"So," began Kyouko as she bit into an apple "what's the main problem besides feeling unworthy? Why do you feel that way to begin with?"
The two had continued walking and had arrived upon a park. Seeing a bench, the two of them decided to sit down to continue their conversation.
"Wel..."
The scene: Mitakihara School for the Youth
Children sit in their chairs, waiting for the day to begin. Mr. Kuzanoha, the instructor, a tall man with glasses, arrives in the room.
"Okay, everybody. We have a new student joining us today. I want you all to make her feel welcomed, okay?"
In from the door came a young, demure girl with thick red glasses, long black hair in pigtails.
"Introduce yourself, please."
"Eh? Oh. M-my name... is Akemi... Akemi Homura."
Everyone in the class began muttering. Some responded with a kind, polite "Hello, Akemi-san", but others commented on the goofiness of her hair, her glasses, etc, the fact that she was fidgeting.
"Alright, Akemi-san, after writing your name on the board please have a seat in class."
After Homura did so (with some trouble, as she was shaking so much she had trouble drawing straight), she took a seat next to two girls, one with short blue hair, the other with short pink hair. The pink-haired girl turned to speak to her.
"Hello, Akemi-san!"
"Eh? Oh. H-hi!"
"My name is Madoka, Kaname Madoka."
"So that's how the two of you guys met?"
"Yes. That was the beginning of our childhood friendship."
"Ah. So what happened after that?"
"..."
"You were picked on a lot, weren't you?"
"Yeah..."
The scene: Mitakihara School for the Youth's schoolyard.
"What's with those glasses"
"Those pigtails are ugly"
"Why are you shaking so much?"
A crowd of students had gathered around the newbie.
"I... uh... my glasses..."
"You're shaking so much you look like a dying cicada."
"I... uh..."
"Are you crying? Why are you crying now?"
Just then, a small stone was thrown at Homura, hitting her in the knee.
"Ah! P-please, stop, just leave me..."
Just after that, a girl began pushing herself through the group, getting the kids to back off.
"Hey, lay off of her, ya got it?"
It was the blue haired girl. The pink-haired girl named Madoka came over and bent down next to Homura, who at this point had fallen to her knees.
"Akemi-san?"
"Hm?"
"It's alright. Sayaka-chan and I are here now."
After escorting Homura inside to be with the instructor, the two of them left.
"Jeez, of all the nerve. How dare they gang up on a newbie like that!"
"It's like when I started..."
"Yep. I swear, most people are just jerks."
After the two of them had gone some distance, Madoka turned her head back.
"...I'm going to go play with Akemi-san."
"Huh? Well, okay. To be honest she doesn't seem like much fun. But do whatever you want."
Madoka re-entered the room, where she saw Homura face-down on the desk, crying her eyes out, Mr. Kuzunoha doing all he could to calm her down.
"Akemi-san, please. I know they were mean but-"
"Akemi-san?"
Homura lifted her head up to look at Madoka.
"Kaname-san..."
"Akemi-san, let's play, okay?"
"Ah. So it was a case of her being the only one there for you."
"Affirmative. Though Miki Sayaka was there as well, she was more distant. Besides those two, I didn't know anyone else there.
"So where was your family in all of this?"
"..."
"Wait, don't tell me..." Kyouko was startled at Homura's lack of responce, usually indicative of some tragedy. "I think I understand a bit better now... why you treasure Madoka so much..."
"My parents... I never knew htem. They died when I was too young to remember what a family was like. The Akemi family is wealthy, so I was just passed on from one family member to the next. A relative of mine, Nakajima, eventually bought a large townhouse for me to live in."
"I see..."
"After certain point in time, Nakajima decided to put me in school, thinking it was about time that I began gaining social experience. I never really saw much of him; he spends most of the year traveling around the world."
"What does he do?"
"I was never really too sure, but I'm grateful that he provided everything I needed."
Kyouko took a moment to ponder all of this, and then took another bite out of her apple.
"So, what ended up happening to you and Madoka? Why weren't you two together? When I met you guys, that is."
The scene: a street by Mitakihara School for the Youth's schoolyard
"Hey, the ball!"
"I'll go get it!"
Madoka followed the ball into the street. Just at that moment, a driver that was too absorbed in a texting argument on their phone came speeding on ahead. Madoka lifted her head up and was about to scream when another girl came screaming into the street.
"Madoka! Madoka!"
Homura pushed Madoka as far as she could, taking the full brunt of the hit. The driver had noticed too late what was happening and had tried to break, but still was going fast enough to send both girls flying. Madoka hit her head against another car and fell to the ground.
Homura laid some distance away, vision blurred, trying to assuage the situation.
"Ma... Mado..."
All she could see are children running into the street, crying. It was soon after this that she lost consciousness.
"Oh."
"When I came through..." Homura's hands had begun to shake. Kyouko had a feeling what was going to happen next.
"When I... woke up, that is, she wasn't there. It was just me in a single hospital bed. I tried looking around to see if I was the only one there. I was. I asked the nurse if a Kaname Madoka was in the hospital, but there was no..."
