Castle of cards

"Ahhh... I'm so stuffed..."

A girl using a rebellious and short hair cut of violet color, which completely shaved one of its side, keep rubbing her full belly. She was a student of Mitakihara school and walked along with her closest colleagues, returning from lunch to the classroom.

"I'm not surprised Seki-chan!" Replied one of her colleagues. A girl with long blue hair, same color for her eyes. "You ate half of the dessert alone!"

"Oh Nana-chan, but that pudding was too good." The purple eyes of Seki sought another colleague who had not yet talked. "You always get the recipe perfect, right Mami-chan?"

"Not always, Seki-chan." Mami Tomoe answers. "Sometimes it fails."

Seki shook negatively. "Don't be modest."

Nana intrudes. "She's just saying that to be able to go to lunch every day at your home."

Seki was irritated. "Not true! Doesn't need to be every day... just most of them."

"See?" Nana looked at Mami.

"Huhu." Mami joined hands. "No problem, I like the company of you."

Nana looked away. "But..."

Mami intervened. "Look, if you think you're abusing of my hospitality, we can do the following: you two bring the ingredients and we prepare something together. How about it?"

"Yes." Nana was thoughtful. "Seems like a good idea."

This time, the one who came with the caveats was Seki. "But I'm not good in the kitchen. Hehe."

Mami smiled. "Even better. We can teach you."

Seki was not convinced. "I'll end up ruining everything."

"If you ruin it, you'll have to eat everything." Nana said ominously.

"Don't scare her, Nana-chan." Mami raises her head and looks at the ceiling of the hall. "Um... Let's start slow, with something fast and simple to prepare. It doesn't need to be at lunchtime."

"Go to your house after school? Yes!" Seki punched the air.

"Sekiiii!" Nana drew attention.

Mami gestured. "Be calm Nana-chan. I didn't mean it would be today."

"You heard that, Nana-chan?" Seki gave a wink. "Not today, may be tomorrow."

Nana narrowed her eyes. "That's what worries me. That way, we'll spend more of the day at her house than at ours."

Seki came close to Nana and whispered. "It even seems you don't like to be there. You didn't want to invite Chiaki-san to go along with us, did you?"

Nana smiled, she knew she had been caught. "It's really a shame that Chiaki-chan's parents would not allow it."

"So it's good we meet at Mami-chan's home." Seki crossed her arms and lifted her chin, convinced. "There isn't any parent to bother with."

Nana stopped walking and turned to Seki with wide eyes.

Seki put a hand on her forehead, but she would need something bigger to hide her face of shame. "I said something I shouldn't..."

"It's okay."

Nana and Seki turned their attention to Mami, who was smiling.

"Seki is right. If my mother was there, she would prepare everything for us. So we wouldn't have a chance to teach her."

"Sorry, Mami-chan..." Seki said, still feeling very bad.

"Come on." Mami made a gesture with her hand to reinforce the statement. "It happened. Even if I was on that flight, nothing could be done. What I can do is to follow through with my life and have friends like you. That would make them happy."

Nana agreed. "Of course they are happy to have a daughter like you, Mami-chan."

"Thank you, Nana-chan..."

The three girls returned their walk to the classroom.

"Well..." Looking at Nana, Mami began. "What is the recipe that we will ask for Seki to follow to the letter?"

Mami and Nana stared Seki, with half-closed eyes.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Seki was apprehensive. "You will help me, will you not?"

Nana was whispering something in the ear of Mami, who covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.

"Don't torture me, pleeeease!" Seki put both hands on her head.

"Hahaha!" Nana did not hold back. "Of course not, silly. We're just joking."

"You... almost got me this time." Seki said, scowling.

"Hahaha!" Nana was still laughing.

But Mami had been curious about something else. "Who is this girl?"

"Huh?" Nana and Seki saw, near the entrance to their classroom, there was a girl waiting.

"Beautiful, isn't she?" Nana said. "That green hair is well maintained."

"And also tall." Seki added. "She's taller than the three of us."

Mami asked. "Is she a new student?"

"Entering at this time of year?" Seki shook her head. "Very difficult. She could be a girlfriend of one of our boys."

Nana made a face of suspicion to Seki. "Why do you say that? Are you jealous?"

"Of course not!" Seki responded promptly.

"Nana is right." Mami said. "She can be a relative or a friend of someone in the classroom as well. The only way to find out is to ask her."

