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Puella Magi Momo Magica

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[X] "Let's go somewhere else. Mami-onee-chan has a headache."
 
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Episode 5: 3
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    • Mami-onee-chan probably doesn't want to deal with Midori-san. I like her, but if Mami-onee-chan isn't having fun, I'm not going to have fun. "Are you feeling okay?"

    "I'm fine, Momo-chan," she smiles, but I can see right through it.

    "Let's find you a place to sit down, okay?" I grip her hand and walk toward the entrance of the arcade.

    "Momo? Where are you going?"

    "I'll be back!" I yell out to my sister while escorting Mami-onee-chan.

    "What? Okay, whatever," Onee-chan shrugs. Midori-san gives a concerned glance to her friends. I turn my back on them and continue on my way outside of the establishment. I help Mami-onee-chan sit down, lightly petting her hand.

    "Are you okay?"

    "I'm fine, Momo-chan. You didn't have to do that."

    "I did," I nod. "It seemed like you were in a lot of pain. Is your head okay?" I try to feel for a fever. Some sweat drops wet my palms, but other than that - I'm not feeling anything.

    Mami-onee-chan laughs, "Thanks for your concern. You can go back inside, Momo-chan. I'll just stay out here to get some fresh air."

    "Huh? Are you sure?"

    "Yeah."

    [_] "If I'm not with you, then we're not doing this as a family."
    [_] "Okay, if… you say so, Mami-onee-chan."
    [_] Start dragging Mami away somewhere else.
    [_] Custom
     
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    • [x] "If I'm not with you, then we're not doing this as a family."
     
    Episode 5: 4
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    • "If I'm not with you, then we're not doing this as a family," I yank on Mami-onee-chan's sleeve, stretching the fabric of her white sweater.

    She laughs hard, patting me lightly on the head. "You're so kind, Momo-chan. But it's fine. You don't get to spend a lot of time with Sakura-san, do you?"

    I hardly see Onee-chan anymore. When I do, she's there, then she's gone. I know she has her own things to take care of, but…

    "I keep repeating myself," she says while stretching my cheeks. "You can have fun. Say it with me, okay? I can have fun."

    I reach up to Mami-onee-chan's wrists to try to pull her away. Of course, I'm not strong enough. Between my growing embarrassment and the growing crowd of spectators staring, I have to be steadfast. Mami-onee-chan will have fun! No matter what! If I don't stand for it, then no one else will!

    "Nuh-uh," I shake my head. I won't lose this fight to Mami-onee-chan's soft hands or her warmth. Her caring heart, her calm demeanor, or her radiant smile. I-I can brave through this! We'll have fun as a family, together!

    "You're being really obstinate," Mami-onee-chan blinks in surprise. "You picked this up from your sister, didn't you?" she keeps playfully pulling at my face. I feel my defenses weakening. My legs start to shake, my arms lose their strength in trying to push her away. The desire to hug her continues welling up. I can't give into those temptations. The moment I do is the moment I lose!

    "I-I can have…" my mouth moves independent of my will. No! "I can't have fun without you!" Good, I managed to change my approach in the nick of time. How's Mami-onee-chan going to respond to that!? Now my defenses are rock solid--

    She lets go of my cheeks. Instead, she places her head close to mine while drawing me into a hug. The softness of her sweater feels like an inviting pillow after a tiring day. My eyelids flicker, but I have to remain strong.

    "Hey," I hear Yuu-senpai's voice, but I can't see him since my vision blocked. "Am I interrupt something?"

    "Oh, Mamoru-san, was it?" Mami-onee-chan says, loosening her grip on the embrace..

    "You remembered my name?" Yuu-senpai sighs. "That'll work. Are you two alright?"

    "We're fine," I sit down on Mami-onee-chan's lap. "Thanks for checking on us."

    "I don't like it when people are left out," he frowns slightly. "It's pretty obvious you don't like the kind of chaos those two bring about."

    "Ah," Mami-onee-chan sighs. "You noticed?"

    "Hard not to," he cracks a smile. "I'm the same way. Mind if I take a seat?"

    "Not at all," she says, scooting us over to the side. "I've been meaning to ask this, Mamoru-san… if isn't too much."

    "You want to ask about my situation?" he sighs, running a hand through his disheveled black hair. "I won't lie, it's a pain."

    "I'd imagine so. From what I can tell, boys aren't normally part of the equation."

    "Apparently they are if you drag them into it," Yuu-senpai balls his hand into a fist, then relaxes his grip. "But I can't really be mad. I'd be worried sick about that girl if I couldn't protect her."

    "I'm sure she's capable on her own."

    "If she made some other wish, I'd believe that."

    "What was her wish?" Mami-onee-chan tightens her grip around my waist.

    "For me to protect her," he puts an elbow to his knee, and rests his chin on his palm. "One thing I'm getting ready for bed, the next I'm standing in front of a bunch of guys with knives."

    "Oh my," Mami-onee-chan's eyes widen in surprise, her mouth slightly agape. "That's such an honest wish. But because of it…"

    "I'm dragged into this whole magical girl business," he scoffs. "It isn't so bad. I got a pretty strong body out of it."

    "A strong body?"

    "Yeah. I can run pretty fast, jump, and I can fight with the best of them."

    "Are you sure it isn't a burden?"

    "I said it was pain earlier, didn't I?" Yuu-senpai frowns. "I liked to compete in martial arts competitions before this, but now it's pretty hard. Either it isn't fair or I don't know if I'll end up doing something I'll regret in a sparring match."

    "You can't control it," Mami-onee-chan says, looking on with concern.

    "Nope. I'm the result of a wish, not some controllable magic like you girls can do," he sighs in resignation, as if saying whatever happens to him, happens to him. "At least that's what that white rat told me."

