Subaru: "This ceiling looks familiar."
Subaru woke up in Mami's spare bedroom again. Which he wasn't sure that he liked, being that he was staying with someone unfamiliar rent free. But, it was what he had, and he was determined to make up for it.
Getting out of bed, he checked the time, which was around six in the morning. He got dressed and stepped out into the rest of the apartment to see if Mami was awake. Seeing that she wasn't, he decided he would make breakfast for her instead of the other way around.
[Hmmmm, she seems like she's more of a western food eater, so I think I'll make French toast.]
He quickly grabbed ingredients and got to making it, just like the butler he was before. He stuck the pieces for Mami into the oven and was soon on his way, deciding to get a head start on searching today.
Though, he was frankly beginning to lose hope that he would find Rem himself. One man looking around a city is a massive undertaking, nevermind the fact that he knows next to nothing about the place he's searching.
[Maybe it would be better if I got a job and actually started providing for myself instead of being a parasite.]
Mami: [Don't worry Subaru, you're not a parasite.]
Subaru: "What the hell, you're in my head!"
Mami: [It's thanks to Kyubey, he is putting my thoughts into your head, and can make it happen the other way too.]
Kyubey: [Yep, I can send your thoughts to her as well, Subaru.]
Subaru: [Errr, like this?]
Mami: [Yep!]
Subaru: [Alright, well, that saves some headache. I'm going out to search. I may come by your school at some point too. And with this, I can maybe actually communicate without having to come on your campus. I may look young, but I'm no middle schooler."
Mami stepped into the rest of the apartment, finding Subaru standing at the door thinking, most likely about the telepathy.
Mami: "Oh? And how old are you exactly?"
Subaru: "If I said eighteen would you believe me?"
Mami: "Oh, wow, I thought for sure you may have been fifteen or so. You do look quite young."
Subaru had a nice internal chuckle at the fact that everybody everywhere thought he was younger than he actually is.
Subaru: "Yeah, that's what they all say. Welp, see ya!"
Mami: "Goodbye Subaru."
Subaru stepped out and started heading towards where he thought Rem might be. This time, he concluded he should go to the north, where the low income housing is.
After he made his way to the north, he made his rounds, searching the slovenly neighborhoods for traces of the pretty blue haired girl. Deciding he shouldn't spend all of his time on something that could be fruitless however, he headed closer to the downtown and decided he should start to look for a job. He needed money, and he now had skills that he would have never gotten if he hadn't been summoned to Lugunica. Subaru had that to thank when he saw a store offering jobs.
Subaru: "Hi, I saw your sign up front and was wondering if you would accept my work here."
Store clerk: "Well, I'll have to get the boss to talk to you, I'll go find him real quick."
Subaru: "Thank you, sir."
After a while, the clerk came back with a man in his fifties, a little bit of stubble, that looked chip and cheerful.
Owner: "Hello, are you the youngster he said was looking for a job?"
Subaru: "Yes, I am."
Owner: "Well, we don't have much young help around, so it'd be greatly appreciated. I'll just have to see your ID and make sure you aren't still in school."
Subaru: "Uh, well, I've been out of school for years now. I have experience in the service industry too, I was a butler at a rich person's manor. With that said, I hope that can prove that I can do this job just fine."
Owner: "While that may still be the case, I'd still like to see your ID for this. Just something I like to do to try and separate the wheat and chaff, if you will."
Subaru: "Hmmm, well, how can I put this… I kind of don't have one. Something like that."
Owner: "Wow, really? Surprising. Do you have any digital documents you can use as a reference or such like? I'm afraid I'll have to decline otherwise."
Subaru: "I don't have a phone, or anything with a screen on it at all, in fact."
Owner: "Incredible. I didn't think kids these days had it in them to be this spartan. Well, I hope you have a good day, but you'll have to come back later if you want to try working here. You can buy all you like though."
Subaru: "No thank you, have a good day sir."
Subaru walked out dejected. Should've figured, it wouldn't be that easy. The fact that he had vanished off the face of the earth for years kind of put even his existence into question.
—: "Hungry?"
Subaru: "Uh, yeah, a little, why do you ask?"
—: "Well, as someone else with no money, I know how it is."
Subaru: "How'd you get those appas then?"
—: "Are you hungry or not?"
Subaru: "No thank you, I don't like handouts, let alone when they come from dubious circumstances."
—: "Pff, suit yourself then."
Subaru thought it was fitting that someone with hair that red evidently liked appas enough to steal them.
[Did he just call these appas?]
