"So?"

"So…"

"You've been real quiet since this morning, Homura. What's wrong?"

I gaze sadly at Homura, sitting next to me and lost in her own head. "You can talk to me about it when you're ready." I smile a little, knowing how to get her to at least talk about something. "Is it your glasses? You make it sound like it's been a while since you've worn them."

"It's not the glasses, Kuroe…" she mumbles, though I can see the faintest hint of a smile. Good. She at least knows I'm trying to make her feel better. "I've just had a lot on my mind. Seeing Mami and Kyouko again so suddenly."

"I know what you've told me," I reply. "But I think they still care about you."

"Do they?"

I simply nod. "Yeah, that Sakura girl could've shown it better, but the point is she came, and Tomoe was able to get her to back down."

"Maybe because she couldn't beat Mami in a fight. Heaven knows I can't…"

I can't help the little chuckle. "Little bitter?"

"Get tied up by magical ribbons, helpless and watching as everyone you love suffers or dies…or finding that she never took you seriously at all. You'd be 'a little bitter' too."

"Sorry. Really."

Homura sighs. "Don't apologize for things that aren't your fault."

"I should've known you had a good reason, though."

"If you apologize too much, it sounds like you never mean it."

"You should take your own advice, Homura. I know you're always genuine, but that's not how people see it."

Homura sighs. "I just have a lot to feel guilty about. I wish people believed me, but people like Kyouko'll always be angry with me no matter what I do. I honestly thought she'd still be one of those girls that want me dead, after everything we've been through. I've done enough to warrant it."

Slowly, I put a hand on her shoulder. "If they knew you like I do, there wouldn't be as many people that would want to kill you."

"Are you sure, Kuroe?" she asks in a whisper. "If anything, some people seem more offended when I show them I have regrets. As if they wouldn't regret hurting the one they love most in their desperate attempts to save her. Or hate when they have to choose between two bad options in the hope that this time, they could actually succeed."

"People make mistakes, Homura."

"Most people's mistakes don't destroy the entire universe and everyone in it."

I shake my head. "You're really stubborn. You know that?"

"Madoka said the same thing…" Homura replies softly. "When I last saw her."

"Considering you still love her, it can't be all bad, right? I know there are things you remember fondly about Mitakihara."

Homura sighs. "You're right. I suppose once you get past the bad memories of death and destruction, as well as how superficial a lot of these people are…"

"Homura…"

"I'm serious, Kuroe. What else can you call people who thought you were weird and plain when you were being yourself, and all you needed to do to make them think you were so cool and beautiful was change your hair? Why should I believe them?"

"You believe me, don't you?"

"That's different. I've opened up to you, and you never called me weird like they did. You gave me a chance."

"So did Madoka."

Homura sighs. "Yeah. She did…" For a while, I watch Homura. She lifts a hand up, and her fingers seem to curl. I see her blush and smile. "Madoka was the very first person who ever did that for me. How could I not love her? And…despite their complicated feelings for me, her friends…did seem to welcome me." A pause as she opens her eyes, looking at me. "Mami was the one who told me I love Madoka, you know. I was so confused and scared. I thought it was my heart condition. Heart racing, things feeling warmer, mouth dry, yet…yearning for her. Yearning to be WITH her…"

"And this…yearning…"

"It grows stronger every day, especially now that I let myself remember what she's like." A sigh. Is that how I sounded with Iroha? "She was always so…welcoming. So warm. I suppose Mitakihara's not that bad. It's the first place I ever felt true happiness. It's where I met her. Where I met…all of them…"

"Maybe things won't be the same as they were," I reply softly. I give her a faint smile. "But we can still make new memories, right? The two of us against the world, remember?"

"Yeah. I remember." A soft sigh. "I just hope it doesn't come to that."

"Arriving at Mitakihara City," I hear over the intercom. I squeeze Homura's shoulder a little when she starts shaking. She seems to calm down and start taking deep breaths.

"Okay," she says. "I suppose now's as good a time as any."

Slowly, we exit the train. As we set foot on the terminal, I hear a voice over the crowd.

"Homura Akemi!"

Homura recognizes that voice instantly, I can tell. Her gaze goes over to a green-haired girl stomping over to us. She stops and glares at Homura. Homura looks down nervously. "Hey, Hitomi. It's been a while."

"'Been a while!', she says! It's been MONTHS! Months of helping you not fall behind, even though heaven knows you'll need my help to catch up anyway! You can't just go to another city whenever you want, Homura!"

