Chapter 5
“TIRO FINALE!”
That's what Mami shouted as she destroyed another witch, or at least I
think it was a witch. This latest foe wasn't as large as the last witch we faced, and was thankfully much easier for Mami to overcome. Even so, Sayaka and I had taken cover behind a park bench during this latest fight. Sayaka had brought another bat with her, but this one had not been magically imbued.
“Wow, Mami, you're so cool!” exclaimed Sayaka, as she and I moved out from behind the park bench, and gazed up at Mami now perched upon a lamppost.
Since I think I'm developing...
feelings for Mami, I also felt a bit shy at the thought of complimenting her so directly like that! However, I certainly wanted to...
Choice 8
A) “Y-yeah, you're the b-best, Mami-san!”
B) Just smile towards her.
Spoiler for Response A:
I couldn't help but blush heavily and stutter a bit as I complimented Mami, which both her and Sayaka unfortunately noticed.
“Gee, Madoka, you said that like you were making a love confession to a guy!” exclaimed Sayaka, before beginning to nervously chuckle a bit.
I think there was something Mami had wanted to say to us just as I made my compliment of her, but if so, her train of thought had been disrupted while she blushed over the compliments she had just received.
“Thank you both for your kind words” she said shyly.
She then made a slicing motion through the air with her right arm, in order to transform back into her normal student uniform
“However...” she then continued, “As much as I appreciate them, I'm not here simply to try to win praise. You have to remember, this is dangerous.”
“Yes, ma'am!” exclaimed Sayaka, as she lifted her bat up into the air as though saluting a commanding officer.
At the same time as Sayaka said that, Mami had leaped off of the lamppost to come to a clean landing on the park ground. So it seems that Mami is acrobatic even when not using magic! That worried me a bit. I had hoped that becoming a magical girl would bring added agility, and maybe even flight, but perhaps that wasn't so.
But as Mami walked and Kyubey sprinted towards me, I noticed something else!
“It didn't drop a Grief Seed.” I said, referring to the enemy that Mami had just defeated.
“That was just a familiar sloughed off of the actual witch” Kyubey began in explanation, “They don't carry Grief Seeds.”
“That wasn't a witch?” I asked, as I had previously thought it was a witch.
“Looks like we were way off” Sayaka said to me.
“It's not like we can just ignore familiars.” stated Mami, “If they grow to maturity, they become just like the witch they split off from. Let's go!”
We then all left to head to our respective homes, with Mami's being the first destination. It was a foggy night, but the sky was clear. It was an enchanting atmosphere that made for a nice leisurely walk home.
“Have either of you thought of a wish yet?” Mami asked, while we walked side-by-side.
Sayaka sighed deeply at that question, as she hadn't thought of a wish yet.
“Madoka?” she asked of me.
I also sighed deeply, as I hadn't thought of a wish either. Both Sayaka and I felt pretty embarrassed over that.
“Yeah, it's hard to decide when you're told to make up your mind right away.” Mami stated.
I loved how patient and understanding Mami was. She had carefully explained so much to Sayaka and I, and she had even taken us on a witch-hunt! She clearly wanted Sayaka and I to become magical girls ourselves, probably so she could have some help in fighting witches and familiars. I wanted to be more decisive so I could help Mami right away! Maybe I'd get a good idea for a wish by asking Mami what she wished for?
“What did you wish for, Mami?” I asked of her, while smiling sideways at her.
Mami came to a sudden stop at my question! She also sighed weakly. I could perceive an almost instant look of regret come over her. Oh no! I felt like I asked something that I shouldn't have, and that I had hurt her feelings...
“You don't have to tell me if you don't want to!” I shouted to her, as I hated the thought of hurting her feelings.
“For me...” Mami replied, as I think she began to reflect back on the wish she made, “I didn't really have much time to think about it. But I don't regret it. I'd rather live like this than have died there. But if you have the chance to think it over, I want you to consider it carefully. Because I wasn't able to.”
