"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words."
- Goethe, Bk. V, Ch. 1

Mami Tomoe was displeased to say the least. She managed to contain her tears to just a light shimmer over the eyes after leaning on the floor-to-ceiling window of her kitchen, as the thought of the alternative, breaking down in front of her dear friends, sunk a deep pit of despair into her. She wasn't sure whether to be thankful or not on her mature self control. Her thoughts were jumbled and confused and spiralling in a dozen directions, a real mess.

She was about to grab a tissue to blow out her nose when she heard the almost silent footsteps of Akemi entering from the living room. Mami did not look up, her eyes scrutinizing the weave and weft of her costumed arms that were currently hugging her sides. It was a bit suprising that Madoka or Sayaka had not come to comfort her, though perhaps they too recognized that hugs and comforting words were not enough for this wound. Something at the back of her mind had been let loose in her psyche, bluntly letting her know the only way to truly heal from this was to confront the one responsible.

Akemi stood silently like a statue in her school uniform gazing out at the sunset spreading it's multicoloured rays across the distant clouds. With her characteristic posture of stoic equanimity she didn't move a single muscle.

After a few minutes Akemi let out a long sigh, levelled her gaze with Mami, and coughed into her fist. Mami took that as the cue to revert back to her normal clothes and muster the courage to look up and back into those haunting orbs.

Huh, she was standing only two meters away, Mami thought, a lot closer than her footsteps had indicated. Did the black haired girl not fear my ribbons at all even without her costume? Just how fearless was she? Mami's body involuntarily shuddered at the prospect of facing the girl in real combat.

"Tomoe... My apologies. I phrased my outburst poorly, I momentarily thought we were familiar enough for that to have been acceptable language. I will try not to repeat my lapse of judgement. Can I ask for your forgiveness?"

Mami considered the offer for a long moment, "You may ask, but I may not forgive."

She knew she was being spiteful now, yet both the childish aspect of her psyche and her gut agreed, as rare as that was, that if she were to give in now she would never be free from Akemi's designs.

She had to stand her ground. Had to. If not for her self alone, then for the more impressionable bluenette and pinkette. There was just no way letting this disturbing girl free reign over Mitikhara could ever work.

There was a pregnant silence while the aloof girl pondered her next words.

"Do you remember your ancient philosophy from literature and history?"

Mami blinked. "Beg your pardon?"

"Do the names Plato, or Confucius, or Scorates, or Laozi, or Tacitus, or Zhuangzi ring a bell?

She blinked again. "Welll... some of them sound vaguely familiar..."

Another pregnant silence as Akemi quirked an eyebrow.

"I will refrain from admonishing you for slacking off your homework Tomoe. Though I am more than willing to provide remedial lessons as recompense." She said with the tiniest of wry grins.

Suppressing any hint of a blush Tomoe coughed, took a tissue and blew her nose.

"Was that a joke that I just heard?"

Akemi's other eyebrow arched up and she turned to look back at the sunset.

Mami decided to offer an olive branch, metaphysically, to hopefully goad a more light-hearted Homura out of her thick shell. After all, yesterday's events proved that at least the aloof girl wasn't a complete nemesis.

"I would be glad to hear what's on your mind."

Those deep eyes turned back to a level, yet somewhat softer, gaze.

"The wise person looks into space and does not regard the small as too little, nor the great as too big, for they know that, there is no limit to dimensions. That's a famous quote from the Chinese philosopher known as Zhuangzi. He is famous for the Butterfly dream, a famous Taoist parable, that I'm sure you did your homework on in first year Tomoe."

"Hmm that's the one where he wakes up unable to tell whether he was a butterfly dreaming of being a man or a man dreaming of being a butterfly right?"

"Correct. My behaviour would make more sense if you ignore my apparent pettiness or grandiosity, as they may appear in the course of events, and assume that external forces, beyond your understanding, are at work upon us all and influence my actions imperceptibly as I seek to counteract them. As if I were awake in a dream world, or vice versa."

Now it was Mami's turn to quirk her eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Indeed."

"Would you be so kind as to provide an example Akemi?"

Another long silence, her gaze sharpening.

"We are already representatives, and enforcers, of a parallel society, an entire parallel reality really if you think about it... that's as much of a hint as I can give. It is not my place to offer the knowledge that you are subconsciously still unready for Tomoe. I have learned my lesson."

"Hmmph. Back to your arrogance and cryptic riddles I see." Mami exhaled deeply.

Akemi moved to lean next to her by the window, face impassive yet almost daring her to react.

"Conventional people are roused to fury by departures from convention, largely because they regard such departures as a criticism of themselves. So said Bertrand Russell, someone you are more familiar with Tomoe. Although I would never label you as conventional, there are times where your stubborness interferes with thinking outside the box." She said with her small grin reappearing.

"Have our lessons moved on from really old philosophy to somewhat old philosophy now?"

Mami couldn't help but chuckle at this queer conversation. They were magical girls after all, risking life and limb every week, how could spending the time for such serious introspection be of any future use?

The rays of the setting sun reached it's peak angle into the kitchen, scattering every surface in a prismatic glow through the coloured glass. These were the small moments that lifted her spirits in the tedium of lonely existence after Sakura...

"I do not regard myself as being bound by conventional norms or social niceties that so often accumulate unquestioningly when we are not careful. Yes, even magical girls, as norm breaking as they behave, are guilty of that Tomoe, especially magical girls that contract young."

Akemi did her trademark hair swish as the individual strands momentarily casted a kaleidoscope of shadows on the opposite wall. Mami couldn't help but stare.

Her eyes, pools of deep gold, then silently gazed into their opposing pair.

"Hmm, well I appreciate your interesting little speech Akemi, but -"

"OH Come ON! What are you two babbling on about?" Sayaka shouted as she stomped into the kitchen with Madoka in tow, "Jeez. My butt was getting sore waiting for you both to make up."

Mami and Madoka tittered in response. "My, Sayaka, you sound like a boy. Why don't you join us."

The blunette crossed her arms and huffed while looking out the window, "Well excuse me for trying to have some fun! "

"Miss Akemi here seems to greatly enjoy fun in the form of philosophical debate, I'm sure she would be willing to share." Mami giggled again.

Sayaka stuck her tongue out and blew a raspberry, which Akemi pretended to ignore with a quirk of her head.

Mami clapped her hands cheerfully, "Well everyone, since we still have so much food left over and as there doesn't appear to be any trouble tonight we can stay late or even have a sleepover, if your parents agree of course."

Madoka quickly smiled, "If it helps us become friends, I'd be more than willing to stay."

The older girls both blushed. Sayaka tried to hide her smile.

"Thanks Madoka, I hope your okay with what I've said..." Akemi said, almost demurely.

Madoka beamed in response and went for a hug, "Your my friend Homura! I'd be willing to listen all night if that helps!"