Mami took the lead of her colleagues, toward the girl, but before she could greet her, the girl had taken the initiative.

"Hi. Are you Mami Tomoe?"

"Yes." Mami said with a little surprise.

The girl tried to avoid any misunderstanding. "Your classmates gave me your description..."

"I understand." Mami smiled. "What I can do for you?"

The girl bowed. "Tomoe-senpai, my name is Hitomi Shizuki and I am the class representative of one of the classrooms of the eighth grade." She then stood up. "I have in my possession something that belongs to you."

Hitomi extended her hand to Mami, it contained a pendrive. "It was found by one of my classmates, but I can guarantee that we did not access any of what is contained in it."

Mami did not know what to say.

"You lost it?" Nana had reached the two.

Seki too. "Look! There's even a label with your name. You're always careful."

Hitomi was waiting for a response of the owner, with outstretched hand.

Mami reinforced her smile. "Of course! I had not even realized that I lost it yet. Thank you very much, Shizuki-san." Then she took the pendrive.

Hitomi bowed again. "Tomoe-senpai, that was nothing. Thank my colleagues, who found and had the integrity to return it. Now I must take my leave, because the class is about to begin."

Mami nodded. "Of course Shizuki-san and thanks again."

Hitomi left.

"Hmmmm... Polite, too." Seki said as she watched Hitomi moving away. "And I thought that Mami-chan was too much already..."

"Everyone is too polite for you Seki-chan. I wonder why…" Nana pulled a smirk.

"Ahhh... You can stop it!" Seki said irritably.

"Hahaha!"

Ignoring the interaction between Nana and Seki, Mami held the pendrive tightly. She was pretty sure that not belonged to her. Still, she let herself go with the moment and curiosity. Why her name was written on that label?

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

Interval time.

Homura had her attention on a sitting Madoka, making notes in notebook, completely isolated from the conversations of those present.

Madoka, it will not stay that way for too long.

However, her keen vision had caught Sayaka leaving the classroom alone.

Miki-san... always spoiling those moments.

She got up and followed her, but not before looking at Kyouko, who was distracted sorting on the desk a series of small chocolate bars.

Following the corridors, Homura felt something odd. This was a well-established routine, any difference should be considered relevant.

Miki-san is in the bathroom, but I don't feel a significant grief coming from her.

Opening the door, she found Sayaka next to the sink counter, staring at her intently.

Homura responded in kind.

The other girls who were in the bathroom noted the increasing tension.

"Will they fight?" "I won't want to be here." "It must be because of men, my mom always says..."

The whispers were becoming scarce as the girls came out of the bathroom. Finally, Homura locked the door as usual. "You has something to say, Miki-san?"

"You know very well what it is." The serious expression of Sayaka left no doubt.

"You thought well as I instructed?" Homura smiled.

Sayaka sought to contain. "I'll give an answer when it's time to leave the school."

This statement prompted the curiosity of Homura. "So why take the trouble to talk to me now?"

Sayaka clenched her fists. "I don't want to involve Kyouko with this."

"I see." Homura closed eyes, serene.

With the next class about to start, the two returned together to the classroom.

During the last class of the day, Sayaka received a telepathic message from Homura.

[Have you warned Kyouko?]

Sayaka replied. [I will alert her when the class finishes.]

[Okay. Try to be convincing, I want to avoid any unnecessary inconvenience.]

[No need to tell me that.]

When it came to the end of the lesson, Kyouko was the first to stand up and noticed that her friend was not with the same enthusiasm. "Wazzup Sayaka?"

"Today you will have to go alone, Kyouko." Sayaka said as she stood up.

"Huh?"

At this time, Homura approached the two.

Kyouko was not happy about it. "What do you want?"

"Kyouko, stay calm." Sayaka smiled to help with the tension. "I and the d... Akemi-san are going to the library to study together."

Kyouko put a hand on the forehead of Sayaka. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, she is. She just needs to improve her grades." Homura said.

"I didn't talk with you!" The irritation on Kyouko became more and more evident.

Sayaka held the hand of Kyouko. "She's right." A pause. "My mother questioned me about my performance in school. She didn't with you, but anyway..."

Homura smiled. "Not that it prevents her to join us."

"No!" Sayaka exclaimed, looked like she was about to kill Homura by just looking. However, she became calmer again. "I didn't warn my mother that I would stay late in school. You'll tell her for me, Kyouko?"

