Madoka walked up the stairs and towards the school roof. Sayaka a step ahead of her was bickering with Kyouko about a game they had played last night; both of them asking Madoka from time to time to decide who was right.

"I was new!" complained Sayaka as she looked back at Madoka "And she goes and plays as if I was some kind of pro!"

"Well-" started to speak Madoka, who was promptly interrupted by Kyouko.

"You told me to take it seriously" said Kyouko, a few steps ahead of them. "So, I did"

"Yeah, but not to go all out!" Sayaka looked at the girl, and mocked her as she imitated the girl's voice "'I will go easy on ya' yeah sure you did"

"The first game I went easy on you" replied Kyouko, the girl now walking backwards as to face them, taking steps without looking where her feet were going. "If you ask someone to play seriously you can't complain if they clean the floor with you afterwards, right pinky?"

"Ah… Well-" Madoka tried to think of something to say that could appease both of them, but the thought of Kyouko tripping as she walked backwards was making it harder than usual "Maybe it would have been better if you made it a bit easier… she was still learning, right?"

"Hah! See, Madoka understands what I mean" proudly announced Sayaka, a smug grin on her face.

"Tsk" Kyouko clicker her tongue before looking further back, behind Madoka. "What do you think Akemi?"

Homura was walking right behind Madoka, just two steps behind her like she always did. It didn't matter if they had been basically glued arm to arm, the moment they reached a stairway Homura would wait for Madoka to take the first steps before getting behind her.

"If Miki-san asked you to be serious" Homura started saying "There is no reason for you to make it easier for her"

Kyouko's face was filled with a smug grin that went from ear to ear, clearly deciding to ignore the fact that they were still 2-2. Kyouko faced Sayaka, an expression of 'Told you so' plastered all over the redhead's face.

"Why are you siding with her!" complained Sayaka as she turned towards Homura, an exaggerated betrayed look on her face "I thought we were allies!"

"This and that are different matters" coldly stated Homura, not even looking at Sayaka. "I don't get anything from siding with you about this; and there is even less of a reason of doing so when you are wrong"

"AAAAH! I've been backstabbed!" exaggeratedly cried Sayaka, as she brought her hands towards her torso; bending forwards in fake pain "Madoka… you are the only one who's with me… save… me…"

"Sayaka-chan…" Madoka giggled at the girl's acting before she turned her head a bit to Homura, still being able to see the steps she was taking "But I think Sayaka-chan is in the right here"

Madoka tried to read Homura's reaction, but sadly the girl was able to keep her mask on.

"I mean, if you are going to play a game with someone else" Madoka kept talking "Isn't it better if both can have fun? If I played with you, I would prefer it if you also had fun while we play, Homura-chan"

"That's…" Homura closed her eyes to think for a second, the gesture making Madoka worry that the girl would fall. "Winning isn't what makes it… fun"

"You are not going to come at me with the 'trying is what matters' bullshit are you?" said Kyouko "Winning is half the fun, if you never win you will get bored"

Madoka started to get curious. If for whatever reason Homura hadn't had fun when they played together at her house… Well, it's not like that was a problem on itself – Homura didn't seem to mind at least - but Madoka was sure she wouldn't be able to get over it.

"Ah! It's improving right?" excitedly added Sayaka, having quickly gotten over her fake pain. "I get it, I get it. There is no better feeling than getting better equipment or learning to use a mechanic you didn't know about"

Homura's eyes darted towards the ground, her vision becoming fixed on it as they kept walking up the stairs. Whenever Homura tried to evade making eye contacts it usually wasn't a good signal, the girl was going to either lie – which would be difficult to see if Madoka couldn't get a view of her face – or she was about to say something that embarrassed her.

"Homura-chan? What makes it fun?" Madoka tried to close the gap between the two, trying to get a look of the girl's face.

"It's…" Madoka could see a bit of red on Homura's cheeks, so it was embarrassment then "It was playing with you what made it fun…"

Silence fell over the group, all of them stopping in the middle of the stairs. Madoka's own face went red at the girl's unexpected words; the urge of jumping at the girl and giving her a hug was strong, but seeing how they were in the middle of the stairs she was able to resist it. Sayaka and Kyouko looked at Homura wide eyed, still surprised by the words the girl had said. Though Kyouko quickly moved her sight from Homura to Sayaka, an expression of 'please figure it out' on her face.

