Light started to filter through the windows blinders, the dust in the air shining as if it was made of diamonds when the light bounced off the small particles. The sound of cars had been present for a while already, their engines echoing inside the apartment whenever they passed by. Homura straightened her back against the old wooden chair in front of her desk, the girl dropping her pen as she did so. She looked back at the finished homework that the teachers would be sending next week, having spent the whole night just doing it in advance out of anxiety.

Homura looked at the old style alarm clock on her desk, its small hand pointing at the stylized nine. Judging by the time, Madoka would probably be awake already, a thought popping in Homura's mind. She could just… watch her; see if she is awake. But it had been heavier in her conscience to watch the girl from her soul gem lately. She used to have the excuse of getting her 'Daily Madoka Dosage' but now that not only was she seeing her every day but they were also dating… Well, it felt wrong to Homura.

Let's just watch her a bit. Tiny peek, make sure she is okay.

"There is no need for that" Homura thought to answer the Devil, getting up from the chair and walking towards the door "Reiketsu is watching over her to make sure she is okay"

Oh, and you trust a doll just like that? They've been talking behind your back you know~

Homura tried to think of an appropriate answer to the Devil that wouldn't make her fall into her blatant provocation. She walked outside of her room and into the main hall of her apartment, the sound of the old wood creaking with every step she took. Even after everything that had happened after Madoka became a concept, her apartment going back to how it used to be instead of the magically altered one she habited during the loops still felt weird.

"I don't care what they've been talking about" Homura opened the door to her living room. Mie and Namake were playing with Amy, the dolls turning for a second to look at Homura before going back to the cat. "They may not like me or my methods, but I know they will protect Madoka at all costs"

You talk like that, but at the same time you won't let any doll other than Reiketsu alone with her. - The Devil mentally scoffed – Picking favorites? That's not something a mother should do~

"I trust that Reiketsu won't let her own feelings get the better of her" Homura walked into the small kitchen of her apartment and started preparing a coffee, the old machine coming to life with a whirring noise. "In that sense, I trust her more with it than myself"

Homura focused her magic to try and sever the connection with the Devil, it taking a bit more of effort than the last times she had done so. With her emotions being a mess – a positive mess for the first time in her life – the fifteenth doll – she preferred to think of it that way rather than to think she had gone completely insane – had been having a bit of a tighter grasp around Homura's magic. Gladly, it wasn't enough for her to start manifesting around in a hallucination or to fight back when Homura sent her to the back of her mind.

The coffee machine beeped, the heat indicator turning green as it indicated it was ready. Homura placed a cup under the nozzle and press the button for the expresso; the dark liquid steadily filling her cup after she did so.

As Homura waited for the cup to fill, she felt her phone vibrate; the vibration being quickly followed by the sound of a notification. Homura took out her phone and opened the chat log, Madoka's name appearing on the top of the screen as she did so.

"Are you awake Homura-chan?"

"I am"

"Oh! Good morning ＼(≧▽≦)／!" Homura couldn't hold back a smile as the text came through.

"Good morning"

There were a few seconds of silence as Madoka typed her next message, the girl deleting it a few times before sending it.

"My mom asked me if you wanted to stay the night after the festival? So you don't have to walk home alone since we are probably staying until pretty late"

Homura paused for a few seconds as she thought of an appropriate answer. Kaname Junko was probably worried about her, that much was true, but seeing as how Madoka would probably have already told her parents that they were going out… This was going to be an intervention, wasn't it? Not the first time she would have had this kind of conversation with Madoka's mom, she usually noticed that Homura liked Madoka and would give her a 'talk' in some of the earlier loops after all.

Then again, this would be the first time the conversation would be from a 'you are dating my daughter' point of view instead of a 'you like her' one. Homura really hoped it wouldn't change much from what she knew, she didn't like when things she already had reactions prepared to changed.

"As long as I'm not a bother" replied Homura.

"You never are!" Madoka's message came almost in the same moment Homura's had been sent, almost as if the girl had known what she was going to say. "I will tell Mom that you are staying then, see you later (≧◡≦) !"