"Sayaka..." Kyouko looked at Sayaka, then Homura, then Sayaka, then Homura... "Tch." Grabbed her bag and left the room, almost empty, in a hurry.

"A pity." Homura began. "It's well known that she needs some tutoring too."

"You can stop with this act." Sayaka was succinct.

"Fufufu..."

Sayaka cut Homura's laugh short. "Where are we going now? You didn't tell me in the bathroom."

"Yes. I had thought about it during these last classes." Homura looked right into the eyes of Sayaka. "How about the school's rooftop?"

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

"See you tomorrow, smelly cheese!"

Takuma spread the blond hair of Aki before leaving with Sanjuro and Ogai, who were already at the corner of the hall, laughing.

"You can return to gossip with your friends, sissy. Hahaha!"

Aki was with Nagisa and Ayako, close to the classroom's door.

"Uuuuhhhhh... That Kuroki." Ayako was angry. "He'll, one day, have what he deserves, you can bet on that, isn't that right Nagisa-chan?"

"Yeah... Sure Ayako-chan. Hehe." Nagisa ended with a grin.

"I don't care about them." Aki sought to straighten his hair back in place. "I've gotten used to their jokes."

"It's not good." Ayako said disapprovingly. "The trend is that they increasingly do something worse to you. You should talk to the teachers."

"Yes." Nagisa added. "If teachers don't believe it, we can testify on your behalf."

"Umm... I'll think about it. Thank you." Aki looked at Nagisa.

A little flushed, Nagisa replied. "No problem..."

Ayako shrugged. "That's easy."

Aki scratched his neck. "Well ... I... gotta go ..."

"Uh-huh." Nagisa was running her finger on the strap of her backpack.

"Bye Momoe-san, bye Kitomono-san." Aki nodded before leaving.

"Bye bye Hidaka-kun!" Ayako said excitedly.

"See you tomorrow Hidaka-kun." Nagisa said, more restrained.

When Aki was distant enough, Ayako whispered in the ear of Nagisa in a mellow way. "See~ you~ tomorrow~ Hidaka-kun~."

"Ah! I didn't talk like that!" Nagisa exclaimed indignantly.

"Although you wanted to. Hmmm..." Ayako smiled.

The light skin of Nagisa's face earned crimson tones. "W-We are just colleagues, at most, friends. Also, he and I are... different."

"Of course you're different!" Ayako put hands on her hips. "He's a man and you're a woman..."

"A-Ayako!" Nagisa was amazed. "If you talk like that now, I'm afraid to imagine how you will be in a few years."

"Hahaha!" Ayako gave a slight nudge at Nagisa. "Don't be so dramatic. I'll always be your friend you know. By the way, I also think about how you'll be in the future."

"Yeah?"

"Yup!" Ayako continued. "I see you in a beautiful wedding dress."

Nagisa looked at her own body. "Wedding dress!?"

"Yes..." Ayako began to stroke the hair of Nagisa. "The good thing is that you don't need a veil."

"Really?" Nagisa pulled her white strands of hair to see better then shook her head in realization. "Ah! But it's too early to think about these things."

"Ah! So you'll think with him about these things in the future." Ayako said.

"Of course!" Nagisa replied promptly, as if it were obvious then her eyes widened. "I mean... ah... you confused me! AyaaaakkooooooOOOO!"

"My Nagi~! You're really cute when you're angry." Ayako started pulling the cheeks of Nagisa.

"Aie! Don't do that..." Nagisa was running a hand in her marked cheeks.

Ayako pulled her own. "My aunts always do that to me. Now I know why. Hihi." Then she heard the sound of the ringing of her cellphone. "Ah! My mother must be at the gate."

Nagisa smiled. "Well… then..."

"You'll meet with your neighbor, won't you?" Ayako interrupted.

"Hi?"

"Isn't her who takes you home?"

Nagisa was perplexed. Could Homura have talked to that girl of nightmares? She should have changed the people's memories again…

"I said something wrong?" Ayako was apprehensive.

Nagisa came to her senses. "Oh no! Ehihi. It's just that with all this conversation, I forgot that she must be waiting."

"Wow! It's true." Ayako tried to fix the ladybug-shaped jaw clip in her hair. "Hey Nagisa-chan, we should get together someday to meet at someone's house. My mom doesn't let me walk around town without an adult watching yet."

"My neither." Nagisa replied. "It's just... I think you can't visit my home too."

