Puella Magi Momo Magica

[MWKillKenny84]

[x] "To help my family and friends, to be there for them through good times and bad."

 

[Shinobu Oshino]

Kyubey has asked me to contract before. I would always think about wishing my parent's back to life, but that's playing God. It's not right. But what else is there for me? I just don't know.

"Think about what you want most in the world, Momo." Midori-san offers me a little guidance. "What is it?"

I picture Mami-onee-chan waiting for me to come home with Onee-chan slouching on the floor. I help Mami-onee-chan with dinner and the three of us eat together like a family. "I want to help my family, and my friends. I want to be there for them in good times and bad."

Midori-san tilts her head, her mouth agape. "Momo. You're really too much, you know that?"

"Huh? I am?" I flinch. Did I not do what she wanted?

"Go bigger than that."

"Bigger?" I think for a moment. "M-maybe your love?"

"Wish for something you don't already have," Midori-san stares daggers at me.

"Ah, okay," I laugh a little. With the tension gone, I take in a deep breath. "I honestly think I'd want to be with my family forever. That way we wouldn't have to be apart. I know we'd still fight, probably, but we'd be able to make up," I close my eyes, trying to picture that kind of life. "Onee-chan never comes home, so I'd be able to see her a little bit more. Mami-onee-chan is home whenever she can be when she's not fighting witches. I'd be able to help her fight, but then there'd be no one left to take care of the apartment." I wouldn't have as much time to study either. I'd have to be a full-fledged magical girl.

Midori-san snickers, "You didn't even think about the fact you'd eventually end up a witch, did you?"

My childish dream ends there. "I-I was just trying to answer your question," I stutter, looking away into the forest.

I see Mami-onee-chan every day. I even see Onee-chan. Sometimes I cry and grieve for Mom and Dad, but I can say for certain that right now - talking to Midori-san - I'm surrounded by people who care about me.

Whatever wish I would honestly make has already been granted.

I know I can't fight like a magical girl, I'm much too weak for that. The only thing I can do is wait for my family to come home safely.

"Actually," I face Midori-san again, smiling. "I don't think I need a wish. I already have everything I want." I walk up to her and clasp her hands in my own. "Becoming a magical girl would make everyone who loves me sad, right?"

"Yeah," she looks at the sky. "It takes a lot of strength to reject a wish, Momo. I imagine you've done it a few times?"

I don't recall ever telling Midori-san about Kyubey's past attempts. "How did you know?"

"Just a guess."

"I have a hard time believing that," I frown.

"Hey, you're making that face again." Midori-san scoffs. "Give me a little more credit. I'm a veteran magical girl."

"You're right, I'm sorry." I clasp my hands behind my back. "Can I ask you something now?"

"Sure, anything."

"When I made that joke earlier… about me already having your love?"

"Yeah?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you love me?" I feel awkward asking this. "We've met a few times. I mean, I hardly know you, Midori-san."

"Because you saved me."

"I didn't do anything like that," I think back to our first conversation here at the church. Midori-san became a magical girl because of me. Her life's been in turmoil ever since she signed her life away. "You told me you didn't like liars, Midori-san."

"I told you before, I don't lie. I might tease, but I don't lie," Midori-san sighs. "Why won't you believe me?"

"Because you said you enjoy living like you are. Even if you know what it means to be a magical girl, then how?" I just don't understand. If she can put her life on the line despite knowing what lies at the end of the road. That has to be a lie.

"Man, you're stubborn when you want to be, aren't you?" Midori-san doesn't take offense to my question, instead she just stretches. "Because when you lose everything close to you, and the only thing you have left is your dreams, you strive for them."

I remember Midori-san's wish was 'making people happy'. Does that have something to do with it? "Your dreams? But you already made your wish, didn't you?"

"Still working toward it," she grins. "Have to keep grasping for what I can't reach."

Ah, that's it.

I finally understand.

"You're an idiot," I want to cry, but I can't. My tears have dried up.

