Madoka called me. I wonder what is it about? I answered her call:

Madoka: " Umm, Homura-chan? "

' Yes, Madoka? '

Madoka: " I, do want to come with you but I don't know how to convince my mom to let me go. What should I tell her? "

' That... that is actually a good question. I don't know to be honest. Let me think of something, I will call you. You should wait until then. '

Madoka: " Alright then. I am waiting for your call. Bye! "

' Bye. '

Hmm, this will be tricky. I have literally no idea how to make this happen. What will I do, say " Hey ma'am, we are taking your daughter so that her enemies can follow us instead of targeting who knows who. " ?

No, this is very delicate. I can't just abduct Madoka and be done with it. I don't have any idea or experience. This needs a tactful approach. I guess I will have to ask Mami.

I called out for her

Mami: " What is it, Homura? "

' Well, you see... '

Mami: " Hm? "

' I kind of rushed with the whole plan and I don't know how to bring Madoka with us without making it look like we abducted her. Do you have any idea how to convince her family to come with us? '

Mami: " I see... I don't know her family, we have never met. How about you? Do they know you? "

' Nah, they don't know me either. '

Mami: " We need someone they know. "

' Well, there is Sayaka; but she is our age and I don't know how she could convince Madoka's family. If she got her own mother to play along they might convince them but that is also pretty much impossible. '

Mami: " So, we need to have Sayaka's mother, correct? "

' Yes, it might work with her on our side but how could we get her to help us? '

Mami: " ... There is a way. But you have to choose. "

I raised my eyebrows.

' Choose what? '

Mami: " I might be able to create a replica of Sayaka's mother and control her to convince Madoka's family. But doing so will deplete my magical reserves. You will have to choose between my combat capability and this. "

' You can create humans? '

Mami: " I wouldn't call them that, more like a human-looking marionette. I have never done it before but I know I can pull it off. "

Hmm, having Mami play Sayaka's mother would be our best chance but doing so will leave me alone against Oriko and Kirika, again. Last time I was lucky but they should be more careful this time. On the other hand, I can stop time and that alone should be enough. If worse comes to worst, I will get Shuzo to help me out. I guess I can pull it off...

I shook my head. That's not the way I am supposed to think. I will pull it off. Yeah, that's more like it.

Now, time to call Sayaka again...