Confringentur, a PMMM/Fate Quest and Communication

[X] Try to ping
-[X] Tomoe-san and see if anything has come up

[X] Skip to lunch, where you'll sit with
-[X] Madoka, Sayaka, and Hitomi, to reassure them that you're doing alright after last night

---

Your morning classes don't really interest you in the slightest. They deviate slightly from the lessons you were accustomed to in every other loop, but they are similar enough that you can breeze through them without putting in any real effort. The others might think you a flawless genius, but to you, it's just tedium. To take your mind off the tedium, somewhere around third period you decide to try telepathically pinging Tomoe-san.

"Tomoe-san, has anything new come up since last night?"

"I'm afraid not, Akemi-san. I tried to speak with Kure-san earlier this morning about the attack on your servant, but she shrugged me off."

"Can you tell me exactly how she responded to you?"

"Like I said, she shrugged me off when I asked her about it. She said, and I quote 'I don't know; we were busy last night.' When I asked her what she had been busy with, she simply made an inappropriate gesture with her hands and refused to answer further questions."

"Hmm... I had been hoping that she might not have been made aware of the attack, but given the close relationship she shares with Mikuni Oriko I was doubtful. Your answer proves to me that she knew of it, and is choosing to intentionally obfuscate you."

"I thought the goal was to sit down and talk with her and Mikuni-san, not to have open war between our servants. Why would she be trying to pretend that she's unaware of Mikuni-san's violation of nonaggression?"

"She is doing that because she and Mikuni Oriko are lovers; and because to them, a standing invitation to negotiate is not grounds for nonaggression."

"I... I don't understand these people, Akemi-san. I don't understand how people like them could be puella magi. Even at her worst, Sakura-san was never as bad as them..."

"Which is why I was initially hesitant to engage in negotiations with them."

"Maybe so, but I would still feel more comfortable if we sat down with them and at least tried to reach a peaceable conclusion... I'm sorry, Akemi-san; I have to go. The teacher is calling on me."

Tomoe-san terminates the call, leaving you to ponder her words. A small part of you had been hoping that, against the odds, Mikuni Oriko would have ceased her aggressions until the four of you had sat down to negotiations. She has not, and likely will not stop until you put her down violently. YOu've done it before, and even with Lancer, even with Kure Kirika able to violate your timestop, even with everything else that has gone wrong in this timeline, you will kill her.

For Madoka.

The rest of your morning classes pass without fanfare. They are all easy lessons, and you have to actively hold yourself back from appearing too competent at completing them. When lunch arrives, you are faced with three choices. You can either sit with Tomoe-san and start mapping out a more concrete plan to success for dealing with Oriko and her block. You can force your way into a seat beside Kure Kirika and attempt to press her for more information, possibly coming to violent confrontation on school grounds. Or you can sit with your friends, who after last night probably need the assurance that you are alright. The choice is obvious.

You're a few minutes late to join them at the lunch table, but they are happy to see you all the same. "Good afternoon, everyone," you say, as Madoka scoots to the side to give you room to sit. "I hope you are all well."

Three heads nod in near-unanimity, and Miki Sayaka, as always, takes the lead in engaging dialogue. "We're all good, but what about you, Homura? You doing alright?"

"I'm fine, Sayaka, but thank you for asking. Last night was very... Trying, for me, but I'm feeling much better now."

You really aren't.

Do you
[ ] Talk to
-[ ] Madoka
-[ ] Sayaka
-[ ] Hitomi
--[ ] About
[ ] Enjoy the company of your friends in silence, only speaking if you have something to say
[ ] Other (write-in)
?

[X] Enjoy the company of your friends in silence, only speaking if you have something to say
[X] Consider explaining more to Madoka later

---

The air around the lunch table is unusually quiet. It's awkward; no one seems to have anything to say to one another. Every attempt to strike up conversation - from any party - is met with a stammered "Um..." as the words fail in their mouths. No doubt their brains are still taking time to process last night's revelation. You don't mind not having to speak if you don't have to, but the silence coming from the normally-talkative Madoka and Sayaka is, in a word, unnerving.

In the end, it falls to Miki Sayaka to break the awkward silence "So, uh, hey, Homura- I know you said you don't want to talk about it, but I'm just curious- What does a magical girl do when they're not, you know, out fighting whatchamacallits?" She's scratching at the back of her head, and likely hoping that you don't notice the hungry gaze she's giving to your lunch.

