch. "...but that's okay, we're almost at the end of the class."

Before Kyouko could protest again, Sayaka pulled her close. "Look. Let's focus on the devil. I'll talk to the other girls in the cemetery and tell them to always leave the ball to me. It'll be just me and you."

Kyouko smirked aside. "Oh okay... I got the idea."

Homura watched those two planning. "Kaname-san."

"Huh?" Madoka was close.

"Get away as much as possible from me."

"Do you think they will attack you first?" Madoka asked with concern.

"Yes." Then Homura looked at Madoka. "But keep alert."

"Yes!" Madoka said with confidence, not wanting to look weak before Homura.

When Sayaka came to the cemetery, she saw that her target was somewhat close. In fact, Homura was in the exact same distance between the cemetery and the centerline of the field.

"Akemi-san!" Madoka called her attention. "It's too close to her, comes further back!"

"No. Here is good." Homura pulled the hair back, enjoying a breeze to extend it.

What is she up to? Sayaka thought. "This will only make it easier for me."

Sayaka threw the ball with great force.

Homura just turned the torso enough to dodge the ball.

Kyouko received, jumped and aimed towards the legs of Homura.

Homura merely flexed her left knee so that the ball hit the ground instead of her.

Sayaka caught the ball. She won't leave that position? Won't run? "You'll fall!"

But she did not fall. Homura bent her body, lowered her head, gave a little jump... It was all she needed to do to not be hit.

The match came down on just Sayaka to Kyouko and Kyouko to Sayaka.

Madoka, on principle, ran from centerline to the endline and vice-versa, but the ball handoff grew so fast that she could no longer keep up.

As Madoka, the teacher and the other students watched, amazed, the course of that dispute. Homura's movements were fluid and precise as in an elegant dance.

Each time she picked up the ball, the patience of Kyouko decreased. She's joking with us. At this rate, the class will end with her smiling. Sorry Sayaka, but I'll improvise.

It seemed that Kyouko would throw against Homura, but the ball went towards Madoka.

"Ah!" Leaving the trance where she was, Madoka just had time to close her eyes and put her hands in front for protection.

The sound of the impact, followed by the burning feeling of her hands, announced that the ball was sandwiched between them.

"You're kidding me..." Kyouko did not believe what she saw.

Madoka's eyes were opened to the miracle in her hands. There was pain, but she was alive, was in the game and could fight back.

With a determined expression, Madoka began to run up to the centerline.

Kyouko retreated. "Ooops! Here comes the bomb."

"Wait Kaname-san." The words of Homura arrived too late.

Madoka, with the momentum of the dash along with her body's lean, already was about to throw the ball.

"Toooooh!"

If this expression of effort contributed, it was not known, but the ball was traveling with speed towards the legs of Kyouko.

"Not bad." Kyouko put the left leg forward. "But I'll return it to see if you do better."

With the right foot, Kyouko kicked the ball back.

Every action has a reaction. The rebound totaled the forces of Kyouko's kick with the launch of Madoka, getting even faster.

It was a strange sight to Madoka. Kyouko, Hitomi and the other girls in the cemetery, the boys in the athletics track, everything was stopped. The only thing that moved was a red dot, growing increasingly close to her eyes. And then the whole scene was summed up in one color.

Black, black hair strands.

The ball hit the chest of Homura, just below the neckline. The impact was so strong that she lost her balance and fell backwards.

The sky was clear blue, like every day, as it should be. The chest pain subsidizes, she had worse. Homura was lying on the ground, but she had fallen much deeper than that for her love and the dirt was quite soft...

Realizing she had fallen over Madoka, Homura rolled off and dropped to her knees. The pink haired girl did not open her eyes nor move.

Did she hit her head? Homura held the head of her loved one with both hands. "Madoka! Madoka!"

Madoka opened one eye and smiled. "Hi."

"Are you all right?" Homura asked with concern.

Madoka rubbed Homura's shirt with her hand, where it bared a mark of dirt from the blow of the ball. "I guess I should ask that. Sorry for not being good at this..."

Homura sighed, relieved. "If you are well, I'm happy. That's what matters."

Homura's long hair caressed the face of Madoka. "Akemi-..."

