A small cafe in Mitakihara-Late Afternoon
Sayaka couldn't restrain her disbelief.
"So...the girl asked you some crazy question, started talking nonsense, and then bolted down the hallway...and you still think she's normal?"
"I still think there's an explanation, and I don't think we should be talking about her behind her back." Madoka replied.
"How can we not talk about this? I totally called it. That girl is crazy."
"Odd, maybe." Madoka interjected with a hint of annoyance "But not crazy. Besides, it's her first day. Give her some time."
"If I might add, she seemed interested in you. Maybe you're star-crossed lovers and her words are a cryptic messaging?" Hitomi added.
Junko's words about admirers echoed in Madoka's mind, sending her into a little bit of a blush
This also put new ideas in Sayaka's head as well, evident by the smug grin on her face.
"What would you wish for, Madoka?" Sayaka nervously asked to an invisible figure in a bad impression of Homura.
"You, of course. My love, Homura. Let our bonds stretch across time and space." She responded in a high-pitched tone.
"I do not sound like that" Madoka stated, getting up and facing the two of them. "Right?"
Hitomi gave her a questionable look.
"I don't know. You do have a high voice…" Hitomi responded. "It's a tough call." Before she could respond further, Hitomi got up to leave.
"It's gotten so late. Time flies, doesn't it?"
"What is it today, Hitomi?" Sayaka asked her.
"Tea ceremony lessons." She responded. "And with exams coming up as well…" Hitomi waved the girls goodbye as she walked out of the cafe. "Good luck, and I hope you have a nice day."
Sayaka nudged Madoka, gesturing for her to get up.
"I'll be going to the music store after this. I want to pick up something for Kyousuke while I'm out. Wanna come?"
Madoka absentmindedly nodded, still thinking about the mysterious transfer student.
Sayaka instantly went for the classical music section upon entering the store, digging through CD after CD for just the right one. Madoka, meanwhile, began listening to some music off a pair of small headphones. While she was lost in thought, she felt something brush up against her leg.
"Meow?"
She looked down to see a small, white cat rubbing on her leg. It was oddly cute, but…
The cat bolted towards a nearby door in the back of the store. Dropping everything, she rushed towards it.
Please don't get hurt
Sayaka looked off from her digging, watching Madoka run out the door. With worry, she slowly followed her.
"Madoka?"
It didn't take long to catch up to her. The two of them were in a dark space, stretching as far as their eyes would let them. Madoka clutched a small cat in her arms.
"What happened?" Sayaka asked with concern.
Madoka began stroking the cat.
"One minute, this cat was rubbing up against me, and the next it was running up here."
"Well, if you're gonna go chasing cats around, can you tell me first?" She responded with frustration. "I was worried about...you…"
Madoka looked up at Sayaka.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Madoka asked. Sayaka didn't respond, instead blankly staring off into the distance.
She looked up, and she saw it as well.
A young girl, probably about their age, danced around the room. She wore a bright yellow costume, her hair done in what can only be described as drills. She carried two toy muskets in her hands, softly humming a tune of some kind as she shot some invisible objects.
"Hey, Madoka...you don't believe in ghosts, do you?" Sayaka asked nervously.
"N-No. Of course not. Do you?"
"I didn't, but…"
The girl paid in mind to their conversation, only looking in their direction to seemingly shoot something behind them. Sayaka only seemed to flinch, while Madoka was in full panic.
The girl continued humming before joining the two muskets together and facing upwards.
"TIRO FINALE" The girl shouted, faking a recoil into the ground and finishing her humming.
The two girls were speechless.
Sayaka nudged Madoka's shoulder, pointing off towards another part of the room where the transfer student sood nervously, dressed in a black dress of some kind.
"Still getting in my way, I see. I don't trust you, you know." The girl in yellow stated to Homura.
Homura grew more nervous.
"T-that was mine and you know it."
The girl in yellow let herself smile.
"Next time we meet, it'll be as enemies." The girl responded. "Besides. I have 2 shining pupils over there. You're no match for me."
"No you don't" The two thought simultaneously
Sayaka got up to leave, but the girl was already rushing towards them.
"Thank god you're alright. These labyrinths can be really dangerous, you know. You're lucky to be alive."
Before either could react, the girl continued.
"I see you rescued Kyubey as well. Nice job."
The cat simply meowed in response.
"You're right. They look like they have a lot of potential."
Was she...talking to the cat?
"Telepathy" She responded to the unanswered question, yet still making nothing clearer. "I can explain everything once we come back to my place. I have tea and sweets, and it gets awfully lonely."
Madoka wasn't sure when she said the words "I'll come along", but she was suddenly staring down a very happy girl while Sayaka tried to run off.
"You'll come along too, right?"
Sayaka shook her head.
"I have…" She started, trying to think of a good excuse. "Exams coming up. Yeah, that's it. Very difficult exams. I really have to study, and Madoka is my partner, right?"
The girl interjected.
"You two are second years, right? I'm actually a third year, and I can help you study." She responded. "Of course, academics like that are a trivial matter to me, but I'm sure I can of help."
Sayaka stopped in between the two girls and the door. A few moments passed before Sayaka reluctantly turned around.
"Fine. I'll come along with you. For studying."
"Of course." The girl replied. "However, i can't leave you in a traumatized state like that without explaining what you saw, with the witch and all."
"Oh, I'm traumatized, but not because of some witch." Sayaka thought to herself
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself." The girl stood up, shining a regal pose with her muskets. "My name is Tomoe Mami, Veteran Magical Girl, but you can just call me Mami."
Once again, the girls were speechless. Madoka stood up, noting the girls obvious embarrassment.
"What is it, Mami?" Madoka asked, instantly regretting the question.
Mami shyly fiddled with herself.
"Do..you know a place where I can...transform? Discreetly?"
"You mean a changeroom? There's one in that clothing store across the mall." Madoka responded.
"They serve the same purpose, but I can't have outsiders knowing I'm a magical girl." She responded, making her way to the door. "I'll meet you outside the store. Don't be too late."
A few moments later, Homura rushed beside them.
"You can't see me. You don't know I'm here."
The two stood still for a long time, unsure of what to say.
"You still think those two aren't crazy?" Sayaka asked.
Madoka wasn't sure anymore.
A/N: Don't expect updates this fast, but I'm unsure of how I want to update this story. In any case, I'm off, and I'll see you in the next chapter.