Prelude

"The breakfast is on the table. Come on!"

"I'm already coming."

Kyouko appeared in the kitchen running.

When Sayaka saw the school uniform of Kyouko, she approached. "It's been over a week since you recovered and you still can't fix the collar." Then she began to adjust Kyouko's clothing.

"Argh... I don't know how you can study while being suffocated this way." Kyouko was a little embarrassed with the motherly attitude of her friend.

"You didn't complain about it before." Sayaka finished up knotting the red bow on the uniform.

"Because that wasn't me. Got it?" Kyouko showed her grumpiness.

"Okay." Sayaka started to clean off the table.

"Hey! I haven't eaten yet."

Sayaka didn't stop what she was doing. "But if I let you sit down to eat, we will be late. Grab something and eat it on the way."

Kyouko took a bunch of bananas from the fruit bowl. "So why you said the food was on the table if you were gonna do that?"

Sayaka turned her face slightly, revealing a mischievous smile. "Because I knew you'd stop being lazy."

Kyouko bit one of the bananas so aggressively that she almost swallowed the peel and all. "Mmmh... You're testing..mmmhh..my patience... mmmhhh... girl."

Sayaka stopped putting the food in the refrigerator. "If you'd wake up early, you wouldn't be grumbling now."

"I woke up before your mother. Heh." Kyouko was already eating another banana.

"What?!" Sayaka's face trembled with anger. "My mother returns from work at five in the morning. What would you expect?"

"Hey! Relax. I'm only joking." Kyouko was finishing the bunch.

"Can we go?" Sayaka said as she picked up her bag.

"I had an idea." Kyouko threw what was left of the bunch in the trash. "Why don't we go to school jumping from rooftop to rooftop, huh? It would save time and we could sleep more."

Sayaka stared at Kyouko and expressed in the most serious way possible. "That's not funny at all."

"Tch... I'm seeing that you woke in a bad mood today." Said Kyouko while cleaning the space between her teeth with her tongue.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

"I'm telling you... that was lucky." Kyouko bit a baked cake shaped like fish. "Finding a taiyaki stand on the way to school."

"For me it was bad luck. Now we'll arrive at the last minute." Sayaka replied sharply.

Kyouko ignored the attitude of Sayaka. "The first taiyaki of the day is always the best. Look how much it's stuffed!" Kyouko showed the cake to Sayaka and squeezed. A generous portion of sweet red bean paste leaked where she had bitten.

Sayaka just brushed off Kyouko's arm.

Kyouko nodded disapprovingly. "Hm... You should have bought one too, maybe it could have improved your day."

Sayaka's concern was unfounded, since they were almost at school. The building was just ahead, at the end of a boardwalk. While finishing the cake, Kyouko watched the flight of pink petals from cherry trees. Apparently, the cherry trees in this world were always blossoming. A clear stream followed the boardwalk and the sound of water was like a sleeping pill for her.

There were small bridges passing over the stream, linking the boardwalk to the cherry tree garden. On one of these bridges was a couple hand in hand: a gray haired boy wearing the school uniform, a shirt and slacks of light beige color with black details. The girl had green hair and eyes and nothing more drew attention to her. However, that sight alerted Kyouko's memories.

"Hey Sayaka. Aren't those two from our class..." Kyouko realized that her 'cousin' was not at her side. "Huh?"

Sayaka had pressed the pace and was a few dozen meters ahead, having already crossed the gates.

Kyouko had to run to catch up. "What! Why the rush?"

The two started up the flight of stairs before entering the building. "I... want to get to the classroom early as possible."

The statement Sayaka made sounded so weak that Kyouko could not help but suspect. "Does it has something to do with that little couple? They're in our class."

Sayaka was silent.

Kyouko squinted. "The boy..."

Sayaka's lips moved a little.

"It's that boy, right? You still have a crush on him." Kyouko smiled triumphantly.

"Heiswaterunderthebridge." Sayaka answered, stumbling over words.

