A/N: A few people asked why I'm complicating things by adding Kazumi Magica to the already complex plot.

1. I need/want the abilities and knowledge of at least two of the characters.

2. My own entertainment. :)

Yeah, some of the Pleiades Saints' powers are broken af in canon, but I'm going to try to handle them carefully.

...I just realized that the Kazumi Magica big bad's powers may have been able to mess with Aizen. Or Aizen could have manipulated tf out of her. Someone write that fic.

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VIERUNDVIERZIG

TIMELINE X + N + 1

Madoka anxiously fidgeted with the strap of her book bag at Homura's coffee table as Homura made tea in the kitchen. She kept meeting Sayaka's equally uneasy eyes. Neither dared speak. They couldn't help but notice that Yoruichi had seemed irritable and clingy as she followed her owner through the townhouse and into the kitchen. Even now, they could faintly hear Homura's voice saying soothing words just quiet enough to be unintelligible. Obviously, there was no way the cat's mood could be a reaction to the strangeness they found themselves in, but it was just one more thing to add to the pile of wrongness that made their scalps prickle.

Madoka knew the moment when Sayaka couldn't take the tension anymore. Her friend's face shifted through multiple emotions before the girl leaned over the table and stage-whispered, "Do you think we've gone crazy? Do you think she's crazy?"

"I suppose it must seem so."

Sayaka squealed and recoiled as Homura politely set the tea tray on the table as though her sanity hadn't been called into question in her own home.

"Wah, uh, sorry— I shouldn't've—"

"It is all right," Homura said quietly, face neutral. "You have had quite a shock."

Sayaka flushed and looked down at her lap as Homura served them.

"I do not have any snacks right now," Homura said as she sat. "I apologize."

"O-oh, no! No! That's fine!" Madoka gushed nervously. "W-we ate earlier, and tea is lovely... right, Sayaka?" Sayaka stared blankly. Madoka's face went a bit desperate. "Right, Sayaka?"

Sayaka jumped and turned forward again. "O-oh! Yeah! Tea's great!"

Homura sipped from her cup, delicately put it down, and folded her hands in her lap as her cat stalked into the room and lay under the table. Homura looked up at them, face so coldly serious it made Madoka hold her breath for a moment.

"Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that I can be very blunt. You may not like it. There are other people who could explain this to you. They may do it more gently. They also might skim over the more unpleasant information through either ignorance or malice. I prefer brutal honesty."

"Brutal, huh," Sayaka muttered warily.

"So. Let us begin." Homura squared her shoulders. "First simple fact: Magical girls are real." She raised a brow in question. Madoka and Sayaka nodded; they'd seen the entire light show. "Second: Becoming a magical girl is not the innocent fluff you see in anime. There may be good times, but it is mostly very difficult."

"How?" Madoka asked softly.

Homura inclined her chin in acknowledgment, her manner academically aloof. "The superficial difficulties are social isolation due to keeping your secret, strained relationships, lack of time for extracurricular activities— or dating—, late nights, serious injuries, and the very real risk of death."

"D-death?" Madoka squeaked.

Homura looked at her evenly, seeming to debate something. She carefully asked, "What did you think those giant scissors were going to do?"

Madoka and Sayaka gulped. Point made.

"What— what was that place, anyway?" Sayaka asked with forced challenge.

"The proper term is a labyrinth. It is a pocket dimension controlled by the... entities that magical girls fight," Homura answered. "I will explain that in due time. I want to begin with what a magical girl is." Homura steepled her fingers together on the table. "When a girl develops enough spiritual power, a third party sometimes notices and attempts to recruit them— contract them— to become magical girls. This third party introduces itself as Kyubey. It looks like a cute stuffed animal. It offers girls the chance to have a single wish granted."

Sayaka perked up. "A wish?"

Homura's eyes slid to her and stared for a minute. After Sayaka had withdrawn slightly, Homura continued. "Yes. Kyubey considers the granted wish as a down payment. In exchange, the girl pledges her soul to become a magical girl and fight designated enemies."

"Her soul?" Madoka asked hesitantly, nibbling her lip.

"Yes. A magical girl's object of power is called a Soul Gem." Homura held out her left hand. Violet light flashed from her ring and reformed as an egg-shaped amethyst set in gold. "The Soul Gem allows a magical girl to be extremely durable. However, Kyubey's sales pitch glosses over the fact that it is called a Soul Gem because the contract is sealed by Kyubey tearing the girl's soul out of her body and condensing it into a crystal. The girl's body is essentially a puppet afterward. The actual girl— her mind, her soul— are contained in the Gem."

