After school in the afternoon.
Madoka walked to her home with Sayaka in tow. Her expression was worried, and her whole vibe off.
"Madoka, let's go to the record store." Her blue-haired classmate suddenly said as she skipped ahead. "I want to buy a new record."
Because of some 'mysterious influence', Sayaka lost her feelings for Kamijou Kyosuke.
This time, she went to buy records not for him- but simply because she likes them.
"This..."
The pink-haired girl looked at her friend dimly. Currently, her entire thoughts are preoccupied, and she has lost interest in going shopping.
"If Madoka has other things to do, I'll go by myself!"
Sayaka didn't seem to care. Seeing the expression on her friend's face being off, she shrugged and decided to go alone.
"No, I'm free." In the end, Madoka shook her head and gathered her thoughts. "Let's go together."
She doesn't want to disappoint her friend. Not only that, but rejecting Sayaka just because her own thoughts are in disarray feels wrong.
"...Are you really alright?"
The blue-haired girl furrowed her brows at her friend.
She has noticed Madoka's weird behavior. Spacing out, frowning, blank staring ahead….None of these were normal, and they were easily noticeable.
Sayaka suggested going to the record store together so that her friend could relax. But on second thought, she reasoned that, it probably wasn't a good idea. Maybe for Madoka, it would be better to go home and relax.
"Really."
"Then let's go!"
Upon hearing her agreement, Sayaka beamed and waved at Madoka to hurry along
…
However-
Upon arriving at the record store, the previous experience repeated.
They encountered that witch once again. And this time-
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
BANG BANG BANG
Sayaka cursed crudely as puppets fell around her and exploded
"Why is this happening to us?!"
Her hand held Madoka's tightly. Their shoes slammed again and again on the ground as they ran for dear life.
"A-ah!"
The pink-haired girl's body trembled, and she almost stumbled.
The shock of seeing this very familiar scene nearly overwhelmed her. This is almost what happened in her dreams many times!
But with a Witch chasing right after them and threatening their lives, there is no time to think!
"Haah…!"
She regained her composure(at least tried to) and pushed her legs to the limit so she could run along with Sayaka in hopes of escaping.
-Until a girl with golden hair descended from the sky.
…
"It seems like I've arrived just in time."
Mami Tomoe smiled gracefully as she landed softly on the ground. Wasting no time, she waved her hand casually and summoned a large number of flintlock muskets
Their aim: straight at the monsters chasing Madoka and Sayaka.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG
Explosions and even more explosions sounded one after the other. Shockwaves spread throughout the Witch's barrier, and the monsters were quickly wiped out.
"Are you alright?"
She turned to the two girls and asked with concern. They seemed relieved, concerned, and amazed.
-Common reactions from civilians who experienced the terror of witches. Mami understands and intends to comfort them, at least,
"Yes, yes! We're okay!" Sayaka hurriedly waved her hands, feeling flustered. "You're amazing!"
'So cooool!'
Sayaka inwardly swooned over the magical girl with amazement.
…
"You're students from Mitakihara Middle School, right?"
After letting them calm down for a while, Mami picked the most obvious topic to ease into conversation.
"Judging from your uniforms, you're second-year students."
Actually, uniforms between years aren't so different. But Mami can't say that she knows this because she has paid attention to them before, can she?
"I'm your senior, my name is Tomoe Mami."
The golden-haired girl introduced herself with a small, elegant bow.
"Hello, senpai."
Madoka and Sayaka also greeted her politely.
Because yes, after Mami's reminder, they also found her familiar- as though they had seen her before.
"Senpai, do you know what's going on?" Sayaka asked what was on Madoka's mind too. Her expression of confusion and bewilderment,"And what were those monsters?"
The blond-haired magical girl nodded, already expecting this. She opened her mouth to explain-
"Let me explain this."
-But a small white creature that looked like a mix between a cat and a bunny leaped out of the shadows; It's Kyubey.
"This is…!"
Sayaka and Madoka looked at the little beast that could only speak human language with wide eyes.
"My name is Kyubey." The white creature flicked its tail. Its red eyes stared right at the pink-haired girl. "Madoka Kaname, would you like to make a contract with me and become a magical girl?"
".....Huh?"
Madoka blankly stared ahead in stunned silence.
…
..
.
Everyone moved to Mami's house. Sayaka, Madoka, and Mami sat in the living room, on the sofas around a wooden table.
"Tasty!"
Sayaka sincerely praised the food as she left the cake half-eaten and took a sip of the black tea with shining eyes.
Mami invited them to her house as guests and unreservedly served them black tea and cake. They are all soooo delicious!
