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mokocchi_x3
What is a best friend? Ever since I started junior high, I've thought about that a lot.
Is a best friend someone you hang out with after school? Someone who helps you study for exams? A best friend is someone who you can tell anything, even your most intimate secrets, right? But somehow, I don't think that's the case. How much do you need to know about someone before they're considered more than just a regular friend? I've wondered and wondered, but I'm still not sure. Maybe it's because, when I think about it that way, I realize that I don't really have a best friend.
If I were to say this to Sayaka, she'd just laugh. "What are you talking about? Are you feeling okay?" she'd say as she playfully checks my forehead for a fever. And poor Hitomi's eyes would fill up with tears as she exclaimed "Do you mean the friendship we've built up all these years was just a lie?!" But even though they'd never say it, sometimes I wonder if Sayaka and Hitomi just take my presence for granted. Would either of them really consider me their very best friend? The more I think about it, the lonelier I feel.
It was probably while I was pondering this that I fell asleep... And had the most incredible dream.
The scene was straight out of a horror movie about the end of the world. The sky was overcast, stained red as though reflecting the carnage below. In this world where everything seemed to be dying, I was the only survivor, standing alone on a cliff.
That's when I noticed the monster.
Its body was so big, it seemed to cover the entire sky, engulfing the world below in its shadow. It let out a sharp, chilling laugh as it rotated in the air, knocking down skyscrapers like a house of cards. As each building fell, the monster laughed harder, as if it hated all of humanity and wanted to destroy everything humans had ever touched.
My legs began to tremble. I have to get out of here! But I couldn't move. It was like my feet were glued to the spot. All I could do was cower in anticipation as the monster's huge face approached - but it passed me by without a second thought.
"Huh?"
With a sinking feeling, I realized that it wasn't me who the monster was chasing.
There was another person here; a beautiful girl with long, jet black hair wearing an elaborate monochrome dress. Compared to the monster, she was the size of a doll, but she was tumbling and jumping through the air, twisting and turning as she attempted to fight it all by herself.
"You can do it!" I cried, raising my hands in a feeble attempt to cheer her on. But it wasn't enough. The monster knocked her out of the way like it was swatting a fly, throwing her directly into the concrete wall of a distant building.
"Too much... This is too much..." I heard someone say. I was so stunned with shock, I didn't notice at first that the words were coming out of my own mouth. But just when I thought the girl was dead, I saw her stir. Her delicate face was distorted with pain, her body bruised all over, but she still tried with all her strength to break free from the walls surrounding her - and then she looked directly at me.
The moment our eyes met, my heart started beating faster. Her steadfast gaze pierced straight through my heart, and I had the strangest feeling that I had seen this somewhere before. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and during that moment of anxiety, I heard the deafening laughter of the monster as it scraped the girl off of the building.
"Why?" I sobbed, unable to hold back my tears. "Why is this happening?"
"Do you really have to ask?"
Startled, I turned around and saw the source of the question: a strange creature with deep red eyes, long rabbit-like ears and a bushy tail.
"W-who are you..?"
Ignoring my question, the creature responded: "She won't win. She took on way more than she can handle. But I suspect she already knew that."
As if guided by these words, I looked back at the black haired girl, who had finally recovered after being hit so hard. Though she lunged sideways, trying to dodge the debris from the monster's attacks, she couldn't avoid all of them. A large piece of concrete hit her square in the leg, twisting her foot in an unnatural direction. I was helpless as I stood and watched it all.
"No! Make it stop! Please!" I couldn't help covering my face as I pleaded, begging every higher power I could think of to end the destruction before me. When I looked at the girl again, I noticed that she seemed to be crying out to me, but I couldn't hear what she was trying to say. Though she was gravely wounded, her eyes burned with urgency - and yet, my wimpy legs couldn't even take a single step. It would've been the least I could do to go to her side and help her up, but I wasn't even capable of that.
Why am I so useless? Tears rushed down my face as I cursed my own weakness. At that moment, I hated myself more than the monster that was attacking the girl.
"If you give up, that's it," came the sweet voice of the strange creature as it sat down next to me. "But you have the power to change destiny. All of this destruction - you could end it all."
The familiar words rang out like a school bell as I remembered that I'd heard it all before. The images of people I'd never met appeared in my head one by one.
A torn yellow lotus leaf skirt, soaking in a pool of blood.
The shredded blue miniskirt of a fallen girl holding a broken sword.
A sleeveless red top slashed to pieces - along with the girl who was wearing it.
"Who are these people..?" my voice was barely more than a whisper.
"These tragedies are unavoidable," said the creature. "But they don't have to be. You can change this."
I looked again in the direction of the black haired girl. She was still desperately calling out to me, but no matter how intently I watched her mouth, there was no way I could tell what she was trying to say.
"Is it true?" I said. "Can someone - someone like me - really change destiny?"
"Of course you can!" the creature said brightly. "You have the power to do anything! All you have to do is make a contract with me and become a magical girl!"
***
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
"Eh..?"
