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dreamerwitches · 4 years ago

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Manga reviews!

I’ve read quite a few of the Madoka Magica manga, mostly to find witches.... So I thought I’d do a little review of the ones I’ve read! Enjoy! (also, they’re my own opinions and it’s meant to be a little funny so I exaggerate a little... so please don’t get angry!! Also kinda spoiler-y)

Madoka Magica (og manga)

Just a really compressed version of the anime. Has some changes but not often good... I only have the first one in physical and I think it’s the only one I’ll get cause it’s the most interesting part. 0/10 cause they completely removed Gisela... Also not too fond of the art style, some things are drawn really badly.. Though I’ve fallen in love with manga Gertrud. Not too fond of it but I like having the manga on my shelf. 4/10 watch the anime instead

Madoka Magica Rebellion

Will be biased cause I love rebellion. A really lovely manga, better than the og manga cause it doesn’t compress the story and even expands it. Suits three volumes better than the original. Treats familiars really well, we get bonus bartels, dora and polina~~! Doesn’t have all the fun of the movie cause it obviously doesn’t have the amazing soundtrack but it’s a really nice manga anyway. Bebe is drawn really well but the Clara Dolls aren’t. 9/10 almost as good as the movie

Kazumi Magica

Plot: seven magical girls trying to do good stuff and Kazumi, the protag, has amnesia I was surprised how much I loved this manga... I enjoyed it so much and got attached to almost all the characters. Though, spoilers, all my favourites either died or turned out to be evil... Lots of plot twists. LOTS. A wonderful lack of kyubey too... I found the story to be so intriguing. It took a spin on the original series far better than - imo - Oriko did. Really ace witches too. Only downside was sometimes the art. Too many ass shots thanks. Also a lot of the magi outfits were a tad distasteful (and some distasteful jokes too). 8/10 pretty darn good

Oriko Magica

Plot: two girls want to kill Madoka cause they know about Homu’s shenanigans. Has a pretty out there story, gets quite serious at the end. First time reading I didn’t care about it but I’ve grown fond of some of the main characters like Oriko, Kirika and Yuma. I found Kirika annoying and op first time reading. The addition of the original Madoka characters feels weird even though they are in the same universe. Original characters are also sometimes unrecognisable because of the art style. I almost never recognised Kyoko... The bonus stories are really fun, I liked them a lot. They’re short but nice. New and interesting witches too! I probably preferred Extra and Sadness prayer to the original story (Sadness prayer is like, basically a retelling of the og Oriko story but better) 6/10 for main story (feels a bit like babies first fanfic), side stories are probably a 7/10 (writer probs had more experience)

The Different Story

Plot: Mami and Kyoko backstory plus a spin on the original story. A really fun and interesting read, especially if you like Mami or Kyoko a lot. I loved the expansion of the original characters, it’s really great. I got a bit lost at the end but I was kinda scanning through... Art is by the same artist as the original manga but it’s certainly improved. Really amazing witches too~! Read it again when I got volume 1 for Chrimbo and its far sadder than I remembered... hm. Lovely art though, and very powerful scenes 7 or 8/10. I’d need to read it in full again to give a better judgement

Suzune Magica

Plot: Very edgy, lots of die. Never got attached to Suzune like I did with the Oriko characters. Some costume designs are also gross and pervy. Didn’t find it memorable and didn’t care much about the characters. Nice witches though. 3/10

Haven’t read Tart magica and don’t have any opinions on it yet. Hate the artist so I don’t think I will ever read it. (witches also look like afterthoughts... boooo)

Wraith Arc

Gave it a scan aaannndd.... didn’t enjoy it...... found it so boring. Wraiths are so boring as the enemy. Bland and have no character or inu curry flair. I feel you’d really enjoy it if you adored Homura and Madoka. I don’t so... I don’t think my opinion would be justified for this one.

Homura’s Revenge

Plot: Homura, Madoka and Kyubey go back in time before Madoka turns God. I. HATED. This one. Sigh.. It was the most frustrating manga I’ve ever read. Kyubey just gets in the way and not in a funny or clever way. Kills off Mami too early too. The witch designs are also crap like the artist don’t care about them. Illustrated by the same artist as Tart Magica and they’re a creep so it’s an automatic ‘euch’. Homura just resets in the end anyway. Just like Wraith Arc, I feel you’d like it more if you really liked Homura and Madoka 1/10 I liked the part with Elly and that’s it

The Veranda of Madoka

Plot: All five girls are living in the same house as sisters. Spoilers, this is my favourite manga... it’s so so cute and lovely! It’s a 4Koma (four square panels for a joke/story but sometimes has longer stories) manga with cute humour and fun stories. You really care about the girls and want them to be happy together. I’ve only read volume 1 cause it’s the only one translated but I really wanna read the rest cause it seems to add Nagisa. Only downsides are it has some tasteless jokes like breast sizes and Homura’s sometimes kinda pervy towards Madoka (remember, they are sisters in this one) but those things are rare in the long run. Has lesbian Hitomi which increases the score tenfold. The art style is also adorable, I prefer it to PAPA’s current style honestly. 9.5/10 would be 10 if it didn’t have some questionable jokes sometimes

Mitakihara Anti Materials

Plot: Homura accidentally winds up living with Mami. I thought I was gonna hate this one. Turns out I love this one. If you ship Homura and Mami, it’s the best, but it also works well for a platonic friendship. It’s a lovely slice of life with lots of fluffy bits with Homu and Mami but also the other girls. Sayaka also for some reason has the super hots for Mami (I mean, who wouldn’t). Sadly, has some tasteless jokes like Veranda which bring it down. Taking pictures of people against their will and body-swapping, I just wasn’t into it... Art is pretty generic but works just fine. 8/10

Mami Tomoe’s everyday life

Plot: The girls are older. Excuse me while I vomit. Read a few pages and quickly ran. CLEARLY written by a perverted old man. The girls are all married and only talk about husbands and their weight and things men think women talk about. Also. Homura is married to Tatsuya, excuse me while I hurl again. Just look at the covers and you can tell the artist is a porn artist. -10/10 kill it

Welcome to Cafe Grief Seed

Plot: The girls work at a cake cafe. I um, love this one, it’s so soft and wonderful. The art style is so adorable, I’ve shamelessly stolen it for some of my art cause I love it that much. It’s a sweet mix of Sailor Moon and Ghibli. The pages are laid out like 4Koma but like Veranda, they often have longer stories. The take on the witches are really fun and imaginative too (they’re simply problematic customers). A really nice and harmless read (no pervy jokes, thanks). 9/10 wish it was longer and the artist seems to have not done anything else...

Pomu Magi

Plot: Homura is tiny and chibi for some reason. Reeeaalllyy didn’t gel with this one. Seems kinda like someone’s fetish... Just felt weird, I stopped reading quickly. Not disgusting like Everyday Life but made me feel uncomfortable. 0/10

Mahou Shoujobu

Plot: the girls make a magical girl club in a school shared with witches. Although it apparently involved witches it barely included them. LIES. Disappointed, Homura was also really weird too. 1/10 got to see witches but they weren’t portrayed well

Homura Tamura

Plot: take a look at lots of different timelines. I liked this one but damn it was all over the place. Every chapter is a different wacky timeline, and I mean wacky. A world where Mami rules and everyone wears hair drills, a world where Sayaka drives an Oktavia mech. Wacky. Kinda hard to follow first time through. But funny and quite charming. Made me laugh out loud sometimes. On a re-read for images I enjoyed it just as much as the first time, even more. 8/10 good if you like humour and silly jokes

#madoka magica manga #madoka magica #puella magi madoka magica #manga #kazumi magica #puella magi kazumi magica #oriko magica #puella magi oriko magica #tart magica #puella magi tart magica #puella magi suzune magica #suzune magica

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itsuki-minamy · 4 years ago

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“R:B” CHAPTER 1 (Complete)

TRANSLATION & RAWS: NARU-KUN

The murderous wilderness was spreading.

The rugged terrain that both feet step on connects to the horizon beyond. There is nothing to block and the dry air caresses the skin. The blue night that stretched above his head was so deep that it reminded him of the jet black of the universe.

Desolate, vast space.

A casual, cold and lonely world.

However, something is refreshing. There are no shackles or ways of fastening. Everything is refreshing. It is formed by the power itself and only the will determines the future. Strict, tough, lazy, free.

So he ran as his heart commanded.

It didn't make sense, but there was no city, so he hurried.

The feeling of the hard earth is transmitted to the feet. It is the dry and dusty wind that makes the hair flutter. The exhaled breath is hot. Heat invades and overflows the body. It is painful. However, his face was broken. There was a type in which the mind and the body were elevated.

The meat moves, the bones are removed and the blood flow runs. The cells of the body are full of something fresh.

He moved his limbs with all his might and kicked the ground with all his might. He kept running all the way, forever. Still, the world is wide. Overwhelmingly broad. It was so high that he could see it, and it was deep to the bottom.

It is a reason.

When he realized it, his heart broke free. The tiny body and the vast world became one through the soul.

Will come here one day. He always thought so.

When he can he will come here. He has always expected it.

He simply cannot admit that there is no such place.

++++++++++

The intangible irritation was eroding Suoh Mikoto.

It's hot and humid, midnight in the middle of summer. Countless voices echoed out of nowhere in the alley where Suoh was.

Angry. Hoarsely. They scream. And the shot that goes through them.

However, the most striking sound is probably that of flames, which burns violently at night. When Suoh's team, “Homura”, sharpens their fangs, it is always the sound that flows on the battlefield. The dissonance of destruction echoed down the alley, transmitting the warmth of fighting spirit and madness.

Suoh takes out the cigarette as he walks, lights it, inhales it slowly into his lungs, and exhales.

The dissonance grew stronger toward the back of the alley.

What illuminates the area is the unreliable streetlight. However, at the destination, a creepy light reflects off the wall of the building and flickers. Fire and flame. If you look closely, you can see the traces of destruction on the nearby walls and on the ground.

The burning smell of fireproofs pierces the nose and gives heat, which is different from the sun during the day, the upper arm clings to the sword. Signs of intense violence. However, Suoh's expression doesn't budge. There is an obligatory atmosphere somewhere and he walks in silence.

Something was found in the darkness of the alley.

Is a person. The fallen man moved as he approached the corporal. Suoh's line of sight moves in a hurry.

Apparently he was weak. The well-tanned skin and deeply carved features are not Japanese. The clothes he was wearing were torn, and conspicuous burn marks were visible.

The man staggered, but when he noticed Suoh at his side, he shook his face.

"Hey."

He yelled briefly and pointed to the gun he was holding.

Suoh looks at whoever is pointing it with an uninteresting look. Smoke and exhale.

"...Get lost."

Low, thick and dry voice. Still, it is a mysterious bright voice.

On the other hand, when the man repositioned his gun with both hands, he repeated the shallow breathing.

A strong man, perhaps routine, who has come into contact with violence. But now, the man's eyes lacked calm judgment. All that remains, is a simple fear of irrational and mysterious things.

Suoh's lips, who had added a cigarette again, closed and distorted.

Just a few moves, "Ka".

Immediately afterward, the man fired while screaming.

A sharp shot explodes and the flame flickers. But almost at the same time, a light that far exceeded the fire swirled between the two.

It is not a flame, it is a high density mass of "power" in the form of a flame. The fired bullet was swallowed by the flame that suddenly appeared and disappeared with the flame. A momentary event. However, the living flame is etched in the mind of the viewer as a burn mark.

The man screamed loudly and threw his gun at him to escape. A monster, screaming in the alley. Suoh looked at the back of the fleeing man with his severed face. Then he inhales a lot and exhale.

Purple smoke spills into a windless alley and melts into the humid night air. Unknowingly, his eyes chased the smoke, and Suoh lifted his chin and looked up.

This area is an old commercial district. The multi-tenant buildings lined up have concrete walls that narrow the summer night sky. It appears to be at the bottom of the hole or even inside it.

From the alley where sound and heat are muddy as starch, only the fine purple smoke that is gracefully exhaled escapes into the clear sky. Suoh felt the irritation focus on the rest of his body.

Suoh waved the cigarette roughly, hit the soles with a step, and started walking again.

At the end of the alley.

Finally, the alley was cut and he went out into an open space. It is a warehouse built along the old street and a parking lot for large vehicles prepared in front. Immediately, the sound and heat that doubled in the alley rushed like a tsunami.

Many men fight two-handed.

One is a group of people of different ages and races who continue to shoot in the warehouse. The screams are also mixed with syllabary in English and Chinese. According to information from Kusanagi Izumo, an advisor to "Homura", it appears that they are from the Southeast Asian criminal mafia organization, who began to enter and leave the Shizume-cho area earlier this year. He hears the main business is buying and selling drugs and firearms, but the guns they have now are probably part of the product.

On the other hand, it is the young people who have settled in the street who are attacking the stopped truck instead. It is a group of not a few minors. They don't have any kind of firearms, and at most they have things like knives and iron pipes in their empty fists. It is not a force that can compete with the armed mafia. However, they were removing one after another the gangsters who had spread through the alleys, and finally pushed them into the warehouse.

It is their "power" that fills the overwhelming difference in strength between them.

It was a flame-shaped "power" that they were manipulating as members. It is nothing else, the "power" that Suoh gave them.

Possessor of the ability to induce peculiar phenomena.

Among them, including Suoh, there are only seven people in the world, Ex-A individuals, popularly called "King's Power", and some were also simply called "King". The street gang, "Homura", is the "clan" with whom he shared his power.

The red clan "Homura" led by the third king, the Red King, Suoh Mikoto.

They are such a talented group of people that they are hunting down the armed mafia.

"Mikoto-san!"

One of the members was quick to notice that Suoh appeared in the parking lot. Rikio Kamamoto, a veteran of the team.

"Sorry! We wanted to finish it by the time you got there, Mikoto-san, but they even took out machine guns."

Under the word, he roared a series of different shots. It is not a gun. As Kamamoto reported, it is probably an assault machine gun. He sees the members of "Homura" running towards the shadow of the truck.

"Damn it! Don't be afraid! I'll make a wall with flames and push it!"

"Damn. Roll back, not forward!"

The screams of the members can be heard from the shot.

Despite being exposed to intense firefights, the members of "Homura" did not appear to be weakened.

On the contrary, the sense of exhilaration to exercise "power" as they wish makes them feel joyous and even joyful.

Everyone was full of energy and their eyes were shining.

Fierce fighting spirit and madness. The heat that had been transmitted to the alley was now filling the area.

Suoh frowned slightly.

The blood is burning. The enthusiasm emanating from the entire body seems to be provoking Suoh. The "power" in Suoh wants to be released like his friends.

At that moment, a flash of light ran through the warehouse window, making a sharp, sparkling noise on the asphalt. Suoh's feet. A series of landings snaked like a seam, the surface of the street was crushed and debris bounced. Kamamoto hurriedly stepped on, "Oh?"

"Damn it! Mikoto-san, please be careful!"

With Kamamoto yelling in a hurry, Suoh looked around the warehouse. The distance is about 200 meters. It's a good range. Suoh waved the cigarette. The back of his body tenses. The impulse of "power" approaches the throat.

Suoh's "power" is flame.

He fundamentally hates slavery and wants freedom.

