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Homura rang the doorbell to Mami’s apartment. She had received a text message from Madoka inviting her to an important meeting at Mami’s place. And once that was over, they could all go out for dinner together.
Homura wasn’t sure what the meeting could possibly be about, but since the defeat of Walpurgisnacht, she was slowly growing more comfortable with the prospect of spending time with others. Madoka and Mami had gone to considerable effort to include her in their group activities, and despite her initial reservations, she found that she truly missed being their friend. She had even taken the effort to dress herself up nicely, secretly hoping to catch Madoka’s attention.
The door opened and Mami greeted Homura with a bright smile. She beckoned Homura inside, taking her coat and directing her towards the living room.
Homura waved to greet Madoka, who excitedly waved back from her seat at the table. But Homura’s pleasant mood was violently dashed when she saw her.
Sitting across the tea table was Sayaka, her expression briefly perplexed before shifting to giving Homura the stink eye, “What is she doing here?”
Homura adopted an icy demeanor in reply, “The feeling is mutual, Sayaka Miki. I was not informed you would be joining us tonight.”
Mami interjected, “Now, now, girls. Please settle down. We called you both here for a very special reason. Have a seat, Akemi-san.”
Homura took her place beside Madoka and across from Sayaka, trying to ignore the daggers being glared in her direction.
Sayaka was the first to speak out, “So what’s with the fancy getup? Were you hoping to impress Madoka or something?” she teased.
Homura blushed lightly before biting back, “N-no…and what of yourself? You hardly look dressed for a night out.”
Sayaka looked puzzled, “Night out? I thought we were just spending the day at Mami’s for tea and cake?”
Homura raised an eyebrow, “That is not what I was told.” She turned to face Madoka with suspicion in her eyes, “What exactly is going on here Madoka?”
Madoka couldn’t stifle her giggles any longer. She stood up and clapped her hands, “I’m glad you asked, Homura-chan. Mami-san and I have been talking, and we’ve come to a mutual agreement.”
Madoka puffed up her cheeks in an exaggerated pout and declared, “Homura-chan, Sayaka-chan, you two are too mean to each other! You’re my best friends in the whole wide world, and it makes me sad to see you always fighting!”
Mami swiftly followed up with a rehearsed ease, “and so, we’ve decided to host a little game to help us all get along.”
Homura scoffed, “This is a waste of time. I respect the effort, but a board game night is not going to make her stop hating me for no reason.”
Sayaka angrily stood up, “No reason? How’s about I give you five?! One, you’re creepy! Two,-”
Mami raised her voice, “That’s enough! Let us finish. Care to do the honours, Kaname-san?”
“So!” Madoka eagerly continued, “We won’t be playing any board games tonight. Instead, you two are going to take turns saying nice things about each other. Mami-san and I will act as judges, and If we both feel that your compliments are insincere or backhanded…you both…will have to…”
“Kiss each other!” Madoka said with barely restrained glee.
Sayaka turned red and stammered out, “W-What the hell, Madoka! What makes you think this is a good idea?!”
Before Sayaka could even finish her sentence, Homura sprang into action. In a blinding flash of violet, she transformed into her magical girl attire and broke out into a sprint. Two steps into her stride, the familiar whirring and clicking of her clockwork buckler began to fill the room.
The very next moment, the entire scene had changed dramatically. Homura was suddenly sat firmly in her seat, tied down to the chair with bright red ribbons. Multiple pieces of furniture had been strewn about displaying evidence of a struggle. Ashes indicating a small fire had recently been extinguished were piled up in the corner of the room. And a depleted smoke grenade canister spun harmlessly in the center of the apartment.
Mami dusted off her magical girl uniform and wiped the sweat from her brow, “Nice try, Akemi-san, but did you really think we hadn’t predicted you’d try to escape? You rely too much on that trick of yours”
Homura clicked her tongue and leaned back against the chair, knowing better than to struggle against Mami’s ribbons.
Madoka cracked open a window to let the apartment air out, while Mami turned to face Sayaka. Tilting her head menacingly, she gave Sayaka an intimidating glare, “So Miki-san, you wouldn’t also be planning on trying to run, right dear?”
A shiver ran down Sayaka’s back. She swiftly sat back down and firmly grasped the sides of her chair “No ma’am.”
“Good.” Mami cheered. “Now then, let the game begin.”
Madoka looked towards the center of the room, “since that grenade stopped spinning while pointing towards Sayaka-chan, we’ll make her go first. That seems fair since Homura-chan has to deal with being tied up. Go on now, say something nice about Homura-chan!”
Sayaka gulped and began darting her eyes around the room, “H-hold on a moment, don’t you think I should be allowed a moment to settle my nerves?”
Mami softly replied, “There is no need for concern dear. Just be nice and nothing will happen.”
Sayaka awkwardly stuttered out, “Um, well, uh, she’s…really pretty?”
Madoka stood at attention and blurted out, “Oh my gosh, isn’t she though?! She’s really, really pretty!”
Mami cleared her throat, “Kaname-san, we’re supposed to be impartial third parties, remember?”
