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magicaldogtoto · 1 year

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Fanfic: The Girl Who Loved Yachiyo Nanami

Rating: Teen

Genre: Magical Girl, Drama, Angst, Romance

Word Count: 9,567 words

Summary: On her own in her first year at Kamihama University, Yachiyo does her best to remain a lone Magical Girl. But when the loneliness begins to affect her performance in her classes, she turns to someone for help in her grades... And possibly something more?

(Originally posted on AO3.)

***

They had a science class together at the university; that was how they met.

“Murakami-san,” the professor began to ask, “Can you help me pass out the graded quizzes?”

“S-Sure!” Akiko got up and made her way down the steps, past the rows of students. They were in a big hall, and there were a lot of students, so her friend Youko was called to help, too. She could feel the dozens of eyes staring at her as she got the papers and began handing them back. Since she was still new to the class, she only knew a handful of students, and needed help now and then.

Eventually there was only one test left: Yachiyo Nanami’s. Despite not wanting to pry, Akiko couldn’t help but notice that she had barely gotten an 80%. There was quite a lot of red, to say the least.

“Who’s Yachiyo Nanami?” Akiko asked Youko.

Youko immediately pointed to a girl sitting in a corner, alone. There was an intensity in her blue eyes, and her pale face was framed with equally blue, long hair. She was wearing a black dress with short sleeves, and seemed around Akiko’s age.

She handed the paper to the girl. “Here you go,” she said nonchalantly.

“Thank you…” Yachiyo took the paper and glanced at Akiko. She seemed to pause.

“... Is something wrong?” Akiko asked.

“Huh? Oh, sorry. I thought for a second there,” Yachiyo began, before stopping. “Never mind. Thank you…?” She trailed off at the last sentence.

“Oh! Murakami. Akiko Murakami.” She smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” Yachiyo said. “You have nice hair.”

“Really? Thank you.” Almost instinctively, she brushed some of her hair behind her ear. She had white hair (though some said it was like silver). “Like clouds in a blue sky,” she had been told before.

“Murakami-san,” the professor’s voice cut in. “If you’re finished handing out papers, you can take a seat again.”

“Ah! Sorry…” She timidly excused herself from Yachiyo and sat back down. Her quiz was already on her desk--ninety percent. Not bad.

“You think she’s cute, don’t you?” Youko asked when she rejoined.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Akiko said, looking away since she felt her cheeks heat up.

“I’m surprised you don’t recognize her. She’s been in some issues of Vanity Fine.”

“Oh, she’s a model?” Akiko looked discreetly at Yachiyo again. She does look pretty enough to be one.

“I’d be careful around her, though,” Youko went on. “I hear she’s real frosty. Some people say she can be a real bitch, too.”

“Really? She doesn’t seem like that…”

“I’m just saying. I don’t want you to get hurt. Not after…”

Akiko scowled. “You don’t have to bring that up again.”

That was the end of that conversation.

*** “Akiko, tell me, should I wear blue or black?”

Akiko looked up from her sketchbook; Youko was holding two pairs of heels.

“Hmm, black. Your dress is blue already.”

Youko nodded and sat on her bed, putting them on. The two shared a dorm room on campus.

“What time are you coming back tonight?”

Youko blushed a bit. “Oh, um… I’ll be back tomorrow. I’m staying overnight at Kenichi’s.”

Akiko looked over her sketchbook. “Overnight, huh?”

“Well, we’re going out to Mizuna Ward with some friends, but after that… yeah.” When they had gotten to know each other, Youko had told Akiko that she had dated different boys on and off since high school. Even now, lots of boys seemed interested in her. Akiko had to admit she envied Youko--she wished she was as tall as her (even if it was only a few inches), and that she had vibrant red hair like hers.

“You should come out with us sometime. Kenichi knows a lot of boys… and girls.”

“It’s okay, I’d probably just get in everyone’s way.” She sighed. “Besides, I need to work out a subject for my art project.”

Youko frowned, before getting up and walking over to Akiko. She sat down next to her. “You know, about earlier… I didn’t mean to bring that up.”

Akiko’s grip tensed around her pencil. “It’s fine,” she said curtly.

Youko hesitated, before placing a hand on Akiko’s shoulder. “What I’m trying to say is, it wouldn’t hurt for you to go out and meet new people. Just because things ended… badly, the first time, it doesn’t mean you can’t try again.”

“... Shouldn’t you be heading out now? It’s a Saturday night; there’s lots to do in the city.”

Youko looked at Akiko, before nodding and grabbing her coat. “Don’t burn the room down while I’m gone, okay?”

“Okay.”

Once she was alone, Akiko warmed herself some food, and ate quietly while scrolling on her computer. After that was done, she opened her textbooks and did some assignments, not in as much of a rush due to there being no school tomorrow. After spending a couple of hours on that, she went back to her computer. She decided to look up some references for her to draw; maybe some inspiration would strike if she forced herself to do it.

“What should I look up…?” she asked herself out loud.

Youko’s words from class came echoing back to her, out of nowhere it seemed. “I’m surprised you don’t recognize her. She’s been in some issues of Vanity Fine.”