"Wow…" Sayaka was the one to break the silence "Didn't expect that from you. And here I was thinking you were all cold and calculating"

"It doesn't matter" Homura forced a cough, the girl putting back her mask and trying to change the topic of the conversation "Let's keep walking, we are obstructing the stairs"

[-]

They reached the mostly empty rooftop, Kyouko pushing open the door that had already been unlocked by someone. Madoka walked out into the roof, a nice chilly breeze welcoming her; a nice contrast with the warmth the sun was bathing them in.

"Good morning, everyone" said Mami, her eyes lighitng up as they opened the door.

"Hello Mami-san!" exclaimed Sayaka, approaching the older girl and sitting besides her.

"Good morning Mami-san" said Madoka, taking a place next to Sayaka "Sorry for being late, the teacher held us back for a few minutes"

"Don't worry about it, Kaname-san" A gentle calming smile appeared on her face, almost as if to reassure the girl that she didn't have problem with it. Mami then turned towards Homura, smile still on her face "Good morning, Akemi-san"

"Good morning" Drily answered Homura as she did a small acknowledging nod before sitting close to Madoka.

Not close enough…

The moment Homura finished taking her seat Madoka quickly adjusted herself, trying to close the gap between the two until their legs were touching. Homura seemed to notice, the girl giving Madoka a small smile that Madoka quickly returned tenfold.

Madoka started to look around for their lunch boxes when she noticed Kyouko. The redhead was sitting on the bench in front of them, as she usually did, and was looking at Madoka with a raised eyebrow and an impish smile; there were no need for words, Madoka could see that the girl was losing against her instinct to tease them – or rather, to tease Madoka. Kyouko opened her mouth to speak, Madoka already knowing what was about to happen.

"Say, Akemi, aren't you-" Kyouko noticed the glare that Madoka was giving her and stopped for a second; clearly taken aback by the pinkette's reaction. And if she was being honest, even Madoka was surprised at herself, but there was no way that she would let Kyouko's teasing ruin her plans; not when this was only the first part and it was already going so well.

"What is it Sakura-san?" asked Homura, a bit of impatience in her voice; though she tried to mask it.

Kyouko pondered what to do for a few more seconds, throwing looks at Madoka from time to time as she tried to read her. Madoka started to feel her own expression slowly soften. Kyouko had clearly gotten Madoka's message, if she was still going to tease them there wasn't much more she could do. Madoka's face was slowly beginning to change into a crestfallen look; knowing that was now at the mercy of her friend, Homura would probably feel uncomfortable about being so close if Kyouko started teasing; her plan would be ruined before she could actually start.

"Nah, it's nothing" Kyouko sighed, an almost older sister like expression on her face as she gave Madoka a last glance. "Just a dumb question"

Madoka breathed a sigh of relief, a new thankful smile directed towards Kyouko on her face. Now that the main problem had been taken care of, Madoka started to pull out their lunches; handing Homura hers before they all started eating the food.

Time started to go on, the conversation quickly becoming – once again – a discussion between Sayaka and Kyouko, though this time the one that had to give their opinion was Mami. The senior was able to evade choosing a side though, her answers being ambiguous at best.

Madoka sneaked peeks at Homura from time to time, trying to asses how much food left was on the girl's lunch. Surprisingly enough they seemed to be eating at a similar pace. Madoka suddenly remembered something she had heard on the TV once, that people that eat the same pace are destined to be together; the thought putting a bit of an embarrassed smiled on her face as the girl failed to realize that it wasn't that they were eating at the same pace because of destiny, but because Homura had been imitating Madoka's eating pace.

After a few more minutes Madoka finished eating her lunch, and realized that Homura had done so too. Madoka took the lunch box from Homura and started storing it away. Once she finished Madoka slowly leant towards Homura, letting a bit of her weight rest on the girl's side. Enough to make Homura realize what Madoka was doing, but not enough to make it instantly obvious to the others.

"Oh right! Kyouko-chan, were you able to get a free day?" wondered Madoka. Homura's body shifted as Madoka tried to lean more into the girl. But the idea that Madoka was maybe making her uncomfortable disappeared as she noticed that Homura was trying to make Madoka's posture a bit more comfortable.

Kyouko sighed, getting up from the bench where she had laid down and walking around a bit to stretch her legs.

"Nope, wasn't able to change hours with anyone" complained Kyouko, her arms crossed behind her head "Everyone's got the shifts they want"

"That's a shame" added Mami, a hand pressed against her cheek was holding her head as she tried to think of a solution "This Saturday is the festival so trains are going to be a nightmare… maybe we could do it this Sunday?"

