Seeing Red [PMMM x LoR]

Advise to talk to Homura about it, they might have common ground

Yuki mulls over her options for another minute. She slowly eats her way through the fries, chewing carefully. It is technically fast food, but she privately enjoys the taste and the grease.

Focussing back on the discouraged young woman before her, Yuki eventually puts down her fork.

"You should talk to Homura."

Her sudden suggestion catches Madoka off-guard. She twitches in surprise, almost dropping the pair of fries she holds.

"Eh? Homura? B-But, I mean, I don't mind talking to her, but she's kind of scary. And I don't think she likes me much," she adds sadly after a moment's pause.

Yuki tilts her head ever so faintly. She has not interacted enough with Homura to say either way. However, her admittedly biased reading of her personality suggests otherwise.

"Homura doesn't seem like the type to dislike people," she muses. Seeing Madoka perk up curiously, Yuki continues with a vague motion: "I admittedly base this on an acquaintance who held himself fairly similar, but I think she's the sort who doesn't care one way or the other. In fact, I think she appreciates you."

"Huh?"

There is something endearing about how genuine this girl's reactions are. Yuki can not help but smile.

"From what I understand, Homura advised you against becoming a magical girl, correct? Mami made her point that she wants to prevent competition, but I doubt that. Homura seems more like the type to kill her competition before they have a chance to sprout."

The word 'kill' draws a gasp from Madoka. She grows a little more pale, leaning back and then leaning in worriedly.

"Calm down," Yuki chastises with a roll of her eyes. "The fact you are alive is a clear indicator of one thing: either Homura doesn't care for competition, or she is fond of you. Perhaps both. I don't think she has so much as tried to ambush Mami either, which anyone who cared for that would do."

The pinkette slowly returns to normal, guided by the sound of Yuki's voice. Her troubled expression doesn't fade entirely, though.

"Do you really think Homura is like that?" she asks softly. "That she'd k-kill people?"

Yuki thinks 'yes', but holds her tongue. She keeps forgetting that the people here are much less used to the violence she is so familiar with. So she closes her eyes to give the question due consideration.

"I think," she finally says, "that there is something Homura cares about. I don't know what, and I don't know why. And I think that, if whatever she cares about is threatened or damaged, she is able to kill over it."

Because whatever it is, it must be Homura's reason for living. A wave of acid bubbles in Yuki's gut, the darkness aching as it laps on her flesh from the inside. She knows she may be assuming too much, but the similarities can not be discounted. All she can do is keep them to herself, in case she is wrong.

"Regardless, she hasn't killed anyone here. The worst she has done is make her opinion known. She arbitrated the first time we met, and on Sunday she advised both Nagisa and myself to keep the peace. Diplomacy is her preference. Perhaps she even wants to get along," Yuki muses absently. "It must be quite lonely otherwise."

She needs a moment to recognise the irony of herself saying that. But it is true nonetheless; the more Yuki interacts with people, the more she realises that her ascetic life is lacking so much. She likes being with others, at least for as long as her social battery holds out.

Meanwhile, Madoka started to look sad again. Though there is a trace of hope in her expression as well.

"Did she really say that?" she asks, hands clasped together. Yuki nods.

"She did. I think you two have common ground in wanting everyone to get along."

Madoka slowly perks up by this point. A thoughtful sort of hope rises to the forefront, followed by a soft smile.

"Thank you for telling me this, miss Yuki. I will try talking to Homura again when I get the chance. I'm so glad to know she wants the same thing."

Beaming, Madoka gets back to chomping on her fries with renewed vigour. Yuki does the same, finishing her meal soon after. She can understand why Oriko is reluctant to just off the girl; Madoka does not have the malice it takes to end the world intentionally. Murdering an innocent girl... is something Yuki could do, if it really had an effect. Oriko probably could, too. But either she failed in every future she saw, or killing Madoka does not avert world's end.

"Kyubey," Yuki calls, prompting the pinkette opposite of her to look up in wonder. "How does magical potential work? Where does it come from?"

The bunnycat hops onto the table from the empty seat between them, tail swishing gently. They appear as if they were always there.

"A human's magical potential depends on two factors: emotional strength and karmic weight," they explain. "Emotional strength should be self-explanatory. Karmic weight, in short, is the amalgamation of potential within a given person to affect the world around them. To give an example, an influential political figure has greater karmic weight than a regular citizen. A princess or high priestess even more so, seeing that her influence is more direct and causes ripple effects."

