Chapter 60
A Long Overdue Event
What in the world is taking you so long?
Hitomi resisted the urge to glance at her watch, and held back another sigh, deftly transforming it into a smile instead. It would be rude, for one thing, and disrespectful to her companion. Easily misinterpreted. Her eyebrows were arched perfectly to convey interest as Kyousuke continued his post-performance monologue, picking apart his small errors in timing and stress. Sighing was… unladylike. Unthinkable in the presence Kyousuke, especially after his magnificent performance.
As he began to recycle his way through the first movement's minuscule mistakes during so and so stanza, Hitomi reached across the table slowly, and the grey-haired boy started as her hands closed over his. "Everyone had such a wonderful time," she repeated, staring into the boy's eyes across from her. "The others will tell you when they get here, I'm sure." She felt like wincing, bringing up the fact that the others were late. But of course, wincing and other strong emotional outbursts communicated a lack of control, and the young woman played with her long green hair for a moment instead, pretending to tame an errant strand, before glancing down at the menu. "Decided what to eat yet? Remember to ask about gluten-free options."
"Yes, I will." Kyousuke smiled. "Thanks for arranging this," he said, gesturing around. "It's been a long while since we all hung out together."
Hitomi looked up, smiling. "Actually, it was Madoka and Sayaka's idea. I'm glad your schedule worked out." Unable to resist, she glanced down at her watch, seeing the time displayed. The honor student had been absolutely positive that they'd agree to meet one hour after the closing of the performance. She'd felt uncharacteristically shaken when the four had not shown up on time, and now, twenty minutes of waiting later, the thought that something was wrong was gnawing away at her from the inside. She'd felt so certain...
She realized that Kyousuke had been saying something, and she dragged herself back into the conversation, inwardly chastising herself for having tuned out her significant other. The post-performance nitpicking was becoming a familiar ritual, and although she didn't agree with the violinist's harsh critique of himself, she recognized it for what it was. A decompression technique, a way to alleviate the stress and excitement that built up each time he took the stage.
Trying to put aside the nagging sense of… worry? doubt? that lurked within her, Hitomi mentally shook herself and turned her attention back to the grey-haired boy's explanation of how the timing of a certain section in the second movement had been off by nearly an eighth of a beat.
"How far away are we from the car?" Madoka asked, huffing as the quartet of strangely-clad girls hustled through the alleys that led back to the theater. Without the beacon of a nearby Barrier, she felt rather lost amidst the tall, rain-streaked buildings. The fact that the other Witch she'd sensed had moved on was troubling; the fact that they were running late even more so.
"Close," Sayaka assured, just as Homura answered "Two blocks."
They stopped under a convenient overhang, everyone but Madoka allowing their energy-wrought outfits to dissipate. The steady drizzle began to ease up, and Kyoko pointed across the street. "There it is," she stated, and the group rushed across during a lull in the drizzle, the redhead knocking twice on the mirrored window with the obnoxiously-heeled shoes she held in one hand.
The window slid down with a soft hum, a woman she didn't recognize staring at her in polite confusion. Damn! Kyoko looked around, several similar vehicles in the area. "Ah," she began, turning to her expectant friends, cheeks flushed with a growing sense of mortification.
"Kyoko?" Sayaka asked, wincing and looking up as the drizzle intensified.
A horn honked from one of the nearby vehicles. Furious, and intensely glad for finding a target to take her inner embarrassment out on, Kyoko got ready to pounce but instead gave a start, her glare fading at the sight of a familiar face hanging out the window. "Over there!" she ordered, and the other three followed close on her heels.
"It's fortunate that the car was able to recognize you," Homura commented as she slid past the redhead into the vehicle, unable to resist. She chuckled at the dirty look the other veteran shot at her.
"Oh, wow," Madoka sighed, bouncing excitedly in the leather-upholstered seat.
"I'm sure you get to ride in fancy cars like this all the time, Madoka," Kyoko mused, wondering about the younger girl's impressed expression. Is it all an act? she wondered, not for the first time. Nobody was that much of a wide-eyed little girl, wrapped up in innocence and excitement about what the world had to offer.
"Why would you think that, Kyoko-chan?" Madoka asked, looking at the redhead in incomprehension.
"Well, your mom…" Kyoko began, thinking it was self-explanatory. "You're rich," she stated simply.
"Rich? No… no, we're not rich. Not really. More like, well off." The pinkette looked embarrassed, and for some reason Sayaka flashed a look of warning: drop it.
Kyoko frowned. "So you don't get to ride around town in this baby?"
"No, the company cars are only for, well, company events. I don't get to go to those," she explained. "Besides, my mom loves to drive me around. I… actually, I wish that I could be taken around in a car like this!" Who wouldn't, Kyoko thought, before the pinkette finished her thought. "My mom… if you've seen her drive… she drives crazy!" The pinkette gave an unfeigned shudder at the mere thought of some of her more memorable experiences sitting in the back seat, hanging on for dear life-
The interior rang with a peal of laughter, quickly suppressed. "Yeah she does." Homura felt her cheek's begin to burn as the other three turned towards her with varying expressions of amazement and interest. Madoka's forehead furrowed in thought, and Kyoko stared at her like she was out of her mind.
"You've seen my mom drive?" inquired Madoka, trying to recall a time Homura had been around when her mother had come or gone.
Helplessly, Homura glanced at Kyoko again, of all people. "Ah, I think you said something, once. Told me that."
"Did I? I don't remember any-"
The driver, polite but on the clock, turned around and gave Kyoko a tight-lipped grin. "Where to, ladies?" he asked. Madoka was forced to suspend her interrogation as she gave the man the relevant details on their destination.
As the limousine began to pull away, Kyoko sniffed exaggeratedly, drawing looks from the other girls. "Good job cleaning up back here, driver," she commented, expecting the back seat would still reek of the horrible drink's cloying, fruity, chemical smell..
Eyes looked back at her in the mirror, confused. Kyoko had half expected him to be wearing sunglasses, but it was nighttime, after all. "Clean up?" He hesitated. "I'm not sure I... what exactly-"
"You know, it smelled like-" Kyoko froze, glancing back to find the shelves of drinks not in their expected location in the corner of the rear seat. There wasn't even a shelf; instead, a small flatscreen was mounted to the side. Her gaze darted around, finding something that might have been a cunningly hidden storage compartment, up near the driver's window through which they spoke.
She glanced over at Sayaka, who was watching the exchange with a look of dawning realization. The blunette turned to Kyoko, wide eyed with horror at what they'd done.
