Work Text:
Film 12?
Day ???
This timeline has been weird.
Now, stuff always is a bit weird between timelines, but nothing like this.
For one, the flowchart is completely screwed. In a massive variety of ways.
Firstly, Kyubey hasn’t gone for Madoka or Sayaka once. Not at all, 0 times. Now, that alone would be freaky, if maybe in a good way.
Second, Kyoko just didn’t turn up when Homura and Mabayu did their normal poaching in her territory. No clue what happened there, but the two agreed not to look for her, lest they find why she isn’t around.
Thirdly, on the topic of why she probably didn’t turn up. The magical girl murderer. There is no description of her, aside from Kyubey reporting some magical girl managed to get out the words black magical girl before succumbing to her wounds.
Which would be more useful if that had any other identifying detail. What does that refer to? Skin colour? Hair colour? The magical girl’s outfit? Is it just a way to call them evil? Something else entirely?
Kyubey has 0 other information other than the fact that they probably use a bladed weapon. Anyway, that’s been bad for Mabayu’s stress levels, considering there is a chance someone will pop out and try to murder her at some point. Or worse, murder Homura.
Most recently, Mami apparently got into a shoot-out with said magical girl murderer before biting it.
Now, Mabayu wouldn’t call herself a friend of Mami’s, or even an acquaintance, really. Her most vivid memory of interacting with Mami was getting her life threatened in that first timeline. Still, hearing someone she knows got killed is concerning, to say the least.
Honestly, the timeline being so out of whack has gotten Mabayu a bit paranoid, and she knows that’s carried over to Homura. Even if it has allowed Homura to form an actual friendship with Madoka, Sayaka and Hitomi this timeline. Which is a truly rare thing.
Mabayu sighs. Seriously, what the hell happened? None of this makes a lick of sense, and she can’t even complain about it to Homura, because she’s with Madoka right now. Which, honestly, good for her. She doesn’t get enough time with Madoka these days.
Still, after her realisation last timeline, it is a bit of a shame Mabayu’s had less time with Homura this time. And they’ve cut down training outside of fighting witches, too, since that could lead to the magical girl murderer finding them.
That’s left Mabayu on murder investigation duty while Homura sticks around Madoka in case Kyubey suddenly stops avoiding her. Also, because after that other witch that has never appeared before turned up outside Madoka’s house, Homura got even more paranoid about her.
The main things Mabayu’s put together, investigating, is that the murderer is fast. Multiple people probably would have become witches in a day or two were killed instead, something clear by the absence of a number of witches that normally show up.
That suggests the murderer has a method of tracking down magical girls faster than just observation. Maybe some sort of magic sense? Or a precognitive ability like Mabayu herself has? Either way, it makes them very threatening.
It also means that the murderer’s goal is likely not grief seeds. Either that or they don’t understand how witches are created. Possibly it’s even some moral crusade to kill people before they become witches, except some of the kills seem too brutal and almost deliberately cruel seeming for that to be likely.
Mabayu’s best bet is to defend her soul gem at all costs and contact Homura if ever attacked, since a time stop means that even Mabayu would be able to kill whoever is killing magical girls. As long as she isn’t in contact with the killer when Homura freezes time, at least.
Whatever the case, whoever the magical girl killer is, Mabayu really hopes she never encounters her. Someone like that must be a truly awful and remorseless person.
“It isn’t here, is it?” Mabayu hears a desperate-sounding voice saying near her, enough to get her to turn and look at the one who said it.
It’s a student, one going to the same school as Mabayu, though Mabayu’s not sure she’s ever interacted with her. She seems to be looking in the bushes for something. Well, that and panicking very dramatically, it’s slightly concerning, actually.
“What will I do? It’s gone!” The girl continues as she realises whatever it is definitely isn’t in that bush, or anywhere she’s checked around it.
Mabayu feels kinda bad for her; she must have lost something important.