The creature's voice was cut off by the sound of my alarm clock. I opened my eyes and was greeted with the familiar sight of my bedroom. Everything was the same as it was the night before; my favorite stuffed animals, Kuma and Kappa, were next to my pillow.
"Wow... What a weird dream." I sighed slowly and got out of bed. I walked to the bay window and opened it, letting the early summer sunshine and gentle breeze into the room. The fresh air helped clear my head; all I wanted was to forget that horrible dream and be happy. Right below my window, my dad was working in the family's vegetable garden. I'd never felt more relieved to see him in his apron.
"Good morning, Dad!"
"Ah! Good morning, Madoka!"
"Where's Mom?"
Dad chuckled. "Tatsuya is waking her up. Can you help him out?"
"Okay!" I ran out of my room and across the hallway to my parents' room. It was time for the usual morning routine.
As expected, my baby brother Tatsuya was sitting on the bed, hitting her repeatedly.
"Mama! Mama! Wake up! Wake up!"
But it would take more than a three-year-old's power punch to wake Mom up. I flung open the curtains, and then, after gently moving Tatsuya off the bed, pulled the quilt off in one breath.
"RISE AND SHINE, SLEEPYHEAD!"
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!"
With a startled yell, Mom jumped cartoonishly out of bed as Tatsuya laughed his little head off. I laughed too. Waking Mom up was easily the best part of the morning routine.
***
"So, how was school yesterday? Did anything interesting happen?" Though she was half-asleep, Mom still had the energy to talk to me as she brushed her teeth.
"Oh, that's right!" I said. "Hitomi got another love letter - it's the second one this month."
"Hmm."
"She doesn't know how to respond, though. She asked me to ask you what she should do."
"Ask me? Why?"
"Um..." I was a little embarrassed to explain it. "It's just... Hitomi thinks you're really trustworthy."
"Ah. Well, isn't it obvious? She should just come right out and tell him how she feels!"
"She - should she?"
"If he doesn't have the courage to confess directly, then he's not worth her time. Men like that are absolutely impossible."
So, in other words, she should give him a clean break. I wasn't sure how well that would work with someone as polite as Hitomi. I thought about how to explain this to her as I brushed my teeth in silence. Meanwhile, Mom began washing her face. By the time I finished brushing my teeth, she had already moved onto doing her hair.
"By the way, how's Kazuko?" said Mom. Kazuko is my homeroom teacher, Ms. Kazuko Saotome. She and my mom have been best friends since high school. Ms. Saotome is good looking, but unlucky in love; she's still single at 34-years-old.
"She's been really cheerful in class lately," I replied while washing my face. "This week is their third month anniversary - it's a new record!"
"Is that so? I wonder what will happen now. Three months is the most critical period in a relationship, you know." Mom grinned to herself in the mirror; she was already finished doing her makeup. She could put on makeup so fast, it was like magic. "If he's not The One, it's around now that he'll show his true colors. But if you can survive past the three month mark, you can make it to a year!"
"Ah... I see." To be honest, I don't really understand relationships.
Actually, it's not just romance that I don't understand. I continued to ponder everything my mom said while washing my face. How is it that someone like her ended up with a daughter like me? Even though she had only just woken up, Mom's makeup was perfect, like an actress on the cover of a magazine. Meanwhile, my hair was still a bedhead disaster. I couldn't even decide which ribbon I wanted to wear today.
"Ribbon, ribbon..." I muttered to myself. "Which one should I wear?" I was torn between red and yellow.
My timid question was heard by my mother. "This one," she said, immediately pointing at the red ribbon.
"Really? You don't think it's too flashy?"
"It's just the right level of flashy! A lady should never let herself be underestimated." Mom smiled as she took the red ribbon and skillfully tied my hair. "There, isn't that lovely? The Madoka Fan Club is gonna have a field day with this!"
"I don't have a fan club!" My face must've been redder than the ribbon!
"You don't know that!" Mom winked. "But you should always act as if you do. Confidence is the secret to success, Madoka."
I smiled weakly at her and glanced at the mirror again. The red ribbons were still way too flashy... But I didn't even have the confidence to make up my mind.
"Come on, let's eat!" Mom hugged me around the shoulders and nudged me towards the kitchen.
Tatsuya was already in his high chair, and Dad's special breakfast was waiting for us on the kitchen table. It smelled so good - I didn't realize just how hungry I was!
Today's breakfast was toast made from homemade bread, smoked bacon and salami, and a salad with fried eggs, lettuce and tomatoes. Dad really is a genius when it comes to housework. With an ambitious career woman for a wife, it was only natural that he took over the domestic duties. It was the perfect job for him.
"Oh, I'm so happy!" Mom sat down at her usual seat, giving Dad an adoring smile.
"I take it you'll be going straight to work after breakfast?" Dad chuckled.
"Sorry!" Mom said. She took a piece of toast with her left hand and began flipping through the newspaper with her right hand. She read the news at an astonishing speed while drinking the coffee Dad made for her, while also taking care of Tatsuya and eating at the same time... She was like the Mother Goddess Durga with eight arms. This is my mother, doing all of these things at once by herself - and doing it faster and better than I ever could.