The other car, the one they'd broken into, enjoyed each other's company in, and, essentially, robbed from, had belonged to someone else entirely.
As the shock wore off, Sayaka's brows knitted together, eyes flashing outrage and lower lip jutting out in a frown. "I can't believe you! You said-"
"They all look the same to me," Kyoko whispered fiercely but quietly in the blunette's ear.
Well, no harm had come of it. Not much, at least. Sayaka paused, glancing around the back of the vehicle. Four pairs of eyes were staring at her expectantly-driver included. In truth, she was more exasperated than upset. It seemed like, well, an honest mistake. After all, she herself hadn't noticed anything was different until the redhead had drawn her attention to it. "Kyoko, you have the strangest sense of humor," the blunette declared, giving her companion a not-too-gentle punch to the shoulder. No need to let the world know about their escapades, or she'd be getting funny looks every time she happened to leave with Kyoko. No need for Madoka to know alcohol had been involved, however tangentially; she might get the wrong idea. With a disappointed pinkette frowning sternly inside her head, Sayaka shook her head ruefully. "Stop acting foolish." Her narrowed eyes and flat tone conveyed her expectation all too well. Kyoko nodded as she rubbed at her throbbing shoulder, feeling somehow like she'd dodged a bullet.
Madoka shared a glance with Homura, a confused shrug meeting a tired shake of the head.
Seeing the other two girls share a significant glance, Sayaka attempted to divert the conversation. "Madoka-chan, what did you think about the performance?" she inquired, drawing the pinkette's sunset gaze. The smaller girl's eyes scrunched down in thought, a white-gloved finger tapping her chin.
"It was really good," Madoka tried. Feeling the description was inadequate, she tried to be more specific. "I really liked the middle part, and the strings at the beginning, and that part when it got real fast, and how at the very end Kyousuke-"
Homura tuned out the conversation, not at all interested in hearing about the contributions of a certain boy. Sure, it had been an enjoyable performance, but everyone was good at something. She turned her attention back to the other veteran, watching the redhead's tension ratchet up the closer they got to the restaurant. Seeing Madoka and Sayaka were deep in conversation, she leaned across. "You don't need to worry," she whispered discreetly, giving the girl a calm, reassuring look.
Kyoko started out of her thoughts, looking over to Homura's blank stare. Brow furrowing, she felt a spike of anger at the black-haired girl's intrusion. "What are you talking about?" she whispered back defensively.
Homura leaned even closer, her eyes darting to the talking pair beside them. Specifically, the blunette. "She won't choose him."
Kyoko stared, murderous crimson fading into uncertainty, the feeling rushing over her like a wave. Instead of an angry retort, all Homura received was a dispirited shake of the head as the other girl leaned back into her seat, looking out the rain-streaked window.
Homura rolled her eyes, but at herself rather than the foolish redhead. She was no stranger to unrequited love, and found herself sympathizing with the distress the other girl was feeling. It would be awkward, despite the fact that the blunette and the violinist had never really been an item. In a way, Homura looked forward to it, because she knew that Kyoko had nothing to worry about. And, maybe, it'd end up with a certain young musician nursing a broken nose…
Shaking away the uncharitable thoughts and strange sense of anger that simmered near the surface of her feelings, she tried one last stab at it, appealing to Kyoko's vanity. "Think about it. Who'd choose anyone over you?"
Kyoko blinked in disbelief, staring warily at the transfer student's face for an indication of mockery, but Homura was, as usual, impossible to read. The raven-haired girl gave a thin-lipped smile as, despite her unease, Kyoko's worried expression and tenseness seemed to drain from her body. Most of it, anyway.
Homura leaned back, looking out the window, satisfied at her good deed of the day.
Hitomi glanced regretfully at her empty cup; the coffee had helped ease some of the strange anxiety she had felt, but left her more jittery than invigorated. No reason for nerves, she lied to herself. Resolutely, she resisted the urge for a refill, knowing all too well it was school night. Twenty-eight minutes after the appointed time, she looked up as the door opened. "They've arrived," she informed Kyousuke with a smile, who turned in his seat.
The diner was of the all-night variety, and Hitomi allowed that into her opinion of the decor. A little dim for her tastes, the place was a series of short rectangular tables bracketed by a pair of upholstered chairs. Each individual table was situated atop a decorative tatami mat, with faux-traditional lamps placed strategically throughout the room emitting a soft, frosted glow.
The place was nice. A half dozen of the thirty or so tables were occupied, the room humming softly with conversation, punctuated by the occasional clatter emanating from the kitchen.
Sayaka was the first to spot the pair, giving an apologetic wave. The athletic blunette was dressed in a nice outfit that somehow looked very familiar, but Hitomi was certain the girl had never worn it before. Behind her came the redheaded friend in the stunning green dress, her hair noticeably less bouncy that it had been earlier. The damp is a killer, Hitomi commiserated. The new girl, Kyoko, caught her eye, shooting her one of those grinning leers that were so difficult to interpret. The girl's face seemed to sour as it swept across Kyousuke, but she turned to say something to the girl behind her. Hitomi nodded politely to her secret nemesis, returning the blank look with a smile of delight.
The enigmatic Akemi Homura. She was a puzzle, to say the least. Hitomi had spent many hours wondering about the girl. Her success in school hadn't been amazing. It had been unbelievable. Akemi seemed to know the answers before the questions, her responses in class drawing praise from their teachers even as the rest of the students cringed at her uncaring and unfeeling demeanor. All except Madoka, apparently. Hitomi was very curious about the pinkette's new friend. It was the green-haired girl who was usually the one picking up new friends… she recognized the unfairness of the twinge of jealousy she felt looking at the two recent additions. But it was still there, a little stabbing reminder of the gulf she felt between herself and the others. How had things changed so much in a few short weeks?
In the back of her mind, Hitomi forced the anxiety away. So much change, recently. First Kyousuke, her first real boyfriend… and then Sayaka's disappearance. And Madoka's distance. Had she lost her two best friends? Were they mad at her, to the point where they'd never be-
"Hi Hitomi-chan, Kyousuke-kun." Sayaka stopped at the tiny table, grinning over at Kyousuke, who'd stood up to greet the newcomers, and then to her green-haired friend. Hitomi quickly strode over and embraced her in a hug.
"Glad you made it," Hitomi said, turning to the redhead, who was looking at her with an unnecessarily challenging expression. Dropping arms to her side, Hitomi bowed from the neck. "Sakura-san," she said warmly, and, in the same breath, "Akemi-san."