"Uh-huh... I believe you." Kyouko said sardonically, crossing her arms.

"Put this in your head, Kyouko." Sayaka stopped and, with a bulging look, snapped. "It wasn't meant for me to be here ANYMORE!"

Kyouko leaned back, feeling the impact of those words. Students who passed by were looking at the two.

Sayaka capped her face with a hand.

"I was harsh. My bad." Kyouko was scratching her neck awkwardly. "You sure have feeling down like this for a while."

"It's all right Kyouko." Sayaka sighed and lowered her head. "It's just the thought of going into the classroom and seeing my friend as a hostage to that devil... A-And because she doesn't recognize me."

"Hey." Kyouko held Sayaka's chin and lifted her head. "Warriors move on with their heads held high."

The two exchanged glances.

"Otherwise they could bump in a wall."

Sayaka laughed at that statement.

The two girls resumed the walk and went to the floor where their classroom was.

"Kyouko." Sayaka began. "I'll go to the bathroom before class starts."

"Okay..." Kyouko held Sayaka's shoulder and forced the bluenette to face her again. "What's happening?"

"Kyouko?!" Sayaka stared at the hand Kyouko was using to hold her.

Kyouko's expression was more serious. "You're going to the bathroom all the time but only at school."

"So what?" Sayaka pushed Kyouko's arm away to get her shoulder free.

Kyouko continued. "I know it's not your bladder. Could even be that you're skipping class, but I noted Homura always asking to leave soon after you."

Sayaka pursed her lips, her breathing became shallow. "If... you see me with her."

"I'll give her a beating."

"No!" Sayaka was incisive. "I don't want you to intervene."

"But how?!" Kyouko clenched her fists. "And if she fucks with your head?"

"It's like a wound, I'll recover." Sayaka forced a smile. "You know I'm good at it." Then she spoke with an apprehensive tone. "Now.. if you're discovered, I don't know if I'll have a second chance to have you by my side."

Kyouko relaxed her fists and turned to face away. "Tch..."

Sayaka looked at students in the hallway; she recognized some who were from the classroom. However, there was no sign of Homura or Madoka. "You better go to the classroom before she appears. I'll be right back."

When Sayaka made a gesture that she was leaving, Kyouko called out. "Sayaka..."

"Huh?"

"Don't be a fool." Kyouko smiled slightly. "You're better than that."

"I know." Sayaka winked and stuck out her tongue before the two separated.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

End of another class.

Nagisa was sitting at her desk, putting a book in her backpack, when she felt a nudge on her shoulder.

A girl was standing beside her. She had bright green eyes that matched the butterfly-shaped jaw clip in her brown hair. The hair cut was short, bobbed and unlike Nagisa, she wore striped clothes. Her white shirt was emblazoned with a cute drawing of a sunflower with a caterpillar, both with smiley faces. She wore blue jeans that went to the knees and tennis shoes.

Nagisa smiled. "Ayako-chan ~!"

But Ayako was not looking at Nagisa but to another point in the room. She had a serious expression. "Nagisa. Kuroki was looking at you the whole class."

"Huh?" Nagisa followed Ayako's gaze to a boy with spiky blue hair and black eyes. He rose from his desk and headed towards them.

Ayako made a suspicious face and spoke softly. "He'll try something. Be prepared, he's coming."

Nagisa remembered what Ayako had commented about Takuma Kuroki. He was a very cheeky boy with a big ego. It only got worse when he became the tallest student of the classroom, considering that most of the boys had a lower height than girls at that age. However, what he had gained in height, he had not won in body and attempted to compensate it by wearing thick jackets.

Takuma nodded. "Hi girls."

"What do you want, Kuroki." Ayako crossed her arms.

"Huh? Nothing special Kinomoto." Takuma put on a small smile, placing his hands in his jacket pockets. "I just wanted to know if you and Momoe are aware of the latest rumor."

"Rumor?" Nagisa was intrigued.

"So you don't know..."

Takuma stared at Nagisa, wide-eyed.

