Archer sat next to Yuma, carefully going over the math book he had bought for her. It had been weeks since they had been living together and progress on her lessons had been slow.

"And if we divide by three, what will that give us?" he asked Yuma.

"Uh…" Yuma looked completely stumped. It was clear she didn't understand. "Five?" she answered uncertainly.

"It's better to admit that you don't know then try to make something up, especially when you're casting spells."

Yuma bowed her head. "I don't know."

"Then we'll just have to go over this again." It was mostly his fault, assuming that she would get it after explaining it twice.

He turned back to the previous page for her.

Basic algebra was a necessity to getting started in Magecraft. However, Yuma was a bit too young to have been taught that in school. That in itself wouldn't be an issue on its. Kids could learn surprisingly quick once they put effort into a subject that interested them. However, there was also the abuse that the girl had gone through to consider.

When she had first come to this house, she had been dreadfully skinny and incredibly malnourished. Before they could even start with training, he and Kyoko had to take the first week feeding Yuma a proper diet and getting her some neccesary fat on her bones. Then came the mental trauma. The beatings had done its damage to her brain as well stunted its development. It made her a bit slow. Not unintelligent, just slow.

"So, if we divide by three, what will that give us?" Archer asked again.

"Twelve? I think?" Yuma replied.

"Close. It's actually fifteen, but you're getting it."

Despite his encouragement though, it was clear that frustration was mounting on the girl's face. He could understand where it came from, he had also felt like that when he had been a boy. She had to keep at it at her own pace though, it would be no good if she reached too quickly out of her means. There was a good chance she could recover and grow up healthily with his intervention, but that would take time.

"Fifteen. Fifteen," Yuma grumbled to herself as she put her pencil to her worksheet. "So, I needed to add it one more time?"

"Yes."

He continued on with his lesson though he made a note to readjust the curriculum he had planned for her. He had definitely overshot what she was currently capable of. Even the very basics of math, such as multiplication and division, were a struggle for her and it seemed that she was completely stumped when it came to fractions.

"So, this would equal nine." Yuma would say a few minutes later after they had gone through a few more problems.

"That's correct. Good job," Archer praised her. The weary smile she gave him was a good sign and she looked willing to continue. However, it was clear that she was running on fumes at this point. "That's enough for now."

"Okay," Yuma replied before rubbing her eyes. "What do you need me to do next?"

"Take a break," Archer practically demanded her as he got up to the kitchen. A glass if warm milk was an adequate reward for her work.

Once Yuma had gotten the cup, she eagerly drank it along with several multivitamins he had her take throughout the day. It was the most efficient way to give her the nutrients she had been missing, especially when paired with a bit of Reinforcement. After she finished, he switched on the tv so that she could inevitably put herself to sleep. It wasn't long before her snores echoed throughout the house, even louder than what Kyoko was capable of after a particularly tiring night of hunting Witches.

Archer put another blanket on top of her and gathered up the learning material. Once everything was put away, he sat down at the dining table and carefully sipped on his tea.

Yuma's endurance was also an issue. Not so much that she tired easily, that could easily be mended with enough time and nutrition. No, the real issue was that she would let herself be pushed beyond her limits and not say a single word about it. Even Kyoko was able to admit the times when she was too worn out from her training to continue, and she would definitely complain if she disagreed with something.

The little girl's willingness to push herself to the point of punishment wasn't born from stubbornness. No, he could see it on her face every time she failed in front of him or Kyoko. Fear and desperation. Desperate to please the people that had saved her and fear of being sent away from the only haven she had found.

She was very different from his previous students. Kyoko had at least a solid education and the determination to push it while Momo… well Momo had been gifted.

Momo…

Archer glanced back at Yuma as she slept a restless sleep. They would've been around the same age at this time. In the end though, they couldn't be any more different. Hopefully Kyoko would remember that.

The front door of the house opened.

"I'm back," Kyoko called out as she quickly took of her shoes and stepped inside. She glanced at where Yuma laid. "Worked herself to death again?"

Archer took a long drink of his tea and swallowed. "She might actually do that if she's left unsupervised for too long."

Thankfully the young girl was about as much of a deep sleeper as Kyoko was. Made it difficult to separate the two from each other and the bed they shared in the morning, but at least they didn't risk waking Yuma up at the moment,

"That bad?"

"She's used to complying to orders and accepting any form of punishment, even when it isn't justified. A survival instinct, most likely." He was personally aware of such signs at this point.

"We need to help her with that don't we?" Kyoko replied as she joined him at the table.