Sayaka stood awkwardly; the tables were a few feet apart, making sitting together impossible. "Uh," she began, but Kyoko had also noticed the problem and was carelessly dragging one of the tables over to the original couple, the mat underneath wrinkling as it was pulled part of the way as well.
"I don't know if-" Hitomi began, but Sayaka only paused a moment to glance around before grabbing the two chairs and bringing them to the composite table Kyoko had begun to assemble.
"Maybe we should ask someone," Kyousuke stated, a trace of doubt in his voice. He'd been taught better than to go moving stuff around without permission, and that was in his own house!
"Relax," Kyoko assured the pair. "I'm sure it's fine."
Madoka unfroze from the brief, nerve-induced paralysis, taking a calming breath. "I'll go check," offered the pinkette, bouncing away in the wide-brimmed but nearly-too-short pink dress. Kyousuke caught himself staring in her direction, and turned away, heat coloring his cheeks. When the dress bobbed forward, you could see-
"Great performance, Kyousuke-kun," Sayaka declared, sitting down after helping the redhead add another table to the mix. Now there was room for all of them.
"You liked it?" the grey-haired boy asked, not fishing for compliments but honestly curious. His gaze swept across the new girls. Homura he recognized vaguely from school, but the redhead with the amazing cleavage was a total stranger.
Homura glanced at her friends before nodding, then pretended to go back to looking at the menu. Kyoko blinked and gave a half-tilt of her head, one eyebrow arching in consideration. Sayaka gave her a nudge with an elbow, discreetly. "Kyoko…"
The redhead looked at the blunette, giving her a toothy smile before turning to the musician. "Honestly, it was the best fuckin-" she coughed, catching Sayaka's dismayed look and subtle elbow to her ribs. "'Scuse me. The best concert I've ever been to in my whole life." Which was one hundred percent true, if she didn't count church hymns worthy of being called a concert.
Hitomi eyed Kyoko discreetly, trying to detect any obvious signs of insincerity or mockery, but to her surprise, the redhead shrugged, unconcerned with her assessment. She sat down next to Sayaka, the younger girl giving the redhead a look of strong approval.
Madoka came back, looking desperate. "Guys, they're kicking us out because you moved the tables! They threatened to call the police!" she whispered loudly, her voice quivering with dismay. The group looked up simultaneously, shocked and confused.
"What? That's ridiculous-"
"We didn't do anything-" Kyoko was already on her feet, her progress towards the nearest waitress halted by Sayaka's firm grip on her wrist.
"We could just put them back," Kyousuke said reasonably.
"We should probably do what they say," intoned Hitomi, wanting to avoid any kind of trouble. She'd known it had been a bad idea-
"-give 'em a reason to call the cops," Kyoko muttered over the crackling of her knuckles as she flexed two slim hands in a fighting pose, drawing a stern look from Sayaka.
Madoka burst out into giggles, tears streaming down her cheeks as she gasped between laughter.
"Madoka-chan," Homura gasped, wondering if the pinkette had somehow been pushed over the ledge by this… this nonsense. If so, people were going to get hurt. This was absurd-
It was absurd.
The raven-haired girl turned to the pinkette, a look of stunned awe on her face. "Madoka," she whispered.
"You should see... your faces!" the girl was giggling, her own lit up with an impish, almost manic grin. "Oh, I'm sorry," she breathed heavily, everyone else aside from Homura glancing at one another in confusion. "But I got you... I got you all... good."
"That was a joke?!" Sayaka blurted, far too loudly. She released Kyoko and slapped a hand over her own mouth, glancing around to see if anyone was staring. They were.
"How was that a joke?" Hitomi wondered, the uncomfortable feeling from a moment ago washing away in the flood of relief at realizing that there was no trouble for her to be in.
"I don't, um, get it," Kyousuke admitted, running a hand through his limp hair. Madoka's giggles, if anything, increased.
Kyoko's initial burst of outrage at the restaurant, and then at Madoka for the deception, had been replaced by a warm feeling of approval at the pinkette's shenanigans. That's one thing she knew about humor… it was important to react based on how you felt after ten seconds, not your initial, instant reaction. "Nice one, Madoka."
"More of a trick than a joke," Hitomi muttered to herself.
Everyone else, though, quickly came around, and the jangling nerves quickly transformed into laughter and backslapping, even the ever-stoic transfer student getting in on it. "So, we're cool, right?" Sayaka looked both relieved and slightly annoyed.
"Yes," confirmed Madoka, feeling intoxicatingly proud of her friendly deception. "People move these tables all the time. She called it modular."
As they sat, an energetic waitress had materialized, giving them all water and menus. Hitomi, Madoka and Homura took one side of the table, facing Kyousuke, Sayaka and Kyoko respectively.
Kyoko had insisted Sayaka take the seat in the middle. The frantic feeling that had begun building up this afternoon was coursing through her, uncertainty and anxiety and most of all a desire just to get this whole unpleasantness over with.
She saw the way the grey-haired boy responded to the blunette. When they'd entered, his face had kind of lit up, and Sayaka herself had greeted the kid with a certain wariness. Maybe like she was having… mixed feelings? And now, catching up with little details about their life that the redhead had no clue about... It was stupid of her to worry, of course, but… something about having a history… inertia and all of that. Kyoko leaned forward, glancing past her girlfriend's profile at the boy who had caused her so much pain.
Who she'd been so… so invested in. Who meant so much that, after losing him, she'd given up all hope. Lost her very will to live.
A trickle of water descended from her hair, running down her back, and with a jolt she remembered another stormy night. With a sharp stab in her chest, Kyoko recalled that feeling of despair herself, walking into that hated, accursed church, certain beyond all doubt that she would never be happy again, that everything that had brought meaning to life had been snatched away and she was all alone in the world once more. Ready to have it all end, tired of feeling so-
How can you be so weak? Kyoko asked herself, uncertain of whether she was more ashamed of her feelings then, or the doubt plaguing her now. I need to know, the redhead admitted to herself, despite Homura's early attempt at reassurance. See if that spark was still there, after all. She needed it for herself, she realized. But, even more so, Sayaka deserved a chance to choose what she wanted. Yeah, that's the noble way of thinking about it, but fuck... Desperate to drag her thoughts away from the the looping train of worry, Kyoko pulled her gaze from the pair, finding Hitomi's amazingly green eyes staring at her with interested-yet-wary politeness.