"Yep!" she gives me a thumbs up. "I'm a hopeless fool who'll never have their wish really granted. That's why I have to keep working toward it." Midori-san looks up to the sky with hollow eyes. "That's what life's all about."

I hug Midori-san, throwing my hands around her waist. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have anything to apologize for. You're my inspiration, Momo." Midori-san embraces me in return. "That's why I'm going to do whatever I can to protect you."

[_] "Don't do that, Midori-san, I don't need it."
[_] "I'm counting on you."
[_] "Protect everyone."
[_] Custom

 

[veekie]

[X] "If you want to protect my heart as well, take care of yourself too, Midori-san. It would hurt me if you were hurt."

 

[UbeOne]

[X] "If you want to protect my heart as well, take care of yourself too, Midori-san. It would hurt me if you were hurt."

 

[Nervos Belli]

[X] "If you want to protect my heart as well, take care of yourself too, Midori-san. It would hurt me if you were hurt."

 

[mistfist]

[X] "If you want to protect my heart as well, take care of yourself too, Midori-san. It would hurt me if you were hurt."

 

[MWKillKenny84]

[X] "If you want to protect my heart as well, take care of yourself too, Midori-san. It would hurt me if you were hurt."

 

[Shinobu Oshino]

"If you want to protect me, Midori-san, you should protect yourself too," I smile. "It would hurt to see you in pain."

"You got it," she pulls back from the hug. "I'll make sure I come back in one piece."

She makes it sound so easy.

"Midori-san," I clench my hands into fists. I want to question her, but I can't do it. It won't get me anything. It'll only hurt more. "Okay."

"Huh?"

"You win. I believe you."

If Midori-san can smile, why can't I? I know it hurts, but it must be hurting her more to see me worried like this. If I'm her ideal, I have to live up to that. I have to be her 'hero'. I'm not a magical girl, I'm not anyone special - but if this is how Midori-san sees me, I have to live up to that image.

I have to be the Momo she remembers.

"Why's that? What changed your mind?"

"Just seeing you happy is enough, Midori-san. That's all I needed." I'm not sure if 'happiness' is the word, but the way she's so self-assured, confident, it's a relief. "I think I should be getting back to Mami-onee-chan."

Midori-san blinks, looks up at the sky, then looks down. "Yeah, it is getting a little late. Want me to walk you back?"

"No, I'm fine." I start walking down the path that leads back to the main road. "I can go home myself. Thanks for talking to me, Midori-san."

"Anytime. I'll see you tomorrow, then?"

"Yes," I nod. "I'll see you tomorrow!"

I wave to her, head home, and go to bed.

END OF EPISODE 4​

 

[Shinobu Oshino]

Interlude 5: Through the Valley

I heard the church bell ringing. That meant it was always time for sermon. People gathered all around to hear the word of God. I remember it clearly. Dad stood behind the podium, like a pillar for the people - like a pillar of faith. He said what he felt he needed to say. Everyone listened intently. No one got up to leave. Everyone stayed forever.

Forever.

That's how it was.

No, that's not it. Everyone left one day. Everyone left, never to come back.

My body is cold. Everything is frigid. The ground, the sea, the air.

I hear the church bell ringing. I'm standing on an ivory shore with water licking at my feet. I'm staring out at the ocean, hoping to see hope. It's not there. It's not something you can see, it's something you yearn for. Something that never comes.

This all feels real, but I know it isn't.

Is it a dream, or is it a nightmare?

I turn back, seeing a cobblestone pathway leading up deep into the black forest. I walk through the valley of trees, through the shadow of death. I'm not scared. I know they're with me. Everyone is with me. I hold my heart tight and keep walking forward.

I hear the church bell ringing.

I press the door open. It creaks loud, but I'm not scared.

I'm not scared.

In each pew, in each row, I sit. I look to my left to see a reflection of myself. I look to my right and see the same. Our eyes are gone, our tears bled dry -- yet we still come. We listen to the ringing bell as if something will change.

It's what we do.

It's what we always do.

We want to cry, but there are no tears to shed.
We want to retreat, but there is nowhere to run.
We want to fight, but there is no weapon to wield.