"Mikoto-san!"

When Kamamoto urged him on, the bullets flew again. A bullet that jumps overhead lands on the asphalt behind. Kamamoto jumped in front of Suoh, yelling "Watch out!" Trying to protect the "King" with his own shield.

But,

"Kamamoto. Go away."

Suoh said that carelessly, made a noise and stepped forward. Kamamoto looked back to say something, but when he saw Suoh, he swallowed the words. Then, as if pushed by Suoh's magnetic field, he naturally stepped aside.

Take two or three steps forward. He spits out the cigarette and stomps on it. Immediately afterwards, the bullets grab the side again. A smile came to him. The blood was playing.

All good.

A bright red aura escaped from Suoh Mikoto's entire body.

The aura that colors Suoh turns into a burning pillar of fire, expelling the darkness around him. Heat waves struck the surroundings suspiciously, and the humid night air instantly burned away. But what is most striking, is his powerful presence. And it was a feeling of intimidation like a fire giant, that you can't think of the same person.

The men who were fighting enthusiastically caught their breath and looked back.

Then after a second, they screamed louder than before. However, some are terrifying and others scream with joy.

The perimeter aura spreads explosively and occupies the entire area.

Probability deviation field of the king, is the "area" of the king called "Sanctuary". Furthermore, the released "force" shoots up into the sky, is concentrated at a certain point, and is compressed to form a "shape".

A huge "sword" that appears high in the sky with the release of the "enormous power of royal authority". The sword-shaped energy body, which is a crystal of "power" and symbolizes real power, was called the "Sword of Damocles" following the history of ancient Greece due to the "possibility" of the phenomenon.

The members of “Homura” took a breath.

And,

"No Blood! No Bone! No Ash!"

They raise their voices like crazy and thrust their fist skyward.

The King's "Sword of Damocles" is the source and symbol of the "power" of the clan members and the flag of "Homura." They are proud of him and his friends. The screams of fiercely violent, yet transparently pure youths screamed to the point of conquering the summer night.

But…

Is not sufficient.

Still not enough. That "power" is a feeling and a passion. The red waves that sprout from the limbs have yet to come out. More and more. He wants to release that "power" that boils like magma. Everywhere, forever, to the limit. No, he wants to go beyond the limits and run until he breaks.

It is an unreasonable desire to be released.

He's hungry, the flames jump.

Sparks fly.

Suoh's flame gained even more power. It gained even more momentum. The voltage of "Homura" increases proportionally. The hot air has now turned into a soggy heat vortex, making all tangible things deeply compressed and squishy. Kamamoto, who was on the other side, stumbled unbearably and stuck to the bottom. The moment Suoh's entire body was integrated with the flame, a small crack ran in the "Sword of Damocles" high above. It's okay. It's even better if he tear everything down, screw everything up, and that's it.

But…

"...King."

There was a light voice that did not suit the occasion.

Suoh suddenly tightens the loose rope. The "power" that was about to be unleashed went crazy at once.

Suoh suppresses it with all his might, but the trapped "power" immediately increases the internal pressure on Suoh.

The Sword of Damocles is flawed, and the blade cracks as if to complain.

"Please forgive me. It's hot and dry."

The unreliable voice, however, was uncontrollable in reflective passion that crept through the turbulence of "power" and reached inside Suoh. A lead line of sight that melted when heated entered the lead vocal. The murderous impulse of violence seems to have a mass of its own. However, when the young man smiled, he showed his shoulders to Suoh's eyes.

Tatara Totsuka, executive of "Homura".

He is a kind and neutral young man who seems to have nothing to do with violence. However, Totsuka smiles in front of the "King" on the verge of an outburst without hesitation.

Suoh stood up with all skeletal muscles contracted for a while.

Then he relaxed his whole body a bit.

He carefully lower the internal pressure that was the limit.

Look around.

The space around the area is already filled with exploding "power". The clan member, who receives the king, can exercise more "power" than usual in the "Sanctuary". If it had been a fifty percent battle situation up until now, it would have been impossible for the enemy to win.

He does not need more.

"......"

The pillar of fire that swallowed Suoh slowly melted into the night air. Enemies and allies. While looking at everyone in the place, Suoh took out the cigarette, lit it, slowly inhaled it into his lungs, and exhaled.

"...Burn them."

Short command.

The voice that answered was brave and fierce, and seemed to clearly indicate the whereabouts of victory or defeat. Kamamoto leaps to his feet and runs to the front line. Not just him. The members of "Homura" jump out of the shadow of the truck and run to the warehouse.

However, Suoh didn't even look at them. Various urges that are still hard, he presses his lips and desperately gets over it.

"King?"

Totsuka asks to think about it. Suoh barely replied, "Oh.", While looking away from Totsuka.

"I have watered it."

It seems like he couldn't help but say it after knowing everything. Suoh's harsh expression was revealed in the apology that appears to be Totsuka. At the same time, the mind regains balance.

"Leave the rest to them."

"Okay. Still, there is no room for me."

The clansmen who witnessed the majesty of the "King" attacked the warehouse immediately. The battle will end soon. Suoh slowly releases smoke.

"Sorry."

"Ah?"

"No, you see. At the moment, I had a strange feeling."

"What are you saying?"

Suoh's strength gradually unraveled as Totsuka laughed. Suoh was somewhat conscious and smiled bitterly.

He is still irritated. The anger lasted a little longer, it was supposed to settle deep down on Suoh while the total amount was reduced a bit. As usual. Suoh has been screaming and screaming for years with intangible irritation eroding him. Even with the fire of the "King", there are things that cannot be burned.

"Damn…"

Why did he become king? The self-question that has been repeated many times since that day three years ago, returns to his heart.

But that was the moment.

There was no sign. It's not like I feel anything.

However, Suoh suddenly raised his head and looked in the direction of the night sky as he was guided by his intuition.

It is the eastern sky.

"What?"

And Totsuka lags slightly behind and turns his neck in the same direction as Suoh.

Suoh's red "Sword of Damocles" floats high above them.

And, maybe it's his imagination. Beyond the night sky they gazed at, he felt blue light flickering.

Like a shooting star or something.

"What?"

"......"

Suoh silently does not respond to Totsuka's words. However, he kept staring up at the sky.

The fight continues.

However, Suoh couldn't look away for some reason.

++++++++++

"Blue King?"

"Yes. The position has been vacant for a long time, but it seems that it has finally been filled."

Totsuka listens from the counter, Kusanagi nodded while cleaning a glass tumbler.

"HOMRA" is a retro-style bar in a corner of Shizume-cho. In addition to the seasoned counter, there are vintage couch and tables in the large wooden shop. The rows of colored bottles lined up on the rear bar are truly authentic.

However, contrary to cocktail making, "HOMRA" is the real territory of the red clan recognized by "Accord 120," and even the home of Suoh Mikoto, where the executives of the "Homura" street gang gather. The owner and master is Kusanagi Izumo. He is still twenty-four years old, but he took over the shop originally run by his uncle.

"Ah... but the information is still fast."

"I don't care about that, it's about me."

"Well, because 'King' is 'King'."

"Can you use it a little more carefully? For now, keep a low profile."

"There is. It's like a Hagi snake."

It's not a bad wind, but Totsuka sticks out his tongue. Kusanagi shrugged his shoulders.

Kusanagi is a high rank. He dyes his hair and often wears light-colored sunglasses. He seems like a smart gamer, but he's actually quite a difficult person. He was the oldest of the main members of "Homura", and probably because of that, he had a bad feeling of familiarity.

On the other hand, Totsuka is a young man of innocent childishness. The neat face is also feminine, and the piercing in the left ear looks good. Although he is an executive in a street gang, the impression that he is violent is probably of a distant kind.

Suoh, Kusanagi and Totsuka became their first clansmen (Clansman) when Suoh, who had been associated with them before Suoh was chosen "King", woke up as "King". Three years ago. When Suoh was nineteen.

"The former 'Blue King' died when the crater was created, right?"

"It's the so-called Kagutsu incident. The previous 'Red King' lost control and changed the terrain of Japan. The previous 'Blue King' must have died at that time."

"Well then that was over a decade ago."

Totsuka leaned freely over the counter and looked away.

Even though it happened over a decade ago, they both recall the confusion of the Kagutsu incident. After all, a huge crater suddenly appeared in the southern part of Kanto, causing hundreds of thousands of victims. There are various opinions about the truth of the case, but only the "King" and his vassals know the truth.

"Hey, that new 'King'..."

Without telling anyone, Totsuka muttered. Kusanagi did not reply and continued to polish the glass in silence. Then after a while, he takes out a cigarette to take a break.

1:00 PM. Even the members of "Homura", who are usually immersed in the place, rarely appear during this time. In "HOMRA", which is noisy until midnight, he can spend more quietly and slowly during the day like now.

The summer sun shines vertically from the skylight and does not enter the store much. The windows were filled with brilliant white light, vividly separating the scorching exterior from the coolness inside.

"Eh? Hey, Kusanagi-san. Now that the new "Blue King" has appeared, will "Scepter 4" be revived?"

"I don't know, but it is likely."

Kusanagi replied casually, pursing his lips and spitting smoke. However, his appearance was mysterious and it can be seen that he foresaw the troubles of the near future.

"Scepter 4".

Its official name is "Family Registration Division of the Tokyo Legal Affairs Office, Fourth Branch". As the name implies, it is an office of a government agency, and its business is "special foreign family record management, etc.".

However, the real situation is "a security organization for people with powers."

Possessors of the ability to induce peculiar phenomena. The so-called skill holders were extremely troublesome and dangerous in modern society. Although it has strong power, it is difficult to distinguish it, and even if it is legally repressed, there is almost no way to impose some kind of regulation in reality. It is like a human being with a firearm that can be used anytime, anywhere, without control, without any qualification or legal responsibility.

However, many of the talented people acquire their unique abilities by receiving "power" from the "King" or under the direction of the "King". As a result, most of them belong to a clan with the "King" at the top, and as a result, they are under some control. Of course, the nature of the clan changes according to the intentions of each "King", but there is the "Agreement 120" between the kings, to curb social unrest and conflicts between clans, and the unorthodox behavior of the members is also suppressed of the clan.

However, it is not that there are no examples of clan members using "power" to commit criminal acts.

Furthermore, there are a number of talented people who spontaneously gain "power" regardless of the "King". The ones called "Strains". Since they do not belong to the clan, they do not care about the "common sense of the world of talented people", such as the implicit understanding of "power", much less the "Agreement 120", or often they do not know it in the first place.

And it is "Scepter 4" that manages and supervises those Strains and represses crimes committed by talented people.

However, this is the story when the "Blue King" was alive. This is because "Scepter 4" has the appearance of "a blue clan led by the Blue King", in addition to its face as a security organization for people with powers. After all, in the face of a criminal with "power", the most effective way to control and capture is to have someone with the same "power" take charge. And the "Blue King" who controls the "power" of the "Red King" that is rooted in "destruction" reveals his "power" based on "order". The "Blue King" and his clan were best suited as security officers for the talented.

However, the previous "Blue King" died in Kagutsu's case 11 years ago.

After that, "Scepter 4" continued to carry out its duties in the absence of the "King", but last year, it suspended its activities following a certain incident. The job was transferred to another clan, resulting in a mid-way teardown. By the way, "Homura" is not little involved in a certain incident.

"Well, there were several things about us and "Scepter 4", but objectively speaking, that was a necessary organization. In fact, after "Scepter 4" disbanded, the problems related to the Strains increased."

"But thanks to that, we are making money."

"That's right. Recently, I feel like there are various adverse effects."

"Really?"

"You feel it?"

When Kusanagi asked and looked back, it seems that Totsuka somehow understands what Kusanagi is saying, with a bitter face that seems difficult to answer.

He hasn't put up a poster in a big way, but "Homura" has been doing something of a problem solver specializing in collecting Strains for some time.

This is the beginning of Suoh's work if the cause is corrected. For a time after graduating from high school, Suoh was imitating a gorilla in the underworld of Shizume-cho. In particular, after waking up as "King", various organizations have used him as a goalkeeper who can deal with problems related to the Strains. And such a demand has not changed even now, with the rise of "Homura" and becoming a major force in the underworld. On the contrary, it tended to increase even more than before. Today, Suoh himself is less likely to come out, but if requested, the "Homura" team will take the place.

Originally, there are many Strains in Shizume-cho. Every corner of the main street is maintained and a huge view of the street is installed, but if you enter from the back of the block, you can see the type of business that the law touches, mainly in the old town. Not only gangsters, but also foreign mafias have taken root.

For that reason, countless people of various positions come and go, and it was a land where it was easy to find a place for strangers like Strain. Naturally, there are many problems related to Strains.

"Of course, after all, it is a group of bad people. It is natural that it is rude..."

Since "Homura" was established as a street gang, there is a strong awareness that "Shizume-cho is their own rope". If a Strain goes crazy in Shizume-cho, they will take the initiative to go on a business trip and do their best to calm the noise. There was an "achievement" for better or for worse, and there was no resistance to responding to such "requests."

The resolution of problems related to Strains is a non-negligible source of income for "Homura".

However,

"Recently, in a bad way, I am recovering."

Then Kusanagi complained at the top.

It is no exaggeration to say that "Homura" dominates Shizume-cho, when it comes to talented people.

In the context of the absolute existence of the "Red King" Suoh Mikoto, rule by power is widespread. And his dominance extends to gangsters and the mafia through jobs like problem solving.

The situation in Shizume-cho was not necessarily bad for many varieties.

Strains that do not have a clan community are often used by the underworld.

In that sense, the criminal organizations rarely use the Strains in Shizume-cho city, where "Homura's" eyes are shining.

Strains who have struggled elsewhere can live in peace to some extent as long as they follow the minimal rules and conventions in Shizume-cho. In fact, hearing about "Homura's" reputation, the number of Strains migrating from other areas was increasing.

On the other hand, "Homura" in Shizume-cho city is inevitably becoming a kind of "authority". And it is that in "Homura" the number of people who realize this in a bad way and increase their attitude is increasing.

"Well, there are some parts that are not screaming to a certain extent, right? We are who we are, we are doing the best we can since the disbandment of “Scepter 4”. However, I don't know if he will become a Tengu. But if I don't understand because he has a bad head and boss, is he of poor quality?"

Such a trend was more pronounced for the newcomers, especially those who were away from Suoh, rather than the old ones who had contributed to "Homura" for a long time. The main members of "Homura" who hang out in "HOMRA" are the same as before. However, on the contrary, those who have less contact with Suoh and the main members, are swept away by the bloated image of "Homura", and they proclaim themselves members of "Homura". There was a strong tendency to show it off.

What's worse, the people around them believe they admit that attitude; rather, it is a tendency to respond positively.

"A recent story, the problem with the previous mob, I heard rumors like the trigger was in "Homura"."

"Eh? If that's true, it's really bad."

"I don't have any confirmation at the moment. When I thought about looking for him, the 'Blue King' came out and I wasn't sure what to do... Well, I don't want to eat villains anymore. Whether it's the minimum amount of morality or not, the reason is that he is an intelligent person."

After muttering to himself, Kusanagi tilted his mouth and lamented, "It's a bit bittersweet lately." "That's a complaint too." Totsuka pointed out cheerfully, and finally spoke a few words.