"I'm sorry, Hitomi…" Homura mumbles, and I can tell she means it. She always does, and if this is the Hitomi she's told me about, I hope she knows that.

Hitomi sighs, her gaze softening. Then, all of a sudden, she hugs Homura tightly. I can tell Homura's as shocked as I am. "I shouldn't have yelled. I've just been so worried about you. What if you got killed? Did you at least have time to think? Look for something?"

Slowly, Homura hugs the girl back, though I can tell she's not used to it. That's…how she hugs me sometimes. "I'll be fine, Hitomi. As for if I found something? Well…" She looks at me, sending me a small smile. That makes me feel better.

Hitomi seems to finally notice I'm here. "Wait. Is this Kuroe?"

I nod slowly. "H-Hi…" I whisper.

Immediately, the green-haired girl darts over to me, smiling brightly. "It's so nice to finally meet you, Kuroe! Homura's always talking about you!"

"Talking…about me?" I ask nervously.

"Oh yes! She's always talking about how cool you are! How you're always so patient, and how you understand her better than almost anyone!"

"W-Well…" I feel my cheeks redden. Yeah, I'm used to Homura trying to convince me I'm wonderful, but to hear this girl say so too…

"Seriously, though. Thank you for keeping an eye on her," Hitomi continues. "I try my best, but she wouldn't let me go to Takarazaki with her!"

"Someone had to stay here…" Homura mumbles. "This was something I had to do on my own…"

"You…have done more than enough on your own…" I say. "You aren't alone anymore." I nod to Hitomi. "She told me you were there for her when she needed someone the most…"

Hitomi looks down, laughing nervously. "Well…technically speaking…" she replies. "Homura came to me on a whim."

"You could have abandoned her. Ignored her. Manipulated her need for a friend. But you chose to help Homura. She said even after she told you more about yourself, you still wanted to be her friend."

A brief pause. Then, Hitomi gazes at me, a sad look in her eyes. "She doesn't have anyone but us, Kuroe. And I know she wants to be a better person."

"She is a good person," I reply firmly. "She's saved me more times than I can count. She's teaching me everything she knows. And…we trust each other."

"Indeed." She points at Homura's ring, as well as mine. "I know she trusts me too."

I nod. Since a lot of Homura's pain comes from being a Magical Girl, an experience I know all too well, it figures that she told Hitomi about that. Still, I can't help but wonder. "Have you ever seen some weird creature asking you to make a contract with it?"

Hitomi scoffs, then laughs a little. "If you mean Kyubey, yeah, we've met. I tried to make a wish, which Homura didn't like."

"Nothing is worth you doing that, Hitomi," I hear Homura say softly.

"Well, apparently, something agreed, because Kyubey said he couldn't grant my wish!"

Wait, what? "Couldn't…grant your…But can't he grant basically any wish?"

"Well, I DID wish for him to not exist anymore," Hitomi admits.

"Shouldn't have mattered," I reply. "He is compelled to grant any wish, from what Homura and I have seen."

"Maybe I didn't have the potential?"

"If you didn't have the potential…" Homura says. "Then the wish would still be granted, but you'd have immediately gone to the Law of Cycles because of the build-up of despair."

Hitomi shrugs. "I had to try. He was saying such awful things about you! At least I got to kick him!"

At this, Homura can't help but laugh. And to be fair, the idea of this girl that looks so dainty and mature getting angry enough to do that is pretty funny. Heaven knows most of us wanna hurt that little thing even before we meet Homura…

"I still cannot condone doing that for me," Homura says when she stops laughing. "There are a lot of people who'd miss you if you were gone."

"Like you."

Homura sighs. "Yeah. Like me."

"I have to agree with Homura," I reply. "Being a Magical Girl is not as glamorous or wonderful as it sounds."

"Believe me. Homura's made that very clear."

"And since he hates Homura, I can't imagine a Magical Girl loyal to her will have it easy."

"Heh. Most Magical Girls aren't that fond of her anyway."

"Most? So…you've found people who don't dislike her like she says?"

"Well, me, of course," I reply. "Sakura and Tomoe still worry about her." I give Homura a look when she tries to correct me. "They do."

"Well, that's good, right?" Hitomi asks.

"You both will be put in danger for associating with me," Homura replies. "I will ask this again for your sake, since you're the ones telling me not to push you away. Are you willing to take that risk?"