Madoka and Sayaka looked at each other, then down at the amethyst in Homura's hand. "Th-that's your soul?" Madoka whispered.

"Yes," Homura said, subdued. She looked at her own Gem for a moment, then met their eyes. "I am aware of how unbelievable this must sound. So if you are willing to do an experiment, I would like to prove my claim before I move on. As a show of good faith."

Sayaka balked. "Experiment? What kind of experiment?"

Homura took a deep breath. "One disadvantage of possessing a Soul Gem is that its... grip, I suppose... on the magical girl's body is severed if the Gem passes out of a range of one hundred meters from the body. At that point, the soulless body collapses like a doll. Death is not immediate if attended quickly, but it is highly probable." Homura carefully reached out and offered her Soul Gem to Madoka, who took it in shaking hands, too surprised to refuse. "Madoka, please walk down the street with this. Go at least one hundred meters and come right back."

Panic flooded Madoka. "But— b-but—" she looked down at the precious treasure in her hands. "You— you just gave me your soul?!"

Homura drew her hand back to her lap, but couldn't hide its tremble before Madoka and Sayaka saw it. "Yes." She looked Madoka in the eye. Earnest. "I trust you," she whispered. "Just put it in my hand when you come back."

"Wait, wait, wait, what's this gonna do?" Sayaka demanded.

Homura pushed her hair back. "I will collapse and stop breathing."

"What?!"

"I will be fine once the Gem is put back in my hand. My soul will reclaim my body."

"What?!"

Homura sighed. "Please go, Madoka. I want this to be over."

"You— you don't have to do this," Madoka said with distress. "We believe—"

"No. You must witness it to understand. I have explained to... other girls, and they did not truly believe me. Please, go."

Madoka shakily rose to her feet and staggered toward the door. Sayaka flailed. "Wait, wait, what's Madoka supposed to do when people on the street see her with a giant piece of fancy jewelry?! Someone could try to steal it!"

"No one will see it," Homura said calmly as Madoka glanced back at her in new fear. "There was a reason I asked if you could see it earlier. I will explain. Please go, Madoka."

Madoka whimpered and went out the door. She hesitated and looked around. Everything seemed so normal. She looked down at the— the literal soul in her palm and gulped. Cold sweat beaded on her temples.

Homura trusted her to do this. They had just met and she trusted Madoka with her soul. It was humbling.

The hundred meters felt like an epic journey that would never end. Her steps slowed in dread as she neared the estimated cutoff point. She forced herself to go past it just in case her estimate was wrong, then froze for a minute and took several gasping breaths, turned, and sprinted back to Homura's townhouse. She barreled in the door and rushed into the living room.

Sayaka was kneeling over Homura's lifeless form where the girl had collapsed backwards. Madoka ran over and slid the last bit on her knees, searching for Homura's face beyond Sayaka's frantic attempts to shake Homura awake. It was useless; Homura's violet eyes remained unfocused and glassy. She wasn't breathing. Dead? Madoka's chest constricted. Brave girl jumping— flying back— hitting a building—

"The egg thing! Madoka! The egg!"

Madoka snapped back to reality and fumbled the Soul Gem into one of Homura's open hands. Her new friend immediately arched, blinked, and drew a gasping breath. Madoka threw herself down into a hug on top of Homura and wailed her relief. Sayaka sat back and held the sides of her head in both hands, face contorted in distress. After a minute or so, Madoka felt fingers in her hair. She sat up and tearfully looked at Homura.

Homura looked up at the girls solemnly. "Do you see how serious this is?" Both girls nodded fervently. Homura sighed. "I am glad." She levered herself up. "Let us continue."

Sayaka scrubbed tears from her cheeks and sputtered, "You just died!"

"Technically. But I am fine now." Madoka thought the sharp look she gave Sayaka was strange. "Aside from using my body as a puppet, that is." She tilted her head and looked at Sayaka through half-lidded eyes. "A couple girls I have known have called us zombies and said we are no longer truly human."

Sayaka gave a full-body shudder.

"That's wrong!" Madoka cried. When Homura looked at her in surprise, Madoka balled her hands into fists and looked pained. "That's wrong! You're just as human as me! Whe-whether your soul is in— in your body or not, it's still a human soul, right?" She firmed her face stubbornly. "That's what matters! Never let anyone tell you you're not human ever again!"