Before she knew what she had done, she typed a name into the search engine:

Yachiyo Nanami.

*** “The exam is coming up, Nanami-san. You’ll have to do well if you want to pass the class.”

Akiko was walking towards the classroom when she overheard the professor talking. When she heard Yachiyo’s name, her curiosity got the better of her, and she peeked in.

Yachiyo was standing in front of the podium, where the professor was talking to her. Despite what she was being told, the girl seemed to be keeping it together. And yet, Akiko thought she could sense some distress in Yachiyo’s blue eyes.

“You’re usually on top of things, Nanami-san,” the professor went on. “But lately your scores have started to slip.”

“I’m sorry,” Yachiyo managed to say.

“I’m sorry, too, you’re a smart young woman. Is there something you want to talk about? Some trouble at home?”

“I live by myself.”

“Is it a relationship problem, then? Something to do with someone you have a crush on?”

“... There’s no need for me to answer that.”

Akiko quickly turned away as soon as Yachiyo slightly glanced at the door. She could still hear the conversation.

“Well, I just wanted to see if there was anything I could do. Please try your best on the exam when it comes around. I don’t want to see you fail when you have so much potential.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

Akiko could hear Yachiyo walking away. Before she could make herself scarce, the door opened.

“Oh, it’s you.”

Akiko sheepishly turned to face her fellow classmate. “H-Hello, Nanami-san,” she managed to say.

“Going in to talk to the professor, too?”

“I was, actually. Just going to ask about my grades so far.”

“I see.”

Yachiyo began to walk away; Akiko watched her leave, her heels echoing in the stark hallway.

“I also heard you need help studying!” She immediately regretted blurting that out.

Yachiyo stopped, then turned to her. “You did?”

Akiko nodded, ignoring the warm feeling in her cheeks. “I… I can tell you’re really smart, Nanami-san. Really. But I saw your last quiz score. And there’s an exam coming up soon… So…” She clutched her books to her chest, eyes glued to the floor. “Do you… do you want me to help you study for the exam?”

Immediately Akiko wished the floor would swallow her up. She wasn’t even sure why she said it.

“Sure.”

The response was short, but it sure was sweet to Akiko. She dared to meet Yachiyo’s gaze.

“Really?”

Yachiyo nodded. “Right now, I’m willing to try anything to pass. And you’re the first person to offer me help.”

“Ah, I see.” She smiled. “Okay. When do you want to meet?”

“This coming Thursday. I have a photoshoot, but then I’ll be free the rest of the night. We can study together then.”

“A photoshoot… Right.” It still blew Akiko’s mind that Yachiyo was a model, at least until she got a good look at her again. Then it made total sense that she was. “We can study in the University Library. It’s quiet enough, and doesn’t close until twelve.”

“Sounds good.” They quickly exchanged numbers. Yachiyo turned slightly. “See you then, Murakami-san.” She excused herself and walked out of the building.

Akiko wasn’t sure how she was supposed to feel. But she did admit to herself as she walked up to talk to the professor that she felt happy.

*** The University Library was quiet, save for the footsteps of the few students who were still present. Akiko for her part was nervously pressing her foot against the ground, textbooks and laptop by her side.

She looked at her phone and frowned. Yachiyo’s running late. Half an hour had passed since the time they had agreed to meet. The two of them had been texting since the past hour, and up until now Yachiyo seemed on board to still meet up and go over the material from class. Then about forty minutes ago, she stopped responding.

Maybe she hit a bad spot while on the way here, Akiko thought. Yeah, that must have been it. She must have lost signal, and then got caught up in traffic, or something.

Or maybe she decided that she didn’t want to have anything to do with you. Akiko grimaced at the intrusive thought. It was just a stray thought, that’s all it was. And yet…

A voice from out of the past surfaced to the front of her mind again. “How could anyone love a weirdo like you?”

Akiko shut her eyes and tried to ignore the words. No… It’s just in my head, that’s all it is. Stop. Go away. Please…!

“Murakami-san?”

A familiar voice made her open her eyes and look around, though the voices still lingered. “N-Nanami-san?”

Yachiyo was standing next to her, a bag on her shoulder. “I’m sorry I came late,” she said. “I had something come up, and had to deal with it.”

“I-It’s okay,” Akiko stammered out. “We still have an hour or so before the library closes. Please, take a seat.”

Yachiyo nodded and sat down. Akiko took a whiff of her; she smelled all musty. Where did she go…? She tossed the thought away; it wasn’t important. If she wanted to tell her, she would.

“Right, then, let’s get started.” Akiko reached for her textbook, moving the English novel on top out of the way.

Yachiyo looked at it. “Pride and Prejudice?”

“Oh, that,” Akiko said, sheepishly taking it and putting it aside. “Just something I was reading while waiting. I… kind of have a thing for romance novels.”

“You do, do you?”

Akiko couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. “I guess you find that a bit dumb, huh?”

“Not at all,” Yachiyo said, pulling out her own textbook and notes. “I know someone who would agree with your taste in literature.”

Akiko lit up a bit. “Really?” she asked.

Yachiyo nodded. “Yeah. But never mind that, we’re here to study, right?”