"See you later, Madoka"

Homura looked at her phone screen with a slight smile on her face, her eyes focused on the last message Madoka had sent, a smile appearing on her face as she did so. Homura picked up her coffee and took a sip from it, the bitter taste of the coffee greeting her instead of the ashen one she had gotten used to.

"The feudal hierarchy was completed by the various classes of daimyo…" The sound coming from Mami's earbuds echoed inside her head, the recording she had prepared last night for Monday's test had been on loop for the past few hours. The girl doing tasks around the house as she tried to memorize the recording that played on loop.

Or at least she was trying to, her mind wandering off as she imagined how today would go. The last time Mami had gone to a festival felt like a lifetime ago, and being able to go there with everyone like a dream come true.

In fact, when the group had asked her if she wanted to come with them, she had actually been surprised. With how she usually only spoke with Kaname and Kyouko, she had not expected them to invite her. Even less so since Kaname and Akemi were now going out, she had thought that they would want to go the two of them alone; instead Kaname had been the one to propose that the group went all together. Akemi either didn't mind or didn't want to contradict the girl. Probably the second one.

But here she was, getting all the house chores done in the morning so she could spend the whole afternoon out with her friends. The word friends bringing a brighter smile to her face.

And so, she had been planning what she should do. After all, she was the oldest of the group and should act as such. Which meant she should make sure to take care of everyone, have an eye out for everyone in case something happens, and try to make herself as dependable as possible.

As such Mami had thought up a plan for the day: Operation Amico Affidabile!

Mami walked towards the entryway to her apartment, there a big carry bag with a flower imprint waited for her. She picked it up and made sure to check that everything was in order. A small first aid kit in case someone gets hurt, a basic sewing kit in case some of the girls break their yukatas by mistake, two pair of sandals in case someone loses or breaks theirs, a few packets of instant ice to relieve pain, a few plastic bags to carry stuff they may buy…

And the list went on, whatever situation that Mami could think of was being covered with the contents of her bag. As such part one of 'Amico Affidabile' was done.

Mami left the bag back where it was with a nod to herself for a job well done and went back to the living room. She sat on the sofa and took out a notebook in which she had copied the map of the streets that were being used for the festival having added annotations of possible points of interest and things to look out for.

Of course, with how much Nagisa – and apparently Kyouko – liked food they will end up eating quite a lot; but there is nothing worse than buying something just to find something you wanted to eat more a few stands ahead. As such, she had made sure to take proper notes about what kind of food they would be selling in the festival. She could guide Nagisa without problem around what the girl would like more, but she should ask Kyouko a bit more directly so she could also benefit from her work.

Then was the matter of festival games. They had to make sure to go at a slow enough pace that they won't end up just seeing the whole festival in less than an hour or things could get boring pretty fast. And so, Mami had made sure to prepare a list of things they could do were they to stagnate; at least so they could make time until the fireworks began that is.

She had made a perfect plan for a perfect day. Now she only needed to properly apply it to reality.

"Mami… Morning…" Nagisa walked into the living room, the girl still in her pajamas.

"Good morning, Nagisa. Did you sleep well?" asked Mami as the younger girl walked over to her and dropped in the sofa right next to Mami.

"I...mmmh...yeh…" Nagisa mumbled still half asleep, the girl starting to fall asleep again as she crawled over to Mami's lap. "I want breakfast…"

Mami let out a giggle.

"It's already one in the afternoon, think you can wait a bit for lunch?" said Mami as she started to pat the girl's hair.

"O…kay"

Mami smiled at the girl before shaking her shoulders a bit so she wouldn't fall asleep again, forcing her to sit up instead of lying down on the sofa.

"Remember that we are going to the festival later this afternoon" said Mami as she got up from the sofa and started to walk towards the kitchen "We have to put you in your yukata after we eat lunch"

Nagisa nodded absentmindedly, the girl grabbing the TV remote to entertain herself with something and try to fight off her sleepiness. Mami walked into the kitchen with a smile on her face, the prospect of the festival with everyone filling her with happiness.

Today was going to be a good day.

Kyouko picked up the salad bowl, serving herself a small ration onto her plate. She made sure to scoop some of the cherry tomatoes that Madoka had given them from her garden onto her plate, with these being the last few they had she wasn't going to just pass up on them.