"No problem. Even better!" Ayako made a small jump. "My mother wants to meet you. She'll love it!"

"Really? Good." However, the joy was short-lived on Nagisa. "But I don't know if mine will let me visit your home as well."

"Wow! Your mother has an iron hand..." Ayako felt discouraged.

Seeing her disappointed friend, Nagisa tried to be more hopeful. "I'll talk to her, tactfully, perhaps she'll let me."

"I hope so." Ayako held Nagisa's hands, excited. Her cellphone rang again. "Oh! I have to go!"

Ayako ran away, but before going out of sight she turned and waved, screaming. "ALMOST FORGOT! UNTIL TOMORROW NAGISA-CHAN!"

"UNTIL TOMORROW AYAKO-CHAN!" Nagisa waved frantically.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

Mami said goodbye to her colleagues.

But Nana insisted. "You really don't want to go shopping with me? Seki-chan couldn't because she misbehaved a lot and her mom called."

"I'm sorry, but I had a hard time with this last lesson of math." Mami said.

Seki frowned. "But that didn't seem difficult and I'm bad with numbers."

"Maybe Mami-chan still didn't understand yet." Nana intervened. "She's right to spend time studying more."

Seki grimaced in dismay. "Studying out of class? I can't do it at all."

"So that's why your grades go bad, Seki-chan." Nana smiled. "So we'll talk later Mami-chan, we have yet to see which recipe we will use."

Seki grimaced even worse. "Ah! Don't remind me of that."

"Huhu! Of course." Mami nodded. "Nana-chan, Seki-chan. Good bye."

"Bye Mami-chan!" Nana and Seki said in unison.

As she left her friends, Mami felt bad. Partly because she had lied to them and in another because of her anxiety caused by that pendrive. During classes, she thought of a thousand possibilities about it. It could be a prank, perhaps a secret admirer or even the existence of another person with the same name as her at school.

Her only clue was that class representative who stated that her classmates had found it. However, there was no guarantee of that information being true.

There was no other way, she would have to see what was inside.

Arriving at the school yard, Mami searched for a bench to sit, preferably away from the few students who were still there. If it was a prank, it was better not to have witnesses.

She removed the notebook pc from her bag and turned it on. When connecting the USB stick, she hesitated. Staring at the label, maybe she read the name wrong. No. It was clear that it was her name. It was just her mind looking for excuses.

Connecting the USB stick, Mami was grateful that the computer did not crash. She thought about the possibility of it containing a virus. After the proper installation of the drivers for the new device, she opened the folder to see what was contained. Her heart raced as she waited the loading.

Inside was just one file.

WATCH_MAMI. QB4

A video file?

And the worst. Her name was in the file. Her heartbeat was getting stronger.

Mami took and connected the earphone on the notebook. Lowering the volume, to reduce the possibility of taking a scare in case of a prank. She looked around again, making sure that no one was observing her. Finding no one, she sighed one last time before opening the video.

It was a recording, due to the quality and shake of the camera, Mami could speculate it was from a cell phone. The scene involved a girl in a bedroom with long red hair who wore the same school uniform as herself.

Would this be one of the classmates who Shizuki-san mentioned?

Then she heard the voice of a girl in the video, probably the one holding the phone and did not appear in the recording. "You can start Kyouko!"

The girl with red hair smiled and looked right at the camera. "Hey Mami. How long has it been, huh?"

Mami was surprised. I know her?

"It's quite possible that you don't remember me. Heh." The girl put her left hand on her chest. "My name is Kyouko Sakura and I'm a magical girl, just like you."

Magical Girl? The idea of being a joke returned to haunt the mind of Mami.

"The proof is here." Kyouko approached her left hand with the camera. "On the middle finger there is a ring and a mark on the nail."

Even finding it all nonsense, Mami still looked at her left hand, there was nothing there.

"But you should not see or feel it, because your mind is blocked." Kyouko looked away, clearly toward the person holding the phone. "Hey Sayaka. Seriously?"

The other girl, who now Mami knew she was called Sayaka, replied. "Yes. In my attempts to recover your memories, you told me there's nothing on your hand and mine."

That story had no sense at all, but Mami could not feel a jest in their tones.

"Mami." Kyouko spoke again to the camera. "You don't remember because our unhappy ex-hunting partner, Homura Akemi, decided to be a rebel. You also shouldn't know anything about her."