Koyuko but a hand on Homura's shoulder, doing her best to lend at least some sort of comfort.
"I thought... I thought I had failed to protect her... that I was the only one who survived. I spent the next five years... I'm not sure how long, but I think it was five... convinced that I had filed."
"But you didn't. You know that she's alive now, so-"
"That's not the point! I failed her. That's all I could think for all those years. And when tie came for me to re-enter school, I resolved to never again be weak. I got rid of my past appearance - I let my hair down, and my first purchase after leaving the hospital were contacts. In the months before going back, I strengthened my body through physical therapy. Though I'll never be able to overcome my heart problems, I can at least increase my endurance. Then, when I had resolved to never be weak again, to never allow anyone or anything to get in my way, to never be a failure,-"
"You met her again."
"..."
Kyouko dug through her jacket pockets and found a package of Rocky.
"Want some?"
Homura put up her hand as a sign of polite refusal and continued on.
"I didn't know what to think. I saw her, and my facade nearly crumbled. I almost couldn't believe it: here, sitting before me in class, was the girl I thought I had failed to save. My eagerness to know if it was really her made me ask her to guide me to the Nurse's Office. Once it was confirmed that Kaname Madoka was very much alive, and what more, was still the sweet, caring individual I remembered, it made me want to ask her so much: what life had been like after the accident; why she never visited me; I wanted to know."
"And so Madoka wants her to make the first move."
"Dang. I don't think that, well,"
"Hm?"
Sayaka and Kyouko had gone on a walk, and in lieu of going back home, Sayaka had decided to join Kyouko on her walk back to the shopping district.
"What don't you think?"
"I don't think that Homura will be clear with her. That's what I wanted to tell you. Homura's all hung-up over not protecting Madoka or something."
"Ohhh! This is so frustrating!" shouted the bluenette.
"What is?" Homura?"
"Yeah, and Madoka as well. She's got her own baggage from this whole thing."
"She does?"
"Yeah. Ya see, she feels guilty on never being able to visiting her, as if she had the ability to! Since her memory was essentially swiss-cheesed, she had no memory of who Homura was, so she had no way of telling her parents."
"So what you're basically saying is that the both of them can't get over something that happened so long ago?"
Both of them paused in their frustration.
Kyouko slammed her fist into the wall.
"Those damn idiots! They better get somewhere tonight!"
"Well, you seem impassioned about all of this."
"It's because I don't believe in holding back! You want something, you take it! You want to say something, say it!"
"Yeah, well, I don't see how anyone will be able to get them to do that. They would have to be-"
"Wait! Wait... give me a minute."
Kyouko whipped out her phone and began typing away on it.
"Wait, what are you doing?"
"You'll see."
Homura and Madoka had gone to see a new romantic comedy, Ai love the Witch, about an angel that falls in love with a witch. Though the movie was largely enjoyable, there were some themes that were uncomfortably similar to Madoka and Homura's current predicament: in a past life, the angel and the witch were friends, nearly bordering on lovers. However the witch, named Lilia, felt like that she was unworthy of the angel, Ai's, affection. Ai also felt the same, due to a belief that she was lacking in anything that one should love. Thus, they grew apart, but the karma of their past lives brought them back together post-reincarnation so that they could fulfill their love for each other.
After the movie, the two of them decided to go out to eat. The question, though, was where. That was when Homura got a text.
Kyouko:
Go to the Sushi Bar. Get drunk, get lucky.
The nerve of that girl. It's as if she's proposing that I get Madoka drunk so I can date-ra-
"What is it, Homura-chan?"
"Eh? Oh, nothing. So, where do you want to eat, Madoka?"
"Umm... I was wondering if you had any preferences, Homura-chan."
Alright, Homura, this is it. The choice in eating is crucial towards establishing a mood. If you pick the right option, it may create the mood that most greatly benefits the creation of an atmosphere where I... well... well I -
"Homura-chan?"
"Oh! Well, I was thinking about, maybe, umm..."
Homura looked down at her phone again.
Go to the Sushi Bar. Get drunk, get lucky.
Well, getting Madoka drunk was out of the question: however, Omari's has a pleasant atmosphere, if somewhat second-rate food. And if they really did want a drink or two, they could order them.
"How about Omari's?"
"Omari's? The Sushi Bar near my place?"
"Yes. Does that sound good to you, Madoka?"
"Yes, it sure does!
"What did you send to her?"
"Uh, nothing, just a suggestion for a restaurant."
"Let me see that!"
Sayaka grabbed Kyouko's phone away form her, before looking at the message, blushing, and giving the girl an angry smack.
"You idiot, that's my best friend you're talking about!"
"Hey, it's not my fault if Homura decides to follow my advice!"
"As if she would!"
At least, I hope she isn't that desperate that she would.
The two continued on walking until they arrived at the park. They noticed that a concert was playing for free, a "light orchestra" of a piano, flute, violin, trumpet, drums, and female vocalist. Not having anything better to do, the two decided to sit down and watch.
