Chapter Text
“Miki Sayaka, it’s time to wake up.”
A familiar hand shook her gently. “Wake up, please,” the voice called, soft as a song.
Sayaka pretended not to hear. “Sayaka-chan’s not in, please leave a message,” she murmured.
“I’ll poke you if you don’t wake up,” the voice said, a touch sternly.
Sayaka sat up in her chair, stretching her arms. “Waaah~how long was I asleep?”
“…A long time.”
Sayaka looked in the direction of the voice. A girl stood beside her desk, wearing the same school uniform: a light tan blouse with a red bow on her chest, and a plaid black skirt. A pair of cherry red ribbons adorned her twin ponytails which complimented her glimmering, golden eyes.
“Heey,” Sayaka cracked a dreamy smile.
The girl returned it warmly. “How are you feeling?”
“Perfect. Nothing like a good rest.” Sayaka looked around at the empty classroom. “Oh, were you waiting for me?” She placed her palms together and bowed. “Sorry, sorry.”
“It’s fine. Tell me when you’re ready.”
“Just give me a minute.” Sayaka combed her fingers through her hair, making sure the ends of her bob cut collapsed neatly around her face. “By the way, I noticed you changed your look.”
“Mn.” The golden-eyed girl smoothed down her school uniform. “Do you think it suits me?”
Sayaka regarded her appearance, and gave a thumbs-up. “I don’t know why, but it looks really natural on you.”
“Thank you, it means a lot to hear you say that.”
“Don’t mention it.” Sayaka touched the crook of the girl’s arm. “Anything for my bestie.”
The girl tensed. Her tranquil face creased with uncertainty. “…Sayaka, do you know who I am?”
Sayaka gave her a sly look. “Is that a trick question?”
“Please answer me.”
“Okay,” Sayaka grinned. “You asked for this.” She rose from her chair, her tall, slender frame casting a long shadow. Her hands clapped loudly. “Everyone~listen up! May I present—” She made a grand, sweeping gesture at the golden-eyed girl. “—Kaname Madoka of Class 2A. My best friend of nine years and princess of my heart. Thank you, thank you!” She bowed graciously to the empty classroom.
Sayaka heard a sharp gasp. She turned to see Madoka with her hands cupped over her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise. Sayaka smirked. Impressed yet? I gave it my all. She threw a glance at the empty space behind them. “So…where’s Hitomi-chan?”
“S-she’s doing well.”
“Duh, she’s top of our class. I mean, where did she go?”
“She’s um…not here.”
“She went home without me? Ouch, ouch.” Sayaka swayed with her hands over her heart. “At least you bothered to wake me up.”
“Sayaka…” Madoka stammered. “Do you remember?”
Another strange question. “About what? If it’s homework, don’t ask me.”
“About puella magi.”
“Is that English? It’s not my best subject.”
“Magical girls.”
Sayaka mustered a nervous smile. Wearing colored lens and rambling nonsense…could this be the infamous chuunibyou phase? I didn’t think Madoka was the type, but…Sayaka clutched her chest. I can’t let her fall alone. Witness the bond of a childhood friend!
She faced Madoka with a determined look. Thank God, no one else is here. She clutched her hand into a fist and thrust it upwards. “Sword of Justice!” Her voice rang confidently in the empty classroom.
“Mami and Kyouko are in trouble,” Madoka said hurriedly. “We have to help them!”
“Okay!” Sayaka chimed. “Who are they, though?”
Madoka froze. Her voice lowered. “What do you mean?”
“Like, what do they look like, what are their powers and stuff—”
“Soul gems! W-witches!”
Sayaka dropped her hands in defeat. “Look, I just woke up. If we’re playing, you’ve got to explain the rules.”
“B-b-bu—!”
“Blub-blub-blub,” Sayaka mirrored, and burst into peals of laughter. “Madoka, you’re like a fish!”
Madoka’s mouth opened and closed, as she tried to get a word in while Sayaka laughed, “You’re doing it again. It’s so good~” She placed her hands on Madoka’s shoulders. “Hey, listen, I just remembered—”
Madoka stared, breathless.
“—there’s a new taiyaki store at the mall. We should totally drop by!” Sayaka bounced on her heels excitedly. “I was going to invite you and Hitomi, but since she went and ditched me in class, I’ll just treat you. Call it my way of saying thanks for waking me up!”
Sayaka hung her bookbag over her shoulder. “Come on, let’s go! I can’t wait to get out of this place!” She raced towards the door, but turned around sheepishly. “Oh, I nearly forgot.”
It was common procedure for students to fold their retractable desks after use, into the respective slots that lined the classroom floor, which then displayed the student’s name on top with an electronic screen.
Sayaka swept towards her seat, passing by rows of slots on the floor, each bearing the name of an absent classmate. “They have this sweet potato filling—I think you’ll love it,” she chattered. “And they’ve got ice-cream; you can choose what sprinkles you want, so I think we could get one of each and—” Sayaka paused. She noticed her friend standing quietly. “…Madoka?”
The golden-eyed girl stared blankly for a few seconds, then her head perked, as if realizing she had been called. “Eh?”
Sayaka gave a quizzical look. “You look distracted. Did something happen?” She knelt down and hurriedly folded her desk. “It’s okay, you can tell me.” She pushed her desk into the slot. It fit with an audible click. The electronic screen lit up, displaying her name in sharp, red letters: MIKI SAYAKA.
“AH—!” Madoka let out a stifled cry, and tore her gaze away. She stood with her back turned, grasping the hem of her skirt.
“Are you alright?” Sayaka approached curiously. “Mado-tan?”
Madoka inhaled sharply. She lifted her head, and a word unwound from her lips, soft as a whisper. “…chan.”
“I can’t hear you.”
“Sayaka-chan!” Madoka wheeled around. She flung her arms around Sayaka, catching her in a tight embrace.
“Ehhh?”
“Sayaka-chan,” Madoka’s voice cracked. Her golden eyes glistened with tears as she heaved a mournful cry: “Sayaka-chaaan!”
“It’s okay! It’s okay, now.” Sayaka leaned the petite girl against her shoulder. The last time she was this upset, was in elementary school, when her classmates filled her bookbag with pond water. Her face hardened with contempt. Anyone who makes Madoka shed tears is a fiend! I’ll never forgive you! She swept the classroom with a scrutinizing glare, but the surrounding glass walls only reflected her gaze.
“I…I really missed you,” Madoka quivered.
“I miss you too!” Sayaka blurted in confusion. She glanced up and down, searching for the source of distress. Her gaze lingered upon a desk slot nearby—and did a double take. The electronic screen did not read Madoka’s name—neither did the ones beside it, nor any of the slots around them.
Was her seat changed? Or maybe…?
Sayaka drew a deep breath, bracing herself for the news. “Madoka, is there anything you want to share with me?”
“Something like that…I don’t know how to tell you.”
Sayaka smoothed a hand down her back. “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.” It sounds really bad…could it be, she’s moving away? To another town…another country? If Madoka cries like this, she’ll end up being bullied again! She clenched her teeth in a grimace.
“Sayaka-chan?”
“Hm?”
“Are you…okay?”
“Of course I’m fine,” Sayaka answered, scratching her neck. “What about you? Are you feeling better now?”
Madoka frowned with concern. “Are you really, really okay?”
Not good—she might come apart again, Sayaka thought. We should go somewhere more private. She faced Madoka with a smile. “Do you want to go, to the Nurse’s Office?”