Subaru decided he would try out the telepathy that had been demonstrated this morning, and made his way through downtown Mitakihara to the middle school where Mami, Madoka, and the rest were. He saw a park across the street and decided he would rest there. After sitting at a bench for a few minutes, he decided he would practice his whip usage in the open space of the park. Cattleman's cracks, Overheads, and flicks, with both hands too.
Sayaka: [Is that you out there, Subaru?]
Subaru: [So I see that it wasn't just Mami and I that got an ESP ability.]
Sayaka: [I sure didn't think you would, considering you aren't a prospective magical girl.]
Subaru: [Well, that's how it is. I was a prospective grocery store worker until the owner asked for an ID. Are you hearing this, Mami?]
Mami: [Yes, I am. That is a shame. If you had a job that would be nice. But until then, you should just come with me on hunts.]
Subaru: [Yeah, I'd definitely like to do that. I gotta watch out for the newbies while you lay it on the witches.]
Mami: [Hahaha, well, hopefully that won't be necessary. But it is greatly appreciated nonetheless.]
The conversation faded away, and Subaru was back to being by himself at the park. He decided to try something that may come of use in witch hunts later.
Subaru: "Cor Leonis."
Saying it quietly, he activates his ability to see if he can feel where his allies are. Sure enough, he can feel Mami, Madoka, and Sayaka, all in the middle school where they should be.
Homura: [What is that.]
It was phrased more as a demand, imperative, than a question. Clearly Homura had noticed something.
Homura: [Subaru, tell me, what is trying to tie you and I together, right now.]
Subaru still didn't answer, he didn't believe that someone could actually detect his Cor Leonis. If they weren't an ally, he simply wouldn't feel any connection to them, that's how it was.
Subaru: [So, are you an ally then?]
Homura: [An ally? I am only an ally to Madoka Kaname, if that says anything.]
Subaru: [Well, that makes two of us. I'm willing to help her if she decides she wants to become a magical girl.]
Homura: [Well then we are not allies. She must not become a magical girl under any circumstances. Do I make myself clear.]
Subaru: [Uh, yeah… why do I feel like I just passed a speech check?]
Homura: [Maybe you did.]
Subaru thought about it for a while. She was really interested in not seeing Madoka become a magical girl. He considered the fact that maybe she knew the downsides, and wanted to dissuade Madoka from making a wish. Subaru thought that was most likely, anyway.
Subaru: "I wonder why her specifically though… guess I'll find out eventually."
He said to no one in particular, speaking aloud more so just that no one in the middle school would hear his thoughts that he was evidently bad at letting leak.
Subaru loitered around the park until the school let out, and met the girls on their way out, as they headed to a cafe to discuss tonights operating.
Mami: "Time to start lesson one of magical girl class, ladies and gentleman."
Sayaka: I don't know if it will make a difference, but I brought this along with me!"
Sayaka displayed a metal baseball bat that she swung proudly in the air.
Subaru: "Woah, I'd definitely make sure not to go near her!"
Sayaka: "Oh come on, you're the one with the actual torture device here."
Subaru: "Hey, I'll have you know I use this thing tremendously with my parkour skills!"
Madoka: "You know parkour Subaru?"
Subaru: "Yep, just one of the many talents I've delved into. It should help with tonight's adventure to boot."
Mami: "Well, what did you bring Madoka?"
Madoka: "Well…"
Madoka displayed a notebook, with drawings in it. It featured the girls in magical girl attire that she had seen or dreamed up. But, aside from that-
Subaru: "That's me, isn't it?"
Madoka: "Yeah, it is. Though, I don't think I've ever seen you crossdress, thinking of you being a girl put it in my head.
The picture was of a female looking Subaru in a red general's outfit. He thought that if he was maybe going undercover somewhere, that might actually be a good look. In Lugunica, maybe.
Sayaka: "Wow, that's really great Madoka!"
Mami: "Well, it's good to know you guys are in the spirit of the thing!"
Subaru still grimaced at the thought of heading out, but he thought he had to if he wanted everyone in front of him to live. That's just how these situations worked out for him.
The search had the four of them on a bridge, near sunset in a poor part of the city. Mami was walking according to where her soul gem told her to.
Sayaka: "Your gem isn't glowing brightly… Is it because the witch escaped so long ago?"
Mami: "The trail has almost faded away."
Madoka: "You would've got it if you didn't stay behind to see to us…"
Mami: "Well, I simply couldn't do that, that would be too cruel for my liking."
Sayaka: "You really are an ally of justice Mami!"
Subaru: "Hahahahha, yeah, what she said."
[That was something straight out of a magical girl anime, hahaha.]
Sayaka: "Unlike that psycho, what's her deal, she pisses me off!"
[Is she really a bad person?]