"...about the bathroom ghost."

Nagisa was speechless.

But Ayako wasn't. "Oh okay. I heard that. It's like the 'Hanako of the toilet'. Every school has one. Bullshit."

"Oh... but isn't like the Hanako's one." Takuma nodded. "Although it's also in a ladies' room, the story is different. I'll tell you."

Takuma cleared his throat.

"It begins like this: if you enter an empty bathroom, you can find a little girl..."

Nagisa started to get tense.

"You can stop there!" Ayako gestured with her hand. "How is the bathroom empty if there's a little girl?"

Takuma rolled his eyes. "The little girl is the ghost, she doesn't count."

"Hm... proceed." Ayako did a bored expression.

"At first you don't see her face, only her long hair." Takuma begins to focus more on Nagisa, as she clearly showed more attention. "But soon she reveals her whitened face with terrible inhuman eyes."

A chill ran down the spine of Nagisa.

"If you see it, then it's time to run. If you stay..." Takuma got his hands out of his pockets and positioned them as if to lunge at Nagisa. "...She opens up her wide mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and eats you. IIIIAAAHHH." He opened his mouth and bared his teeth as much as he could while advancing at Nagisa.

Ayako held Takuma's arm. "Stop it. You're scaring my Nagisa with this silly story."

Takuma breaks away and gets very angry while caressing where Ayako had touched, as if it had been a sacrilege.

"The Hanako's one is faaaaaaar better." Ayako said.

"Oh yeah?" Takuma returned his hands to the pockets. "But this is the story that everyone is talking about in school." Then he looked at Nagisa. "So I wanted to ask something to Momoe."

"T-To me?" Nagisa was cold sweating.

"Yes." Takuma began to smirk. "Are you the ghost?"

That was like a punch in the stomach for Nagisa. Her legs were wobbly, if she was not sitting, she would have fallen.

Takuma continued. "There are versions of this story where they say that the ghost hair is not only long, but also all white. Hehehe."

"Pfstchhhahahahaha! Nagisa-chan a ghost?!" Ayako pulled Nagisa's cheek. "Noooo. She's made of flesh and bone."

"Ouch." Nagisa moved away her friend's hand before rubbing where redness was forming.

Ayako added. "Also her hair is silvery, not white."

"Silvery?!" Takuma said incredulously. "Her hair is white like an old hag. You girls... always making up colors where it's not."

Ayako's face was disfigured with rage. "Go buy glasses! Pistachio!"

"Pistachio? " Takuma was surprised. Had Ayako gone mad?

Ayako smiled contemptuously. "You're always pestering the others, thinking you're the ruler here, but you're no more than a pistachio ice cream ball."

"Ayako-chan." Nagisa said quietly, still having not recovered from the emotional blow.

"W-Where did you get that? Are you crazy?" Takuma still confused.

"Nah. It was Nagisa-chan who told me that and I agree." Ayako closed her eyes and nodded her head to reinforce the statement.

"Ayako-chan!" Nagisa scolded her friend.

Ayako winked at Nagisa. "You don't have to be ashamed of it. It's super cute."

Takuma became impatient. "What is she talking about, Momoe?"

"Ah... is... um..." Nagisa wanted to vanish at that instant.

Ayako decided to help. "Nagisa-chan associates each person with a food. For example,." She pointed to herself with a smile and a look that shone with pride. "She said I'm a chocolate cupcake with mint!"

Takuma observed the appearance of Ayako. "Hmm... but you do resemble a chocolate cupcake. While I have nothing to do with pistachios..." He then stopped and stood blinking his eyes again and again, as if waking up.

"Why am I discussing this?" Takuma shook his head. "This is another stupid girl's talk. Argh." Then he stopped completely mesmerized. "Hey, but wait a minute. So that was it!"

Now it was Ayako and Nagisa who were confused by the reaction of Takuma.

Takuma laughed. "So this's what that sissy was talking about. Hey Sanjuro! Ogai!"

