Madoka's POV
The girl sitting next to me seemed rather interesting and funny. Her name... I think it was Sayaka?
But I had to wonder about Homura. She had such a cool and mystic aura, and she was pretty. Surely, she's nothing like me. I'm the exact opposite. I'm not cool, nor am I interesting. I wanted to be more like Homura, who probably didn't let things bother her.
When language arts started, Miss Saotome called on Sayaka to answer the question.
"What?" Sayaka said. She wasn't paying attention.
"Correct!" Miss Saotome said. "The five W's are who, were, why, how, and what!"
Sayaka then looked at me and smiled.
"Looks like I was right after all! Haha!" I began to laugh with her. She seemed friendly.
When algebra came, Homura was the only one in class who understood what we were doing, and solved a very complicated problem on the board.
"Wow..." I thought. Homura was cool, and she was talented. She was amazing!
During break time, everyone was crowded around Homura, asking her questions.
"Excuse me..." Homura ended up saying. "I feel a bit dizzy. May I go to the nurse's office?"
"Sure! Just talk to the class health advisor, Madoka." One of the girls said.
Eh? I was going to walk Homura to the nurse's office? Maybe then, I'll be able to find out more about her. In a way, I was excited. Maybe I'll find out the secret of being cool like her.
As soon as I walked out of the class with Homura, however...
"Madoka..." Homura seemed distressed.
"Ah! Are you okay?" I asked her. Was she feeling ill?
"I'm... fine." Homura said. "But... I can't take it anymore, knowing that I'm not cool..." She said.
Huh?
"But... you are cool! I thought you were cool the minute you walked in here!" I said.
"It was all an act..." Homura said. "You see, I kept faking being this mysterious girl all throughout middle school so that people would admire me from afar. I didn't even make any friends that way, because everyone was afraid to approach me. But in reality, I'm this clumsy, stupid girl. There's nothing to admire. I was lying to everyone."
"Eh? Not at all!" I said. "You solved an extremely hard math problem. The whole class was impressed with you!"
"That's because I studied hard to become someone people could look up to. But none of that studying can change what's inside my heart..."
Homura was trying hard not to cry. Knowing that, I hugged her.
"But Homura... You're fine just the way you are. I bet you're still cool either way." I said, smiling. "Okay?"
"Thanks, Madoka..." Homura looked at me fondly. "I'm sorry I deceived you."
"One thing's for sure, your name sure is cool!" I said. "Can I call you Homie?"
Homura began to hold back laughter.
"Come on, let it out." I said.
Homura began laughing heartily and I joined her.
"Homie? Haha, what kind of ridiculous nickname is that?" She laughed.
"A COOL nickname!" I said. I was really surprised to see Homura laugh.
"There's just... one thing I'm worried about..." Homura said when the laughter died down.
"Hm? What?" I said.
"If I go back in there with my real personality, everyone will be surprised I'm showing emotions now and stuff..."
"Oh, yeah..." I said. I could see how that would be unnerving. "Well... just give it a shot. Maybe everyone will like your real personality better!"