"And how does this relate to power, going by what Nagisa said?"

"It doesn't."

Yuki's brow rises minutely and Madoka gives a surprised noise. Kyubey turns to address them both more evenly.

"Until a contract is formed, karmic weight has no significant influence. On the assumption that you consider Madoka able to cast proper spells without contracting, I have to tell you this is not possible. Her emotional strength is around the average for her age group."

Yuki nods faintly. That was what she considered. Madoka deflates a little, but does not seem too put-out; chances were she never even thought about such a thing before. She may not even realise the implication about her karmic weight, though.

"I need to do some independent studies," Yuki murmurs, then addresses Kyubey again: "Do men have less potential? And for that matter, what about adult women?"

"Girls in their second stage of growth have been found to possess the strongest potential on average," Kyubey answers easily. "Their emotional strength is often higher than that of boys in similar ages, but their karmic weight is also at its height. Few humans reach the full extent of their potential, which subsequently lowers as they age."

Madoka slowly raises her hand, innocent curiousity on full display.

"So could you contract boys?"

Kyubey nods.

"I can. In fact, I do just that on occasion. The same goes for adults that meet the right criteria. However, both of these cases are comparatively rare. There are currently five such people in all of Japan; two in Tokyo, one in Sendai, and two more in Okinawa."

Both of them accept the information as given. Yuki has more questions, but Madoka is squeamish enough as is. Asking for the turnover rate between girls and boys is better left for another time.

"Madoka. May I take some scans of you at a later time?"

"Oh, um, okay? What for?"

"I'm trying to figure out how exactly this 'potential' works," Yuki explains with a mild frown. "So far my findings were... inconclusive."

Madoka nods her agreement once more, which was much easier than anticipated. Then she hesitates, fidgets for a moment, and turns back to Kyubey.

"Say, do you know where Homura lives?"

"I do," they confirm readily. "I can lead you there, if you want. Although you can talk to her here, too. I'm fairly sure she is nearby."

Madoka immediately looks up and tries to spot the elusive magical girl. Yuki does too, but neither of them can find her. Perhaps Kyubey meant the mall in general, which would make sense; a lot of students come here after class. Several others are even in the same restaurant as them, though they fail to notice anything at Yuki's and Madoka's table.

"I guess that works too," Madoka says, still a little befuddled. "Can you go and ask her to meet me in a bit? Um, if it's not too much trouble? And if she won't attack you again?"

"Ever since she said attacking me was too much trouble, she has kept to that. Of course I will deliver your message. Until next time, Yuki."

They stand up, fluffy tail flicking in a gesture reminiscent of a wave. Yuki raises her hand in a similar manner, then watches Kyubey scamper away.

"Then I will leave you to that," she says a moment later. Their food is gone and the conversation ran its course. "Good day, Madoka. Please offer my regards to Homura as well."

"Okay, I will. And thank you for meeting me today, miss Yuki."

Madoka keeps smiling while they flag down the waitress and pay for the food. She waves cheerfully and gets going, which leaves Yuki to make her next stop in Kazamino.

Explaining the situation to Kyoko and Yuma causes a notable frown on the older girl's face. She sits with her arms crossed, munching on an apple. The audible crunch of every bite somehow sounds annoyed.

"And you want Yuma along in case someone gets hurt?" she asks by the end. When Yuki nods, Kyoko throws a glance to her charge. "What do you think?"

"I wanna go, big sis! Meeting more magical girls is good, right? You said people like healers, right?"

"Guess I did," Kyoko admits. She wearily rubs the back of her head with her clean hand. "But I can't say I like the idea of leaving you on your own. Even with Yuki there," she pre-empts their guest's reminder of her presence. "Sorry, but I don't like to depend on others. It's in Mitakihara, right?"

There is a minuscule pause between those two sentences. Yuki may have imagined it. But she eventually nods, prompting Kyoko to frown. Her attentions drifts away to somewhere far away.

Yuma leans around Kyoko to seek Yuki's gaze, but finds that Yuki is just as lost as her. Neither of them knows what this is about.

After a minute, Kyoko comes back to them. She takes a deep breath, lobs the apple's core out a broken window with precision that speaks of practice, and leans back.

"I'm coming, too," she declares, daring Yuki to object while Yuma beams. "Got some business to take care of."

Yuki has no problems with that. If anything, this went far more painless than she anticipated; Kyoko does not even ask for any sort of recompense, at least not up-front. Yuma sitting right there may play into it, but she does try to be a good role-model for the younger girl.

