The Monday after the party, Madoka met up with Sayaka and Kyoko on her way to school. Today it was just them since Hitomi was walking with Kyosuke. "Good morning!" Madoka said to her friends.

"Morning." Kyoko replied through a mouthful of food. This time she was carrying a box of donuts.

"Morning, Madoka." Sayaka said. Then she noticed that the bow on Madoka's uniform was missing. "Um, where's your…?"

"Oh, right. I was giving Tatsuya a hug and he blew his nose on it. I didn't have time to wash it before I left." Madoka shook her head, smiling. "I love the little guy, but he's such a brat sometimes."

Kyoko winced again, just like she did at the party. Then she scarfed down an entire donut. Madoka tensed up and turned to Sayaka. "Um, did I say something wrong?"

Kyoko swallowed. "The others already know, so I might as well tell you." She then proceeded to tell Madoka how one day her father, in a drunken rage, stabbed her mother and little sister, Momo. He then set fire to their house, killing himself in the process. Kyoko only survived because she ran away earlier that day after a fight with her dad, which she assumed was what triggered his breakdown. A day didn't go by that Kyoko didn't miss her family, especially Momo, who she should've been there to protect.

"That's… That's the saddest thing I've ever heard." Madoka said, trembling. "I'm so sorry, Kyoko."

"Well, I'm still alive, so I guess that's something to be grateful for. If it wasn't for Sayaka, I'd be out on the streets." She turned to her blue-haired friend. "I can't thank you enough."

"C'mon, what are friends for?" Sayaka put her arm around Kyoko's shoulders. "Just be glad my apartment allows pets."

"Ha, ha." Kyoko replied sarcastically before brushing Sayaka off. "You know what's really sad is I'm not the only one in our little social circle who's been through something like that. Mami lost both her parents in a car accident, Nagisa's mom died of cancer, and Homura…" Kyoko paused. "Well, she never talks about her past, but I do know she lives on her own, and she's never mentioned any parents or siblings or anything."

Madoka nearly teared up as she took all of this in. She never realized just how horrible the world could be for some people. When she got home from school today, she'd be sure to tell her mom, dad and brother just how much she loved them. "Wait, why wouldn't Homura tell you anything?" Madoka asked Kyoko. "Aren't you and Mami friends with her?"

"Well, kinda." Kyoko finished off another donut. "We hang out every now and then, but it sorta feels like there's a wall there, and none of us can get through to her." Kyoko shrugged. "But hey, maybe you can. She seems to like you."

Madoka blushed a little. "R-really?"

"Oh, no!" Sayaka interjected. "I've still got my doubts about her. I don't want you getting too close to her, Madoka."

Madoka hesitated, but Kyoko spoke up before she could. "Seriously, Sayaka? Name one bad thing Homura's done to any of us. In the past year."

"Well… She…" Sayaka paused. "I mean, there was that one time… Um…"

Kyoko shook her head. "Yep, that's what I thought."

As the three girls arrived at the school doorway, Madoka thought about Homura's situation. If what Kyoko said was true, Homura would need all the friends she could get. And if Madoka was really the only one who could get through to her, she'd have to give it a try. No one deserved to be all alone in the world.

Once lunchtime rolled around, Madoka, Sayaka and Kyoko crowded around Sayaka's desk and pulled out their lunches. Madoka and Sayaka each pulled out a bento box while Kyoko pulled out a meatball sandwich, some french fries, two apples, four taiyaki and a bottle of Morning Rescue. Sayaka rolled her eyes, then took out some chopsticks and dug into her fried rice.

Before Madoka started eating, her eyes wandered over to Homura, who was sitting by herself at her desk with no food. Madoka couldn't bear to see her like that, especially now that she knew just how alone Homura was. She decided to do something about it, but as she got up, Sayaka stopped her. "I know what you're thinking, Madoka, but-"

"Jeez, Sayaka, you sound like a broken record." Kyoko interjected through a mouthful of apple flesh.

"Sorry, Sayaka, but I'm with Kyoko on this one." Madoka picked up her lunchbox. "I'm gonna go eat with Homura." With that, Madoka walked over to the empty desk in front of Homura. "Hey, do you mind if I sit down?"

Homura looked up at Madoka with the same blank expression she usually had on her face. "Go ahead."

Madoka sat down and turned the chair to face Homura's desk. "So, um, no lunch today?"

Homura paused before answering. "I didn't have time to pack one. I'm not hungry, anyway."

