Chapter 7: The Duel

I do not own PMMM or Magia Record. PMMM is own by AniplexNA. Magia Record is owned by f4Samurai


Two months later

"I'm telling you Kaede, you should come with us to our training sessions. I'm sure Hanna and Homura would be happy to help you get better."

Kaede, a petite brunette, shrugged, "I don't know. From the way you say it, they seem kind of scary."

Momoko sighed, "Look, they're not that scary…well…Hanna kinda stares into your soul…and Homura…ok…I take that back."

"See what I mean?" Kaede pointed out. "When you first introduced me to your friends, they just seemed so scary and stuff."

"Geez Kaede, will it hurt for you to grow a backbone?" Rena cracked, "You're so wimpy."

"Rena!" Momoko admonished.

"What? It's how she is!"

"Maybe, but that's incredible rude!"

"EXCUSEEEE ME!"

The trio stopped and turned around to see a single girl wearing their school uniform. She had brown haired tied in a side ponytail and big brown eyes.

"Yes?" Rena asked curtly.

Momoko was more welcoming. "Hi, can I help you?"

The girl gesture to their hands, "Are you guys magical girls?"

Momoko paused, she had been warned about people who asked you about your secret identity.

"So what if we are?" She asked hesitantly.

The girl beamed, "That's excellent!"

She pointed at herself, "I'm Yui Tsuruno and I'm the mightiest magical girl!"

The trio stared at her.

"Never heard of you." Rena deadpanned.

Momoko shook her head, "interesting? So you're mighty?"

Tsuruno nodded, "Yep yep! I'm the mightiest magical girl…though" she added, "I'm new around here so I was hoping to see if people would duel me so I could see how mighty they are."

Momoko sighed. "Look, I'm pretty new myself…so I'm not sure fighting would be a good idea."

Tsuruno shrugged, "Come on! It's not like any of us is going to get seriously hurt! I'll even give you a grief seed!"

Momoko raised her brow. "A grief seed?"

"Yep yep!" Tsuruno smirked, "It would be unfair of me to not take care of all the girls I defeat on my path to becoming the mightiest magical girl!"

"So you assume you're going to win." Rena deadpanned.

"That's right! I am the mightiest after all!"

"Ah huh…"

"But don't worry!" Tsuruno gave a thumbs up, "I don't want to fight you. I want to fight her!"

The trio's jaws dropped as they followed the girls hand to…Kaede.

"M-me?"

"Yep yep! You! I want to fight you!"

"Why me? I'm the weakest here!"

"Appearances can be deceptive! You look like the nicest and sweetest one, thus you must be the most dangerous one!"

"Fuyuu?"

That was it. Rena transformed and pointed her trident at the brunette. "Now look here! You're trying to fight the most dangerous one right? Then fight me!"

Tsuruno looked at her confused, but then lit up. "So you'll fight me?"

"Yes I'll fight you!" Rena shot back, "I make you eat those words about me being weak!"

"I never said that?" Tsuruno shrugged, "But who cares? Let's go!"


A few days later
"Homura sensei!"

Homura turned back to see her student running up to her. It had taken much getting used to, but now Homura couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship and almost parent like feelings towards her former mentor. Her eyes harded when she saw her pupil's state.

Mami looked like she had been through the toaster. Her clothes were slightly blackened and her normally luscious blonde hair was fringed and had burnt ends.

"What happened to you?" Homura asked in concern.

"I apologize sincerely!" Mami bowed stiffly.

Homura raised her brow, "For what?"

"I have failed you!" Mami stammered out. "I…I lost."

So it was a fight huh?

"What do you mean?"

Mami shifted awkwardly. "Well, I was coming into Kamihama for our usual lessons when I met this girl asking if I was strong. I said yes, I was trained by the strongest magical girl ever, Homura sensei!"

Homura fought the urge to blush and compliment. She wasn't that strong. Take away her time stopping abilities and she really wasn't that powerful.

"But she said that she was the mightiest magical girl and of couse that's an affront to you!" Mami insisted, "So I challenged her to a fight."

"And you lost." Homura finished, putting together the last pieces. "So Yui got to you too."

"Yui? How do you know her name?"

Homura sighed. This was exactly why she wasn't a good mentor. She didn't warn Mami about Yui's fighting spree. "Yui is a new magical girl from Sankyou. She's got a pretty big ego and proclaims herself as the 'mightest magical girl'. Personally I don't mind, but she's been challenging other girls to duels to gauge her own strength."

"Really? I never thought there would be girls who just want to fight each other?" Mami wondered allowed.

"Normally it's not that big of a deal…" Homura continued, "Problem is…Yui is actually a magical girl prodigy. For only having a few months under her belt, she's abnormally strong and has yet to lose a match. She literally steamrolled through Momoko, Rena, and Kaede last week."