"Ahhh… I can't this Sunday" replied Sayaka "My dad wants to make up for not being at home, he wanted for me and Kyouko to go with him to the cinema or something"

Kyouko nodded along, confirming Sayaka's words.

"So we have to leave it for next week then?" disappointedly wondered Mami.

"It looks like it…" muttered Madoka.

It was a shame really. Madoka had wanted to get together this week with everyone – not that she didn't enjoy her alone time with Homura, she loved it in fact – and Mami's place was a great place to go together; It felt natural to go there. A mix of disappointment and sadness could be felt in the air.

"Is it that important that everyone is there?" asked Homura, getting a few looks because of her question from the group.

"Well, it would be better if we can all be together" Mami answered, leaning forwards a bit to look at Homura's eyes "Wouldn't want to leave anyone out"

"It won't be the same if we go without Kyouko" added Madoka, understanding that Homura didn't really mind going as a group or not. "At least I would be happier if we all could go together"

Homura's eyes were fixed in Madoka's face, the girl thinking about Madoka's words. After a few seconds she looked away, closing her eyes as she faced the fence at the other side of the roof.

"I see" she simply added before opening her eyes. From where Madoka was looking at the girl she was able to get a glimpse of the purple earring that Homura always wore, its amethyst like gem emitting a subtle purple glow for a second as Homura's words left her mouth.

"So, we trying next week then?" asked Kyouko as her phone notification sound went off, making Madoka stop looking at Homura's earring.

"I guess there is no other option" lamented Mami, the girl had been clearly looking forwards to getting together again. "More time to practice baking then"

"I really wanted for everyone to get together; It would have been fun" Madoka sighed as she let her head fall to the side, ending up on Homura's shoulder and looking up to the girl's face. "don't you think so Homura-chan?"

Homura was caught off guard, the girl taking a second to answer. Madoka was glad that Homura couldn't see her face from this angle though, because she was pretty sure it was starting to get as red as the tomatoes that her dad took care of in her garden. This was the main plan, trying to make this kind of contact seem normal for the two; even if it meant having to go through some embarrassment.

"Y-yes…" said Homura.

Madoka decided to stay on the girl's shoulder for a bit longer, a sense of warmness slowly filling her. She could hear a heartbeat become faster and faster, though if it was hers or Homura's Madoka couldn't tell. The world slowly seemed to come to a standstill, Madoka focusing completely in Homura's presence. A comfortable silence forming around them as Madoka slowly closed her eyes.

The nice silence that had formed between the two was suddenly broken by Kyouko.

"Well, scratch all that" she said without looking up from her phone, the girl quickly typing away "Coworker broke his arm falling from his bike, boss wants me to take care of his night shift today in exchange of having tomorrow free so he can find a substitute in the meantime"

"Huh, talk about lucky" said Sayaka, eyes open in surprise. "I guess the universe wants us to hang out"

Madoka wasn't paying too much attention to the conversation, her mind completely focused on burrowing into Homura's shoulder. A strand of Homura's raven hair had fallen in front of Madoka's face, and the smell of lavender quickly became calming for the girl. The voices of her friends were slowly becoming background noise.

"It really is a big coincidence" added Mami "But we shouldn't throw this opportunity away, can you all come tomorrow then?"

"Yeah, got the day free" replied Sayaka.

"Yeah" added Kyouko, as she finished typing on her phone and looked up to see the current situation between Madoka and Homura; the sight making her let out a single silent chuckle.

"I will be able to go after our club activities end" Homura's voice resonated throughout her body and into Madoka's head, putting an even dumber smile on the pinkette who had gone into a trance. Slowly letting herself be lost, her mind was filled with Homura and nothing more.

Madoka took a deep breath, at the moment she was basically in paradise. Her face was half buried on the shoulder of the girl she loved. Their breathing slowly syncing up. She wished that this moment would last forever, or that it would evolve into a better one. Maybe the two of them laying down, embracing each other in a sea of calmness and love.

"Madoka?" a voice could be heard from afar, it seemed it was calling her. Madoka simply hummed in question, not wanting to move away from her current paradise.

"Madoka" this time the voice was Homura's, the sound of the girl's gentle voice calling her name sent a shiver down Madoka's spine. "…Madoka?"

"…Hmm? What is it Homura-chan?" Slowly, Madoka opened her eyes, though she quickly regretted that decision. Sayaka and Mami were looking at her with a mix between curiosity and worry, Kyouko with the smuggest grin she had ever seen on the girl; and she had seen many.

"Can you go to Tomoe's house tomorrow?" asked Homura.

