[X] Contact telepathically your friends.
-[X] Say hello, ask their plans, tell your plans.
[X] Head out towards Ami's house!
-[X] Call her before-hand.
You take in a deep breath and walk over to your window. You lay your gaze on the snow-covered streets and the few passing cars and people that move by on them. It hasn't really occurred to you before, just how important day this is going to be. It's been two and a half years since you last met everyone, after all, and you're not sure what to do.
Harkening back to how you reaching out to Ami went… The more you think about it, the more you grow afraid of screwing things up there. Will you be able to talk to them without breaking apart in front of them? And what would you even say to them after all this time?
You have no real idea if you're being honest with yourself.
You close your eyes for a moment in an attempt to calm yourself down. Even if you don't know what will happen, you know you're not going to be there alone. Ami is sure to stand beside you, and even out in the city you have your friends!
...Speaking of, you haven't even talked to them yet! And given how things are, maybe hearing them could soothe your frayed nerves and help your resolve.
'Hi, everyone!' you shout into the telepathic link between you and your Magical Girl friends, while trying to hide your nervousness. 'How's everyone today? Any plans?'
True to form, you're soon greeted by the cheerful voice of Ariane answering your call. 'Hi~! I'm fine, it's a great morning today!' Nothing unusual then. 'Will we be hanging out today? It really is a nice day outside!'
'...Is this going to become a thing?' Mariko groans out tiredly immediately after. 'I'd prefer to sleep during mornings, you know.'
Guess you woke her up today? Whoops… Well, it's not like you're not sympathetic to that. You can appreciate a good sleep during the morning too, training sessions notwithstanding.
'Uh, sorry about that!' you sheepishly answer her, hoping that she'd accept your apology. 'I didn't mean to wake you up with this. I was just curious about how everyone's doing!' you pause for a moment. 'Oh, and I probably won't be able to come over today, Ariane.'
'Huh, why's that? Did something happen?' the girl shoots back, sounding scandalized about the news.
'Well, I'm kind of planning on going to visit some, uh… old friends today,' you try to explain it, even with your voice wavering a little. 'W-we haven't seen each other for a long time and I expect to spend the entire day there.'
'I-is that why you sound so nervous, Tamiko?' Kishi finally pipes in, her telepathic voice low, and filled with concern and worry for you... Come to think of it, she's the only one here to actually know about your 'curse'. She's the only to realize just what this must mean for you.
You're grateful that she cares.
'Yeah, I'm a bit terrified of how it will go,' you admit. Maybe you should get around to explaining this to Ariane and Mariko too? Well, maybe when you're not so emotionally drained or pushed by everything, at least... 'It's been almost three years now since we last met, after all…'
'Aww, it will go fine!' Ariane exclaims. 'Don't think about it too much, just do what you usually do! Be natural, no doubting what you're doing!'
'Yeah, something like that, I guess?' Mariko notes, even if a bit more detachedly than Ariane. 'Really, don't stress about that.'
'R-right, don't be afraid, I know it'll go over well,' Kishi tries encouraging you. 'I… I believe in you. E-even if it's scary, I know you can do it.'
You can't help the smile forming on your face upon hearing those words. If all else fails, you can always trust Kishi to be there with you.
'Thanks, everyone…' you quietly send back to them. 'I'll be back later. See you later!'
'Yeah, bye! Have fun out there!'
You let out a sigh and smile at the empty room as the conversation ceases. They are right, you just need to go for it and not stop to doubt yourself.
It's time to go.
You grab your bag, and march out of your room. You only pause to give your aunt and Cathy a hasty bye before leaving for the entrance, not wanting to give them a window for teasing you more than they already have.
As you reach the outside of the apartment complex, you bring out your phone. It might be prudent to call and warn Ami before going there.
You scroll down the list of numbers and pick the one belonging to your old friend. The phone toots a couple of times before you hear a click on the other end, followed by the voice of Ami over the speakers. "This is Tsubasa Ami speaking."
"Hey, it's Tamiko here!" you exclaim. "I just wanted to call you to say that I'm leaving now, and I'll be there in 40 minutes or so."
"Oh, that's good to hear!" the girl sighs out in relief. "Matsuko just called me too, saying that they're at the bus station right now! I think they'll be here slightly late, but they're coming."
You cannot help noticing the sinking feeling in your stomach, and the nervousness seeping into your thoughts. This is really happening! "Right… So, uh, see you there then?"
"Absolutely, see you soon!"
"Yeah, see you!"
Since you're about to meet her soon enough, there's no real reason to drag the call on. You flip the phone shut and start marching down the road with brisk steps. Buildings and crossroads pass by you, as you march towards the house in the West, the part of the city where Ami (and Evelyn) lives.
You don't really notice the passage of time as you, most of the house and people garnering not even a passing thought. You try focusing all of your attention on training ideas with your matter creation, though you seem to hit a blank there.
But at least it prevents you from worrying about this meeting.
You reach the old home of Ami's before you even know it, the rather modest single-family house with a small yard sticking out to your buried memories. Many great days were sent there, playing with everyone…
You shake a little, and a voice in the back of your head start telling you that you can still run away. It would be fine, you're not ready…
But that's a bad excuse. You breathe in deeply and take the first step into the yard, followed by another, and then another… The front door is right before you now, and with a shaking hand, you press the doorbell.
Several agonizing moments pass, before the door is swung open and the brightly smiling face of Ami greets you.
"Oh, it's great to see you here Tamiko!"
What do you do?
[] Hugs. Now. No questions.
[] Talk with Ami while you wait for Matsuko and Yuujin.
[] Write-in.
===
I probably won't be able to write any updates tomorrow, so you'll have good time to think and prepare for any stuff I have prepared you might think of.
. Now, to fix that optimism...
Bring it on.