"But... it's true. Many of the faces that appear in "HOMRA" have strong habits, but they are basically good. Sometimes I forget if "Homura" is the original group."

"There is no 'good boy' in the collapse of the chicken coop, when you say something like someone else's business. Isn't it your responsibility to educate the newcomers?"

"Oh, again, Saruhiko."

"Well, when it comes to this big family, it's hard to keep an eye on the bottom."

That said, Kusanagi sighed with a bitter smile.

When a royal authority gives "power" to a specific person and welcomes him to the clan as a new member of the clan, there is a transit ritual called "Installation". The specific method differs according to the "King", and in Suoh's case, it was "flame". Only those who collect and accept the flame created by Suoh can awaken that "power" and become members of the clan. If it fails, they'll get a huge burn, and if they don't, it's a life-threatening rough installation.

For that reason, not many people want to join the Red Clan, but unlike other kings, Suoh does not deny them the opportunity. Anyone can take up the challenge as long as they are prepared to put their life in danger.

As a result, in proportion to "Homura's" rapid increase in power, the number of daredevils who yearned for the Red Clan increased, and many people appeared who passed through the facility.

Among the members of "Homura" who are basically gory, Totsuka is exceptionally kind and caring. For that reason, it is his role to take care of newcomers, but these days it is difficult to say that he is doing well in flattery.

"After all, I'm weak in 'power'. The guys who came for that kind of thing would see me down."

"When I say something that is not right. I mean, there is a newcomer that you can lose, right? Rather, it is the reason why the slightly demeaning attitude seems sweet. Sometimes it is very easy."

"Even if you say so, it is general."

Totsuka laughed at Kusanagi, who was in his line of sight.

In fact, despite being the oldest member of the clan like Kusanagi, Totsuka's "powers" are extremely weak, he is excellent in precision and dexterity to wield that "power", but he is generally not suitable for combat. He is a nonexistent type.

Still, the true value of Totsuka Tatara lies in the fact that he has earned friendship and trust without hesitation among tough people, but as he himself put it, he was drawn to "power" and "authority". He was often disrespected by those who participated in "Homura". Even if Totsuka is strangely friendly and affectionate, on the other hand, those who aren't interested have a dry side and easily distance themselves.

"Anyway, Kusanagi-san, do you mean if “Scepter 4” is revived, will the people below be tighter than now?"

"I don't think it's okay if I do it, but... I don't think it works."

"Will we crash somewhere?"

"I don't know yet. It depends on what kind of person the new 'Blue King' is. For the moment, the correct answer is to wait and see."

"It's hard to keep up."

"I don't mean it like other people's affairs."

Kusanagi, who was smoking, involuntarily smiled at Totsuka who was still somewhat grumpy.

"By the way, what about the 'Blue King'?"

"Like I said, 'do the right thing'. I hope you take a little more care of yourself so I don't have to worry about it."

"That's it... Kusanagi-san, you're begging for something that doesn't exist."

"What do you say, do you dare say it to my face?"

"Because our "King" is not interested in the struggle for power with other kings. Oh, so why not appear before the Blue Clan at a social gathering to avoid useless conflicts? Are all members of "Homura" required to participate? This season, there is the Obon dance contest."

“Well, it may unexpectedly be the 'Homura' golden rule. If you have a habit of being associated with Bon Dance, you can stretch your spine. Of many ways."

"I will definitely hold my stomach and laugh."

"It is a spectacle to see how are the people who came with strange expectations to "Homura". By the way, let's serve sake. A direct drink from the third king. They will not be afraid to refuse, I will have many stocks of "HOMRA"."

The area where the two oldest executives handle this seriously is probably Suoh's "King" boundary. However, if Suoh was a perfect king, be it Kusanagi or Totsuka, they shouldn't have thought that he would go to the trouble.

But...

When the rulers of Shizume-cho told a ridiculous story, small, light footsteps echoed within the bar. From the stairs leading to the bar, it was a girl who came down.

"Oh, Anna. You were awake."

She is still young, at most an elementary school girl. Before Totsuka who was smiling, her face was thin, but with a serious gesture, she made a small click.

Like a handmade doll, she is a delicate and well-dressed girl in a ruffled dress. The skin is extremely white and the long hair is also white. Still, the round eyes had a deep red color. Red and black based gothic and lolita clothing looks better than ever.

Kushina Anna. She is a member of "Homura", who, although she looks like this, is a member of the Red Clan.

She is also one of the important members, unlike the newcomers from the fund.

"Anna. What about Mikoto?"

"He is still sleeping."

"Oh. Good condition."

"I feel tired. So..."

"I understand. It was not our intention to wake you up."

Kusanagi gently said to Anna, who said a few words and moved her shoulders. Anna smiled at Kusanagi's light mouth, trying to respond to Kusanagi's concern.

Anna is a member of the Red Clan, but was previously a Strain. She is also a very special person with excellent sensitivity.

However, being a good talent does not necessarily mean that she is lucky for a girl like Anna. Fortunately, she grew up blessed with the adults around her, but for a time she was still closed to her surroundings. She is still not good at speaking and does not have many words.

As Anna reached over and sat down on the counter, Totsuka looked at Kusanagi with a hint of gaze. Kusanagi immediately understood and laughed, "Of course, I know."

"Well, Anna was the first to notice the 'Blue King', right? So I hurriedly looked for him."

"What? That was Anna, it was a credit."

Looking at Anna while Totsuka was impressed, the girl turned slightly. She seems to be shy.

In fact, it was Anna who became the key person in "a certain incident" that led to the dissolution of "Scepter 4". She has a slight connection to "Scepter 4" and the "Blue King." And it's never a funny memory.

However, the incident was the one that caused Anna to join the Red Clan, and she has since moved with Suoh. Thanks to that, Suoh, Kusanagi, Totsuka, and other members love her, and her personality, which tended to crash, is improving.

While the incident itself is not a funny memory, it is an important milestone in her life and, above all, a past event that is now over. Even though a new "Blue King" had been born, she no longer seemed upset.

Even though she is a girl, Anna is growing every day because she is a child.

"Yes, Anna. Are you interested in King's Obon dance?"

"Idiot. Don't even tell Anna there is such thing."

"No, I think Anna looks good in a yukata, right?"

“So even if you don't bother planning an Obon dance, if you take her to some summer festival, that's fine. Anna, would you like to go out on a cool afternoon?"

Kusanagi proposes to go out to Anna while giving Totsuka a hint that he was wrong.

However, the girl's reaction was more serious than the tension of the two adults.

"Mikoto... he was screaming at dawn."

She said it painfully.

Kusanagi and Totsuka involuntarily clutched their mouths and exchanged piercing glances.

Anna has few words, but she pays more attention to the words she says and puts her heart into them. It resonates in the heart of the listener.

"No, I don't think I have a nightmare every day."

"Even in the last conflict with the mob, there seemed to be a lot of outrage."

"Oh, I told you."

"We can understand King's suffering, but we cannot realize it."

Suffering from having too much power. In reality, few people can experience such a thing. Suoh's suffering is the "King's" suffering. There can be no true understanding unless you are in the same position.

"Oh, wow."

Kusanagi laughs. Totsuka and Anna turned to Kusanagi.

"They look like each other."

Just as the hardships of his vassals are known only to his vassals, so is the loneliness of the "King".

So the only way to treat yourself is to respect and be considerate of the other.

“If he's a new king or clan, what happens? Well, at least I don't have to worry about monthly sales, and that's enough."

Kusanagi said that, and started setting up the bar again. Totsuka and Anna looked at each other and smiled out of nowhere.

#k #k project #k R:B #Novel #homura #Izumo Kusanagi #yata misaki #suoh mikoto #totsuka tatara #Saruhiko Fushimi #kushina anna #kamamoto rikyo

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kyu-bri · 4 years ago

Text

Magia Rapport pt 2

@magiarapport

August 24th prompt: What was your favorite event, and why? Is it because of gameplay or the story?

It’s hard to choose so I’m gonna just, gush a bit.

As you can probably tell I’m very biased toward the OG girls, I started Magia Record primarily because PMMM had become my new obsession and I wanted some sort of constant flow of content out of decade old anime lmao.

But another thing I think I hooked onto was Inu Curry’s writing. They really know Madoka Magica and aren’t afraid to really play with them- something the writers for a spin-off gacha game (as with most spin-off stories honestly) can be scared to do. Inu Curry made references, revealed secrets and built upon the story we already know- which lets be honest is what we always truly want from a spin-off series. Magia Record proper does this well by putting more magical girls into the world and letting us see things work out better for them than for the original cast, but what I really appreciated with this story was getting to see that old original cast get to get in on that, and these events managed to do that without watering them down any.

Under the cut is me going on for 3000 words about why I love these three events I’m so sorry. TL;DR at the very end-

I’ll go in release order,

A La Carte Valentine was one of the first if not THE first event I got in on. I was eager to bc 1 Gay Magical Girl Shit Guaranteed. And ofc 2 OG Cast participation.

I want to preface by saying I actually loved all the girls’ stories in this. I was very much still in a state of getting used to Iroha’s gang let alone trying to care about the secondary girls. I knew Tsukasa had this angsty Twins Separated At Birth Deal and liked seeing her home life (also I immediantly stanned Take. Regular well-meaning dude who has no idea whats going on just trying his best and hating his boss). I knew nothing about Ami except Cowgirl Meguca and getting the bulk of her personality in one short even I think really kept me from being absolutely sick of her, she’s just a cute silly teenage girl who could be in literally anything and I was able to just endearingly giggle at that. Hinano managed to do the heterosexual unrequited crush cliché without me groaning or missing any of her regular personality. Also was there a Ren part? I don’t remember because everything Ren does feels like a Soft Yuri Valentines Special. Also I love Momoko. Ok moving on to what I Really wanna talk about.

Madoka is genuinely my Least Cared About of the Holy Sextet. I don’t think she’s bad or even boring- Madoka has a depth to her character, like, really deep- but that’s not something ever really touched upon by the fandom. Even when people like her and make her the Heroine she’s Supposed to be, it’s usually in the context of “Girl who feels nothing but kindness and happy thoughts would cut off her right hand to feed to a hungry dog. Isn’t she so Good????”. And honestly, while I understand the point it was going to make, I wasn’t crazy about her sacrifice in the end of the series. (Team Homura “Rebellion Is Good Actually” ftw) All because I think that I’m an Adult Woman watching this like “You are 14yrs old and need to be home playing Sims and not sacrificing yourself for the greater good you stupid silly little baby girl”

So my point is here near all fan content I encounter tends to emphasize whats sort of my least favorite facet of Madoka. I don’t think she made the ‘wrong’ decision in the context she and the story were given, but it’s still a sad thing to show a depressed(!!!) insecure girl resolving to give away her very existence so that every other girl on earth has a chance to just Dream. Oh and they still usually die young. But that’s ok because then she takes them and lets them sleep peacefully forever in her Heaven Basement (Yes I am bitter stan Homura I would yank this savior complex infant girl out the sky too)

MY POINT BEING (The servers closing let me BLEED OUT ALL MY FEELINGS) This event did not do that!!! It made Madoka…….. EVERYTHING SHE SHOULD BE??? ALWAYS??? Showed her HOW WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO VIEW HER??? (Read: Happy and Alive and Confident at no foreboding or sacrifice of anyone else!!!!)

She is Sassy and Surrounded By Friends and Really Funny??? And we get this Ridiculous Oh My God On Crack metaphor about her being this all-powerful apocalypse bringing being which is representing her love for the universe through her Witch form of Wanting Everyone To Be Happy And Safe With Her??? And she still risks herself to save everyone as is her Thing to do but we get to have her do it without erasing her existence as a human being at the end and if that is not some GOOD SHIT????

Ok next:

NGL Sayaka’s (fav character, inarguable best girl, can u not tell) parts in MagiReco til like the last arc have always left me a bit disappointed. She was the only late comer of the OG girls from what I understand and it kind of gives her the air of what a lot of the second(/thirdary?) girls suffer from. You can tell the writers can’t even figure out a trope to apply her to to make her easy and two dimensional to write about so they just don’t know what to do. They definitely try to make up for it (especially in the anime which Praise Be but that’s probably Inu Currys doing) but she’s still lacking like, any of the depth of her personality. Which, I guess I could anticipate. Because most of the fandom tends to as well. (again)

Gonna stop complaining and get on with- That didn’t feel as much the case in her Valentine event. Sure it was still the same formula of “The Issue Is Kyosuke” but that didn’t play out as grueling as her personal story did with “Nine Episodes Of “The Issue Is Kyosuke””

There was one big glaring heart-aching detail of “Mami isn’t really there because SHES IN A FUCKING CULT RIGHT NOW” which kind of jarred the event out of the ho-hum silly valentines sidestory these events usually keep up.

Sayaka has this crisis about Doing Anything Meaningful With Kyosuke which we all know what That’s calling back to, but in this environment we get to have Kyoko come right up and be in a position with her to earnestly and affectionately Push Her To Do It. The lonely little tsundere bitch girl pushes her Not Friend to Give The Bastard The Gotdamn Chocolate Already and for a moment you can only think about What If’s and If Only’s. Sayaka’s is still the weakest of the threes stories in this event but it worked harder to show us different sides of the characters then 6 chapters of Another Story managed to do.

And then there’s fucking Homura.

I will be, eternally grateful for Kuro. As a character that becomes metaphorical for the 2D ways we initially viewed the feathers and just NPCs in games in general, and also like, giving Homura a friend she actually cares about that isn’t the tangled dark web of Bullshit she’s gotten tied up with Madoka in. Please ask me about all my AU’s where Kuro is Homuras first girlfriend.

Seeing Moemura in Magia Record has always been a bit surreal, we never really understand just what stage of Trauma this Homura is in because Multiverses Are Hell, but this event gives us a good chunk of a Homura who still has hope and faith both in the world and Madoka. Theres this wonder to her that while still bogged down by terrible experiences still has the energy to be Trying. And she sees a girl who used to be like her- which when you think about it is probably what Madoka saw in her- and she wants to help. Because Madoka helped her. And Madoka is the best thing in the universe and maybe Homura can be just a little bit closer to that.

Kuro is too far gone though, as is the reality frequently in this series, things don’t work out just because of circumstance. Kuro was a bullied, insecure little girl who realistically shouldn’t have had to become a rampaging monster because of it. We’re reminded of this being the reality of the Madoka universe. Homura, is reminded of this reality. Homura loses this one chance to bring hope into the world like Madoka brought hope into hers.

And then her story ties into the ending of Madoka’s. Madoka saves her life yet again, even as Homura continues to feel miserable and empty. But at least Madoka is with her. The girls then share a quiet, intimate Valentines together. And you sort of understand how Homura fell so far into the darkness that the only thing she was able to still care about and fight for was Madoka’s safety.

That shit slaps. It slaps you right in the heart and causes fucking bruising but then u want it to do it again because you’re masochistic and Meguca Is Suffering.

Anyway I hope Kuroe slaps our hearts more in season2

MOVING ON!!!!