They say that traits can skip a generation, and sometimes I wonder if I just didn't inherit any of my mother's good qualities. But Mom always smiled and told me "practice makes perfect!" According to her, she taught herself how to multi-task to maximize the time spent with family - and apparently, that trait carried over into work. This was how she managed to get such an important position at her company. "Nothing ever happens the way you expect it to," Mom had said with a wistful sigh.
"Another cup of coffee, dear?" said Dad.
"No need," replied Mom. She wiped her mouth clean - her makeup still immaculate - and folded the newspaper neatly. "Alright then, I'm heading out!" She kissed Dad and Tatsuya, and stretched her hand out to me. I reached out and gave her a high-five. She smiled one last time and left - Supermom, off to save the world again.
Why couldn't I be as cool as her? I was so amazed by my mother, I started to doze off...
"You should hurry up too, Madoka."
Dad's gentle voice broke me out of my trance. What was I doing? It was almost eight o'clock!
"Waaa! I'm gonna be late!"
I stuffed the remaining toast and salad into my mouth and grabbed my schoolbag. Dad was helping Tatsuya into his kindergarten clothes; I just barely had time to pat him on the head, high-five Dad, and hurry out the door.
Flying into the bright daylight, the nightmare that had me so upset before had completely disappeared from my heart.
***
"Good morning!"
On my usual route to school, I spotted two familiar figures, standing in their usual spot. Not wanting to keep them waiting any longer, I ran as fast as I could - and nearly fell right on top of them!
"Whoa! Slow down there, Madoka!" the short haired girl said as she caught me. Her name was Sayaka Miki. We've known each other since elementary school.
"Sorry!" I gasped as I steadied myself. "I'm so sorry!"
The other girl giggled. "Good morning, Madoka." She bowed her head politely to me. This elegant girl is Hitomi Shizuki. We've been classmates ever since we started at Mitakihara Junior High.
"Oh!" Sayaka exclaimed, forgetting all about my blunder. "Are those ribbons new? They're so cute!"
I blushed. "They're not too flashy, are they?"
"They're very pretty," Hitomi chimed in, her voice reassuring. Hearing the stylish Hitomi say that put my mind at ease. I breathed a sigh of relief as the three of us continued on our way to school.
It really was a beautiful day. The sky was a clear blue, stretching endlessly to the mountains on the horizon without a cloud in sight. As we climbed the ramp, I looked down at train station on the street below. My mother's words echoed in my head: "The modern buildings and the old scenery are harmoniously combined. You couldn't find a better place to live!"
She was right, of course. Mitakihara had huge shopping malls and beautiful nature parks. In the morning and evening, dog owners and commuters alike filled the streets, living and laughing without a care. Mitakihara, the friendliest city in the world; this was the place I called home.
"Madoka?" Hitomi's soft voice broke me out of my daydream. "Did you ask your mother about... The thing I said before?"
I nodded. "She said that you should just tell him the truth, and that guys who can't confess directly aren't worth your time." Though I tried to soften the message for Hitomi's sake, I couldn't really phrase it any better than my mother could.
"That's true," Hitomi said, nodding.
"Madoka's mom is the coolest, isn't she?" said Sayaka. "She's beautiful, smart, has a great husband and a great job... It's like she's not even human! I wanna be just like her someday!"
"Ahaha... Me too..." I said, laughing awkwardly. It's true that having such an exceptional mother was a blessing, but for me, it was also a curse.
My mom has no problem saying what's on her mind, but I tend to beat around the bush. She's quick to put her ideas into action, but I hesitate even after I finally make up my mind. By the time I finally start to do one thing, she's already finished ten. So, the more praise my mother gets, the more ashamed I feel of myself.
If only I had someone to confide this to.
Hitomi sighed. "It would be nice to be as decisive as Madoka's mother, I admit. Oh, how am I going to reply to him?"
I began to panic again as I tried to help Hitomi think of a solution, but Sayaka just laughed.
"It's a pain, sure. But I can't say I'm not a little jealous."
Jealous? I didn't think about it that way. But I could kind of see what Sayaka meant. How would it feel to receive a love letter from a boy? My heart fluttered as I imagined it...
"Wow... I wish I could get... A love letter..."
"Oh ho? Do you now?"
Huh? Wait - did I just say that out loud?! I regained my senses too late; Sayaka was already standing in front of me with a huge smirk.
"I see how it is! You're trying to outshine Hitomi, aren't you? So you started by changing your image with those flashy red ribbons!"
"N-no! These ribbons... Um... Well... My mom said..."
Sayaka's grin grew wider. "So, your mom taught you the secret to her success, eh? How shameless! A hussy like you needs to be punished!" She began wiggling her fingers threateningly.
"No! Please! Don't!" I'm very, very ticklish - something Sayaka frequently used to her advantage. Just seeing her fingers was enough to make my entire body itchy. But there was no stopping Sayaka's Tickle Attack!
"Ahahaha! Cut it out, Sayaka!"
"I bet all the boys are gonna want a piece of you! But too bad for them - you're already my bride!"
