Students scattered around the gymnasium, carrying used training equipment in and out of the gymnasium for their activities out in the track-field and other stuff going on in the school. Despite the lingering stench of sweat in the air and the sudden assembly, the members of the gym club were casually talking and bantering with each other as they waited with their backs against the wall. Some asked what was going on, some were played with their phones and some were even dozing off while standing.

Now a few meters away from the group, Sanbey popped out of Homura's bag and asked, "Spot any of our targets, yet?"

Homura looked at the pictures again and scanned the the lined-up boys before shaking her head. Homura scanned the round-up members, Most of the boys had toned bodies from their constant physical practice despite the laziness they were showing at the moment, and they mostly sported simple haircuts as long hair got in the way of fighting. She looked at them all again, but recognized none of them from her pictures, "I doubt that they would be here out of all places," she thought as she tried listening on their conversation for any info.

"Hey, I heard that the Student Council called us here. They said something 'bout fake enlistment forms." one of the members spoke up, leaning back on the concrete wall.

"Great, we get the blame," another groaned in reply, "I swear, those two at the Freelancer club b-"

"Shut it. Council Pres' is coming."

Walking towards them in a manner that made all other students bow in respect as they passed by was Minami and two of her Council Members, looking collected and calm as ever like she did this early morning. The girl placed a hand on her thigh and glared at the rounded-up gym members. Some of them lowered their talk to mere whispers to avoid getting scolded, but Minami ignored them to focus on what mattered to her at the moment.

"Weird," she muttered to her members, "I don't see their Club President here."

"Hey, Pres'!" one of the members called out to her with a raised hand, "Is there a good reason why we're lining up like a bunch of kids in a vaccine center?"

Minami's eyes fixed on a tall member at the other side of the line who was picking his nose while leaning on the wall. She rolled her eyes at his presence as it was the club's ace, Takehito Saeki. His spiked hair had a bleached color to it and he had a tattoo of his pierced heart on his shoulder. The boy was known for picking on any newcomers and wimps that had any interest in joining the club, but his high physical performance was what kept him on the team. The typical jock, one may call him.

"I don't have time to deal with you, Takehito. I don't have time to talk with bullies," she casually brushed him off as she rubbed her forehead, "Now allow me to see your Club President or el-"

"Or else what?" he stepped forward, easily offended by her attitude, "You gonna' disqualify your only sports team from the International Tournament? Huh?"

Minami let out another sigh of annoyance and looked at the sports ace who loved putting words in other people's mouths. The council members at her side gave her a look that basically told her to keep things civil and Minami turned back to Takehito with crossed arms, ordering, "Just keep your mouth shut and stay in line. I can make you do toilet duty for a week, you know? With your own toothbrush, no less."

The members tried to hold back their laughter as Takehito quickly backed off with a drop of sweat running down his face. Toilet duty was not something a sane person would do if it involved the gymnasium latrines and the tall member's aggressive boasting was reduced to mere growling from an angry bulldog, "I'd rather-!'"

"Stop it, Takehito. I told you to respect your superiors, didn't I?" a calm, dignified voice suddenly spoke up. Behind Minami, Homura saw a senior student with tidy, orange hair, walking up to Minami with his hands behind his back. Makoto Takamatsu, club president of the gym club and one of the most well-performing students in both academic and physical studies in this school. Minami turned around and gave a disappointed look at him with her arms still crossed.

"You're late," she frowned, averting her eyes from him as they spoke.

"I was busy bringing in the new training equipment for the club," he calmly replied and walked towards the gym members. His presence made all his fellow members stand up with straightened postures and the tall boy nodded in approval of their attitude. He looked at Minami and sighed, "What's this all about, Morikawa? You don't come here very often. If never."

One of the Council Members handed him a clipboard and Minami began to explain on what was going on. Homura and Yuri just stood on the sidelines, watching her perform her usual duty, "I got two enlistment forms with fake signatures," Minami threw the clipboard into Makoto's hands who caught it with ease, "My members tell me they got it from here. But I think we both know where these actually came from."

Giving it a quick read, Makoto passed the clipboard back to Minami's council member and said, "Then why don't you just go to them instead of me if they sent these? I have responsibilities to be aware of, Minami."

Minami glared at Makoto with anger in her eyes which quickly disappeared when a council member placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "I have responsibilities, too. I'm just here to confirm it, so I can talk to Tezuka later about these. You know that he knows how to keep his and his friends' tracks clean. He'll only make me look like an idiot if I go over there without any proof, so here I am talking in this place that smells like a wet dog."

While the two talked, Homura could feel some sort of high tension between the two. She could tell the two had known each other for a long time and she had a feeling something went wrong between them. She looked at Yuri and saw her fingers fidgeting again as she looked down on the floor with a frown, "Is there a problem, Morikawa?"

"N-No. I just..."

Minami took her eyes off Makoto and turned to her assistants, sighing, "We're leaving. There's no point being here anymore. I'm going to find Tezuka."

