Agree
Yuki nods. And while doing so, she wonders if Junko is aware of the general displeasure going through Sayaka and Mami. At least Madoka seems fine with it, if distraught by them being at odds.
"I will be there."
Nagisa cheers.
"Great," Junko answers with a winning grin. "I'm looking forward to seeing you then."
"Excuse me, Mrs. Kaname," Mami chimes in politely. Her expression is at ease again, if perhaps a bit too even to be natural. "Are you aware that this person is not human, and most certainly dangerous?"
Junko turns to her nonplussed. "I am. What about it?"
The immediate answer gives Mami pause. She stares at Junko as if trying to read her mind, then inclines her head.
"May I ask why this does not seem to bother you?"
The one actual adult in the group offers an understanding smile. Yuki notes a quickly aborted motion, as if she meant to reach out to Mami. Madoka fidgets at the side while Sayaka scowls, curiously mirrored by Nagisa; though the two basically scowl at each other.
"It's fairly simple," Junko explains patiently. "Yuki had every opportunity to hurt myself and others, but she didn't. She never made a secret of her powers, either. Human or not human doesn't really matter, either; at the end of the day, she's not that much more dangerous than any person with a knife or gun. So I don't see a reason to worry about it."
Mami does not seem entirely happy with this, but she offers no counter. Perhaps she, too, has to admit that Junko has a point. The worst Yuki can do is kill someone, which any human can also do.
"Not to mention that treating someone as your enemy will make them so, if they aren't already," Yuki adds pointedly. This earns her an annoyed look and little else from Mami.
"Regardless, I will now take Nagisa and leave you to your outing."
She is tempted to carry her charge away under her arm, but Nagisa seems happy enough to get going. She takes Yuki's hand without prompting, her fingers warmer than the Abnormality's. Although she does wave.
"Bye bye, Mrs. Kaname, until Friday!"
She notably makes no effort to address any of the other girls. Junko waves with a gentle smile, which Madoka joins belatedly. This is how the pair leaves them.
Once they took some distance and rounded a corner, Nagisa lets go with a huff and crosses her arms. "How mean," she grouses, then turns to Yuki: "Why don't you fight back, miss Yuki?"
Yuki shrugs. "I prefer not to waste my time on people that annoy me, rather than get rid of them. They aren't worth my time."
And if they do attack Yuki, then she will answer accordingly. Mami got her one warning.
Regardless, Nagisa makes an understanding noise. Then she pauses and looks over her shoulder. "There's another miss spying on us," she says, pointing at a nearby corner. Yuki's brows furrow at that, then relax when she sees a familiar figure round it a moment later.
"Hello, Homura."
"Good afternoon," the dark-haired girl greets. Her sharp gaze rests on Yuki to the exclusion of all else.
"She's so pretty," Nagisa gushes quietly, covering her mouth with both hands.
Her words give Homura pause for just a moment, though she quickly returns to sizing Yuki up. When she speaks, her voice is calm and measured: "I merely wanted to offer a warning: Mami Tomoe is not an easy opponent. You shouldn't antagonise her needlessly."
"I appreciate the warning," Yuki answers just as blankly, if not more so. "Adversity doesn't scare me, though. If Mami wants a fight, she will get it. If not, then nothing will happen."
"Is that so?" Homura queries, a note of curiousity to her words. Then she nods ever so faintly.
"I see. Then I will believe you."
"Uhm."
The noise from Nagisa draws Homura's attention back to her. "What is it?" she asks, not unkindly.
Nagisa tries for a smile, though she is clearly intimidated by Homura's cold demeanour. Nonetheless, she bows just like she did to Junko before.
"Um, hello, my name's Nagisa Momoe. It's nice to meet you, miss."
Her polite and faintly excited greeting gives Homura pause in turn. For just a moment she seems taken aback, though her expression smoothes out right after. Then she offers a bow of her own.
"The same to you. My name is Homura Akemi. You are a magical girl as well, Nagisa Momoe."
"Yeah, I am. Is that a problem?" Nagisa asks back, halfway between defensive and genuinely curious.
Homura shakes her head, though. "No. It was just an observation. May I assume that you live here in Mitakihara?" she follows up, getting a nod. "Then I wish to warn you as well: Mami Tomoe is effectively holding the city as her territory. Mitakihara is large enough for several magical girls to coexist without running into each other, but it's best not to take such a risk. You should take the time to introduce yourself properly to her."
Nagisa listens attentively, as does Yuki. The foreign magical girl has no real frame of reference beyond the idea of territory, though her charge seems to get what Homura means.
Unfortunately, Nagisa crosses her arms with a decisive shake of the head.
"Nuh uh, no way. Miss Tomoe is mean and a bully, I won't."
Homura does not react. The most of a response she gives is her gaze slowly sliding back to Yuki, who refrains from commenting.
"I see," Homura says. "Then I won't stop you, or keep you two, for that matter."
She turns to leave on those words, vanishing into a nearby store and from their sight. Nagisa stares after her for a moment, then looks up at Yuki.
"I can't tell if she was nice or mean."