Homura just stared at her for a long time, nonplussed, eyes wide. Then she tilted her head and stared more. Just when Madoka faltered and started to go red in the face, Homura wistfully said, "You are truly kindhearted."

Madoka sputtered and crab-walked back to her place at the table, face aflame. Sayaka laughed weakly. "That's our Madoka."

Madoka pouted at Sayaka and forced all her attention on her teacup as she tried to control her blush. She'd just gotten in Homura's face and preached at her. The magical girl hadn't even said she agreed with the inhuman thing. How embarrassing.

"Anyway," Homura said as though she hadn't just resurrected herself, "That is not the worst of it."

"Oh, God," Sayaka said dully.

Homura delicately set her Soul Gem on the table again. "When a magical girl contracts, she becomes obligated to fight enemies called Witches. They are cursed spirits who lure innocent humans into their labyrinths—"

"That thing today?" Sayaka interrupted.

"Yes. They either lure humans into their labyrinths whole or overwhelm them with so much despair that they commit suicide, at which point the Witch eats their soul."

Madoka recoiled in horror. "That's— that's awful!"

"Why hasn't anyone noticed them?!" Sayaka demanded.

Homura tossed her hair over her shoulder. Madoka fleetingly wondered if it was some kind of nervous tic. "They are invisible to most. Victims are generally reported as suicides, mysterious deaths, or missing persons who are never found."

"So— so magical girls protect the innocent? You put your life on the line to protect the innocent?" Sayaka recovered some color and looked at Homura with admiration. "You're so awesome!"

Unexpectedly, Homura's face twisted into a thunderous scowl as she leaned forward to glare. "There is nothing noble about this," she hissed. "This is not a child's fairy tale with simple good and evil. I am no hero. I am like any other magical girl— enslaved by my own wish. Doomed by my own wish."

Sayaka went pale again and pulled back from the table uncertainly. Madoka bit her lip hard. "W-what do you mean, doomed?"

Homura reined herself in, sat ramrod straight, closed her eyes, and breathed deeply. She relaxed and opened her eyes, face back in a neutral mask. "The part that... Kyubey... never mentions to potential contractees is that Soul Gems... are not invincible. They become corrupted as a magical girl uses her magic to fight. They become even more sullied if a magical girl begins to slip into negativity and depression. All magical girls know that their Soul Gems get darker after fights and brighter after..." She trailed off, pursed her lips, and backtracked. "When a Witch is defeated, it usually drops an item called a Grief Seed. They are smaller than Soul Gems and are completely black. A magical girl can use a Grief Seed to clean the darkness out of her own Soul Gem. Then Kyubey collects and eats the Grief Seed, which it says is its goal. However, the part it leaves out is that if a magical girl does not clean her Soul Gem or if she gets so depressed she falls into despair, her Soul Gem will turn black, become a Grief Seed, and transform the magical girl into a Witch. Thus, the enemies of magical girls were once magical girls themselves. Magical girls have always been intended to become Witches in the system devised by... Kyubey."

Madoka had never felt so sick and horrified in her entire life. She covered her mouth, then slid her hands up to cover her eyes as she began to cry again.

"No way. Are— are you sure?" Sayaka rasped. "That's— that's—"

"I am certain," Homura said with her eyes lowered in melancholy. "I have seen magical girls fall myself. My... friends." She looked up at them, pained. "Girls who have already contracted don't believe me when I tell them. They don't want to believe me because it's too late for them. That's why I've taken the time to explain this to you." Her face went hard but her eyes were desperate. "Please, don't contract and become magical girls!"

Madoka jolted and looked up at her in shock, as did Sayaka. "W-what did you say?"

"Us?"

Homura nodded firmly and breathed deeply. "You saw my ring glowing. You stayed sane in the labyrinth. You can see my Soul Gem now. You both have enough spiritual power in your souls to become magical girls." She leaned forward on the table and entreated them, "Please don't." Her voice was breathy as she continued, "You will probably be approached by a little white creature that looks like a cross between a cat with a fluffy tail and a bunny with floppy ears. It will speak using telepathy. It will tell you it is called Kyubey. Its true name is Incubator." She held up her Soul Gem— her egg-shaped Soul Gem. "It contracts girls specifically to turn them into Witches and harvest the energy their souls create when in despair. It lures girls in with promises of wishes that can go very, very wrong. Disastrously wrong. I know of a girl whose entire family ended up dead because of her wish intended to help them. It doesn't matter how well you think you know what you want— or what you think someone else wants. It almost always goes bad somehow. I—" Homura paused and looked between the girls, then focused on Madoka with a wretched face. "I— don't want to watch you fall. Either of you. So please: Don't contract."