"We are going to be staying after the fireworks at least" Sayaka said to her dad, the old man sitting in front of her "So don't wait awake for us to come back"

"You could give me a call and I would go pick you two up, I really don't mind. I would be less worried if you did actually" Sayaka's dad spoke as Kyouko passed him the salad.

Sayaka shook her head in denial, the girl waiting to finish eating before speaking again.

"You have to rest! You never take a day off" Sayaka angrily said, waving her fork around as she spoke. "And no, tomorrow doesn't count; you will be too focused on making things fun for us that you will tire yourself up even more. Just. Rest. Today"

Sayaka's dad sighed in defeat before passing the salad back to Sayaka, the girl wearing a serious expression on her face to try and drive her point further in. Kyouko agreed with the girl, that much didn't need to be said, since the old man had come back they would only see him at dinner sometimes. Kyouko already knew the guy had been working non-stop for her daughter, and as much as both Sayaka and her had hoped that between them they could easily take care of the house chores and that Kyouko's salary could easily pay for the food expenses… That had only made it so the guy worked more hours with the extra time he now had.

"Besides," Sayaka spoke up again "We are in a big group, you really don't have to worry!"

"Big group? Who else is going with you two? I'm guessing Madoka and Shizuki-san are?" Sayaka's dad asked a mix between worry and curiosity showing on his face.

"Ah no, Hitomi isn't coming" clarified Sayaka "Madoka tried asking her, but she said that she already had plans with Kyosuke. Said that now that she had been able to make the guy go in a date she wasn't going to waste the opportunity" Sayaka laughed.

"Ah right, I forgot that they were dating now" As the words left Sayaka's dad's mouth Kyouko looked towards the girl. There was no flinching, no forced smile or laughter, nothing. So either Sayaka had gotten over it already, or Homura's ability to hide her emotions had rubbed off on her. "It makes sense that such a young couple would like to go by themselves"

"Right? Though then there is Madoka and Akemi, and they aren't going alone" Sayaka sighed "I really hope Madoka didn't just say to come together with everyone to not leave anyone alone, you know? I would understand if she wanted to be alone with Akemi"

"Meh, she might be she might not" commented Kyouko after gulping down some food "She may want to spend all the time she can with Homura, but she is still Madoka; she enjoys being with people"

"Yeah, but…" Sayaka lamented "I don't know, it's their first festival together, shouldn't they try to make it special?"

"Us being around won't make it less special for them" Kyouko sighed "Besides, they are old enough to go off on their own if they want some privacy"

Sayaka hummed as she pondered Kyouko's words, the girl absentmindedly eating her salad while thinking. The short silence that had started to creep into the table was quickly overrun by Sayaka's dad talking.

"Madoka is going out with someone?" asked Sayaka's dad with a surprised face on his face, Sayaka suddenly perking up as she realized she hadn't told him yet.

"Yeah, they started going out this week"

"Huh, a bit of a peculiar name for a boy though. 'Homura' feels more like a girl to me"

"That's because it is a girl" Kyouko added drily, a nice opportunity to see how Sayaka's parents – and Sayaka herself – reacted to a lesbian couple presenting itself right in front of her.

"Oh" Sayaka's dad seem to go through a few emotions at the same time, most of them confusion and incredulity "Well, I… I certainly didn't expect that"

"Right?!" said Sayaka "I really did not expect Madoka to end up with a girl; even less with Akemi of all people"

You didn't think much about it then. Thought Kyouko, not really wanting to start a discussion while eating. But really, it had taken less than two weeks for Kyouko to notice that Madoka had been interested in girls. Sure, she didn't know how the girl was before she went to America, but this Madoka was as lesbian as Kyouko herself was. It hadn't been a 'maybe she is interested in both' kind of thing, no, the girl didn't pay much attention to the boys in class other than to act upon her usual kindness or normal schoolmate stuff.

Then again, Kyouko had only seen her with Homura around; and she clearly had an effect on Madoka's hormone filled teenager mind.

"Oh well, I'm sure she is a good girl" Sayaka's dad laughed. A positive reaction, so he either really didn't care about Homura being a girl or he was just good at playing along "She has to be if she is going out with Madoka. Probably another cinnamon roll."