"Do you even need to ask?"

"Of course," I say. "We're your…friends, Homura. Even if you're not ready to start over with Tomoe, you at least have us."

"Ooh. I noticed you pause a bit!" Hitomi says with a smile. "Something you're not telling us, Miss Kuroe?"

"Just Kuroe…" I mumble, looking down. "And actually…yeah. Homura has given me purpose in a way no one else has. She has shown me compassion, patience, and friendship. In a way…" I look at Homura. "Homura has felt more like family to me these past few months than my actual family."

I let that statement hang, and the both of them seem to be in deep thought. Eventually, Homura replies in the softer, higher voice when she's not putting on an act. "Kuroe…have I ever told you I've always wanted a big sister?"

"You…have?"

Homura shrugs. "I was an only child, as far as I can remember. But if I were in a world where I had a big sister…I don't know. Maybe I'd have had…someone…before meeting Madoka…"

I didn't know how to respond to that. After a bit, I think of something. "You have someone like that now," I reply slowly. "A…family. Hitomi. And…and…" I shiver a little. I take a deep breath. Okay, Kuroe. It's time. Don't lose your cool now. "And…me…" I whisper, feeling relieved I got it out there.

"Kuroe…" Homura brings a hand to her eye. Is she…she's crying. "I…didn't realize I meant…that much to you."

"Of course you do," I whisper, putting a hand on her shoulder. "If…If anyone was going to be my twin sister, it'd be you."

"I…I don't know what to say!" Homura admits, still trying to stop the tears. Homura hinted to me she wanted a big sister. I suppose I…could be that.

"Uh, I hate to interrupt your bonding," I hear Hitomi say. "But…uh…the monsters you two fight?"

"Wraiths," Homura says.

"Yeah, those. Um…are there usually that many?" Hitomi points away from us.

Slowly, our gazes follow where Hitomi is motioning to…and my heart drops. Indeed, there are Wraiths. It looks like hundreds, at least. Some gliding. Some flying. I look around, and there are more Wraiths, coming out in every direction. My blood seems to freeze when I realize something. They're all headed right for us.

"I've…seen this kind of thing before," Homura mumbles slowly. "Either they've come across a lot of power…or…"

"Or?" Hitomi asks.

"…Or someone's controlling them," I force out despite being frozen in terror. Even Homura looks worried.

"Hitomi…Kuroe…run…"

"No! I…I'm fighting alongside you!" I reply, and I'm glad I don't sound as scared as I am.

"And wouldn't the safest place for me be…here with you?"

"True," I admit. "She could get drained of her emotional energy on the way back! And…And I know you. You'll worry sick about her."

Homura sighs, transforming into her Magical Girl outfit in a flash of light. "At least give her something to defend herself with."

"On it!" I say. I transform myself, then I give one of the batons to Kuroe, and the other to Homura.

"Kuroe! How will you defend yourself?!" Homura shrieks.

I simply gaze at her blankly as I make more batons. Homura looks sheepish, mumbling a, "Sorry…"

"Stick close to me, girls," Homura says firmly, getting out her phone and typing something. "We'll figure out something when Mami gets here."

"Hahahaha!" a shrill laugh echoes in my head. Based on how the other two hold their heads, they can hear it too. "Do you think you'll survive that long?"

"Or will you three fall here and now with our Wraith army?" Another voice says, this one sounding more delicate.

"Hehehe…" A third voice, this one sounding like she's trying to be Hitomi, yet can't hide a certain…desire to cause pain.

"Show yourselves," Homura shouts in her "strong" voice.

"Fair enough!" The third voice replies. "It's only fair for you to see the one who will kill you and your pathetic friends, Homura Akemi!"

"The one?! What about us?!" one of the other voices shout.

"Focus, you idiot!" she snaps. "You and your friend just help control the Wraiths until they're worn out enough for us!"

"Fine…" the third voice mumbles.

Suddenly, I sense three magical signatures. I look where they're coming from.

Three Magical Girls. One with what looks like messy purple hair and wide eyes that are a bit lighter than Homura's, wielding some kind of weird rod. One with what looks like silvery-blue hair and…is that a pocket mirror she's holding? The one in the middle, who looks like the ringleader, looks done up like she's decently well-off. However, that smirk of hers and the way she holds that scythe thing of hers reminds me of some of the worst people I knew at my old school.

I grasp my batons. Yeah, this is scary, but I have to protect Homura! Even if I die, those two must live!