Apparently, eye contact was interpreted as an invitation to conversation. "So, Kyoko-san, where are you from?" The green-haired girl's expression was the epitome of polite curiosity.
Startled out of her thoughts, Kyoko snatched her glass and took a pull from the straw. "I've lived a lot of places," she stated, going for mysterious. It sounded better than: abandoned buildings, empty vacation homes, burnt-out temples, conned motel rooms and, of course, the street. Hitomi looked intrigued, her expression imploring her to continue. "Traveling, and stuff. I lived in Kasimino a while back. Now I'm here."
Hitomi leaned forward. "I've been to Kasimino, but lived in Mitakihara all my life," she confided, conveying slight regret. "Where else have you been? How does our town compare to other cities you've lived in?"
Madoka and Homura glanced over, dropping whatever apparently unpleasant topic they'd been discussing. The pinkette looked scared, but quickly shook herself out of it before anyone else noticed, and the redhead was too preoccupied to be curious. "Well," Kyoko stalled, unnerved by the sudden attention. "I have to say most other places aren't made out of glass." Hitomi smiled politely. "Much cleaner than, say, Motogawa." Hitomi's eyes narrowed for a moment, so quickly that Kyoko might have imagined it.
"Tell Shizuki-san what brings you to Mitakihara," Homura prompted, drawing a look of surprise from Madoka and a glare from the redhead.
"I, ah," Kyoko began. Oh you bitch… To her annoyance, Sakayak and Kyousuke were now staring at her expectantly along with everyone else. For some reason, it was hard to think. "I'm… transferring schools," she finished lamely.
"Really? Just like Akemi-san!" Hitomi smiled. "What school will you be attending?"
"Uh…" Kyoko felt her cheeks begin to burn, glancing at Sayaka for help. The blunette was watching her with barely suppressed amusement, but also encouragement. The redhead shot her a sullen look, but Sayaka saw the plea for help and leapt to the rescue.
"Kyoko just moved here a couple weeks ago. Her, uh, family is still debating schools."
"Weeks?" asked Kyousuke. "That's a lot of material to make up…"
"They want to make sure they pick the right school," the blunette explained.
"Well," started Hitomi, drawing herself up, "I highly recommend Mitakihara Academy, am I right girls?" She glanced around, seeing the hesitant approval from the others. Their muted agreement was strange. Sayaka, for some reason, looked amused. Dismissing the feeling like she was missing something, she continued. "Our school has a wonderful record of exam preparation, and our extracurricular opportunities are the envy of every other school in town."
"It is a good school," Madoka agreed good-naturedly.
"It sounds… great." Kyoko's voice was flat. Sayaka was making laughing noises beside her.
"Top notch music program," Kyousuke added.
"You should come to Mitakihara Academy, Kyoko-san! I just know you'd love it." Hitomi was smiling with apparent sincerity, and the others kept staring at her with secret amusement.
"Uh, thanks for the tip," Kyoko said, glancing around for something to change the subject. Looking down, she saw the minuscule list of available options on the menu. "This is all they have?" she asked, feeling a little underwhelmed at the selection.
The conversation turned to what food each girl would order, Madoka coordinating selections so that they'd all get to sample everything they wanted. She paused during the planning, frowning briefly as Hitomi told the violinist what he should order.
The coffee their waitress had poured before taking their orders caught up with her quickly. "I'll be right back," Sayaka said, excusing herself from the table.
Hitomi, lightning quick, stood up. "I'll join you." She smiled at the blunette's surprise, then dawning understanding as she gave her a warm smile. "We'll be back shortly," she explained for the benefit of the others.
Kyoko looked up at the blunette, beginning to rise herself. "I'll come with."
"No, you stay and enjoy the conversation," Sayaka grinned, giving Hitomi a quick glance. The reassuring smile remained in place on the waiting green-haired girl.
Disgruntled, Kyoko slumped back into her chair, staring at the empty table before her. Madoka and Homura were talking about some subject related to school, and the violinist was busy staring at nothing. Kyousuke turned to her abruptly, opening his mouth to say something, and quickly Kyoko deflected. "Homura," she began, drawing the pale girl's purple gaze. "What are you doing after this?"
Tossing her long black hair over a shoulder, the transfer student regarded her levelly. Her eyes darted down the table, then back. "Hunting," she said softly, "just like you."
"After that, I mean." Kyoko grinned wickedly, but Homura refused to take the bait.
"Going to bed," the girl answered, suddenly annoyed with the anxious feeling that fluttered inside her chest.
"Shit, that's right," Kyoko burst out, forgetting herself and drawing a pair of startled glances. "Big day for you tomorrow."
"Yeah." Kyoko frowned, seeing the strange cast to the black-haired girl's features. If she didn't know better, she'd have said Homura looked frightened.
I'd be pissing my pants, Kyoko thought, if I knew that tomorrow I'd be waking up and going to work. Yuck.
"Sorry for interrupting," Kyousuke interrupted politely, his grey-hair framing his strange eyes. "I… I don't mean to pry, but there has been some… confusion about what… ah, where Sayaka-san has been this last week." He glanced between the three girls, the eager expression Madoka wore slowly closing up, Homura's flat stare, and the strange redhead's incredulous look. "I've been worried. Is she really… has she been alright?"
For a long moment, it was silent. Madoka opened her mouth, glancing at the others but only catching Homura's eyes. Kyoko maintained a death-stare on the violinist, who looked back unfazed, not quite recognizing the latent hostility underneath the trappings of a cute, well-made-up girl. "She's fine," the redhead snarled, then added, not quite softly enough to be entirely to herself, "no thanks to you."
Homura's eyes narrowed, and Madoka winced. Oh no, I hope she's not going to-
The angry redhead cut off, realizing she was better off shutting up. Kyousuke stared at her, perplexed. "What do you mean? What did I… how is-"
"Figure it out yourself," Kyoko half-sneered, drawing a hurt look from the grey-haired kid.
"Kyoko-chan," Madoka began, partly in warning and partly as a plea.
"I…" Kyousuke's boyish face frowned in mild bafflement. "I don't understand."
The redhead snorted, a strange noise to be coming from such an elegantly dressed and beautiful girl. "Why doesn't that surprise me." It was a comment, not a question. What does she see in this guy? Kyoko wondered.
Homura, with a glance at Madoka's anxiety-ridden face, Kyoko's sullen rage, and Kyousuke's total bewilderment, sat back in her chair, crossing her arms and deciding to simply enjoy the fireworks.