"No! Stop!" I cried. Sayaka always knew just how to tease me, but this was too much, even for her. I didn't want to laugh, but I couldn't help my reflexes - tickling really is the worst form of torture!
"Ahem."
Hitomi's cough stopped Sayaka in her tracks, and she noticed that other students were staring as they passed us by. Embarrassed from making such a big scene, we continued to school without another word.
***
"Class! I have a very important announcement to make, so you'd better pay attention!"
It was homeroom, the first period of the school day. Ms. Saotome was standing at the podium, her eyes glaring sharply at every one of us from the depths her glasses. Her normally gentle voice was dangerously low, paralyzing the classroom with anxiety. Whatever this announcement was, it had to have been serious.
"Nakazawa!" she said suddenly, pointing to a boy sitting at the front of the classroom. "When it comes to fried eggs, does it matter if the yolk is solid or half-cooked?!"
Nakazawa stood up hastily, flustered from being called out. He hesitated before smiling nervously.
"It doesn't really matter... No..."
"Precisely!" Ms. Saotome shouted, hitting the podium with a tightly clenched fist. "It doesn't matter! You should never, ever judge a woman's value by how she cooks her eggs! It'll be your biggest regret!"
Nakazawa sat back down, sighing with relief from answering correctly. Ms. Saotome continued, her voice growing hysterical.
"Listen up, girls! Don't ever associate with men who only eat their eggs half-cooked! That's just asking for a world of drama! And boys! Don't you dare grow up to be the kind of man who cares about petty things like how his eggs are prepared!"
Poor Ms. Saotome. I wonder what happened this time? After a moment of silence following that speech, the classroom buzzed with speculation.
"Did they break up?"
"They definitely broke up."
Having said her piece in one breath, Ms. Saotome stood up straight and smiled.
"Now that's out of the way, I have some news for you all! Today, a transfer student will be joining our class!"
"Shouldn't she have told us that first?" Sayaka snickered.
"Please come in, Miss Akemi!"
The moment she walked into the room, my heart skipped a beat.
No way... It couldn't be...
The classroom seemed to gasp collectively when they saw her. I heard a few people go "ooh!" Even Sayaka was taken aback by the transfer student.
"Whoa... She's gorgeous!" I heard her say. My heartbeat grew faster.
"No," I whispered. "That's impossible..."
But it was undeniable. The long black hair... The delicate body and soft, doll-like face... It was her. The girl standing at the front of the classroom was the girl from my dream.
"Why don't you introduce yourself?" said Ms. Saotome. The classroom fell silent as the girl spoke in a calm monotone.
"My name is Homura Akemi. It's nice to meet you all."
Everyone waited with bated breath for Akemi to continue her self-introduction, but she didn't say another word. Ms. Saotome, who had written half her name on the blackboard, motioned for her to continue. Akemi remained silent, ignoring the baffled stares from the classroom. The atmosphere in the classroom became awkward.
Suddenly, Akemi moved. She took the chalk from Ms. Saotome and finished writing her name on the blackboard. She faced the class again and bowed deeply, her long, dark hair flowing with her every movement.
Normally, this sort of behavior would be considered strange, or even rude. But Akemi must've left a strong impression on my classmates. I don't know who was the first to clap their hands, but everyone else was quick to join in the warm applause.
Everyone except for me. Because at that moment, Akemi looked directly at me. Her sharp, fierce eyes sent a chill down my spine; it was just like in my dream. I was so scared, I couldn't even move my hands. Up until now, I had completely forgotten about that terrible nightmare. The apocalyptic scene filled my mind once more. The red and black sky, the cracked earth, the huge monster in the sky that destroyed every building in its path... It was all coming back to me now.
I closed my eyes and shook my head, trying to rid myself of these horrible images. But when I opened my eyes, Akemi was still staring at me, her gaze cold.
***
"Akemi, what school were you in before?"
"Were you in any clubs? What about sports teams?"
"Your hair is so beautiful! What kind of shampoo do you use?"
During our lunch break, everyone gathered around the transfer student. Though Akemi barely responded, the questions just kept coming, one after another.
"That Akemi really is something, isn't she?"
Hearing this, I looked up. Sayaka and Hitomi were standing next to me, and sure enough, they were observing the transfer student.
"Madoka," Sayaka said. "Do you know that girl, by any chance?"
"Huh? Why do you ask?"
"The way she was staring at you this morning... I thought maybe you pissed her off somehow."
I wasn't sure how to respond. Though it was true Akemi had a scary look in her eyes, how could I be so sure she was staring at me specifically? And even if she was staring at me, I did save her in my dream, right?
No. That can't be it. It was just a dream. Akemi was a complete stranger to me.
But if she was really a stranger, why did I dream about her last night? There's no way something that random could be just a coincidence... Or could it? I didn't know how to answer my own questions, let alone Sayaka's.
"I'm sorry." Akemi stood up, abruptly ending the interrogation. "I'm not feeling well. Please excuse me. I need to visit the nurse's office."
"Huh? Oh! I can take you there, if you want!"
"I'll come too!"