"Are you sure? If you want, you can have some of mine." Madoka set her lunchbox between herself and Homura. She then opened it to reveal several mini-omelettes, cherry tomatoes and white rice. "My dad's cooking is delicious, but I can never finish the whole thing, and I'm pretty sure Kyoko will yell at me if I let any of it go to waste."

Homura relented and ate one of the mini-omelettes. "You're right, this is good."

Madoka smiled. "Yeah, they really are. I wish I could give Dad credit for the tomatoes, but they're just store-bought ones." Madoka ate one of them. "We're growing some in our garden at home, but they haven't come in yet."

"Well, if your father is as good at gardening as he is at cooking, I'm sure you'll have a bountiful harvest."

"Thanks, Homura. I'll pass your compliments onto him." Madoka replied. She then felt an awkward silence coming on, so she looked for something else to talk about. "That's a pretty interesting earring you're wearing."

"Thank you. I made it myself." Homura touched the gem hanging from it. "Do you like it?"

"Well, the jewel is pretty." Madoka replied. "But honestly, I don't like lizards. I think they're kinda creepy."

"This is a newt, actually."

Madoka grimaced. "Ugh, those are even worse. They're like slimy lizards. I like cute, fluffy animals a lot better. I wish all animals were like that." Madoka's face went a little red. "No offense to your taste in jewelry or anything." Homura said nothing in response. Madoka quickly changed the subject. "So, um, are you in any clubs? I've been looking for one to join."

"I'm in the archery club." Homura replied. "If you're interested, we're meeting today after school."

"Archery, huh? I guess I could give it a try." Even if Madoka wasn't any good at archery (and she probably wasn't), it would at least allow her to spend more time with Homura. Though for some reason, wielding a bow and arrow sounded like a perfect fit for her. Either way, she'd find out this afternoon.

As Sayaka observed Madoka eating lunch with Homura, the blue-haired girl thought about what Kyoko said this morning. Half-way into the school day, Sayaka still couldn't think of anything Homura had done. But even then, Sayaka couldn't shake the uneasy feeling she had about Homura.

Ever since the day Madoka transferred in, it felt like there was something important that Sayaka had forgotten, something that had to do with both Homura and Madoka. But try as she might, she just couldn't remember it. She'd talked to Kyoko about it a couple times, but Kyoko just scoffed at it, saying Sayaka was just paranoid. It was the same when Sayaka asked Mami about it last Friday. Apparently she was on her own here, unless maybe Nagisa knew something?

"Don't tell me, your 'Homura's gonna do something horrible to Madoka' alarm is going off, right?" Kyoko asked after finishing the last of her fries. "You really need to lay off her. I keep telling you, she's harmless."

"You're one to talk, always taking potshots at Kyosuke and Hitomi." Sayaka replied, her attention turning to the couple eating lunch on the other side of the room. "I mean, what's your beef with them?"

Kyoko stared back at Sayaka blankly. "Seriously? Of all people, you should know." Kyoko drank some of her Morning Rescue. "I don't understand how you can still be friends with them after all the crap they put you through."

Sayaka raised her eyebrow at Kyoko. "Wait, is this all about that stupid love triangle? I mean, yeah, it stung for a little, but I'm over it. It's not like a bit of heartache ever killed anyone."

Kyoko took a bite of her sandwich. "You'd be surprised."

"Well, I survived it." Sayaka finished off her rice. "Tell you what, I'll leave Homura alone if you can be a little nicer to those two."

Kyoko sighed. "I'll see what I can do."

"And that includes going with me and Hitomi to Kyosuke's recital at the end of the month."

"Jeez, twist the knife even further, why don't you?" Kyoko finished her sandwich. "Okay, if it's for you, I'll go to Violin-'' Kyoko caught herself. "…Kyosuke's recital."

"Excellent." Sayaka said. "Now, these things are black tie, so we'll have to find you a formal dress before then."

Kyoko gritted her teeth. "Homura owes me big time for this." she grumbled as she bit into her last taiyaki.

Once school was out for the day, Hitomi walked out of class on her own. She stopped in the middle of the hallway as she passed by the club activities bulletin board. Remembering the conversation she had with her friends at the party, her eyes wandered to a flyer for kung fu lessons. But of course, they were at the same time as tea ceremony practice, so it was a no-go.

Even without the scheduling conflict, Hitomi's parents likely wouldn't approve of her taking kung fu anyway. It would be a pretty big departure from the kind of traditional practices and values they raised her with. Besides, she wasn't all that interested in martial arts, anyway. After all, she did associate them with one of her most embarrassing memories. Then again, if it weren't for that embarrassing memory, she wouldn't have met her two best friends.

