Chapter 44 - Can't We All Just Get Along?
While Mami and Homura can definitely handle themselves against any Witches they find, putting the two of them together has a bit more risk. While you'd like to hope that they wouldn't start a fight, the two are on poor terms and Homura has already displayed her inability to handle social situations. Getting everyone to cooperate is essential, so it'll be best if you're there to smooth things over whenever necessary.
A short trip to the school and you arrive just as the students are being released. Sure enough, the kids are all gathered together just outside and already in the beginning of an argument. Sayaka isn't quite yelling at Homura yet, but the black-haired girl's silence and unchanging expression isn't helping. Mami and Madoka stand off behind their friend, one far less assured than the other.
"-trying to trick us! As soon as we let our guards down, I bet you'll just stab us in the back!"
…and you may have to readjust your expectations.
"Anyone want to fill me in here?" you interject, drawing all attention to you. To the mild surprise of the others, it's Homura who answers you first.
"I have located a Witch that I am not well-suited to fight. I am requesting the assistance of Tomoe Mami in hunting it, as her Magic is a far better match for the Witch's abilities," she says in perfect monotone. Then, as if suddenly remembering something important, she adds "You can come as well, if you wish." The addition is hasty, enough that most wouldn't notice it, but to you the separation is clearly marked by a tinge of desperation on the second half. She's asking for help. Before you can decide what to say, Mami cuts in.
"While I am hesitant to accept the proposal of an enemy, if what Miss Akemi says is true then we have an obligation to take action." She turns towards you. "What do you believe we should do?"
Ah, the decision is passed to you. That makes this much easier.
"We'll check it out. There's no reason to start any unnecessary conflict, is there?"
And with that, the matter is settled. Sayaka looks unhappy with the arrangement, but Madoka behind her looks relieved to see the conflict resolved. The five of you walk to Homura's chosen location in awkward silence, nobody willing to start and conversation. Madoka almost speaks up a few times and both Mami and Sayaka seem to be mulling something over, but never actually open their mouths.
This is gonna be painful, isn't it?
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Your group steps up to a Barrier sitting on top of the hospital. Sayaka had seemed downright panicked when she saw where you had been headed, but got it under control by the time you reached the entrance. Before opening the way in, Homura turns back to the group.
"Madoka should stay behind. There's no point having somebody who can't defend themselves on a hunt."
This position is immediately contradicted by Sayaka, discomfort boiling over as she yells "No way, transfer student! I bet you're just trying to separate us so-" but her tirade is cut off by Mami placing a hand on the younger girl's shoulder.
"Sayaka, we can't assume everything Miss Akemi does is a trap. That said, we will not be splitting up before entering the Barrier. I trust this is acceptable?"
Homura turns to you, hoping that your decision can sway the conversation in your favor. Unfortunately, a newcomer answers before you.
"If anything goes wrong, she can always just make a contract!" the cheery, artificial voice of Kyubey sounds out. The alien has sat itself on Madoka's shoulder sometime when you weren't looking, stock still save for its tail lashing back and forth. Homura's death glare goes unnoticed by the others.
"I can do it!" Madoka insists, although her voice is unsteady. That's the end of that argument. You aren't going to contradict her wishes, and honestly you still feel safer with her in the Barrier where you can see her than outside and unattended with Nothing There out and about.
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The feeling of entering a Witch's Barrier is as disgusting as always, but this time the surroundings match your discomfort. The five of you stand on the shores of an ocean of tar, the beach under your feet more glass than sand. The sky is an empty void of grey with a dripping, murky sun bleeding down from the sky. Opposite the sea of darkness is a ramshackle mess of half-finished buildings and rickety scaffolding that could be generously called a town.
"So, Miss Akemi, why did you feel you needed my assistance? You are not an incapable fighter," Mami asks. She doesn't know about the deal you and Homura made, or have any reason to believe the other Magical Girl would want to cooperate for any reason other than necessity.
"This Witch's Familiars inhabit living humans. I lack the ability to suppress them nonlethally, and in their numbers I cannot bypass them," Homura answers, her voice as flat and emotionless as ever. Madoka and Sayaka exchange looks of horrified surprise, while Mami's normally calm demeanor shifts into a cold, determined stare that nearly matches Homura's own. It seems you were at least partly wrong; Mami is indeed the perfect person to deal with this Witch. While you doubt that Homura couldn't simply avoid the Familiars with her Magic being what it is, she does have a good excuse for having requested help.
"Very well. If that is the case, then I will assist as best you can."
On the other hand, that's not necessarily a good thing. The fact that there's a clear, utilitarian reason for Homura to want them here only adds to her image as a cold and calculating person. While Homura definitely doesn't care how she's seen, it will make it more difficult to facilitate interaction in the future. Adding onto the issue, there aren't really any conversation topics you can think of to break the ice. Nothing that wouldn't immediately dissolve into an argument, anyways. Your trek deeper into the Barrier continues in silence.
It's only a few minutes in when you stumble upon the first Crude, leaping out from a hiding spot carrying a pickaxe in an ambush that is easily ended by Mami's ribbons. True to Homura's word, the Familiar is using a human's body as a puppet to make its attack. You can see the black sludge within the man's veins, so reminiscent of the murky colors of Grief.
"This is awful… is there anything we can do?" asks Madoka, clutching her hands to her chest and staring in horror at the restrained man. To your surprise, it's Homura who answers.
"We cannot leave the Familiars in their victims. If the Witch is killed, they may turn on their hosts and reproduce."
What can you do?
[] Try healing Magic?
-[] Enhanced by Sayaka?
[] Sound Of A Star's healing
[] Lobotomy
[] Put the man out of his misery
[] Write-In
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Der Freischütz's Sapling - Observation Level 0/3
Nothing short of the oldest and most powerful Witches can really face your group in combat, but that doesn't mean they can't hurt you in other ways.