They would not do a story so elaborated to give a hoax on a complete stranger, would they? But even struggling, Mami couldn't remember anything.

"I'll make a demonstration now." Kyouko grinned and held out her left hand. Leaving from the ring, in a flash of red light, a crimson egg-shaped gem materialized.

Mami's eyes widened.

Kyouko preformed a backward somersault. In the air, she was surrounded by a red aura. Upon falling on foot on the bed that was in the background, her clothes had changed completely. She wore a red dress that opened at belly height, revealing a black dress underneath, along with a pink mini skirt. Next to the collar, an oval red gem. Another thing in red were the boots she wore, accompanied by a black pantyhose.

But what caught the attention of Mami was the long spear that the magical girl now carried. It was about two meters long and the middle of the metal tip was also painted in red.

"Who said you could jump in my bed!" The voice of Sayaka echoed in the video.

"You didn't want an impact? So I hafta have a stage." Kyouko snapped. "Now come here, take a close-up."

Mami held her chin with both hands, trying to prevent it from falling. This is a special effect, right? It can only be...

Kyouko looked at her spear. "Wow..."

"What's up, Kyouko?" Sayaka asked.

"Now I realized how long I haven't held it, and those clothes." Kyouko looked at her dress, then went back to camera. "I hunted demons as well, along with you, every night."

"D-Demons?" Mami was unable to unglue herself from the screen.

"You taught me how to locate them, to fight, use the full potential of my magic." Kyouko was staring off. "We went through some bad times, but you'll always be ... b-be ..." She put her arm in front of eyes. "Dammit!"

"Kyouko?" Sayaka called.

"Felt a speck in my eye, wait."

"Yeah... got emotional, right?" The camera moved closer to Kyouko.

"Cut it out!" Kyouko said, pushing the camera away.

"Hahaha!" The camera of the cell phone was turned to show the person who was carrying. A girl with short blue hair with a yellow hairclip near the left ear. "Mami-san, I'm Sayaka Miki. Let's take a break, since Kyouko is in need of composure."

"Not true!" Kyouko scolded.

Sayaka ignored. "I don't have a history as long as Kyouko has with you, but our time was enough for you to show me how magic can be used for good. You're my inspiration."

"Sayaka Miki..." Those statements sounded deep. Mami felt remorse because she was not able to say the same for them.

"And there's another person who wants to see you. Our special guest!" Sayaka then revealed her other hand, it was a curious puppet made of cloth. The head resembled a candy's packaging, blue and red buttons represented the eyes, stitched over the white fabric that represented the face. A sewing with purple thread played the role of a mouth. The body arms were made of dark brown cloth. "Speak Bebe!"

"Bebe..." A great distress emerged within Mami when she heard that name.

Not having the competence to be a ventriloquist, from the mouth of Sayaka came a childish sound. "I love Mami! I love cheese too! I would turn into any cheese for Mami!"

The image of that puppet, the name. It bothered her a lot. Mami felt there was something... wrong.

"Mascarpone! Camembert! Pecorino! Gouda! Roquefort! Parmigiano Reggiano..."

Mami closed her eyes. In her memory she could not find images, but those voices sounded familiar. The agonizing discomfort told her that. Need to focus. Where had she felt this?

"Bebe... Sayaka... Kyouko..."

In the video, Sayaka continued. "It seems that our Kyouko managed to take the speck out! Yay!"

"...Kyouko..."

… Mami-senpai! You rock! I dream to one day be like you...

...we don't need to save everyone, Mami Tomoe...

...if you follow me, one of us will die...

...so you found two dumbasses for your little club, huh?...

...that idiot needs a hand. If you have a space in your home to spare, I can...

Fragments. Fragments of the redhead voice echoed in her mind, but it was difficult to discern if it was a memory or a mere invention. A stab of headache made Mami to contract her fists.

Then she felt something on her finger.

With a faster breathing, Mami slowly opened her eyes. The middle finger of the left hand was a metal ring and, on the nail, a yellow mark in a shape of a flower.

Her neck was stiff, trembling. The sound of the leaves in the trees swaying with the wind, a lone student who was passing by, the heat generated by the notebook on her thighs... she did not feel it anymore, and did not realize that she was straddling her mouth.

Like a dam rupturing, those fragments gained volume and shape. Invaded and consumed the lies that were installed in her mind. Kyouko, Sayaka, Bebe, it was not only familiar sounds now, but images and emotions. In the middle of this amalgam, then came a figure carved in darkness.