But Akemi just shook her head.
"No need. I'll ask the nurse's aide to take me."
She turned around and looked back at me. My heart skipped another beat. Akemi walked over to my desk, her eyes never leaving mine; my knees couldn't help but tremble.
"Madoka Kaname," she said. It wasn't a question.
"Yes?" My response was a reflex more than anything else.
"You are the nurse's aide for this class, correct?"
"Um... Well..."
"Can you show me to the nurse's office?" She stared deeply into my eyes, her gaze just as intense as in the dream. I was in no position to refuse; I nodded helplessly and followed her out of the classroom.
Akemi walked swiftly, her waist-length hair swaying with her hips. There was no hesitation in her stride; it felt more like she was taking me to the nurse's office, and not the other way around. Students from other classes stopped and stared as she walked past. Was it because she was a new face? Or was it because of her beauty? I had a feeling it was the latter; the boys especially seemed to be stunned. Compared to Akemi, I felt like a sidekick, and she was the omnipotent protagonist. That thought really didn't help with my low self-esteem.
But self-pity wasn't going to get me anywhere. All I needed to do was muster up the courage to talk to her...
"Um... How did you know that I was the nurse's aide?"
There was a slight pause.
"Ms. Saotome told me."
"Oh! That makes sense. Haha..." I was glad to have that piece of the puzzle solved, but it didn't really leave any room for further conversation.
"Um... Well, the nurse's office is..."
"This way, right?"
"Huh? Yes, it is... Wow... It's like you already know the place!"
She didn't respond. The two of us fell into an embarrassing silence. Though there were people all around us, the hallway felt like an iron prison, locking us in alone. What should I do? What should I say? I needed to think of something, and fast - I couldn't bear this awkward silence any longer.
"Um... Akemi?"
"Call me Homura."
I was taken aback by her casualness. Aside from Sayaka and Hitomi, I never called anyone by their first name.
"H-Homura, then?"
"What is it?"
"N-nothing," I said, trying my best to sound lighthearted. "It's just, that's a weird name..."
Homura abruptly stopped walking. I hurried behind her. What's the matter with me? Why did I have to make fun of her name?!
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean that it's a bad name! It's a really cool name actually, I just..."
Homura turned around and faced me, her soft lips pursed tightly, her eyes fierce with determination. She stared at me in silence, and my entire body trembled in fear. We were in the bridge between the two school buildings, and there was nobody else around. I was trapped.
"Madoka," Homura said in her calm, monotone voice. "Do you feel that your life is precious? Are your family and friends important to you?"
"Huh?"
What on Earth was she talking about? Why would she ask me such a thing? I was at a loss for what to say, completely unprepared for the situation I found myself in. There wasn't a hint of irony on Homura's face - she was dead serious. The ferocity of her eyes frightened me, and I wanted nothing more than to flee, from both her and the question. But there was no way out. I had no choice but to answer.
"Of course they are!" I said. "I love my family and my friends! They're all very precious to me."
"Do you mean that?" Her response was prompt, as though she already knew what she was going to say.
"Yes, I do! How could I lie about something like that?" I was almost shouting, my voice thick with fear. Homura nodded, seemingly satisfied with my answer. When she spoke again, it was in a more gentle tone.
"If what you say is indeed true, then don't ever think about changing yourself in any way."
"What?"
"If you do, you will lose everything."
Homura gazed into my eyes once more, then turned on her heel and walked down the corridor. My legs were rooted to the spot, the words echoing in my mind. But I couldn't even begin to understand what they meant.
Homura stopped suddenly and looked back at me, her face somber.
"Just continue to live your life as you always have. As Madoka Kaname. Don't ever try to change that."
***
"Hahahaha! What the hell?!" Sayaka's wild laughter echoed throughout the restaurant; I hastily attempted to cover her mouth.
"Sayaka, stop! You're making a scene again!"
After school, Sayaka and Hitomi wanted to hang out at the mall by the train station. The hamburger shop was popular with kids from our school, so it wasn't a good place to gossip, but Sayaka really loved the food.
"For real, though, she said all that?"
I nodded, staring down at my food. "It didn't make any sense at all..."
"It certainly is odd," Hitomi agreed. Sayaka let out a howl of laughter.
"Odd?! It's straight out of some cheesy anime! The mysterious transfer student: not only is she a genius and an athlete, but she's some kind of neurotic esper, too! Damn, how many more cliches can she add to this lame act? Does she think she's being cute?"
I shrunk down in my seat, trying to ignore Sayaka's outburst.
"I mean, did you see her in math class today? She solved all of those equations without breaking a sweat! She had to have been cheating."
Hitomi nodded thoughtfully as she stirred her drink. "Her high jump in gym class was most impressive. I heard Ms. Ushima say that she reached 170 centimeters. That means she beat the county record!"
It's true. Homura's performance today was incredible. I was so mesmerized, I didn't notice at first that she was staring back at me, like a snake staring down a frog.
"Madoka, was today your first time meeting Akemi?"
It was the same question Sayaka asked at lunch. I looked away, embarrassed. How was I going to explain this to them?