Sayaka: "Is there any place that you look in particular for witches?"
Mami: "I check places that have had fatal car crashes, so that would be like places with heavy traffic. But also the red light district, where fights mostly break out. Also, I check places where people tend to commit suicide.
[Geez, magical girls sure do have a tough job going all around where people die to find witches.]
Mami: "I also check hospitals, the worst place for a witch to appear.
Subaru: "With all those weak people, I bet they grow fast, huh?"
Mami: "Exactly. It's unbearable to see, heartbreaking."
Suddenly her soul gem glowed brighter
Mami: "It's close."
Mami runs towards an abandoned tower, and the other three follow suit.
Mami: "It's here."
Sayaka: "Look up there!"
A person who must've been under the witch's influence had jumped off the building the moment after she said it.
Subaru: "SHIT! They're gonna die!"
Mami: "I got it!"
Mami ran forward while transforming into her magical girl outfit. Ribbons came out of the ground and the building and caught the jumper and suspended them in mid air. Then, slowly, she let the victim down onto the ground. Sure enough, there was a mark on her neck.
Mami: "A witches kiss…"
Madoka: "Is she dead?"
Mami: "No, fainted is all."
Subaru: "How can we get rid of it?"
Mami: "Simple, we beat the witch!"
They ran into the building, with German writing on the entrance.
Her soul gem flashed and the entrance to the labyrinth was found up a flight of stairs.
Mami touched Sayaka's bat and Subaru's whip, and they both transformed into more ornate pieces.
Sayaka: "Woah, look at that!"
Subaru: "Hey, this shouldn't change how it handles, will it?"
Mami: "No, it should handle the same, it will just be a little more effective against witches. Stay close to me once we get inside."
Subaru: "Tight formation, got it. You girls get in the center, I'll bring up the rear."
Sayaka: "Uhmm, okay."
As the last one into the labyrinth's entrance portal, Subaru had a prime view to spot Homura entering where they had just been through.
Subaru: [So, I guess we have a babysitter, huh?]
Homura: [Something like that.]
Subaru: [Does a reserve sound better?]
Homura: [You should probably get moving.]
Subaru: [Right.]
Subaru finally went into the portal and found the rest of them on the other side, slightly irritated.
Mami: "What was that about."
Subaru: "Just making sure no one was following us. Gotta keep up a rear guard."
Mami: "Well, let's go."
They started running up the stairs that were in front of them. When they reached the top, they found flying familiars. Mami shot one, and then they moved on till they found more.
Subaru struck at them with his whip, Sayaka swung her bat, and Mami shot the ones in front of her through. It was a bit close for Subaru's liking, but it was what it was.
[I'll have to see if she can print me off a gun.]
They started running again, this time just running past any familiars that appeared.
Mami: "Well, are you guys scared yet?"
Subaru: "Ha, this is nothing. There's much worse ways to die."
The others cringed a little. For being so touchy about life and death, he sure references death a lot.
They stopped at what seemed like an aerial highway for the familiars. They started swarming around them, and eventually, after having shot a few, Mami jumped into the air and smashed them with her momentum.
Madoka looked absolutely charmed by Mami. And Subaru did have to admit that she was pretty cool, but he wasn't sure if it was necessary.
[If she keeps this up, I'm going to lose my Lolimancer title… though that wouldn't be too bad really.]
The group stops at a pit, where Mami jumps down, and when she lands, summons muskets on her flanks, firing them at cotton ball familiars that were facing her.
Mami grabs the two girls with ribbons and takes them down into the pit with her. Subaru uses his whip to maneuver down into the pit by swinging lower and lower till he reaches the floor.
Mami: "Are you sure you aren't an archeologist from Indiana, Subaru?"
Subaru: "Well, I may not be, but that's kind of the idea."
Mami leads the group through a number of doors, going deeper into the labyrinth.
Mami: "Look at it. That is a witch."
Sayaka: "Ewww, gross."
Madoka: "It's awful, are you really gonna fight it?"
Mami: "I'll be fine, I could never lose"
While she said that, she took Sayaka's bat and hit the ground, probably forming a kind of barrier with it.
Subaru: "You're setting off a flag saying that, Mami!"
She didn't reply, instead jumping down, stepping on a little familiar.
Lifting her skirt, two muskets fall out, which she holds in both hands. She looses the shots into a heart couch that the witch threw. Mami takes her hat in front of her, and drops muskets out in front of her, eventually ending up with a pile of muskets.
Subaru: "Damnit, I hate just having to watch. She's gonna get herself killed and I won't be able to do a damn thing about it!"
Sayaka: "What could you do?!"
Subaru: "Something! I just can't bear to watch."