Now, her question isn't one which you are outright opposed to answering, but it will require some careful distortion of the truth to protect the names of the guilty parties. "I've encountered several other puella magi in my time, and just like any other person, they all have their own unique likes and dislikes. One that I know," Tomoe Mami "Enjoys baking on her off-hours. She's quite good from what I recall, but it's been awhile since I had the opportunity to sample her wares. Another that I know," Sakura Kyouko "Is fond of arcade games. I couldn't tell you how many times in the past that I've run into her on the DDR machines at the mall."

"She sounds cool. I'd like to meet her," Sayaka says. Knowing what you know, you almost want to laugh.

"Another pair," Mikuni Oriko and Kure Kirika "Are lovers, and enjoy spending their time off in each others' company.

"Aww, that's so sweet," Madoka chimes in, wholly oblivious to the reality that is Mikuni Oriko and Kure Kirika. "I'm glad to know that they've found happiness in each other despise their, um... Natures."

"Unfortunately, they aren't quite so sweet as you would imagine. Do you remember when I... "You stop; you don't want to think about yesterday, or about how much it hurt when Madoka rejected you. "... When I pushed you into the changing stall yesterday? That... It was them that I saw. We... Don't really get along very well."

"Why ever not, Akemi-san?"

"We..." You can't tell them the truth. You can't tell them that you don't get along with Oriko and Kirika because they want to kill Madoka. "... We disagree on the fundamental responsibilities of a puella magi. They focus on the preservation of humanity as a whole, to the point where they are willing to commit... Questionable acts in pursuit of the 'greater good'."

How do you word your desires so as not to reveal your hand? Is that even possible? You have to try; stopping now will only make you look suspicious. "... On the other hand, I prefer to focus my efforts on the people closest to me, even if it means foregoing the protection of a larger human good."

"Have you ever tried to sit down with them and talk things out?" Hitomi, did you ever know that you and Tomoe-san would get along very well? You enjoy many of the same interests, and even apparently think alike. Perhaps you should see about setting them up together as friends. It might do Tomoe-san good to have someone with whom she can have normal conversation unrelated to the duties of a puella magi. "You both have valid reasons for fighting. Surely if you all sat down and talked things out, you could come to a conclusion that leaves everyone happy."

"We... Actually have not." And likely you never will, if last night was any indication.

The awkward silence once more takes hold of your lunch table. The four of you eat in relative silence, broken only by the intermittent buzzing of Sayaka's phone. Her fingers fly across the keypad as she responds, and when she's done, she looks up at the table and says "So, hey, good news! My mom finally got that promotion she's been wanting!"

"Really? Sayaka-chan, that's great news!"

You... Don't actually know what Sayaka's mother does for a living. You don't believe you've ever met her, and have only heard of her in passing in previous loops. "I'm sorry Sayaka, but what is it that your mother does?"

"She's a chemical technician for that big industrial company over in Kazamino. She's been trying to get promoted to the lead technician in her sector for, gosh, what's it been, five years now?" Madoka and Hitomi nod, in accord with Sayaka's estimate of time. "Anyway, that was her just now, telling me that she finally got it! She's taking me out to dinner to celebrate tonight!"

"Then, you won't be seeing Kamijou-kun after school today?" There's a slight hopeful look in Hitomi's eyes. You wish you could unsee it. You can't unsee it, nor can you unsee the obliviousness in Sayaka's own gaze as she responds.

"I'd love to, but I don't know if I'll have the time to. So I'm just going to spend extra time with him tomorrow!"

"I see..."

The remainder of lunch passes without incident, for which you are very grateful, and before you know it it's time for afternoon classes.

[ ] Wat do?

[X] Tell Sayaka that you may have a way to heal Kyouske's HANDS.
[X] If they wish to go to the hospital after school, ask Archer if he could come with you so that he can heal kyouske.
[X] Try to talk to Hitomi about Kyosuke

---

The end-of-lunch bell has rang and it's time for afternoon classes. However, there are still two things which you feel the time has come to deal with. It will be difficult to talk with both Miki Sayaka and Shizuki Hitomi in private, but you're going to try. You have to try. This timeline depends on it.

