To Save Two Friends
Steins;Gate and Madoka Magica
Chapter Fourteen
2015.12.22 - 3:33 PM JST
Tuesday
School went on as normal, but I had never felt so tense. Honda seemed to be everywhere and always when I didn't want to see her. I didn't understand what was happening anymore. I was so distracted by this, that I wasn't able to connect with Madoka at all. In fact, I barely got to see her. School ended and I felt horrible as I approached the lab coat wearing fool waiting for me outside my door.
"What happened today?" He asked me. "You look… different."
I wasn't surprised by Okabe's observation. There were so many emotions going through my head, it was starting to overwhelm me. I wasn't about to admit that though.
"I'm fine." I told him. "Let me unlock the door."
I opened the door. We walked inside and resumed the same positions as last time. We needed a new plan to save Madoka and Mayuri. It was clear that their exact time death was not fixed, but probably boxed within a seven or eight hour window. Okabe and I weren't having any luck coming up with new ideas though. Whenever one of us proposed something, the other had already tried it in a previous timeline. We were even more stuck than before. I sighed and looked up in frustration. That's when I saw her. On the roof, watching us through a skylight, was a mysterious girl with brown hair.
This girl started to panic the moment she realized I saw her. Okabe turned his head to see what I was looking at. He caught a glimpse of the girl just as she fled. A name escaped his mouth.
"Suzuha?"
Okabe then bolted out the door without saying anything more. I ran after him, but he had a head start. Okabe was out of sight by the time I got outside. I shook my head and glanced at my phone. It was 6:34 PM. The witch at the mall was going to appear in about an hour. I had to get over there. I grabbed my bag and headed to the train station. Okabe was a grown adult, I was sure he could take care of himself.
I arrived in the basement warehouse just in time to see the witch's labyrinth form. I rushed to the centre and found Madoka and Sayaka sitting on the ground. They were thankfully being protected by Mayuri and Mami. I transformed into my own magical girl outfit and fought the witch as well. The fight didn't take very long with the three of us working together.
The dust soon cleared and the witch's labyrinth collapsed. Things were going smoothly for the most part. I was about to introduce myself to the group when a sixth person suddenly appeared. It was Honda. She was elevated over us, standing on a tower of wooden crates.
I studied her and my jaw hit the floor. Her outfit. She was a magical girl too? That was weird enough by itself, but what was that thing attached to her arm? It was my shield. Did she swipe it when I wasn't looking? I actually had to take a glance at my own arm just to make sure it was still there. Honda didn't steal it, but then how did she have a replica? It was just another item on the list of mysteries surrounding this girl.
Well, I was growing tired of playing this game of smoke and mirrors. I had so many questions and this time I going to force an answer out of her. I quickly jumped up to Honda's position and restrained her, or at least that's what I thought. Honda had just enough wiggle room to reach for her shield and switch on the time freeze mechanism. Everything stopped, but the atmosphere grew even more tense.
"What are you afraid of?" I taunted her. "Getting your butt kicked with an audience? Or did you seriously think I was going to freeze while holding onto you?"
"Neither." Honda replied, her voice cracking. "I just want to talk."
At first, I thought she was only saying this so she could escape after I released her, but her face told me a different story. Honda looked like she was on the verge of crying. Her arms broke free of my grip and formed a tight embrace around me. I was so surprised that I nearly fell over.
"I'll… I'll never fight you, Homura!" Honda loudly announced. "That's a promise!"
My mind went completely blank. None of this was making sense. Honda acting all like Madoka all of the sudden. What was up with that? Honda sensed that things were getting awkward and regained her composure.
She broke the hug and took a step back. Time was still frozen though, so we had to remain holding hands. That was until Honda restored everything back to normal and dropped her magical girl outfit. She dug her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. Honda created a magical pen and wrote on the paper before handing it to me. I accepted the paper and Honda prepared to leave.
"I've written down an address and a time for you." She told me. "That's where we'll talk. Don't be late."
Honda then turned her back to me and headed into the shadows. I jumped down back towards Mami and the rest group.
"I'm Akemi Homura." I introduced myself. "Sorry about that. I had to deal with her."
"It's fine. Tomoe Mami." Mami responded. "I'm not sure what you did there, but it certainly got that girl off her high horse. What did she give you?"
"Just a piece of paper."
I showed them the side of the paper the information on it. Madoka then pointed out something I had missed
"Wait, isn't that an envelope, Akemi-san?"
I took another look at it and Madoka was right. It was an envelope. How did I make a mistake like that? I actually released a short dry laugh, the first in awhile.
"Funny, I didn't notice that. I thought it was just some thick paper. I think there might even be something in here."
I opened the unsealed envelope and pulled out a single photograph. It appeared to a family portrait. Honda was standing in the middle of the photo, with two adult women standing behind her. One woman had dark black hair and purple eyes, while the other had red eyes and hair that was bright and pink. Something felt off about the picture, but I just couldn't place it. Then it hit me. My eyes widened when the answer finally came. N-no, it couldn't be that… right?
"Hey transfer student, what's wrong?" Sayaka sincerely asked me. "It looks like you're about to faint."
"I'm fine." I lied to her. I then turned towards Mami. "I'm sorry, but I need to go now. I won't be able to make to your apartment tonight."
"Wait… how did you know…?"
I quickly made a dash towards the exit before Mami could even finish her question. I didn't stop running until I was well outside the mall. I entered a park area and collapsed onto a conveniently placed bench. I couldn't stop staring at the photo though. Who were these women? I was pretty sure I knew the answer, but it almost seemed to good to be true. I was overjoyed and honoured, but also very scared at the same time. With no one around to hear me, I released this thought in the form of two questions.
"Is Honda also a time traveller? And… and are Madoka and I her parents?"
******
(Chapter Fifteen: Out Now!)