Sanjuro and Ogai were two who lived in the shadow of Takuma. Sanjuro had long black hair and blue eyes, and had the average height of the boys in the classroom, but some students says he has the agility of a cat. Ogai was chubby and shorter, with brown eyes and hair, neatly combed. Ogai would be an easy target of teasing if not for the fact that his family has possessions: he was part of the gang thanks to the snacks funded with his money.

The two were talking when they were called by Takuma. "Bring the little sissy here."

Ogai questioned. "Now? The teacher should be coming soon."

"Bring him!" Takuma was harsher.

Ogai and Sanjuro looked at each other and shrugged. Then they went to a desk where there was a boy, who seemed to be sleeping. They pushed his head, causing him to rise suddenly.

The boy had messed blond hair, his eyes were of intense red. Despite the messy hair, his clothes were very tidy: orange polo shirt, brown twill pants and white tennis shoes.

Seeing that it was the henchmen of Takuma, the boy sighed in frustration. Ogai and Sanjuro caught his arms and lifted him from the chair. Now standing, anyone could tell that he was shorter than Ogai and was very skinny. One might say that he could pretend to be less than ten years old.

"What do you want with Hidaka-kun?" Ayako started to get concerned.

Takuma said. "I just want to know something. Hehehe."

Aki Hidaka walked toward Takuma reluctantly, with Ogai and Sanjuro trailing behind him.

Takuma then nodded and put one foot forward.

At the same moment, Ogai and Sanjuro pushed Aki, who eventually stumbled at the foot of Takuma. Completely unbalanced, he collapsed on the desk of Nagisa.

"Hey. Are you all right? "Nagisa sought to help him.

Aki, with his arms resting on the desk, rose a bit and exchanged glances with Nagisa. Then his face turned as red as his eyes. "Ah! Ah! M-Many apologies!"

"I saw everything, you bastard!" Ayako was pointing to Takuma.

Takuma said with malice. "You didn't see anything... yet." Then he took Aki by the neck and would not let him get up any more.

"Stop! You're hurting him!" Ayako advanced towards Takuma.

But was quickly blocked by Sanjuro. "Heeey! Come at me first, baby."

Ogai was just laughing.

The whole classroom now was watching that scene.

Takuma bent down and spoke in Aki's ear. "Remember that time we got you wondering to yourself about what food would you be? Now I know it's further proof that you're really a little girl."

"Please Kuroki! Let him go." Nagisa said.

Takuma looked at Nagisa and answered. "I will when you tell us which food he is. Spill it out Momoe."

Nagisa hesitated.

"SPEAK!" Takuma tightened around Aki's neck.

"Hnggaahh!"

Aki's expression was enough to let Nagisa feel the pain and humiliation he was going through. That cruelty needed to end!

"Roquefort."

"What did you say?" Takuma was still angry.

"Roquefort. Free him!" Nagisa begged.

Then Takuma relaxed a little. "What food is that?"

"Dumbass. Don't you know?" Ayako began. "It's a fine Swiss cheese. I bet you'll never enjoy it in your life."

"French..."

Everyone looked at Aki.

"Ah ... It's a French cheese..ah."

Ogai then added. "That's right. It's a smelly cheese."

"Smelly cheese? SMELLY cheese? Haha...haha..HAHAHA!" Takuma laughed and then pulled up Aki.

Aki came face to face with Takuma and was so close that he had to turn away.

"See what happens for being a sissy?" Takuma was smiling. "Now the girls are calling you a smelly cheese."

"Yeah... I'm feeling the stink here. Yuck!" Sanjuro began to shake his hand.

"Go take a bath smelly cheese! Hahaha." Ogai covered his nose.

"H-Hey! I didn't call him that." Nagisa protested.

Unfortunately, the boys paid no attention because the teacher had just arrived.

Takuma released and rubbed Aki's hair vigorously. "Haha. Go back to your place, smelly cheese. We'll play more after class."