"I'm glad you like it."
Mami covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Seeing people enjoy her handiwork always pleases her and makes her feel all warm inside.
"Um…Can you tell us now?" Sayaka scratched her head, unable to hold in her curiosity any longer. "What exactly happened?"
Though she experienced life threatening danger, it didn't dampen her spirit. In fact, she's excited to discover a new side of the world!
Especially since this all seems to come straight out of a manga!
"The monsters that attacked you are called Witches." The blond-haired girl stroked her teacup as she started explaining in a gloomy tone. "Witches are monsters born from the crystallization of despair and curses; they are apostles of calamity that sow the seeds of disaster into the world."
Mami's expression dropped, sadness evident in her eyes.
"Unexplained murders or suicides are often caused by the curses of Witches. They manifest as invisible curses, constantly eroding humanity and the world."
"Um…Hasn't anyone ever discovered the existence of these Witches before? To…deal with them?"
Madoka couldn't help but interject, raising her hand to ask something seemingly obvious.
"That's because Witches lurk within 'Witch Barriers'." The golden-haired girl shook her head in denial. "The place you stumbled into earlier is one such example. Ordinary people simply cannot perceive them."
"Then what are Magical Girls?"
Sayaka also curiously asked- even though manga had already given her a pretty good guess.
"Magical Girls are the counterparts to Witches." The senior magical girl put a hand on her chest. "They are born from wishes and take it upon themselves to hunt down and defeat Witches."
This is the official and optimistic explanation.
"Does that mean Magical Girls are the ones that spread love and hope?"
Sayaka's face filled with longing as she obtained Mami's confirmation.
How beautiful…Bringing light into darkness and dispelling the gloom!
"-By signing a contract with me, you can become a magical girl."
The white mixed creature appeared out of thin air yet again. It settled on the table in the middle, carefully avoiding the plates and cutlery.
"In exchange for battling Witches and protecting the world, you may make a single wish."
Kyubey did not answer her question. It continued with a temptation; however, it seemed to confirm her speculation tacitly.
"....Any wish?"
Madoka asked in a murmur. None were surprised by Kyubey's appearance; they were just curious.
Sayaka also snapped her head to Kyubey, looking at it with an intense focus.
"Yes, anything."
The Incubator confirmed. And both Sayaka and Madoka looked at each other, their thoughts the same.
"I want you to consider this carefully." Mami frowned at the white rabbit-cat. Then, she turned to the two girls. "Fighting Witches isn't child's play; it's a battle where your life is at risk."
She put her hands on her thighs and leaned forward, staring at them with absolute seriousness
"If you lack the necessary resolve, please just forget about today. Go back and live your lives as if that never happened."
The senior magical girl presented both a warning and advice.
People think that being a Magical Girl is all sunshine and rainbows; however, that isn't the case at all. Mami has seen a lot of Magical Girls perish because of such a carefree mindset.
…
"...."
Madoka recalled what Adam said that morning.
A wish... a choice... Could he have been talking about the contract with Kyubey?
'So, what should I do?'
She asked herself, deeply conflicted; she wanted to ask for advice but didn't know whom to turn to.
"So, do you have any wishes?"
Kyubey asked again, its uncanny red gaze pointed at Madoka this time.
"I…" Madoka hesitated, but in the end shook her head. "I don't have a wish."
Just as she told Adam- she truly has no wish that she must absolutely see fulfilled.
"And what about Sayaka?"
Kyubey turned its gaze toward Sayaka.
Although her potential is trivial compared to the immense karmic destiny surrounding Madoka, Kyubey still recognizes that she possesses excellent aptitude.
At least, amongst normal-tier magical girls, she's top tier. Besides, if Sayaka becomes a magical girl, it will be easier to lure Madoka as well.
"Me?" She pointed at herself, and seeing silence ensue, she tilted her head and pondered an answer. "Hmm... I don't think I have a wish right now."
Sayaka shook her head, refusing like Madoka.
She no longer harbors romantic feelings for Kyousuke Kamijou, and thus has no desire to wish for the healing of his hands.
With this gone, there's nothing else for her to desire to wish.
"I see... That's fine." Kyubey nodded indifferently. "You can call out to me when you change your mind."
It didn't mind their refusal. Besides, none of the combination of one magical girl and 2 middle schoolers noticed anything weird about the fact that it said 'when'.
Kyubey already has a plan in mind.
…
..
.
-------
A/N:
I wanted to make a larger chapter since I felt like not much went on in this one...But I was too busy with two projects.
Sigh, the woes of the adult world.
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