"Hm? Sayaka-chan, what are you doing here?"
Sayaka looked several seats over and saw Hitomi.
"Hey, Hitomi, how's it going?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Kyousuke is playing here tonight, so I decided to come and watch."
"Kyousuke?"
Sayaka looked up at the stage, and indeed there he was, standing, practicing for his performance.
"Oh, there he is!" Sayaka stood up and waved. After a bit Kyousuke noticed, nodded in her direction, and continued practicing.
"So how are things between you two?"
"Oh, fine. Ever since he was accepted into the musical college in Kasemino, he's had a bit more time to spend with me. I'm actually thinking of moving to Kasemino soon."
"Oh. That's... nice."
Though she had long accepted Kyousuke's relationship with Hitomi, she still felt some residual pain from what became a very sordid affair for her at the end of Middle School, and had continued on in some form or another into her first year of High School.
Kyouko noticed the reaction and bit a bit harder into her rocky; it was through her influence that Sayaka was able to make it through her hard emotional time, and she resented it whenever Sayaka showed any trace of her former feelings.
The performance began a short while afterwards; the vocalist, a famous aria singer that Sayaka failed to note the name of.
"First up," said the announcer.
"Beethoven's 9th Symphony, 4th Movement, 'Ode an die Freude'"
"Hic! Ehihihi, Homura-chan~"
Homura carried Madoka by the shoulder as they walked towards the Kaname household.
What had began as a simple dinner at Omari's turned into a drinking party. It all began when Madoka ordered a small amount of sake to go with the meal. As the meal dragged on though, she kept on ordering more, and then more. Even though she tried not to drink any herself, when Madoka offered some, she accepted it.
To say the least, Madoka's unusual willingness to drink made Homura concerned.
"Homu-chan~, why don't *hic* why dont'cha lighten up... a bit..."
I hope that's not why she ordered so much.
After fishing the keys out of Madoka's pocket, she carried her up to her room and laid her down on her bed. But as she was leaving.
"Homura-chan."
Homura turned around to look at Madoka, who had sat up now. Gone was the drunken cheeriness: a look of serious contemplation was upon her face.
"Madoka?"
"Please... please stay, Homura-chan. At least, for a little bit... a while..."
Madoka stood up and walked on over to Homura. As she was still underneath the influence of the sake, she was stumbling the entire way, and had to be caught by Homura before she fell onto the floor.
"Madoka, please, lay down. You need to-"
"No!"
Going out on a whim, but to say that Homura was stunned by this display from Mdoka was like saying that a whale is only slightly surprised when a giant squid comes up from the depths to attack it.
"Ma... doka?"
"Homura-chan... why... why don't you ever..."
"Why don't I eve-"
"Why don't you ever say what you mean!" yelled the pink-haired girl, now herself turning into a shade of pink.
"Ma-madok-"
"Why... I mean, I know this is rather strange, c-coming form me... but I'm tired already, Homu-chan... I want to know..."
"Madoka, what do you me-"
Madoka pushed Homura down onto the bed.
"M-Madoka..."
"I'm sorry, Homura-chan. But I have to do this," she said as she placed her mouth to Homura's ear, "or nothing will ever change".
They had all the trappings of a happy couple in love - terms of endearment (Homu-chan, my darling Madoka, though the latter Homura only used in private self-reflection), constantly being by each others' side, even exchanging chocolates on Valentine's Day and White Day.
And now, in a cold month in late fall, they had gone out yet again with each other. And again, Homura could not summon up the will to say what she truly meant by her actions. And yet again, Madoka could not summon the nerve in her place to do the same.
But now, things had reached a breaking point.
As Madoka placed her hand against Homura's face, she asked again.
"Homura-chan... please tell me how you really feel about me. If you don't... I'll..."
"Ma..."
Homura, what are you doing... here is the love of your life, basically begging you to tel her how you feel, to want to be your lover, to accept your love for all eternity... and you can't even muster up the courage to say three simple words.
"Homura-chan, I'll die. I'll die if you... if..."
"Madoka, please don't-"
"Then say it, please. Homura-chan... Homura-chan!"
Homura laid there, and did not know what to do.
"Madoka..."
"Hn?"
"Madoka, I..."
"I love these!" shouted Nagisa as she began chomping on the special cheese snacks from Nyannco.
"I'm glad you enjoy them." said Mami.
Mami had come over to Nagisa's place for the night. After her mother's death, Nagisa had moved in with her aunt and uncle in Asunaro City. Mami had such fun with her kouhai that she decided to go with her back to her home.
And anyway, life was rather cold, being in that lonely apartment...
Mami gave a sigh.
Tomoe Mami, what are you doing with your life?
She looked out the window, as people lost in thought are wont to do.
I wonder what Kaname-san and Akemi-san are doing...
And here's the cliff-hanger! What will become of Homura and Madoka's love? What will be the ultimate outcome of Sayaka and Kyouko's situation? Will it cause Kyouko to say something that she has on her mind? How will Homura and Madoka solve their UST? Will there be cake involved?
Find out next time!