~Nagisa’s Wish~

Ok, I don’t remember what got me so simp over Nagisa, I think it was the heart-aching irony that Mami adopts the witch that fucking ate her. But that is my baby now and I’d die for her. Fandom Charlotte whose pink and silly and loves her mom and is Mami’s cancer-riddled girlfriend is cool and all but she isn’t a tiny Halloweeny baby whose fucking bitter angry and manically obsessed with cheese due to PTSD.

I had saw a summary of Nagisa’s Wish reposted just to quickly explain Nagisa’s backstory, and as such immediately had to search out if that crazy ride was true- so I actually watched this whole event probably before I downloaded the game. It was surreal on its own but replaying it when it came to NA didn’t lessen it any- I got to process more of what I was witnessing and as result stanned Yu pretty hard.

I guess to explain my Emotions here, saving Yu for later- calls for me to just, describe who Nagisa is as a human being and my headcanons surrounding it all with what this event gave us. Whether you consider it canon or not it’s one version of events that we were given and that I am all for accepting.

Nagisa’s Mom was a celebrity, she could have been an actress though I also like the idea of her being an Idol. She met Nagisa’s Dad oh-so romantically and got knocked up- they very well could have been married but it doesn’t seem clear enough. He seems to have left too suddenly for legal matters like that. Nagisa is approximately 11, and while she seems to remember her Father, she doesn’t in the sense of having had a relationship with him or any feelings. Her Mother has to “explain” why he left, so Nagisa was probably still young even if not a baby. What I’m getting at here is the timeline for when Nagisa’s Mom Got Like That. Nagisa can remember her from before she was, and then says that she got sick after her Dad left. So what I’m wondering is did Daddy Momoe ruin this young rich girls life, give her syphilis and then leave her with a baby she was unfit to care for in poverty? I know half of this is running on anime logic but Holy Shit all the possible ways reasons and ideas for why things could’ve gotten This Bad.

Is it ridiculously dark and edgy that the original story we were given was “Girl wishes her dying mother could have her favorite cake but then realizes OOPSIE-DAISY I could have wished for her to Not Die instead!!!!” got turned into “11yr old hates her abusive mother so much she wants to make her suffer in the most symbolic way she can and then goes mental when she isn’t able to do it”??? Yes. But if I had the mental capacity to I have to admit I was in a position to be just as bitter at that age too. I can’t call it unrealistic. I may infact be projecting hard with how much I support and enjoy this backstory.

Anyway Nagisa was in such a state of trauma and distress at a horrifically young age when she died that it broke her mental faculties so severely that even when she came back as a literal Angel of God she had blocked it out so deeply and thoroughly she seemingly regressed to an even younger capacity and hyperfixated on the trait that she has before used to try to bond with her Mother who she had died hating.

And that also slaps u right in the heart.

A N D T H E N !

~Beachside Bonds~

Just the simple structure of this story was so enjoyable and nicely done. We finally get to see the OG girls in a context we wouldn’t be able to in literally any other scenario. They’re going on a summer vacation together and Homura is sentimentally journaling every single second of it. Is this mayhaps because she’s never gotten to be this happy and blissful with these girls she loves so much??? Of course this is are you not paying attention what the fuck. Homura is so optimistic and healed and hopeful she’s acting like what she might actually be doing as a normal teenage girl. (A heartrending contrast to the end of her Valentines Special)

We get nothing short of pure fluffy Slice Of Life shenanigans on the beach which even includes a bunch of the Kamihama girls that the OG crew knows! And they talk about it! And introduce eachother! And their friends commentate on it! Ren gets to see Kyoko Not Being A Bitch and then Sayaka teases her about having made friends and oh my god my heart is turning into cottoncandy as we speak Mom holy FUCK

Sayaka’s existence fucking matters in this story! It’s her families Hotel they’re staying at and she has relationships and memories with the creepy twins that live there and she talks like a fucking person??? And gives opinions??? That aren’t just copypasted “Justice is Good and Bad things are BAD!!!!”

Mami is fresh out of her fucking Cult Drama and she’s still trying to be cool Senpai but then she DECKS Homura in the face and gets scared by the ghost stories and then turns into pudding and waxes nostalgia at Kyoko out of nowhere IT’S ALMOST LIKE SHE’S A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL????????

G H O S T S ? ? ? ?

Y U ! ? ! ? ! ? !

(IS G A Y ! ! ! !)

This whole fucking backstory and truly horrifying Romeo and Juliet on Acid love and death story between Yu and her girlfriend and like if I wasn’t fascinated enough by Yu just being the creepy organ harvester before but apparently thats what she became after she literally made some sort of wish that erased all of her memories besides the nickname her sweetheart used for her and coincidentally also added to her the task of killing all Bad People?????

Yu made a wish to be able to get rid of All Bad People preserving the innocent version of herself who grew up with this girl and it was right after a failed double suicide attempt on fucking Doomed Lovers Cliff fucking Lifetime Will You Ever.

It then pairs with Homura whose PTSD gets to shine through a bit in being unable to believe any bad sort of Madoka which how could you try to force her to at this point while Also pairing Homura with Ren in the “Gay Love Saved Our Lives: Traumatized vers & Vanilla vers”

I don’t remember if there was a symbolic finale and tbh I have forgotten a lot of the details with Yu and her girlfriend Whatsherface because that shit was just so shocking and bizarre to read and much too painful to reread in a timely fashion just.

That shit hurted but it was full of so much love and hope both doomed and stolen but still was wrapped up in the comforting concept that This Is The Universe Where Homura Gets To Be Okay This Time.

She’s still scarred beyond comprehension and this ghost drama accentuated it all but at the end of the day this is still the Safe Universe where all of them are alive and the Holy Quintet are friends and they’re all going to be okay (Godoka & Aniplex willing) and so many of us love Madoka Magica because it shows girls fighting through the same pain we’ve been through and keeping their hope alive and here we get to see them actually find peace in a clunkily written fanservicey spin-off mobile gacha game and hey, that made me happy while I got to experience it. Thanks for the ideas and memories and tragic backstories and funny thirdary characters MagiReco I’m gonna take em all and Run.

Akjsladbfalkjfsbslk If you read this all without getting a migraine or blocking me ily thanks for listening!!!!!!

TL;DR

Me likey A La Carte Valentine bc it’s silly and gay and I simp Kuro

Me likey Nagisa’s Wish bc sawft baby is good and so are Tragic Edgy Backstories

Me likey Beachside Bonds bc Gay Ghosts and Our Girls Finally Get To Be Happy Peaceful(ish) Teenage Girls and that’s all I want for them ;w;

Reeses In Pieces ya’ll

1Ten 2More 3Words 4To 5Hit 6(3000 7Words 8Woo 9Boy 10Howdy

#magia rapport #magia record #pmmm

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whoneedsapublisher · 5 years ago

Text

The Devil and Desire

This one is... kind of dark. Not that any of my SayaHomu is exactly fluffy, but this one is particularly... unhappy? Twisted? Either way, I’ve had it sitting around for a while and finally got around to editing it.

Words: 666

Summary: In this new world, Homura holds power beyond a magical girl and beyond a witch. But pure force of magic is not the only way to defeat an enemy.

Also on Ao3

*************************

The door creaked open. Homura didn’t look up from her book.

“Welcome home, Sayaka,” she said.

Sayaka didn’t respond, crossing silently into the living room and sitting down on the couch.

“How was Kyouko?” Homura asked, turning the page.

“...Fine,” Sayaka mumbled.

“How was the sex?”

Sayaka stiffened, then looked away from Homura, down at the floor. Ashamed.

“Oh? Was it not as satisfying as you hoped?” Homura asked, a tiny smirk tugging at her lips.

“Why are you okay with this?” Sayaka asked, looking up, her voice laced with frustration.

Homura looked up from her book and met Sayaka’s gaze. “Would you prefer if I wasn’t? Do you want me to scream and cry and throw dishes? Do you want me to be upset, for me to feel hurt and betrayed?” She smirked. “Would you stop if I was?”

Sayaka looked away again, falling silent.

“This is a world for selfishness, Sayaka,” Homura said, a smile creeping across her face. It was unsettling. Wrong. Her eyes shone with a dark emotion, glittering like the gem that had once been her soul. “This is a world of desires. Did you imagine that I would be angry that you followed yours? That it would hurt me?”

Sayaka grit her teeth.

“I’m proud of you,” Homura said, laughing quietly. “You’re finally adjusting. Finally becoming the partner of the devil. Finally accepting that you can do what you want in this world, that you don’t need to care about rules or what you should do.”

“No!” Sayaka snapped, clenching her fists so hard that her knuckles went white. “I’m not!”

Homura just laughed.

“Tell me all about it,” she said.

“What?” Sayaka asked.

“About what it was like. To fuck Kyouko. What does her face look like when you slip your fingers inside her? What does she whimper when you kiss her neck? What does she cry out when she cums?”

“You’re sick,” Sayaka whispered.

“Tell me,” Homura repeated. “Every last detail. Tell me what was going through your head as you did it. Were you thinking of me? Imagining my face when I found out? Did you think about me crying as she licked you? Was that what got you off?”

“No!” Sayaka said, shooting up to her feet, her fists clenched at her side. “It’s not like that! I’m not like you!”

“Does Kyouko know?” Homura asked.

“Of course she knows, everyone knows that we’re dating-”

“Does she know that I know? That I knew as soon as it happened?”

Sayaka stiffened again, freezing up.

“Did you let her believe that it was a secret affair? Is she worrying about whether the two of you can keep it under wraps? Washing your perfume out of her hair? Picking out a scarf that will cover her neck?” Homura asked.

Sayaka’s arms trembled as she clenched her fists ever tighter.

“Did you whisper in her ear that you really only love her? That you were only dating me because I made you?”

“I am only dating you because you-”

“No one is making your decisions for you, Sayaka Miki,” Homura said. “No one is making you watch me. I didn’t rewrite your memories to make you love me. I’m not holding anyone hostage to keep you here. You agreed to date me for your own selfish desires, and now you’re cheating on me for your own selfish desires.”

Sayaka reacted like she’d been slapped, reeling, staggering back with her eyes wide.

Homura rose to her feet and carressed Sayaka’s cheek. “You say you’re aren’t like me,” she whispered. “But aren’t you breaking the rules to get what you want?” She chuckled. “I thought that when the confrontation happened, that you would side with Madoka. That you would promote order and justice over desire. But now I see that you were on my side all along.”

Dropping her hand, Homura walked out of the room, leaving Sayaka standing with her head bowed and her shoulders trembling.

And Homura just laughed.

#pmmm #sayahomu

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magical-xirl-4 · 6 years ago

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My PMMM Ship List

Warning: Long post since I go into description in why I like these pairings. There’s six couples in total (pics included).

And btw... these are rambles on each ship, I’m just putting out my subjective opinions on them.

OTP: KyoMado

Ok, but like... How could you not have a soft spot for this pairing?

In my opinion, Kyoko and Madoka would have the cutest chemistry, not to mention the themes that do and can surround them are lovely. They became friends quickly in the anime, which wasn’t feasible with the other girls Kyoko interacted with, showing that they mesh well and could help each other fit in the parts of themselves that they’re lacking (Madoka could soften Kyoko and give her the warmth that she needs. In Episode 9, Madoka made Kyoko feel comfortable enough to open up about her love of fairy tales. Kyoko needs someone loving and caring like Madoka. In turn, Kyoko can rub off on Madoka with her confidence. In Ep 9, she played a big part in how Madoka chose her wish, and wanted her to be strong enough to make that wish. Homura’s Revenge also highlights this as she reflects on her words and appreciates what Kyoko said to her in the last timeline! Madoka needs Kyoko for strength). Their need to have a person in their lives like the other is backed up by The Different Story and how they were so supportive of each other in that. Outside of character analysis, there is not much angst surrounding the ship, making mostly fluff. Another cute concept could be the Kaname’s taking care of Kyoko and treating her like a daughter, and Kyoko could be a big sister to Tatsuya (which is explored in Kirara Time Magica, Dinner Tastes Like Happiness). The central theme of this pairing would be of course the ribbons, as their own ribbons connects them and there’s plenty of adorable fan art for it. Their core dynamic is chaotic, rough and brazen, meets sweet, soft and dainty (total opposites). On a more aesthetic level, KyoMado are pink and red, two colours that are fundamentally the same, but different shades because of their life experiences. They also wear parts of their respective colours on their magical girl outfits. Unfortunately, their relationship hasn’t been fully explored yet. There’s the Battle Pentagram Max Relationship Scene which really emphases their dynamic, their small friendship in the Different Story, the potential of them in Homura’s Revenge at the end of the timeline, and their time in the anime/manga. But that’s really it. It’s a shame, because the dynamic that they have is heartwarming and it’d be so good and satisfying to see more of them, they’re just missing out on that tiny push of screen time ! I think it’d be easy for them to get along. They are similar on the inside, so finding a connection with more time spent together would be perfect for the ship.

HomuSaya

Ah yes, the tragedy ship. I’ve always been confused as to what I find appealing to them, until recently. Sayaka is the person that Homura was never always fond of in each timeline, and vice versa. However, in Rebellion, they have a very interesting bond that I think should be expanded upon. Sayaka actually grows sympathetic and perhaps even empathetic to Homura’s plight, because she understands the pain that someone would have to go through to become a witch. She’s been there before, and knows that Homura is suffering, and wants to help her. Not to mention, after Rebellion they would have a rivalry, all the while Sayaka could still show sympathy to Homura, and have mixed emotions towards her; being angry with her, but probably still wanting to help, all the while Homura is lonely and fragile behind an arrogant and conniving façade. Aside from that and on a more fluffy note, I like it because of their connection to Madoka. They would be able to generate a connection through Madoka, and honestly, without all the magical girl bs, they would most likely be really good friends. I also really like Moemura with Sayaka, although their Max Relationship Scene in Battle Pentagram is so cute. It gives you insight into what a genuine friendship/relationship would be like. It’s the typical “happy-go-lucky person paired with the quiet person” ship, and most of the time I love stuff like that. I like both sides to this ship. They can connect over their despair and over come it together, and they can also create a relationship built up on friendship and love, rather than sadness.

KyoMami

Back at it again with a heavy feels ship. The Different Story is so powerful, and I love both Kyoko and Mami’s relationship within it. Yet again, their pairing could also be typed as being connected with ribbons. And... ugh, they just give me intense feels, but they also makes me happy as I remember their early stage of friendship. They just work nicely together too, because there is so much sincere support, trust, and love for one another. They have the richest history out of the five main girls, and I think they have a bond that is able to last lifetimes, no matter what kind of relationship they are in. The way that their personalities played off one another in the beginning was wholesome, and it was healthy. Their strong friendship could become romantic love somewhere down the line. Some fan art out there of these two is so beautiful as well, representing how deeply they felt about each other. Their relationship is still being explored in MagiReco, and while I haven’t actually played the game I am aware something like this is happening, and I’m really happy that their relationship is being recognised outside of any manga. To me, KyoMami is like an extension of KyoMado (this is mainly because Madoka and Mami are the most caring out of the girls). However, KyoMami just has more support in terms of their relationship in the canon, and way more fan content. (Additionally, I actually ship these two couples as an OT3. Please, I need more KyoMadoMami fanart!)

TL;DR KyoMami is satisfying, heart-breaking and beautiful all at the same time.