Archer casually handed her a cup of coffee that he had brewed just minutes before she arrived. "She needs therapy. Serious therapy. And unfortunately, neither of us are very good when it comes to dealing with trauma despite personal experiences."

"What do we do then?" Kyoko asked. "Get her a psychiatrist?"

"That… might be a good idea."

Kyoko looked doubtful. "Really? What if they learn something from Yuma that they shouldn't? I know she'll do her best not to say anything against us but…"

"Patient confidentiality and whatever Yuma does let slip can be attributed as the delusions of a child. Or simply the results of her abuse. Either way it's not as risky as you think."

Kyoko began gulping down her own drink. She slammed the cup down and sighed once she finished. "That's going to be another thing to pay for."

"Along with paying off our contacts for forging her a new identity, the adoption papers, and other documentation." They weren't destitute but they had already burned through most of the savings they already had. Needless to say, construction for the koi pond was indefinitely postponed.

"We'll just have to spend more time hunting for Witches."

"Kyoko."

"Fine. You'll spend time hunting Witches. I'll stay home babysitting Yuma. Again."

"You agreed to this."

"I know," Kyoko waved him off. "Just go off and have your fun without me."

"I will. After dinner."

Sayaka wandered alone on the populated streets of Kazamino. She had no destination in mind, just some pocket change given to her by her parents so that she could grab some lunch while they were busy with a client. Why she even had to come along in the first place instead of hanging out with Madoka or Hitomi that day? She didn't know.

Maybe it was to make a good impression to the client, or maybe her father just wanted to take her along to see how the business worked. Either way it wasn't something that she was planning to take up herself. As for what she did want to do in the future… well it was kind of a stupid dream really.

Kind of hard to be hero nowadays unless you were a police officer or firefighter. Actually, the former wouldn't be such a bad idea. Maybe even aim for Detective? Detective Sayaka Miki, Case Closer Extraordinaire!

… The title needed some work.

Sayaka was about to cross a crosswalk when she noticed a pair of girls, one with fiery red hair around her age and the other with green hair who was younger. They both wore fairly fancy looking blouses and skirts. That normally wouldn't be of anything to note in any city, but the man in a trench coat following them certainly was.

Not willing to leave this alone, Sayaka immediately chased after them. It took going through a couple of turns and hitting a few dead ends before she finally saw the back of the man in the distance.

In his hands was a knife and in front of him was the girl with red hair who had postured protectively in front of the much shorter child. The child held tightly onto an arm as the girl gave the mugger a… disappointed look?

She wasn't even trying to act brave or anything, it was like she didn't give a damn. Either she was completely apathetic to getting robbed, or she was supremely confident in handling the situation. Either way though, that didn't change the fact that someone was in trouble. Even if that someone was a bit weird.

Sayaka began looking around. There was no way she was going to overpower that man with her own strength, especially when he had a knife. She needed a weapon of her own something that she could use against him.

Her eyes eventually caught onto a flash of red and she focused on her potential weapon of choice conveniently leaning against a closed door.

That would do.

"Give me your money girly."

Kyoko was simply too tired for this shit as a mugger brandished a knife in her direction.

All because Archer demanded that she dress a bit nicer when she brought Yuma to the psychiatrist.

The meeting itself had gone fine. Yuma seemed comfortable around the psychiatrist and they had already made the next appointment.

All well and good except for the fact that she was now getting mugged!

Not that this man was any threat, but it was annoying, and he was scaring Yuma! The fact that the little girl was there was the only reason why she hadn't set him on fire yet. She had to consider the best way to take him out without making it traumatic for the girl.

Hmm. Maybe rush in and go for a disarm? No. Stay still and sucker punch once he goes for a strike. Look confident, look in control of the entire situation. Show Yuma she has nothing to fear with her cool Big Sis Kyoko around. Yea. That would work.

The man took a step forward and Kyoko reared back a fist.

Get ready…

The man was suddenly blasted by a furious stream of white foam. The mugger backed away, disoriented, when a girl with short blue hair suddenly ran in and bashed his back with a fire extinguisher.

"Run! Now!" The blue haired girl shouted as she grabbed Kyoko and Yuma's hands and dragged them away while the mugger was recovering.

Kyoko was simply too dumbfounded to resist, and the girl ended up dragging them quite some distance. They didn't stop until they finally arrived in front of a family restaurant, where the girl finally released their hands.

"That was close," the girl let out a sigh of relief. "Are you two okay?"

"Peachy," Kyoko replied unamused. She would've put Yuma behind her… but honestly this girl didn't seem like a threat.

Short blue hair, fancy music note hairpin. No discernable marks on her skin and no magic. Little to no prior combat experience judging by that encounter in the alleyway. Definitely a civilian, not a Magical Girl or Magus. Not a threat at all.

