Episode 6 - 2
Shinobu Oshino
Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade
- Location
- Unseen Horizon
Kazamino was Kyouko's territory. The less you meet with her, the better. As a result, Asunaro was the only option. You wanted to avoid confrontation. Meeting a magical girl in Asunaro would be the same as meeting a stranger on the street. Whoever the unfortunate magical girl was, it would be brief. It was best for you and for her.
The real difficulty came in trying to justify the trip. Asunaro City was a little under an hour away by train. Regardless of the difficulty, you explained the case to your mother. You pleaded, saying it was to get a gift for Madoka. You said you would go with a friend of yours. As she listened, you realized you went through the trouble for nothing.
"Just be back before dinner," your mother said. "Get your sister something nice, okay?"
You stared at her from across the table. You were torn whether she was the coolest mother ever, or if she was just being irresponsible. With the mental debate ongoing, you shrugged and left early the next morning.
Snow fell, coating the train station in a thick coat of ice. It was the same as the night before, and the night before that one. The snow was particularly harsh this winter. You stayed warm by resting your hands in your pockets. You pulled your hood down, tying the rope around your neck tight enough to almost choke.
In contrast, your companion sits next to you wearing only a light jacket and shorts. Her messy hair held aloft by a scrunchy. You weren't sure if she had just got out of the bath, or if she was getting ready for a trip to the beach. Neither were appropriate, given the biting cold.
"Lexi, are you okay?" You asked the question that had been bouncing around your mind for the longest time.
"No," Lexi replied with a tilt of the head. "Are you?"
"No, I mean, are you cold?"
"Same answer: No."
No matter how journeys you made through the veil. You could venture through a thousand worlds, but there would always be a single, universal constant; Lexi's lack of common sense.
You wondered whether it was a result of her immortality, or if she had always been like this. For the sake of her family, if they were still around, you had hoped it was the former. You sighed a warm breath, fogging the window up.
"I hope there's witches in Asunaro," you whispered.
"You hope there are witches?" Lexi said, leaning back in her seat. "Why wouldn't there be?"
"Well, um… do you remember what I told you? What I'm doing, I mean?" You frowned.
It was a conversation you had before. Multiple times, in fact. It continued to repeat to the point where you just stopped bothering. It was tiring, given Lexi's disposition.
"About 'purifying' witches?" Lexi looked up, then down. "Yeah, I remember. You still haven't shown me any proof, though."
You couldn't. That's where the conversation always ended, and it would continue to end. You go quiet, shifting your attention back to the fogged up window. You wipe away the smear, revealing the platform outside. It slowly slid out of view as the train came to life with a low thrum.
Lexi glanced at you, then shrugged as she tilted her head back.
The ride to Asunaro was long. What was supposed to be less than an hour stretched on for what seemed like an eternity. The rhythmic whir of the train, the echo of your pounding heart, and the silence hanging in the air.
The other Madoka hung above you, looking left and right, trying to occupy her own time. It was cute watching her look around. She reached out to touch a sign board, then relented, realizing her hand went through. You laughed, causing her to stare at you with a pouting lip.
You wanted to apologize, but couldn't. Lest that draw Lexi's attention and, eventually, her wrath. No, wrath wasn't quite the right word. The point was that she would tease you. The less ammunition you gave her, the better.
Left alone with your thoughts, you thought about why witches would be vanishing. It was a result of your successes with the other Madoka. Each time you and Madoka 'warped reality', things changed at a slow and steady rate.
It was the only way to make changes, as far as your floating sister was concerned. Anything harder than this and things would 'break'. What that meant, you didn't know -- but you didn't really want to know. Madoka described it as a wooden board suspended by two bricks, and putting pressure on the middle. Putting too much pressure on it all at once would cause it to break in two.
While the concept was beyond you, you understood that it meant you had to take baby steps to make changes. It started with Chiyo, and then with the witch that Kyouko was fighting. Each and every witch, every familiar, was another stepping stone on the journey.
The lack of witches in Mitakihara made you wonder if it meant you had to move on to other cities. That was a tall order, and probably not something you'd be able to do until after you finished school. It was a thought that hadn't occurred to you yet. Just how long was this job going to be? Would it be the rest of your life? The thought alone inspired a tinge of anxiety. It wasn't that you couldn't do it, or wouldn't -- it was more that the burden was heavier than you thought.
