Keys to the Contract

Chapter 2

Looks Like My Summer Vacation is Beginning!

"Now class. While you may be tempting to rush off to whatever fun adventurous things you have planned during summer break, it is important to think about your future. More specifically, your relationship future. One could simply run off, playing mindless games while on vacations. However, you are unknowingly squandering your own light in the process. The light of your youth! Right Nakazawa? You always think there will be more time, and then you suddenly run out of time and that light fades into darkness. You become more and more desperate, but your light has gone out. You keep looking, but they always want someone a bit more brighter. It's a hopeless task. So don't waste your light or you'll be alone and sad and full of regrets. Nakazawa, what do you regret?"

"Sitting in the front row!"

"Now girls. It's important to build a good foundation of relationships and contacts so..."

Madoka had gotten used to tuning out Ms. Saotome's rants until she got back on topic to the actual lesson. Instead, she found her attention drawn to Homura. She had appeared in several places in her dream, which Madoka remembered with explicit detail, almost as if it had actually happened.

Which was strange. She hadn't had much interaction with Homura since the beginning of the school year. Come to think of it, had anyone? Madoka never saw her with friends or even just casually conversing with others. She was top of their class in every subject, but nobody knew anything meaningful about her. She wasn't in any clubs and didn't participate in any extracurricular activities. She was a mystery. The only notable thing was Sayaka's strange and intense dislike of her.

She also looked fairly sad. Her eyes had bags to them, like she was sleep-deprived. Madoka also realized that she had never seen her smile. Why? She wondered. She also wondered why she was thinking this much about a near complete stranger.

Then again she had appeared in her dream. Though admittedly, that wasn't much to go by. But her curiosity was already piqued. Besides, it was the last day of the school year. She probably wouldn't see her for a few months, and that's if she even continued to stay at Mitakihara Academy. With her talents, she could probably skip a grade or even multiple, or even get accepted to some super prestigious institute. Might as well try.

Lunch came soon enough, and Madoka made her way to the schools cafe. Sure enough, Homura was sitting alone, staring out the window, idly picking at her food. She saw Sayaka and her other friends sitting at a different table. Madoka inhaled deeply, and exhaled. She then sat down opposite Homura, while Sayaka's mouth dropped.

Homura turned to face her and her eyes widened slightly, clearly surprised. Her expression quickly resumed it's default dull state, as if she was just bored.

"Madoka Kaname? What are you doing here?"

"Well, you seemed to be sitting here alone..."

"I've been doing so for the entire year. Why start now?" Homura asked.

"Well it's the last day of school and-"

"Madoka Kaname. Why are you really here?"

"I had this dream about you!" Madoka blurted out, and then winced. That… was really awful. She now probably thought she was really weird and creepy and…

"Oh? Like what?" Instead of backing away, Homura leaned forwards slightly, resting her chin on the back of her hands. "What was it about?"

Madoka breathed an internal sigh of relief. "Well, you see..."

Madoka launched into the description of her dream. Even now, she could still remember it all in such vivid detail which was surprising, she rarely remembered what happened in her dreams. At one point while describing it, Madoka swore she saw Homura's eyes glow, but it must have been a trick of the light.

"Is that it?" Homura asked, once Madoka stopped talking.

"Well… that's when I woke up."

"So it seems."

"So, what do you think it means?"

"Means? Why would it mean anything?"

"Well, it felt so real." Madoka insisted.

"Some people think dreams are messages from beyond, or visions of the future or the like. Do you believe in any of that?"

"Well… not really." Madoka said.

"Others think they're manifestations of the subconscious." Homura suggested.

"I don't know anything about psychology though..."

"Then it must have been just a dream. Realistic or not. Right?"

"I guess…"

"Hmm..." Homura shrugged returned to eating.

Not wanting to end on so awkward a note, Madoka tried to continue the conversation. "So, have you thought about the future?"

"The future?"

"Like, what are you going to do over the summer? Are you going to vacation anywhere? Do something fun?"

"I haven't really given it any thought." Homura replied flatly. She began to stare out the window again. "Why do you ask?"

"I dunno, you just seem like you don't have much fun. I've never seen you smile. It might do you some good to do something you enjoy."

"mmm..." Homura continued to stare out the window.

"I know it's kinda presumptous, but… Er…" Homura didn't appear to be paying attention. Madoka sighed. "I guess I'll go now."

After lunch, Madoka met up with her other friends sans Nagisa (because primary schoolers had different schedules) and was approached by Sayaka.

"What were you doing talking to Homura?" She demanded.

"I was curious. Why?"

"Your okay, aren't you?" Sayaka asked, clear concern showing on her face. She placed her hands on Madoka's shoulders. "SHe didn't do anything to do, did she?"

"Like what?" Madoka asked.

"Yeah, what's the big deal?" Mami asked.

"I'm telling you, she's bad news!" Sayaka turned to the others.

"Why? What'd she ever do to you?" Mami asked.

"Nothing, I guess... It's just that whenever I see her, my skin crawls. She creeps me out. Somethings… just... not right with her."

Madoka sighed internally. Sayaka tended to get like this at times.

"Pfft, yeah right! Are ya' sure it ain't just you?" Kyoko said.

"Like what?"

"You probably just have a crush on her!" Kyoko teased.

"I do not!" Sayaka replied.

"Nah, you totally do!"

"I'm telling you I don't! There's no way I'd be into someone like her!"

"Hah, I can see it all over your face!" Kyoko pressed.

"No you can't! You're making that up!"

In an effort to keep things from getting out of hand, Mami asked. "So, Madoka, what are you doing over the summer?"

Madoka brightened. "Were going to America again!"

Sayaka paused from her argument with Kyoko. "Wait, you're not moving back, are you?!"

"No! Were just going on vacation! Mama has this big business conference she has to go to, so were all going to New York! Were turning it into a family trip!"

"Wow! So cool!" Sayaka said. "You'll have to tell me all about it!"

"What, like send some of those shitty postcards?" Kyoko asked. "Wish you were here! But not really, because I love imagining your jealousy! Then you can bore us with vacation slides when you get back!"

"I'm not like that!" Madoka said. "I wish I could bring all you along with me."

"I'm not jealous… Well, a little."

"You shouldn't be! It'll all be okay." Kyoko said.

"Why?" Sayaka asked.

"Because you've got Homura!" She laughed.

"Not this again?!" Sayaka shouted.

"It's written all over your face again!" Kyoko said.

Sayaka reached for her, but Kyoko danced out of her grip, and then laughed as she ran down the hallway, Sayaka in hot pursuit.

"Oh dear..." Mami sighed. "Here we go again..."

~Dragonexx