MadoSaya

Seriously, these two just have the most pure relationship. They grew up together, and since then Sayaka has always protected Madoka, they’ve been so close for a long time. Their relationship only fell apart once the world of magical girls was introduced to them, (and in an interesting comparison, unlike KyoMami, who came together because of the world of magical girls). Aside from that, Madoka and Sayaka have the strongest bond and longest history together, although it was rather simple in how they met. The fact that they place each others safety and well being so highly is inspiring and sweet, because it truly shows in the most simple, straight-forward way possible how much they care about each other. While I do love them just being friends, the aspect of them being in a relationship is so much better to me. If they ever did get together, it would feel so natural and understandable. Their max relationship scene in the Battle Pentagram is... I mean, Madoka outright says that she loves Sayaka! Even though that could be taken in a platonic way, that’s the only time someone’s said how they much they care about another person, upfront, to their face, with pure honesty, in this franchise. Also, the end of the Different Story with these two gave me feels. And don’t even get me started on Madokami and Sayaka. That kind of bond is something else, something genuinely powerful - which makes MadoSaya, all the more a great ship.

MadoMami

I see this ship as probably the most wholesome and fluffy in the whole series. Madoka and Mami are the most selfless people out of the quintent, so putting them together would just result in the sweetest, giving relationship. There’s also the senpai/kouhai dynamic, which is cute, and it’s just so easy to see Madoka falling for Mami, since she is the ideal magical girl, her senpai. Mami needs that love and support too, and who better than caring Madoka? A relationship between them would be easygoing, very domestic and homelike, and let’s be honest, the Kaname’s would love Mami too. They would cherish her like a second daughter, which is what she needs after being alone for a few years. Mami and Tomohisa cooking in the kitchen, Junko finding Mami very respectable, and Mami spoiling Tatsuya with food. Just.... very healthy stuff here. (Seriously though, the Kaname’s would also welcome Kyoko into their family just as much as Mami, and Kyoko would need a family like them. Not trying to turn this into a KyoMado discussion again, just making it so KyoMadoMami is recognised as a wholesome OT3)

MamiSaya

This is another senpai/kouhai relationship that I’m fond of. It’s similar to MadoMami, but Sayaka is a lot more extroverted, and has the same ideals as Mami. They’re the true justice pair, and their time together in the different story was emotional. Like, Mami saving Sayaka from Elsa Maria? Iconic. Mami reaching out to her and nearly saving her? Also iconic. Mami would love feeling accompanied and supported by Sayaka, and Sayaka would just love cheering on Mami and not making her feel lonely. Because their colours are blue and yellow, I look at this pairing and they remind me of clear blue skies, with the sun shining brightly... just a really happy vibe emits from their aesthetic. Justice/Hope Pairing™. And I’d be lying if I said that MadoMamiSaya wasn’t my second favourite OT3, cause... Heck yes magical girl troupe! To conclude, this ship is really cute just like the former, but it also has a particular edge to it, since Sayaka is more of a go-getter than Madoka, and would encourage Mami in different ways. (Wish I could say more on this one, but I can’t since I’d just be repeating what I said about MadoMami)

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endless-season · 6 years ago

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MOR p2 liveblog style thoughts

TDLR: Parts that were in the manga..... imo manga did it better. But new stuff & funeral omake manga and CRY short story adaption was niceeeeeeeeee

Nice random colorless king intro tho why the heck was slate kid there....

;-; homra alphaboys hanging out together was cute (awww *ruffles eric’s hair*)

Anna was happy and cute too. though.... the full body shot was so.... dramatic looking... why...

CAGE SHADOW ON MIKOTO

Totsuka winked ;-; it was a bit weird but still aww ;-; wink

#the “actually a prepared a huge cake” wasnt dramatic enough /bricked

like consta said: THE COAT IS GETTING THE SCREENTIME IT DESERVES. But also wow ppl weren’t kidding about them dragging on the part where he leaves the bar. So. Many. Shots. So. Dramatic. So. Slow. *dramatically puts on arm in coat* *cuts to ppl* *dramatically fixes collar* *cuts to ppl* *turns around* *cuts to people*

DRAMATIC FULL BODY SHOT!!!!!!!

DRAMATICALLY TURNS AROUND

The nod was cute....................... *hides*

ONE LAST FULL BODY SHOT FOR DRAMATICNESS CAUSE WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Which then cuts directly to Anime Season 1 video camera footage. I for one was esp disappointed here bc the few panels of totsuka being excited to see someone on the rooftop was cute and got ignored :( *mumbles mumbles the manga did it better mumbles mumbles*

The dramatic cut from video to actual BANG was A++++

nice to see a bit of what happened after the camera was cut

Next part, Pink’s (apparently deadpan) commentary was something along the lines of “At this point in time, Totsuka was really planning to go back to where everyone was. But when he kept trying and failed, that’s when he realised ah, he’s going to die.”

Other commentary, the mountain road, that’s symbolically named the ~ road to heaven ~ and is also meant to parallel that time he crashed into mikoto on his bike

Also in the movie you can clearly tell the “no matter which i do, both will be troublesome” part refers to Totsuka trying to decide whether to call King or Kusanagi-san.

LONG RINGING SOUNG WHEN THE AUDIENCE SITS ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATING SCREAMING “HURRY AND PICK UP THE PHONEEEEEEE”

>.> *mumbles mumbles the manga did it better mumbles mumbles* its like totsuka threw the phone away.jpg

SIDE RED AMUSEMENT PARK PIC WAS SO CUTE OMG. I DIDN’T START TEARING UP THIS WHOLE MOVIE UNTIL I SAW TINY ANNA HOLDING ONTO YATA AND TOTSUKA ;-; ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Kaji’s voice saying “I was happy” A+++++

Kusanagi’s: “YOU IDIOT” - again im disappointed it didnt cut to him like in the manga.... *mumbles mumbles the manga did it better mumbles mumbles* also whats with totsuka cough, that giant cough looked more comical than painful D:

Kaji’s voice saying “King... I wonder if he’ll be angry” A++++++

Kusanagi: “Wait for bit”, Totsuka: “Yeah I’ll wait” *DRAMATICALLY REACHES OUT HAND INTO THE SKY. THE SKY IS BEAUTIFUL

I also appreciate the whole “The butterfly symbolises totsuka’s soul leaving him” thing .... BUT HE’S NOT DEAD YET!!!!!! OI!!!!!!!! SOULLL COME BACK!!!!!!

<PSA: THIS IS WHERE TOTSUKA’S SHORT STORY GOES>

Dream sequence with totsuka was.... kinda random......... *mumbles mumbles the manga did it better mumble mumble*

Anna crying was.............. overly dramatic and actually felt kinda fanservicey... did not appreciate that tbh.... *mumbles mumbles the manga did it better mumbles mumbles*

;-; Homura in the bar.... I like the way they did the Angry VS Crying thing. Especially that transition between Eric and Fujishima.

<PSA: THIS IS WHERE KAMAMOTO’S SHORT STORY GOES>

S4 scene.... honestly the objective message from Kusanagi to Seri was very D: *glances at kusanagi short story* *feels sad*

It’s nice to see Hisui and Iwa show up. They used the movie as a season 1 hook pretty well tbh. The whole beginning and end theme.

Also Neko..... and this time... ANOTHER KING SPEC OF LIGHT!!!!!! lol

WHY DID THEY COVER TOTSUKA WITH A CLOTH *mumbles mumbles the manga did it better mumbles mumbles*

<PSA: THIS IS WHERE ANNA’S SHORT STORY GOES-ISH MAYBE>

Would’ve been cool if we had the whole “circle of friends + embarassed totsuka and yata” flashback in the movie like the manga did... but i guess it’d ruin the serious gloomy mood :’)

Funeral scene yoooooooo. The beach was pretttttty. Open casket!!!! A proper casket!!!! (lbr, the manga one looked like a cardboard box :’D)

Friendly reminder that the rose that Anna gave to Totsuka is the same rose Totsuka gave to Mikoto to give to Anna.jpg :))) Also. Anna’s face ;-;

THE BURNING SCENE + THE “KISS” SCENE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honestly they adapted the ‘everything quickly burnt into nothing’ perfectly. Also have heard so much about the “kiss” scene from spoilers and it did not fail to deliver!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously the beach and sky is so pretty ;-;

<PSA: THIS IS WHERE KUSANAGI’S SHORT STORY GOES>

MikoIzu convo ;-; ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Also I’m having extra feels due to new years short story and the fact they’re watching the (i assume) sunrise ;_________________;

RB flashback which I’m still mad about. *hisses*

“Totsuka lived as he liked with no regrets. I’m going to do that too” :(

SEASON 1 ANIME HOOK!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously they led this movie into season 1 so well. Make sure all new K ppl watch the anime before CV.jpg

#k stuff #k mor #k 7s #contains detailed spoilers thx

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moonlights0nata · 6 years ago

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Fight for me (I’ll fight for you)

Inspired by a convo on twitter “Takeru would fight a man for Yusaku”, I originally wrote something short and then it...got really long lol So here’s some good ol Takeru/Yusaku fluff

Also on AO3!

“I would fight a man for you.” Takeru mumbled in the space between them, eyes soft, but serious. They’d been lying in his bed for a while now, side by side, merely basking in the comfort of having someone close. A comfort Yusaku wasn’t used to but that he was growing to like, the warmth, the company.

Yusaku stared back after Takeru spoke, blinking, before huffing out a short laugh, quickly muffled behind his hand.

It was too late though, Takeru was already pouting. “What?”

“No, just--” Yusaku shook his head, schooling his expression, but some mirth remained in his eyes. “I...I can’t imagine you picking a fight. You don’t seem the type.”

“What does that mean?”

Yusaku lifted up a hand to cup the back of Takeru’s, resting on Yusaku’s cheek, and then interlocked their free hands together. When he ran his fingers over Takeru’s, he felt that they were a little rough, a little calloused or with tiny cuts that never faded. They were signs of someone who’d once got into fights, who’d curled his hands and bared his fists against the world.

But even so rough was not a word Yusaku would use for Takeru. Not the one curled up beside him, the boy touching his face and squeezing back his hand with all the gentleness of a world that had felt so far away to Yusaku until a while ago.

“You’re soft.” He finally replied, massaging a thumb over the back of Takeru’s hand and nuzzling a little against it. “The Takeru in front of me is soft and bright. After everything that happened to you...your heart wasn’t corrupted.” He smiled, a small fond smile. “You wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

If anything, Takeru’s pout intensified, cheeks reddening. “You don’t know that. There’s a lot you don't know about me or my past, Yusaku.” If he was supposed to sound serious, he failed at it.

“That’s true.” Yusaku conceded. “But I don’t have to know, unless you want to tell me. All I care about is the Takeru right here and now.” He scooted closer, feeling Takeru’s breath catch as their noses brushed. “You don’t have to fight anyone for me.” He whispered. “You are already fighting alongside me. That’s enough to me.”

“Yusaku…” Takeru sighed, his breath fanning Yusaku’s lips. “I--Can I--”

“Yes.” Yusaku tilted his head and a moment later Takeru’s lips were in his, ever careful but insistent, making Yusaku’s skin feel tingly. Kissing Takeru was like a flame slowly trickling over his body; It was not a violent fire, no, it enveloped him in a safe and protective warmth. When Takeru kissed him it was always gentle, like Yusaku was a precious thing, someone Takeru cared for. Someone Takeru wanted .

It was all new and raw still, feelings Yusaku was getting used to. But with every kiss, every brush of fingers against his cheek, Yusaku believed him a little more.

Yusaku passed mostly under the radar at school--meaning people never or rarely came up to him to ask for notes or a simple chat, aside from Shima who was insistent in talking to him about nothing and everything even when Yusaku only half listened most of the time. The other half he listened, he appreciated Shima for trying, anyways. There was a tentative friendship there Yusaku wasn’t trying so hard to ignore anymore.

In the street it was much the same; he’s not sure when he developed the habit to blend in with the crowds, to walk quietly. He’d startled a few vendors when he walked up to them when they had their back turned, not expecting to turn and find someone standing there.

But just because most people didn’t approach him or ignored him, which also saved him from a lot of trouble and problems, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t accidentally bump into trouble.

When he was walking down the street, it wasn’t rare that someone accidentally brushed past him or that he nudged someone with an elbow without meaning to, specially if his mind was wandering to what he had to do later. Streets got crowded, too, and he’d lost count of the few hurried passersby that had shoved past him--or that he had shoved past on occasion.

Nine out of ten times, there were no consequences. Except that one time when someone called back to him after he’d knocked his side against them in passing, on his way to meet Kusanagi.

“Oy. You looking for trouble?!” Yusaku groaned internally; it was one of those people. He lazily turned his head around, arching an eyebrow at the taller man who seemed to have a scowl set permanently on his face, shoulders hunched and clearly trying to look threatening. Yusaku didn’t reply, merely stared back boredly for a moment before going on his way.

He heard the man click his tongue in annoyance, heavy steps already going after him and Yusaku was expecting a hand on his shoulder to shove him back roughly, and he was ready to step to the side, but instead he heard the man let out a surprised cry. Yusaku turned and what he saw caught him off guard, eyes widening; he’s not sure when Takeru got there, or where he came from, but he had the man’s wrist caught in his hand, twisting his arm painfully before it could even grace Yusaku. His expression was calm but Yusaku could see the violence hidden in those lilac eyes.

“I’d appreciate it if you would leave my friend alone.” He said, voice even but dangerous. He seemed far away from the Takeru Yusaku saw daily and it startled him for a moment.

“Why you brat --” The man tried to lash back with his other fist but Takeru sidestepped him and twisted the arm he was gripping around his back, using the inertia of the punch to shove the man to the ground. He pressed him down, squeezing his arm painfully, if the man’s pinched expression was anything to go by.

“I won’t repeat myself.” Takeru’s low voice held a heavy warning, gaze darkening. “ Back. Off. ”

A crowd had already started to gather, people muttering and wondering if a fight was breaking loose. It wouldn’t be odd if someone was alerting an officer or would do so if they did start fighting. Yusaku decided to step in, crouching by Takeru’s side.

“ Enough .”

He placed hand on Takeru’s shoulder. He didn’t miss the initial flinch, before he relaxed, turning to Yusaku.

“Takeru. Leave it.” He spared a glance at the other man. “Starting a fight here would be stupid . It’d be easy to alert the police.” Though seeing the hold that Takeru had on the man, he wouldn’t be able to run away even if he’d wanted to.

After a beat the man scoffed, struggling against the hold. “Ya heard your friend. Lemme go, kiddo, I’m not going to start a brawl if a cop’s gonna get in my case.”

Takeru shot him a glare before standing up and releasing the man, putting distance between them. The man rubbed at his wrist and shook his arm, wincing and clicking his tongue.

“Damn kid, didn’t hold back. I’m outta here.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned to go, looking at them over his shoulder. “Should get that murderous look off yer face or cops are gonna think you’re a delinquent, kid.”

With that the man pushed past the crowd and disappeared among it. Yusaku didn’t stay to watch him go, reaching out for Takeru’s wrist and pulling him forwards.

“Let’s go .”

“Ah…” Takeru blinked before nodding. “Yeah.”

