Sayaka

All throughout the morning, Sayaka had thought of all those missing girls. No amount of morning ice cream helped take her mind off them. She had to save them, and she would do it with or without the others. Her plan: bribe Kyouko with lots and lots of food.

The redhead chomped on the hamburger in her right hand, mouth covered in cheese and ketchup. An abundance of french fries were in her left hand when she dipped them in her strawberry milkshake before shoving them in her mouth with her palm. The morning ice cream, and the lunch she was now eating easily overtook whatever feelings or thoughts she had for the missing girls. She looked like a little kid – scratch that, she was worse than a little kid, grubbing down all that food.

Strangely, she looked kind of cute.

Sayaka rested her chin on a hand, using the other to stir the straw in her chocolate milkshake. She wanted to get out of here, so they could head towards one of the other cities, maybe Kasamino, and figure out what was going on. Kyouko wouldn't like that, though, and that was assuming she would help at all.

Around the two girls, strangers watched Kyouko, whispered things in each others ears.

"Um, Kyouko, people are staring, not that I care much. You should eat with more manners, though."

"Coming from you," she said, mouth stuffed, "that doesn't mean much."

"Right, because I'm the glutton here. I'm the one shoving food down my throat..."

Kyouko pointed towards Sayaka's half eaten curry bread. "You gonna finish that?"

Sayaka held it out towards the redhead. "Here you g-"

As if on cue, it was suddenly out of her grasp.

"-Go..." Sayaka finished, deadpanning with a defeated sigh before resting her elbow on the table, slightly leaning forward with her free hand holding up her chin.

Kyouko smirked, her fang showing before taking a quick bite. "Thanks. You know how I am. Besides..." She paused, swallowing down a portion of her food and chuckled. "Food tastes a hell lot better than before!"

"Tastes a lot better when you pay for it, huh?" Sayaka asked, letting out a small smile. Well, I paid for it...

Despite that her food was no longer within her reach, Sayaka was still fine and happy. Happy that Kyouko had stopped stealing both food and money months ago after the two became friends. Kyouko also began living with Mami.

"Mami and I are like sisters," Kyouko had once told Sayaka, so she had no problem with those two living together. Okay, maybe she did have a problem with it. Sayaka couldn't put her finger on it. Was it a sense of envy? Sisters. Could it be that? Because she didn't have anyone to call a sibling? Closest thing she had for a sibling - that was her best friend... and they didn't talk to each other much these days. Honestly, Kyouko was probably Sayaka's closest friend now.

Oh, of course. Sayaka's best friend was Kyouko, as weird as it was to even think. Mami's best friend was also Kyouko. I really hate sharing...

"I guess you could say that. To be honest, I'm kinda surprised you didn't flip out on me. I wasn't exactly proud way back then, stealing food, ya know."

Kyouko finished the curry bread and washed it down with her strawberry milkshake.

After hearing Kyouko's voice, Sayaka snapped back into reality. "That was then, this is now. You've changed." She smiled. "For the better, at that."

"Yeah, yeah," Kyouko replied with a waving hand. "People change and shit. But ya know... There's something I've been meaning to tell ya."

Sayaka could guess as to what that meant. Probably something about food. Although, she hoped it'd be something involving herself and Kyouko. When Kyouko caught Sayaka's curious gaze, she reddened. What could that mean?

"What?" Sayaka asked, head tilted.

"Remember when we had that talk? Something about what there was for me in the future..." Her voice almost trembled, "I've thought about it a lot lately."

Sayaka's eyebrows raised at Kyouko's words. She sat up straight.

"And?"

Kyouko's gaze dropped down towards her chocolate-flavored milkshake by her side, forcing a reply with a shaky voice. "I-I want to go back to school, and get a job and all... so I don't have to rely on Mami anymore."

Sayaka almost choked on her milkshake from surprise. Part of the shock came from the way Kyouko acted, the other from her not wanting to live with Mami anymore. It gave Sayaka relief, but she had to wonder, why, exactly, Kyouko wanted to move out. It wasn't like those two got in many arguments and fights.

"W-wow. You mind me asking why you plan on moving out?"

"I don't wanna be a burden anymore... Especially to Mami. I mean - geez, is it that much of a surprise?"

"A surprise? Obviously, it is! Especially you, of all people, wanting to back to school..." She paused, recalling that the shorter girl was technically a refugee. The corner of her lips shifted up. "Say... What grade were you in when you dropped out?" Kyouko turned her head to the window, not speaking a single word. Sayaka grinned. "Come on, tell me. 5th grade?"