Kyoko glanced at the girl's chest.

Decent rack though. Good face too. Pretty with a slight tomboyish charm.

"Er… my eyes are up here."

"What was that for?" Kyoko asked.

"I mean…" the girl scratched the back of your head. "The two of you looked like you were in trouble, so I had to help."

"Why?" Kyoko asked.

The girl looked at her in confusion. "Why not? Isn't it the right thing to do to help people?"

Kyoko scoffed and shook her head.

Great. An idiot. No one worth her time.

"Why are you calling me an idiot?" the girl asked, annoyed.

"Because you wanted to play the hero," Kyoko replied as she crossed her arms and gave the girls a sardonic smirk. "You put yourself in harm's way to help two complete strangers"

"Hey! Maybe instead of insulting you should thank me for saving you!"

Kyoko rolled her eyes. "I could've handled him myself."

"Oh yea? And what about that little girl behind you?"

"She wasn't in any danger at all. You tell her Yuma."

"Thank you, Miss," Yuma replied.

"See I- wait what!?" Kyoko turned to Yuma. "Why are you thanking her?"

"Because… she tried to help us," Yuma carefully. "Even if we didn't need it… aren't you being mean to her? You should say sorry."

Kyoko was left completely speechless. Of all the times Yuma had to choose to go against her, it had to be in front of this idiot with a Hero Complex?

The girl snickered behind her.

"Don't you dare laugh about this!" Kyoko shouted. She had long since stopped caring about the spectacle they were creating in front of the restaurant.

The girl, infuriatingly enough, decided to ignore Kyoko and instead lean down in front Yuma. "You're welcome."

She pointed a thumb at Kyoko.

"How exactly do you deal with this jerk here?" she said playfully.

Yuma pouted. "Don't say bad things about Kyoko. That's mean."

Now it was the girl's turn to look dumbstruck, much to Kyoko's amusement.

"But didn't you just say she was being mean?" the girl asked.

"That doesn't that you should act like a jerk too." Yuma looked disapprovingly at Kyoko as she started laughing. "You're both being jerks."

Being told off by an eleven-year-old had a placating effect on the two of them. They stood there, awkwardly facing one another before Kyoko finally glanced at the restaurant next to them.

"You wanna get something to eat?"

Sayaka wasn't too sure what to think about Kyoko. She acted cocky in front of an armed mugger and it seemed her default attitude was self-pretentious jerk. With Yuma though… Kyoko might as well had a heart of gold. The affectionate gaze, the protective posturing similar to how a young lioness protected its cub, it was clear that Kyoko cared deeply about the little girl.

It made hating her harder than it ought to be.

"I never got your name."

"Eh?" Sayaka looked up from her plate of spaghetti.

"Your name. Blue," Kyoko repeated.

Blue? Seriously? Just because of her hair?

"Sayaka Miki… Red."

"Sayaka huh…" Kyoko took another bite of her steak. "So, what's a wannabe hero like you doing around here?"

Wannabe hero? It was insulting and Sayaka would've immediately shot back had Yuma not given Kyoko a disproving look. Apparently, that was enough to get the red-haired girl to regret her words.

"My parents are meeting with a client here. They're accountants," Sayaka replied.

"Oh. Where ya from?"

"Mitakihara."

Kyoko flinched for some reason, but quickly recovered. "Interesting city."

"You have a problem with it?"

"No just… knew someone from there."

"A friend?"

"…"

Well whatever history Kyoko had there was clearly complicated.

"Yuma don't think I haven't noticed those bell peppers you've been hiding," Kyoko suddenly said.

Yuma pouted but ultimately unwrapped a napkin and put the bell peppers back on her plate.

"Picky eater?" Sayaka teased the little girl. "Don't worry I don't like carrots too."

"Are you going to your salad then?" Kyoko asked.

"I mean I'm probably just going to leave it. Why? You want so-" Sayaka was interrupted by the furious and frankly frightening glare Kyoko was suddenly sending her way. Like an enraged beast about to pounce.

"Don't. Waste. Food."

"O-okay," Sayaka stuttered before quickly stuffing a mouthful of salad into her mouth. So apparently this was the best way to get her to eat her veggies. Hopefully her mother would never learn this technique.

"Kyoko's like that when it comes to food," Yuma said.

"For good reason," Kyoko replied. "Starving is the worst. You appreciate whatever food you get."

"True."

"Huh…" Sayaka couldn't help but let out.

Kyoko glared at her. "Something funny?"

"Just those are some nice clothes you're wearing. I didn't think you'd be so… conscious about that," Sayaka replied.

