Magia Resurrection (PMMM Quest)

When Mami left the room, you saw Momo hang her head. After the initial shock of Mami's living situation ebbed away, something felt off. Amidst the colorful decorations and vast space of the apartment, there was a looming loneliness. Not just in the apartment, but in the people who called it home. How long was Momo made to wait? How long would she have to wait tonight? What if tonight was the night they never returned? The thoughts swim through your mind with no destination, and no answer. You simply smile. "Mami is kind of cool, isn't she?"

"Yeah." Momo sips her tea. "She is. Big Sis Mami is the coolest."

The mood dies with Mami's exit. Momo sits in silence, drinking her tea, hardly touching the cake that Mami had set out. It feels like a crime to leave it simply untouched, so you try to eat a bite or two. Your fork hits the empty plate with a clatter.

"What's wrong, Momoka?"

"Doesn't feel right." You frown. "Guess I'm just not in the mood."

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's nothing that you did. It's not Mami's fault either. It's just--"

Magical girls exist, yet they are slaves to their duty. If they have loved ones and end up vanishing, they'll never get answers as to why.

"Hope shouldn't have to end in despair." The ethereal voice echoes in your mind.

"It's not fair." You push your empty plate forward. "None of this is fair."

"It's not meant to be fair." Momo says.

"What?"

"'We made a wish for a miracle, so now we're paying our dues'." Momo says. "It's what my sister said to me."

It made sense, in a weird way. You get an impossible wish granted, so now you're working to pay it off by fighting witches. However, that thinking is flawed, isn't it? The end result would be the same regardless of the wish being made. If for example, you wished to find your missing sock, you would be paying the same price after the fact if you wished to end world hunger. There's also the possibility of Kyubey refusing a wish, which is something you had yet to consider. The entire ordeal with wishes, magical girls, and witches was still so unreal. Considering these thoughts at all would have been beyond you before a few days ago.

"I don't know." You tap the glass table. "Feels like to me there's something that doesn't feel right. I mean, you've heard the saying 'if something is too good to be true, it probably is'?"

"Yeah." Momo nods. "Kyouko said the same thing to me when I first thought about contracting. 'It ain't fun and games, you'll die'."

No doubts about that, after your first hand experience. If betting your life was the cost of the wish, then that in itself seemed fair. A small price to pay in the grand scheme of things, especially with the amount of influence a wish could hold.

"Any wish, huh?"

"Are you thinking about contracting, Momoka?"

"Not specifically, no, mostly just considering what I would wish for if I did."

It didn't hurt to consider the option if things got bad. Within your mind, the most obvious thing to wish for was…

[_] … to protect everyone that you cherish. Whether that meant fighting witches for an eternity, or always being there for others, your life would be a small price to pay for it.
[_] … to be the person that you want to be but can't. Regardless of your own hang ups, it was something only a miracle could accomplish. To be someone who you could truly be happy with.
[_] … to fight every witch, whether by wish or with your own two hands. It was roundabout, but at least that way magical girls would be happier. Though, that would put most magical girls out of the job, wouldn't it?
[_] Write-in

It may be a joke, or it may be an earnest wish, but it was what you were feeling in the moment.

After a brief break, you and Momo get back to chatting about happier topics. The autumn weather, thoughts on Mitakihara Middle School, your own classes and hopes for the future. Funnily enough, neither of you had any dreams worth noting. You were young, so it was to be expected. The conversation carries the minutes into almost an hour. Momo cleans the plates and you grab the teacups. The half-eaten cake now rests inside the refrigerator.

"Oh!" You eye the clock. "I have to get going."

"You're meeting your sister, right?"

"Yeah, you want to come?"

Momo tilts her head.

"Do you want to come?"

"Oh, um…" She plays with her braid. "I'd like to, but I should stay home and wait for Big Sis Mami and my sister."

"They would be happier if you came." The voice whispers advice into your ear once again.

"I-I think they'd want you to come." You play it off as your own idea. Where was this voice even coming from? "I mean, you spend a lot of time alone by yourself, right? I think just letting them know where you are would be enough… ?" You hesitate, unsure of what you were even saying. The logic was sound, but you knew little to nothing of her circumstances outside of what she had told you.

Momo mulls it over, then slowly nods. "Sister does tell me I need to 'get out more'." A complicated expression adorns her face. "Okay. I'll go, but just for a little bit."

