Three metal balls aimed at the tuxedo Warden's jaw, chest, and abdomen flies at him with the speed of bullet, and force of meteor. The Warden quickly conjures up three glass lens in front of him. The lens shatters as soon as the three metal balls make impact, but manage to delay them for a split second for the tuxedo wearer to calculate their trajectory.
The Tuxedo Mask look alike quickly spins his walking cane in front of him in an effort to parry away those deadly projectile attacks. But to his surprise, the three metal balls change course as they speed through his defense and knocks him back into a concrete wall. He grit his teeth, trying hardest to not let out a painful scream before his knees give away and slump on the cold street.
"What? You assumed I can only throw straight fast balls? I won't be the ace in our team if that's the case." The Preventer asks in a nonchalant tone with both of his hands fold behind the back of his head.
This is not good... even with my enhanced endurance and regeneration he'll knock me out if he hits me again like that. Need to come up with a plan fast...
The Warden lets in a deep breath, trying to clear his head and formulate a plan. But the Preventer certainly doesn't play to let his enemy regroup as he takes out three steel balls once again.
"Well... Hachibey won't like it if I actually kill you. But I suppose if I just put you to sleep he won't really nag my ear off. Here comes the last one, a perfect game." The Preventer lets out a sneer as he throws his steel balls at the Warden once again. Despite trying his best to get up, the Tuxedo wear Warden barely manage to stand upright as the steel balls are about to strike him.
A blue blur suddenly shoot down from one of the nearby house. It collides into the incoming attack before landing on the pavement. The Preventer tilt his head as he inspect the new comer, a blue Incubator with white belly and lacks the pair of cat like ear above their rabbit ear. The Warden's eye widen, as he calls out his contractor's name. "Dorabey!"
"Don't worry about me, my Warden. My body is much more durable than it looks." Dorabey, the blue Incubator briefly turns his head back at the Tuxedo wearing Warden and gives his contractee a reassuring smile before turning back to look at the Preventer like a cat ready to prance on his prey.
"Ah, so you are one of the Dorayaki Cops who fight together with their Contractee. Heard something about you guys from Hachibey. You know, I kind of like you guys who actually get down and dirty unlike Hachibey, but I still have to protect my charge so I have to take you out now. Nothing personal." The Preventer moves his tilted head from left to right as he juggles his steel balls with his left hand before going into his pitching stance once again.
"It's Dorayaki Corp, not Dorayaki Cop. And the feeling of nothing personal against you is mutual. While I admire your devotion to your charge, I simply can't allow your charge to harm another Magical Girl." Dorabey takes a step towards the Preventer as his Warden also step forth, an Incubator and his Contractee facing against their foe side by side.
I'm so glad you came Dorabey, if you didn't interfere I would be defeated by this Preventer. And sorry for picking a fight with a Preventer after you specifically advice against it.
"It can't be helped since he insist on protecting his charge even when she's clearly mad and became a danger to every other Magi. Let's both rush at this Preventer, but don't spend too much time on him. Our goal is to..."
Dorabey did not get to finish his thought as both the Warden and the Preventer's Soul Gem suddenly begin to react. They briefly break off their confrontation and turn to look at the abandoned building. The Preventer grit his teeth before letting out a snare. "You got to be shitting me! A Witch of all things has to be hatched now?!"
The Preventer react first as he leaps off from the utility pole he's standing on and charges through the air toward the abandoned building. Dorabey and the Warden follows right after him, as this sudden appearance of a common enemy means their goal suddenly becomes aligned.
／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼
Miyoko's body start to shake fiercely while she lets out a scream so loud it will surely be Nobita's new nightmare fuel, assuming he can survive this encounter of course. As time slowly tick away, her scream dies down into a sob as two stream of tear run down her face. She is also mumbling something here and there, but it is too disjointed for Nobita to make any sense out of it. He wonders if that's how pathetic he looks while he's being put into Kurokami's hypnotic trance, although he's fairly certain he still has some of his own wits with him while Miyoko seems to be completely lost in her own memory.
Her mumbling slowly begins to become louder, and Nobita realize she is repeatedly saying 'Mommy, stop hurting me' between her tears. Nobita wonders to himself if she's another family abuse victim like Kurokami. He also wonders if that's the common element that started their friendship.