We sit, and wait until the end of the sermon - until the bell stops ringing.

 

[Shinobu Oshino]

Episode 5: All Work and No Play​

"You never really change, do you?"

I hear Mami-onee-chan talking downstairs. It's less 'talking', and more 'yelling' since I can hear it from my room. I inch closer to my door, making sure not to make a sound.

"Why would I?" That's Onee-chan's voice. Onee-chan is here!

"For the people around you?"

"Too much work," Onee-chan says, probably biting into whatever snack she brought with her.

"If you think that's work, try being in my shoes," Mami-onee-chan sighs. "Worrying is part of the job."

"Then stop worrying. You'll save yourself wrinkles."

"It's not that easy," I hear cups clink upon the glass table. She must be serving tea.

"Sure it is! Just live your life a little dangerously. It'll work wonders."

I really want them to stop fighting. It doesn't look like they're fighting yet, but I know it's bound to turn into. I fling the door open and sprint down into the dining room. "Onee-chan!" I lose all reason to hide. I leap into her arms.

"Ah, Momo!" Onee-chan quickly sits up to catch me. "What's wrong?"

"You're safe. You're safe!" I rub my head into her stomach. "I'm so relieved," I dry my dampening eyes on Onee-chan's sweater.

"Hey, what's with that look?" Onee-chan says, staring across the table.

"Nothing," she responds by sipping her tea with a pinky up. "You finally joined us, Momo-chan. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah," I nod fervently. "Is breakfast ready?"

"Pancakes are still in the pan," Mami-onee-chan sets her cup down lightly onto the table. She sits up and makes her way to the kitchen. Afterward she returns with a stacked plate. It clangs onto the table in front of me. "Help yourself!"

"Thank you," I clasp Onee-chan's hand. "I need a seat."

"Huh?" her mouth goes agape. "You're not a kid anymore, Momo. You don't need me to--"

I sit myself on her lap, regardless of her protests. She tries to shove me off slightly, but I sit myself down snugly into her lap.

"Why are you so heavy?!" Onee-chan protests. "Oi! Listen to me!" I start eating Mami-onee-chan's delicious food amidst her screams.

"I think this is Momo-chan's own way of getting revenge on you," Mami-onee-chan laughs. "I think it's cute."

"Cute nothing. What have you been feeding this girl? I don't think she was this heavy last I seen her."

"Not anything more than you eat, Sakura-san."

"Sakura-san?" Onee-chan frowns, reaching for my fork full of pancake. "You know, we've known each other for a long time now. Why are you still so formal?"

I rip it away and shove it into my mouth, "That's right, Mami-onee-chan. You two act like you're married."

Mami-onee-chan chokes on her tea. She clears her throat, straightening herself out. "I-I don't think that's true…"

"You two even have matching rings," I glance at Onee-chan's at red ring.

"That's… not really the same, Momo-chan," Mami-onee-chan takes another sip from her cup, despite the threat of choking again.

"I see," I finish the first hotcake. Onee-chan pilfers a piece of the second, quickly stuffing it into her mouth. I want to fight her over it, but I know I shouldn't. I'm just happy that she's back.

I want to talk to her more, to be with her more… but what she said to be that night. It's still on my mind.

[_] Talk to Kyouko.
[_] Put it off til later.
[_] Other

 

[LucidProp]

[X] Talk to Kyouko.
-[X] You had a bad dream last night.

 

[UbeOne]

[X] Talk to Kyouko.
-[X] You had a bad dream last night.

 

[MWKillKenny84]

[X] Talk to Kyouko.
-[X] You had a bad dream last night.

 

[veekie]

[X] Talk to Kyouko.
-[X] You had a bad dream last night.

 

[Shinobu Oshino]

That dream I had last night had nothing to do with my family, but it was still scary. I was alone, cold, and scared. The church was filled, but they were all the same. All scared, all waiting, all yearning.

My fork stops just before my mouth.

"Onee-chan," I look up to her chin. "I feel lonely when you're not here."