"Definitely nice," Yuki judges as she begins to walk. "She isn't the sort to mince words or coddle. But she still went out of her way to give you advice, even if you decided not to take it."
Nagisa makes another thoughtful noise, occasionally looking back. She never does manage to spot Homura again, though.
They soon forget about the encounter altogether. Yuki is dragged across the mall and to the arcade, where Nagisa cheerfully teaches her how to play. The claw machines are obvious scams, but the cabinets and racing games do interest Yuki a little.
There is one moment where Nagisa ends up getting embroiled in a heated conflict with another player in a fighting game. While she furiously taps buttons, Yuki takes a look around the machines to see her opponent.
She finds Ai.
The pinkette is just as focussed, fingers dancing across the inputs with pinpoint precision. She might not even have noticed Yuki being there.
Their battle is hard-fought until, eventually, Ai lands a cheap shot and catches Nagisa in a game-ending combo. The younger girl whines for a moment, but her cheerful mood comes back in seconds. Then she demands a rematch and the whole thing repeats.
Yuki leaves the two to playing for now. She is not that interested in the fighting games. Her gaze is drawn to a dancing game of some sort, but there are people playing already. Nobod pays her any mind as she wanders the various isles; then, just because she dislikes scams, she enchants all of the claw machines to have a fixed grip strength. Still not certain to get the prize, but much easier than before. She fishes a stuffed bird and a dog out of there as well, just to check if she can.
The bird is thrown Ai's way when the pinkette darts past, likely on her way somewhere. It hits her square in the face and makes her stumble, then stare down at it dumbly. Once she spies Yuki holding up her hand in greeting nearby, Ai's befuddlement turns into a big grin. She waves back and runs off.
Nagisa gets the dog a minute later, hugging it to her chest with a squeal.
"Thank you so much, miss Yuki! That's very nice of you! I love it!"
"It's nothing. But we should get you home now, it's already five."
"Wait, really? I had so much fun I didn't notice! Let's go, I will show you the way!"
She keeps on chattering throughout the walk home. For a time Yuki considers teleporting Nagisa and herself to save time, but she ultimately decides against it. Spending a little more time with the excitable girl is more enticing. She reminds Yuki of Love, now that she really thinks about it. Happy and cheerful against all odds.
Once her charge runs up the stairs to her aunt's place and vanishes inside with a final wave, Yuki considers what to do next. Her first stop is Oriko's house, if just to let her friend know that Nagisa is safe and sound.
"You did not need to tell me," the seer answers gently as she pours tea for her guest. "I trust you to keep her safe."
Yuki accepts that with a nod. Though it reminds her of what happened with Junko earlier.
"Speaking of keeping people safe, there will be a Witch hunt on Friday. Madoka's mother is getting involved, and she asked about getting to see one with her own eyes. Nagisa already volunteered herself to escort her. Mami Tomoe will be there, as will I. We also chaperone Madoka and her friend Sayaka. Do you want to come with?"
The news give Oriko pause for a time. Her eyes flutter closed, then open again to study Yuki. Ultimately however, she shakes her head.
"I prefer to keep my distance. Mami Tomoe is a difficult subject, as I am technically trespassing in her territory. I prefer not to rub her nose in that, even if your and Kirika's support would let me make an issue of it. She is quite capable and a good protector of Mitakihara."
Yuki just drinks her tea. She has opinions on Mami by this point. She should not, but she does.
"I guess I could ask Kirika," Oriko muses, glancing to the sliding glass door leading into the backyard. Her girlfriend is out there, digging in a flowerbed.
Once she realises Oriko is looking her way, Kirika throws her a big smile and makes a kissy face. Oriko giggles, then sips her own tea.
"But I think I would rather have her with me. But if I may make a suggestion? Ask little Yuma to come with. She will be very good to have if someone does get hurt."
"That sounds like a good idea. I will ask her tomorrow."
"Very good."
"Oh, and I have some money left over."
Yuki only just remembered. She rummages in her pocket, but Oriko bids her to stop. She gently shakes her head.
"There is no need. Please keep it, I have more than enough."
She is tempted to argue, but drops it with another look at her friend. Oriko does not look ready to budge on it. Considering that it is only a few thousand yen left, Yuki decides she should not push. All she offers is a simple nod.
"Alright."
They chat a little longer, then Yuki meanders outside to help Kirika pull weeds for a little while. She alread finished most of the flowerbed, but still thanks her for the help. They have not spoken much overall, but Kirika seems to relax more and more around her.
That evening at dinner, Yuki also tells Kazuko about meeting Junko earlier. That gives her host pause, brows knitting together in thought.
"I would love to join you, but I'm a teacher. I can't just take the day off, and I have a lot to do that day. Make sure you keep everyone safe, yes?" she asks gently. "I know Junko can handle herself, but she's the sort that jumps in front of someone to protect them. Especially if it's her family."
"Noted," Yuki answers, then continues chewing. Kazuko giggles over her behaviour and gets back to eating as well.