"My bad for intruding." Kyouko was near them. "But I want to finish this game."

"Don't worry. We're done." Homura helped Madoka to stand up. After she received the ball from one of her colleagues, she went next to Kyouko. "This game is now done too."

"Hmm..." Kyouko bit her lip corner. "I agree, we just need to know who wins."

Homura was in the cemetery.

Kyouko flexed legs and torso, rubbed the hands and tapped her chest. "Bring it on! I'll not even move. When I grab your ball, the pinkette will soon join you. Heh."

Damn Kyouko! Sayaka could only observe the outcome.

Without delay, Homura did a simple throw with one hand. Still, the ball had acquired a good speed.

The destination of the ball was the head of Kyouko. "At that height? Too easy... huh?"

What was coming toward her was rounded and red, but it was not the ball, it was something smaller...

Kyouko could only discern the object when it had passed between her hands.

An... apple?!

The apple was fresh and hard, that's what Kyouko found out when it hit her forehead. Stunned, she heard the sound of celebration while she doubled over.

The teacher whistled. "End of game. The team 2 won."

Kyouko looked for the apple, but only saw the ball rolling on the ground. She told herself, "Yeah... she knows how to play."

"Kyouko!" Sayaka ran over to her.

Kyouko rubbed her forehead. "I think it won't leave a bump."

Homura also had approached. Without showing any expression, reached out to help her to get up. "It was a good game, Sakura-san."

Kyouko stood without assistance. "Let's get going, Sayaka. There's nothing here." She looked at Homura one last time, with an air of contempt, before the two left.

"Kaname-san!" Hitomi called.

Madoka answered. "Hi, Shizuki-san."

Hitomi joined hands. "What a game! You were the only one left in the field."

"Yeah, but the merit is not mine." Madoka searched for Homura, who was already walking away. "E-Excuse me."

"Um... Sure." Hitomi said smiling. "I'll get my phone back before I forget."

Madoka did not pay much attention to that comment of Hitomi. "Akemi-san!" Called as she ran after her.

Homura turned. "Yes?"

"We won!" Madoka said, excited.

"Yes... we won." Homura looked away. "Anything else?"

"Oh... ummmm..." Madoka scratched her eyebrow. She thought of extending the conversation, but had no topic in mind. Eventually decided to go to the point. "I wanted to thank you for receiving that ball instead of me. I owe you. If I can do something..."

Homura gestured, interrupting. "I don't need anything... anything more, Kaname-san."

"Madoka."

"Huh?"

"Madoka." The girl with pink hair said again. "You called me by my first name at the time when we were down."

"Oh..." Homura continued without looking at Madoka. "Forget that. It was an oversight." Then she turned her back.

Madoka held Homura's left hand. "Wait!"

Homura stood still.

"It is... no problem to call me by my first name. In the West, everyone calls each other like that so I'm used to it. Wehihi."

Madoka felt her hand being squeezed tightly.

"I-I'll keep calling you Akemi-san if you don't feel comfortable... what is better…" When Madoka finished speaking, felt a pull and was against Homura.

Homura was now facing Madoka. Their face was so close that the two felt the breath of each other. The violet eyes sparkled.

Madoka's lips parted. There were words that could be said at that time? Her heart raced.

If Madoka had no words, Homura had at least one. Her face distorted in pain and anger. A cry was enough to consummate the act. "FFFOOOOOOORRRRGGGGEEETTTTT!"

She released Madoka and ran.

"What happened?" Hitomi found a catatonic Madoka. "Kaname-san?"

Madoka turned to Hitomi without even blinking an eye. "Hi..."

"Why was Akemi-san yelling at you like that?"

"Akemi... -san? Who?" Madoka stammered.

Hitomi held Madoka's shoulders. "H-Hey? She cried at you just now."

Madoka returned to blink. "Akemi... Akemi..."

Hitomi was increasingly concerned. "Are you all right? Want me to take you to the infirmary?"

"Infirmary... infirmary... aaahhh..." A spark lit in the eyes of Madoka. "She is the nurse's aide, right? That's probably why that... Akemi must have yelled at me. I'm not feeling well and I didn't get there yet. What a silly I'm, no? Wehihi."

