SayakaQuest: Trauma is a Thing

[TheOneMoiderah]

OOC: [X] Moid: Go to sleep. It's simply not possible!

[x] Go to school

You quickly put on your uniform, crack your neck, stretch a little, and get downstairs. You can see your mom already awake with a cup of coffee. "Jeez, already?"

"Yup." She yawns. "I saw your note. Where's she sleeping?"

"Upstairs. Futon."

Mrs. Miki pauses...before she sighs. "Alright. How long is she staying?"

"Huh?"

"I was asking." She sipped the coffee again. "I mean, hopefully she has a place to go, but then again, I saw how much she ate last night."

You recoil. "Huh?"

"That chicken was gonna be my dinner."

You grow pale. "Uh...!"

Your mom laughs. "No, no! It's alright. I'll talk to her when she wakes up, alright?" She sighs. "Just go to school and it'll be taken care of."

You nod. "Alright."

-[x] Unless Kyouko has other plans.

You run upstairs and, indeed, she's sleeping. Like a rock. In fact, she turns over and covers herself some more.

Honestly, it's kinda cute. Especially given how gruff she is normally...

...

You're watching a girl that you barely know sleep.

Now who's the stalker?

You snicker at the thought, before you start running off. "Bye!" You shout. "See you after school!"

"Alright." Your mom waves, before she sips more of her coffee. "...Kids." She says wistfully.

You quickly make it to the school when you see Hitomi talking to Madoka on the way there. You meet them both quickly, and you join in idle conversation before class begins.

And when it does...predictably, nothing of great importance happens for much of the lecture. You just wind up being bored through much of it. So you decide to take advantage of the furball's powers as a kind of medium.

[x]Talk to...
-[x]Homura

'You there?'

You look at the front of the classroom to see Homura taking notes, looking disinterested in the teaching itself. '...Yes. I am. What do you want?'

'Uh...' You scratch the back of your head. 'I want to apologize. I treated you kind of terribly last night.'

'Yes. You did.' Homura says. 'Don't worry. It's not the worst I've had.'

...That raises some interesting questions. Some of which you really don't want to hear the answer to. 'Alright...but still. I'm so sorry...and thanks for the Grief Seeds.'

She pauses, before she sighs. 'You're welcome.'

-[x]Madoka

'Are you alright, Sayaka?' She starts.

'Yeah.' You say. 'Much better after last night.' You lean back. 'Kyouko and I had a nice conversation, then she slept at my house. She's still there.'

'Is your mom home?'

'Yeah, she didn't go on a business trip this time.' You look at the ceiling. '...But still. I keep wondering. What happened last night?'

Madoka pauses. '...Actually...' She looks at you. '...Okay, I need you to answer this for me. Do you want to hear it from me, or from her?'

'I want to hear it from her.' You say. 'I really, really don't want to hear it without her being comfortable about...whatever happened.'

Madoka smiles. '...And that's why you're a good person.' She looks at you. 'That's kind of you, Sayaka.'

'Yeah.' You grin like a moron. 'Thanks.'

[OPTION SELECT]​

[] Keep talking to Madoka.

[] Talk to...
-[] Homura.
-[] Kyubey.

[] About...
-[] Being meguca.
-[] Kyouko.
-[] What to do after school.

 

[TheOneMoiderah]

[x] Talk to...
-[x] Homura.
[x] About...
-[x] Being meguca.

'Alright, so...' You look at her. 'I noticed something while fighting that witch last night. While I did experience a lot of pain after getting my arm torn off, it was actually less painful than I thought it was gonna be.'

She nods. 'That's actually something of a..."perk" of yours. Remember what your wish was about?'

You blink. 'Yeah. It was...for-' Kamijou. '-someone I know to get better.' You look at the ground.

She makes a noncommital sound. 'Whatever you wished for, it gave you better durability. You can take a lot more hits before you actually go down.'

'...So I'm a tank, more or less?'

'Uh...I don't know that term.'

'I can soak up a lot of damage and can afford to aggro the enemy.'

'Wait, what?'

'...I can attract attention and take a lot of punishment.'

'Okay.' Homura says. 'If you want to call yourself that, yes. You are the tank.' She sighs. 'Now, about your other power. You helped Kyouko heal, correct?'

'So that makes me a healing tank?'

'Yes. Yes it does. Whatever.' She's getting annoyed by your terminology. 'Either way, take advantage of it.'

'Goddit.' You shoot her a thumbs up. 'Thanks for the advice!'

She sighs mentally. '...You're welcome.'

-[x] Kyouko.

'What about Kyouko?' You say. 'You knew she was a magical girl, right?'

'Why would you expect me to know this?' She says.

