"She said she was going to leave this world, and that she had some quest where she needed to feed Magical Girls something. Then she said my cooking was really good and that I was a great guy, and gave me this wanting me to become a Magical Girl."
Tomohisa set a cherry tomato down on the table with a helpless expression.
It was one he'd grown in his garden. The child would occasionally wander over to inspect the crops, and Tomohisa never stopped her from picking things—he simply taught her how to tell when something was ripe.
"Ha ha, this kid was also discussing the end of the universe with me the other day. But being a little eccentric at that age is pretty normal, right?"
Junko gazed upward with a nostalgic look. "Wasn't Madoka the same way when she was little? Going on about how she was going to save the world."
"Ah... but there's this feeling, you know." Tomohisa extended his index finger and gave the cherry tomato a gentle push. "Looking at this tomato, I inexplicably feel like there might actually be something to it. Makes me a little worried."
Junko broke into a wide grin. "If it really bothers you, just eat it in front of her and then do a few transformation poses. That's how I used to play along with Madoka."
"I mean, you're not wrong, but expecting a grown man to pretend to be a Magical Girl is a bit..."
"No!"
A somewhat agitated shout cut both of them off, and they turned in unison toward the doorway.
"Madoka, when did you get back? Didn't I give you money for your date? You're home a little early today." Junko propped her chin on one hand and looked over.
Tomohisa smiled awkwardly. "See, even Madoka thinks that would be embarrassing."
Madoka patted her cheeks, crossed the room in a few quick strides, and snatched the cherry tomato. "I—I still have homework to do."
Dad transforming into that kind of Magical Girl... a Magical Uncle or whatever—she didn't even dare imagine it.
"Are you going to pretend to be a Magical Girl, Madoka? Not right now, okay—that child fell asleep as soon as she got home."
Being forced to sit there for hours listening to someone talk about things she had no interest in, not allowed to sleep, with only ten-minute breaks between classes—that kind of ordeal was simply too much for the little cat to endure.
With a sigh, Madoka passed by Yimi's room and returned to her own, staring at the cherry tomato with a troubled expression.
She hadn't gone on a date with Homura today. Homura said she needed to discuss something with the other Magical Girls.
No matter how she looked at it, they were definitely hiding something from her.
"The birth of Magical Girls is a necessity."
The less intense afternoon sunlight filtered through the window, casting the shadow of a cat-like creature inside. Kyubey hopped up beside Madoka's leg, its tail scooping the cherry tomato from her hand and flicking it into the void on its back.
"Kyubey? Why?"
Madoka waved Kyubey over with a hint of unease. Given that Homura never missed a chance to badmouth Kyubey even during their dates, her only impression of the creature was that of a pyramid scheme recruiter deliberately using a cute exterior to deceive people.
She'd heard that Yimi was apparently rivals with it. Was it really okay to let it take something of Yimi's? Then again, Yimi also seemed like the type being used without really understanding what she was doing.
"Whether for me or for that child, the existence of Magical Girls is essential."
Kyubey hugged its own tail and licked its fur. "But since you don't want to become a Magical Girl, Madoka, that responsibility will fall on someone else."
"Someone else..."
Madoka's thoughts drifted to Sayaka. Come to think of it, Yimi had never said Sayaka could become a Magical Girl. She'd come to live with them specifically because Madoka had the aptitude, yet Sayaka still ended up...
Was it because a fate meant for her had spilled over onto others instead? Sayaka before, and now Dad.
---
"Mm, I'll teach that child to make this next time." Mami Tomoe set the freshly baked cake on the table and stared at it quietly for a long moment.
She sighed. "I really do love baking, but without someone to share it with, it's hard to stay motivated."
She closed her eyes, then opened them. "So—did you come to share this cake with me, or did you come here specifically to get thrown out?"
Homura Akemi landed in her yard. The two maintained an equally cool demeanor as they locked eyes.
"Two weeks... no, roughly a little over a week. Walpurgisnacht will descend upon this city." Homura stated this with detached calm.
Among the Magical Girls she knew, Kyoko was the most resilient. But conversely, Mami was the most fragile.
Mami's eyes widened slightly. "I understand. I'll step in when the time comes."
"Not just step in—cooperate. You can't handle Walpurgisnacht alone." Homura stated the fact plainly.
"Even if you say 'help,' I'm not exactly eager to fight alongside someone who's tried to harm my friend." Mami closed her eyes again. "But given that it might reduce casualties... could you apologize to Kyubey?"
She was making the off-ramp quite obvious.
In her eyes, Homura was someone who wanted to monopolize Grief Seed resources by killing the contractor to cut off the supply of Magical Girls—like those characters in films who kill the blacksmith to ensure only they possess the ultimate weapon.
It sounded tragic, but such things weren't actually unusual among Magical Girls. Everyone was a competitor who'd rather not see other powerful peers around. A year ago, Mami had been kindly warned about this by another Magical Girl.
Still, someone like Homura who directly went after the contractor was rare.
"Is that so?" Homura turned and left.
She had no intention of bowing to Kyubey, even though she desperately hoped this timeline would proceed smoothly.
Watching her walk away, Mami stroked Kyubey in her arms with a hint of sadness. "Why can't everyone just get along?"
"Probably because you're the one who's actually the odd one out?"
Something flew toward Mami. Without turning around, she caught it.
A Grief Seed.
"Kyoko?" Mami looked in that direction with surprise, then displayed even greater confusion. "Why do you have a handprint on your face?"
Kyoko hastily rubbed her cheek. "Just a wound from defeating a Witch. Also, that Grief Seed isn't free—pay up."
Mami smiled warmly. "Would you like some cake?"
"Don't act like we're close. It's not like I came here just to see you." Kyoko walked over and roughly grabbed Kyubey by the head, lifting it up.
"You little bastard, you've been hiding other things too, haven't you?"
"Kyubey? Let it go!" Mami quickly grabbed Kyoko's wrist.
Kyoko ignored her. The tip of her spear nearly pierced through Kyubey's hide. "I knew something was off. I felt it the moment I saw the 'difference.' Now tell me straight—what happens when a Soul Gem is fully corrupted?"
Once you caught someone in one lie, it became that much easier for other suspicions to take root.
"You figured it out already? I didn't expect you to be the most perceptive one."
Kyubey's words made Kyoko involuntarily narrow her eyes. The spear in her hand nearly 'misfired.'
Seeing Kyoko's dangerous move, Mami leveled her own musket at her. "What does that mean? Kyubey, what's going on?"