"Hmm... The sensible answer would be no, but..."
Sayaka's face lit up. "But what? Is there a 'not sensible' answer?"
"Um... Well... Last night... I met her in a dream," There was no way I could tell them all the details; the fact that I saw Homura at all was weird enough. Right on cue, Sayaka burst into hysterical laughter.
"Sayaka! I'm being serious here!"
"So you're an esper now too, Madoka? Wow! I didn't think you had it in you!" Sayaka patted me on the shoulder while wiping her eyes.
Ugh. I knew I shouldn't have said anything...
"A dream, huh? I wonder what that's all about. Oh! I know! Maybe you were star-crossed lovers in a past life, and now you've found each other again, reincarnated through space and time!"
My face was burning with embarrassment. Why couldn't I just disappear?
"There is another possibility," Hitomi said, ignoring Sayaka's vicious cackling. "Maybe you have met Akemi before, a long time ago. Even if you don't remember her, she might've left an impression on your subconscious deep enough for you to dream about her."
Sayaka snorted. "That's a pretty big reach, Hitomi. If that's true, that's one hell of a coincidence, don't you think?"
"It's more logical than being star-crossed lovers," Hitomi said briskly. She glanced at her phone and frowned. "I'm very sorry, but I have to leave now." She picked up her school bag and stood up.
"What is it this time?" Sayaka grinned. "Piano? Or Japanese dance?"
"Tea ceremony lessons. Though, with the entrance exams coming up, I wonder if Mother will let me stop taking them..."
"Wow. It sure makes me glad I wasn't born rich."
Sayaka obviously meant that sarcastically, but I actually agreed. Hitomi was always busy with extracurricular lessons, yet her grades haven't fallen at all. She was probably a multi-tasking master like my mom - I could never do that. Just thinking about it was too stressful for me!
"Should we go too?" I asked after Hitomi left.
Sayaka stood up and grabbed her school bag. "Actually, Madoka, would it be okay if we stopped by the music store first? There was a CD I wanted to buy." Her voice, which was so brash before, was a lot softer. But I knew why she was suddenly so shy.
"It's for Kamijou again, isn't it?"
"Ha! You got me."
I smiled. "I think it's wonderful. You're so thoughtful, Sayaka!"
Usually, Sayaka was more boyish than an actual boy. She even made me blush sometimes, even though we're both girls. But right now, the look in her eyes was that of a girl in love.
"It's nothing really," she said as we stepped on the escalator. "I just have some extra spending money, and... Well, considering what Kyosuke is going through, it's the least I can do." She stopped smiling, her face unusually solemn. "God is really cruel. Kyosuke can't move his left hand at all. The doctors said he'll never play the violin again."
"Oh..."
Kyosuke Kamijou is one of our classmates, but more importantly, he is Sayaka's childhood friend and first love. The two of them have known each other since they were in kindergarten. Since they live in the same neighborhood, they played together a lot growing up. Kamijou was a musical prodigy, and had been playing the violin since he was little. He'd participated in several national conventions. Everyone said that he was going to be famous one day...
But then the accident happened.
I never got the chance to hear him play, but I'll always remember the way Sayaka described his performances to me.
"When Kyosuke plays, it's like the world stops to listen," she had said, her eyes sparkling with adoration. "His music fills you with childlike wonder, and makes you want to become one with the music. And when it stops, you can't help but cry. When I see him on stage, I just feel like... Like I can't believe that this amazing person is my friend! His music fills me with so much hope; I want everyone in the world to hear him play!"
I was sad when I learned about the accident, but my feelings were nothing compared to Sayaka's. Ever since that day, she's been doing everything she could to help him. Buying him CDs, visiting him at the hospital every chance she could... I couldn't help but admire Sayaka's passion for Kamijou.
"You should find something you like, too, Madoka!" said Sayaka. I waved to her as she made a beeline towards the classical music section. After wandering around for a bit, I found myself at the listening station. Picking out a CD by one of my favorite artists, I put on the headphones and pressed play. I adjusted the volume, and the song began... With the strangest sound.
"Help..."
Was that part of the song? I kept listening, but I didn't hear it again. I must have been imagining things. The song continued, and just as I was really starting to get into it, I heard it again.
"Help me..."
That definitely wasn't my imagination. I took the headphones off and looked around, trying to find a source for the noise.
"Help me... Madoka..."
Someone was crying out for help - for my help! I looked around frantically, but no one else seemed to hear the pitiful voice. It was almost like the sound was ringing directly in my brain.
"Help me... Help me... Madoka..."
There was no mistaking it. The voice was calling my name! I couldn't believe it at first, but someone out there needed my help!
"Who are you? Where are you?" I said, getting a strange look from a college student. But I didn't have time to worry about that. I needed to find the owner of the voice!
I left the music shop and began searching through the mall. I wasn't sure where I was supposed to go, but my legs felt like they were moving on their own, guided by the voice.
Soon I found myself in the very depths of the mall. It was dark, and no one else was around. It looked like it might've been a storage area. There was an iron door with "EMERGENCY EXIT" written on it in bold letters. I opened it and found a staircase, and a breeze from somewhere up above ruffled my hair.