'Well, you're a magical girl, and you obviously know what you're doing...' You say. 'I mean, you gave us two grief seeds really easily. Like, you have a lot, right?'

'Yes.' She says. 'But I still don't see the connection.'

'...Nevermind.' You say. 'So...she's a magical girl and she's pretty cool so far!' You say. 'I actually like her.'

'Hm.' She looks forwards. You can't read her reaction.

'...So do you know anything about her?'

'Just be wary.' Homura says.

'Huh?' You tilt your head.

'You need to be on your guard with her.' Homura says.

'...Uh...okay.' You shrug. 'Man, are you suspicious about everything?'

She doesn't say anything after that.

-[x] What to do after school.

'What should we do after school?'

'Train.' She says simply. 'Just train. If you can, find out what the extent of your powers are. Then again, you don't have many grief seeds, so you might want to fight a witch.' She looks forwards again. 'The last two you fought were rather strong. If you can find a weaker one, then you would be fine.'

'...Alright.' You shrug.

[OPTION SELECT]​

[] Keep talking to Homura.

[] Talk to...
-[] Madoka.
-[] Kyubey.

[] Skip to after school.

[] Skip to lunch.

 

[TheOneMoiderah]

OOC: Good on yah for stopping the argument without my intervention. Though you should both fucking know better.

[x] Skip to lunch.

The rest of class passes without much incident. Not that you'd know, you spent most of it sleeping. That said, when you go up to lunch, you decide to finally bite the bullet on something. You may have done awesomely last night but...well...

[x] With Madoka and Hitomi.

"Hey." You say to both Hitomi and Madoka. "I...uh...I need to talk to you about something." You fidget.

Hitomi blinks. "What is it, Sayaka?"

Madoka immediately looks a little worried. 'Is it about...?'

You take a deep breath and spill it. "IlikeKyousuke."

They both pause to look at you...and then Madoka starts laughing. "Oh, that!" It's actually pretty loud. "I thought it was something else!"

"Huh?" You look confused.

"You didn't exactly hide it well." Hitomi has a thin smile. "We both knew that already."

"Wait, seriously?!" You groan. "Oh, come on!" You sigh. "I thought it was gonna be a shock!"

"It's about as shocking as hearing about your new haircut." Hitomi says. "But are you actually going to-?"

You let her trail off. You shake some more. "I...uh..." You feel nervous. You feel unsettled about it...but you know what? Fuck it. "Yes!" You say. "I'm going to do it! I'm going to tell him! Today!"

Madoka smiles. "Oh, that's good!" She grins. "That's really good on you!" She runs up and gives you a hug around the waist as you sigh.

Hitomi nods. "I'm glad for that, truly." She sighs. "Well, anyway, good luck with it." She seems a little saddened.

"...Are you alright, Hitomi?" You say.

"Yes." She says. "I'm fine." She keeps the smile. "Just treat him well, okay?"

​

[OPTION SELECT]​

[] Keep talking to Hitomi.

[] Talk to...
-[] Madoka.
-[] Kyubey.

[] Skip to after school.
-[] Go to the hospital.
-[] Go home.
-[] Go out to train.

 

[TheOneMoiderah]

[x] Keep talking to your friends.

"You alright, Hitomi?"

"I'm fine." She says. "I'm just fine."

Madoka frowns. 'She doesn't look the part.'

'Yeah.' You look at her. "You sure?"

"I said that I was fine." She sits down. "Just...maybe I'll have to be faster, then." She smiles.

"...You had a crush on him too?"

She pauses and stares at you...then she nods slowly.

"Ah." You smile. "Well, I'll talk to him. Hey, maybe you still have a chance." You really don't want her to have a chance.

"Oh, no I could never!" She says. "I...uh...hm." She sits. "...Well, just...I hope you do well with it."

[x] Before lunch ends, call home and see if things are okay.

You take out your own phone, slide your thumb across the screen, and reach her number in your contacts list. You bring it to your ear and, in just seconds, you can hear a lazy voice on the other end. "Heeeeeeeeeeey."

"Kyouko?" You ask. "Are you still there?"

"Yeah." She flops around. "Also, been watchin' movies with your mom. She's kinda cool!" Suddenly, she moves away from the phone, and you hear murmuring on the other end. "Yeah, they could just run to the fucking side!"

"Oh, that's good!" You say. "Could you hand it over to her?" "I know, right? The shit kind of movie is this?"

"Sure." Kyouko says. "A pretentious-as-fuck-one."

There's rustling on the other end. "Hello?"

"Mom?"

"Hey." She says. "Just watching movies with your friend! I like her!" "Hah oh dear god, seriously."

"That's great to hear." You say. "Well, I'll be heading to the hospital before I get home."

"Checking on Kyousuke?" She says.

"Yes." You say with a bright blush.