Yusaku lead them away and only slowed down once they reached a street with less of a crowd, letting Takeru catch up to his pace and walk beside him. He was silent, gaze averted at their feet.

“...Don’t do that again.” Yusaku finally spoke, and Takeru’s abruptly looked up, like he’d been slapped out of his thoughts.

“Huh?”

“Don’t try to pick a fight in the middle of the street.”

“I wasn’t--He was the one about to start a fight !” His arms moved to gesture and in the process tugged his wrist out of Yusaku’s hold. “He was ready to lunge at you, did you expect me to just watch?!”

“ Yes .” Yusaku was calm, but he could feel a bubble of irritation forming in his chest. “We were surrounded by people, the most that guy would do was threaten me or ask for money like some high school bully. His type is predictable.”

“You don’t know that.” It was odd, being on the receiving end of Takeru’s anger; it was odd to see him angry like this . “He could have hurt you.”

“He could have hurt you too.” Yusaku finally snapped, rounding on Takeru. He hated getting worked up like this, he hated this weirdly present ache in his chest, screaming at him, a feeling that had grown and grown so much it was overwhelming. It was the consequence of letting people in.

“I told you I don’t need you to fight anyone for me.” ‘That’s not you, you don’t hurt people.’ “I can look after myself. Don’t be an idiot.”

Takeru’s fist curled at his sides, shaking, and any other day Yusaku would have reached over to stop them from trembling. He didn’t.

The silence stretched on and Yusaku ultimately sighed, resuming walking.

“...Let’s go. Kusanagi-san’s waiting.”

It took a moment before Takeru followed after him, his steps just a little behind him, out of phase with his.

Lunch the next day was tense.

Aoi had clearly picked up on it, once they’d all settled down by the steps of their usual staircase in the upper floor. She kept flickering them looks that were everything but subtle.

After the third questioning glance she threw his way, Yusaku gave in.

“Takeru almost fought a guy.”

Aoi’s eyes went comically wide at that, eyes flickering between him and Takeru, baffled.

“... Homura-kun ?”

“Yes.”

“But when--why?” Aoi arched an eyebrow at Takeru, who huffed.

“Yesterday. That guy was messing with Yusaku.”

“He wasn’t going to do anything.” Yusaku countered. Here they went again. “We were in the middle of a crowded street. He’d just pretend to be threatening and then go away.”

“You don’t know that!” Takeru protested. “He looked ready to grab you, guys like him don’t care where they are.” He looked down at his food, frowning. “I wasn’t going to let him get away with that.”

“You could have got in trouble for nothing.” Yusaku munched on his bread, exasperated. This was just the same argument; he wasn’t used to how insistent Takeru could be.

“It’s not for nothing!” Takeru snapped his head up to look at him, eyes glinting with stubbornness.

“What would be the point ?”

“I--” His hands curled tight around his lunch box, shaking like yesterday, and Yusaku wondered if he wouldn’t say anything else again. But this time Takeru was ready with a comeback.

“The point is I want to protect you ! Because--” His face got red. “Because you are important to me!”

There’s a moment of pause, of silence, where Yusaku simply stared at Takeru, speechless, with heat creeping slowly up his neck and ears. He was still mad, irritated, but Takeru made it hard to focus on those feelings when he was looking at him straight on with so much stubborn determination and--and affection in his eyes. That feeling in his chest ached and burned Yusaku from the inside now.

He could hear Aoi’s muffled laughter, hiding her grin behind a hand at the whole argument.

“Homura-kun I think you just broke him.”

At that Yusaku cleared his throat roughly, fighting to keep his eyes on Takeru, even when he couldn’t keep a straight face.

“...I told you: you don’t have to fight anyone for me. I don’t want you to. The least thing you have to worry about is protecting me from thugs.” Read: we have bigger things in our hands to worry about .

Takeru stared back defiantly. “And I told you : I would fight a man for you . I’ll worry even if you tell me not to.”

They stared at each other for another tense moment, which was broken by a loud, exasperated sigh. They both turned to Aoi, who shook her head.

“You two are are ridiculous .” Her eyes were creased with mirth as she smiled at them. “Why not just say you care about each other and want to see each other safe, instead of ‘I’d fight a man for you’ ?”

Takeru sputtered, embarrassed. “But I would !” Yusaku’s soft ‘please don’t’ went ignored as he locked on Aoi, determined. “I would fight anyone who messes with you too Zaizen-san!”

Aoi waved a dismissive hand his way. “The sentiment is appreciated but I can take care of myself. I’ve been taking self defense classes for a few years now.” At their surprised looks, she shrugged. “I wanted to and Big Brother thought it was a good idea. It’s useful.” Her eyes lit up a little, but her tone was deadpan. “I know just where to hit to invalidate and potentially kill a man if I have to.”

“...Please don’t kill a man, Zaizen-san.” Takeru looked a little horrified.

“I’m joking, Homura-kun. But did you know that if you hit a person’s nose at a certain angle and hard enough, the bone can pierce the--”

“ I don’t need to know thanks. ” Takeru shook his head, shuddering. Yusaku sighed, disappointed.

“I wanted to know that.” He played with his bread’s wrapping a little. “Kusanagi-san has taught me some self defense to get by, too. Always aim for the throat, he says.”

Aoi nodded. “Knock the wind out of them. If you punch someone’s throat hard enough you can also--”

“Can we stop talking about killing people and eat .” Takeru interrupted, pushing food in his mouth with his chopsticks and pointedly not looking at them. Yusaku and Aoi shared a look over his head that said ‘later’ before shrugging and focusing on their food.

They finished their lunch mostly in silence, exchanging idle chatter, but the tension from earlier had dissipated somewhat.

When the bell rang to indicate the end of lunch, they gathered their things and began to head back.

Before going into their separate classrooms, Yusaku held onto Takeru’s sleeve to stop him for a moment.

“...Are you free later?”

Takeru blinked at the question but offered a tentative smile. “I was going to stop by the supermarket to restock my fridge but that’s all. Want...Want to come with me?”

Yusaku nodded. “...Yeah.” He let go off of Takeru’s sleeve and turned towards his class. “Then, after school.”

He didn’t have to look to know Takeru was smiling at his back and nodding.

“Yeah, later.”

Grocery shopping by himself was something pretty mechanical for Yusaku. He didn’t cook, and he always bought the same stuff--instant food for the most part--so it was boring and routinary.

Somehow shopping with Takeru was different. He’s not sure why the boy tried asking Yusaku which packet of meat he thought he should buy (”This one is cheaper?” “Yes but this other one has a discount if you buy two!”) or which brand of rice he should get (“Takeru it’s rice it can’t be that hard”) when Yusaku had no idea, but it’s oddly...nice.

When he watched Takeru’s profile as he compared two oranges, his mind said domestic . Somehow something so simple was making his stomach flutter. Ugh .

“...This is a lot.” Yusaku observed, as they placed all the groceries they got on Takeru’s kitchen counter and began putting things away. It was definitely a lot more than Yusaku was used to buying and he wondered where Takeru even fit all of this .

“Really?” Takeru tilted his head as he shut the fridge. “This is about what I usually get...But I can’t say no to a good discount!”

“Takeru is a bit of a glutton, though.” Flame piped up from where their duel disks were resting on the living room table. “Discounts are just good excuses .”

“Oh, shut up.” Takeru pouted. “I’m a growing boy. I have to eat plenty. Besides…” He threw a look Yusaku’s way, who looked back in confusion. “Uh, I usually start dinner around this time--Did you...You can stay for dinner if you want? I have enough to cook for both of us so...”

“Oh.” Yusaku blinked. “I...Sure.”

Takeru beamed a little. “Great! Is curry okay?”

“Yeah.” As Takeru rounded the kitchen counter and started setting up, Yusaku joined him. “I’ll help.”

He heard AI laugh. “Not if you don’t want to burn the kitchen!”

“Shut up.” Yusaku threw a glare his way. “I can at least chop vegetables. It’s not hard .”

“That’s fine.” Takeru, the traitor, chuckled at the short exchange. “Thank you. Then can you do these?”

They settled down into an easy rhythm; Yusaku took care of the vegetables, Takeru of the meat and getting the pot ready to cook everything. It was quiet save for the distant muttering of their AIs; it was peaceful, comfortable. But something kept tugging at Takeru’s mind, something he had to say.

“I’ll take care of the rest.” Takeru speaking brought him out of his thoughts. “All that’s left is to cook all this and make the rice.”

“I’ll set the table then.”

Takeru hummed with a smile, setting the ingredients in the pot. “Thanks.”

Approaching the table to set it was a mistake. AI had the most infuriating, cat like grin in his face.

“You two are so domestic . Shopping together, cooking together~” He sing sang. “Like a marr--”

Yusaku slammed a hand over his duel disk, shutting AI up effectively. He paid no mind to the heat he felt in his cheeks and quickly got the utensils and glasses set up. He could feel Flame watching him, even if he was quiet, and when he spared him a look the AI had his arm crossed and the other cupping his chin.

“...What is it?” Yusaku finally asked and Flame shook his head.

“I should ask you that. You look like you have things in your mind.”

Yusaku averted his gaze, eyes drifting to Takeru for a moment. Flame didn’t miss it.

“If you have something to say or ask…It’s best you do.” The AI nodded his head. “Communication is important between partners, is it not?”

Yusaku’s hand curled around the back of a chair, looking down at the fire Ignis. Communication. Partners. Trust, his mind supplied.

“Takeru can be dense.” Flame continued. “And headstrong. But he’ll listen, I assure you that.” He crossed his arms. “You should listen to him, too.”

“...Yeah.” Yusaku sighed after a moment. “I know.” I will .

He turned and headed back for the kitchen. Takeru was stirring the pot, his free hand tapping a rhythm in the counter while he hummed some tune. Yusaku had a strange, sudden urge looking at his back while he cooked, and before he could think too hard he took silent breath and stepped up to him, leaning his side against Takeru’s back.

Takeru didn’t jump but he did pause for a moment before relaxing. Yusaku leaned his temple against the back of Takeru’s head, a hand holding lightly to his shirt.

“...When did you learn to cook?” He asked after a beat. Takeru made a thoughtful noise.

“Not that long ago. Grandma taught me the basics, and Kiku insisted on teaching me a few more recipes before I came here. ‘You’re not going to live off instant food and junk! ’ she said.” Yusaku didn’t have to look to know Takeru was grinning. “I was pretty awful at first but I’d say I’m pretty decent now.”

Yusaku smiled. “You didn’t hear this from me, but you almost put Kusanagi-san’s hot dogs to shame.”

Takeru gasped dramatically. “Yusaku! You’re giving me too much honor!” He faked wiping a tear from his eye. “You’d break Kusanagi-san’s heart if he heard you.”

“Again. Almost .”

Takeru laughed, the sound putting Yusaku at ease. He shifted so his chest was now pressed to Takeru’s back, head resting on his shoulder and hands settling on his sides. He felt Takeru lean back against him a little, and Yusaku could stay just like this for hours, he thought, basking in this warmth.

But he had more to ask, more that he had to say.

“Can I ask something else?”

“Shoot.”

Yusaku’s eyes fell to the hand resting on the counter. “...Did you get into a lot of fights?”

Takeru seemed to pause at the question and Yusaku hurried to add. “You don’t have to answer. I told you, unless you want to tell me I...I only care about what’s in front of me. But I want to understand--” Communication. Asking. He wasn’t sure how to phrase this question but he tried anyways.

“Why...did you fight?” It was vague, but by the way Takeru tensed, he’d understood what Yusaku wanted to ask. He let out a breath, fingers curling.

“...After the incident I was...I was so lost .” There was a hint of irony in his voice. “I would never get back those six months of my life, my parents were-- gone.. .I didn’t know which way to go, what to do.” His head hung a little, stirring the pot more slowly. “I was lost and angry . Angry at...at the world, I guess, for taking those things from me. Angry because there was nothing to do about it--” He gripped the counter. “Angry at myself because I didn’t know how to overcome it.”

Yusaku slid his hand over to the one on the counter, curling his fingers over it, and wrapped his other arm around Takeru protectively. He rested his chin on his shoulder just so he could look at Takeru’s expression.

“I stopped going at school at some point. I made my Grandparents and Kiku worry for me a lot but I...couldn’t find a reason to go. I couldn’t find a way to move forwards. Until...well, until I saw Playmaker. The Heroes of Link Vrains.” He smiled for a moment and relaxed his hand just so their fingers slid together, shoulders hunching.

“I didn’t--I didn’t pick fights. I definitely looked like a delinquent back then--” A snort, with only a small hint of humor in it.

“The guys I fought, it was always to protect someone else or if they came to pick a fight with me first. I couldn’t take out my anger on them though, not really--so most of the time I…” He lifted his other hand, and Yusaku looked at the bumps and cuts that hadn’t faded. “I was actually fighting myself. ” His laugh was wobbly, watery. “I lost...count of how many times I punched the wall in frustration.”

Yusaku’s heart ached painfully, because he could feel Takeru shaking, and he wished that if he squeezed him tighter in his arms, he could make it stop, make it go away, but this was something that no one could ever erase; the way the Lost Incident hurt Takeru, that hurt them. This was how Takeru had coped with the aftermath. Putting his fists up against the world, against himself and fighting to overcome it.

“Takeru.” Yusaku called, his voice wavering just slightly, pulling back and tugging at Takeru’s hand, motioning for him to turn around. He did after a moment, his gaze downcast and his smile rueful, but Yusaku could see the raw emotion in his eyes, the toll it’d taken on him to put this into words. Yusaku took a deep breath, trying to organize his thoughts as he looked down at his feet.

“I...Letting people in, it’s still new, for me. After the incident I felt like...like there was an abyss, between me and others. But I told myself I’d move forwards so I--I’m trying to get used to this. To having people close to me...People I care about. You are one of those people.”

He reached for both of Takeru’s hands, tracing the bumps and calluses.

“I’ll say this again. You don’t have to fight anyone for me.” He didn’t have to look to know Takeru would protest again but he didn’t let him. “I know . But I--” He squeezed his hands.

“I don’t want you to get hurt anymore. I don’t...want you to hurt yourself . I got mad yesterday because you didn’t take that into account, you don’t realize how much I--I want to protect you too. I want--” He swallowed, heart at his throat. He was blunt by nature but honesty was still a vulnerable state for him. But Takeru had just let himself vulnerable, so Yusaku gathered courage to speak. “I want you safe . With me .” He tentatively looked up. “That’s…what it means to care for someone isn’t it?”

Takeru looked overwhelmed, eyes bright and cheeks pink. He squeezed Yusaku’s hands back.

“...Yeah. I--” He swallowed. “I care about you too. I--I told you, didn’t I? You’re important to me. That’s why I...when I say I’d fight for you, I mean I want to keep you safe .”

“....I never liked to involve people in my troubles. Before you I...fought alone.” But that wasn’t entirely true, he knew now. He could tell people not to get involved--Go Onizuka, Blue Angel--but they still did, they insisted on helping, and they still suffered the consequences. Yusaku didn’t want anyone to get hurt on his account, dwelling with something that was his issue alone--but they had been fighting with him, to defend what was theirs too. Kusanagi, too, was always with him.