Aki kept his head down, and the other boys reached their seats.

Nagisa stuck her face on the desk. "I should not have spoken."

Ayako comforted her friend. "That's my fault. I never imagined that someone else knew about the food calling. Much less Hidaka-kun."

Nagisa looked to Aki from the corner of her eye.

He had sat with the hands on his head, which was leaning against the desk.

"Nagisa-chan." Ayako said before returning to her desk. "Sooner or later, that Kuroki and his troupe would find something new to mess with Aki over. That's how it was last year."

The class was about to begin, but Nagisa had no desire to participate.

Why? Why does this meaningless cruelty freely exist?

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

K O!

These letters flashed on the screen, announcing a winner.

Kyouko almost dropped the lollipop that was in her mouth. "Bwahahaha! This was the easiest popsicle of my life."

Sayaka threw her hands up. "How could it be any different?! You just go with that cheap fighter with a spear, I can't even get close."

Kyouko pulled the lollipop to one of the corners of her mouth. "Mmmhh... So go with one that has more ranged attacks."

Sayaka was very upset. "Then I would be more of a coward than you!"

"Well..." Kyouko smiled. "So I'll love to keep betting with you. In fact, I want the popsicle now. My lollipop is almost finished."

"Okay." The two left the machine where they were playing.

The arcade was full of people, the dark hall was bombarded by lights and sounds from the innumerous machines.

"I didn't think we'd go out to have fun after I recovered my memory." Kyouko said while avoiding bumping into people.

Sayaka was leading, looking for the way to the snack bars. "That was part of our routine. If we stop, she could get suspicious."

"Oh right. By the way I'm getting tired of playing the role of secret agent. When will we act, huh?" Kyouko savored the last remnants of her lollipop.

Sayaka was having difficulties, when they arrived in the arcade there was not so many people. "I haven't thought of a plan yet. You know... in the meantime I have to teach you how to behave in school."

Kyouko ignored the acidity of Sayaka. "Hmm... You said if we recover the memory of our little pinky, she'll solve everything."

Sayaka smiled when she saw a sign indicating the way. "That's right, but this is also our major challenge."

Kyouko nudged Sayaka to stop her. "Yep. We can't simply get to her and talk, but what if we scream loudly in the middle of the classroom like 'WWAAAAKKEEE UUUPPP MAAADOOOOKAAA! HOMURA IS THE DEVOOOUUUCCHHH...!'"

Sayaka stomped her foot on Kyouko's.

"HEY! What was that?" Kyouko complained.

"What do you think?" Sayaka said as she looked around.

"No one here gives a fuck..." Kyouko then smirked. "Oh... I know... you think she's here."

Sayaka looked at Kyouko.

Kyouko continued. "Stop with this paranoia. We couldn't speak even at your home if she was everywhere."

Sayaka nodded. "Maybe... you're right. However, your idea wouldn't work."

"Why not?"

With a melancholy expression, Sayaka answered. "Recovering her memory would be as difficult as yours, it requires time, and...and..."

"...And?" Kyouko raised her eyebrows.

"...and that devilish girl always appears." Sayaka gritted her teeth. "No matter where or when, she comes and spoils everything. EVERYTHING!"

"Slow down girl!" Kyouko was more worried. "So if I go in disguise and talk with Madoka on a random street, in the middle of the night, that lunatic will appear out of nowhere?"

"Madoka doesn't walk outside at night, at least not alone." Sayaka said in a monotone voice.

Kyouko's anger flared up. "You understood what I meant."

Sayaka gave a smile. "Yes." But then returned with a sad expression. "Unfortunately that's right."

"Hmm..." Kyouko was ruminating, making the lollipop stick up and down in her mouth.

Sayaka was curious. "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking of changing the subject. For example..." Kyouko took the lollipop stick out of her mouth, there was nothing left over. "What flavor is the popsicle that you're gonna buy?"

Kyouko flicked the stick, which made several somersaults in the air just to fall and glue to the hair of a girl who was passing. She continued walking without noticing her new adornment.