You approach Sayaka as the four of you are exiting the cafeteria. It's easy enough to pull her aside, and she follows you without hesitation when you mention your desire to talk. "What's up Homura?" she asks. "Listen, if this is about last night, again, I'm super sorry about what me and my big mouth cost you, and if there's anything I can do to make-"

"No, this isn't about me." You have only a limited timeframe in which to have this conversation. As rude as it may be to interrupt Sayaka in the middle of her apology, you need to do it. "It's about Kamijou Kyousuke."

Sayaka's face darkens, and she rubs her arm uncomfortably at the mention of her crush's name. "Oh... Um, what's up?"

You need to say this with tact. You've never been particularly good with tact before. "I don't want to get your hopes up unnecessarily, but I spoke with Archer last night, and I believe he may have some way of healing Kamijou Kyousuke's arm and hand." Immediately, colour, the most vibrant blue you've ever seen, fills Sayaks's eyes. "I make no guarantees, mind you, and I would need to have him survey the damage before he's able to determine if there is anything he can do."

"Homura, no fooling; if you and Archer fix Kyousuke's arm, I'll totes be your girlfriend. Like, you'll have to share me with Kyousuke, but that's how much I'd owe you if you manage to fix his arm."

A little bit of red colours your cheeks. You've never given any thought to anyone other than Madoka, and no one other than Madoka has ever given you any thought before, even jokingly. "I... I don't know what to say. To be honest, and I mean no offense when I say this, but... Well, you aren't exactly my type. I'm afraid, generous as your offer may be, I have to turn you down."

Besides,if Sakura Kyouko arrives on the scene Sayaka will want to save those hidden inclinations for her.

"Nah, that's cool, you do you. Besides, I get it; you like 'em small and cute, right?"

No longer have you become the red cabbage. Now, the red cabbage has become Akemi Homura. "I... Well I..."

"It's cool Homura. Tell you what- You manage to pull this off, and I'll do my best to get you and Madoka back together, 'kay?"

"I... Thank you Sayaka; that sounds agreeable. Should we see about making this possible tonight, or are you going to be busy with your mother?"

"I... I don't know. I guess? I mean, mom works like, crazy-long shifts and we almost never see each other, so I'd really like to have this dinner with her. But... Kyousuke has been in the hospital for awhile, and he doesn't deserve to have to suffer if there's a way to fix his arm. I..." It's rare to see Sayaka concentrating so intently on something like this. "Can I get back to you on this?"

"That's fine. Class is about to start; we should hurry."

Catching Shizuki Hitomi is somewhat more of a challenge, especially since she had gone on ahead of you and Sayaka, but miraculously you manage to pull her aside. You'll have to be quick here, but you don't know if you can afford to be quick with how sensitive the topic of conversation is.

"Shizuki Hitomi, I..." Just get it over with nice and quick, like ripping off an adhesive bandage. "You like Kamijou Kyousuke, don't you?"

There is no surprise on Hitomi's face; no shock that you've managed to uncover her secret. It isn't much of a secret to you, but somehow you had been expecting more of a reaction from her. "... So you figured it out? I... Yes, Kamijou-kun is the one that I like. I... I'm ashamed, actually, to like the same person that my best friend likes. Sayaka-san has known him longer... Been much more supportive of him during his ordeal in the hospital... I... I don't have the right to desire him the same way that she does."

"You need to tell her." You place a firm hand on Hitomi's shoulder. "Miki Sayaka is your friend. She will understand you, but she deserves to know the truth. Hiding it from her will only make things worse for the both of you in the long run."

"I... Well, yes, I suppose you have a point."

"Besides... It's like what she told me this morning. Everyone deserves to be happy, and if he makes you happy than you deserve him. You just have to tell them the truth."

"... Thank you, Akemi-san." Hitomi wipes away a small drop of water from the corner of her eye. "I've been worrying about this for months, terrified that Sayaka-san would hate me if she learned that I had developed feelings for Kamijou-kun."

"Miki Sayaka is your friend. She won't hate you for being true to yourself, but she will if you continue to lie; not just to her, but to yourself as well. Not tonight; don't say anything that might spoil tonight for her and her mother, but by the end of the week you need to have told Sayaka how you feel about Kamijou Kyousuke."

"But what if she does hate me? Or, what if Kamijou-kun rejects me?"

"If that happens, then there's nothing you can do about it. There's a chance that Kamijou Kyousuke may not reciprocate your feelings, but I don't think that your friendship with Miki Sayaka will break over a boy. A rough patch? That's to be expected; but I doubt she would be willing to end your friendship over this."