“Right.” Akiko turned to her notes. “Thanks for actually coming, by the way.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Yachiyo asked. “We promised to meet up, right?”

“We did; it’s just, it felt like we planned it all in a rush. And I wasn’t even considerate of whether or not you had other plans with your friends.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I don’t have friends.”

The response caught Akiko off guard. “No friends?” she asked.

“Not really, no.”

That didn’t make sense. Surely someone as pretty as Yachiyo couldn’t be that friendless. “I… I see.” Akiko shuffled around, unsure if she should ask the next part. “Do you happen to have a significant…”

“No.”

There was an edge in her reply, something that made Akiko retreat in herself.

“We should probably start studying, huh?”

“Right!” Akiko turned back to her notes. The two of them spent the rest of their time going over notes, and comparing them, as well as the concepts in the textbook. And all the while until they parted for the evening, Akiko kept wondering how someone like Yachiyo could be so alone.

*** “Akiko, you have to put that sketchbook down sooner or later.”

Akiko was busy sketching random people in the restaurant when Youko’s voice cut in. “Sorry,” she said. “But I have to practice to pass my art class!”

“Do you even have a subject to model for you?” Youko put down her cup of water after taking a sip.

“No,” Akiko said. “I’ve been looking around the university, but nothing’s really gotten my attention. So all I have are practice sketches.”

“Can I see?” Akiko hesitated for a bit, before holding her sketchbook out for Youko. She kept her hands on them as she flipped through the pages, showing half-formed images of the campus, a few random students, and trees. She was really desperate for inspiration.

When Youko was about to turn to the twentieth page, Akiko gripped the book. “T-That’s enough for now!” she stammered. “Our food will be here any minute.”

“Just one more page wouldn’t hurt,” Youko said, beginning to turn it.

“Really, I…!” Akiko tried to yank the sketchbook away; she wasn’t fast enough.

“Well what do we have here…?” Youko raised an eyebrow at the sketch. It didn’t take Youko long to recognize the subject.

She smirked. “Looks like you found your new muse, Akiko.”

Akiko’s face turned a light shade of pink. “I just needed some references for practice. You mentioned that she was a model, so I looked up some photos of her. Her outfits for the Summer were pretty…”

Youko snorted. “I knew it,” she said. “You’ve been smitten by her.”

Akiko turned away. “I just think she’s cute.”

“Not helping your case.” Akiko took another sip of her drink. “Why don’t you ask her to have a session with you? I’m sure you’ll come up with something.”

“I would, but…” Akiko trailed off, before finishing. “I don’t know how to approach her. And you said she can be pretty aloof.”

“I believe I also said ‘a real bitch’,” Youko added. “But you’re already helping her study for that exam, right? You already have an in, as far as I’m concerned.”

“Fair enough,” Akiko said.

“Sorry for the wait! Here’s your food!!!”

A loud voice cut into their conversation. A high school girl was standing next to them. She had long, brown hair that was tied into a side ponytail. Her orange eyes appeared to be full of excitement and energy, even as she placed their food on the table.

“If you need anything else, just flag me down!” she said, jabbing a thumb to herself. “I’m Tsuruno Yui!”

“Thanks, Yui-san,” Youko said. “We’ll be sure to let you know.”

“No problem!” The girl grinned, before looking at Akiko. “Oh… whoa…”

“Is something wrong?” Akiko asked, feeling self-conscious.

“Ah, nothing,” Tsuruno said. “For a moment there, I thought you were…” She trailed off. “Never mind. Enjoy your food!” She excused herself and headed back into the kitchen.

“What was that about?” Akiko asked, turning to Youko.

“No idea,” Youko said.

*** “You’re really getting the hang of it, Nanami-san.”

For a brief moment, Akiko thought she saw a smile flash on the other girl’s face. “You’re really good at explaining things,” she said. By now they’d been studying for about two weeks. Even outside of class, Akiko made sure to text Yachiyo and remind her not to forget her studying.

“Thanks… I try my best.” Akiko turned back to her notebook, trying to cool down a bit. “I told you making flashcards would help you with your memory. The good thing is you can take them wherever you go. I study mine while on the train, for example.”

“I looked over some of mine before a photoshoot.” Yachiyo leaned back in her chair, staring at the lights on the library ceiling. “It’s a lot, though; don’t you ever feel like you need to take a break?”

“I do,” Akiko said. “When the exam is over and done with, I usually treat myself to something. Besides, it’s only going to last another couple weeks; then you’ll be free!”

“Free…” Yachiyo muttered. Akiko thought she heard her chuckle in the back of her mouth. “That sounds nice.”

While they looked over their notes, Akiko became aware of some whispering coming from the nearby bookshelves. She glanced over.

“Uh, Nanami-san?”

Yachiyo turned her eyes in the direction Akiko was looking. Three boys were attempting to hide behind the history section. Two of them pushed the one between them forward. “Now or never,” they whispered to him.

The boy in question--a classmate of Akiko’s with brown hair--slowly walked up to the two.

“Hello, Nanami-san,” he said.

“Hello.” Yachiyo quietly put her book down before turning to him. Akiko thought her gaze seemed even more steely.

The guy seemed to glance back towards where his friends were, before speaking again.