"Start with the timeline." Kyoko couldn't help herself. She knew, in the grand scheme of things, it'd be better to be silent and let the whole thing blow over. But somehow, this stupid pig of an ass was so oblivious to the most amazing person in the world and the impact he somehow, for some strange and unfathomable reason, had upon her, and a larger part of her couldn't allow that to stand. Sayaka deserved better than to be... ignored!
Timeline? Kyousuke thought about that. "You mean when she was gone? Sayaka-san missed all last week."
"Very good," Kyoko congratulated, more than a little rudely. "When, exactly, did you notice she was gone?"
"Well, she was gone the Thursday before last, but Madoka-san told me she wasn't feeling well."
Kyoko shot the pinkette a look. "It's true," Madoka hedged. "She wasn't… herself."
The redhead nodded wisely, as if the smaller girl had said something profound. "So, last Thursday, huh? That would be the day after Wednesday, I believe."
"Yes. What does that-"
"Was there anything out of the ordinary that happened that week? Anything… special?"
Kyousuke frowned. "I missed Monday because I was up in the Fukushima Prefectural Academy of the Arts as part of an orchestral ensemble, and Tuesday was the big math test."
Kyoko sneered. "Anything else?"
The grey-haired boy thought. "Not really," he said, somewhat apologetically.
"A-HEM." Homura's fake throat clearing was just that, grabbing everyone's attention. She leaned back and shot a meaningful glance around Madoka at the unoccupied chair across from Kyousuke.
Still, it took a moment for the boy to catch her meaning. "Oh, that's when Hitomi asked me out." Kyoko's slow, deliberate clapping was meant to be insulting, but the grey-haired kid simply looked at her in confusion. "I don't see how that relates to Sayaka-san's health, though."
Kyoko took a steadying breath, her last nerve fraying at the boy's almost willful ignorance and willfully ignoring Madoka's faint whimper of dismay. "Let's pretend, for a moment. Let's say, you're really good friends with someone. You spend, I dunno, tons of time together, share all kinds of fun, stay close for years. As you emerge from the childhood years, you start to look upon this person with a whole new perspective. And you realize that in this great friendship, this relationship, you've got something special, something lasting." She stared into the boys attentive but still uncertain expression. "When he gets hurt, you're there to help him in whatever way you can, keeping him company, keeping his spirits up. And then, when it seems like he's about to give up all hope, you find a way to keep him going.
"It's stupid to expect that someone is going to feel the same way you feel. I get that. But certainly, you can expect a little consideration from close friends and people you care about, at least when you've helped them out so much. And to do something like, oh, I don't know-" Kyoko began, building up her anger and resentment through sheer volume.
"Kyoko," Madoka pleaded.
Homura watched, impressed and dismayed at the same time. It was like watching a train wreck.
"Image arriving to visit your hurt friend for the hundredth time, only to find out he's better, which is great, and that he's gone home already, which is both good and bad, because he's now free but didn't have the fucking decency to use that freedom to call you even though you've been showing up every single fucking day to cheer his stupid ass up."
Kyousuke's pale face had gone dark, flushed with shame from a dawning realization. "I… I have been a bad friend," he choked, the facade of control breaking for the first time that evening. "You… You're right." He looked at the others in a daze. "I didn't even think, didn't realize-"
"It's alright, Kyousuke-kun," Madoka assured, her expression begging Kyoko to stop. "You were probably-"
"It's not just being a bad friend that made her… not herself," Kyoko growled.
"I think he understands, Kyoko," Homura interjected, the pinkette's obvious discomfort a lot more enticing in theory than practice. She reached out a hand, tentatively patting the distraught smaller girl from across the table.
"Does he?" Kyoko wondered aloud, staring daggers at the boy. "I don't think he's made the connection, yet." He looked up, and she saw he didn't. "You get along, you spend so much time with this person, and then when he needs you the most, you're there. More than anyone. Keep him from succumbing to a well of self-pity he'd never return from. And then he goes and starts dating your best friend."
Homura frowned as the boy stared at the redhead, frozen in what may have been shock. There was a long, uncomfortable silence, Madoka's cute, anxious face spinning between Kyoko and Kyousuke. "I can't believe you said that, Kyoko," she sighed, turning to the violinist. "And I can't believe you are so incredibly oblivious." Her gaze darted to Madoka for a fraction of a second, thinking about the pinkette's own proclaimed feelings for the boy. It was probably the worst feeling of all, to not be noticed by the one you loved. Or not have your feelings recognized, which amounted to the same thing.
"You're saying… Sakaya liked me? I mean, in that way… I just thought, she was such a good friend, and things were so… uncomplicated between us. I never knew…"
"Well, now you do," Madoka stated, shaking her head as she stared at Kyoko, who pushed herself away from the table forcefully, causing it to wobble. The redhead's venom appeared to be spent, though; her expression implied mild digestive issues rather than a burning need to kill. As the veteran stormed away, Madoka sighed, feeling the girl's well-intentioned anger masking some deeper, more painful emotion. "For better or worse."
Aside from the opening of doors and the click of heels against the tile, the journey to the bathroom was awkwardly silent. Sayaka had ducked into a stall, recognizing the look Hitomi was giving her meant the girl had something to say but didn't know how to say it.
By the time she'd stood up, her friend had been ready. "Sayaka-chan," Hitomi began, looking over at the blunette's reflection in the washroom mirror. "I think we need to talk."
Sakaya bit back a heaving sigh. The last thing she wanted was to stir up the recent past. "Hitomi-chan, it's fine. Really, I…" The steady green gaze waited politely, patiently, but with measured determination. "Alright. What do you want to talk about?"
"Don't be like that, please," Hitomi half-chided, half-begged. Sayaka saw a look of honest hurt in her eyes, and was suddenly mindful of all the fun times and great memories she shared with the green-haired honor student. "I was worried about you, all last week you were out of school, and not hearing from you…"
"I don't remember you calling me," Sayaka returned, remembering the blank screen of her phone, the completely unrealistic hope of getting a call from Kyousuke, some kind of realization she'd envisioned getting through his apparent apathy. For him to somehow, out of the blue, figure out that she was important to him, and in a way that was more than merely friendly.
The thought flushed her with a sick feeling, a mix of shame, anger and horror. Shame at how desperate, how pathetic she'd been. Anger at herself for going to such extremes, and most of all horror at how close she'd come to the brink. If it hadn't been for Kyoko...