"Um... Let's go then." Hitomi began to guide her, suspecting that, when Madoka fallen on the ground, she really could have hit her head.

/人 ◕‿‿◕ 人\

Sayaka and Kyouko were in their seats waiting for the start of the next class.

Since the teacher had already entered, Kyouko whispered. "Hey Sayaka. A lesson passed since we got back from physical education. Madoka returned, but no sign of Homura."

Sayaka replied in the same tone, hiding her mouth with her hand. "After your exhibition..."

"What do you mean by that?"

With the teacher distracted with the whiteboard, Sayaka continued. "Are you dumb? Your kick knocked her down, don't you think she got suspicious of your strength?"

"Ah! Bullshit! Do you think I used magic?" Kyouko raised her voice. "I already kicked a lot of balls, you know."

"Girls." They drew the teacher's attention. "The class has begun."

"Sorry, sensei." Sayaka said, but quickly returned to whisper. "When did you practice soccer?"

"Soccer? What? Ah... Forget it." Kyouko waited the teacher turn to the whiteboard again. "Will you waste this golden opportunity?"

Sayaka finally decided to look at Kyouko. "We don't know where she's, or doing. She can appear at any time. It can also be a trap, like in other times. It would not be so easy..."

"Sayaka Miki! Kyouko Sakura!" The teacher was in front of their desks. "If I catch another conversation, you two will go to detention. Do you hear me?"

Sayaka lowered her head. "Yes, sensei."

The teacher stared at Kyouko.

Kyouko frowned. "I'm not deaf."

"Good." Said the teacher, with a formal smile. She would never know that, when she returned to the whiteboard, Kyouko left her tongue out.

/人 ◕‿‿◕ 人\

Today, the stairs seemed smaller to Nagisa Momoe.

The school days were going well. Takuma continued mocking and playing tricks on colleagues, including Aki. However, the 'smelly cheese' of the classroom had formed a friendship with her and Ayako.

Walking with the girls reinforced the mockery that he was a sissy, but Nagisa knew, deep down, that Aki was quite brave. At least he did not wet his pants when he received her witch's kiss.

Now all that remained was to open the door to find...

"Homura-chan?"

There was no hint of the presence of Homura on top of the school.

"Homura-chan!" Nagisa walked down the rooftop calling her, but without success.

Did I arrive too early? I'll wait a bit. Nagisa sat and start flipping through the homework that she got inside the backpack.

It's been fifteen minutes and nothing.

"Is she still in the classroom?" Nagisa mused. Then decided to check, hoping to find Homura along the way.

The hallways and rooms were well empty, but Nagisa walked with caution. She would have to answer to Homura in case she met with the other magical girls.

Platelets over the doorframe indicated the rooms of the eighth grade, which were empty. Except a room where a girl with green hair was cleaning the desks with a cloth.

Nagisa stood in the doorway. "H-Hi..."

"Hi?" Hitomi was intrigued. She left the cloth on the desk and approached. "What can I do for you, my angel?"

A familiar sweet scent invaded her nostrils. The salivary glands began an intensive work. Nagisa's stomach churned, while she remembered that wonderful flavor.

"Decorated cake..." Nagisa gaped, her tongue sliding over the lower lips.

"Huh? Cake?" Hitomi did not understood.

Nagisa winced. "Ah! I'll eat... at home. That... hehehe..."

"Um... that is good... I guess." Hitomi raised an eyebrow.

"Is this the classroom where Homura Akemi studies?" Nagisa changed the subject as soon as possible.

"Homura Akemi? Yes." Hitomi was glad that the conversation had taken a more rational way. "Are you related to her?"

"Ah... no." Nagisa looked down. "I'm... the daughter of the neighbor and… and… Homura-chan is the one responsible to take me home today because my mother... can't come."

"'Homura-chan'? You two must be very close." Hitomi smiled.

"A little." Nagisa replied with a smile too.

"I am sorry to say this." Hitomi paused, had a melancholy expression. "Akemi-san did not attend the last classes today. The last time she was seen was at the end of physical education class."

"Huh?!" Nagisa's eyes widened. "You know why?"