“I was wondering… Are you doing anything… this weekend?” Akiko almost felt sorry for him, but she did have to admit, it was amusing to watch.

Yachiyo turned back to her textbook. “Sorry, I have plans,” she said.

“Oh! Okay, then… that’s understandable…” He looked at the floor. “Are you busy all month?”

“... Yes.”

The classmate seemed crestfallen, but excused himself nonetheless, walking back to his friends like a dog with his tail between his legs.

“Poor guy,” Akiko said. She could see herself in him, on some level. Some level.

“He’ll be fine,” Yachiyo said, reading her textbook again. “They always are.”

“This happens to you now and then?”

“Since I started attending class here.” She sighs. “In a few days, he’ll get over it and probably agree with his friends that I’m a bitch, or something.” She gripped her textbook a bit.

“Oh…” Akiko frowned a bit. “Don’t worry; I’m sure you’ll find a guy that you like in the near future!”

“Oh, I’m not interested in boys.”

“... You don’t say.” Akiko buried her face in her book again, trying to hide another bout of blushing.

They continued to study for a while, before Yachiyo spoke up again.

“How’s the art project going?”

“Oh, um, I’m still undecided on what to do.” Akiko blushed. “I still have some time left, anyway. I need to find the right subject.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll find something soon,” Yachiyo said, nose still planted in her textbook. “Or someone.”

“Yeah, someone.” I feel like I may already have… It’s hard to ask, though.

“Murakami-san, can I see your notes again?”

“Sure.” Akiko reached over with her notebook, her face still planted in her own textbook that she didn’t realize until too late that she knocked her sketchbook off the table.

“Oh…!” The sketchbook fell open on the floor.

“I got it,” Yachiyo said, reaching and picking it up. She paused, her eyes on the page.

Akiko’s breath hitched.

“... Is this me?” Yachiyo asked, still looking at the paper.

“I… you see…” Akiko wanted to dig a hole and bury herself alive.

“It’s very good.”

Suddenly she felt like the tension in her was leaking out. “It… It is?”

Yachiyo nodded. “This looks like a dress I wore for a photoshoot.”

“Well, I did use a photo of you off of the Internet for reference.” She smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I do, you’re a very good artist, Murakami-san.”

Hearing Yachiyo compliment her art made her feel like she was flying. The rush she felt pushed her over the edge; she opened her mouth once more.

“You know, Nanami-san,” she began. “If it’s no trouble, I would like to use you as the subject for my art project.”

Yachiyo seemed surprised by that. Akiko felt her heart begin to sink. Maybe she went too far…?

“I’d love to help you.”

Yachiyo smiled at her; Akiko felt herself smile, too. “Really?”

“You’re helping me with this exam, aren’t you? It’s only fair.” Yachiyo handed the sketchbook back. “And, to be honest, I do like spending time with you now and then.”

“I… like spending time with you, too.” She closed the sketchbook. “How does this weekend sound?”

“That sounds wonderful.”

The two of them resumed their studies; Akiko felt happier than she’d felt in a year.

***

There were clouds rolling in from the distance that saturday afternoon, but that didn’t stop the sky from being any less blue.

It took Akiko considerable effort to move her easel, sketch pad, and supplies up to the green hill she was thinking of, but she managed it. Golden hour would be upon them soon, and she had an idea of what she wanted to do by then. She had also brought a blanket and picnic basket, in case they got hungry.

Yachiyo arrived not too late this time. Akiko waved her over and walked up to greet her.

“Nice outfit,” she said.

“Thank you,” Yachiyo replied. She was wearing a blue blouse that was a shade lighter than her hair, with a white skirt and black heels. On her head was a nice sunhat.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” Yachiyo commented.

Akiko blushed a bit. “You think so?” All she slapped together were some jeans and a maroon t-shirt she had gotten for her birthday not too long ago.

“I do,” Yachiyo said, smiling at her again.

“So, if you’re hungry, I brought some sandwiches for us to eat, along with some water, too.”

“Oh…” Yachiyo seemed surprised. “You didn’t need to do that.”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” Akiko smiled. “Do you want to eat before we get started? Golden hour won’t be for a while.”

“Sure.”

They walked to the picnic blanket and started eating, making themselves comfortable. Yachiyo silently chewed on her sandwich, while Akiko glanced at her, only to turn her attention to the city skyline when she caught Yachiyo making eye contact with her.

“Kamihama sure is pretty,” Akiko said.

Yachiyo swallowed her bite, before speaking. “It’s okay, I guess,” she said. “You said you were from Tokyo, right?”

Akiko nodded. “I lived there my whole life,” she said.

“What made you decide to come to Kamihama?”

Akiko put her sandwich down. “I wanted--needed--a change of scenery. Going to a new city seemed like a good way to start over.”

“‘Start over?’” Yachiyo asked.

Akiko hesitated to continue.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, it’s fine,” Yachiyo said. “I’d rather you not have to lie to me.”

“No, it’s fine, it’s just…” Akiko sighed. “I had a bad experience, and I want to move on.”

“That’s understandable.”

They resumed eating, before Akiko spoke up again.

“What about you?” she asked.