Hitomi frowned, interpreting friend's rising color to a lingering sense of rage. "I figured I was the last person you'd want to hear from." Sayaka shrugged guiltily. That much was true. "But still, I hoped you'd find it in your heart to… to…"
"To forgive you?" Sayaka asked, willing to concede.
"No," explained the green-haired girl. "I told you what I intended. I let you know because I had my suspicions there was more to how you felt about Kyousuke than being his friend. But… after you dismissed my worries… how was I supposed to know what you wanted? That's why I asked. I don't believe I require your forgiveness for anything. I haven't done anything wrong. But… I still hoped you'd find it in yourself to remember our friendship."
"Yeah, well... sorry. I was in a bad place. But it wasn't all… you and Kyousuke. There was other stuff going on." Hitomi's long, level stare gave Sayaka pause. "Fine, it may have been mostly that. But there were other things, too. I… I just needed to get away."
"Running away from your problems is the only way to ensure they will continue to chase you," Hitomi intoned wisely. Sayaka contained a frown, realizing the other girl was probably right. Even though she'd "run away" from her relationship problem by leaping directly into the mouths of a half-dozen supremely wicked killing machines whose very existence threatened human life. Fleeing inner turmoil and emotional pain by leaping into the jaws of near-certain death was, she supposed, a different kind of cowardice.
"You're right," Sayaka admitted. "It took me a while, but I figured that out. With some help." Hitomi looked at her hopefully, but remained uncertain, not entirely sure the blunette wasn't just trying to bury her feelings under the rug. The blunette took a deep breath, one aspect of her journey of personal discovery certain to convince her friend of her sincerity. "Truth is, I figured out a lot of stuff this past week." Less than a week, actually. Had it really been so little time?
The way she'd said it grabbed Hitomi's attention. Something interesting was afoot. "What… other stuff did you figure out?" she asked, recognizing the blunette was waiting for her to inquire further.
"Well… I'm going to tell you something only Madoka knows. And Kyoko, of course," she amended, not feeling like adding Homura to the list, and certainly not Kaname Junko. "I…" This was harder than she'd thought. Brilliant emerald eyes stared at her with complete attention. "Kyoko and I…"
"I can see you're good friends," Hitomi supplied. She'd be willing to provisionally accept the redhead into their circle of friendship; after all, a friend of her friend's was a friend of her's.
"Uh… it's more than that." Just say it, dumbass. "Kyoko is my girlfriend."
"I… what?" Sayaka shrugged, feeling her face heat with color. Nothing to be embarrassed about! As a look of dawning understanding melted her friend's shocked expression, the blunette felt a little thrill at letting her friend know. "But… so… Kyousuke…"
"I'm over that, mostly at least. I… maybe I confused friendship for intimacy, or something. Whatever the reason, my… infatuation is gone." She paused. "I'd still like to be his friend. And your's. But… Kyoko is what I need. I chose her the second I realized it was an option."
There was a loud bang from one of the stalls, causing both girls to jump. Hitomi threw it a quick glance, angry at the disruption. Sayaka noted the stall appeared to be empty: no feet were visible. Dismissing her age-old terror of Hanako-san, she turned back to the green-haired girl, who was looking at her intently.
"You… you really seem… smitten," Hitomi settled on, slightly jealous of the flush of excitement, the sparkle in the blunette's azure eyes as she talked about her… her girlfriend. Not that there was anything wrong with that. It was just so unexpected… but then Hitomi remembered how the girl had latched on to Tomoe-san, who wasn't exactly notorious for her proclivities, but was definitely whispered about. And, further back, the way she caught the blunette glancing around the locker room after gym… "Sayaka-san, I'm so happy for you!" She embraced the blunette in a tight embrace, the moment broken only by the sound of a stall door opening, the exit closing moments later. Without washing their hands! That had better not have been someone who handles the food… Disgusting as the thought was, deep down she was mostly happy not to be attacked by the bloody ghost of a young girl.
After a moment, the two parted. "Hitomi-chan," Sayaka said hesitantly, "I don't want to spoil this moment, and I appreciate your friendship and everything we've talked about, but it's probably time to get back to the others."
"Oh! How terrible of me," Hitomi chastised herself. "After you," she smiled, holding the ladies' room door open. "Now that I'm in on your secret," she whispered, eyeing a lady who was entering the bathroom as if she were an outsider or spy, "you've gotta give me all the details about your new 'friend'." The way she verbally put quotes around friend made Sayaka worried that her secret would keep for much longer. But, if that was the price to get things right with Hitomi, it was worth paying. Plus, Kyoko deserved to be acknowledged for what she was.
Letting her friend take her arm as they walked back to their table, Sayaka felt as if a subtle, ever-present yet unnoticed weight had lifted from her shoulders, and she grinned.
Kyoko quietly returned to the table, looking very pleased with herself. Madoka studied the girl, grateful that the redhead had regained control. It had been an awkward few minutes as Homura and Kyousuke sat in silence, each seeming to ponder some deep philosophical issue.
Kyousuke glanced at the redhead, opened his mouth but then closed it. Madoka felt bad for him. She could see now that he was, well… self-absorbed wasn't the right word, but some close cousin to it. He didn't mean to be, but that didn't make it untrue. The pinkette glanced towards the hallway leading to the bathroom, and grinned as she saw her friends emerging, arm in arm no less. Feeling elated, Madoka watched the pair return, wishing desperately that their friendship had been repaired.
The grey-haired boy didn't notice the girls returning until it was too late; Kyoko made a show of pulling out Sayaka's chair and helping her be seated, with a muted "Uh, thanks," from her blunette. Looking across the table, the redhead gave Hitomi a seemingly apologetic smile as she sat, unassisted by the lost-in-thought Kyousuke. The boy gave a start as the girls seemed to emerge from the fog of his thoughts, and nervously he smiled, his eyes darting back and forth from each.
"Sayaka," he choked, and all eyes turned to look at the oddly-flushed violinist pull at his suit's collar with a finger. "I… Hitomi, I'm sorry, but I have to… to say this-"
Madoka was shaking her head, eyes wide with dismay. Homura watched, her own purple gaze hooded in an attempt to mask her interest: the boy was utterly guileless. Hitomi shot a quick glance around the table, knowing something was up, falling on the nervous looking pinkette, who froze under the scrutiny.