Hitomi pondered. It was a sensitive information, but the girl in front of her seemed to know Homura well. "She was discussing with a colleague during class."

"The hair of this colleague was blue or pink?" Nagisa had been more curious.

What question is that? Hitomi weirded. "Pink, but you know what is going on between the two? This girl I had to take to the infirmary, she was showing very strange behavior."

"Um..." Now was Nagisa who was being thoughtful. "She told me some things, but I can't reveal it."

"I see." Hitomi smiled again. "I must not meddle in these matters. I can only wish that they reconcile."

"Yeah..." Nagisa was crestfallen...

"You want me to take you home then?" Hitomi continued.

"Hi?!" ...but not for long.

Hitomi repeated. "Akemi-san is not here, but after I finish cleaning this room I can take you."

"Oh... I'm a big girl already, I can get home alone. I don't want to bother you. Hehe..." Nagisa made a bland giggle.

"There is no problem!" Hitomi insisted on offer. "By the way, I have the task to bring the accumulated homework of today to her. The sooner I deliver, the better."

"I see." Nagisa nervously rubbed her fingers on the backpack strap.

Hitomi joined hands. "Ah... Akemi-san is such a mysterious student. I could not even imagine that she was close to a lovely girl like you. It will be so good to know where she lives."

It would be catastrophic. Nagisa was sweating cold with the daydreams of Hitomi.

"Hitomi?" A male voice came from the hallway.

Hitomi was even more cheerful. "Kyousuke, my love, you are back."

"Here are the brooms that I got in the warehouse." Kyousuke was carrying two brooms, and a bucket. "Who were you talking to?"

"Well... I am still... Hmmm?" That moment of distraction was enough to Hitomi lose sight of Nagisa: she was running, around the corner of the hallway.

"Who was she?" Kyousuke asked.

"I did not ask her name..." Hitomi lamented. "I know she is the daughter of Akemi-san's neighbor."

Kyousuke frowned. "Homura Akemi? Who did not appear in class today?"

"Strange, is it not?" Hitomi was remembering that scream she heard during the physical education class.

/人 ◕‿‿◕ 人\

Homura would not come.

That was the conclusion of Nagisa, who waited at the rooftop until the arrival of dusk. Some stars had already arisen in the sky.

Where are you? Her concerns only increased. Ideas that something serious happened began to go through her head.

At least there was still a place to search.

Unfortunately, Nagisa did not know how to get to the Homura's home across the ground. All memories of school return trips involved the view of the tops of buildings and the tangle of streets below.

If she wanted to have a chance, she would have to take advantage of what was left of the illumination and fly. She could do this in her doll form, but the dark trail could attract too much attention. This time Homura was not there to hide their presence.

Then came an idea.

Nagisa, wrapped in an orange light, acquired her magical girl clothes. Her face transformed to its witch state and began to pull air through the mouth.

She pulled in until her cheeks were stuffed and then swallowed. Pulled and swallowed. Pulled and swallowed...

Then she contracted her full belly and gave a large belch. Thus, a bubble formed in her mouth. It was big, but not enough. She began to fill it with more air like a balloon.

When the bubble was the size that allowed her to stay there on foot. Nagisa pulled the bubble to her and pass through its surface without popping it. Once inside, began to blow.

The bubble rose with the gust and went over the guardrail. However, it was necessary to go higher, so no one had a chance to see a girl floating inside a bubble. Surely this would be the cover of the newspapers!

The crossing was very slow when compared to the wings of Homura. Nagisa had to blow hard to resist wind and correct the course. However, she had more time to enjoy the scenery.

The posts of the streets began to light. The subway winding fast, terminal to terminal. The Mitakihara channel with its illuminated bridges. The large skyscrapers of the modern region, where Nagisa was going, reflected the reddish light of the setting sun. The city was alive and more beautiful than ever!

Nagisa knew she could not get too close of the windows of those huge buildings. Fortunately, Homura's house was on the border between the old and modern region, she would not need to approach them.

Hanging around for a while, she recognized a bifurcation. She went down and finally smiled: she had found the residence. However, she could not just land on the pavement amid people.