“What about me?”

“I see you on campus now and then, by yourself. You always seem so alone.”

Yachiyo looked down at the sandwich in her hands.

“That’s because I am.”

The answer caught Akikko off guard, even though she expected it. “Really? She asked. “You don’t have any friends?”

Yachiyo shook her head. “It’s better this way. I did have friends before, but… Things didn’t work out.”

Akiko frowned. “What about your family?”

“I live alone, so it’s a ‘No’ there, too.”

“No friends, no family… Have you ever been in a relationship?”

Yachiyo paused. “No, but there was a girl, once,” she finally said. “I knew her for a long time. We never really became a couple, though. Now she’s gone.”

“Gone?” Akiko’s eyes widened. “Do you mean she’s…?”

Yachiyo shook her head. “She went away. She never told me where she went, so I have no way of reaching her.” For a moment, Akiko thought she could see tears in Yachiyo's eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she finally said. “It sounds like you went through a lot.”

Yachiyo straightened up. “It’s better this way,” she said. “Someone like me is better off like this.”

“Well, I don’t know about that. You have at least one friend now.”

Yachiyo seemed taken aback. “I do?”

Akiko nodded. “We’ve been studying and meeting up for some time now,” she said. “I think that qualifies us for friends on some level.”

“It… It does.” Instead of looking happy like Akiko thought she would, Yachiyo’s face was one of concern.

“Is something wrong, Nanami-san?”

“I don’t really have a good track record when it comes to having friends,” Yachiyo said.

“And I don’t have a good record when it comes to relationships,” Akiko admitted. “But it’s important to try again, no?”

Yachiyo thought it over. “You really consider me good enough to be a friend?”

“Of course! What else would I consider you?”

“A burden, maybe. I am eating up your time with our study sessions.”

Akiko couldn’t help but giggle a bit. “It’s fine; I don’t mind hanging out with you.”

“Really?” Yachiyo’s pale face seemed to turn a slight shade of pink, and her mouth twitched into a small smile. “I… I don’t mind spending time with you, either.”

“Then it’s settled: we’re friends.” Akiko smiled. “You can call me ‘Akiko,’ now. Would you be fine with me calling you ‘Yachiyo’?”

“Actually, there was another name a friend called me,” Yachiyo began to say.

“Hm? What was it?”

“... Never mind. Yachiyo’s fine.”

Akiko nodded. “Well, if you’re done with your food, maybe I can get started on my project then?”

“Sure.” Yachiyo wiped her mouth with a napkin, and stood up. Akiko instructed her to get into position by some trees.

“Just hold still in that position,” Akiko said. “It won’t take too long.”

“Don’t worry, I’m a model,” Yachiyo said. “I’m use to this.”

She got to work, just as the setting sun’s golden light began to cast its rays on her subject. For a moment, Akiko had to pause.

“Like what you see?” Yachiyo asked.

“I sure do,” Akiko said, continuing her sketching.

“Good, because I like what I’m seeing, too.”

That comment made her pause again. “Thanks…” She went back to work, just as a breeze kicked up, blowing her paper off the easel.

“Oh no!” Akiko immediately ran after it. The paper danced in the air, just out of her reach.

She was about to grab it when Yachiyo ran up beside her, making a grab for it. She was successful, but the momentum made her tip over, right on top of Akiko.

Akiko felt her cheeks turn even redder, feeling Yachiyo’s weight against hers. Their faces were close to each other, both catching their breaths.

“Nana--Yachiyo,” Akiko gasped.

“I, uh, got your paper.” Yachiyo held it up.

“T-Thanks,” Akiko said, reaching out to take it. Her hand brushed against Yachiyo’s slender one. It was very soft, and she started wondering how soft the rest of Yachiyo was…

“Um, we should continue,” Yachiyo said, getting back up. “The sun will set soon.” She offered Akiko her hand again; Akiko took it.

“Let’s go.” They walked quietly back to the hill. It was getting a little cooler, but Akiko didn’t really notice.

*** A few days later, right before the evening, the clouds had already rolled further in, and thunder began to rumble in the distance. Drops of rain splattered against the window of Youko and Akiko’s dorm room.

Akiko gathered the things she needed to meet with Yachiyo in about thirty minutes. It was the night before their exam, so it was important for them to go over things one more time.

“I’ll be back by midnight,” she told Youko as she zipped up her backpack. “Don’t wait up for me.” She turned to the door, only to find Youko standing by, looking at her.

“Youko?” Akiko tilted her head in confusion.

Youko took a deep breath. “Akiko, we need to talk.”

“Um… okay? What is it?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to spend so much time with Nanami-san.”

“What?” Akiko couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Why not?”

Youko sighed. “I was talking to some friends,” she began. “They know people, who know people, who say it’s not good for you to spend so much time with Yachiyo Nanami.”

“And why’s that?” Akiko asked defensively.

What came out of Youko’s mouth next completely threw her for a loop. “Because I don’t want you to die.”

“... Die?”

“Kenichi, he has cousins who attended Daito Academy and Sakae General School. There were a couple of girls from those schools… They were seen hanging out with Nanami-san now and then, around the city.” Another deep breath. “Kenichi says that… They both disappeared under mysterious circumstances.”