"A-alright!" You smile. "I can't wait to introduce you to my sister!"

"It's only fair. You've met mine already."

"Both of them, in fact."

Momo beams, leaving a note for Mami and Kyouko, and the two of you are on your way.

---

This first meeting was not how you expected this to go at all. Hitomi is infatuated, looming over Momo as if she was a doll. Madoka is smiling, waiting for her turn to speak to her sister's first friend. Sayaka's just relieved to see that you're alive and in one piece.

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Momo Sakura. I'll be in your care." She bows.

Hitomi offers the same polite bow. "I'm Hitomi Shizuki. And this is Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki."

"T-two Momos?" Madoka looks between you and Momo. "What do we call you?"

"Ms.Sakura is fine." Momo says.

"We've met already." Sayaka smiles. "Nice to see you again, Ms.Sakura."

"Likewise."

"Thank you for looking after Momoka for me. She can be a handful. I really appreciate it." Madoka chuckles.

"She wasn't any trouble at all."

"G-guys, I'm right here." You frown.

"Sorry, Momoka." Your sister laughs. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"Sure you didn't." Sayaka grins.

You groan, slumping down in your chair, trying to hide behind the table.You notice the plates sitting strewn about the table with some half-eaten cake. Your seat is set with the silverware folded up in a nice bundle. The consideration was enough to make you smile.

"O-oh." Hitomi looks at her watch. "Look at the time. I'm sorry, but I have to go."

"What is it this time? Tea ceremony? Or are your parents pushing more piano lessons?"

"It's actually Japanese dance." She sighs, standing up. "I've already taken care of the bill. Enjoy the cake, Momoka and Ms.Sakura!" Hitomi waves emphatically as she dashes out the door.

Madoka, Sayaka and Momo say their farewells.
You wave bye to Hitomi.

"Oh, has your party arrived?" Another voice draws your attention. A green-haired girl. Purple eyes. Messy, long hair. Wait, that was the girl from the arcade. She was wearing a clean maid outfit. Okay, wait, you had a few questions. None of them were likely to get straight answers, but you had questions nonetheless.

"Mabayu?" You stare.

"... Oh." Mabayu blinks. "You're Kaname, right? We met at the arcade."

"Yeah."

"You know each other, Ms.Aki?" Madoka glances between you and Mabayu.

"I mean, you know what they say, it's a small world." Mabayu shrugs. "So, uh, you ordered a small peach cake for 'Momoka', I believe?"

"Yes." Madoka nods. "But, what about you, Ms.Sakura?"

"I'm fine." She raises her hands. "I ate before I came."

"I can share if you want, Momo." You offer.

Sayaka leans in, a toothy grin on her face. "You'll share with your new friend, but not your ol' buddy Sayaka? Man, I see how it is."

"It was one time. Can you let it go?"

"Nope. Sayaka Miki never forgets and never forgives." She points her fork holding a piece of cake at you. It was meant to be an accusatory gesture, but you take it as an offering.

Chomp.

"Ah! Momo!" Sayaka yelps.

"Thanks for the food." You chew with pride.

"That's it, I'm taking your cake for the other Momo." Sayaka reaches for your plate. "She doesn't steal from people."

"Stealing? Looked like you were offering it to me." You slap Sayaka's hand off. "You've got plenty of cake left on your own."

"Momoka, Sayaka… please, not in front of our new friend."

"It's fine." Momo sits down, completely unfazed. "I'm used to this kind of thing."

"I'm going to go… get the cake now." The maid walks off behind the counter.

Mabayu returns with the small peach cake. A compromise had been reached, courtesy of Madoka. At the expense of not hearing you and Sayaka bicker, of course. A small piece was given to Sayaka as recompense for your confection thievery. Momo was given a slice of her own, but she hardly touched it.

"You okay, Momo?" You say.

"Y-yes, I'm fine." Her eyes dart toward the door then back to you.

"Doesn't seem like you're having fun."

"No, it's not that." Momo fervently shakes her head. "I'm just--"

She pauses. Just like Midori before. Not now. You had got to be kidding.

"I have to go." Momo sits up.

Sayaka doesn't act surprised. She shoots you a glance. Your friend was thinking the same thing you were.

At this moment, you--

[_] Go with her, ask Sayaka to stay with Madoka.
[_] Ask Sayaka to go with her, stay with Madoka.
[_] All three of you go with Momo.
[_] Let Momo go by herself.
[_] Write-in