Suddenly, Miyoko's crying becoming louder, as she start repeatedly apologizing to her mother. The madness in Kurokami's eyes recede once again, replaced by the same mother like kindness Nobita sees when he comes out of his trance as she gently brush Miyoko's hair.
"Oh, Miyoko... how can I forget the tragedy that happened to you... You need not to feel remorse or sadness for your mother's passing, for very soon you shall be free of your pain and join her in peace." Kurokami says in an almost chanting like tone as she embrace Miyoko tight with a benevolent smile on her face. Although Miyoko doesn't seem to agree with her sentiment as she slowly regains her sense as her eyes clear.
"...NO." Miyoko denies through her gritted teeth as she start to violently kicking around and trying to pry Kurokami's arm away from her. "Mother knew she would suffer a fate worse than death if she turns into a Magical Girl, but she still fought that witch without any hesitation because she wants to protect me. I won't throw away my life after her sacrifice!"
Miyoko turns her head back the best she can, as she stares into Kurokami. "You claim death free me from my pain Kurokami-San... but I don't want to let it go. Pain gives meaning to happiness, and without it there's no room for happiness either. That's why I choose to live in pain, rather than die with emptiness!"
"Brave words, Miyoko..." Kurokami closes her eyes for a second, and when she opens them the madness returns. She suddenly let go of Miyoko while pulls a rope downward, dragging Miyoko up toward ceiling. At the last moment, Miyoko manage to lock her legs on Kurokami leg, temporarily stopping herself in a rather awkward position as she claws at her own neck where the rope nook is.
"Do you have the strength to back it up! My magical potential way out class your own! And I taught you how to fight as a Magical Girl so none of your tricks work on me! How long can you hold onto your pathetic life? Your resolution is nothing in the face of absolute strength!"
Nobita can feel his blood starts to boil at the mention of those words. His nail digs into the center of his palm so deep, blood start to mix with sweat in his hand.
Why does those who have power all ends up being bullies in the end... Why do they want to trample those around who are less powerful... Is it the only way for them to have a sense of fulfillment, or do they simply enjoy watching others suffer.
Before Nobita realizes it, he stands up on the ground. His eyes narrows, focusing on Kurokami till she becomes the only thing within the glasses wearing 8th grader's vision. He lets out a loud roar as he charges at Kurokami with his shoulder, not thinking about the consequence till she literally sends him flying with a simple back hand, like she's simply swatting away an annoying bug.
Once again... I can't do anything... I hate it... I hate this feeling of how useless I am... And I hate the fact I can't do anything to those bullies...
Nobita thinks to himself with a dreaded sense of self loathing as he glide through the air till his back slams into the concrete wall. It hurts worse than getting beat up by Gian and Suneo together as he drops to the floor. Through the pain, he realize Kurokami is holding her forehead as she wobbles in pain while Miyoko is kneeling on the floor.
"You... Miyoko!" Kurokami hisses at Miyoko with an almost baneful tone. "I was going to free you from all your suffering even after you insulted me and my sister for old time's sake, but you just throw all my good will back to my face? Now I'll make sure you suffer..."
As intimidating as Kurokami is being right now, and through all the pain in his back Nobita notices something else. The rabbit Miyoko fried earlier looks very wrong right now as its blackened body start to rapidly change shape while expanding in a unnatural manner. It is like something inside is about to get hatched.
Then it burst out of the rabbit's shell. Its body is covered with long, white fur and it has long, slim spider like limbs, but the head with blood red eyes looks canine in nature as it lets out a blood curling howl while the surrounding changes into what look like an abandoned hospital ward. Both Miyoko and Kurokami turns to look at the beast with shock in their eyes.
"The familiar turned? How!? I didn't feed it anymore souls today..." Kurokami screams with a bewildered tone as a giant claw swats her away like she does to Nobita a short moment ago. Miyoko on the other hand reacted more timely as she rolls forward and manages to get away from the claw swipe. Miyoko dodges forward with a series of fast roll as the beast lumbering forward trying to reach her, not minding her cherry petal like dress is getting dragged through the dirty floor.
"Bad doggie!" A lasso flies out of the debris pile and ropes around the beastly familiar's neck. It roars furiously as it wobbles left and right trying to shake free. Kurokami darts out of the pile of dirt and ash as she swings herself up and flings her on top of the beast's head. She produces another rope with her right hand, this time resembling the wipe like form she uses when she initially fights Miyoko. She brings her wipe down on the wolf like beast's head and torso while laughing like a manic in the process.