“Disappeared…?” Akiko remembered Yachiyo talking about how she had had friends before, only for her friendships to not work out. She never indicated something like disappearances…

“That’s really unfortunate,” she began to say, “But surely if there was some connection between Yachiyo and what happened, it would have already been figured out.”

“What about her modeling career?”

Akiko paused. “What about it?”

“You ever think there might be something more to how she’s had a steady career this long?”

“... No? What are you getting at?”

“There’s rumors going around the city,” Youko said. “Something about a lot of girls here being involved in something sinister. Like some kind of cult! I’m sure Nanami-san is one of them.”

“Now you’re just grasping at straws,” Akiko said. “I know Yachiyo; she’s just lonely and needs someone to be there for her.”

“Like how Hikaru needed someone like you…?”

That was the last straw. “Would you stop bringing that up?!” Akiko’s voice was so loud, it must have been heard by other girls outside their dorm room.

“Akiko…” Youko said, surprised.

Akiko felt her blood boil. “What happened back then was terrible,” she began to say. “No one knows that more than I do. But this is a chance for me to move on. To finally put it behind. Why can’t you see that…?!”

Youko looked at her, a guilty expression on her face. “I just don't want you to get hurt.”

Akiko glared at her, then sighed. “I’m already running late,” she said. “I got to go.” She walked towards the door, shoving Youko aside as she exited.

“I was wondering when you’d arrive,” Yachiyo said when Akiko finally arrived in the library.

Akiko sat next to her, dropping her backpack on the floor. “Something came up,” she said.

Yachiyo nodded. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Akiko thought it over. “No, not really. Come on; our exam is tomorrow, and we need to review as much as we can.”

“Okay.”

*** The two of them walked to class together the morning of the exam.

“You nervous?” Akiko asked.

“There’s no need for me to answer that,” Yachiyo said.

“So that’s a ‘Yes’,” Akiko said.

“What makes you think that?”

“You wouldn’t answer like that if it wasn’t true.” Akiko grinned. Yachiyo looked at her. Then, she smirked. “Fair enough.”

The smirk was replaced with a look of bewilderment when Akiko hugged her. “Don’t worry,” Akiko said to her. “I’m sure we’ll both do fine.”

“Thank you…” Yachiyo hesitated, before slowly wrapping her own arms around Akiko.

“Let’s go; class is starting soon.” Akiko hated that she said that, but she knew it was true.

Yachiyo slowly parted from her. “Right,” she said. “Good luck to both of us.”

Akiko nodded, and headed in to take her seat. Unlike before, the two of them sat closer to each other; Akiko made sure it was far from Youko.

It wasn’t even forty-eight hours when the two of them got their test results.

“Yachiyo!” Akiko said into her phone when the former had called her not long after Akiko had gotten hers. “What did you get?”

“... I passed!” Yachiyo’s voice seemed just as surprised as it sounded happy. “You?”

“I passed, too!” Akiko beamed. “I also got my art project back; it was a success! We really did well, huh?”

“We did… Thank you, Akiko.” Yachiyo seemed to be trying to find the right words to say. “I wouldn’t have done it without you.”

“It was no problem,” Akiko said. An idea came to her head. “We should do something tonight; something to celebrate, after all.”

“Really? What did you have in mind?”

“Nothing much. Maybe just meet up for dinner? I know the weather’s still pretty bad right now…”

She looked out the window. It was pouring cats and dogs, and thunder rumbled in the gray sky.

“That sounds like a good idea,” Yachiyo said. There were a few seconds where she didn’t say anything… Maybe she was thinking of what to say?

“How about you come to my house tonight?” Yachiyo finally asked.

“Your house?” Akiko always wondered what Yachiyo’s house was like. She didn’t think she’d see it for a while, though.

“I can cook us something to eat, and we can talk for a while. How does that sound?”

“... That sounds wonderful.” Akiko smiled. “Sure. What time do you want me there?”

“Around seven should work.”

“I’ll be there, then.”

*** Akiko took a bus to Yachiyo’s home in Shinsei Ward. The rain still hadn’t let up, so she decided to wear a silver sweater, along with some rain boots that went with her leggings and gray skirt.

When she got off at the bus stop, she walked through the wind and rain with her umbrella out, until she came across Yachiyo’s home, Mikazuki Villa.

“Whoa…” It was even more impressive than Akiko had imagined. Mikazuki was a two-story house with a blue roof, surrounded by green trees. It was almost as isolated from the rest of the neighborhood as its inhabitant was. And under the gray sky and pouring rain, it looked a little like one of the houses in some gothic novels Akiko had read.

“Like the kind of homes who have owners with secrets…” she muttered. For a brief moment, Youko’s words came back to her. She frowned; now she was grasping at straws.

She made her way up the stone stairway, right up to the wooden doors, and knocked. Yachiyo answered in no time.

“Hello, Akiko.” She smiled, wearing a white apron over a red dress. “It’s really pouring out there; come on in, please.”

Akiko gladly stepped inside, taking her shoes off. “This is quite a place you have here,” she said, looking around. She took off her sweater, revealing the purple blouse she had put on.