"Help me! Help me!"
The voice became louder as I went up the stairs.
"Where are you? Who are you?" I kept calling out, but the voice couldn't hear me. The words "save me, save me!" kept repeating in my mind. I had no idea where this voice was coming from, but one thing was certain: whoever it was was in grave danger!
"Wait for me!" I called out. "I'll save you, I promise!"
Guided by the mysterious voice, I ran all the way to the bottom of the staircase. There, I found another door, but this one was open, leading into the dark and empty basement.
My first thought was that it was under renovation. The concrete floor was bare, construction materials were piled up everywhere. No one else was around, and the deeper I went in, the larger the place became. I cowered in fear, but the sound in my mind rang out even louder than before.
"Help me, Madoka! Help me!"
"W-where are you?" I called out as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. I was intimidated by the vastness of the basement. I could tell I was getting close, but I still couldn't pinpoint the source of the voice. Stumbling in the darkness, I nearly hit my head on the boiler ventilation pipe. And then, something rolled out from inside!
"Oh!"
I fell to my knees, catching the thing in my arms. It was some sort of animal with soft white fur, long ears and bushy tail. It wasn't a cat or a rabbit... It was something else entirely... Something like...
I knew I had seen a creature like this before, but I couldn't remember what it was. My mind was racing from everything that has happened. More importantly, the creature was covered in blood.
"Are you okay?" I said. The unknown animal trembled in my arms, but did not respond. This was bad. This was really, really bad. It was fatally wounded; its limbs were twitching in agony.
"What happened? Were you the one who was calling for help?"
The strange creature looked up at me. Its eyes shone with a crimson light - eyes that were full tears that touched me deep in my soul. Those eyes... Where have I seen those eyes? I was trying to remember, when suddenly I heard footsteps. I was not alone. I turned to look behind me, and there she was.
The transfer student, Homura Akemi.
"H-Homura?" I breathed. I couldn't believe it. Not only was Homura here, but she wasn't wearing her school uniform. Instead, she wore a monochrome dress with an elaborate design.
"Drop it," she said, her voice full of venom. She didn't seem to care at all about the wounded animal in my arms.
"But... But he's hurt!" I said, instinctively holding it tighter.
Ignoring my protests, Homura stalked up to me, her high-heeled shoes clicking ominously on the ground. I felt the creature shudder in fear.
"Stop it! Why are you doing this?!"
"That is none of your business."
I stood up, holding the creature tightly to my chest, and backed away.
"He's hurt!" I said again. "I heard him calling my name - calling me for help! I-I won't let you kill him!"
Homura didn't respond. Her eyes just became colder and sharper, as if she wouldn't rest until the creature was dead. I never thought she'd be capable of something so terrible - I had to get this poor thing away from her!
"Madoka! This way!"
Sayaka! Oh, I was so happy to see her! But I couldn't see her for long, because the room was filling up with a thick white fog.
"Over here! Hurry!"
Clutching the wounded creature to my chest, I ran behind Sayaka. I don't know where she found the fire extinguisher, but she sprayed it wildly and haphazardly, firing the powdery foam in every direction. Once the spray ran out, Sayaka dropped the extinguisher and grabbed my hand.
"Run!"
Sayaka was always faster than me, but I ran as hard as I could, trying desperately to keep up with her.
"What is up with that girl?!" Sayaka said. "Is she a LARPer or something?"
I wanted to know myself, but I had bigger things to worry about. With Sayaka holding my left hand so tightly, I only had my right arm to hold the creature with. Its body was so small and fragile, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I dropped it.
"What is that thing, anyway?" asked Sayaka. "It looks like a toy - wait, is it ALIVE?!"
"I don't know! I don't understand what's going on, but I have to save this thing!"
We continued running... And running... I thought we were leaving the white fog behind us, but somehow, we found ourselves right back in the middle of it. No matter how far Sayaka and I ran, we just couldn't make it to the exit. I was beginning to wonder if my nightmare from this morning was actually a premonition of disaster.
We must have entered a different room, because at some point, the floor beneath us changed. It felt like linoleum; hard and cold, yet strangely elastic.
"Do you think we've lost her?" I said.
"I-I think so..." Sayaka's answer didn't sound very confident.
It wasn't just the floor that felt elastic. The walls, the ceiling - everything in this room seemed to be distorted. My head was spinning with confusion. Maybe I was just dizzy from the fumes of the fire extinguisher. But ever since Homura showed up, everything just went crazy. I gripped Sayaka's hand tighter.
"What is this place?"
The white fog began to clear, and I could hear... Laughter? Black butterflies appeared, surrounded by a horde of faceless men. They flew around withered trees as the men sat holding their heads as though in mourning. The laughter continued, along with what sounded like chanting in a strange, foreign language.
This wasn't Mitakihara. This was someone else's nightmare.
I couldn't tell up from down, left from right. The entire space was collapsing and expanding around us, breathing as thought it were alive. I huddled closer to Sayaka, who was shaking with fear.