If the night's pitch was a problem before, it now was an ally. She saw an alley between two nearby houses and landed on the roof of one of them. With a lithe touch of the fingertips, the bubble burst without making a sound. She checked the dark alley one last time to see if there was any possible witness. Concluding there was no one, she used her strength and agility as magical girl to reach the ground. Afterwards, her magical clothes evaporated, giving way to the mundane ones. The final touch was the face returning to human tones.

She walked the sidewalks to the entrance of the house. She did it naturally, as if the house had not the appearance of abandonment. Once in the dark hall, Nagisa focused her magic.

The portal had emerged.

At this point Nagisa realized it would be the first time she would enter alone. She brought back again her bizarre visage to avoid any problems.

Crossing the portal, Nagisa faced a commonplace scene. One of Homura's doll was juggling pyotrs, forming a large loop in the air. Next to it, two dolls was holding together a huge pin. The others jumped on the pin and used it as a springboard to jump through the middle of the loop.

"Stop! How many times have I told to not harm them." Nagisa rebuked.

The dolls, when they noticed the presence of Nagisa, were clacking their sharp teeth in debauchery.

Nagisa was emphatic. "Otherwise, I'll tell Homura-chan about who threw the bucket with pumpkin pulp in her head yesterday."

The doll who practiced juggling stopped immediately. The pyotrs, poor things, crashed on the floor. The others made a point of being in front of the fallen pyotrs, as if that were enough to hide them.

"Uuuwwwrr! How mischievous you all are. Don't know how Homura-chan..." Nagisa paused. She expected to find Homura at home, but this possibility was becoming increasingly remote. Perhaps the dolls could say anything. "Do you know where Homura-chan is?"

The dolls looked at each other and nodded affirmatively.

Nagisa's face lit up. "Really?! Please tell me!"

In unison, the dolls raised their chins. Using a finger, they passed over their exposed necks as if they were cutting it.

/人 ◕‿‿◕ 人\

At the edge of the abyss.

On the sky and on earth.

The city shines.

The heart in darkness.

Homura, still dressed in her gym uniform, watched the night of Mitakihara in her private retreat. Sitting in a chair, on the edge of a ravine, she sought the pain.

She tore the skin of her left forearm with her nails. Unfortunately, the wounds closed immediately and a mere trickle of blood was left as a witness of the act.

There was no punishment up to her sins.

"Madoka..." Her gem in form of a crown resting on the palm of the left hand. "I told you I would bear any burden."

Homura, then, extended her hand with the gem toward the chasm. "But this distance..."

The hand inclined. Just a little more was necessary to end.

As if they were moved by it, the stars in the sky began to rearrange. Lining up to form a window-shaped constellation.

In response, the gem fluctuated and rose slowly. There would be no pain, suffering would be just a memory.

The wind blew in her ears.

".tey toN"

Homura closed her hand holding the gem.

"Not yet."

/人 ◕‿‿◕ 人\

Homura, in her devilish garments, was back at home. Her conscience was still heavy, but she would not stop, must not stop, could not stop.

Entering in the hall, found her children around a large black bag. Homura knew what awaited her. Then a pyotr passed between her legs.

Homura slapped her forehead. "No! I forgot her!"

"Homura-chan!" Nagisa, with a painted face, entered the hall by the door leading to her bedroom. "I was so... Aaawwwrrrrh!"

Homura, in the blink of an eye, reached out and lifted Nagisa by the dress. "How you get here?"

"F-Flying. I know the way. Aaaawwwrrrhh!"

Homura hurled Nagisa to the ground. "You know the way? Then you took the opportunity to show to someone, right? Bastard!"

Nagisa crawled, retreating in the face of a furious Homura. "No! I came alone. You weren't at the top of the school waiting for me."

Homura did not advance.

Nagisa continued. "I was afraid that something had happened to you or with Madoka."

Homura stepped toward Nagisa. "What do you know? Tell me!"

"I..." Nagisa was lowering the tone of voice. "I know that... you discussed with her."

"Who told you this?" Homura continued the interrogation.

"I know I couldn't do that, but..." Nagisa hugged, shrugging. "I went to your classroom and found the girl of nightmares."