Miyoko on the other hand doesn't even try to look back. As Kurokami and the wolf beast are busy fighting each other she makes a straight dash towards Nobita and picks him up from the floor bridal style and keeps on picking up speed.
At this point it becomes hard for Nobita to concentrate on what is going on around him. Miyoko's lightening fast dash couple with the excruciating pain in his back makes him phase in and out of consciousness. At one point Nobita feel like someone run past him, but he can't really tell as he has a hard time to estimate how much time is elapsing. It can be five minutes, ten, or an eternity if the pain from his back is a good indication. Eventually, Miyoko stops and lay him down on the ground. She takes her Soul Gem out as it glows a warm color, and the pain from Nobita's back slowly recede.
"It's a good thing you spine doesn't seem to be injured, or else I don't think my healing magic is enough since I'm not a healer type." Miyoko bends down as she reaches her hand out for Nobita. He looks at her face for a second before taking her hand, pulling himself into a sitting position first. "And... thanks for what you did back there."
"You are thanking me for getting my ass handed to me?" Nobita raises an eyebrow at Miyoko's remark before slowly stand up. He looks down at his cloth, and cringe at how much dirt and mud is all over thanks to his recent encounter. There's little chance he can escape a nagging marathon from his mother now.
Miyoko opens her mouth but stops before she says anything. She looks thoughtful for a second before scratching her head before giving Nobita an apologetic smile. "When you put it that way... I guess that's not a very nice thing to say. But the truth is you distracted Kurokami long enough for me to kick myself free of her hold. That probably saved my life back there."
"It's cool. Lots of worse people said much nastier things to me than you just did." Nobita gives a shrug before realizing Miyoko is no longer wearing her pink dress with flower petal like skirt. She is currently wearing a deep blue jacket over a pair of brown pants and they don't look as dirty as his own.
Must be very handy trick to do that magical girl transformation since her original cloth doesn't get dirtied or damaged...
"...I'm sorry to hear that... People can be very mean to each other for very silly reason." For a second, Miyoko has the same sad look as when she first confront Kurokami back in the abandoned building. She quickly recovers from it, and gives Nobita another smile. "I don't want to sounds like I'm being mean to you... but you just learned how dangerous this kind of... 'situation' is. You really should stop wander around at night and looking around bad places like that, since next time there might not be another Magical Girl nearby who wants to help you."
Miyoko starts to turn away as she finishes her sentence, it makes Nobita feel his anger raising once again. While she is trying to be nice and reasonable, Nobita can't help but feel there's something very patronizing in what she said.
Why... why does everyone say the same thing. Just because I don't have magic I can go straight to hell? Well... I can be a Magical Boy too if I want to.
"Because I'm not a Magical Girl, or in my case a Magical Boy? Well... Deadpan McFuzzybutt did say I have the potential to be one." Miyoko suddenly freezes on the spot as Nobita proclaim he can be a Magical Boy. She turns around and gives Nobita a very serious look for about ten seconds.
"It's not my place to make your decision... but I honestly hope you don't consider take his offer. Especially not for a reason like you want to prove yourself capable of fighting. The life of a Magical Girl... or a Magical boy... is a lonely and feeble existence."
Nobita opens his mouth, but can't find a word to say at Miyoko's response. While the wording is once again patronizing, he can't help but feel a sincere sorrow behind her words. He realize there's something fishy going on as Miyoko turns around and walk away again. Thinking back on the recent event, during her battle with Kurokami, Miyoko begged her mother to stop hurting her like she's a family abuse victim. But later when she regains her sense, she says something about honoring her mother's memory. Thing just doesn't add up together...
Stay calm and collected Nobita, remember what Dekisugi said: Everything can be explained by SCIENCE! And also what Kyubey said: Magic Is SCIENCE! Everything need to follow some kind of principle. What is Pi again? 3.1415926... Wait a minute... earlier she said something like 'there might not be another Magical Girl around who wants to help you'. Why doesn't she just say there might not be another Magical Girl around, but emphasis on 'wants to help you'? Oh Kami-Sama... does that mean...
"Wait! Tell me! Does all Magical Girl eventually lose their sanity like your old friend coco puff rope queen back there?" Nobita quickly runs towards Miyoko and grabs her shoulder. She turns around and give Nobita another sorrowful look.