    "That seems to be a terrible fate."

    "As I said, it isn't so bad. I get to make sure my screw-up of a girlfriend stays safe," he grins like it isn't really a big deal. "Better than fighting alone and then dying for nothing."

    "I don't believe it's for nothing," Mami-onee-chan corrects him. "Every witch beaten, every familiar killed is at least another person saved."

    "That's how Midori sees it too. I don't get you justice freaks," he exhales a deep breath. "But I guess it's not a bad way to look at it."

    "I wouldn't call myself a 'justice freak'," Mami-onee-chan reprimands him, quirking a brow. "I see your point, though. People look at things in different ways."

    Yuu-senpai won't turn into a witch if he keeps fighting. There's nothing keeping him here, in this 'way of life' like a contract, except his love for Noa-senpai. He doesn't have to risk his life for this. Some people come to reasons to keep fighting, like Midori-san striving for her dreams, or Mami-onee-chan wanting to protect other people from monsters. Onee-chan has her own reasons, but she still keeps going, no matter what stands in her way.

    "That's admirable, Yuu-senpai," I let it slip, but it doesn't matter.

    "Admirable?" he averts his eyes, blushing, caught off guard by the compliment. "It's nothing like that. I'm just living the way I want to live."

    "You're interesting, Mamoru-san," Mami-onee-chan chimes in. "Though now that I think about it, do you have an outfit to take with you into battle?"

    "What?" Yuu-senpai narrows his eyes, his face getting redder by the minute. "Y-yeah, I can sorta 'transform' so I don't look recognizable."

    "We're called 'magical girls', Mamoru-san. You should work hard to look the part too," Mami-onee-chan has a devious smile on her face. I haven't seen her like this in a long time. "What do you think, Momo-chan?"

    [_] "I think bullying is wrong. Apologize."
    [_] "Yeah, I agree! He should wear a sparkly dress."
    [_] "I think he should wear whatever is comfortable.
    [_] Custom
     
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    • [X] "Yeah, I agree! He should wear a sparkly dress."
     
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    [X] "Yeah, I agree! He should wear a sparkly dress."

    I think we found what Mami wants to do for fun.
     
    Episode 5: 5
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    • "Yeah, I agree!" Mami-onee-chan seems strangely enthusiastic about the idea. It's probably best to play along. Sorry, Yuu-senpai. "He should wear a sparkly dress."

    "I'm good," Yuu-senpai stands up from the bench, turning away so we can't see his blushing face. "I'm good, thanks."

    "I think you would look good, personally, Mamoru-san," Mami-onee-chan encourages him, nodding to herself. I haven't seen her like this in a while. The last time was my birthday earlier this year. I suppose Mami-onee-chan likes to dress people up? "Your frame is relatively thin, too. Fitting in a dress would be easy."

    "Have you talked to Noa?"

    Mami-onee-chan shakes her head.

    "She's said the same thing," he swallows, shaking his head. "Alright, whatever. You're fine. I'm heading back inside."

    "Thank you, Mamoru-san."

    He gives a two-fingered salute and heads back into the arcade. Mami-onee-chan laughs to herself before patting me on the head. "I'm fine now, Momo-chan. You can stop looking at me like that."

    "Sorry," I frown, trying to hide my worry with no success. "Can we, um…"

    "Yes, let's go," Mami-onee-chan stands up while grasping my hand. She leads me back into the arcade to meet with the others.
    ____________________


    Onee-chan and Midori-san competed against each other in a dancing game. The two kept going at it while chastising the other. They exchanged playful insults, trying to make the other slip-up so either could claim victory. Onee-chan beat her a majority of the time, but Midori-san managed to pick up a victory or two.

    Noa-senpai and Mami-onee-chan, on the other hand, mostly talked about fashion. She mentioned the talk she had with Yuu-senpai about putting him in a dress. The two hit it off from there, discussing the kinds of things that would look good. I had no idea what they were talking about, so I sat on a chair nearby while everyone else was having fun.

    I was honestly happy. Everyone could enjoy themselves. I was a little lonely, but that didn't matter. The only thing I needed to see was everyone's smiling faces.

    "You alright?" Yuu-senpai someone managed to escape the combined forces of Noa-senpai and Mami-onee-chan. That was admirable! "You're over here by yourself."

    "I'm fine," I nod. "I'm just watching Onee-chan and Midori-san," I point to the two girls hopping about on the game's platform. "They're really going at it."

    "Midori's competitive," Yuu-senpai shrugs. "And stubborn."

    "Onee-chan's beaten her quite a lot."

    "I just said she's stubborn. She won't give up, even if she passes out."

    "I'm not sure that's healthy," now I'm concerned about her health.

    "Don't worry too much about it," he grins, eying Noa-senpai and Mami-onee-chan with a quirked brow. "You've got your own hands full."

    I shake my head, "You should be saying that to Mami-onee-chan. I'm the one living with her."

    "You honestly seem like the responsible one."

    I wave my hands in front of my face, dismissing the compliment. "No, Mami-onee-chan does her best to take care of me," I laugh nervously. "If anything, I feel like I'm a burden sometimes."

    "If she's that happy around you, that's definitely not the case."

    "I suppose you're right," I sigh.

    "Stop putting so much pressure on yourself," Yuu-senpai leans against a black arcade machine, slipping his hands into his pockets. "A little too young for that kind of thing."

    [_] "I can't really afford to be a kid like that."
    [_] "I have to for Onee-chan's sake. If I don't, who will?"
    [_] "Maybe I should try to enjoy myself…"
    [_] Custom
     
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    • [x] "I have to for Onee-chan's sake. If I don't, who will?"
     
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