"Where did this come from?" Onee-chan quirks a brow. "You've got Mami over there to keep you company. I don't always have to be--"

"I love Mami-onee-chan, but I love you too," I set the silverware down onto the table. "That night you left…"

I remember her screaming 'tell me how you really feel'. She wanted me to hate her, she wanted someone to blame her. But even after all that, I can't bring myself to do it. To be honest, I didn't even try to. There's no justification for it. There's nothing that Onee-chan could do that would ever make me hate her.

"Dad's choices were his. What he did that day…"

"Momo, you can stop," Onee-chan places a hand on my head. "You don't have to bring that up."

"I do," I clench my hands. "I don't want it to happen to you too."

"Don't want what to happen to me?"

The night. The flames. The pool of blood. Mom's weight on my body.

"You blame yourself for everything. There's…" two of us. No, that's wrong. "There's three of us here, Onee-chan. We can share the weight. You're not alone!" I stand up, looking down to her. Tears form, but I wipe them away. This isn't the time to cry.

"I thought about it," I dig deep for the strength to say these words. It was a wish I wanted to make long ago, but now it's a far off memory. "Kyubey offered me a contract. He said I could bring Mom and Dad back."

"Momo-chan…" Mami-onee-chan clasps her hands together.

"I said no. I've said it over and over again," I clench my hands. "Because I have a new family. It hurts, I miss them every day, I miss everything we used to do together. I miss our home, I miss the church, but it's all gone now."

Something breaks. I try to keep the tears inside, I fight it, but it's too late. I have to keep talking or I'll lose myself in the grief. "It's not your fault. It's not your fault, Onee-chan. I know you're in pain… because I am too."

That dream with Onee-chan turning into a witch. If it was really a dream, if it wasn't, I can't say for sure. But if I can be Onee-chan's pillar, if I can stop that from happening by tearing away at my own heart… it's fine.

If I can do just the smallest kindness for everything that she's done for me. If God will let me, please. I just want this fraction of happiness.

For both of them. I would do anything.

"Hahahaha," Onee-chan laughs. "Oh wow," she puts a hand over her eyes. "We've really raised some kid, huh, Mami?" I can see drops running down her cheeks. "I think she takes after you more than me," she has a toothy smile, but I know it's painful for her. Painful for her to hear these words.

"Don't talk like that, Sakur-... Kyouko-chan," Mami-onee-chan corrects herself, stepping forward to embrace the two of us in a hug. "It's fine, I'm here. Cry as much as you need."

"Dammit, Mami," Onee-chan clasps our shoulders. "Dammit all," for the first time since I've lived here, Onee-chan was able to cry.

Not like the girl she pretended to be, but as my older sister. As the girl that I grew up with. As the girl that made that wish to help our family in our time of need.
____________________________________________

We all sat back down at the table after calming our nerves. There was a still silence, with Onee-chan staring down at the floor.

My pancakes got cold, but I still managed to finish them. Even after all of this, I didn't want to waste one bit of food.

"Momo-chan," Mami-onee-chan held out a wet rag.

"Oh, thank you," I wipe my face then scoot over to Onee-chan. I start dabbing her cheeks before moving to her forehead.

"You're too good to me, Momo."

"I'm your little sister, silly. This is part of my job," I laugh lightly, trying to lift the mood. She just nods, not resisting my attempts to wipe her face.

"Mami, I'm going to crash at your place for a while. Is that fine?"

My face brightens up, "Really, Onee-chan?"

"You don't have to ask, Kyouko-chan. My home is your home."

"Uh," Onee-chan's face burns bright red. "C-can you not call me that all the time?"

"Oh?" Mami-onee-chan laughs. "It's awkward for me too. It's going to take some getting used to for the both of us."

"Y-yeah," Onee-chan coughs into her hand. "Well, whatever. What are we doing today?"

"I think we should leave that up to Momo-chan."

"Huh?" I blink. "What's going on?"