Mami frowned, "She even beat them? Well I guess I could see that…"

"So how did she defeat you?"

Mami froze. "Well…I tried using those muskets you were helping me learn but she kept dodging and I couldn't get a good lock on her. And when I tried to use my ribbons to pin her down, her flames incinerated them! Before I knew it, she was right on top of me and burned me to a crisp!"

Homura looked over Mami's charred features. "Looks like she held back on the flames. But good job."

Mami looked up in surprise. "What?"

"You forced her to close quarters. Most girls don't even get that far with her. The fact that you engaged her at the level means you've been improving."

Mami's eyes lit up. "Thank you so much Homura sensei! I will cherish your words forever!"

Homura rolled her eyes. This constant stream of praises from Mami was…uncomfortable at times. "Anyways, I guess we should deal with her sooner than later."

"Will you beat her sensei?"

Homura shook her head. "Wouldn't be fair. Yui needs to be beaten by someone of her own caliber and fighting style. That would take her down a major peg."

"I see," Mami nodded, "So someone like Yachiyo or Kanae then?"

"I'm thinking Kanae as well. I'll call her and see if she has time."


"Kanae Senpai, where are we going?" Karin called, running after the taller girl.

"Homura texted me, asking if I could deal with the Yui situation."

"The Yui situation?"

Kanae nodded, "A new magical girl is on a dueling spree and needs to be brought down a few pegs."

"Oh," Karin considered the odds. A new magical girl out there not fighting witches, but other magical girls? "Why is she doing it?"

"Apparently she wants to prove herself. She's actually doing pretty well."

"She is?"

Kanae shot a look at the newest member of the team. "Yes. She's undefeated so far. Luck has literally blessed her with a talent for combat and literal flame powers."

Karin frowned, "So what's the problem? She's strong I guess?"

"That's the problem. She hasn't lost and she's beating up anyone she can convince to fight her. Apparently she literally steamrolled Monoko's girls and even gave Mami a run for her money."

Karin's eyes widened, "Mami got beaten? That's crazy!" Mami was the strongest magical girl in their group, having been personally mentored by Homura for over a year!

Kanae nodded, "It sounds like this Yui girl has a knack for tactics and got into her blind spot. Mami's weakness is being unable to adapt to surprises, so naturally being hit in her blind spots will take her down pretty quickly."

"I see…so you're going to fight her?"

Kanae nodded, "Yep. Besides Yachiyo, I'm the most qualified to deal with her."

The two traveled by train up towards Shinsei ward, sharing quiet talk when Kanae broke the chit chat.

"Karin, are you sure about joining the art club?"

Karin nodded, "Yep! I love drawing manga! And Yachiyo's training have helped me improve my fight scenes immensely!"

Kanae nodded, "As long as you're sure. Yachiyo was worried about balancing magical girl duties with school life."

Karin was confused. "Doesn't she work part time as a model with Homura?"

Kanae smirked, "Exactly. She's so worried about everyone else that she forgets that she's the busiest of us all."

Karin giggled, "That sounds like Yachiyo, always momming us around."

She smiled, " It's…nice to be cared like that."

Kanae couldn't agree more. "So, about that transfer student…"

"Oh Alina Senpai? I'm not sure what her deal is. She's supposed to be this exquisite artist but all I see is cold hearted girl."

"Maybe you'll get to know her better." Kanae assured her, "Ah here we are."


The duo arrived at the scene just as another fight reached a close.

Karin watched as a dark blue haired girl in a white gi attempt to slash a brown-haired girl with her naginata. Said girl leaped back and landed in a crouch.

"Ah you're just in time."

Karin turned around to find a familiar white-haired girl standing behind them.

"Hi Mifuyu!" She greeted, "you're here too?"

Nodding, Mifuyu turned to the fight in front of them, "Tsuruno Yui is most certainly a capable fighter."

Karin started at Mifuyu in curiosity. "If you're here, why don't you fight her? Is she really that strong?"

Mifuyu chuckled, "Of course not. It's merely that if I fought her, I would use illusions, smoke, and a giant chakram. While Tsuruno might accept defeat from that, it wouldn't nearly be as effective on her ego as much as Kanae's sheer brute force would. It's better this way."

"Are you sure you just wanted to see me deal with it?" Kanae deadpanned.

Mifuyu giggled, "Oh you know me so well. I can't possibly pass up the opportunity to watch my knight in armor show off for me."

She nuzzled against Kanae's arm as Karin blushed. Even after watching them for over two months, Karin was still uncomfortable with watching the young couple flirt with each other.

The battle was reaching a close as the brunette ducked, spun, and leaped around the blunette's attacks.