Mabayu looks around in case there is anything on the ground near her, and notices a small bunny plush on the ground.
It probably isn’t what the girl is looking for; she probably dropped her phone or a wallet, but Mabayu may as well check, if only to save that girl a little pain if it really is the plush.
Who knows, maybe a good deed will persuade the powers that be to not get her murdered.
Yeah, Mabayu doubts it too. But no harm trying.
“Hey! I know it’s probably not what you’re looking for, but I noticed this on the ground” Mabayu mentions holding out the bunny in a suit plush.
The girl sees what Mabayu and her eyes practically sparkle as she takes it from Mabayu and holds it to her chest.
“How I’ve missed you. I’ll never let you go again!” The black-haired girl declares.
Bit dramatic, but chances are that plush holds some sort of emotional significance to the girl that Mabayu has no clue about. So, good for her.
Mabayu turns to walk off, her good deed for the day done, before she feels a slight tug on her shoulder and turns around.
“It’s thanks to you that my love didn’t die. I’m Kure Kirika, and I need to thank my saviour,” The girl, Kirika, apparently, declares.
“Um… Really, I err, didn’t do much, I just noticed it on the ground is all” Mabayu notes, not really used to anyone with the sheer enthusiasm of Kirika.
“What do you mean, not much! If you hadn’t found it, it could have been lost forever! And then what would I do?”
“Oh, well then, I’m glad to have helped,” And that should be the end of that social encounter.
“I want to do something to thank you. I mean, you didn’t have to help, and I really appreciate it,” Kirika insists, ending Mabayu’s hopes of going more time without having to talk to anyone.
“Are you sure? I don’t need anything,” Mabayu notes.
“I insist!”
Mabayu gets the sense that if she says something insignificant, Kirika is going to continue insisting, so she looks around for something to give her an idea. The first thing that catches her eye is a crepe stand nearby. That should be good enough.
“Ok, you know what, buy me a crepe over there and we’ll call it even”
“Are you sure that’s all you want savour?” Kirika asks.
“Um… that and you call me Aki Mabayu rather than saviour. That feels like a bit too much, you know. Even if I did really help you”
“Ok, Mabayu then!” Kirika agrees, which, isn’t that a bit too familiar for a first encounter? Still, honestly, Mabayu’s just not going to question it.
The two walk over to the line for the crepe stand.
“So, um… What did that plush mean to you? It must be important for you to care that much” Maybe Mabayu shouldn’t keep any sort of conversation with Kirika, considering she seems a bit… Manic. But, honestly, at this point, Mabayu’s curious.
“It’s a gift from the person I love,” Kirika admits, in a much softer voice than her earlier loudness.
“You must really love them to care that much,” Mabayu replies.
“I do, it’s… Have you ever met someone who just, redefined who you are? Like nothing else matters quite as much as they do? It’s that kinda love, the kind that makes everything seem smaller in comparison, but makes the world brighter to live in,” Kirika describes.
While she wouldn’t quite describe it as love, and she’s not as… That, as Kirika is, Mabayu does kind of get it, actually.
“I’m not sure if I’d say I love her the way you obviously care about your person, but I think I do get it, at least a bit. Admiring someone enough to make you want to be someone better to live up to and help them,” Like Mabayu does to Homura.
“If you care so much, then don’t you love them? If you’re willing to go that far for them. I mean, probably not as much as I love Oriko, that’s a lot, you know. Still, that sounds pretty deep,” Kirika comments.
“I don’t know, I guess I’ve just never loved before. I don’t know what it would be like if I did,” Mabayu admits. It’s not like she can’t see the argument that she loves Homura, just, it’s not something she can just put into words like that.
“Would you die for her?” Kirika asks, a slight glint in her eye.
Well, Mabayu has, hasn’t she? “Yeah”
“Would you kill for her?” Kirika continues, sounding more curious now.