So Mami must have made a wish in order to save her life. She must have been in a life-threatening situation when Kyubey came along. It's a relief that Kyubey reached her before she died, but it's also sad that Mami could only use her wish as an emergency measure. My heart felt heavy with deep sympathy for Mami...
Sayaka similarly had someone special on her heart.
“Hey, Mami...” she asked of her, “Does my wish have to be for myself?”
“Heh?” asked Mami turning about at what Sayaka had asked, as I think it startled her a bit.
“I'm just asking hypothetically.” Sayaka continued, “What if there was someone far worse off than me, and I wished for something for him?”
“You mean Kamijo?” Kyubey asked in turn.
“I told you, it's just hypothetical!” shouted Sayaka, becoming a bit flustered over what Kyubey had asked
But Sayaka probably
was thinking of Kamijo when she raised her hypothetical.
Before joining Mami on this most recent evening adventure, I asked Sayaka how Kamijo was doing since she had recently visited him at the hospital. She told me that, at first, he seemed to be uplifted by her bringing him a very rare Dawd Ostrakh music CD. Ostrakh is a great violinist, and was somebody that Kamijo had once hoped to be like when he grew up.
However, after listening to the CD, Kamijo broke down into tears. Sayaka explained to me that he was trying to sort of “play along” with the violin music that he was hearing by attempting to move his fingers to it. But they wouldn't move of course... Sayaka must be thinking of wishing for Kamijo's hand to be healed!
“There's no rule that the girl entering the contract has to be the one affected by the wish.” Kyubey stated to Sayaka, “There's precedent for it, too.”
“But you may not be satisfied by what happens.” Mami quickly interjected, “If you're fulfilling someone else's wish, you have to be very clear about what you yourself want. Do you want to fulfill his wish? Or do you want to be the person who fulfilled his wish?”
“Mami-san...” I said breathlessly, taken a bit aback at her cold frankness here.
“They sound similar, but they're completely different.” Mami said.
“That's a terrible way to put it.” stated Sayaka, as I could tell she was angered a bit by Mami's words.
“Sorry” said Mami, while forcing a smile towards Sayaka, “But I had to tell you. If you don't keep that in mind, you'll regret it.”
I think I could tell what Mami meant by all of this. It's kind of like the difference between giving someone a love-letter from a secret admirer, and giving someone a love-letter that's clearly signed as coming from you. In one case you'll receive any appreciation that might be felt over the love-letter, but in the other case you probably won't. The results are indeed completely different.
Sayaka was still a bit upset at Mami's words, but I think she calmed down a bit after giving it more thought, as I had done.
“You're right.” Sayaka said to Mami while forcing a smile, “I didn't even think of that. Sorry.”
“It's tough, I know” Mami replied, “There's no need to hurry.”
“I think they should hurry up!” Kyubey exclaimed.
“No.” stated Mami, “Girls hate boys who try to rush them into things.”
Mami and Sayaka then chuckled together over that line, as we continued to walk home. I was relieved that what looked like a potentially tense situation between Mami and Sayaka was resolved amicably.
Affection Calculation Time! An
Opportunity Choice will now be made available to you depending on your affection level with
Mami Tomoe. To determine your affection level, refer to the following data and calculate the net effect of your choices.
Your overall affection level with Mami must be
+2 or higher in order for
Opportunity Choice 2 to become available. If it's +2 or higher, please read the following section. Otherwise, skip over it.
Spoiler for Mami +2:
The first home we came to was Mami's. I was about to say goodbye to Mami when she surprised both Sayaka and I.
“Sayaka” Mami said to her, “I hope you won't find this rude, but I'd like to talk to Madoka privately.”
Sayaka and I both blinked a bit uneasily over this.
“Oh? What about?” Sayaka asked.
“It has to do with the Gardening Club.” Mami answered, making a bright smile, “Madoka is in our school's Gardening Club, and I've been thinking of joining it. I know that you're not in the Gardening Club, so I didn't want to bore you with a lot of talk over it since gardening probably doesn't interest you much.”