“Oh, shoot. Sorry!” Madoka sheepishly sat back down, “Okay, that seemed fine to start with. It’s your turn, Homura-chan.”
Homura looked up in contemplation, “You have excellent taste in music, Miki-san”
Madoka smiled, “Oh, that was nice. Right Mami-san?”
Mami stroked her chin, “Akemi-san…name one song Miki-san likes.”
Homura looked away in silence.
“Thought so. That was insincere, Akemi-san. Pucker up.”
Sayaka cried out in a panic, “Hey wait a minute! That’s way too strict! Give us a strike system or something!”
Madoka and Mami paused to look at each other, “What do you think, Kaname-san?”
Madoka pouted, “Fine! But only because I believed the compliment. If we both agree that you’re being mean, that’s it! Sayaka-chan, it’s your turn.”
Sayaka drummed her fingers against the chair, “Uh, she’s…strong?”
Mami wagged her finger, “Address her directly, try again.”
Sayaka turned to Homura, “You’re incredible when you’re fighting. Sometimes you manage to clear a room of familiars before Mami and I even know they’re there. It’s like you’ve seen it all before. That must take serious experience. You’re an asset to our team.”
Mami clapped her hands, “Very good, Miki-san. Any objections, Madoka-san?” to which she simply shook her head. “Okay then, go again, Akemi-san.”
Homura looked between her friends and settled her view on Sayaka, “You…are…a good friend to Madoka.”
Sayaka scoffed, “Right, Madoka this, Madoka that, If I said that sometimes I forget about your creepy obsession with her, I'd be lying! Because you can’t go five minutes without reminding us that she’s the only thing you care about!”
Madoka smirked, “Oh, tough break. That’s gotta be two more strikes on the board, right Mami-san?”
Mami laughed into the back of her hand, “I think so. One for each of them, that makes three. You two need to kiss and make up.”
“Hang on a minute!” Sayaka protested, “It was her turn!”
Madoka chuckled, “Doesn’t matter Sayaka-chan. You were mean, so now you need to kiss her.”
“I wasn’t being Mean Madoka, I was being right! She’s a stalker! She follows you around everywhere you go. She keeps constant tabs on you whenever she can’t follow you. She knew everything about you, from your favourite books to all your favourite foods before you told her anything. She waits for you outside your house for god's sake! You can’t tell me that’s not weird!”
“Actually, I think it’s kind of hot.”
“Madoka!” Mami and Sayaka said in unison, while Homura turned a cherry red and bored her vision into the floor.
“...Oops. Oh no, I said that out loud…” Madoka plunged her face into her palms, “Don’t look at me like that! Just kiss each other already!”
“Fine!” Sayaka yelled. She got up from her seat and pecked Homura on the cheek, snapping Homura back to attention. “There! Happy now?”
“Tsk Tsk.” Mami retorted. “We ought to give you another strike just for that sad display. On. The. Lips. Do it properly, Miki-san.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me! Whatever!” Sayaka cupped Homura’s cheek and landed a swift kiss on the lips. “There! Are we done?”
Madoka made an exaggerated quizzical smirk, “Hmm…nope! You can do better than that. That goes for you too, Homura-chan. It won’t count unless you kiss her back.”
Homura spoke up while blushing brightly, “Miki Sayaka, our situation is hopeless. We will never get out of this unless we give them what they want.”
Sayaka let out a deep, defeated sigh, “Fine, are…are you ready?” Homura slowly nodded.
Sayaka gently took hold of Homura’s face and slowly lowered herself to meet her. The two closed their eyes, leaned in, and firmly locked lips. Homura awkwardly returned Sayaka’s kiss, pressing towards her. The two girls practically glowed red in embarrassment.
Madoka and Mami watched raptly, giggling with playful elation. They remained linked until Sayaka and Homura finally broke away, only once they had been left breathless.
Madoka squealed in delight, “That was so cute! Okay, okay, I think it’s Sayaka-chan’s turn next. Keep going! Say something sweet.”
Sayaka recoiled, “Woah woah whoa, what do you mean I'm up next? I thought we were done!”
Mami grinned. “After just one kiss? Of course not, we’re going to continue until the two of you get along like the best of friends.”
Homura went pale, “Tomoe-san! Be reasonable! You can’t keep us trapped here forever!”
Sayaka cut her off, “She’s right. I’ll never see eye-to-eye with her. She’s the kind of monster who will let innocent bystanders die, just so she can claim the reward.”
“Excuse me?!” Homura yelled. ”This is exactly what makes you such a weak minded fool! You cannot imagine the larger picture. Your childish views of heroes and villains will drag you down into hell. And I won’t stand by and let you drag others into your selfish, self destructive misery parade!”
“Selfish?! That’s rich coming from you, you don’t show a hint of concern over anyone but Madoka. I’d bet you’d let us all drop dead if it meant you could have her all to yourself.”