“I don’t want to. But if it came down to it. I suppose” If it was to save Homura’s life, then Mabayu would, even if she would hate every moment that came after.
“Then it’s love! When you’ll go to any length and do whatever it takes to yourself or others to see the person you love reach the place they want to go, then it can’t be anything else,” Kirika declares with such absolute confidence that refuting her feels impossible.
“Ahahaha, maybe it is then. I’m not sure I’d ever have the confidence to tell her, though,” Mabayu admits. It definitely is if she’s using Kirika’s definition at least.
“That’s ok! I think if you do enough, it shines through. Even if you can’t admit it to her face,” Kirika suggests.
“Maybe one day then. When we’ve achieved what we’ve been working towards for so long,” Mabayu muses, more to herself than Kirika. Not like Kirika has the context for that.
“Yeah! That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking too. You know, saviour, I hope we both get what we want”
“You know, so do I. Good luck with your love, Miss Kure. I think that Oriko of yours is going to be very happy with you” Well, assuming she appreciates the enthusiasm at least.
Before they can talk any further, the two reach the front of the line for crepes and Kirika orders one for herself and one for Mabayu.
After that, the two wander off a little, continuing to chat between bites.
“You know, I’m glad you’re the one who ended up being my saviour. You just get it”
“I suppose I do a bit. I’m not sure I could ever be as enthusiastic as you, though. I don’t think I have the energy,” Mabayu admits.
“Eh, that’s fine, not like it’s my opinion that matters anyway, long as the person you love likes you for who you are, then that’s the important thing”
“And yours likes you?”
“Yep,” Kirika declares with full confidence, before looking back up at Mabayu, “You?”
Mabayu thinks back to her discussion with Homura at the end of last timeline. Maybe Homura doesn’t love her; she never will, like she loves Madoka, no matter what that rat Kyubey says. Still, Homura cares, in her own way.
“Yeah”
“You go to Mitakihara Middle School, right? You have the uniform,” Mabayu asks.
“Yep, so do you”
Mabayu supposes that’s pretty obvious, considering she’s also wearing the uniform.
“I don’t say this to many people, but want to be friends? At least while it seems like we want the same thing, if for different people,” Mabayu asks.
“Really? I mean, sure. You seem nice, most people don’t get it,” Kirika declares.
“Oh, and feel free to come around to Recompense at some point, it’s a cafe I work at. I’m pretty sure I can get you a slice or two of free cake,” Mabayu’s actually pretty sure Sakie would force free cake on Kirika the moment Mabayu mentioned the two might be friends. Going from past timelines at least.
“Really? You’re the best, well, second best, Oriko’s always going to be the best”
“Eh, it’s just cake, anyway, you got me a crepe,” Mabayu points out.
“No, it’s free cake, that’s completely different”
“I suppose it does always taste better free,” Mabayu agrees.
Before the two can talk any more, Kirika gets a phone call. Upon seeing the caller, Kirika instantly loses focus on Mabayu, giving her full attention to the person on the other end. Mabayu assumes that must be Oriko.
The call ends pretty quickly, but Kirika’s body language makes it seem like just talking to Oriko dosed her with 15 shots of caffeine from the way her energy spikes.
“Sorry, Mabayu, gotta go. Talk in school, ok?”
“See you, Miss Kure,” Mabayu replies, feeling surprisingly happy with that entirely random conversation.
Kirika’s certainly not the kind of person Mabayu feels like she should get on with. Even being around her makes Mabayu feel like having a nap just from the amount of energy she seems to have for every action, but what she said about love resonates.
Also, it will be nice to have someone to chat with at school, since Homura’s with Madoka and her friends full-time.
Who would have thought Mabayu would make a friend on her own? Still, this is a strange enough timeline that maybe stuff like this can happen. Either way, it’s nice that it happened. Even if Mabayu’s not sure if she’ll be able to spark anything like this in any future timelines.
Hopefully, everything else being off means this is the one in that case.