"We were talkin', and, well… I wanted to make it up to you. Sorta," Onee-chan' scratches the back of her head. "So I wanted to spend the day with ya. You know, like a big sister should."

"I'm coming along too," Mami-onee-chan giggles.

I know I shouldn't think it, but it almost feels like I'm trapped in a dream.

[_] Go hang out at the park.
[_] Go walking around the city.
[_] Go to the mall.
[_] Go to the Sakura Church.
[_] Other

 

[Nervos Belli]

[X] Go hang out at the park.

 

[MWKillKenny84]

[X] Go hang out at the park.

 

[UbeOne]

[X] Go to the mall.

 

[LucidProp]

[X] Go to the mall.

Arcade, ho!

We're gonna hang out and have fun to wash away the sadness.

 

[veekie]

[X] Go to the mall.

 

[Shinobu Oshino]

"Let's go to the mall!"

"The mall?" Onee-chan smiles. "Alright, I know just the place!"
________________________

Mitakihara Mall, Arcade



"Been awhile since I've been here," Onee-chan walks forward, her hands in her pocket. "What are you two doing? Come on, let's have some fun."

"Sakura-san, I'm not really one for video games," Mami-onee-chan sighs. "But I suppose it's fine. We're here for Momo-chan, after all."

"Yep. Momo loves games, right?"

"I've never really played them."

"Oh," Onee-chan scratches the back of her head. "Right… well, it isn't too late to share the love."

I nod. All the stuff in here looks really colorful. I've heard of that whacking mole game, and those games where you have to shoot guns. There's one with a plastic car seat too! I walk forward to play the game, but I stop. "Midori-san?"

"Momo?" she perks up, lifting her hands from the steering wheel. "Hey! What are you doing here?"

"I'm here with my Onee-chans."

"Your 'Onee-chans'?" she quirks a brow. "Oh, I get it. Hey Tomoe-san!" Midori-san waves, then she freezes up, eyes locked onto Onee-chan.

"Midori-san?" I wave a hand in front of her face. "What's wrong?"

"What's up?" Onee-chan gives Midori-sana cursory glance. "What's wrong with her? You okay, girl?"

"I met you in Asunaro! You were Momo's sister?"

"Asunaro?" Onee-chan puts a pocky stick in her mouth. "Wait, were you that justice freak?"

"Yeah!"

Why did she so readily admit to it? No, wait a second, Midori-san and Onee-chan have met before? I haven't heard anything about...

Ran into a talking blue-head that wouldn't shut up about 'justice' and all that crap.

The magical girl Onee-chan was talking about was, in fact, Midori-san.

"It's a small world after all," I try to hide a smile. "So I don't have to introduce you."

"Nope," Onee-chan bites off half of her snack. "Not at all."

"What about us?" Noa-senpai rears her heads up from behind the arcade machine. Yuu-senpai follows behind her. Ah, right, he wanted me to call him Yuu. I better watch my tongue. I don't want him to be angry at me.

"Hello Noa-senpai, Yuu."

"Who have you been hanging out with, Momo?" Onee-chan eyes me with a furrowed brow. "Mami, keep a better eye on our kid."

Mami-onee-chan has her head in her hands. I comfort her with a shoulder pat since she already looks exasperated.

[_] "Let's go somewhere else. Mami-onee-chan has a headache."
[_] "Let's all play together!"
[_] "Onee-chan, you stay and play. I'll help Mami-onee-chan."
[_] Other

 

[UbeOne]

[X] "Let's all play together!"

 

[LucidProp]

[X] "Let's all play together!"

The power of Coot Kid compels you to make up and unleash your anger through an acceptable medium! Video games!

Also, so the Justice Freak wasn't Saya. Makes sense I guess, Homu hasn't arrived and made trouble yet after all.

 

[Nervos Belli]

[X] "Let's go somewhere else. Mami-onee-chan has a headache."

Mami clearly doesn't want to deal with this now. Given how much crap she deals with on a regular basis, let's try and find something relaxing for her.

 

[veekie]

[X] "Let's all play together!"

This IS relaxing!