"Well, good luck, then." She says. "Love you!"

"Love you too, mom." You sigh, and then you end the call. "...Well, that didn't take long."

By that point, lunch is over, and you're back in the classroom...and a certain little furball is sitting on your desk.

'Sayaka Miki?' It asks.

[OPTION SELECT]​

[] Push him off. He's taking up laptop space.

[] Ask him to move.

[] Just ignore him.

[] Talk to...
-[] Homura.
-[] Madoka.
-[] Kyubey.

 

[TheOneMoiderah]

[x] Talk to...
-[x] Kyubey.

'Kyubey?' You just seem to stare at your desk, and several of the students around you just seem to look strangely.

'I can move.' He says. 'Just sit down. Class is about to begin, right?'

You shake your head. 'Uh...right.' You sit down and he moves out of the way of your laptop. 'So...what's happening?'

'Other than the arrival of Kyouko Sakura, not much.' He says. 'Especially in the way of Grief Seeds. I notice that none of you have been assisting with their collection.'

'Mine haven't been used up yet.' You say.

'Hm.' He whips his tail around. 'Well, I suppose I can't force you to give them to us.' He tilts his head. 'Though have you any idea why Kyouko is here?'

'...Honestly, no.' You say. 'What, do you know?'

'It's because Mami died.'

You freeze at that. '...What?'

'She moved here to hunt Grief Seeds.' He says.

'Well, that makes sense.' You say. 'Grief Seeds are important for us. And...well...' You look at your own ring. '...If I don't give myself one every so often, my mood tanks. And when it tanks, it tanks badly.'

'Hm.' Kyubey looks at you. 'So you think they are to be used as mood stabilizers of a sort?'

'Kinda sorta.' You say. 'But I don't know all of it.'

'Hm. Isn't that a shame.' He says. 'There is so much to being a magical girl. You already know the risks, but there is the matter of responsibility.' He says.

'Like what? Protecting the people?'

'Yes.' He says.

[OPTION SELECT]​

[] 'Then what?'

[] Let it hang there.

[] Ask Kyubey questions.

[] Stop talking to him.

[] Ask for advice.

[] Talk to...
-[] Homura.
-[] Madoka.

 

[TheOneMoiderah]

[x] Tell him you'll adjust your grief seed usage so that you use up grief seeds more completely.

'Yeah, I've been leaving half-used Grief Seeds. I should use them more completely.'

'I would hope so.' He says. 'It's better to be more efficient.'

You nod. 'Yeah.'

[x] If it doesn't have any more business to discuss, ask it for advice on how to develop your magic.

'So...do you have any advice on developing my magic?'

'Mostly creative application. You only get one particular set of skills. However, the application of it is what will what will elevate you. Regardless of how weak your skills supposedly are, you have a potentially unlimited number of different uses.'

'...So when all I have is a hammer...'

'I don't think that's the right phrase to use.' He says. 'However, with all things said and done, perhaps you could use some additional help. The more the merrier, after all.' He turns his head. 'Madoka?'

'I...' She pauses. 'I remember what you told me the other day. I don't know if I'm willing...'

'I am aware.' He says. 'But the more magical girls there are in one place, the better. The majority of magical girls try working alone, often with disastrous results. It really is heavily reliant on teamwork.' He stares at her. 'A team can possibly last for a very long time.'

She pauses.

[OPTION SELECT]​

[] Keep talking to Kyubey.

[] Shut Kyubey up.

[] Talk to...
-[] Homura.
-[] Madoka.

[] Skip to after school.

[] Go to the hospital.

[] Train alone.

[] Train with Homura.

[] Train with Kyouko.

[] Go witch hunting.

[] Go familiar hunting.

 

[TheOneMoiderah]

[x] Look contemplative and thank Kyubey for his advice.

You look at him. All you can think about is how...shifty it sounds. There are already three magical girls here. And each one needs a supply of Grief Seeds. It'd be limiting on the supply, wouldn't it? 'Thank you, Kyubey.'

'If you need more advice, just let me know.' He says. 'I will be there.' He disappears under your desk. As in completely vanishes. It's so strange how he disappeared without anyone really noticing.

That's so shifty.

[x] Timeskip to the hospital.

The rest of class passes without much incident. In fact, it's not the class that's worrying you. It's the fact that right after this, you're going to confess to Kyousuke. Though whenever you think about it, Madoka actually says not to worry. You finally decide to bite the bullet.

It takes you twenty minutes to walk to the hospital, and when you do, you go alone. You start going up the stairs to Kyousuke's room and, when you do, you take a deep breath...and open the door.

He's staring out of his window, and the wind's blowing back the curtains.

If you didn't like him so much, you'd be laughing at how over-dramatic this is.