Madoka and Sayaka were silent for a long time, staring at the table with drawn faces while Homura poured more tea.

"If— if you knew this," Sayaka said slowly. "Why did you contract?"

Homura hummed sadly. "I did not know any of this before I contracted. I was tricked. I found out bit by bit afterward."

"Oh." Sayaka fidgeted with her skirt like a scolded child and looked up again. "If you had known, would you have done it?"

The magical girl stared at her. It was a thousand-yard stare, a detached stare, a hollow stare of having seen too much with little to show for it. It made Madoka want to bury the girl in candy and plushies and hugs and warmth— anything, anything to erase it. Homura didn't notice the look on Madoka's face, too focused on Sayaka. She carefully answered, "There were... extraordinary circumstances for me. My hand would have been forced. So given that specific set of circumstances... possibly."

"What did you wish for?" Sayaka asked stubbornly.

"Sayaka!" Madoka hissed. Somehow, she just knew that was an extremely rude question. It was the worst timing possible for one of her friend's moments of utter lack of tact.

Homura's stare went cold. Her mouth shifted distastefully as though she was chewing on potential words. "My wish... was intended to protect a girl who had already contracted."

"And how did that work out?" Sayaka asked morbidly. "Did it get someone killed like that other girl's?"

Madoka saw her new friend's face go disturbingly dark. "Sayaka, stop!" When Sayaka just kept staring at Homura expecting an answer, Madoka made a sound of distress and dove across to slap a hand over Sayaka's mouth as the room seemed to spin in her vision. She could swear the air was quivering. Instinct told her Homura is furious. She could feel it on her shoulders, taste it in the air. Madoka staggered to her feet and babbled apologies, hauled Sayaka upright, and dragged her stumbling to the door while delivering an appalled if stammered lecture.

"Madoka. Mi— Sayaka."

Both girls whirled to look back at Homura, who was still sitting at the table, absolutely still. Her face was blank as though she had removed her angry mask and had yet to decide which mask to use next. She looked much older than them all of a sudden.

"This is not how I wanted this conversation to end." Her eyes strayed to Sayaka and back to Madoka. "Whether or not you believe me is your choice. However, I urge you to be careful with the Incubator. It talks smoothly. It may get other magical girls who do not know all of the facts to tell you about the advantages of being a magical girl. So be it. But ask questions. Ask many questions. Your first one should be what is a Soul Gem made out of? Your second should be where do Witches come from?" Homura tilted her head slowly, eyes flinty, and managed to look like a bird of prey on the hunt. "I am unsure whether the Incubator is capable of telling direct lies. Just do not automatically believe everything it tells you."

"But we should believe everything you've told us?" Sayaka challenged.

Madoka's face tightened with silent what do you think you're doing?!

Homura leveled an arctic glare at Sayaka. "I would prefer that you do, but that is your prerogative. Do not make hasty decisions. This is not something you can change your mind about once you have committed." She pursed her lips and looked at Madoka. More hesitantly, she said, "I... like... you. I do not want to see you sell your soul and trap yourself in that contract. Either of you."

The three girls were tensely silent for a long time. Finally, Homura stood, smoothed her skirt, and nodded politely. "Will I see you before school tomorrow?" Do you want nothing to do with me now?

"Of course!" Madoka answered immediately. Don't be silly!

"S-sorry. No— no hard feelings, Stranger Danger," Sayaka said weakly. She scuffed her toe on the floor uncomfortably. "I'm sorry. It's just... that was hardcore harsh."

Homura blinked placidly and approached them at the door. "I did say—"

"Brutally honest. Right," Sayaka finished with a strained laugh. "You... you made your point, I guess."

"I suppose that is all I can do for now," Homura said quietly. "Do not tell Shizuki. Let me know if anyone starts harassing you. Either the little monster or another magical girl. I am not the only one in Mitakihara."

"Thank you, Homura," Madoka said quietly with a shallow bow of her head. "We'll keep this in mind."

The two friends walked away together. Half a block away, Madoka turned and looked back at Homura's house. Homura was standing in front of her open door, watching them walk away with a deeply sad and exhausted expression.

Madoka believed her.

§ x § x §

Red eyes looked down on the girls from atop a nearby building.

They had been in a labyrinth. The interloper really was a magical girl. It seemed she had explained some of the system to the candidates. The candidates were upset.

That would not do.

