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The city streets of Mitakihara had never looked gloomier. Rain pattered down and fell under every inch of ground it could find. It piled in pools at the end of roads, deep enough to sink your feet into it. Maybe if you were small enough, you'd fall through and sink.
Homura ducked under her umbrella cautiously, not wanting to ruin her braids and clean school uniform with the rain droplets. It was unusual to be called to such a secluded area, even if it was from her closest friend. They'd been there together once at the greatest. The time that both girls decided to take an alternative route home and ended up lost until the sun had set. Madoka's mom had to pick them up.
After a couple more minutes, her shoes clinking against the pavement, Homura had arrived at a small park at the corner of their town. There was a singular metal slide that did not clash well with the sound of the rain dooming down onto it, as well as a lone swing set jerking back and forth from the heavy wind surrounding it. The sidewalk she was walking on ended at with a wide pavilion, only two picnic tables unevenly aligned from each other on either side. In the middle was a familiar head of pink pigtails, and Homura could feel her heart start to race at the way Madoka's hair moved in the breeze. Madoka turned her body around shortly after, approaching Homura's still form with a reassuring upturn of her lips.
"Homura-chan," Madoka started, giving her a quick hug then pulling back with her hands folded neatly in her lap. "I'm glad you could make it!"
Carrying a rapid beating in her chest, Homura nodded and directed her eyes anywhere but at the person infront of her. "Ka-Kaname san. It's nice to see you." She internally smacked herself for the tremble in her voice, feeling self conscious for the shake in her skin and every little imperfection covering it. Madoka just giggled in response.
"Have you gone around for witch patrolling yet?" The question surprised Homura. She wasn't expecting a question that could be easily answered over a text message or phone call. Maybe she was hoping for something a bit more.. intimate.
Coming back to reality, Homura shook her head, feeling hurt set in her stomach at the possibility of disappointing the one she loves most. "No, I haven't tonight." Wanting to add to the rejection she just admitted, Homura quickly followed her sentence up. "Since I'm still new, Tomoe-san has been begging me to go with someone when fighting. She-She wasn't feeling well today, so I worked on controlling my magic instead before the storm hit."
Madoka hummed, proceeding to sit down on one of the connected chairs to the picnic tables, patting the spot next to her. Homura shuffled over and sat a few inches away.
They carried a moment of silence before Madoka spoke again, her voice carrying out in the darkness. "What would you do if you never saw me again?" Homura stopped at the words. It was purely hypothetical, but something caused a sense of dread to twist at the thought. "I..I don't know. I'd always feel lonely. I wouldn't be able to carry myself. You mean a lot to me, Kaname-san."
Not moving a muscle, Madoka threw back at her: "Even if it was while fighting a witch? While protecting someone?" A quiver held in her voice. It made Homura nauseous.
"Yes. I know it's to be expected, but.." But she didn't want to think about it. Spending everyday with her friends, talking and going out places, Homura tried her best to forget. As long as they were all together, then no witch could ever defeat them. They'd live happy. "..But I'd still be crushed."
The rain continued to beat down around them, Homura's timid voice barely legible through the sound. It made an unpleasant banging against the metal of the roof above them.
"I see." The conversation had been drier than usual, each carrying feelings they were too afraid to confess. Madoka stood up from her seat. "I'll see you tomorrow, Homura-chan." Every part of the interaction felt wrong. What was Madoka not telling her? Thinking over the wording again confused her. Tomorrow was a Saturday, and nobody had made any sort of plans. Madoka began to walk away, her steps quickly being halted by a desperate tug on her sleeve. Looking back, Homura met her eyes, horror written all over them.
"Kaname-san," She started, her voice cracking with fear. Despite saying her name, Homura had no idea what to say. What was even going on? This entire situation played with her mind, slicing it in half and ripping every ounce of love and vulnerability on a platter for everyone to see. Madoka was someone she couldn't lose.
That smile. The gentle one, that comforted Homura through the days of humiliation from her classmates, her struggle as a magical girl, and even when the side effects of her medical conditions acted up. She was the light of Homura's world. Especially that adorable expression she carried that helped her survive. Flashing that smile had to be a way of disabling Homura, making her unable to chase after her partner.
"I'll see you again tomorrow, Homura-chan. There's no need to worry."
And as her small form disappeared into the fog, Homura could feel the buds of tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"MADOKA!"
You finally called me by my first name.