"You... Seem to know quite a bit about relationships, Akemi-san. Tell me, is Madoka-san not... Well, I guess the two of you aren't actually girlfriends, but..."

"No, you're right. Madoka is not the first girl that I've dated." This Madoka isn't "But none of my previous relationships ever lasted more than a month. I'm hardly the expert you think I am." That was... Much darker an answer than you had been expecting to give, but somehow the words rolled off your tongue without any conscious effort on your part.

"Anyway, I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me, Hitomi, but we should probably head to class before the late bell."

Hitomi nods, beckoning you to join her as she makes her way back to class. "Agreed. And, thank you, Akemi-san; for... For being someone I could talk to about this. You are a very wise and kind person, and it pains me that we were only able to meet a few days ago."

"Then perhaps you would like to... Hang out, some time this week? I have another friend; an upperclassman, and I think you and she would get along great as well."

"I would appreciate that, Akemi-san. I'm sure she's a wonderful person if you've been able to make friends with her so quickly."

With that, you and Shizuki Hitomi walk back to class, a little closer, and with a better understanding of one another. Strange; you never thought you could connect with Hitomi before, but it seems so easy now once you let yourself simply... Talk, with her.

Do you
[ ] Try to pay attention in class
[ ] Not pay attention in class, and try to ping
-[ ] Archer, to inquire as to the limits of his capacity to heal grievous injuries
-[ ] Tomoe-san, to inquire as to any new developments regarding Oriko and Kirika
-[ ] Kure Kirika, to inquire about Lancer's attack last night
[ ] Skip to the end of the day
[ ] Other (write-in)
?
[ ] BONUS- If Sayaka opts to go to the hospital after school today, and the timing is convenient for you, would you join her and her mother at dinner if you were invited?

[X] Not pay attention in class, and try to ping
-[X] Archer, to inquire as to the limits of his capacity to heal grievous injuries

---

Your afternoon classes are... What can you say about them that you haven't already said? They bore you to no end, and you've long since mastered anything the teachers are talking about. There are better ways you could be spending your time right now.

"Archer, can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear, master. do you need something?"

"Yes, well... More of a question, really. A follow-up to what I asked you last night, about healing serious injuries."

"I'm listening..."

"Well... Sayaka's friend, Kamijou Kyousuke, was in an accident. His arm and hand are... Still attached, but he'd barely be worse off without them, as it were. In the past, she has made her wish to heal his broken body, and..."

"You wanted to know if I could Trace something capable of healing his wounds, correct? I gathered as much last night."

"Correct. I've told her that you might be able to help, and her reaction was... Enthusiastic, to say the least. But I would like to know the limits of whatever healing item you might Trace, before I go getting her hopes up any further."

"... There are none. The healing abilities of Avalon are perfect, bar none. Once I've inserted it into the boy's body, his wounds will slowly heal until his body is as good as new."

"I see... That's good to hear. I can prevent Sayaka from contracting in this timeline after all..." You allow yourself a moment to compose your thoughts, before continuing on. "So, what have you been up to today?"

---

Your name is Emiya Shirou. You've been... Around, for the better part of the day, so when your master asks what you've been up to, you certainly have a story to share with her.

What have you been up to?
[ ] You cooked a meal for Kyouko and brought it to the church in exchange for new information
[ ] You spoke with Caster to try and figure out what your next move should be regarding Lancer
[ ] You went on the offense- Lancer, witches, it didn't matter, so long as the city was kept safe
[ ] You took care of the housekeeping, did the grocery shopping, and wandered around the city
[ ] Other (write-in)
(Choose two)

[X] You cooked a meal for Kyouko and brought it to the church in exchange for new information
Okay, so there's 2 votes for this one, but there's a 1-1 split for the second thing we did. I'll get this one out of the way and we can decide on our second activity later.

---

You weren't just cooking for your master this morning; no, today you decided to cook something for Sakura Kyouko and bring it to her. Hopefully she's got some new information to share with you, but even if she doesn't it'll do her some good to be able to eat a wholesome meal. You'll feel better about it, too. You weren't sure what sort of food she liked, so you tried to prepare a wide variety. It's not the most impressive meal you've ever cooked, not by a long shot, but it's got a broad enough selection of food items that, with a careful eye, you can pick out what she gravitates towards first and go from there once you've learned what she likes.