"You know I'm not the best at this kind of stuff, but… I… I've been a terrible friend," he began, turning to face her directly, the rest of the girls forgotten for the moment. Sayaka, who felt their presence all the more acutely as he reached out a hand and took hers, felt sweat break out all over her body. "I… just realized that, ah, your feelings towards me were-" He paused, throwing an apologetic glance at Hitomi, who sat watching impassively.
Voice dropping, he got even closer, causing the blunette to lean backwards, bumping into Kyoko's shoulder. She glanced around, seeing the redhead's inscrutable gaze. Turning back to the violinist, Sayaka came up with the only reply she could. "Uh…"
"I never knew," he said, a plea for forgiveness in his usually stoic voice tickling something deep within the blunette. "I value your friendship so much, I guess I didn't… didn't think to imagine…" His eyes lost focus for a moment, and Sayaka felt her cheeks light up yet again as the boy's gaze seemed to drop to her chest.
Hitomi's eyes narrowed dangerously. Homura took a sip of water to keep herself from laughing.
"Hitomi-san, I really like you," Kyousuke began, before turning to Sayaka. "But I've also liked Sayaka for as long as I can remember." He shook his head, looking torn. "I… what am I supposed to do?"
It was the cracking voice, nearly a sob, that let Sayaka find her tongue. "Kyousuke-kun, you don't have to feel bad about anything. We'll always be friends. I… it's true, I was, um, sad for a while there. But…" Sayaka stopped, looking around the circle of staring eyes, cringing inside.
"I don't want to make you sad, Sayaka-san," the boy stressed. "I want you to be happy. And if that means…" He looked up, eyes meeting briefly with Hitomi's, possibly for permission, or in a pre-emptive apology. The green-haired girl sat still as a statue, her face painfully expressionless.
Homura, despite herself, was impressed. By the boy's fumbling attempt, by Hitomi's iron self-control, and most of all by the brilliant hue of Sayaka's face.
"Sayaka, you do deserve to be happy," Kyoko interrupted, drawing a surprised look from the redhead sitting on her opposite side. Sayaka glanced back, uncertain where the redhead was going, but not liking the subtle hint of sadness in her voice.
"I'm not…" The blunette took a breath, glancing around the table again before turning back to the violinist. "I… it's really not like that, Kyousuke. I… I already have, um…" Kyousuke stared at her, expectantly. "I, also, ah… found someone." She ended with a smile, glad to finally get it out.
"What? Who?" the boy asked, curious and bewildered. He glanced over at Hitomi in horror. "Is it true?" he asked, aghast.
Sayaka couldn't understand the boy's meaning, and frowned at the pair. "I'm not lying, if that's what you mean," she began, but Hitomi was looking at her uncomfortably.
"No, Kyousuke-kun, it's not what you're thinking."
"What is he thinking?" Sayaka asked Hitomi.
"What are you thinking?" Kyoko demanded of Kyousuke, poking him in the arm, hard.
"Ow," blurted the violinist, while Hitomi turned to address everyone. "Well… when you were gone for a few days, people started… asking questions."
"Those stupid rumors," Madoka fumed, drawing a startled look from Homura. "I told you not to listen to that stuff!" she reminded the green-haired girl at her side, who glanced down at her with a look of hurt.
"I never, even for a moment, believed Sayaka was pregnant-"
"PREGNANT?!" Sayaka roared, choking on her own saliva. Kyoko gave her a couple slaps on the back, hard.
"It's just stupid people saying stupid stuff, Sayaka-chan," Madoka said fervently, hoping her friend wouldn't take it too hard. Sayaka tried to act like she didn't care what other people thought, but the pinkette knew her friend too well, having long ago seen through her act.
"I am NOT pregnant," Sayaka began, seeing the raised eyebrows of warning on her friends faces. Embarrassed, she turned around, seeing several of the other customers staring at their table. At her. "I'm. Not!" she growled, for their benefit.
"If he did this to you," Kyousuke began, reading Sayaka's embarrassment all wrong, a strange, unfamiliar feeling of anger and protectiveness swelling up within him.
"Who?" Sayaka demanded. "There is no he!"
"But… but you said you found someone..."
"Well, I did," Sayaka stated. Then, she turned and planted a kiss right on Kyoko's mouth. Angrily. The redhead's jaw was hanging partially open at this unexpected development in the conversation, and couldn't force herself to pull away as the kiss threatened to intensify, the moments dragging on.
The redhead, grinning like an idiot, sat back in her chair, catching her breath. Despite all the pitfalls and uncertainties… this was turning into the best night ever! Surreptitiously, she waved a hand, trying to fan herself a breeze. It had suddenly gotten quite warm.
Sayaka wiped her mouth with the back of a hand, turning back to the young man at her other shoulder. "Hopefully that clears things up," she said, trying to sound cool but it came out all breathless.
"I… um. Oh. Okay. I see." Kyousuke wrestled with what he'd just witnessed. "Uh-huh." It was completely unexpected and left him more confused than ever, but it was the good kind of confused, and it had an additional effect that required a discreet adjustment to his pants beneath the table. Slowly, his mind began to settle, fitting everything together. "I think I get it now."
"If you need any further demonstration," Kyoko began, but shut up as the blunette flashed her a quick look.
"So," Kyousuke stated slowly. Everyone watched the poor boy work his way through the morass of surprise and emotion he'd become mired within. "You. And her." Abruptly, the tension seemed to disappear from his face. "Wow. I'm happy for you. For both of you. I… I feel like I know she's in good hands with you, Kyoko-san," he grinned, turning and giving the redhead a nod of thanks. No wonder she was so hard on me before, he realized.
He watched Sayaka share a look with Kyoko, and despite only having known the redhead for a brief while, he thought he saw a change as the two shared a few words and laughed. So unlike her patently scary look from before.
Madoka took a breath; the first in what felt like fifteen minutes. Just like that, things seemed to be back to normal.
The order began to arrive, the unnaturally perky waitress bringing out a series of plates, beverages and topping off three of the five coffees. Conversation broke off as the six friends shared their various plates.
"Kyousuke-kun, would you like to try some of this soba?" Madoka asked demurely, pushing the bamboo mat covered with the room-temperature noodles, the bowl of broth sloshing around. He looked down with interest, but Hitomi interjected before he could take anything.
"So sorry, Kyousuke-kun, but remember you shouldn't be eating that. Have some of this unagi instead," she recommended, passing him the plate covered in strips of eel coated in barbecue sauce.