Mami gets ensnared by familiars, and is tethered to the main witch. Still firing muskets, she ends up thrown against the wall.
Sayaka: "Oh no!"
Madoka: "Mami!"
Mami looks like she's in a strenuous position, now hanging upside down above the witch, when she loosens up and says-
Mami: "I'm okay. I can't let myself look uncool in front of my magical girl trainees."
Subaru: "It doesn't matter, just win dammit!"
Mami's ribbons have the witch tied down to the floor, when she uses the ribbon on her chest to get loose, and form a massive cannon.
Mami: "Tiro Finale!"
It fires. The whole witch is incinerated in the shelling. Mami turns around to face her friends, now with a cup of tea.
Subaru: "You really scared me there Mami!"
Sayaka: "You won?"
The labyrinth waved around them, and disappeared just like that.
Mami was seen walking away, only to pick something up.
Mami: "This is a grief seed. A witch's egg. If you're lucky, you'll find one after a hunt."
Kyubey: "Don't worry, when they're like that they're perfectly safe. In fact, they're valuable because of what they do."
Mami: "You may notice my soul gem is a little duller than it was previously."
Sayaka: "Yeah."
Mami puts the grief seed next to her soul gem. Darkness flows from the gem to the seed.
Sayaka: "It's brighter!"
Mami: "Remember the reward I talked about? This is it."
Subaru: "So you have to find grief seeds to use your magic huh… sounds like it's a cycle of fighting witches with magic to replenish your magic."
Mami: "You'd essentially be right."
Mami then suddenly throws the seed through the doorway. It was followed by the sound of someone catching it. The girls gasped at the presence that walked out of the doorframe.
Mami: "It should be good for at least one more use. Take it, Miss Homura Akemi."
Sayaka: "Her again! Weren't you watching our back Subaru, didn't you notice her!"
Subaru: "I did, but I didn't say anything because I thought it would distract you. Sorry."
Mami: "Maybe you're not the sharing with others type."
Homura: "It was your kill. Keep the reward for yourself."
Homura threw it back to Mami, who caught it.
Mami: "Fine, if that's what you want, I'll take it then."
Homura then turned around and walked back where she came, ending their encounter as quickly as it had begun.
Sayaka: "Damn, that bitch bugs the hell out of me!"
Subaru: "Anyway, do you think I could see that grief seed?"
Mami: "Yes, but why?"
Subaru: "I just wanna try something."
Mami: "Alright, since it won't hurt anything."
As soon as Subaru grabbed the grief seed, he started feeling a similar sensation to when he and Beatrice had contact. That confirmed it. Subaru threw it back to Mami, who was perplexed.
Mami: "Correct me if I'm wrong, but did you just use that grief seed?"
Subaru: "I believe so, yes."
Mami: "Are you sure you aren't a female, Subaru?"
Subaru: "Well, you'll just have to trust me because I don't want to get arrested for indecent exposure, but I'm definitely male."
Madoka: "Woah, but then… how do you have magic Subaru? Why haven't you used it?"
Sayaka: "Yeah, you should have helped Mami if you have magic!"
Subaru: "Woah woah, hold on, I do have it, but I kind of can't use it. It's a really long story that while I will have to get into it with you guys eventually, I think it should really wait for another time."
Subaru was panicked at the fact that even the non-magical girls figured out that he was an abnormality. Even more so at Sayaka's reaction, because it was almost exactly what he was thinking.
Mami: "Okay. Eventually you're going to explain all your… eccentricities to us, but it can wait. We have someone waiting for us on the ground anyhow."
When they made it to the ground floor, Mami made sure the woman who jumped wasn't alone. While she wondered what went on, she knew she had seen herself jump.
Mami: "It was just a nightmare, don't get so worked up over it. You should just head home and forget this ever happened."
Eventually, she gathered her wits and walked off in what was presumably the direction of her house.
Subaru: "Well, all's well that ends well, right?"
Mami: "True. We saved a victim and destroyed the witch."
Madoka: "I'd really love to be like you Mami, but I just can't figure out what I would wish for…"
Mami: "It's okay, you can take all the time you need, since you have the chance too."
Subaru: "Yeah, don't take a decision like this lightly Madoka, Sayaka. Mami could have died in there. I would hate to see someone throw their life away because of a stupid wish."
Sayaka: "It isn't stupid!"
Mami: "Well, you should definitely put thought into it so that it doesn't end up being a stupid wish. But, ultimately, it's your decision. Anyway, we should probably all head home now. I'll see you girls at school tomorrow!"
Madoka: "Yep, goodbye Mami!"
Subaru: "Goodbye!"