(A.N.: Sorry for the delay. I already had the chapter done, but couldn't upload, for crappy wifi. Am almost done with the next one!)

...

[Chapter 4: Of Hateful Purrs]

"I'm sorry that I sort of tracked you down and all."

Homura's mind froze. She was a person who had little idea about how society functioned.

The meaning of 'tracking people down' and what it hinted towards escaped her mind. Maybe Homura did have a thought, of having a potential stalker. But the idea was rejected by her mind, partially because nobody would want to stalk someone like Homura, but mostly because of Madoka being so nice a person.

"Its okay!" Homura waved her arms, as her eyes widened even more. "Its nice of you to bring my umbrella back... You really went through that much trouble for me?"

Madoka looked at her hand. Her fingers clasped the umbrella as tight as she could, whitening her knuckles. She was still out of breath, panting slightly. She looked at Homura and extended the purple object towards the bespectacled girl.

Homura took the umbrella from Madoka's hand, and mumbled a very polite "Thank you."

"Oh, you don't have to do that" Madoka said, a little flustered. "I agree, it was unlike me to do something so drastic without thinking. But I kind of thought we were friends already."

Homura's stomach was now not filled with regret. But with an emotion she had never felt before. Too bad her mind couldn't keep up.

"What?"

Madoka sighed. "Homura-chan. I would like to be your friend." She said outright, with proper pauses. "I want to get to know you better... If thats okay..."

"But you went through so much trouble to give this back to me..." Homura pondered, looking at her umbrella. "How did you even find me?"

Madoka snapped back to her usual self. She was now fully aware how far she had went. She practically tracked Homura down like a stalker, she thought.

But no, she was blinded by her own altruistic midset. Giving the lost property of another was all she had in mind...

...Right?

"I recognized your uniform?" Madoka knew that her words and her actions were rather forceful. And she wondered if she would have done the same for anyone else. It troubled herself, that she had gone this far.

Homura, being inexperienced as ever, didn't take note of this. She bought Madoka's reasoning, and nodded in understanding.

Her throat was parched. So she gulped now and then, trying to moisten it. Her mind was so occupied with the thought of Madoka that she had forgotten to bring water to school today.

The pink haired girl was hyper aware of her discomfort, so she took it upon herself to be of aid.

"Thirsty?" She tilted her head slightly, before chuckling lightly. "I'll buy you a drink, Homura-chan."

Homura was going to refuse her offer, even if she was certain that her mouth was practically sand at that point. Madoka has helped her enough. She felt guilty of taking advantage of Madoka's selfless actions. A girl like herself doesn't deserve this much kindness, she had thought.

But before she could open her mouth to say anything, Madoka spoke up.

"If you would let me walk you home, that is..."

Oh no! Homura did not like it one bit. The internal struggle that ensued in her consciousness, between humility and desire seemed to go on at a violent rate. She wasn't sure if her internal monologue reflected on her face or not, but at this point, she didn't care.

Desire won.

Her heartbeat echoed in her own ears, and she had never known it could beat that fast!

She had goosebumps all over her arms, a shiver ran down her spine at the very thought of walking home with a friend.

A friend. Madoka was her friend.

Fireworks went on inside her mind, her feet tickled slightly, her joy ran rampant.

Is this what fulfilment felt like?

She nodded, her pigtails waving. Madoka smiled as she saw Homura light up in a bundle of joy. It looked like the sheer joy child felt while opening up their first birthday present.

Seeing her that happy, however, made Madoka want to protect that joy. A shiver ran down her spine as well, some blood rushing to her cheeks.

'Wait. Am I blushing?', Madoka thought. 'I am not even embarrassed! Maybe I am coming down with a fever.'

Soon, lightly concerned Madoka, and a joyful Homura started side by side, towards the home of the latter.

After the promised drink, of course.


"Madoka's still not here," Sayaka said, a plastic straw held between her teeth, as she leaned her head back onto the bed, and looked up at the ceiling fan. She was sitting down on the floor, a glass table in front of her, where a glass of juice was halfway consumed. Another glass was also there, but the juice in it was long gone.

It was Madoka's room.

Kyoko turned the page of the manga she had in her hands, absent-mindedly kicking her raised up legs as she wriggled onto a more comfortable position. She was lying stomach down on Madoka's bed, and Sayaka was sitting to her left, by her legs.

"No shit, Sherlock," The red haired one said lazily. Sayaka deadpanned at her insult. "Its that Catholic schoolgirl. Maybe they're hanging out."

"Yeah..." Sayaka raised a hand up to the ceiling, rays of lights being blocked from her vision. It was evening, and was getting dark. The lights in the room were turned on.

"I wonder if they're having fun, though" Sayaka continued. "Maybe they are having the time of their lives, hanging out."

Kyoko hummed a response, she didn't pay them any concern. As long as she was comfy, and had food, Kyoko didn't care. Madoka was her close friend, but what she did in her free time, was not her duty to judge. As long as nothing dangerous was involved, that is.

Sayaka's guess, on the other hand, was not that far off.


"Oh no!" An olive haired girl screamed at a shrill voice. "Someone help me! This being is pure evil!"

Madoka looked at Hitomi, who was about to unleash a scream at the highest pitch known to mankind, and then at Homura, who was really worried about the event.

Oh God.
...

Earlier, after buying Homura that drink, the two of them were on their merry way, when suddenly Madoka heard, and soon recognized to be, Hitomi cursing from a distance. She grew worried, and grabbed Homura's hand to reach there, and as soon as she did, she was greeted with an unpleasant sight.

A cat was making seething gestures to the green haired girl, who was adamant on petting it.

The cat was white, resembling a little kitten, and it was like a regular stray feline everyone was accustomed to seeing.

Apparently, Hitomi tried to pet it while it was sleeping, and now the kitten held nothing but hatred towards her. It scratched the hand of Hitomi, who, despite being hurt, tried her level best to pet it.

If the kitten was scared, it would have run off already.

It was in its eyes, Madoka could see. Pure hatred, pure anger.

What did Hitomi even do to inspire such wrath from such a tiny creature?

And now that Hitomi has provoked it, the kitten did something unexpected. It jumped and latched onto Hitomi's face, digging its frontal claws into her forehead, its hind legs latched onto her jaw, and its tail dangling.

Homura, on seeing this, threw her bag off her shoulders and screamed at the top of her lungs while running towards Hitomi.

"Hold on! I'll save you!"

Homura's voice shook with uncertain heroism, but Madoka didn't say anything about it.
She raised an arm, and wanted to stop Homura from provoking the angered kitten any further.

But it was too late.

Soon, she was stuck in her spot, an audience to the spectacle that unfolded before her. A shy, bespectacled girl trying her best to pry a feline away from the face of a girl who was screaming tame obscenities, while the kitten looked contended, its face filled with sadistic satisfaction.

-(End of Chapter 4)-

I am not sure whether I should portray Hitomi with evilness, or someone who is friendly. She's canon homophobic, as people say. I haven't decided that for myself.

In case anybody didn't get it, the white cat is a nod to Kyuubei. I'll insert lowkey references to the original storyline, and if you have a good eye and can catch them, send me a PM. Wink.

Feedback is always welcome as well.

Stay safe,

DSH99