Madoka quickly moved her head away from Homura's shoulder, the familiar feeling of blood filling her cheeks appearing once again.

"Y-y-yeah! I'm f-free" stuttered Madoka, trying – and failing – to recompose herself.

"Perfect then" said Mami, her usual gentle senior smile on her face. "How should we do it?"

"Well…" Sayaka stopped looking at Madoka, slowly moving her face towards Mami "I guess we just wait for Madoka and Akemi to finish with the club? We can wait in the school cafeteria"

"The three of you can go to Tomoe's house first" said Homura, getting up from her seat just a few seconds before the school bell rang "Madoka and I can go there afterwards by ourselves"

"I wouldn't mind waiting for both of you here" said Mami, not being convinced with Homura's proposal.

Madoka, not the center of attention anymore, was finally able to recompose herself. She looked up from the ground, the only person that was still looking at her being Kyouko with her smug grin, and got up from her seat.

"I'm fine with either" admitted Sayaka, picking up her school bag and throwing it over her shoulder "There is no point in arguing about this" Sayaka sighed "it's your call, Madoka"

"Eh? Ah…" It wasn't like they were going to go later or sooner with either option, if anything the only difference would be walking there with the whole group… or alone with Homura "I think it will be better for Homura and I to go to your house afterwards, Mami-san"

More time alone with Homura meant more opportunities to increase their intimacy. And with the new found resolve, and the advice that her mother had given her, she wasn't about to throw such a good opportunity away.

"I see" nodded Mami, though Madoka could see the girl was slightly disappointed "We'll wait for you two then"

"See you tomorrow!" Sayaka waved Madoka and Akemi off, as both of them started to head towards their clubroom.

"Goodbye!" happily declared Madoka, the girl finishing to pick up her schoolbag and looked around in search of Akemi; her face lighitng up the moment she saw her already behind her.

"See ya Pinky" said Kyouko as Madoka passed by her; Akemi following close behind the girl, only giving them a nod of acknowledgement as a farewell.

Kyouko followed them with her eyes as they left the classroom, a smirk on her face. Really, with how obvious the two were being about clearly liking each other there was no way the other hadn't noticed yet. At least not after the display Madoka had done at the rooftop.

Or at least she hoped, because if Madoka really didn't notice that Akemi had been liking her before… Well, everything was possible.

"You wanna hang out?" asked Sayaka from behind her, her eyes also fixing on the other two "Until you have to start your shift I mean"

"Sure" agreed Kyouko, turning around to face the girl and trying to resist the urge to just get lost on the deep sea that were her eyes. The unexpected thought caught her off guard – it wasn't a lie, of course – but she wasn't one to just think about that kind of cheesy line.

That Madoka is spoiling my style I swear.

[-]

The park near the station was relatively empty at this hour, it main use being for families to come after shopping in the nearby mall meant few kids on weekdays. Most people that were around being students like them, a few of them some years older.

Kyouko leaned onto the metal framework of the swing, taking her phone out of her pocket in the process to check the time. Around fifteen minutes until she had to go to work. Sayaka sat on one of the swings, lightly twisting the seat from side to side to keep herself occupied with something to do.

"Oh right" started speaking Kyouko, not looking up from her phone as she opened a small idle game to keep her hands occupied "Did you ask Madoka who she likes already?"

Sayaka stopped twisting the swing for a second as she let out a long sigh "No, it's impossible to get a hold of her"

Sayaka started to move twist the swing's seat around once more, a frown now on her face "Alone I mean. I can always find her next to Akemi, but she doesn't want to speak in front of other people"

Nah, the problem is that you are asking her with Akemi around.

There was no way that she didn't notice, right? The display of affection the two had done today was their biggest yet – which only made Kyouko wonder what happened the day before between the two for them to escalate like that – and it wasn't like they were trying to hide it either. Kyouko had understood the whole trying to get closer to each other thing, now the most comfortable way to eat sure; but if they were happy like that let them be. But the whole 'almost falling asleep on her shoulder' deal was a bit too much on the nose.

"Why don't you just call her?" asked Kyouko, hoping that Sayaka really wasn't that oblivious. Because if she was like that with other people… Kyouko didn't want to imagine how direct she would need to be.

"Doesn't feel like the kind of thing you talk about over the phone, you know?" said Sayaka, leaning as far back as she could; only using the chains of the swing to hold herself from falling.

"I guess" conceded Kyouko, a smile appearing on her face as she simply observed Sayaka stretching out on the swing.