When Monday comes, Yuki promptly forgets to bring up the hunt on Friday. Her courtesy visit is spent teaching Yuma how to use her improved physical abilities, much like she and Kyoko did the past days. After that, Yuki gets lost in her experiments; she finally found an avenue of research without Grief Seeds and Soul Gems at hand, that being the latent abilities Kyubey mentioned everyone has.
If nothing else, she can confirm Kazuko has some sort of power after enough scans. Comparing them to Oriko and Kirika makes for a startling difference, though; the magical girls with their powers focussed are at least a thousandfold more powerful, likely even more than that.
By the end of Tuesday, Yuki can only conclude that Kyubey was right in calling what normal humans can do 'party tricks'.
And on Wednesday, something else completely derails her thoughts, to the point she does not even visit Kyoko and Yuma. About as soon as Yuki wakes up, she spots Kyubey sitting next to her head. Once she hears the message they were asked to deliver, Yuki is just plain confused.
After spending all morning and afternoon reading to prepare for a social call with a virtual stranger, she eventually heads out to the mall, again. Only this time, she is minding a middle schooler instead of a grade schooler.
Finding the girl is simple enough; her pink hair does stand out. As does her aura, even if one can only feel it from fairly close range.
"Good afternoon, Madoka," Yuki greets, startling the pinkette, who whirls around with wide eyes. "And apologies, I forgot to remove my notice-me-not enchantment."
"O-Oh, uhm, it's fine," Madoka stammers, quickly trying to regain her composure. Then she bows, and rather low at that. "Thank you for coming to meet me, miss Yuki."
She waves her off. "It's fine. What did you want to talk about?"
Somehow, just asking her straight-up makes Madoka stammer again. She fidgets nervously, as if she was doing something forbidden. Yuki does not understand, but figures it might be the teen's lack of self-confidence.
"Um, well," she finally says shily, "how about we sit down somewhere first? Oh, have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet," Yuki answers. She knows Kazuko will cook later, but what is one more meal in a day?
Madoka immediately brightens up, as if Yuki's response were some sort of pass phrase. "Oh, then I know a nice place," she offers quickly. "Please follow me!"
Her demeanour calms notably when Yuki shows herself amenable. She even manages a full smile, which lasts through not being returned. Madoka quickly leads Yuki into a restaurant and sits her down at a corner table, away from prying ears. They both order quickly, then Madoka gets to business.
"Okay, so, you see, I was talking to Mama. Erm, my mother I mean," she corrects with a blush for some reason that Yuki does not care to explore. "And she said that you're a very thoughtful and fair person, miss Yuki. And that you like to help."
She fidgets a little, then ducks her shoulders uneasily. "I just wanted to ask you if you could play nicer with miss Mami. She's been working really hard to keep the city safe, and she's very nice too. You don't have to fight."
While the nature of her request is expected, Yuki is unimpressed with it. Madoka may even feel as much from her veiled gaze, going by how she keeps fidgeting.
"Have you said as much to her as well?" Yuki asks drily, prompting the younger girl to nod.
"I did. But miss Mami wouldn't listen. I feel bad going behind her back like that, but Mama says you're reasonable. I just don't want to see anyone get hurt, is all."
They fall silent when their orders are brought out. Yuki thoughtfully munches on a few fries, mulling over Madoka's request. It is not unreasonable, hence why Yuki entertains it at all. But ultimately, peace is not solely her decision.
"I can't make that promise, Madoka," she ultimately says. Seeing the girl's expression fall, Yuki feels the need to elaborate: "I don't plan to pick a fight with Mami, but I can't speak for her intentions. If she attacks me, I will defend myself. And as she is by all accounts a peer opponent, if not even more powerful than me, I can't afford to hold back either."
This is an exaggeration, but Yuki files it under due caution. She doubts that someone sent Madoka to feel her out, but downplaying herself makes it easier if anyone does.
Madoka herself nods sadly. "I understand," she mumbles into her food. "Is there really no way for everyone to get along?"
She really does only care about people being good to each other, Yuki notes. It is refreshing, especially after all the horrible experiences from the City. A genuinely kind person is perhaps the rarest find in the world from whence she came.
At the same time, it reminds her of her other encounter from Sunday. Homura said many of the same things, if in a colder way. She still urged them not to fight with Mami and to get along with her. Yuki is not as good a judge a character as she perhaps should be, but she thinks that Homura and Madoka might have some common ground in their intentions.
Of course, thinking back to Kyoko, Yuki has to wonder if the Library's approach of fighting it out may be viable here. Letting all the feelings out in a full-on battle may do the trick. But would it be the right thing to do with Mami, even if it technically helped with Kyoko? Theirs was a controlled bout, even if it turned bloody.
Or perhaps if Madoka advocated properly, rather than letting herself be dragged along in Mami's and Sayaka's wake? She is a part of their group, so they ought to listen to her if she speaks with some more confidence.
[] Encourage Madoka to speak her mind to Mami
weight: x1
[] Advise to talk to Homura about it, they might have common ground
weight: x1
[] A good fight might help relieve some of the tension
weight: x1.5