However, the two girls had witnessed it. Sayaka put her hand on her mouth. Kyouko gave a broad smile as she pulled her long ponytail.

"Hnnh...Hnnnh..Hahahahaha..." Sayaka could not help laughing. "...HahahahoOOUUCCHH!"

Kyouko stomped the foot of Sayaka. "Heh. You thought I'd forget it?"

"I didn't think that." Sayaka squinted. "I thought you wouldn't dare. Now get ready!"

"Geez!" Kyouko stood, prepared for a war.

"For my SUPER HEROIC STOMP!" Sayaka jumped towards Kyouko. "IIIAAAAAHHH!"

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

It's about time.

Homura opened the door to a dark room. The light from outside revealed a double bed with a little girl lying down.

"Charlotte".

The light now illuminated a white face with multicolored eyes.

"I'm leaving. I'll arrive late tomorrow. So be ready for school when I return. I also resupplied the kitchen, there's cheese."

"Cheese." Nagisa celebrated, but without much enthusiasm.

Then came silence. There was nothing more to be said. It was not necessary. Homura made a mention of closing the door.

"Homura-chan." Nagisa whispered.

Homura stopped. "Yes."

"You... could you sit next to me for a little?" Nagisa took out one of her arms from under the blanket. "I'm not able to sleep."

Homura stared for a moment to the door's knob before giving a long sigh. "Okay, but only for a few minutes."

"It's enough." Nagisa said.

Homura then went to the bed. Before sitting, she returned to her school uniform in a fading purple light. "Had a bad day, witch?"

"That's not it." Nagisa closed her eyes. "It's that I have many bad dreams. In fact, in the days I was here, I was always late getting to sleep due to fear."

"Bad dreams?" Homura watched the white painted face of Nagisa. "I see."

"Can... um... can I ask one more favor?"

"And what that would be Charlotte?" Homura was mentally counting each second.

"Can you hold my hand?" Nagisa was moving the fingers of the hand that lay beside her out of the blanket.

Homura put her hand on Nagisa's, she could feel it was warm. "Tomoe-san did these things to you?"

"Uh-huh..." Nagisa began to relax.

"You miss her, no? Are you happy with me?" Homura felt that Nagisa's hand had grabbed the mattress.

"I miss her, but..." The purple lips of Nagisa contracted. "If you say she's fine then I'll feel relieved."

"She's fine. I checked." Homura then smiled. "She has no memory of you."

Homura waited for some reaction of Nagisa, but nothing happened. Her hand had stopped holding the mattress, seeming to be already asleep.

"Tomoe-san is a very sociable person. Now that she doesn't know she's a magical girl, she'll eventually make new friends."

"Thank you... Thank you so much..."

Those words were so soft that neither seemed to come from the witch.

"...and you?" Nagisa continued.

"Me?" Homura was confused.

"...are you...happy...?" Nagisa uttered in a sigh.

Homura looked at herself, seeking an answer.

Madoka is well, happy and safe. She's with her family. She's going to school and following a normal life. No anomalies in her routine.

The train of thought was interrupted by a rumbling sound.

Homura, in a fright, turned to Nagisa and saw the witch with her big mouth open, snoring. Every time she snored, bubbles came out flying out of her mouth and slowly went spreading through the room.

Then Homura gave a nudge in one of the bubbles. They started to stick to one another. At that time, she also realized that she was caressing the hand of Nagisa. This brought out memories of another hand, another person. "Fufu."

Then a pyotr who was sneaking around the room caught her attention. Others were entering through the open door. The dolls were also there, watching.

She got out of bed and, in quick and decisive movements, was taking each pyotr by the tail. Carrying a bunch of them, she headed toward the door. "Shoo! Shoo! Let her sleep."

Ready to close the door, Homura looked one last time to the room. Here was a little girl, snoring, amid a cloud of bubbles.

...are you...happy...?

And then darkness took the scene.

Next chapter: The right answer