Kyouko and Sayaka exchanged looks but didn't say a word, both of the girls not wanting to break his completely broken view of Homura. First because he would probably think they were joking if they said 'Oh no, she is actually the kind of person that knows how to hide a body' and second of all because it could be really funny if he ever learnt the truth first hand.

The conversation started to dwindle until it completely died out, Kyouko's mind ending up being filled with the thoughts of what they were going to eat at the festival in just a few hours. She had been saving money, and by God that she was going to use it.

Madoka looked at herself in the mirror for the umpteenth time, a frown appearing on her face as she noticed her obi was slightly tilted, again. She tried to properly adjust it without untightening it just to end up with the whole thing falling off.

"Madoka, you are not going to finish putting it on at this rate" chuckled her mom from the other side of the bathroom, the woman coming over to help her put it back on.

"But I need to put it on perfectly! I want to make sure everything is perfect before Homura comes!" Madoka pouted as she raised her arms to let her mother put the obi back on.

"It won't last being perfectly placed long anyways Madoka, you would have to refrain from sticking to Homura" she said, Madoka seeing a teasing grin on her face through the mirror.

"I know" Madoka said, a small pout on her face "I just want it to look as good as possible at least the first time she sees me. I'm not going to distance myself from her just to keep something else in perfect condition again."

Her mother hummed as she started to fasten the waist strap properly around Madoka's waist.

"Not with how she reacted last time…" Madoka sighed as her mother made her turn around to get a better angle from which she could work.

"What happened?" asked her mom, making sure that the Obi was perfectly aligned like Madoka had asked.

"She thought I was trying to distance myself from her because I regretted going out with her" Madoka and her mom locked eyes for a second, a soft smile on Madoka's face and a curious raised eyebrow on her mothers. "She is always like that; she doesn't think that she deserves anything good"

"And that includes you" Guessed her mom as she finished tightening the waist band, getting a nod from Madoka as an answer.

"And to make matters worse, yesterday she said there really wasn't something she did just because she liked to do it" Madoka examined her yukata once more, making sure that everything was perfectly in place "She just reads the same book over and over because it makes her remember someone. I honestly don't know if the reading is making her happier or just sad at the memories"

"Some people prefer to remember someone even if it hurts" Her mother said as she walked over to her make-up set and gestured Madoka to come with her. "They think it's better to be hurt than to forget them"

Madoka hummed in consideration as she walked over to her mom, sitting on a chair while her mother started to put on just a bit of make-up on Madoka. 'Because it's a special occasion. Don't get used to it' her mom had said when Madoka asked if she could wear some make-up.

"I think I understand" Madoka said, not totally convinced herself that that was a healthy thing to do "The problem is that she doesn't do other hobbies to balance things out! Her hobbies can't all be to make herself sad!"

"She has to do something else with her time" Her mother said as she took out the eye-liner "She probably just didn't tell you out of embarrassment. I don't think someone would be able to keep going on without something to look up to"

And that was the problem. That something inside Madoka had been screaming at her that Homura really wasn't able to keep going in that situation. That the girl couldn't be left without a goal or she would wither away. And as much as Madoka really didn't want to think about it, Homura hurting herself felt like something that could happen. It felt too plausible for her to just dismiss it as unfounded worry.

"She did say there was something else that made her happy" Madoka muttered, catching her mother attention after she picked up a bit of lip gloss and looked at Madoka with a questioning look "She said that spending time with me makes her happy…"

Her mom couldn't hold back a grin as she went in to apply the lip gloss on Madoka's lips.

"She was just being playful" her mom reassured.

"I guess…"

Madoka knew that wasn't true. Homura wasn't one to just say something like that to be 'playful', at least not the way the girl had said it. She just stated it like it was a truth. There had been no playfulness in her voice or expression, there had been no trace of embarrassment on the girl. Just pure truth. The only thing Homura could think that made her happy was being with Madoka, and maybe a while ago those words would have made Madoka extremely happy.

Now it just made her worried.

Current date: Saturday 24th of May

A/N: I lied. Festival is next chapter (:

To be honest, I will need the whole ass weekend to write the festival with how long the outline ended up being. Thought that I might as well cut the start and publish it today so I can keep up with the two episodes a week quota.