After Sayaka started to sit properly once again, Kyouko went back to look at her phone instead; not letting the bluenette know that she had been looking at her. This was how Sayaka usually was, worrying about something that probably wasn't even that important, giving it more importance than it needed, and even making wrong assumptions out of her own stubbornness to not ask. At the same time, she wouldn't let herself be seen worrying about it, at least not in front of her friends. She would try to hide it for as long as she could, masking her worries under a carefree attitude. Always trying to help, and only worrying about the consequences later. This was the girl she had fallen in love with, the one that made her realize that – maybe – life wasn't as bad as it seemed.

"Ey Kyouko" When Kyouko came back from her train of thought, Sayaka's face was an actually serious one; with how this usually meant actual serious business Kyouko locked her phone screen in advance.

"What is it" Kyouko crossed her arms, her eyes focusing on the girl's legs as they tried to twist the swing's seat in an almost hypnotic motion for a few seconds before looking up at her eyes.

"Promise you won't laugh?" asked Sayaka, looking at the ground instead of at her.

"Depends" Kyouko said with a cocky smile on her face, trying to get weight off the situation.

Sayaka frowned for a few seconds before she finally gave up, sighing in defeat. "D-do you…"

Sayaka's voice stuttering was a weird occurrence, and the blush the girl had started to develop didn't help. Yeah, it didn't help. It didn't help Kyouko's imagination going wild in different possible scenarios. There was only one reason someone like Sayaka could be embarrassed, she had seen it before when she talked about Kamijou Kyosuke, and the only reason that would make her like this was love. Was she about to-

"D-do you like Madoka?"

…

…

…

"Haaaah?!" Kyouko didn't find words to say, the hopes that had been raising quickly falling off a cliff to never be seen again "The fuck do you mean?"

"I- I mean, I saw you and Madoka hugging at the mall and-"

"And what? You thought I liked her because I gave her a hug?" Kyouko sneered.

Sayaka not realizing that Madoka liked Homura? Sure, that was fine, understandable. Sayaka not realizing that Kyouko had been liking her since a while ago? Sure, Kyouko could live with that.

But somehow thinking that a hug in a mall was enough proof to pinpoint who Madoka liked, but that the whole display that Madoka and Homura had done in the middle of the roof before wasn't? Yeah no, that irked her.

"We-well, I've never seen you hug her like that so-"

"She was having a fucking panic attack back then!" Kyouko shouted, getting the attention of some bystanders that tried to hide the fact they were looking at them "What did you want me to do? Leave her there?"

"I- I didn't know that!" Sayaka shouted back. "It made sense to me!"

So that was it? Sayaka really had been thinking that Kyouko was the person Madoka liked? What kind of dumb conclusion was that?

"For fucks sake Sayaka" Kyouko walked towards the bluenette, who had now stopped moving the swing's seat around, and placed her hands over her shoulders "No, I don't like Madoka that way"

"Well, then I don't fucking know who she likes!" Sayaka quickly got up from the swing, getting Kyouko's hand off her shoulders. "The time I build up enough courage she tells me: 'another day' like if that was going to not just make me feel worse!"

Kyouko took a step back, giving the girl some space.

"I don't know who she likes! And I just want to know if it will be a problem or not!"

Kyouko opened her mouth, but hesitated in the last second. Even if this was just hurting Sayaka, she wasn't the one that should be telling her; she shouldn't even have said that Madoka liked someone in the first place.

"I even had Akemi help me!" Sayaka complained.

Wait she had Akemi do what?

"What do you mean with you had Akemi help you?" asked Kyouko, if this was what she thought it was…

"I told her Madoka liked someone, and that you told me that they were problematic" Sayaka explained, the sudden question slowly making her calm down as she strode further away from her rant "We decided to look for the guy together"

Kyouko laughed at the irony. That was the reason why Sayaka never realized who Madoka liked, because the person in particular never was a possible target in her list; it had hidden right under her nose all this time. This literally was the same plot as with murder mysteries, it's always either the butler; or the protagonist's assistant.

"W-what is it? What did I say?" Sayaka wondered, Kyouko's laugh completely confusing her.

"Don't worry about it" sighed Kyouko she took out her phone and looked at the time once more; less than five minutes until she had to go. "I'll give you an opportunity to ask Madoka tomorrow, okay?"

"That's easy to say" replied Sayaka "But good luck with making it so Akemi isn't around"

"I'll find a way, don't worry" reassured Kyouko as she passed by the girl, giving her some reassuring pats on the shoulder. "Just leave it to me"

Current date: 21st, May