It wasn't a fraction of the weight that your sister carried.
The train screeched to a stop.
You arrived in Asunaro.
You sighed, stood up, and grasped your soul gem. "Come on, Lexi. Let's go."
"Yeah, I hear you," Lexi said, grumbling as she stood up.
Asunaro City felt different from Mitakihara. The skyscrapers stood tall as you stepped into their shadow. Fewer people walked the streets than back in Mitakihara. They shuffled about as if possessed, pushing themselves through the snow. It felt less like a city and more as if you had just entered a ghost town. It didn't help that you felt as though you were being watched.
"I don't like it here," you said, frowning.
"I don't either. I hate this place," Lexi said, her hands in her pockets.
"Let's just do what we came for and get out."
"No complaints here."
You began your trek through Asunaro with Lexi. You moved through the back alleys and the lesser populated sections of town. In no time at all, your soul gem picked up a witch. You transformed and entered the barrier.
It was the same song and dance that you had grown used to. You moved through the barrier, slashing familiars and carving a path toward the center.
There were two girls. One with short hair and blue eyes. The other had orange. They seemed nice. The latter was loud, the former was quiet, supported with ranged magic. You paid them no mind. You aided them in defeating the witch.
"Oh, good job, stranger!" The orange haired girl said.
"Yes, we appreciate the help," said her companion.
"No problem," you waved your hand. You walked forward and grasped the grief seed. "Go ahead."
Time had frozen as it always had. You didn't want chance for debate, or even a fight to break out. You turned back toward the two girls. The girl with glasses wore narrowed slits. The orange-haired girl looked almost nervous, as if she was unsure of what she was about to do. It didn't matter what you did, or what you had done, you didn't know. Your guess was grabbing the grief seed before they had a chance to stop you.
It didn't matter.
The world turned white.
You stood in the alley with Lexi at your side.
The meeting had been undone.
"Momoka?" Lexi said, waving a hand in front of your face.
"You don't have to do that everytime," you placed a hand on your hip.
"It's your fault for spacing out so much."
It was and it wasn't. Regardless, you pressed on.
You encountered another witch.
Fight through the barrier, clear the familiars, get to the center.
The same two girls again. They were hunting witches and you were crashing in on their territory.
"Oh, good job, stranger!" The orange-haired girl siad.
"Yes, we appreciate the help," repeated her companion.
The same exchange.
The world turned white.
"Did we come to walk around the alleys, or were we hunting witches?"
You ignored Lexi and walked forward.
Another witch. Another fight. Another magical girl. Another reset.
Each time Lexi opened her mouth was a reminder of another reset.
It was three, or maybe four? There were some nights you stopped counting. The number wasn't important. The important part was that there were people being saved. Purifying the grief seed meant purifying your own soul gem.
You could keep on fighting.
As long as there was a witch, you could keep on fighting.
As long as there was despair, you would keep fighting.
The fear you once had when entering a witch barrier had vanished. Fighting had become instinctual. Drawing your blades, conjuring the bow, even using the cleaver had gotten easier. There was nothing 'hard' about it anymore. Some fights gave you trouble, but most affairs you could handle on your own.
"It doesn't seem like we're going to find anything," you said, staring at the darkening sky.
"All day and still no luck," Lexi said with a frown.
"Yeah," you grinned and slapped Lexi on the shoulder. "Let's get back home."
The journey into Asunaro had come to an end. It had been only your first time there, but the bitterness it instilled was enough to keep you from making a second trip. Sometime in the future, it would come calling, but for now, you grabbed a present for Madoka and headed home.
The rest of the week flew by in the blink of an eye. Before you knew it, Christmas Eve had finally come. Last year, you were so excited you could hardly sleep. This year, you slept well, fatigue finally catching up with you. The day had been filled with love and laughter. Sayaka came to visit, showing Madoka the present she picked out for her.
"I saw it, thought of you and, well, here it is! Merry Christmas, Madoka!" Sayaka yelled, brandishing the large, stuffed bird. You meet its beady eyes with a knowing smile.