...I'll tell her you sent a farewell. Fufufwahaha...

"NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" What silenced her was no longer present.

"...plans. Mami, if you have remembered something, try to contac..." The notebook fell to the ground with the sudden rise of Mami.

That reaction caught the attention of the few who were present. "Hi?! Are you alright?"

With a hand on head, Mami ran towards the school building, leaving her belongings behind.

The only thing that mattered was what was in her hand. Her soul gem was reacting to a great magical power nearby, shining brightly.

Mami gritted her teeth. "Akemi-san..."

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

Sayaka suspected something. "Something happened here?"

Homura stared at Sayaka. "Why this question?"

"I don't think you would close the top of school for nothing." Sayaka checked her surroundings, seemed to be nothing different there.

"The school took this action on behalf of the safety of the students."

"Liar."

Homura sighed. "So Miki-san, what will it be?"

It was possible to conclude that Homura was in a hurry. Sayaka swallowed her anger, need to be as rational as possible. "About what we talked..." She smiled. Suddenly, musical notes of a clear blue fluorescent tone emerged and enveloped her. When the light cleared, Sayaka was wearing a short strapless dress which was navy blue at the bust and the rest was white. A blue skirt with an attached belt, light blue boots with a long white socks that went to the knee. A long white cape with gold trim flickered on her back. A small opening at waist of her dress showed a crescent shaped blue gem on her belly button.

Sayaka pointed with her cutlass that she was carrying, with blue details at the base of the blade and a golden hilt, to Homura. "That is my answer. What do you think?"

"Predictable and without any creativity..." Homura said monotonically.

"I have a proposal."

"Proposal?!" Homura said with surprise. "I'm all ears."

Sayaka felt that Homura was forced in that tone of voice. "I accept what you did for Madoka and for us."

Homura tilted her head to the side. "If..."

"A duel."

"Duel..." Homura repeated.

"Yes! No tricks or manipulation of the mind or reality." Sayaka stared determinedly. "Prove the courage you have for Madoka and I'll cooperate. You have my word."

Homura answered quickly and succinctly. "I refuse."

"How?"

Closing her eyes, Homura put a hand on her forehead. "You haven't learned anything? Don't you realize what you're doing?"

Sayaka lowered the cutlass. "It's you who lost your mind. I'm giving you a chance..."

"I would accept your proposal..." Homura interrupted. "...and made you believe that the fight was 'fair'."

"You know you could not fool me for long."

"And then you'll come with a rematch?" Homura did a 'no' slowly with her head. "You want to impose rules on me. That goes against my nature. It's impossible. You understand? Impossible!"

Sayaka looked away.

"I should be laughing at you now, Miki-san." Homura continued. "But the pity that I have for you ended up spoiling my mood. You confused a foolish stubbornness as a courageous determination. That's why I brought you here."

"I knew you would not bring me here by chance." Sayaka again was pointing the sword.

"I said your response was predictable, didn't I?" Homura turned her face toward the door that gave access to the rooftop. "I would like you to see someone."

Sayaka followed the look of Homura and found a girl with long white hair, watching from the door's corner.

"Nagisa?!"

Homura gestured. "Come on."

Nagisa approached them hesitantly and shrunken. She had no courage to stand eye to eye with Sayaka. "Umm... Hi Sayaka."

"You remember." Sayaka smiled. "And I was considering something worse had happened with you."

A strong gust of wind broke off the conversation of the two.

"I thought about a more appropriate place to continue." Homura said.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

The brightness in the gem was winding down.

"No." Mami run up the stairs, coming to the door leading to the rooftop. Turning the knob, found it locked.

Mami invoked her magical girl garments and cast a musket. Not bothering to aim at the lock, she blowed up the door into dozens of pieces.

The school's rooftop was deserted.

"She was here just now." Mami knelt down and punched the ground. "Why did you do that? AKEMI-SAAAAAANNNN!" Seeing tears hit the ground, Mami raised her head and pulled the gem that was seated in the center of her hair pin.

The yellow gem acquired more muddy tones.

"These tears are useless." Mami looked at the sky, which gradually gained the orange color of the end of another afternoon. "Bebe. I'm sorry, it's all my fault, but don't worry, because my promise still stands. In fact, I might add."

A smile.

"I will fight for us to be happy and together."

Next chapter: Dissonance of the fallen