This time, instead of barging in, you knock on the church door. For a few moments, there's no indication that anyone is coming, but just as you're about to turn around Kyouko answers the door. There's anger on her face, until she looks down and sees the lunch box in your hands. "'Bout time ya brought me somethin'," she says, gesturing for you to enter. "Well? don't keep me waiting here, Redman. Girl's gotta eat."

Rider is lounging about in the pews, and he flashes you a grin when he spots you. Kyouko takes the lunch box from your hands as the two of you sit down, and once the lid is off she's shoveling food into her mouth indiscriminately. It's... Disgusting, how little restraint she shows in devouring her food, but at least she's eating. "You know, when Mami came by here with a whole pie the other day, I thought maybe you two were in cahoots or something, but she didn't ask me nothin' about the stuff you were askin' about. She just wanted to know how I was... Oh, sorry, ya prolly don't know Mami, do ya?"

"Actually, Tomoe-san and I had the pleasure of meeting a few days ago, when she spoke with my master regarding the situation with Lancer. I believe I may have given her the idea to stop by here when I mentioned your name."

That angry face Kyouko made when she first saw you? It's back. "Oh. In that case, don't ever mention me to Mami ever again. I didn't want ta see her when we split three years ago, an I didn't want ta see her now."

"People don't usually bring food to those they have no interest in reconnecting with. I don't know the details of what caused the two of you to split, but if she's willing to go out of her way for you, then perhaps it might not be so bad to try and be reconciliatory."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. You wanted information, right? What in particular were ya hopin' ta hear from me?"

"Anything, really. Any news of other servants in Kazamino. Maybe you've encountered a witch that was stronger than normal. Maybe you've heard something about Lancer's movements. Any news that's out of the ordinary for you will be much appreciated."

Kyouko stopped, mid-chew, and you could almost see her neurons firing behind those cherry-red eyes of hers. She swallows, and slowly the words form on her lips. "Out of the ordinary... Well, there is one thing, sorta. I ain't seen it myself, but some'a the other girls that kinda wander the fringes of my turf say they've seen the barrier around a witch's labyrinth get up an' move. Like, you've seen a labyrinth before, ain't'cha? Your master ever take you in ta one before?"

"I'm familiar with them, yes." You don't want to tell her that you've been doing the hunting for your master. She might take that as an invitation to attack and try to usurp your master's territory. Though, you're pretty sure that your master keeps her territory more for Madoka than for herself.

"Well see, normally they ain't the kinda thing you can see. A puella magi can use her Soul Gem ta sense where one's hiding, but ya can't normally see it. But these girls swore ta me up an' down that they saw it, and that it was moving, sorta like a patch of fog in the wind or somethin'. I dunno if that's the sorta thing you're after, but it ain't normal."

You don't know if a labyrinth deciding - did it even decide, or did it just drift from one place to another? - to move around is information that your master would consider useful. Likely, it would just be one more thing for her to chalk up to this timeline being out of the ordinary, but on the off chance it was somehow relevant... "Thank you, Sakura Kyouko. I don't know if my master will find what you've told me to be useful, but I appreciate you sharing it with me all the same. If it turns out to be important, I'll be sure to let you know."

Kyouko hands you back the empty lunch box, picked clean of every single scrap of food. Not even a single grain of rice is left behind. You feel really bad for her, but you don't know if it's your place to go over your master's head and invite her to stay. Still, there has to be something more you can do to help her... It comes to you as you stand to leave, and you say to her. "I'll bring food again some time soon, but next time I don't want information. Next time, I want to hear that you and Tomoe Mami are working towards reconciliation. You're both good kids; I'm sure that whatever happened isn't something that you can't put behind you."

Kyouko gives you another angry look, but food seems to win her over. "Fine. If it'll get ya ta bring more food, I'll make nice with Mami. But you better follow through and bring me something really damn good, ya hear?"

You laugh. "I'll make sure to bust out all the stops just for you, Sakura Kyouko." And with that, you depart. You've still got one more thing to take care of today...

What was the second thing you did today?
[ ] You spoke with Caster to try and figure out what your next move should be regarding Lancer
[ ] You went on the offense- Lancer, witches, it didn't matter, so long as the city was kept safe
[ ] You took care of the housekeeping, did the grocery shopping, and wandered around the city
[ ] Other (write-in)

---

Just one this time, since as I said above we got two votes for feeding Kyouko, but we're lacking anything resembling a consensus for our second activity.