So it is that Yuki first meets those two on Friday afternoon, right at the foot of the main bridge connecting Mitakihara and Kazamino. Once they linked up, she leads the way to the next meeting spot. Neither of the green-haired girls comments on how jittery Kyoko appears.

Ten minutes later, Nagisa comes running up to them with a big smile and a wave. Her satchel is still on her back, not that it seems to bother her.

"Hello, miss Yuki!" she greets with great cheer, then beams at her companions. "Good afternoon, I'm Nagisa Momoe, a sixth-year at Mitakihara Elementary. I am really happy to meet you both. Please call me Nagisa, or Momo if you like."

A complicated look flits over Kyoko's expression during the introduction, though nobody notices. Yuma steps forward with a bow and a smaller, but equally honest smile. "Hello, Nagisa, I'm Yuma Chitose. It's nice to meet you, too."

When Nagisa looks up to Kyoko next, the redhead gives herself a push. Putting a little and brittle smile on display, she still tries for confident.

"Heya, I'll call you Nagisa too, if that's alright. The name's Kyoko Sakura, just call me whatever."

"Okay, miss Kyoko!"

With introductions done, the four of them keep on going. Nagisa quickly starts chatting up Yuma, the two younger girls walking ahead while Yuki stays near Kyoko. The redhead watches them with a little smile.

"I didn't know you're bringing another kid," she says, sounding curious more than anything. "When did she make her contract?"

"A few days before Yuma, I think," Yuki answers. "I don't know which day exactly and prefer not to ask."

"I see. So she's recent, too. Damn it."

Kyoko frowns, not at the girls but at the ground. She absently pulls out a piece of hard candy and sticks it in her mouth. Her voice comes out a little odd afterward, though Yuki can still understand her.

"Maybe I could've done something if I'd known...."

Perhaps she did not mean to actually say it out loud. Yuki rubs her shoulder anyway, startling the redhead a little.

"You had no way of knowing and no way of preventing it. Stop blaming yourself for a nonexistent shortcoming."

The other magical girl slowly shows a little grin, then she claps Yuki's shoulder in turn. "Look at you being all supportive," she teases, though it rolls off Yuki's shoulders like water. "I appreciate it, but that doesn't change that I feel responsible for stuff like this. Maybe it's just because of Yuma again, but still. Girls their age shouldn't have to feel a need to wish on Kyubey."

Yuki can only nod. She wants to say something, but raised voices draw her and Kyoko's attention back to said girls.

Nagisa stopped walking, arms crossed as she pout-scowls at Yuma.

"No way! My big sis is way cooler!"

Yuma imitates the gesture and expression, a green mirror to Nagisa. "Nuh uh! My big sis is the best!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

And on it goes several times. Yuki watches the whole thing without comment. She takes notice how Kyoko's lips twitch, though. The redhead seems out of her depth on how to solve this little conundrum. Although she may also feel flattered that Yuma is so insistent about her 'coolness'.

After a minute of continuous back-and-forth, the two younger girls stare at each other intently. Then, as if somehow synchronised, they both look away with twin huffs, noses turned up.

Yuki is tempted to arbitrate. As a guardian, hearing disputes and solving them fairly is among her duties. However, she can tell neither girl will budge on her opinion. Moreover, this is a juvenile argument and will likely fade in time.

"If you two are done," she interrupts their attempts to pressure the other with silence. "I don't want to be late."

Yuma's "Okay!" comes at the same time as Nagisa's "I'm sorry, miss Yuki!", over which the two look at each other... and away again.

Yuki just shakes her head and starts walking. In passing, she takes both girls by the hand. They fall in line without resistance, trotting after her while trying not to look at each other. Kyoko giggles quietly behind them.

Thanks to her decisive actions, they make it to the meeting point in time. An otherwise unremarkable street downtown, not too far from the industrial district.

They are the first to arrive, though Nagisa already looks around in curiousity. She sniffs the air, squints at their surroundings, and then points to a particular street. "There are people coming from that way, miss Yuki. One magical girl and miss Kaname, too."

Yuma and Kyoko look in the same direction. The younger girl seems lost while Kyoko's brows are raised faintly.

"Good senses, Nagisa" she praises. "I'm barely sensing anything with Yuki right there. They must be at least a few streets away yet."

Nagisa glows with pride, giggling happily. Then she suddenly flinches and whirls around, eyes wide.

"Oh, miss Akemi! You're here, too!"

"Good afternoon."