“Yusaku.” He’s not sure when Takeru took a step towards him, gazing at him with that determined look. “Fighting side by side...doesn’t that involve protecting each other?” He leaned close, just a little, foreheads brushing. “I know you can handle yourself. And you know I can handle myself. But when one of us in in trouble, we help each other. I trust you to have my back and...I hope you can trust me, to have yours.”

‘Listen to him too.’ Yusaku shut his eyes. Trust . To let someone in, to let them walk next to you. To have someone you want to protect, to know they also have your back. That feeling to want to keep the other safe--it came from both ends, mutual.

Yusaku opened his eyes halfway, breathing the words against Takeru’s lips.

“...I do. I trust you.”

He felt Takeru sigh, lips curling at the edges, before they both closed the gap between their lips. It was a simple, chaste kiss but after they pulled away, they immediately surged forwards for another, Takeru’s arms encircling his middle and Yusaku’s hands cradling his face, bringing each other close.

“So…” Takeru ran a hand over his back, peering at him with a grin. “We’ll keep each other safe, then?”

Yusaku ran a hand down the side of Takeru’s jaw to his neck, feeling Takeru shiver a little. “...Yes.”

“Is that you giving me permission to fight a guy?” Takeru joked and Yusaku threw him an unamused look. “...Permission to duel a guy, for you?”

Yusaku huffed, an amused smile forming in his lips without his consent. “Better--Mhm--” Takeru kissed him again, catching him by surprise before he kissed back, one hand tugging at the front of his shirt and the other resting on the back of his neck. He felt himself bump against the opposite counter and he’s not sure when they stepped back far enough for Takeru to press him against it but he’s not really complaining.

That was until he heard whistling and AI’s distinctive laughter. Takeru pulled away abruptly, face red as he looked over Yusaku’s shoulder and when he tilted his head, he saw two amused AIs looking at them from the table. Flame’s eyes were creased with mirth, shaking his head.

“Ah, youth …”

“Oy oy, Takeru--” AI was still laughing. “Aren’t you forgetting about dinner a little?~”

“Ah!” At that Takeru turned sharply and rushed for the stove, checking the pot quickly before turning the stove off. He sagged with relief. “Safe…”

“We should--”Yusaku cleared his throat, ignoring AI’s continuous teasing and his own flushed face. “Serve this, right?”

He was thankful to Flame when he heard a distant smack and AI whining but effectively shutting up.

Takeru nodded fervently. “Y-Yeah, lets!”

They fumbled a little but they managed to serve the food and sit down to eat. Takeru was eyeing him as he tried a bite of curry and hummed.

“It’s good.”

Takeru grinned, pleased.

AI leaned over Yusaku’s plate, ready with a comment. “Yusaku, did you chop or did your murder those vegetables when you cut them?”

Takeru, again, looked like he was biting down a laugh and Yusaku scowled at AI. “Then maybe next time I’ll practice chopping with you .”

“Eek! Flame, cover for me!” AI hid behind Flame who just moved away and gestured at Yusaku like ‘go ahead.’ .

“And you--” Yusaku pointed his spoon at Takeru and no, he wasn’t pouting . “Stop laughing . Traitor.” He shoved spoonfuls of curry in his mouth and Takeru chuckled.

“I’m not--I wasn’t laughing!” He rested his cheek in his hand, lifting a spoon with curry and smiling. “I think the vegetables are fine...You put Zaizen-san’s vegetable soup to shame.”

“...Is that supposed to be a compliment ?” Yusaku arched an eyebrow. “I think you just insulted her and me in that same sentence.” Takeru flailed with his hands.

“No ! It’s not---I mean--Augh.” He dropped his head. “Please don’t tell her I said that. I’m sorry.”

“I trusted you, Takeru. I’m hurt.” Yusaku deadpanned, but amusement fluttered in his chest. He kept calmly eating but he could see Takeru pouting in front of him.

It was nice--good--, to have this; this feeling of normalcy, of partnership between them; this bridge that they’d built, bit by bit, bickering, talking, understanding and crossing the abyss together.

An incident had torn their lives part ten years ago and left them to pick up the pieces; today they were slowly learning to walk forwards, still learning to overcome, to cope.

Later, when Takeru managed to convince Yusaku to stay over for the night--not that Yusaku had needed a lot of persuasion--and they were settling down to sleep, Yusaku took Takeru’s hands in his again and pressed careful kisses to the bruises, to the marks of Takeru’s fight against himself. He kissed them slowly and lovingly, until he had Takeru melting against his side, looking at him with flustered affection.

Forwards was a long way. But neither were alone, they had this, right here, and they’d both would hold fiercely into it.

They’d fight together; they’d be safe, together.

#sonny writes #yu gi oh VRAINS #Firestormshipping #i think that's the ship name?#HomuYuu

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carolnein · 7 years ago

Text

cleaned up some old pmmm fics for reposting. got three homura-centric rebellion ones in here, under the readmore

1) Kyoko finds Homura’s earring, worries about her once she hears it

2) AUish/continuation. Everyone regains their memories, Homura and Madoka talk about it some

3) Same continuity as 2. Homura convinces Kyoko to join her (cw for emotional manipulation and intentionally triggering someone)

[1, Kyoko and Homura]

“Homura!” Kyoko pounded at her door, the lizard earring clenched in her fist. This thing could break for all she cared, it didn’t matter that it didn’t belong to her. Nothing good was going to come from the little monster. “Open the door before I break it!”

Kyoko was seriously considering smashing her foot into the handle when it finally opened, and Homura stood in the doorway with that silently-angry expression. “Give it back.”

“Not yet.” Kyoko opened her hand just enough to show that she had it, and used up nearly all of her willpower to not drop it in disgust when it started wriggling. “We need to talk first. What exactly is this?”

“It’s mine.” Homura reached out to try and grab it, but Kyoko held her hand up above her head, too high for Homura to reach. “Kyoko, I’m serious.”

“I’m being serious, too. Explain.” Kyoko made her face as stern as she could. “What the hell are you doing to yourself?”

“Inside.” Homura yanked Kyoko through the door by her collar and locked the door behind her. “It’s magic, I can’t explain it all.”

“Then what can you explain?” Kyoko’s remaining composure was spent not falling apart under Homura’s withering glare, and she tossed the earring back. “I’m not leaving until I’m satisfied.”

She watched with mild horror as it crawled its way up Homura’s shoulder and settled around her ear. That thing was just creepy.

“It’s… part of my contract. You know I won’t talk about that.”

"What could that have to do with anything?” Kyoko crossed her arms. “Is this why you hate yourself so much?”

“I don’t—”

“Don’t give me that crap.” Kyoko was absolutely not in the mood to put up with Homura’s denial. “I heard the things it says. Why are you putting yourself through that?”

“Because I have to.” Homura turned away to take a seat, but Kyoko followed her to the couch. “I’m not telling you any more.”

“Then let me talk. I know you have my number, we’re arguing all the time,” Kyoko said. Arguing was fun, but now she worried that their bickering might’ve pushed Homura closer to the edge. “So when you have to listen to that thing, just call me instead.��

Homura raised an eyebrow. “So I can listen to your chewing?”

“Make fun of me all you want, it’s better than hearing that thing.” Kyoko narrowed her eyes at the earring. “Is it talking to you now?”

“It doesn’t always.” Homura didn’t give a real answer, but Kyoko didn’t bring up how suspicious that was.

“I’m gonna call you, and you’d better answer.” Kyoko was going to call her five times a day, just to make sure she picked up at least once.

“Why?” Homura looked confused; not upset like Kyoko thought she might, just confused.

“Because you’re my friend, you damn moron.” Kyoko stood, letting Homura know she wasn’t going to pry any further right now. “I’m worried about you.”

Homura looked away, not acknowledging it. “I’ll lock the door behind you.”

It was the third time Kyoko tried calling since that afternoon, and Homura finally picked up with a blunt, “What do you want?”

“Nothing, I’m just calling. What are you doing?” Kyoko was nursing a large bag of chips while watching TV; maybe Homura was doing something more entertaining.

There was a pause on the other end before Homura answered. “TV.” So not anything more fun. “Is there a point to this call?”

“You’re not allowed to go for 15 minutes, then you can hang up.”

There was a load groan on the other end before Homura said, “I’ll be counting.”

Neither of them said much for the time, but Homura faithfully waited until exactly 15 minutes had passed to hang up without warning.

“Heh, moron,” Kyoko said to the dial tone. She would have to do this tomorrow, too.

[2: Homura and Madoka]

It wasn’t even eight PM, but Madoka laid in her bed, facing the ceiling. She tried counting all the little dots just to focus on something, but never made it past five. Her eyes would glaze over, or she would just completely forget the next number like a child who was still learning to count to ten. If something changed and all that mattered in the world was counting every speck on the walls and ceiling in her bedroom, that would be an improvement.

She remembered. Not once did she think that there would be a memory so awful that she would rather forget it, but today she learned that happened. And she couldn’t figure out what she did wrong that caused it.

Counting some barely-visible dots in the dark was more appealing, anyways.

Her phone rang, the cheery ringtone directly conflicting with her mood and almost bringing it down further. If it didn’t display Sayaka’s name she probably wouldn’t have answered it. But Sayaka remembered, too.

“Are you okay?” Sayaka’s voice was aggressive and sudden. It was supposed to be a comforting question, but she sounded as angry as Madoka was tired.

Madoka wanted to say yes, but the word wouldn’t leave her throat. “I don’t know.”

“I still can’t believe this.” Her voice held a rough grumble from keeping it low; her parents would still be awake at this time. “I can’t figure out what we can do to fix it.”

“Me neither.” She didn’t tell her that she hadn’t even thought about it. Every time she tried her mind and body froze, stuck in some feeling between drowning and crying so hard it was a struggle to breathe.

“You don’t sound okay.” It was like a threat directed at no one. That was wrong, though; Madoka knew every single bitter word Sayaka said was aimed at Homura, even though she wasn’t there. Sayaka had insisted that this was all Homura’s fault, but Madoka didn’t agree.

“I’ll just go to sleep soon, it’ll be okay.” When she woke up, surely she would still remember all of this. The world was still messed up. She wasn’t going to be okay.

“No, I’m coming over.” There was a brief silence. “When my parents go to bed, I’m coming over. Leave your window unlocked.”

“Sayaka-chan, it’s fine. Stay at your house.” She just wanted this horrible day to end. Sleeping wouldn’t fix anything, but it might refresh her mind enough to do anything except lay in bed and wanting to cry.

“I mean it. I…I just think both of us need some company right now, you know?” It wasn’t just an offer, Sayaka needed her. This was a confusing request; Madoka had already proven to be completely useless when relied upon. Sayaka could have gone anywhere else.

“I’ll see you later….”

“Be ready for me.” Sayaka hung up first, thankfully before she would hear Madoka’s breathing become unsteady as she was left with her own thoughts again.

If she didn’t unlock the window, Sayaka would probably break through. It took that fear to drag her out of bed to flip the lock open. When she went to return to the comfort of her blankets, she noticed someone else in the room.

Madoka couldn’t tell if her heart was racing out of fear or excitement. Her mind tore at her with past memories and new memories, ripping her in different directions. The new fear that drove her to hide or scream, but the old habit to happily rush forward. She was frozen instead, pained by her inability to move or even know how to feel.

“Homura-chan…”

“Isn’t it dangerous to leave your window unlocked at night?” Homura couldn’t have looked any different from her. Calm and composed despite the many, many things wrong.

“It didn’t stop you from coming in.” Madoka wished that sounded as threatening and accusatory as she intended, but the way her voice cracked gave away how unsure she was.

“Wouldn’t it be a shame after all this, it was just a simple burglar that ended it all?” She sat in one of her chairs, with the posture of a queen right out of a storybook. It matched the twisted expression that Madoka only now realized wasn’t just from being tired.

“Why do you look like that?” Madoka asked, with nothing else to say. Those dead eyes and cruel smile were uncharacteristic of the Homura she thought she knew.

“Hmm?”

“Don’t make that face.” Her hands clenched into tiny fists and she looked down, unable to stare at Homura any longer. “I…I don’t like it.”

“Then why don’t you do something to fix it?” Madoka wasn’t looking, but she was sure she held the same expression. “Didn’t you always like to help others?”

“I can’t….” Everything she did, and everything still turned out like this. “I can’t help you.”

She wanted Homura to say something to distract her, but she was quiet for a while. Eventually, she just said, “Why not?”

“I lost my chance. I ruined everything. And I tried to save you, but I couldn’t.” Her wish was to save magical girls, so that Homura could live a normal life. And she really did mess that up, so badly that Homura had to take control. “Just leave and do what you have to.”

Again, silence. Madoka didn’t risk glancing upwards when she heard a shuffling noise and soft footsteps. Homura stopped in front of her — Madoka could see her legs from there — and touched the edges of her hair. “You kept my ribbons.”

“They were mine,” was all Madoka could say.

“Of course, they always were.” Homura’s hand lingered there for just a moment too long before she pulled back, frozen in the space between them. “What is it you want?”

“I just want us to be happy again,” Madoka said, voice wavering. “I can help you, if you don’t think I’ll get—”

“No.” Homura never raised her voice, but it was forceful enough to stop Madoka from speaking. Normally Homura was emotional, and the new memories showing Madoka her old role as her rock only supported that. But not now; Madoka wasn’t used to Homura being so together. “I want you to do nothing.”

Madoka couldn’t force out a confirmation. Homura thought she was useless. She really was, but to have someone so important to her agree with it, she was speechless. Homura’s hand started to move towards her face, and Madoka backed up with a squeak to shut down a shocked cry, and squeezed her eyes shut.

Unexpectedly, she didn’t feel Homura’s hand against her. So, so quiet, nothing but the sound of their breathing. She cracked an eye open to see her holding it in place, only inches from her face but respectfully distant.

“Now that you remember,” Homura spoke first, “are you going to oppose me?”

“I….” Madoka said, thinking it over for the first time. Sayaka immediately decided they needed to fight. But they were happy in Homura’s version of the world. When Madoka ruled, Sayaka was dead and Homura had just died. But they were all here now, and everything was happy until she remembered the time it wasn’t. It would have been better to forget, and not know how badly she ruined everything. “I don’t want to fight you, and I don’t think you should have to do this alone….”

Madoka flinched when Homura lifted her hand to touch her chin with her thumb and forefinger, not forcing her head up, only resting them there. “I have to do this alone, because nobody else can.”

She gulped hard before speaking again. “I think it’s my responsibility to help you, since I caused it.”

“Don’t talk like that,” Homura said gently. Madoka expected to hear something more accusatory, to drive in the point that it was her fault. “I’ll take care of everything now.”

“But you don’t look happy with this.” Madoka stopped when she felt Homura’s thumb move along her jaw, but mustering the tiniest remains of courage, she continued. “It’s not fair that we can’t be happy, and if you would just let me help, we could be.”

Her hopes were only as high as she would allow them to be, but even that small bit crashed down when Homura finally said, “I can never be happy with you, Madoka.”

Homura’s hand dropped, but Madoka wanted her to stay. She needed an explanation, or any sort of validation. All she wanted was Homura’s happiness even above her own, but…. “Why?”