"Oh, it's adorable, Sayaka! Thank you!" Madoka grabbed the bird and hugged it tight.
"And Merry Christmas, Momo!" Sayaka said, holding out a smaller box.
"What's this?" You stared.
"I… kind of felt bad about the whole I.O.U. thing, so I wanted to apologize," Sayaka averted her eyes to hide her blushing face.
The fleeting temptation to remind Sayaka wormed its way into your mind. Instead, you shook your head and unwrapped the present.
It was a similar stuffed animal to the one Madoka had received. It wore a blue sundress in contrast to the frilly dress of Madoka's. It brought a smile to your face.
"Thanks, Sayaka."
"Uh…" Sayaka hesitated as she looked toward Madoka. "Is your sister alright?"
"Why are you asking Madoka? I'm literally right here," you frowned.
"Sayaka," Madoka chastised with a faint smile.
"Alright," Sayaka said as she put her hands up. "Alright, I guess it's your turn, Madoka."
"Okay!" Madoka pulled out a present and handed it to you. "Momo, Merry Christmas!"
You lightly set Sayaka's present aside, taking Madoka's present. You opened it, and you stopped short.
It was a book adorned with a gold frame. On the cover was a picture of you and Madoka. It was a picture from a winter that was long past. You hugged her, a frown on your face, as Madoka smiled bright. You flipped the page open ever so slightly.
Another picture peaked behind it. A picture of you struggling to burp Takkun as Madoka reached out to help.
You flipped another page. More memories than you could count were woven between each page. Your hands darted from page to page. Your eyes scanned for fragments of memory that you've long since forgotten. You laughed, shaking your head.
There was no way you could compare.
It was a thoughtful gift. Something she had prepared. Normally Madoka had been bad at keeping secrets, but since you've been out with Lexi so much, she could put this together in secret.
"Thanks, Madoka," you said, struggling to hold in your tears. "I appreciate it."
Madoka embraced you.
You rest your chin on her shoulder and close your eyes.
Your gift didn't compare. It didn't matter because you didn't have the time. There was no heart in it. It was a matter of course as opposed to anything thoughtful. It wasn't worth recalling. But, even still, you brandished the gift.
Two crimson ribbons. They gave off a pleasant sheen. Spotless
"Oh, a new ribbon?" Madoka said, her eyes wide.
"Yeah, I figured you could use a new one." Your eyes drifted toward the scrap book. "I grabbed one too, so we could match if we wanted."
"They're pretty!" Madoka said, hardly hiding her excitement. "Look, Sayaka!"
"Yeah, I see'em," Sayaka grinned. "Good job, Momo."
Christmas had come and gone.
Winter had given way to spring. The snow had thawed with the coming of the spring heat. Your fight continued.
The mystery of the vanishing witches had remained unsolved. Your work remained unfinished. With your friends at your back, you persevered.
Then, March arrived, and with it, everything that followed.
March 25th, 201X
You woke up early. It's become a habit over the past few months. After school, you either hung out with Madoka, Hitomi and Sayaka or you went skulking around for witches. The 'drought' that plagued Mitakihara for the past few months seems to have passed. Some part of you was thankful because of Kyouko and Mami, but another part of you felt like something was off. The only person -- or, using proper terms, the only thing who could really answer questions related to that was Kyubey.
The other Madoka could answer most questions that concerned you. Madoka's theory on the witches coming back into Mitakihara is that they're coming in from other districts and cities. It felt almost unnatural with how fast they were cropping up. It's part of why you want to talk to Kyubey about it. However, that meant exposing yourself to the conniving creature.
You sigh as you finish tying up your hair. You glance at the bathroom mirror then walk out of the room. A little trip down the hall and, eventually, you come to your bedroom door. You lightly push it open to avoid waking up your sister.
"Madoka?" You whisper.
She lays in bed, clutching her pink, stuffed bird in one arm and her stuffed rabbit in the other. Whatever she was dreaming about, it was making her fidget. Her eyes twitch.
You have a responsibility as her sister.
There was only one thing to do and that was …
[_] … wake her up with a jab on the shoulder.
[_] … sit down and watch her sleep.
[_] … let her sleep in.
[_] … scare her awake. You wouldn't get another opportunity.
[_] Write-in