Homura returns her bow with a more measured one, having successfully startled Kyoko and Yuma. Yuki is fairly sure that she appears behind people on purpose; seeing how Nagisa did not sense her until that moment, she might be teleporting as well. It would explain her erratic movements.

Kyoko is about to say something, but her mouth snaps shut at the sight of Homura. They could not be more different; one is well put-together, clothes immaculate and hair silky smooth, while the other barely keeps her worn hoodie and shorts clean, or her hair in its ponytail. She sizes Homura up for a moment, then offers a strained smirk.

"Yo. The name's Sakura, nice to meetcha."

"Homura Akemi, a pleasure."

The fact Homura offers her a bow as well throws Kyoko off for some reason, though it does not confuse her for long. She soon produces a package of candy sticks and offers them to Homura, who daintily takes one.

Just then, the rest rounds a corner and starts coming their way. Madoka and Mami as expected, together with Sayaka and Junko. The sight of the larger group awaiting them gives everyone but Junko pause; Sayaka scowls as she spots Homura, Madoka looks from one girl to the next in wonder, and Mami's step falters for reasons unknown.

Junko waves merrily at them as she herds the girls their way, though it is Sayaka who speaks up first.

"What's she doing here?" she spits, pointing at Homura.

Her classmate is unaffected by the hostility, looking to Madoka instead. Seeing that, the pinkette softly speaks up.

"I invited her, Sayaka."

"What?! Why?"

Madoka shies away from her friend's shocked annoyance. Junko's smile cracks a little at that, but she leaves it be. With Mami also turning a politely curious look to Madoka, the pressure grows until she takes a deep breath and firms up.

"Because Homura doesn't have any stakes here, Sayaka," she explains. "I asked her to come because it's safer with more people. And to make sure nobody fights."

"But-" "Miss Miki."

Sayaka's mouth snaps shut when Mami speaks. The older girl carries a polite smile that mostly manages to hide her actual thoughts.

"If miss Kaname felt the need to do this, then I believe it is her right to do so. Especially so because it is her mother accompanying us. And while I can not say I trust miss Akemi's motives, I do believe she is capable."

She offers a faint nod to Homura, who returns it stiffly. Then however, Mami turns to the rest of them. Specifically, the one standing behind Yuki and the grade schoolers.

"What I don't understand at all is why you came all this way, miss Sakura. You were quite clear the last time we spoke. Surely you did not just follow this entity blindly?"

Her politeness is brittle now, to the point even Yuki can tell. Kyoko up and makes a face, unable to hold Mami's gaze. Everyone else looks between the two.

"Yeah, I guess I was. But that's kinda why I'm here. Do you, uh, do you mind if we step away for a minute?"

Mami mulls over her question in the anticipatory silence. Then she offers a faint nod and begins moving.

While those two leave, Junko glances back to the girls still around her. "Well, it looks like there's still some people I don't know," she starts with her usual friendliness. Her gaze alternates between Homura and Yuma, who take the chance to introduce themselves to her and each other.

Once that is done, Sayaka pipes up a little awkwardly, hand raised: "Um, does anyone know how miss Mami knows that other girl?"

Yuki does not know, nor do Yuma and Nagisa. The younger girls shake their head in unison and, upon spotting each other doing the same, turn up their noses again. Madoka seems just as lost.

Homura does not.

"Kyoko Sakura currently lays claim to Kazamino as her territory. She's a veteran on par with Mami Tomoe. It's likely that they met in the past for one reason or another."

Yuki can see them talking in the distance. Kyoko seems more awkward than she ever has, while Mami appears strangely touched by whatever the redhead says. It definitely looks like more than just a casual acquaintanceship.

If anyone else thinks the same, they do not say it. Sayaka frowns only a little at the fact that Homura of all people explained something to her. Instead, she turns to Yuki with suspicious eyes. That Nagisa and Yuma watch her much the same way does not seem to register.

"Why did you bring those two, anyway?"

"I brought Yuma because she has healing powers. Kyoko came along because she's worried, I think. And whatever that is," Yuki adds with a motion toward the two girls approaching them again. Both appear more relaxed now; Kyoko is back to grinning, Mami carries a candy bar.

Once Kyoko was introduced to everyone as well, Junko claps her hands.

"Now, I know the plan was to go find one of these Witches, but how about we have some food first? That way everyone can get to know each other a bit. My treat, of course."

Kyoko agrees about as soon as Junko finishes speaking. Yuma excitedly nods her head as well. Once Yuki just shrugs and Nagisa shily agrees as well, the rest just do the same.