Kyouko rolled her eyes. "Do you really think I'm that stupid?"

"So, what you're saying is you are stupid, just not that stupid?"

"Oh, shut up!" She snapped. "But seriously... I'd rather not answer your question."

"Which one?"

Kyouko slammed her palms on the table and stood up. "Seriously Sayaka! I'm not in the mood for your stupid shit. I wanted to have a nice conversation with you for once, but no, guess it ain't happening."

Everyone in the restaurant almost instantly shifted their heads towards the furious redhead. Sayaka avoided her flaming red eyes and frowned.

"I'm sorry. I realize what I said was stupid." I didn't want it to turn out like this. How can an idiot like me call herself Kyouko's best friend? "Hey, can I ask you something else?" Sayaka's tone was clear of any mockery or scoff, full of a mellow curiosity.

That seemed to calm the older girl down a bit. She sat back down at least, head supported under by both hands. All the people went back to attending to their business.

"What is it?" Kyouko asked.

"Do you like..." Sayaka almost choked on the next words, "Mami more than you like me?" There, she had said them. Her nervousness and guilt wouldn't allow her to look Kyouko in the eye, though she felt the girl's gaze.

"What kind of question is that?" Her voice raised.

Sayaka glimpsed at Kyouko, at her bright cheeks and realized her own were at least as red. "J-just answer the question!"

"I would say I..." Kyouko paused and stood up. "Gotta pee." She darted off towards the restroom.

"You're not getting away!" Sayaka yelled. Her legs sprang forward and she sprinted past all the onlookers. She wanted Kyouko's answer immediately.

Kyouko looked back for a second before entering the restroom. Barely meters away, she saw that Sayaka was catching up. Kyouko jumped into a stall and tried slamming the door close, but Sayaka smacked her left palm against the door, forcing it completely open. Both girls were red, and Sayaka's hand stung.

There were a few other girls in the restroom, all their attention aimed towards the redhead and blunette. Everyone was turning red now. They all whispered in each other's ears, gave quick glances to Kyouko and Sayaka, but made sure not make eye contact. One girl just giggled and smiled.

This is not what it looks like, Sayaka thought.

"D-dumbass!" Kyouko whispered. "Get out!" She tried shoving her out with a foot, but Sayaka pushed her own hands up against the sides of the stall.

"Make me," she replied.

The weight in Kyouko's heel shifted. She clenched her jaw, standing above the toilet. "Close the door at least." Her voice was low, eyes averted.

Perhaps this was strange to think, the two being in a restroom stall and all, but wow, she looks super cute like this! But if I can't get her answer from straight out asking I think I have a more fun way of doing it.

Sayaka smiled. "So, you're okay with me watching you take a leak?"

"Keep your voice down!" Kyouko snapped.

"Well, don't mind me. Go ahead and pretend I don't exist - in fact, I'm not here at all. It's not like you care anyway, right?"

Kyouko sighed, sat down on the toilet seat. She clapped her hands together. "Look, about your question... and I mean the one about me liking Mami or you better - so don't make any smart-ass comment - I..." Operation: Annoy Kyouko = success! But hearing her say Mami's name first filled Sayaka with dread. The more likable person was always the one who came first in the sentence, but Kyouko's red face confused her. Was it for Mami or Sayaka? And what did it mean exactly? Why was Sayaka thinking about these things? "I like-"

A ringtone went off loudly - Sayaka's ringtone; it was Luminous by ClariS. Perfect. Freakin' perfect, ringing at such an important time...

Kyouko closed her mouth and breathed out. I am so not done with you.

Sayaka looked at the caller. It was Homura. Out all the people in the universe who could call, why her? Sayaka sighed, contemplated dismissing the call, but decided against it. "It's Homura," she told Kyouko, then answered the call.

Homura proceeded to tell her the usual - don't be stupid and stay extra careful - and something more interesting. She was shopping with Mami and they would later go skating; now that was a big surprise - ruined by Homura telling Sayaka to take care of any demon threats with Kyouko, and to regroup if necessary due to the outside threat they might end up facing. Homura also told her how a girl in Asunaro, one city away, went missing just a few hours ago. That's reminded Sayaka why she came with Kyouko to the hamburger shop in the first place. She turned to the redhead.

"You can forget the question, I'd rather not find out right now."

Kyouko got off the toilet, her face back to its normal color. "What did she say?"

"Things that upset me, like always. I'll explain later." She held out a hand. "Wanna grab some more grub? I'm in the mood for seconds."

Kyouko eagerly accepted both the hand and the offer.