"Something like that... that's why I don't think you should be involved any further." Miyoko's answer gives Nobita a very bitter taste in his mouth. Does that mean Shizuka is somewhere in this world, lost her sanity and wasting away like Kurokami, and does that mean Jaiko would eventually join them in this fate? The very thought makes him wants to run away screaming, and maybe throw up a little...
"Well... too late for that. Yesterday I meet someone I knew a long time and she turns out to be a Magical Girl." Nobita swallows the lump in his throat as he kicks away a pebble in his way. His voice sounds bitter even to himself.
Miyoko turns back and look at Nobita again. She thinks to herself for a few short seconds. "So you are that friend Jaiko told me about over the phone last night... You want to help a friend, don't you..."
Miyoko's response makes Nobita stop dead in his track, both physically and mentally. He wants to ask himself, just who is Jaiko to him? Is she a friend? He doesn't think so, consider even back in the day Jaiko is just Gian's little sister. Most of the time he interact with her is because Gian forces him to. Just why does he suddenly start to care about her being a Magical Girl, is it because she somehow starts to look like Shizuka? That would be awfully superficial, even for a complete loser with a runaway imagination like himself.
Regardless of the reason, Jaiko is a Magical Girl who might turn insane any time if what Miyoko just said is true. Nobita feels like he can't just turn around and walk away to try and pretend none of those ever happened.
Miyoko on the other hand seems to be oblivious about Nobita suddenly spacing out. Perhaps she is too focused on her own thought herself. "...if you truly want to help your friend, don't try to become a Magical Boy and fight by her side. Being a Magical Girl, or in your case a Magical Boy is a death sentence."
"Just in case you forgot... us boys of none Magical varieties also dies. And judging by what happened tonight, much easier than you Magical varieties." Nobita wraps his arms in front of his chest as his usual snarky side starts to surface. Miyoko lets out a light chuckle at his remark.
"Yes... I suppose that is true. Everybody dies sooner or later and if you get caught in Magical Girl business as a normal boy you are more likely to die than a Magical Boy. But my point was: if you wants to do something for your friend Jaiko, do everything in your power to be a good friend to her and make her happy before she's gone... and most importantly: don't ever forget about her, for she may soon forget about herself like all of us eventually will."
Miyoko's sentence sends chill down Nobita's bones. He wants to quickly pick up the pace and follow her. But his feet are so heavy they feel like lead and he's unable to complete such a simple task. The way she talks about Jaiko like she's on her death bed and could be gone any time... Jaiko's not even old enough for middle school yet. At the same time Nobita finds himself wanting to learn more about this Magical Girl business, to...
To do what? It's obvious he is unable to help anyone just like he can't do anything for Shizuka. Still, he finds himself anxious to learn more. Maybe... just maybe, he can find a way... "Wait! You have to tell me this Magical Girl thing because I can't just turn my back and bury my head in the dirt like an ostrich this time."
"I already told you, if you want to help Jaiko just be a good friend to her is more important than anything..." Miyoko turns back to Nobita, he raises one hand in front of him like he is reaching out for something.
"Please... One of my friend... probably my only real friend when I was young. She was a Magical Girl, and she was taken away by someone while I'm powerless to do anything. I don't think I'll be able to live myself if I don't at least try to do something this time around..." Nobita raises his head to look at Miyoko's face again, and realize she is letting out a heavy sigh.
"I can relate to that, all my old friends who are Magical Girls are also gone. Well... Kurokami-San is still around, but you seen how she is now... she used to be one of the nicest Magical Girl around... I got off track there. I can't promise you what I'm going to tell you is everything but I'll tell you everything I know. Not now though, it's getting too late and I need to run home before father returns. I don't want him to worry about me... I'll meet you in school tomorrow, go to the roof after classes are over."
With that last statement, Miyoko turns away and picks up her pace once again as Nobita steadily slows his own pace till he grind to a halt. She quickly disappear into the night, leaving Nobita with the image of her lone figure walking away in an empty street engraved into his mind. Nobita can't help but feel her slim back side look so forlorn and lost under the silent moon light.
"This... is so fucked up..." Nobita shakes his head as he says to no one in particular. While he's certainly not one of those closet case Magical Girl genre fan boys he still know enough of those anime from Hideo. To see a real life Magical Girl speaking like she is terminally ill with cancer... It's a frightening sight in its own right even if Miyoko doesn't look like Sadako Yamamura from Ring.