“It’s really raining hard,” Akiko said as she followed Yachiyo into the living room. “But your home is a lot warmer than the dorm right now!”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Yachiyo said. “Make yourself at home, I’ll be done with dinner soon.”

Akiko nodded and made herself comfortable in the living room. She sat on the couch, taking in how big everything was. She could hardly believe that Yachiyo lived here all by herself!

“No wonder she seems so lonely…” she muttered. Something caught her eye.

She immediately got up and walked over to the mantle where it was resting, and picked it up. It was a picture frame, with five figures in the photo inside.

Akiko looked at them. She immediately recognized Yachiyo, wearing the red and white uniform of girls who attended Kamihama University Affiliated High School. She couldn’t help but note how happier Yachiyo seemed.

The next girl she noticed made her pause. “No way… I didn’t know they knew each other.”

It was the girl who served her and Youko’s food at Banbanzai, the last time they ate there. Akiko would have never guessed Yachiyo and her were friends. The two seemed different as night and day. The next two girls she’d never seen before--a girl in the same uniform as Yachiyo and the Banbanzai girl, with long, blonde hair, and another girl with green hair, in a black uniform.

The fifth one next to Yachiyo made Akiko pause. She did a double-take. It was a girl in purple uniform, with short hair, and two cowlicks like miniature horns on top. Akiko couldn’t help but note the color of the girl’s hair--it was a similar shade of silver as hers. “Even our eyes are almost the same color,” she muttered. It was almost like looking at a mirror.

“Dinner’s ready,” Yachiyo called. Akiko started a bit, before placing the frame back on the mantle and turning around just as soon as Yachiyo entered. “Ready to eat, Akiko?”

“Uh, yeah!” Akiko smiled. “Let’s go.”

It was a good dinner. Yachiyo had made a great meal, and Akiko spent the next hour eating and talking with her. Meanwhile, the rain poured more outside. They talked about a lot of nothing--just their thoughts on the week, their majors--until Akiko brought up something.

“I noticed that picture you had,” Akiko said, sipping on her drink.

“What picture?” Yachiyo asked, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“The one with you and a few other girls, in the living room.”

Yachiyo tensed up a bit; Akiko could see her grip her glass.

“Those were your friends, weren’t they? I recognized the girl with the brown hair; she served me and my friend food at Banbanzai.”

“Tsuruno Yui,” Yachiyo said. “We used to hang out.”

“That was her name, yeah.” Akiko went on. “She seemed nice. Why don’t you spend time with her anymore?”

Yachiyo looked down. “It’s better this way,” she said. “Things didn’t work out with all of us… It was my fault, really.”

“Your fault?”

Yachiyo grimaced. “I’ll tell you more some other time. I’m not in the mood.”

“Yachiyo, if something happened, it’s okay if you need to talk,” Akiko said. “Frankly, I’m sure you’d have a better explanation than the things Youko’s friends said about you…”

“What did they say about me?” Yachiyo turned to face Akiko again. There was an accusatory tone in her words.

Akiko suddenly felt like she should have kept her mouth shut. “Just that… you had some friends who disappeared one day. Some people think you knew more than it seemed.”

Something flashed in Yachiyo’s eyes--was it anger? Regret? “Kamihama is a big city,” she said slowly. “There are lots of places where people shouldn’t be in--dark places, full of danger. I know that now. We all do.”

Akiko couldn’t help but think Yachiyo was withholding something, but she said nothing. She was bringing the mood down as it was.

“Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to ruin things; it’s just that, I want to really be able to help you, Yachiyo.”

“You do?” Yachiyo frowned. “Why?”

“I… I know what it’s like to be stuck in the past. In things that happened to you.” Akiko looked her in the eye. “I want to help you move on… Please, let me help you…”

Her words seemed to get to Yachiyo. “I... “ Yachiyo began. “I want to. The reason I was doing badly in that class… I always struggled with sciences. But I did my best to get passing grades. Lately, though, the pressure of being alone… of being me… was really starting to weigh me down. I guess I just… gave up.”

She looked at her half-eaten meal; Akiko noted how lost she seemed.

“Yachiyo...” Akiko said. She got out of her chair and walked over to Yachiyo, putting her hand on the latter’s shoulder. “You don’t have to give up, and you don’t have to be alone… Not anymore.”

Yachiyo’s cheeks turned a light pink. She looked up at Akiko. “I don’t?”

Akiko shook her head. “You don’t…” She smiled at her.

Yachiyo blinked twice. “Funny,” she said. “In this lighting, with your smile, you almost look like…”

“Like… what?”

Yachiyo hesitated. “Never mind,” she said. “It’s in the past… I should try to move on from the past, right?”

Akiko nodded. “You should.”

Yachiyo slowly nodded, though she seemed unsure. “Okay,” she said, “I’ll try.” She smiled. “Thanks, Akiko.”

“No problem, Yachiyo.” Akiko went back to her seat, and continued eating.

“You know, Akiko,” Yachiyo said. “There was another name a friend of mine referred to me as.”

“Really? What’s that?”

“... Yachan.”

Akiko couldn’t help but smirk. “Yachan, huh? That’s a cute nickname.”