Sayaka paused a bit after taking in Mami's request, as I could tell she was carefully reflecting on it. But after a couple moments and a brief sigh, Sayaka agreed to Mami's request.
“That's true” Sayaka admitted, “Madoka and I have a lot in common, but I've never had much interest in gardening. Well, if you two want to talk alone about that, I'm fine with it. I don't mind walking the rest of the way home by myself.”
“I'm glad you understand” said Mami, before turning her attention to me as she smiled warmly at me, “So what do you say, Madoka? Would you mind if we talked privately for a bit?”
Opportunity Choice 2
A) “I'm sorry, Mami-san, but it's getting late, and I don't want to upset my mama by missing curfew again. So I should be getting home now.”
B) “No, I wouldn't mind.”
Spoiler for Response A:
“I guess Madoka doesn't want to miss out on getting romance tips from her mom!” exclaimed Sayaka teasingly, while she stretched her arms.
“N-no!” I shouted in reply, becoming a bit flustered, “That's not it! It's just that mom was a bit upset that I came home late a couple nights ago. I don't want to upset her like that again!”
Mami and Sayaka both started laughing a bit over what I had just said.
“I've never before met a girl as adorably innocent as you are, Madoka.” Mami said, while wiping away a tear.
“Madoka is so cute when she gets embarrassed like that!” Sayaka stated, “But I hope she never changes. It's pretty funny how she can get at times!”
Mami and Sayaka than continued to laugh a bit. I didn't know what to say to all of this so I just stood there embarrassed...
“But it's fine.” Mami said, after her and Sayaka stopped laughing, “I understand, Madoka. We can talk about the Gardening Club later. Hope to see you after school tomorrow!”
“See you tomorrow!” Sayaka and I both shouted in reply to her, as we started to leave.
Spoiler for Response B:
“Ok, I'll get going then.” stated Sayaka, “I'll see you both tomorrow after school! ...Nobody likes fifth wheels after all...”
I didn't quite make out what Sayaka said under her breath after she stated that she'd see us tomorrow after school, but my focus would soon shift to Mami as she lead me inside her home.
“Please make yourself comfortable next to the dining table.” Mami said to me, “I'll go brew us some tea.”
“Ok” I said in response.
“So I was thinking of joining the Gardening Club” Mami said to me across the room after she set the kettle, “Do you enjoy being a part of it, Madoka?”
“Yeah, I really like it” I answered, “I've always liked many different types of flowers. We get to grow a lot of beautiful flowers in the Gardening Club. My favourite flowers are tulips and gerbera flowers!”
“I wonder if that's what inspired your magical girl design.” stated Mami, “The bottom half spreads out like a white gerbera hung upside down.”
“I... never thought about that before” I replied.
But Mami was right now that I did think about it. It was a keen observation on her part! A couple moments later she sat down near to me while she handed me a cup of tea. She took a couple sips from her own cup. Mami seemed strangely quiet, which made me feel a bit tense. I started to fidget a bit before trying to restart our conversation.
“...Is there anything else you'd like to ask about the Gardening Club?” I asked of her.
“It is true that I've been thinking about joining the Gardening Club.” stated Mami, “But to be perfectly honest that's not the
main reason why I invited you in.”
“Why is it that you invited me in then?” I asked.
“There's a couple confessions I'd like to make to you, Madoka.” Mami answered.
“Is there any reason you couldn't make them to Sayaka as well?” I asked, as I started to feel a bit nervous over the situation.
“Sayaka sees me a bit...
differently than you do.” Mami answered, “I think she wants to see me as a strong and always reliable Senior, and I hope I can live up to her image of me. But I feel that I can be a bit more open with you, Madoka. Am I right there?”
“Well, I'd like to help anyway that I can.” I answered, almost instinctively.
“I know.” Mami responded with a soft smile, “I can tell how sweet and kindhearted you are from the way you've approached me since we first met. That's why I wanted you to know about how lonely I've been lately.”
This really grabbed my attention. Mami had so far seemed very happy, strong, and contented! But then I thought about how she had to use a wish in order to save herself. I wonder if something very sad and tragic happened to her...