Though Junko's plan may not work entirely, if the subdued conversations during lunch are any indicator. Kyoko and Yuma can clearly tell that there is a rift between people, two distinct camps. Three, perhaps. Yuki and Nagisa, Mami and Sayaka, and the Kanames plus Homura. Although it may well be four groups, with Homura forming her own enigmatic one.

Madoka and Junko try to ease the tension, but there is only so much they can do.

Once things begin wrapping up, Yuki dabs her mouth with a napkin and speaks up properly: "With six people in fighting condition, we should discuss our roles. Who brings what to the table. I can take frontline duty, I'm strong and durable enough for that, but my preferred position is a supporting one."

There is a moment's pause as everyone hesitates. Then Yuma raises her hand with a little smile.

"I can do healing, so leave that to me!"

"I'm good at range!" Nagisa follows up, not to be outdone. "But it's kind of indiscriminate, so please be careful!"

The two smile at each other for a half-second, then remember they are currently not talking. Madoka and Kyoko both smile over them quickly crossing their arms and looking away.

"While I can fill either front line or back line, as well as support, I prefer the back," Mami notes. She nods to Kyoko. "I imagine you will take the front for us, miss Sakura?"

"Sure will, it's what I'm best at."

Kyoko gives a thumbs up, to which Mami returns a pleased smile. Then she glances to Homura.

"What about you, miss Akemi?"

Homura looks back with an expression that could be carved from stone. Mami's smile never wavers, though it turns a tad more impersonal and polite in the following silence.

"Someone has to protect the civilians and our healer. I will take that role."

Sayaka's scowl tells everyone around that she has opinions about that, but she keeps quiet. Madoka and Junko seem receptive enough of the idea, so Mami inclines her head.

"Then I will entrust their safety to you, miss Akemi. If that is alright with you as well, miss Sakura?"

Kyoko squints at Homura for a moment, then throws a glance in Yuki's direction. Upon receiving a faint nod, she gives another thumbs up. "Yeah, sounds good. How about we get going, then?"

That seems to be the keyword. Everyone finishes up their meal, Junko pays as she promised, and they are on their way.

Unfortunately, the first hour or so is fruitless walking. There is not a Witch in sight. It may be because everyone but Nagisa has trouble sensing beyond the middle distance; Yuki's presence in their midst makes everything else muddled. Mami assures Junko that this is quite common, though.

The second hour is similarly quiet, both in terms of Witches and conversation; the magical girls all focus on picking up trails, Sayaka seems lost in thought, and Madoka talks quietly with her mother. Yuki is comfortable in the silence, for at least as long as it takes to realise that people are already making new graffitis in the spots she cleaned several weeks ago. And those are not the pretty ones, but more garbage.

While she still debates whether to take the time to remove them, Nagisa lets out a victorious noise and points down a street.

"That way!" she calls, then starts running. The rest quickly picks up the pace to follow her.

Barely a minute later, the streets distort around them. The faint sound of wingbeats follows; a doll-like humanoid without defined features beyond the face flutters along on a single wing. Its wood-looking halo stays firmly in place despite not being attached.

Kyoko lets out a low growl behind them, but is overshadowed by Junko's curious noise.

"So this is a Witch?"

"No," Mami denies. "This is a familiar. A Witch's child, if you will. They sometimes leave the mother Witch's barrier and, if left to their own devices, will eventually kill enough people to grow into a copy of their mother."

She steps forward, but a crimson blur already darts past. Mami blinks in surprise, her ringlets fluttering. Kyoko spears through the familiar before it even recognised them, a cold look on her face.

The familiar dissipates, and the miniature barrier goes with it. Kyoko gets up and stands normally, pointing down the street.

"It came from there," she says. "With how easily it died, I'd say it hasn't split off all that long ago. Let's go."

She does not even wait for affirmation. Yuma catches up with her first, seemingly worried; Kyoko relaxes a little when she takes her hand. The others form up around them.

The hunt is on. And now that they approach the Witch, Yuki has to consider her options. They have more than enough combined power to finish whoever she is swiftly. But at the same time, Yuki can talk to Witches. And they may be inclined to talk to her. But is that worth the risk, minimal as it is with three veterans, a powerful healer, and Yuki herself around?

---

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM96WWORDdY[/URL]

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[] Proceed as normal, kill the Witch
weight: x1

[] Try conversation, maybe she can be reasoned with
weight: x1

[] write-in something else?