"I hope you're not taking Kyoko's suggestion seriously." Hitomi's heart skipped a beat, then she turned around to see Mami standing behind her.

"Sorry. You startled me, Miss Tomoe." Hitomi said. "Actually, can I just call you Mami?"

Mami smiled. "Only if I can call you Hitomi."

"Works for me. And don't worry, I wasn't going to use Kyoko's idea, if you can call it that." Hitomi turned her attention back to the bulletin board. "Were you looking for any clubs to join?"

"No, I can't. Watching over Nagisa eats up most of my time. Actually, I have to walk her home from school now." Mami said as she started walking towards the exit.

"That's so unfair." Hitomi said as she walked alongside Mami. "Her dad keeps pawning her off on you and takes no responsibility for his own daughter? I hope he at least pays you well."

Mami shook her head. "No, it's not like that. Since Nagisa's mom passed away, her dad has to keep working overtime to make up for the lost income. His job doesn't pay very well and they live in a pretty expensive apartment, so that's the only way he can provide for her."

"Oh, I didn't realize…" Hitomi sighed. "That poor kid. She lost her mother so young, and her dad's never around for her. I don't understand how she can be so cheerful."

"Yeah, that's why she needs someone like me in her life." Mami replied. "I feel sorry for her dad, too. Losing his wife was bad enough, but having to work all the time to raise a daughter on his own can't be easy. He's doing the best he can, but it's an awful situation for both of them."

"He sounds like a great guy." Hitomi said. "The way my teacher talks, you'd think men like him were all extinct."

"Ms. Saotome?" Mami asked, and Hitomi nodded. "I had her last year. Tell me, does she still spend half the class venting about her ex-boyfriends?"

"All the time. I don't know if she's unlucky or just has terrible tastes. Maybe both. And then we've got men like Nagisa's dad that-" Something clicked in Hitomi's head. "Hey, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Way ahead of you." Mami said, smirking. "I'll talk to Nagisa and her dad tonight. You talk to Ms. Saotome tomorrow morning. We're gonna make this happen."

"Will do." Hitomi replied. Mami then left to go pick up Nagisa.

As Hitomi walked home, she thought about the last time she tried something like this with Sayaka and Kyosuke. She'd suspected that Sayaka liked Kyosuke for a long time, but unfortunately, Hitomi herself fell for him too. Since Sayaka had known Kyosuke longer, Hitomi had offered to let Sayaka confess first. However, Sayaka didn't go through with it, so Hitomi confessed instead and ended up dating Kyosuke. Hitomi was lucky that her and Sayaka's friendship survived, but to this day she still sometimes felt a twinge of guilt over the whole ordeal.

That aside, she looked forward to going through with her and Mami's plan. Hopefully this time it would end happily for everyone involved.

"Nice shot, Madoka." the archery club advisor said after Madoka hit her third bullseye in a row. "Are you sure this is your first time with a bow and arrow?"

"Yeah, first time." Madoka replied. "Maybe I just got lucky?"

"Nonsense, you're a natural! You might even give Homura a run for her money." The club advisor turned to the rest of the club. "Alright, everyone, time to pack it in!" With that, Madoka, Homura and the rest of the girls went to change out of their kyudo outfits.

"You did well." Homura said to Madoka as they exited the locker room.

"I guess so." Madoka mumbled in response. "Sorry, this is kind of a first for me. I mean, there isn't a whole lot that I'm good at, and I've never had any natural talents or anything."

Homura clenched her teeth. She always hated when Madoka talked like that. Madoka always spoke so lowly of herself, never even considering how much she meant to those around her, especially to Homura. But of course, telling her just how important she was would awaken her memories and shatter the world Homura created for her, so Homura just had to grin and bear it. "Well, everyone has something they're good at."

"Maybe." Madoka replied. "I'm not as good as you, though. You were great."

"Only because I've been at this a while." Homura said. "With practice, I have no doubt you'll surpass me."

"We'll see. Either way, I'm definitely sticking with it." Madoka then changed the subject. "So, what's next for you? Are you just going home?"

"I suppose so. I don't really have anything else to do today." Homura replied. She then noticed a somber expression on Madoka's face. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"Well, Kyoko told me about your, um… living situation this morning. I just think it's sad that you're going home to an empty apartment."

"It's not completely empty." Homura replied. "I do have a cat."

A smile appeared on Madoka's face. "Oh, I'm so jealous! I love cats!" Madoka hung her head. "But I can't get one because my mom's allergic to them. Dogs, too."

"That's unfortunate."