Kyoko eyes went back to her food. "Let's just say I have personal experience on the matter."

Well whatever history those two had, it at least seemed they had better days now.

"So anyway," Sayaka decided to bring up another topic, "What about your parents? What do they do?"

"We don't have parents," Kyoko replied curtly.

Oh.

"Um… sorry," Sayaka apologized.

"Why? You aren't responsible."

"Just… Can't I feel bad?"

"We don't need your sympathy. You want to make yourself feel good?" Kyoko gestured outside the window. "Go help some other orphans off the street. We're fine by ourselves."

It was a clear attempt to infuriate Sayaka, but at this point it was difficult to bring up any anger against this girl. Annoyance, yes, but none of the previous rage that had been present in their first interaction.

"I know you need to feel tough in front of your sister, but maybe accept the kindness of others once in a while," Sayaka said.

"We're not-" Kyoko was interrupted by the sad look Yuma's face. "Okay we are sisters, but we're not blood related. We were adopted from different families."

Well that explained why they looked so different from each other. Didn't change the fact that Kyoko had the same look on her face that Madoka often had when looking at Tatsuya.

Sayaka went back to eating her food and soon the three of them had emptied their respective plates under Kyoko's supervision. Eventually the check arrived.

"Well, thanks for inviting me to lunch I guess," Sayaka said as she began to take out her money. "I should get back to my parents though."

"What are you doing?" Kyoko asked.

"Paying for my meal?"

"I invited you. Put it down," Kyoko said before grabbing the check herself, putting in a very large bill, and quickly handing it over to the waiter.

"Why are you being so nice?" Sayaka asked suspiciously.

"I'm not. Just don't like owing anyone any favors."

Sayaka squinted. "I thought you said you didn't need my help?"

"I didn't. But you ended up doing something anyway." Kyoko waited until she received her change before standing up and grabbing Yuma's hand. "Don't always expect to get something back for helping others though. The world is never that kind. Especially to wannabe heroes like you."

Kyoko then left the store leaving Sayaka alone to mull over her words.

She honestly didn't agree with what Kyoko had said. There was nothing wrong with helping other people. The girl was just probably trying to be a jerk again.

But then why was Kyoko's voice so regretful when she said that?

"Kyoko, why were you so mean to that girl?" Yuma asked.

After their bath Kyoko had the girl sit in front of their bedroom mirror so that she could work on her hair.

"Remember what I said happens to heroes?" Kyoko replied as she set aside the dryer and picked up a brush. She then began to brush the strands of vibrant green hair.

Thanks to a proper diet and hair product Yuma's was looking healthier than ever. It was no longer frayed and had taken on a more healthy and natural shade.

"I do."

"Then you already know you're answer." Kyoko began to double check her work, making sure that there weren't any tangles she had missed. "Are you sure you wanna grow your hair out? It can be a hassle."

"You have long hair."

"Yea and it's a hassle." Really, the only reason she let it get long in the first place was because Momo had liked it. Now… it would just be wrong to cut it short.

"I don't mind. I want hair like yours," Yuma replied.

"Buttering me up again?" Kyoko said jokingly.

"Maybe."

"How's the lessons with Archer?" Kyoko asked.

Suddenly the mood dropped. Yuma began to frown. "It's hard."

"Magic is always tough. Even for me. You'll get there eventually."

"Am I good enough to even learn Magic?" Yuma asked.

"Magecraft," Kyoko corrected.

"Magecraft." Yuma clasped her hands. "I keep messing up. I always try so hard, but I never get anything done right. Like I'm… useless."

Better add an inferiority complex to the list of things that the psychiatrist would have to talk about. Boy did everyone in this household have their issues. Kyoko would've probably ignored her own had Archer not been a constant reminder in her head. "You're not useless. Everyone learns at their own pace," Kyoko replied.

"But don't I need to be useful to you?"

"You already are. If you weren't with me, I probably would've ended punching that bleu idiot in the face." Said idiot would've probably reacted by throwing a punch of their own. Not that that would get them anywhere, kind of hard for a civilian beat a mage practiced in Reinforcement in a fist fight. "Avoided a lot of trouble and a lecture from Archer thanks to you."

"Is that really good enough? Is that really what you want from me?"

"It…" Now that Kyoko thought about it, what did she want from Yuma. What should she be having the girl do? Did what they were doing right now even make sense? "It is for me. Alright? Just stop arguing with me."

Yuma remained silent and continued to remain so even as they went to bed.

In the end they just weren't ready to have that discussion yet. At least not until Kyoko could figure out their future. And she would figure it out… eventually.