“I don't live alone by choice.” Mami continued, “I live alone because my parents were killed in a car crash, and I have no close relatives that could take me in.”
“Is that when you made a wish to prevent yourself from dying?” I asked.
“Yes, that's correct.” Mami confirmed, “About the only friend I've had since then is Kyubey.”
“Sayaka and I are both your friends now.” I said, after a brief pause.
“And that is what I want to ensure remains the case.” Mami stated to me, “I can tell that both of you are very conflicted over whether or not to become magical girls. So I just want you to know that even if you decide to not be a magical girl, I'd like for us to continue to be friends.”
“Sure.” I replied with a smile, “I'd like that as well!”
“Well, with that settled” stated Mami, making a demure smile as she left her cup of tea on the table, “There's something I'd like to ask you. Do you have a boyfriend?”
“...
Eehhh!” I expressed in shock, “W-why do you ask?”
“Well that is the sort of thing that two female friends talk about, isn't it?” replied Mami with a bright smile, with her hands now neatly folded just beneath her chin.
“I guess.” I replied.
“But I'm kind of plain-looking really.” I continued, after a brief pause, “I doubt many boys would be interested in me that way.”
“I wouldn't be so sure about that.” Mami said with a grin, “You're very pretty, Madoka. I'd be surprised if you haven't attracted the attention of at least a couple boys in your class.”
“Thank you.” I responded, both with a blush and a smile, over Mami's compliment, “But I'm not aware of anybody liking me like that.”
“Sometimes in life love can be found in unexpected places.” stated Mami as she leaned over towards me, and made tighter eye contact with me, “Sometimes you may find it laying right under your nose...”
As Mami said that to me... I felt my heart beat a little bit faster. Was she... was she actually... hitting on me?!
“I-I'll keep that in mind.” I said nervously in response to her.
“Our conversation isn't making you uncomfortable, is it?” Mami asked.
Choice M1:
A) “No. Not really.”
B) “Maybe just a little...”
Spoiler for Response M1A:
“I'm relieved to hear that.” Mami said, “Well, I'm sure we'll get a chance to talk a bit more sometime tomorrow. You can start heading home now if you...”
I felt... I felt something come over me. I felt a strong desire to reassure Mami in the strongest terms that I could muster! And so I placed my hand over one of her's.
“If you ever need a friend to talk to” I said to her, “Please call me! I feel so badly about what happened to your parents. I don't want you to feel sad and alone...”
“Thank you.” Mami said.
Mami had kept her composure so far, but not any longer. She started weeping a little bit.
“Thank you so much, Madoka!” Mami cried, as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“It's Ok.” I said, as I instinctively leaned forward to wrap my arms around her, “You're not alone anymore, Mami. You have friends that care about you.”
“I just hope that I can be someone that you and Sayaka can be proud of.” Mami said, holding back further tears.
“You already are.” I replied, “I'm very glad to have made a friend as cool as you!”
I then released Mami from our embrace. Mami then walked me to the door, and asked me to keep what she had revealed to me this evening private. I promised her that I would keep it private, and not tell Sayaka about the key details of it.
My private conversation with Mami left me with a lot to think about. It's clear that she now saw me as a friend, and that made me happy. In fact, she wanted to be friends with me even if I didn't choose to become a magical girl! Oddly enough that made me want to become a magical girl even more, so I could be of more help to Mami.
Mixed in with all of these thoughts was the sharp realization that Mami... that Mami might actually have the same sort of feelings for me that I have for her! If she did, should I act on those feelings? So many different questions continued to run through my mind... my
heart and my mind. It was getting hard to keep track of them all!
“It's not as simple as I thought” I said out loud, while laying on my bed in my pajamas.
“I can't really hurry you” stated Kyubey, “Even suggesting something is against the rules.”
“I can't just wish to
be something, can I?” I asked, as I stared at my magical girl design that I had doodled.
“Madoka, do you simply desire power?” Kyubey asked.