“That’s not true! You always have to make things so difficult! No matter how many times I try, you won’t let me save you! You stubbornly refuse to accept anyone else’s help. You cling to your hero fantasies until you’re left bloody and battered, and then I have to dig you out of whatever hole you crawled into!”
“Don’t give me that crap! You don’t show a shred of interest in our wellbeing!"
Homura glared at Sayaka, “...Do you earnestly believe I act coldly because I want to? Do you truly think I enjoy letting familiars run rampant, just so I can earn myself a grief seed? Because I don't! I hate it! I’m not heartless, I’m a realist! Of course I have to look out for myself! I have people I care about, people I have to protect! And I can’t do that if I'm dead. Answer me this Sayaka Miki, Would I have pushed so strongly to prevent you from signing a contract if I enjoyed living like this? Would I have implored you to reconsider if I wasn’t worried about you and Madoka? Why can’t you understand that I'm trying to help? Why can’t you just listen to me for once!”
Sayaka was left speechless. She scowled, clenched her fists, and motioned to protest, but found her tongue tied. She lowered her head and sat back down in her chair. Finally, she quietly replied.
“No…I don’t.”
“...What?” Homura had been left stunned.
“I don’t really think you’re evil. I’ve seen how hard you work, and how much you sacrifice. Truthfully, I can’t understand you, or what you’ve been though, and I think you’re weird as hell. I hate the way you do things, but when I try to tell myself that you’re evil, I find it harder and harder to believe. If you were truly a monster you wouldn’t be here today. You wouldn’t work with us at all. You wouldn’t share lunches, demand we cleanse our gems so frequently, or pull us out of danger when things get hairy. Your actions just don’t line up with the malicious image of you I have in my head. I just get so wrapped up in wanting to do the right thing, but I end up hurting the people I love doing that. I’m…I'm the worst.”
“Sayaka…” Homura was shaken to her core. She had never seen Sayaka be so open and vulnerable without sliding into melancholy. A deep part of Homura worried that Sayaka may begin to fill with despair.
“You…you’re not a bad person for having dreams, Sayaka.”
Sayaka looked over at Homura with a stunned expression. Homura continued.
“I…I think that your sense of justice is a virtue, Sayaka. A misguided virtue, but a virtue nonetheless. I understand what it's like to want people to see you as a hero. And I understand that need to believe that our actions are selfless. You’re a stubborn fool for setting impossible standards for yourself, but you’re still a good person for trying to meet them. Maybe even among the best of us. It’s not a weakness to ask for help, or to need it.”
Homura took a deep breath. “I think that at the end of the day, the only thing that truly separates us from the witches…is that deep rooted desire we have to still do some good wherever we can.”
“Homura…” Sayaka looked over with an unusual softness in her eyes.
Mami rubbed tears from her eyes with her sleeve, “That was really beautiful you two. What do you think, Kaname-san?”
Madoka sniffled and struggled not to cry, “Hmmm, I dunno…there were a few backhanded comments in there…they should probably kiss again…”
“Kaname-san!”
“Oh all right, fine. You’re off the hook.”
With a flick of the wrist, Mami dispelled the ribbons entrapping Homura and transformed out of her magical girl outfit.
Homura gave a skittish look, briefly seeming like she might turn and run. But she kept still and held her ground. She slowly stood up and stepped towards Sayaka. With some awkward trepidation, she extended a hand towards her. “We got off to a bad start. I didn’t make things easy by being needlessly hostile. For that, I’m sorry. I would like to start putting our differences behind us.”
Sayaka eyed Homura’s hand before reaching out to shake it. “Right, okay, we can let bygones be bygones. I could stand to be less distrustful and more accepting. I’m sorry too.”
Madoka pressed her hands to her heart, “That was amazing! I can’t believe that worked out! I’m so, so happy everyone is getting along now!”
Sayaka swiftly turned to face Madoka, “Wait! What do you mean you can’t believe that worked? Wasn’t the whole point of this catastrophe to force us to talk things out? Why would you put us through this if you didn’t believe we’d get anywhere?”
“Oh, uh, I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean, uh, um.”
Mami rolled her eyes, “You’re a terrible liar, Kaname-san. I think it’s time you come clean with them.”
Madoka fidgeted in place before letting out a sigh and relenting, “Okay fine…the truth is…I just really really wanted to watch you two kiss...”
“What the hell, Madoka?!”
“You can’t be serious, Madoka!”
Madoka stamped her feet, “Oh, come on! Can you really blame me? It’s not my fault you’re both so gosh darn pretty!”
“You’re absolutely incredulous Kaname-san.” Mami slyly remarked.
“Hey! That’s no fair, Mami-san! Don’t throw me under the bus! This was all your idea in the first place!”
Mami turned away to conceal her blush, “Fibbing will get you nowhere dear.”
Sayaka held her head in frustration, “I can’t believe this. You two are seriously twisted for this.”
Mami spun in place and clapped, “Well, since that’s all water under the bridge, I have a question I'd like to propose to our two lovely contestants.” Mami leaned in close between Homura and Sayaka with a cheeky grin, “Would the two of you…like to go out on a date with us?”