"Yeah. The only animals I have are the stuffed kind." Madoka went back to the subject at hand. "Still, if you want some human company, I could maybe stop by for a while. Y'know, just so you're not alone all the time."

Homura paused, remembering when she first met Madoka all those timelines ago. Homura was completely on her own after six months in a hospital bed, with no family or friends in the world. Then Madoka appeared like an angel from Heaven, saving Homura from the depths of despair. It was that kindness and warmth that drew Homura to Madoka in the first place. Now here Madoka was, offering to save Homura from her solitude once again. Even though Homura knew she didn't deserve it, she couldn't help but accept Madoka's offer. "Very well. I'll show you the way."

Homura walked back home with Madoka following behind. Once they stepped inside, Homura walked over to the kitchen and put on a pot of tea for them. Meanwhile, Madoka looked around at the minimalistic one-bedroom apartment Homura lived in. "It's not much, but it has everything I need." Homura opened one of the cupboards. "What kind of tea would you like? I have Jasmine, Earl Grey, Darjeeling-"

"Aw, you're so cute!" Madoka ran over to Homura's black cat, who had been sitting at the end of the couch. She then picked up the cat and nuzzled her. Surprisingly (or perhaps unsurprisingly), the cat didn't resist Madoka like she did with most strangers.

Homura shrugged and decided on Jasmine tea. "Her name's Amy. She was a stray that I picked up off the streets. But don't worry, she's had all her shots."

"That was really nice of you, Homura." Madoka sat down and Amy rested on her lap. "I can't believe people actually leave their pets on the streets like that." Madoka stroked Amy's back. "That must've been terrible for you."

"The world is filled with horrible people. It doesn't surprise me that some of them would be cruel enough to abandon a living creature, alone and defenseless with no one to care for them." Homura sat down beside Madoka and placed their teacups on the coffee table. "Perhaps I saw something of myself in that cat."

"I wish I could save all the stray animals on Earth. If I could, I'd make sure they all had nice, warm homes and owners that-" Suddenly, Madoka looked up and stared off into space. Amy jumped off of her lap. "Wish… Save… Amy… Bow and arrow…" Madoka's eyes turned from pink to gold. She then stood up as her ribbons came undone. Homura gasped, then quickly stood up herself and grabbed both of Madoka's shoulders. Madoka shook her head, then looked back at Homura with her once-again pink eyes. "Um, did I space out again?"

"For a moment." Homura retied one of Madoka's ribbons. "You're back now."

"Sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me." Madoka rubbed her forehead.

"There's nothing wrong with you, Madoka." Homura retied the other ribbon. "You're fine just as you are."

Madoka sat back down and took a sip of her tea. "I'm sorry, what were we talking about?"

"Stray pets, and their heartless former owners." Homura said bitterly as she also sat back down.

"Homura, you said you saw yourself in Amy. What did you mean by that?" Madoka asked.

Homura took a deep breath, then told Madoka about how she'd been abandoned on the steps of an orphanage in Tokyo as a baby, never having met her parents. She'd been raised by nuns and went to a nearby Catholic school until she developed a heart condition and had to be hospitalized. Once she was out of the hospital, she moved to this apartment and transferred to Mitakihara Middle School. Her whole life, she never fit in anywhere and never really had any family or friends. On top of that, her poor constitution meant she was never good at sports, and she was never all that smart, either. All her life she'd felt like a worthless waste of space the world would be better off without.

As Homura finished, she noticed that Madoka had been brought to tears. "Homura… You're not a worthless waste of space. You're a good person, and you didn't deserve that kind of treatment." Madoka grabbed Homura's hands. "If you ever feel lonely, I promise I'll be there for you!"

Homura froze up. In the very first timeline, Madoka had said more or less the same thing when Homura talked about her past. It was the same for the next couple timelines, until Homura began distancing herself from Madoka. But this time, Homura knew she wasn't a good person. She'd betrayed Madoka, suppressed her godhood and imprisoned her in this false reality. Having this kind, gentle, selfless Madoka back with her was what Homura wanted more than anything. That was what Homura once gave up her soul for, and it seemed she'd done so yet again.

Suddenly, Madoka's phone rang and she picked it up. "Oh, hi, Mom. I'm at a friend's place. Yeah… Oh, okay… Alright, I'm coming. I love you, too." Madoka hung up. "Sorry, I have to get going." The two girls stood up and walked to the door. "Just… Remember what I said, okay?"

"Don't worry, I will."

"See you tomorrow, Homura." Madoka put on her shoes and took off. Once Madoka was out the door, Homura fell to the floor and cried.