“That's not it...” I responded.
Well, I didn't want power for its own sake. But to tell the truth, the idea of being powerful so I could put that power to good use in being useful and helping others did appeal to me a lot! Such power could also enable me to help Mami more, and I'd really like to be able to do that.
“It's just...” I continued in explanation to Kyubey, “I'm kinda dumb and I don't have any talents... Just being an amazing, awesome person like Mami would make me happy!”
“If you become a magical girl, you'll be far stronger than Mami” Kyubey said.
“Heh?” I asked, stunned by what Kyubey said here.
“No matter what you wish for, I can't even begin to imagine the size of the Soul Gem you'll bring forth” he stated, “I've never met one with this much potential before.”
I laughed a bit over what he was saying here, as it seemed totally impossible to me.
“Come on, you're pulling my leg.” I said to Kyubey.
“Nope.” Kyubey stated to me.
Before I had a chance to discuss it further with him, I heard a knock at the door. Papa needed my help with mama as she had come home in a bit of a drunken stupor. I helped him get her prepared for bed, while she voiced a lot of complaints related to her job. It made me wonder why she chose to work at her company. That was something Papa and I discussed over hot cocoa before I finally headed to bed to get some sleep.
While I slept, I had another strange dream, although I wasn't in this one. In my dream I saw Mami and Homura having a tense disagreement over Sayaka and I becoming magical girls. Their disagreement occurred very late at night, near a sparkling fountain. It ended on a horrible note, as Mami stated that she didn't think her next meeting with Homura could be settled with words alone...
Even though it was just a dream, it left me wanting even more for Homura to get along with Mami, Sayaka, and I.
After school, I met up with Sayaka at the hospital.
“Hey, sorry I kept you waiting” Sayaka said to me.
“Huh? Didn't you get to see Kamijo?” I asked her.
“They said it wasn't a good day.” Sayaka answered, “And after I came all the way out here....”
After that, Sayaka and I left the hospital. While walking by the outside of the hospital, though, I noticed something very troubling!
“What's up?” Sayaka asked me, as she noticed that my eyes had become fixated on a certain spot.
“What's that?” I asked, referring to what I was looking at.
This prompted Sayaka to look at it as well.
“It's a Grief Seed!” exclaimed Kyubey, as he was resting on my shoulder, “Stay back!”
Kyubey was right! It was a Grief Seed embedded inside of a crack in the wall!
“No way!” I shouted, “What's that doing here?!”
“Oh no!” exclaimed Kyubey, “We have to run away! It's about to form a barrier!”
“Madoka!” Sayaka shouted to me, “Did you get Mami's phone number?”
If you chose
B for
Opportunity Choice 2, read
Observation OC2B.
I waved my head back and forth to indicate “No” to Sayaka.
“Oh man.” said Sayaka, as she thought hard and fast on what do do, “Madoka! Go get Mami! I'll stay here and key an eye on it.”
“Wait!” I exclaimed in response.
I appreciated Sayaka's courage and desire to help, but her idea seemed recklessly dangerous to me!
“You can't!” exclaimed Kyubey to Sayaka, “The witch may not have come out yet, but if the barrier closes you'll be stuck inside! We may not make it back in time to save you!”
“Once it builds a labyrinth, we won't be able to track it!” responded Sayaka, “We can't just leave it in a place like this.”
After a tense pause, Kyubey leaped off of my shoulder and addressed me.
“You go ahead, Madoka.” he said, “I'll stay with Sayaka. When Mami gets here, she'll be able to find me using telepathy. I'll stay here with Sayaka and watch the Grief Seed. I'll be able to show Mami the shortest path in.”
“Thanks, Kyubey!” Sayaka said, deeply appreciating this gesture on his part.
And with that, I raced off to get Mami! This latest witch had to be dealt with. So many innocent people could get hurt by it, given that it was attached to the side of a hospital! I could tell that this was a crisis situation, and that time was of the essence here. I could only hope that I would be fast enough, and able to make the right choices when the need was greatest!