[X] Check on your soul gem. Use a grief seed if necessary.
[X] Check in
-[X] on Madoka telepathically
-[X] on Hitomi via text, asking how the party went after she had to leave
[X] Thanks to Archer's worries earlier about people from the Moonlit World possibly paying attention to such a public labyrinth, take this time to get Archer better acquainted with her Timestop ability; ask him if his shroud can come undone in a way to tie them together and then Timestop their way out of the labyrinth and a ways away from it.
I had to chop the last part of the vote off because labyrinths fall apart upon the destruction of the witch, so there wouldn't be any time for us to plan and make a sneaky exit.
You check your Soul Gem as the technicolour labyrinth dissolves around you, returning the world to its rightful hues. It's grown fairly dark after your usage of timestop against the witch, and you judge the use of a Grief Seed to be necessary. While you would prefer to hold the already-contaminated Seed you've been using for awhile, using a fresh one so that you won't have to come into contact with the Incubator by disposing of your used Seed, that option presently strikes you as being nonviable. The Seed is quite volatile already, and holding it for much longer brings with it the risk of allowing a new witch to be hatched.
With a sigh, you hold the already-contaminated Seed against your Soul Gem, watching as the murky black corruption seeps from the already full Seed like sweat. You toss it aside and listen for the sickening sound of the Incubator as it greedily devours the grief-laden Seed.
"I do not know why you insisted on holding this Grief Seed for as long as you did, Akemi Homura. In not much time at all, it would have hatched and given birth to a new witch. You are most fortunate that I was-"
"Be quiet," you say to the white nuisance. You hear no more from the Incubator as it slinks away into the shadows.
"This has been quite the productive day for you, hasn't it?" Archer remarks, as the both of you change out of your battle costumes and back into your regular day clothes. "You joined your very first club, got to celebrate a friend's birthday, made friends with a mass murderer, helped take down a witch, and told that little white shit off."
"Mikuni Oriko is not my friend, Archer. In fact, I cannot even call her an ally at this point, because I do not know how well she can work with Tomoe-san and Kyouko."
"Aw, don't let her catch you saying that. It might hurt her feelings." You can hear the snicker that Archer just barely fails to suppress.
"I'm no stranger to your snide remarks by now, but you've been unusually mean today." Your comment earns you an eye from Archer. You ignore it and press on. "I'm aware that you dislike Mikuni Oriko, but I'm having a hard time doubting that you could dislike her more than I do. Tell me what's bothering you."
Archer spares no expense in delivering his response. "It's probably her face."
You shake your head, not willing to waste any more time being concerned if Archer isn't willing to reciprocate. Besides, you have more important people to check in on.
"Madoka, how is everything going?"
"Homura-chan? Is everything alright? I know I shouldn't be worried, but... You always seem to check up on me after something really scary happens."
"It's nothing too serious. I found a witch that had set up their lair a bit too close to the residential quarter for comfort. I've dealt with them, but I just wanted to make sure that you were safe."
"A witch? ... That's right; that's what you said happens when someone like you... I hope they went peacefully."
Obscured behind a thick cloud of smoke and flame, you were unable to see the witch's dying moments, but with how fast Archer's projectile had been going,
"It was instantaneous. I'm sure they didn't feel a thing."
"... That's good."
"But you're alright?"
"Hm, I'm doing just fine."
"Then I'll let you get back to whatever you had been doing. Good night, Madoka."
"Good night, Homura-chan."
Madoka and Sayaka each seem well enough adjusted to the idea of letting you into their heads, but you aren't sure whether the same will hold true for Hitomi. Instead, you'll text her.
<Homura: How did everything go after I left?>
<Hitomi: Everything was just fine, Akemi-san, thank you for asking. Actually, Madoka-san and Sayaka-san left shortly after you did, though I cannot say that I blame them.>
<Homura: They did do rather poorly on Monday's English quiz.>
<Hitomi: I feel really bad for Madoka-san. I know she really tried her best. Perhaps instead of taking her out on Sunday, you could spend the day helping her with her studies? Not that I am trying to impose on you, that is, but I know she would appreciate your help.>
<Homura: I will see what I can do if I am able, but I was actually hoping to schedule some exercises with Tomoe-san that day, and had no plans to take Madoka out at all.>
<Hitomi: Is it about your afterschool activities?>
<Homura: Yes.>
<Hitomi: Then I shall leave you to your privacy and not ask any further.>
<Homura: At any rate, I am glad to hear that everything went well. Again, I am sorry for having to leave early.>
<Hitomi: it is quite alright, Akemi-san. I understand.>
<Homura: Thank you Hitomi. Take care.>
"It must be hard for your friends," Archer remarks as you put your phone away. "Not knowing if you're just spacing out or if you're conducting some important magical girl business. I'll bet they appreciate it when you message them by phone and not by telepathy." Maybe it shouldn't surprise you, but you've been at this for so long and had so few conversations with non-
puella magi, that the seemingly mundane act of using a cell phone to communicate rather than using telepathy strikes you as odd, just as odd as Mikuni Oriko found your telepathy to be when all she had previously used was her phone.
With your phone still out, you check the time. It's a little after ten. You still have schoolwork to complete, and tomorrow is a school day. Even after refreshing your Soul Gem, you feel that this is all you can manage for the night. But you've made progress. You're
making progress. You can't understate how important that is. And tomorrow will be another day.