"Girl of nightmares?" Homura was confused for a moment. She placed the fingertips of one hand on her temple, looking away. "Ah... Shizuki..."

"What happened Homura-chan? Is Madoka okay?" Nagisa asked.

Homura closed her eyes. "Silence."

"I remember that time in the hallway. You two were calling each other by last name..." Nagisa continued.

Homura opened the eyes and raised her voice. "I said silence, witch!"

But Nagisa was insistent. "Why are you two so distant?"

"SHUUT UUPPP!" It sounded like thunder. Homura's hands were wrapped in a violet aura and ready to strike.

Nagisa did not give in, screamed even if this could be her last act. "DON'T YOU LIKE HER ANYMORE?"

"I love her." Homura gritted the teeth, her body shuddered. "How dare you. I love her. Love more than anything! That's why she remembers."

"She... remembers?"

Facing the question of Nagisa, Homura weakened. "You know what the problem of memories? Is that when you retrieve one, other memories flood in one after other."

The aura in her hands disappeared.

"The more I'm closer to her, the more she remembers about me." Homura chuckled as she stared at her hands. "Fufu. It would be no different, because I'm the last person she saw before..."

Homura fell to her knees. Her wings shriveled, the black feathers decoupled from the frame.

"Homura-chan?" Nagisa got up.

Homura was expressionless, a blank stare. "I'm a monster..." Then she received the first tomato in the head.

Nagisa saw that the dolls had a bag full of them. They threw more and more tomatoes against Homura.

"Stop it!" Nagisa gestured desperately.

But the attitude of the dolls was inexorable.

"Monster... monster... monster..." Homura remained apathetic.

Seeing no other option, Nagisa stood between Homura and dolls. She opened her arms and legs to protect Homura the best as she could against the red hail.

Some tomatoes Nagisa gobbled up, but most of them hit with force, staining her. Seeing that this would not be enough, she contracted her belly.

Releasing the serpent through the mouth, she went straight to the bag of tomatoes and devoured it. Without ammunition, the dolls fled.

After the serpent got back into her, Nagisa went to check Homura, who was in complete silence. She was shocked to see that on Homura's forehead was a black salamander with a small violet diamond-shaped gem hanging at the tip of the tail.

The salamander disappeared into the long strands of dark hair.

Isn't that the earring that she's always wearing? This was a question for later, Nagisa had more urgent problems to solve. "Homura-chan! Look at me."

With printed dismay, Homura slowly focused on Nagisa. Both were smeared with tomato pulp.

Nagisa smiled. "I'm a monster too."

Homura nodded negatively, said in a low tone. "No. You're a witch. The result of a contract with the Incubator."

"That's not it." Nagisa knelt. "You know. When Mami recovered memories for the first time, she wanted to contact the other girls. She planned to stop you."

"Of course. We are enemies."

After a pause, Nagisa continued. "But I asked her to wait. I said Madoka was strong and would recover. What you did would not last."

Homura expression gained an air of surprise. "You... dissuaded her."

"Ehihi." Nagisa left out a melancholy laughter. "It might've been true, what I was saying, but I knew you would not permit it without a fight."

Homura looked away. Would she have the courage to fight Madoka when the day came? Hurting even more for her beloved's happiness?

"I convinced myself that I was doing it to protect Mami, but deep, deep inside me..." Nagisa put her hand over her chest. "I'm a selfish person who wants to have a normal life. One that my mother wish I had."

Homura gave a grim smile. "Fufu. So we are two monsters... but two, three, hundreds... this does not diminish our fault."

Nagisa held Homura's hands. "Someone once told me that when you reach a point where you don't know what else you can do, then you can do something wrong. And then, one day, you'll realize that it was the right thing to do."

The two intertwined fingers.

Nagisa continued. "I'm very happy and I'm sure that Madoka is too. I trust you Homura-chan. I'm a witness of your struggle."

Homura pursed her lips and closed her eyes tightly. "Charlotte... I..." She did not utter another word before she felt herself being hugged.

"You no longer need to hold it, Homura-chan. I'm with you."

Nagisa felt the sob of Homura in a mixture of tears and tomatoes.


Next chapter: Terrifying discovery