A long five minutes pass before Nobita realizes he's not getting anything by staring at the street Miyoko disappeared to. He lets out another heavy sigh as he turns around and walks toward his home with heavy footsteps. He hears someone shouting in the distance before a yellow blur knocks him forward and face plant into the pavement. At that point, Nobita is just glad his glasses fall off his nose before the impact, or the glass shard may explode into his face.
After frantically searching the pavement for a few second Nobita manages to find it, placing it back on his face he looks up and sees the figure running away. The figure wears a light yellow blouse and short black skirt that look like some kind fancy uniform for one of those private rich kid school Suneo goes to. Her long raven hair flaps in the night breeze like a bird spreading her wings as she disappears around a corner.
What the hell was that about...? She's running like there's a sex offender hot on her trail. Actually... that might be what happened, I just hope that possible offender isn't interested in boys.
"...Stop! You... damn shop lifter!" A middle aged man wearing an apron that look like some store clerk runs up to Nobita and answers his question. He is clearly out of breath as he bends down and rest his hands on his knees to catch his breath. "Damn that girl! She looks like she's rich enough to go to Musashinomori and she can't even pay for a sandwich..."
"Well... you never know those rich kid types. Sometimes their upbringing is so strict they get a kick breaking laws, like committing shop lifting." The clerk look at Nobita like his ancestors just got insulted before walking away, cursing 'kids those days who can't follow simple discipline'. Nobita gives a shrug before continuing his way to go back home. It takes him another half an hour to reach home. He hopes to slip by his parents and shove his dirty clothes into the washer, but such hope is quickly dashed when one of his pet dog Ichi tackles him right into the floor.
"Ouch... that wasn't very nice, boy... But I'm happy to see you too." Nobita gently scratches behind the ears of his brown Shiba Inu as he lets out a blissful purring sound. His other pet, a pure white Beagle named Peko just sits quietly by the lobby and watches Nobita and Ichi with curious eyes.
"What happened Nobita? You were gone a long time and... what happened to your clothes!" Nobita mentally cringes as he hears the howling of his mother Tamako. Well... here comes the nagging marathon he so desperately wanted to avoid. "You looks like you fall head first into a ditch and then rolled through all the mud!"
"Well... that's actually not too far from the truth mama... I got run over by a shop lifter and fall into said ditch." Nobita gives his mother a nervous smile as he tries to stop his own voice from crumbling under the immerse pressure. If he somehow slip the fact he went to a suicidal hotspot and almost got murdered by a insane girl then he will certainly be grounded for life.
For a second the glasses wearing house wife is about to go full ballistic nagging mother mode. Lucky for Nobita, his father Nobisuke walks out of the living room and saves him at least for now. "Well... I guess it can't be helped then. There has been more report of people breaking laws around Saigaku recently. Just be careful next time when you go for another one of your jog."
"You can't just let him go outside freely after that, especially noticing how there are people breaking law left and right! Listen up young man, from this point on you will have no more late night jog, did I make myself clear?" Tamako nags her husband with an annoyed look before staring Nobita. He let out a gulp, but feeling a little relived that's the extent of his mother's wrath for now.
"Yes ma'am. Crystal ma'am." Nobita furiously nods at his mother before running to the family bathroom and throw all his dirty clothes into the washer. He takes a short shower and retreat to his room, turning off the main light and turn on the lamp to help him focusing more on the study material. After unsuccessfully bury himself into the wonderful world of mathematics, he finally turns off the light and limps back to his futon.
Oh well... If math doesn't do it for me at least sleeping will help me cope with all the crazy shit that's happening before my eyes. That always work...
Nobita crashes into his futon as the last trace of his consciousness and possibly his own sanity leaves him.
／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼
Well... so much for that thought...
Nobita realize he is standing in some kind of tunnel. It looks like one of those checkered flag they use during a car race. He doesn't know what is at the end of the tunnel, but he recon this is not the way to the afterlife. Before he can get his bearing, someone seem to run pass him. He can't tell who the person is, but from her silhouette Nobita can tell it belongs to a young girl with twin tail. The similar kind of hair style as...
Shizuka? Since this is my dream, it has to be her right...?