“You could never understand.” She stepped away, and Madoka snapped her head up to stop her. “Your friend Sayaka Miki is coming soon, correct?”

“She is later.” That wasn’t going to be for a while. “But Sayaka has nothing to do with us right now, you don’t have to go.”

“Goodbye, Madoka.”

“Please, just tell me why!” Homura disappeared in a short flash of darkness, exchanging no further words.

In the back of her mind, Madoka hoped her parents hadn’t heard that outburst. Most pressing on her thoughts was that she wasn’t sure what to do with the sudden flood of emotions. Couldn’t call Sayaka, she was coming over for that exact reason. Couldn’t call Homura either.

She was too stunned and exhausted to cry, although that seemed the obvious course of action. This wasn’t a problem she could bring to her mother, no matter how she tried to phrase it to sound mundane. It was too early to sleep, but she was sure she couldn’t even if she tried.

Before this, she was lying in bed. That was a good place to start. Just lay in bed waiting for Sayaka, so that she could tell her the other ways she messed up.

[3: Homura and Kyoko again]

Fighting with Homura had never been unusual for Kyoko. Starting from the day they met, it escalated from passive-aggressive jabs to petty arguing, and occasionally sparring taken a little too far. She wished she could say there had never been any hurt feelings involved, because until recently that was true.

The emotional pain should have been enough on its own, knowing somebody out there was horrible enough to have taken down their god figure like that. Kyoko hadn’t decided if it was worse that, that person was such a close friend, or that she hadn’t noticed a close friend was in that kind of trouble. Every conversation came back to her, from Homura insisting that she just couldn’t sleep because of school, to some blatant statements about what God meant to her. It was inexcusable that Kyoko didn’t force an answer out of her.

She stood in front of Homura’s apartment door now, too long after their last fight. She lost track of how long it had been since they last saw each other; Sayaka said it had been about two weeks.

Kyoko was still in front of the door, paralyzed by her thoughts. She wanted to trust that she and Homura could have a calm talk about this, but here she was, already transformed, with the tip of her spear pointed at the ground displaying the most trust that she possibly could. After what she heard, she lost all faith in her ability to predict Homura’s actions. Madoka and Sayaka couldn’t have been making any of that up.

Still frozen. She touched the bracelet on her wrist like it could give her some sort of magical courage, as if she wasn’t already aware of what magic was and wasn’t capable of. It was meant for a child’s wrist, and the elastic pressing into her skin was going to leave impressions in the shape of the plastic crosses and beads.

The old memories of her family were a happy place for Kyoko, like Momo was holding onto her hand to face a monster in the closet. “Lord, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” With a deep breath, she knocked on the door.

As tense as she was, she expected some grand dramatic entrance, or to immediately fight her way to safety. But it was just an ordinary door opening to reveal someone standing in the doorway, still in her school uniform like a nerd who was too lazy to change after school. Homura looked as tired as ever, maybe even more so now, knowing what was wrong.

“That was probably the quietest I’ve ever heard you knock,” Homura said flatly.

Kyoko acted like nothing was wrong, or like they’d just seen each other a day earlier. “You, uh…” Kyoko wanted to break the ice, but anything light she could say wouldn’t come out of her mouth as such. “You look like shit.”

“I appreciate the input.” Any sarcasm that would have been in Homura’s voice was gone, replaced by a terrible bitterness. “Were you planning on putting that away?”

“Not really.” Kyoko only tightened her grip on her spear. If Homura was going to be on the offensive, then so was she. “We need to talk.”

“I agree. I was about to come looking for you.” Homura opened the door wider and beckoned Kyoko inside. The inside of Homura’s apartment didn’t look any different, as bare and tidy as ever.

“Really?” Kyoko hoped Homura didn’t notice how sweaty her hands were, making it hard to hold her spear properly. It was risky, but even if it was a trap, she trusted that she could escape. She trusted her ability to fight past Homura more than she trusted Homura herself.

“Would I lie?” Homura picked up the intention in her glare. “Alright, I know. But I have no intention of fighting right now.”

“Yeah, I’m more comfortable like this.” Kyoko didn’t take a seat; this was going to be a short trip. Knock some sense into her and get out.

“You are aware that a quicker access to magic won’t help you defend yourself anymore, aren’t you?”

“Tch. Cocky bitch.” That wasn’t out of the ordinary for a conversation, but normally Kyoko would challenge Homura right then. Now she was afraid that calling the wrong bluffs would put her in real danger for the first time. “What’d ya want?”

Homura crossed her arms over her chest with a distasteful stare. “You showed up at my door. You explain first.”

Kyoko grumbled again, but that was fair. It didn’t change her plan any, at least. “I wanted to talk. Make ya come back.”

“Hmm?” Homura’s face was unreadable.

“You did some dumb things, but…you can be forgiven.” The tip of Kyoko’s spear rested against the carpet so it wouldn’t shake. “If you wanna talk yer problems out or somethin’.”

Kyoko didn’t think that would work, but she definitely didn’t think Homura would start giggling. “Oi, what’s so funny?!”

“I was going to make the same offer, actually.”

“You…wanna come back?” If she wanted that, she didn’t need Kyoko to do it.

“No, of course not.” Something about Homura’s dead-eyed, unsatisfied smile gave Kyoko chills throughout her entire body. “I wanted you to help me.”

“Oh hell no.” Kyoko instinctively held the pole with both hands, raising her spear just off the ground.

Homura didn’t seem phased. “Funny you should bring that up.”

“What’s that?”

“Hell.”

“It’s where yer goin’ if you don’t cut the crap!” Kyoko wasn’t even referring to Homura’s declaration of being a devil now. Even without that, she had done some terrible things.

“Kyoko…Sakura.” Homura’s face still held that unnerving expression. “Do you honestly believe all people who acted wrongly go to Hell?”

“That ain’t on me to decide. But… come on, this is wrong.” Kyoko grit her teeth. “Ya get that, right?”

“Do you think your father was allowed into Heaven for what he did?”

“This ain’t about that!” Kyoko impulsively widened her stance to stabilize herself and pointed the sharpened end of her spear directly at Homura. “You gonna get some sense in that head or no?”

Homura, unfazed, pushed her spear to the side and walked closer. Kyoko only glared harder the closer she came, but if Homura wasn’t on the offensive, Kyoko wasn’t going to provoke her. Silent and ignoring her aggressive stare, she took Kyoko’s wrist and held firmly enough that she wouldn’t be able to pull away easily.

Homura looked at the bracelet, face again expressionless. “Isn’t this a little small for you?”

“S’not mine.” Homura reached up to touch it with her other hand, but Kyoko yanked backwards, still not broken free. “Don’t!”

After a tense few seconds, Homura let her go. “Was it Momo’s?”

“I’m here to talk about you and me, nothin’ like that.” Kyoko held her hand close to her chest and out of Homura’s reach, weapon still out in case she needed to collapse it into a chain and buy a few seconds.

Homura’s smile came back; Kyoko couldn’t remember a time when Homura smiling wasn’t something to be happy about or laugh at. “No, it is related.” Homura then explained herself unprompted while Kyoko was still collecting herself. “Were you happy?”

“Whaddya mean?” Of course Kyoko wasn’t happy; right now, at least, on the verge of a fight.

“In your past. At any point in history, actually. Tell me about how you felt.”

“We already talked about that.” Kyoko frowned, assuming there was a point to all this. “Guess I was pretty happy as a kid. Then uh… not, later. And I was doin’ pretty well now until ya pulled this!”

It was absolutely infuriating how Homura’s face never changed. She was never an expressive person, but right now, being watched with an unchanging, almost-accusatory stare was only stressing Kyoko out and making it harder to answer. “And the memories you retrieved?”

“What about ’em?” The fact that Kyoko didn’t want to linger on them should have been enough of a sign that they weren’t great. It wasn’t normal to remember your own multiple deaths.

“Were they happy memories, under a god you were defending?”

“It’s just the past, that don’t matter.” Kyoko was angry right now, and Homura was trying to divert her rage anywhere but at herself.

“That’s all that matters right now. Sayaka Miki is alive now, isn’t she? Don’t you remember what happened to her under Madoka’s laws?”

Kyoko grit her teeth. “She just used up her magic or somethin’, that Law of Circles thing.” Sayaka had died before they had the chance to talk very much. “That could happen at any time.” If the world never changed, Kyoko would never have been as close to Sayaka as she was now.

“But it hasn’t. I was able to bring her back, unlike Madoka.” Homura hadn’t changed expressions, Kyoko was sure. But she looked different now, like she was more empathetic. “So what’s wrong with this arrangement?”

“Because Madoka wasn’t a damn nutcase.” It was wrong accepting a divine gift like that from someone so twisted.

“I think we’re long past the point of morality by now.” Homura smiled, more intimidating than warm. “It made you happy, didn’t it? I’m your friend; you can trust me.”

“Friends don’t do…anythin’ you did.” In truth, for the very first time it was hard for Kyoko to refer to Homura as a friend. Her arm twinged with the light ache of holding a weapon outwards for too long, but she didn’t dare put it away.

“Then what about God? Would you say He is fair?”

Kyoko wanted to hit her to see if that would put a more tolerable expression on her face. “Of course.” She didn’t even bother asking what the point of the question was. This entire conversation was Homura spouting senseless crap and turning it to her favor.

“Including your family?”

“No, I already said this, we ain’t talking about that.” If Kyoko could glare any harder, she would have. Her hand was around the pole of her spear and tightly as she could grip. Her jaw was clenched, knees locked, every muscle flexed and stiff. She couldn’t possibly express any more anger even though rage was building further.

The corners of Homura’s mouth tugged into a tighter smile. “You always sounded confident in your family’s devotion. And can you remind me how they were repaid?”

“That wasn’t Dad’s fault or God’s.” Kyoko couldn’t say whose fault it was, but it wasn’t either of theirs.

“Nothing happens without reason. What would you say caused it?”

“It… it was his followers, they didn’t understand.” There was no excuse to not listen to Kyoko’s father. “They drove him to…” It wasn’t fair.

Homura moved in the tiniest bit closer, and Kyoko found herself fighting intimidation from someone smaller than her, in every sense but her overwhelming presence. “Drove him to what, exactly?”

“Already told ya.” Kyoko tried to sound bitter, but only came across as reluctant to her own ears.

“Then I’ll remind you. Your father was hanging from the chandelier, correct?”

His body was still limp when she walked through the doors. It wasn’t moving at all, he was dead long enough that the chandelier wasn’t swinging.

Kyoko took a step back, succumbing to whatever fear Homura was putting out. “Stop it.”

For every step she took back, Homura closed in equally. “And your mother and sister, burned to death.”

They had only recently been bringing in money again. She wasn’t used to smelling meat cooking when she walked up. It was darkly amusing to think that her mother was so out of practice with cooking that she burned it. Never could she imagine humans could smell like that.

Kyoko couldn’t even look at Homura. “Stop it…”

“Could you see their faces? Did they look peaceful like everyone says? Or were they scared?”

Her father looked surprised, drooling, eyes nearly bulging out of his head. She didn’t look at him for long, but her gaze found her mother and Momo next, charred beyond recognition and only differentiated by size. Even if she could look at them long enough, she was sure she wouldn’t be able to identify an expression.

“Stop!”

“Was anything I’ve done any worse than those memories?”

Kyoko didn’t answer; she only yelled. She dropped her spear to the ground, took a step back, and swung her fist as hard as she possibly could towards the center of Homura’s face. It hurt her hand, but she looked back to see that Homura never even moved. Her fist deflected off something unseen between them.

Surprisingly, Homura didn’t return the attack. Kyoko would have been able to handle a fight better than facing such restraint. “I don’t know why I expected you to think about this logically or quietly.”

“Damn you!” Kyoko’s eyes stung, a culmination of the frustration and fear that had no other outlet.

“Curse me all you like, I’m only explaining that I’m correct.” Homura knelt down to pick up the fallen spear, passing it back to Kyoko shaft first. “And I have an offer.” Kyoko answered by taking the weapon and not attacking her again. “I want you to join me.”

“Like hell!” Kyoko could barely stand being in the same room as her; she couldn’t help someone who had done so much wrong. “Why would you think I’d do that?!”

“You’re strong, intuitive, and you’re loyal.” Homura smiled wider this time, more natural and familiar. “And you’re my friend. I trust you. I’d enjoy working together with you again.”

“Then get your ass back from whatever fantasy you’ve been living and come back with me. We’ll work together on something right.” Kyoko was just sick now. Tired. Wanted nothing more than to go home and bring Homura with her, and maybe take a nap.

If Homura noticed how close her voice was to cracking, she didn’t mention it. “Promise me you’ll think about it.”

“Whatever.” Kyoko transformed back into her shorts and jacket, not looking to draw any more attention than she already might have.

“I mean it. I’ll be waiting for an answer.”

Kyoko slammed the door before Homura could hear the strangled crying fighting its way out of her throat.

Kyoko didn’t plan on thinking about it. She left Homura’s apartment angry and vowing to never talk to her about it again. But every time she spoke to Sayaka, she couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like without her. When she was bored with nothing to do, she remembered having little free time because she had to fight so often.

It wasn’t wrong to passively enjoy this kind of gift, was it? She wasn’t thanking Homura for it, or doing anything to further whatever heretical plans she had in mind. Her only sin was selfishness, by not changing her lifestyle knowing that things were different. Kyoko could handle being selfish.

Another day passed, and another. And with each one, she thought more and more about it. It was impossible to not change her life knowing that she could have lost even more than she already had. Sayaka complained that she was too clingy, but she didn’t understand.

She couldn’t talk to Sayaka about her internal conflict either. The only answer she would get was that of course Homura was wrong, everything she did was wrong. But Sayaka didn’t understand. The only thing she lost in the gap between their memories was that musical block of wood, and Sayaka was long over that guy now that she had Kyoko.

That’s how Kyoko ended up standing up in front of Homura’s door only three days later. She knocked on the door as politely as she was able, dressed casually. Her soul gem was held firm in her fist; she was willing to risk the seconds it would take to transform this time.

Homura didn’t look any different from the last time she was there, and unfortunately just as intimidating for someone who was previously a quiet loser. “Have you made a decision?”

Kyoko didn’t waste any time saying it as soon as the door was closed behind her. “You were right.”

“Hmm? What about?”

Kyoko was too tired to argue over Homura’s feigned naivety. “Everything. We’re all happier now.” It was hard to admit it, but she was so wrong before. The instant she thought about the proof Homura showed her, everything made sense. “Even Sayaka. She won’t admit it, but we’re all happier.”

“I’m glad you were able to see reason.”

“Yeah…” The back of Kyoko’s mind still yelled at her that it was wrong. But the only thing wrong about it was that it was new. The whole world was different, so she needed to adopt a new philosophy to match it.

Still lost in thought, Homura came up to her for a strong hug, stopping her mental processes short. “You’re a good friend,” Homura reassured her.

“You are too.” Kyoko hugged her back, maybe a little too tightly due to her shaking. But she was going to help make the world better, like she always wanted to.

#kinda light editing tbh but hopefully it should all be clear now; some of it reads fuzzy #this stuff is so old it's embarrassing to read it unedited lmao what a mess #pmmm #madohomu #chriswrites #kyouhomu

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