§ x § x §

Homura sat down at her table with her head in her hands and took a shaky breath. An anxiety crash plus lingering anger at Miki made her feel unsteady.

Yoruichi slunk out from under the table and climbed into her lap. "I see what you meant about Miki being stubborn and defiant," she commented wryly. "My guess would be that it's a defense mechanism when she gets overwhelmed. Otherwise, that... challenge came out of nowhere."

Homura sighed and ran her fingers through Yoruichi's fur. "She is so frustrating."

"She's a teenager," Yoruichi droned. "You're all frustrating." She ignored Homura's dirty look. "Open the package you brought in. It smells like a gift from Yuzu."

Homura raised a brow and pulled the neat package toward her. It had no return address. She opened it and found an unsigned letter hoping at least one of the kinds of cookies within tasted good. Homura peered in the box.

"That is... a lot of cookies."

Yoruichi snorted. "That's Yuzu. Ah, and she was smart enough to not sign it and link you to her by accident. Good." She stretched a bit and settled herself more comfortably. "Dig in. You need to calm down. Cookies are a girl's best friend."

Homura tentatively tasted cookies. The cat lay calmly in Homura's lap and allowed herself to be petted until the tremor was gone from Homura's hands. Fifteen minutes later, Yoruichi gravely said, "I need you to get out your phone and call Kisuke. I need to tell him about Asunaro."

The magical girl nodded and reached for her bag as Yoruichi jumped up onto the table. Homura dialed Urahara's Soul Phone number, set the phone to speaker, and put it on the table between herself and the cat.

"Hello, hello, hello, direct line to Kisuke Urahara! Kisuke Urahara speaking! How may I help my favorite magical girl~?"

Homura raised her brows at the phone while the cat snorted. "Kisuke, we need to talk," Yoruichi droned.

"Oh, my favorite kitty-cat! Are you enjoying yourself in Mitakihara?"

"If by enjoying myself you mean wandering into a mind-altering kidō to the north, sure."

Silence. "Mind-altering how?"

"Forgetting-my-enemy mind-altering."

Homura stiffened and looked at the cat in bafflement. What?

A long pause. "Well, that's not good."

Yoruichi snorted again and drily agreed, "No, not exactly."

"Please describe the incident."

Yoruichi gave a detailed report. The clacking of computer keys faintly emanated from the phone as Urahara transcribed her testimony.

"Did it feel Hollow?"

"No."

"Interesting. Miss Akemi?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever encountered anything that has that effect?"

"No," Homura answered. "But I have never ventured that far north."

"How curious."

Both Homura and Yoruichi sat silently while they listened to the sound of Urahara drumming his fingers against his desk.

"Well. I'll certainly look into this. Don't try to go up there again until I do some research," Urahara said decisively. "Miss Akemi, you should probably come to Karakura this weekend. Other than that, how are things going?"

Yoruichi spoke before Homura could even open her mouth to politely end the call. "Akemi's friends are adorable."

"Oho~? Do tell."

Homura sighed and resigned herself to listening to gossip. At least she had cookies to nibble on.

§ x § x §

Homura strode up the school path, trying to act more confident and normal than she felt. Shizuki and Miki stood together and looked up as Yoruichi trotted up between them and wove through their legs. Shizuki cooed and knelt to pet the cat as Homura and Miki made eye contact. Homura stared evenly. Miki looked uncomfortable.

Miki awkwardly raised a hand to scratch the back of her head. "Uh, yo. Sorry about yest—"

Face stubborn, Homura held out a fist. Shizuki glanced up at them from the corners of her eyes, then tactfully focused on the cat. Wary, Miki reached out. Homura dropped a candy into her palm. Miki looked up in surprise.

A peace offering.

Homura's face went even more stubborn, with a questioning tilt. Are we good?

Miki closed her hand and pulled the candy close. She smiled wanly and laughed. "Thanks, Stranger Danger." We're good.

Homura nodded. "You are welcome." Good.

Madoka ran up panting just as the warning bell rang. She stopped and leaned with her hands on her knees. "I made it. I made it!"

Homura's lips quirked up and Shizuki and Miki laughed.

"Did you oversleep, Kaname?" Shizuki asked.

Madoka glanced from Miki to Homura and laughed awkwardly. "Y-yeah, actually. I had a hard time falling asleep."

Miki looked away, downcast. "Me, too," she sighed, rubbing one eye tiredly.

Homura sighed softly. "Let's go to class. If you stay awake until lunch time, you can have some of the cookies my friend in Tokyo sent me."

