A/N: Written for UneasyShield for Seasons of Drabbles - Fall Round 2023.
"Look over here!" Madoka rounds the street corner.
Homura follows close at her side, leisurely surveying the street.
The trees dot neat rows on opposite sidewalks and flow with a nostalgic hue of orange-yellow. The storefront windows shine bright with items and decorations fabricated in the spirit of autumn and cooling temperatures.
Madoka gazes into each shop slowly, never letting Homura fall behind her. Homura is content watching Madoka's cheeks glow a faint red under the breeze.
Coming to a halt, Madoka pauses.
"What is it?" Homura asks. She follows her lead, but she can't tell what caught her eye in the jewelry collection's exquisite display trays.
Madoka fidgets. She looks Homura over at eye-level. Homura's entire being is mesmerized by the simplicity of her examination.
"The atmosphere of the season makes this date feel amazing, doesn't it?" Madoka asks.
Homera nods, though she would go anywhere with her. "Yeah."
"I-In that case," Madoka's cheeks redden even more while she turns on her heels towards the entrance, "let me… wait here, okay? I see the perfect thing to mark the occasion."
Curious, Homura steps back. "Okay."
Homura cranes her neck to see inside after Madoka disappears. No sight of her. Soon, she returns with a small red box, flipping it open.
Two bright red leaf pins sit in Madoka's palm. Gently, she pushes back her hair and slides one in Homura's hair above her forehead. She does the same with hers.
"It suits you," Madoka said.
Homura nearly forgets how to speak. "Thank you. I love it."
Madoka smiles. She slides her hand around hers and tugs. "Come on, let's keep looking around."
Like a seasonal change of their relationship becoming closer, Homura's heart bursts with color. The pin's weight rises a warmth within her as cozy as a fireplace.