"No way... Is this some kind of prank? It's just a dream, right? Right, Madoka?!"
I don't know where it was coming from, but I could hear chains clanging in the distance as the laughter grew louder. I could no longer comprehend what was going on. The sound encircled us, passing underneath our arms, all the way down to our feet.
"Sayaka!" I cried, my knees shaking.
The metallic sound of a giant, rattling chain pierced my ears, stopping and starting with no apparent pattern or rhythm. We were surrounded by countless, otherworldly beings that I couldn't even begin to name. They were singing and dancing, but their music wasn't joyful at all. It was filled with endless malice and hatred for the world.
I always thought that I was boring, forgettable person. The type of person that you see every day on the train, but never give a second thought. These depressing feelings were not new to me, but in this world that was neither fantasy nor reality, my sorrow and self-loathing engulfed me, threatening to swallow me whole. It was more than just an emotion - in this world, despair itself was a tangible being. I could feel its presence lurking just out of my reach.
My weak heart couldn't take any more of this, and Sayaka, who was usually so brave, let out a scream of terror. I hugged the creature as I cowered, preparing for the worst.
A dazzling golden light rose from the ground. The light spread around the area, dispelling the horrible music. It continued to grow, forming a barrier around us, shielding us with its warm embrace. A gentle, elegant voice rang out through the darkness.
"My, my. That was a close one. But don't worry. You are safe now."
A beautiful girl emerged from the the darkness. Her curly, golden blonde hair was tied into pigtails, and she was wearing a Mitakihara Junior High uniform, just like me and Sayaka. She approached cautiously, holding something small and shiny in her hands. Even from far away, I could tell that it was something extremely precious.
"Thank you for saving Kyubey," she said. "He is a very special friend to me." She smiled, a pure, wonderful smile that contained everything good in the world. My legs stopped shaking and my fears melted away. There was something about this girl that made me feel safe.
"H-he was calling me!" I blurted out. "I could hear his voice in my mind... Somehow..." I was worried that the girl would think I was insane, but instead, she smiled warmly.
"Ah, I see," she said, looking over Sayaka and me with gentle eyes. "That uniform - you are also from Mitakihara Junior High. Are you second years?"
"Yeah," Sayaka said breathlessly. She was just as enchanted by this girl as I was. "Who are you?"
The girl chuckled. "How rude of me! I forgot to introduce myself." She narrowed her eyes, her expression solemn. "There will be plenty of time for that later. Right now, I need to finish this job."
From this distance, I could see the luminous object she was holding. It looked like an intricately carved gemstone, glowing brightly, a beacon of hope in the darkness. The girl stepped forward majestically, the light from the gem illuminating her entire body. I watched in amazement as her shoes transformed into leather boots right before my eyes, and her uniform became an elaborately designed dress, not unlike the one Homura was wearing. The sight was incredible to behold, and it pulled my heart out from the depths of despair. Sayaka's jaw dropped as as silver rifles appeared out of nowhere behind the girl, and fired all at once, shooting down the otherworldly beings that had us trapped before.
"Amazing," I whispered, and the creature, Kyubey, stirred in my arms. The space around us returned to normal; we were once again in the basement of the mall.
But it wasn't over yet. The girl was still dressed in her unusual outfit, staring up at something I couldn't see.
"The witch escaped," she said, and I could tell she wasn't talking to Sayaka and me. "If you hurry, you might be able to catch it. I'll let you have it this time."
The familiar clicking of high heels echoed behind us. It was Homura, her face unreadable.
"I have other business -" she began, staring at the creature in my arms. I held it closer, trying to shield it from her paralyzing glare.
The other girl cut her off. "You're not very bright, are you? What I'm saying is, I'm letting you off the hook for now. Wouldn't you rather avoid unnecessary conflict?"
Though she smiled, her eyes were cold. Homura continued to glare, but it seemed more feeble now. She knew she had lost. Without another word, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the darkness.
***
"Thank you, Mami! I'm saved."
I'm not sure what she did, but with just one touch, the girl named Mami was able to bring the long-eared animal back to life.
"Don't thank me," she said with a smile. "I just happened to be in the area. These two were the ones who found you."
The creature turned to Sayaka and me, assessing us with it's deep red eyes. Its long tail fluttered as it approached us.
"Thank you!" he said. "You saved my life back there! My name is Kyubey."
"Kyubey," I repeated. "Were you the one who was calling me?"
Kyubey nodded. "Yes, Madoka Kaname. And you too, Sayaka Miki. I'm so glad I was able to find you." Since the creature had called me by my name before, being addressed like that didn't surprise me. But Sayaka's eyes widened in shock.
"Huh? How do you know my name?"
"I've been looking for you for a long time," Kyubey said, a faint eagerness in his voice. "I came to you because I have a request."
"A request?"
It was at this moment that it finally dawned on me where I had seen this creature before. Though the details had become fuzzy, fragments of my dream appeared in my mind again. I remember now. This incredible creature, Kyubey, appeared in my dream along with the transfer student. And in it, he had said -
"I want you to make a contract with me and become a magical girl!"
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