[OPTION SELECT]​

[] Start talking to him.

[] Gather up the courage to confess. (64%)

[] Speak clearly. (53%)

[] Chicken out.

 

[TheOneMoiderah]

[x] Gather up the courage to confess. (64%)

[ROLL: 37]

You start saying something, but then it chokes a little. It's then that he turns around. "...Oh?" He looks. "Sayaka." He says with a smile. "I...wait. You weren't there for it, were you?"

"There for what?" You say.

"I was able to play again." He says. "I could actually do it!"

You can tell that he's happy. And in fact? You're happier than you could ever imagine. "I...that's wonderful!" You say back. You suddenly feel a little awful for missing it...but then again, you spent your day with Madoka. "I...uh..." You fidget.

"Hm?" He looks at you strangely. "...Are you okay?"

"I...uh..." I love you. "Just..." You take a deep breath. "I like you." You say.

He pauses. "...Hm?"

"I like you." You say. "...Morethanafriend." You look at the floor.

"...You like me as in...?"

"I like youmorethanafriend,andIwanttobeyourgirlfriend." You say, again.

He looks confused.

You take a deep breath. "I want to be your girlfriend!" You shout at the top of your lungs. You say it out loud. You say it so that he can hear it. "I said it!" You say to nobody. "I...just...!"

He smiles thinly. "Thank you, Sayaka." He says.

You stare at him. He's not rejecting you. He seems happy. He seems-

"But I don't feel the same way." The smile fades. "Sorry."

[OPTION SELECT]​

[] [???]

 

[TheOneMoiderah]

[x] Put on a brave face.

You smile. "Oh." You say. "Oh."

"...I know it's probably not what you wanted to hear, but-" He sighs. "Look, I can't think of you that way. I mean...you're a good friend and-"

[x] Make an excuse and leave.

"I have to go." You say.

"Sayaka..." He looks saddened.

You grit your teeth and turn towards the door."I have to go." You shove the door open and stumble outside past a nurse that tries checking on him. You don't even make an excuse as you charge through to the elevator and slam your fist to the first floor's button. Your back hits the rail, and you just stare at the ceiling as it descends.

Your teeth are clenched so tightly you feel like they're about to break.

[x] Call Mom.

You walk out of the elevator, and you pull out your phone as you get to the exit. Just as someone picks up, you're on your way way back home, walking painfully slowly. You're looking up, blinking away tears as you call. "Hello?"

"Hi, mom." You say, quietly.

"Oh, Sayaka! Just watching more movies." She laughs. "How was the talk with Kyou-"

"He said no." You stop walking.

She stops talking. "...Huh?"

"He said no." You say again. "He said no and..." You sniff. "I left. I just left."

She pauses. "...Oh, Sayaka." Something rustles on the other end. "Just stay right there. I'll be there to pick you up, okay? Just gimme ten minutes to walk there or...actually, wanna just meet halfway? It's not that far of a walk."

[OPTION SELECT]​

[] Wait.

[] Meet her halfway.

[] Have her stay. Walk home alone.

 

[TheOneMoiderah]

[X] Meet her halfway.

"I'll meet-" You sniff again. "I'll meet you halfway."

"...Alright." She says, and she hangs up. You begin walking home, and you begin staring at the sidewalk like it's the most interesting goddamn thing on the planet. You aren't crying yet and honestly, you don't know why. You just feel awful, completely and utterly awful. Like-

"Sayaka?"

You look up and right in front of you is your mom, dressed in casual clothing and somewhat messy. "...Hi. Mom."

Wordlessly, she brings her arms out...and you rush into them as soon as you can. You put your head over her shoulder, and you break. "I-I-I!"

"Shh...it's okay." She says. "It's okay."

"I t-tried and I-!" You let out a messy sob. "Nothing!" You hold onto her like she's going to disappear. "It hurts!"

"It always does." She says. "Shh...come on." She smiles. "We'll get home and watch something. How's that sound?"

"It...!" You wipe your eyes. "I-I'd like th-that." You say.

"Alright." She says. "...Hey, at least you tried. Remember that."

You shake your head. "H-how is th-that any b-better?" You say. "I-I don't u-understand."

"I'll tell you later, alright?" She says. "For now, we're just going to go home, okay?"

You just nod.

You both eventually get back. Your face is red and your eyes are puffy, and you can see Kyouko still on the couch. "Yo...jesus." She murmurs. "Are you alright?"

"Fine." You say forcefully. "Just...just fine." You wipe your eyes again. Your mom mouths "rejected".

Kyouko frowns. "...Oh."

[OPTION SELECT]​

[] Just watch something to wind down.

[] Calm down.

[] Check your soul gem.

[] Talk to...
-[] Your mom.
-[] Kyouko.