The blue-haired girl snapped upright with stars in her eyes. "Cookies?"

"Homemade cookies," Homura murmured with a slight curve of her lips as she stepped toward the school, Shizuki at her side.

Miki pumped a fist. "Aw yeah, homemade cookies!"

Madoka and Shizuki laughed.

"Oh, my, Akemi," Shizuki said teasingly, eyes mirthful. "You are quite the persuasive stranger."

"Akemi's the best Stranger Danger!"

"A-ah, I don't think that's something you're supposed to be happy about, Sayaka... ahaha," Madoka said weakly.

§ x § x §

Madoka felt a bit guilty for her relief that Hitomi bowed out of their afternoon hangout because of extracurricular duties that day. When Madoka and Sayaka were alone with Homura and Yoruichi on the path away from school, Homura turned away from their usual route to the outdoor café.

"Eh? Where are you going, Homura?" Madoka asked.

Homura stared at them for a minute, seeming to debate her answer. She slowly admitted, "I need to hunt the Witch whose Familiars we encountered yesterday. Otherwise, it could kill someone."

Madoka froze in trepidation. "You... you said there's a another magical girl who can do that, didn't you?" She didn't want her friend to risk herself. It felt selfish, wanting someone else to walk into danger, but the thought of Homura being injured was awful.

"I do not know if she is aware of this Witch," Homura said after a long pause. "Take Yoruichi to the café with you."

"You expect us to sit around eating cake while you run off to fight monsters?!" Sayaka demanded.

"Yes."

Sayaka's face scrunched up in frustration. Madoka bit her lip. She did not like this one bit. "What— what if you get hurt? What if you need help?"

Homura looked her in the eye. "I will be fine. I have a lot of experience and it is not a particularly powerful Witch."

"But still—"

"It would give me greater peace of mind to know you are safely sitting at the café," Homura argued. "If you were to be injured because I made a single mistake... I could not bear it."

"O-oh." That made sense. Madoka looked down guiltily for a minute, then looked up at her new friend. Her brave friend. Recognizing that her absence would be more useful than her presence was painful, but... Her face firmed. "I'll wait for you at the café."

"Why?"

Sayaka scoffed. "So we don't spend all night wondering if you got yourself killed, duh."

Homura stared at them both for a long time. Madoka and Sayaka both made their faces more stubborn. Homura sighed. "Fine." She looked stern. "Do not follow me."

Both girls nodded a bit like they had been scolded. Homura looked like she was assessing them, then nodded once and set out with purposeful strides. They watched her grow smaller in the distance.

"C'mon, Madoka," Sayaka said unhappily.

Madoka glanced at her sideways and saw the tense, jerky way her friend adjusted her school bag's strap. "You want to follow her," Madoka observed softly.

"Well, duh," Sayaka griped. "I don't like sitting back. But... she kinda has a point, I guess. I don't like it, but I don't wanna distract her, you know?" She kicked a pebble and mumbled, "Sometimes Kyōsuke will ask me to leave if he's learning a new song because me being there is just enough distraction to mess him up. So I get it. But I hate it."

"Ah." Madoka took a deep breath and looked determined. "Let's get to the café like we promised."

The afternoon at the café was increasingly stressful. They couldn't focus much on homework and their appetites were nonexistent. Hours passed with excruciating slowness. Yoruichi was their only substantive distraction. The setting sun was turning everything warm orange when Homura appeared and approached their table with an uncertain scowl.

"You're okay!" Madoka gushed happily.

"You had us worried, there, Stranger Danger," Sayaka said with relief. "How'd it go?"

Homura sat and looked frustrated. "I couldn't find it."

"Oh?" Sayaka finally snatched the strawberry off Madoka's untouched cake. "World's worst game of hide-and-go-seek?"

"Yes," Homura sighed disappointedly.

"Maybe the other magical girl got it?" Sayaka ventured, rolling the strawberry around in her cheek.

"Maybe." She didn't look convinced.

"But you're safe. That's all that matters," Madoka said decisively. "Do you both want to come to my house for dinner?"

Sayaka perked up. "Aw, yeah! Your dad is the best cook!"

Homura's face relaxed. "I would like that."

Madoka beamed. Maybe she couldn't be directly useful, but she would try her best to support her new friend any way she could.

§ x § x §

§ x § x §

§ x § x §

A/N: Sayaka is surprisingly difficult to write.

This chapter was replaced with an edited version on November 1, 2019. Reviews with timestamps before that date refer to a slightly different version of the chapter.