"Stand still!" The girl shouted at the brunette, "You cannot escape my fury forever!"

The girl side stepped her attack before pointing her fans at the bluenette. "Fire!"

Karin winced as the blue haired girl was covered in a stream of flame. For some odd reason, Karin could feel the heat wash over her as though she was the one being scorched.

The charred bluenette collapsed on the ground before untransforming.

The brunette skipped up to her. "You fought well, Asuka! But I am the mightiest!"

She held out her hand to the bluenette, who hastily accepted it. "You most certainly are strong. But I'll get stronger too, or I'll commit seppuku!"

Tsuruno's eyes widened. "Don't do that!"

She helped Asuka onto her feet. "But let's get stronger together!"

Asuka nodded before walking off towards Mizuna. The brunette turned back to the crowd watching her. "Anyone else want to challenge The Mightiest Magical girl?"

Kanae turned to Karin and Mifuyu. "Guess that's my cue."

She walked up to Tsuruno.

"I'm Kanae, and I've never heard of you, much less of your mightiness. Care to show me?"

The girl's eyes narrowed. "You're on then! For I am Tsuruno Yui, and I am the mightiest magical girl!"

Kanae transformed and hefted her pipe. Tsuruno prepared her fans.

Karin watched in avid fascination as the two girls faced off. And in the blink of an eye, they were off.

Tsuruno opened with several quick bursts of flame towards the blonde. Kanae tracked the fireballs and ducked, allowed the bursts of flame to pass right under her, just enough for her to still feel the heat.

Planting her feet into the ground, Kanae kicked off towards the brunette, her pipe swinging in an overhead arc.

Tsuruno's eyes widened as she attempted to block the pipe with her fans, but the magically enhanced pipe smashed through the flaming fans and sent the girl flying back.

Tsuruno did recover quickly, Kanae had to give her that. She summersaulted backwards and landed on both feet. She shook her head as she grinned. "Wow, you're so strong!"

"Thank you."

"But just because you're strong, doesn't mean that you can beat the mightiest magical girl!" Tsuruno shouted as she leaped forward, sending several quick bursts of flame at Kanae.

Kanae watched the girl rushing towards her before taking one step back. Tsuruno flew past her only to receive a swift smack in the back by Kanae's magic pipe.

"Oof!" She grunted as she crashed into the ground, but managed to roll out of the way of the second strike.

Tsuruno popped back on her feet, though swayed unsteadily as she tried to regain her balance.

Kanae didn't hesitate as she strode towards the girl, pipe held in an overhead stroke.

Tsuruno saw the attack coming, as she raised her fans in a futile attempt to block the strike. But even then, Kanae feinted, dropping low to smash the head of the pipe into Tsuruno's legs.

Karin winced as she could hear the audible crack of bone breaking, causing Tsuruno to collapse on the ground in a heap. Karin could almost feel the pain in her own legs as memories of being stabbed, slashed, and bruised by the professional leg breaker herself surfaced from the last series of months of ruthless training.

"Now that's a Yach-Chan specialty!" Mifuyu commented aloud.

"Don't remind me." Karin pouted, "My legs…the pain…"

Kanae pointed her weapon at Tsuruno, "Yield."

The brunette weakly nodded, "You're way mightier than I am."

Kanae shrugged, "I guess I was taught by the best."

Tsuruno's eyes twinkled. "Umm…like who?"

"A magical girl named Yachiyo Nanami. You'll get to know her soon enough. She's the Boss of the West and that means she's your boss too."

"I see, I see. Hmm…she must be very mighty!"

"She's not the boss for nothing I guess."


The next morning

Homura saw it coming from a mile away. She really did.

Yachiyo apparently hadn't as she stared dumbfounded at the brunette kneeling before her at the school gates.

"Please accept me as your student Miss Nanami! No, Nanami Shishou!" Tsuruno begged as she clung to Yachiyo's ankles.

Yachiyo stared incredulously at the brunette. "Why me?"

"I once thought that I was the mightiest magical girl but fighting Miss Kanae opened my eyes to the truth! I am but a weak magical girl with only sheer willpower and determination on my side. I lack experience, strength, and the intelligence to become the mightiest magical girl!" She stood up and held her hands out to Yachiyo. "I would ask Kanae, but she told me that you were the one who mentored her. Therefore, I humbly ask of you, take me as your student!"

Yachiyo looked over the bowing underclassmen and sighed, her cheeks reddening from the praise. "I…would be honored to mentor you."

Tsuruno's eyes widened as she pulled the blunette into a tight bear hug. "Thank you so much! I will not let you down Nanami Shishou!"

Homura managed a small smile as she watched the exchange. These girls weren't Madoka, but they were growing on her, nonetheless.