The student council then left the gymnasium with Minami not even noticing Yuri and Homura clearly standing on the sidelines, watching her. Homura wondered what was going on between the two. Yuri seemed to know, but she decided not to interfere in someone else's personal matters. She was about to say something to Yuri when she realized that the young girl had quickly ran up to Makoto. The senior noticed her and showed a small smile at Yuri's presence as Homura caught up to her.

"Hello, Yuri, it's been a while," he cheerfully greeted her and crouched to embrace her like siblings. Patting the girl, he looked up and acknowledged Homura's presence with a nod and a question, "And you are? I rarely find Yuri anywhere else other than Minami's side."

"Akemi Homura," Homura introduced herself with a small bow to the senior. Makoto stood up and two had a firm handshake, "This girl is showing me around the place. I'll be enrolling here in a few days, so I am simply here to see how the school like."

The tall senior chuckled at the formality Homura showed and said, "Welcome to the school, then. Although, I'm guessing you are going to ask what that was about, just now?" he cleared his throat after mentioning just now's show. He looked embarrassed to be talking about it.

Sanbey poked his head from out of Homura's bag and looked at the senior from top-to-bottom, ears twitching eagerly, "You know, I know he's not our target, but I don't mind him coming along with us."

"Silence," Homura thought and nodded. Noticing that Makoto was a bit taller than she was, unsurprising for a senior, she curiously inquired, "I only have a few things to ask about: Firstly, what is this 'International Tournament'? I assume this is a school event?" Homura had not known of this event in earlier timelines, so it seemed wise to note it down if it would be any sort of importance to her later.

Makoto first turned to his club members and gave an unopposed order for them to get changed into P.E uniforms. After that, he offered Homura to sit on the bleachers which Homura did not refuse. The wooden material of the bleachers were excellent, polished till it shined and was somewhat more comfortable than it looked. Sitting beside each other with Yuri behind him, Makoto began to explain, "Well, in less than 4 weeks, the school will be presenting a team to represent us in an a fighting tournament. The team can use whatever weapons they want, provided they don't cheat with with items like sports drugs and physical enhancers."

"Strange, I've never heard of this before," Homura brought a finger to her mouth, mentally noting this down.

Makoto let out a friendly chuckle, "It's not really that popular or well-heard of for those that don't have an interest in sports. If I remember correctly, the total number of members for last year's competition was a mere 30 members. But it's been getting more know and known. Now, is there anything else I can help you with?"

Homura nodded and pulled out the pictures of the four boys she was looking for, "Do you know these boys? I'm looking for them."

Makoto's expressions seem to change slightly when he took the picture from her hands and pondered to himself, answering, "Yes, I do. These boys tend to cause trouble for this school. They're the Freelancer club: They do whatever the Student Council orders them to do, like clean the school or fix some broken equipment. Minami made the club a few months ago after a really bad accident. But I have not seen them around, though," Makoto handed back the pictures, "Sorry for not being able to help."

"It's fine," Homura pocketed the pictures, "I'm sure you have your own business to take care of."

"OK. Well then," he smiled and stood up, wringing his feet as a warm-up as he stretched his arms, "If you need any other help from me, I'll be on the field outside running with my team. I'll see you later. You, too, Yuri," Makoto affectionately patted Yuri on the head before he left to follow his club members out of the gymnasium and was met with some playful slaps on the back from his members.

Yuri seemed a bit disappointed when Makoto left and Homura seemed to take an interest in him - he'd make a good candidate, no doubt about it - but he had no reason to contract with Sanbey nor believe the existence of Magical Girls and such, thus, Homura quickly gave up the idea. Yuri nudged her in the arm and hesitantly asked if she wanted a tour of the locker room as well. Although it wasn't necessary, she still needed to find her targets around the school and Homura wouldn't leave any area unchecked.

It only took the smell of bitter sweat and grime to make them regret their decision as the two pinched their noses in disgust, walking in the dark, dimly-lit room of rusty, dirty lockers. The smell was utterly unbearable to them and smelled worse than the place Homura met Tateyama in. Discarded sports clothing were scattered across the floor, towels hung on open lockers doors and the girls stood as far as they could from the latrines. The two turned around to leave until the sound of clattering metal rang in the air along with a pair of voices.

Homura recognized one of them being Saeki's loud and obnoxious voice.

"Come on, Hakamichi! Spill the beans to the Pres' or-"

"Or what? Wedge, swirlie, stuffed-in-the-locker? Been there, done all of that," a cocky, dry voice sneered in advance.

Homura recognized this one, too, having heard it yesterday in a diner she was in. Knowing it belonged to one of the boys she was looking for, Homura decided to investigate the noise which came from the end of the room as Yuri whispered at her to just leave. Yuri followed Homura and the pair hid behind a set of dirty lockers as the black-haired Puella Magi pressed her back against the rusty metal and peeked around the corner to spot Takehito. The club ace was with another member as he gripped a student by the collar, pressing him against a locker while barking at his face.

Eyes narrowed, the Puella Magi recognized the student who sneered back at Takehito with a cocky grin. With visual confirmation, she confirmed the boy as one of her targets, remembering his name from the sheet as Hideki Hakamichi.