Madoka frowned, not understanding why she couldn't share, too. Nothing wrong with sharing, she thought. Hitomi noticed her expression, and leaned over. "He can't eat anything with gluten," she explained, feeling like it was a slight betrayal of the boy's trust, and medical history. "It gives him… problems," she finished in a confidential whisper, as delicately as possible. It didn't help that he could barely remember that, himself. Hitomi smiled; it made her feel good, making sure the violinist was taking care of himself, even when the boy was too caught up in wherever his genius mind was taking him.
Madoka shot Hitomi a quick smile, an earlier notion shaken. She stared at the happy-seeming couple wistfully as they shared their meal.
Kyoko, feeling uncharacteristically charitable, swallowed a mouthful of noodles and looked over at Sayaka's old friends, or other friends, the couple being the first non-Puella Magi she'd interacted with for as long as she could recall. She saw the way they sort of complimented each other; the girl taking care of the dense boy. What did she get out of it? Presumably, by keeping him alive and relatively organized, he was free to perform at concerts like the one tonight, which was a good enough reason for her. The grey-haired boy didn't irritate her nearly as much, now that he wasn't a threat.
"You two make a cute couple," Kyoko observed, nodding at Hitomi and Kyousuke from across the table.
No less than three gasps followed by two choking coughs could be heard in the moments after her exclamation, but Hitomi didn't catch them, beaming at the compliment. "Thank you, Sakura-san. He means the world to me." Kyousuke quickly agreed with a grin, relieved that all of the uncertainty of the past half hour was finally over.
Kyoko ignored Sayaka's shocked stare for as long as she could, but eventually was drawn to the younger girl's wide, disbelieving eyes. "What?" she challenged.
"N-nothing," stammered the blunette. "I just… um…"
Kyoko frowned with deliberate exaggeration, playing upset. Crossing her arms, she whispered "I can be polite, you know." Her deception became apparent, however, when her face split into a mischievous grin. Turning back to her plate, she helped herself to a portion of the fish she'd made Homura order, despite the raven-haired girl's claim of no appetite.
As Homura watched Kyoko continue stuffing herself, she noted the outsiders lost in their own moment. Taking advantage of the lull in conversation, she shot Hitomi a quick glance before leaning towards the other Puella Magi. "Do you remember that movie we saw a very short while ago?"
Madoka shook her head. Kyoko stared at her, puzzled and waiting for more. "With the pyramid," she prompted. A look of understanding crossed the pinkette's face, and Kyoko nodded knowingly, taking her turn to give Hitomi a quick, assessing look. Sayaka kept her eyes studiously on the others, or her plate.
Hitomi, for her part, was extremely curious about all these glances being thrown about, wondering just what kind of movie they were talking about. She found something interesting to stare at out the window, straining her ears at the quiet discussion.
"What about it?" the aggressive redhead asked.
"That strange writing," Homura prompted. "The symbols, both in the, er, main character, and in those constellations. It was Egyptian." She glanced back and forth between the unimpressed stares. "I'm sure of it!" she insisted.
"Okay," Madoka said. "You're probably right, and since the, um, movie had a pyramid in it…"
"Duh," stated Kyoko. Hitomi winced at the disrespectful tone.
"You realize that… movies are made where they are, well, filmed." Seeing the lost looks in the other two, she shook her head in exasperation. "Japanese movies are made in Japan, Chinese movies in China. American in America." She leaned forward. "What is an Egyptian Wi-, movie, doing here?"
Madoka looked concerned, but Kyoko shrugged. "Maybe it moved here, first. Before it turned into… the movie." The metaphor was beginning to wear on her. Why couldn't this wait for some privacy?
"And its power. It just felt different, remember?"
"A powerful film," Madoka agreed, enjoying the subterfuge. Hitomi shouldn't hear about these things; it was her and her friends who would protect her against the evil that lurked, unseen, so that she could go about her normal life. The pinkette touched her chin in thought
"Something's going on. Something strange," Homura warned, feeling the yawning chasm of uncertainty beneath her, hating the sense of helplessness. Ignorance. "I'm sure of it. I wish I knew more," she muttered, mentally going over the database she'd compiled in her decades of time travel, knowing full well that, like the other hundred times it had run through her mind, she would come to the same conclusion. That thing was something she'd never encountered nor heard from second-hand.
An unknown. A mystery, just like the combination Witches, the coven, that Sayaka and Kyoko had battled days ago. Unknowns gave her a terrible, frantic feeling.
Madoka looked at her, worried. Kyoko nodded nonchalantly. This whole business is messed up. Sayaka looked to be deep in thought; that is, her face was pinched, like she was suffering from a bad bout of cramps.
"I wish I knew more," the black-haired girl repeated, gritting her teeth audibly. Madoka winced, while Sayaka looked at her thoughtfully, as if considering something. Before she could say anything, however, Kyousuke beeped loudly, and the boy dug a hand into his pocket.
"I hate to be the first one to leave, but my ride is here." He looked around the table before standing up. Hitomi quickly got her purse ready, slipping into an elegantly designed jacket. "This was a great idea; thanks girls. We should do it again. Kyoko-san, it was a pleasure to meet you," he began, giving the redhead a bow. "It was good to see you outside of class, Homura-san," he continued, "and Madoka-san." The pinkette smiled.
"Thanks for the wonderful evening, girls." Hitomi stood up as the boy did. "It was good to meet you, Kyoko-san. I hope you all get enough rest for tomorrow, so don't stay out too late!" she chided with a smile. "Let's go find the waitress," she said to Kyousuke, digging in her purse.
"Tonight, I'm buying," Kyoko declared impulsively. She grinned at the surprised looks from the seemingly happy couple, and studiously ignored the look of disquiet in her girlfriend's glance.
"That is so nice," Hitomi began, "but we can't possibly-"
"I insist," Kyoko insisted, keeping her smile carefully in place.
"Well… thanks! That's very thoughtful. It's been a wonderful night, girls. See you at school tomorrow." The pair exited the building into the hazy darkness beyond the door.
Madoka let out a sigh. "Well, that was fun," she stated.
"Hell yes it was," agreed Kyoko energetically, suddenly feeling like she was overflowing with life.
Homura contented herself with a single nod.
Only the blunette didn't respond. Shit, that's right, thought Sayaka. I'm supposed to go to school tomorrow!
Not dead yet, so I have no good excuse for the ultra long hiatus. Hopefully some of you very patient and still-present readers still retail a little interest after all this time. Sorry for the long wait, and please let me know of any errors or ugliness my possibly atrophied writing may have let slipped by. As always, all comments are appreciated.
Next up is BCD 7.