Nobita quickly run forward and follows 'Shizuka' toward the end of the tunnel. He doesn't know how much time he spends on chasing after her, but eventually the tunnel gives way to a city. Granted, it look like one of those post-apocalyptic cities from Fist of North Star, but still a city nonetheless. That is also when Nobita realize the girl he is following is in fact not Shizuka, but someone with pink hair. He is fairly certain he has never meet this girl before in his life. Is this like one of his dream adventures where his imagination starts to fly in every possible direction?
Hmm... In that case I wonder where is Doraemon...
Nobita's thought pattern is interrupted when he hears a series of loud laughter. Well... to Nobita it sounds more like what you get when you runs your fingernail across glass than any kind of sound a human vocal cord is capable of. He looks up and...
HOLY SHIT! IS THAT A BROKEN BUILDING FLYING TOWARDS ME!
Nobita hold his arms in front of his face, trying to shelter his frail body from the impact of a snapped skyscraper. To his surprise, he didn't feel any pain. That's when he realize he is in his own dream and he lets out a relived sigh.
"Ok, Doraemon you need to come out, I really need your help now..."
That's what Nobita would have said, except when he opens his mouth he realize he's not making any sound. Then he turns to look at the pink haired girl, who is talking with Deadpan McFuzzybutt Kyubey. The expression on her face indicate she's close to panicking now, which is understandable given the situation.
Both the girl and the cat bunny fox look up. Nobita follows their line of sight and sees a raven haired girl armed with a Rocket Propelled Grenade and a white buckler on her arm leaping in the air... and what appears to be a giant upside down porcelain doll with gear like stand attached to where its feet are supposed to be.
OKAY... Of all my dream adventure villains this one has to take the cake for the weirdest design. And that's taken into consideration one of them is a giant demon whose heart is literally a comet flying around in space, and a parasite ghost with no body. Wait a minute... Is she one of the Witches?
The girl with raven hair continue to leap around in air, pulling out one firearm after another as she attempt to fight off the giant porcelain doll to no avail as it easily smacks her around by hurling broken buildings. Strangely, the twisted laughter of the giant doll is the only sound in this dream. Nobita looks back and sees the pink haired girl has a stern look on her face as she talks with Kyubey.
Things happened quickly afterwards. McFuzzybutt seems to be doing something as he closes his eyes before pinky is enveloped in light and transforms into one of those fancy dress Magical Girls wear. She draws open her bow, and shots an arrow at the giant doll as it crumbles in front of Nobita's eyes.
Wow... I don't want to be a dick - okay, maybe I do, but that's beside the point - but talk about being owned. Pinky here took down that giant doll with one hit while the other girl...
Nobita looks at the girl with the buckler while smug thoughts run unchecked in his brain. But as soon as he looks at the raven haired girl - who is currently laying on the ground like a broken doll herself - any douche-y thought in his mind disappeared. She looks like she's being torn apart by strong emotion and it is not jealousy.
Nobita quickly turns around and follows the buckler wearing girl's sight to look at the newly transformed Magical Girl. She looks very wrong, as black smoke start to form around her. Her fancy dress change back into her yellow school uniform as the girl falls on the ground lifeless. A giant black strings with a dark silhouette that roughly resembles her form raises toward the sky as a cracked glass jewel rolls around her feet.
Oh... Kami-Sama... What I just saw... The Witches are what Magical Girls will eventually become isn't it? And that's why Miyoko said being a Magical Girl is a death sentence, and all the Magical Girl will eventually forget themselves... But that can't happen, this is just a dream... a nightmare I'm having due to my run away imagination... right?
Despite her injuries, the raven haired girl staggers forward to her fallen friend. She holds the lifeless body of the pink haired girl tightly as tears erupt out of her eyes.
"MADOKA!"
Shizuka...
Nobita's body falls backwards as pure blackness embraces him.
／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼
End Note:
I'm not an expert on dogs, so apologies if I got the breed of Peko and Ichi wrong regarding their cannon counterpart in Doraemon. Although in my defence since this is an alternate timeline where PMMM rules take precedent over Doraemon rules... I guess it is not a big deal.
I also just realize as I wrote this chapter, both Madoka and Shizuka's first name ends with 'Ka', which to my extremely limited understanding of Japanese means 'sweet scent'. It kind of work out perfectly for this story I want to tell consider the role of Nobita and Homura, as well as what Madoka and Shizuka means for the two of them.