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Maintaining firearms is hard, something Homura has learned over several nights spent working on her arsenal of weapons. As such, she tries to not get too distracted during the process, it would be troublesome having to waste precious time going to the neighbouring yakuza's base just because she made a mistake.
Most of the time, that isn't too big of a deal, she used to spend most of her time alone after all. Even after moving in with Mami, having her former mentor hovering over her shoulder curiously prove to be not much of a hassle.
Getting stared at by many people at once, however, is a different situation.
Homura pauses what she was doing, putting the dissected gun down on the table as she turns to face her friends.
“...Why are you all looking at me like that?”
The four of them are currently in Mami’s apartment, snugly sharing a Kotatsu to hide from the coldness. It would be a lie for Homura to say she doesn’t feel somewhat guilty, being so comfortable while Mami was out in this weather buying groceries for the day.
But they don’t have a schedule for nothing, so the other girl will have to endure it.
Meanwhile, here Homura is, being stared at while she’s cleaning a Beretta.
“Dunno, boredom, Ah suppose.” Kyoko shrugs, reaching out to poke at one of the metal compartments on the table- which Homura quickly moves out of the way before she makes contact. “Just one touch, come on~”
“No.” The ravenette deadpans, giving Kyoko a stern glare, earning her a playful smirk from the redhead. Great, now there’s a new threat to her weapon she has to keep track of.
At that moment, there was some movement in the corner of her eyes, and Homura turns around to find that Sayaka has leaned closer to where she is. A lot closer than she’d like.
“Where do you even find these from?” The taller girl asks, curious blue eyes studying the various metal components.
“Mostly the yakuzas.” Homura answers, then she adds, “And the military too, they have heavier artillery than what I’d find in criminal bases.”
“The military- Aren’t you scared you’d get hunted down for that?” Sayaka reels back in surprise, a small tint of horror in her voice. Right, Homura hasn’t told all of them about that, has she? It’s not something she can just bring up in daily conversation.
“And how exactly would they be hunting down a magical girl?” She tilts her head slightly, giving Sayaka a look that says ‘are you serious?’
Admittedly, the black-haired girl was scared during the first few times she raided those bases, but overtime it became, well, a routine. Besides, even if she had stolen what must be millions from the Japanese military, it’s not like they can find a way to track her down.
“...Uh, secret paranormal organization?” the other girl replies, and seems to immediately realize how bad of an answer that was.
“Ya play too much game or somethin’?” The delinquent, or technically former delinquent in a way since Mami has somehow managed to get her back into school, asks while side-eyeing Sayaka. “Pretty sure none of ‘em got one of those things.”
“But Sayaka-chan has a point though…”
Now all eyes were on Madoka.
In response to suddenly becoming the center of attention, the pinknette quickly explains.
“I-I mean, there are Magical girls and Witches, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch, r-right?”
“Yeah, you two and Mami can use magic! I wouldn’t be surprised if the government has a secret department for strange mystical things!” The bluenette said, before freezing upon realizing something. “H-hey, you’re not actually being hunted, are you?”
“No. But I never knew you cared so much for me like that, Miki Sayaka.”
The ravenette was just teasing her- being around Kyoko for so long is rubbing off of her, but that is also somewhat the truth. She still remembers the suspicion and hostility before, the refusal of help from the other girl even as her very soul is withering.
It was always painful. And even if she tries to keep a cool and collected demeanor, it was just as painful for her every time she failed to help Mami, to keep Kyoko alive, to save Madoka…
“Stop calling me like that, you’re my friend too, you know… ‘Transfer student’.” Sayaka snorts, a playful grin on her face as she raises a finger, giving a light tap on Homura’s nose.
The ravenette blinks, and she couldn’t help a small smile from forming. “I see…”
Getting to be friends with all of them again like this was like a miracle for Homura. Not a false, twisted thing like those of the Incubators’.
But a true miracle. Warm and wonderful.
“I’m home~” The front door unlocked, and entering was a girl with blonde curls and a cheerful voice. “Oh, Homura, are you fixing Beretta-chan again?”
“Who?”
“Beretta-chan?”
“You two called it that?”
With the threat of being stared at now no longer on her, Homura finally turned her attention back to what she was doing.
Though, the smile still stays on her face.
She would protect this warmth, this happiness with all she had.