“You think so? No one else has ever called me that.”

“Well, I think it’s cute. Maybe I should call you that.”

Yachiyo chuckled a bit. “If you want.”

By the time they had finished their dinner and talked considerably, it was already eleven in the evening.

“Shoot,” Akiko said, looking at the time, “I better head back.”

“In this weather?” Yachiyo frowned. “I got a notification that there’s a flash flood in the neighborhood. You shouldn’t go out now.”

“But I can’t possibly stay here,” Akiko said. “I don’t want to impose.”

“It’s fine, really,” Yachiyo said. “If you got out in the rain, I’d be worried. I don’t want to have you get injured… because of me.” She stood up and collected the plates; Akiko helped her.

“Are you sure…?”

“Of course. This place used to be a boarding house. There’s a spare room for you.”

“Thank you…” Akiko helped Yachiyo clean up. When they were finished, Yachiyo gave her some of her spare pajamas--a blue-striped nightie--and after a quick shower, she stepped out in them, her own clothes folded in her arms.

“It fits well enough,” Akiko said. “You can get changed now.”

“In a bit,” Yachiyo said. “I tend to stay up late. It’s… just normal for me to do.”

Akiko would have offered to stay up, but the yawn that escaped her stifled that idea. “Okay,” she said. “Just point me in the direction I should go, and I’ll knock out immediately.”

Yachiyo guided her to a room with one bed already made for her. There was a desk lamp, and a window that allowed Akiko to see the rain pouring outside. It really wasn’t letting up.

“Thanks for this, Yachiyo,” Akiko said, getting into bed.

“No problem,” Yachiyo said. She turned, then returned to Akiko, kissing her on the cheek.

Akiko’s face turned red.

“My room’s just down the hall,” Yachiyo said. “Good night, Akiko.”

“Good night…”

*** It was still raining cats and dogs when Akiko woke up past midnight. She could hear the rain drops beating against the window as she sat up in bed.

She glanced at the digital clock and read the glaring numbers. 3 AM. The tail end of the Hour of the Ox. The Witching Hour, as it was known elsewhere.

She felt thirsty, and decided to get up and grab a glass of water. She got out of bed and opened the door, the creaking noise piercing the darkness of the house. She slowly crept out and made her way to the kitchen.

When she passed Yachiyo’s room, she stopped.

She listened carefully. There was a groaning sound coming from the bedroom, followed by… weeping?

“Yachiyo…?” Akiko’s voice was barely a whisper. She approached the door, placing her hand on the door knob. She slowly opened it, and entered.

Yachiyo was tossing and turning in bed, mumbling in her sleep. Akiko tried to pick up what she was saying.

“I’m sorry…” Yachiyo muttered, “It’s all my fault…!”

“Yachiyo…” Akiko slowly approached the bed. She turned on the desk lamp nearby.

“Where are you?” Yachiyo sounded more desperate as she clutched her pillow. “Where did you go…?!”

“Yachiyo!” Akiko grabbed Yachiyo by the shoulders and shook her awake. “Yachiyo! Wake up!”

Tears continued to stream down Yachiyo’s face, drenching the bedsheets.

“Yachiyo… Yachan!”

Yachiyo stopped struggling. Her breathing slowly calmed down, and her eyes opened, focusing on the room, then on Akiko.

“I… what?” Yachiyo gasped out.

“You were having a nightmare,” Akiko said. “That’s all. I woke you up… I’m… here for you.”

Yachiyo looked Akiko in the eye. “You… you are?”

Akiko nodded. “I’ll always be here for you, Yachan…”

“Yachan…” Yachiyo repeated. For a moment, she seemed sad again.

“Yachiyo…?” Suddenly Akiko felt Yachiyo’s arms around her, holding her tight.

“T-Thank you…” Yachiyo said, her chin resting on Akiko’s shoulder, her voice ragged. Akiko slowly wrapped her arms around Yachiyo, holding her tight.

“No, no problem…”

Yachiyo moved and gazed into Akiko’s eyes. Akiko felt her cheeks turn red. The only sound was their breathing, and the rain.

“Yachan…” Yachiyo suddenly pressed her lips against Akiko’s, causing the latter’s eyes to widen, before she surrendered and began kissing her back. It had been ages since Akiko had been kissed like that. She ran her hand through Yachiyo’s blue hair.

Eventually, Yachiyo parted, and Akiko suddenly felt empty inside.

“Did I… did I do something wrong?” Yachiyo seemed to be asking herself, as much as she was asking Akiko.

“No, no, it’s fine…” Akiko didn’t leave Yachiyo’s gaze. “Do you… want me to stay with you? In bed?”

“Please…” Now Akiko could clearly hear the desperation in Yachiyo’s voice. She wasn’t the only one feeling desperate.

“O-Okay,” she said. Unsure of what else to do, she leaned forward and kissed Yachiyo again. Immediately, the latter pulled her down, causing Akiko to squeal just a bit into Yachiyo’s mouth.

They spent time in that position, embracing and kissing each other. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled in the distance, but it didn’t phase them. All that mattered to them was each other.

“I-I should let you know,” Yachiyo said, breaking the kiss. “I don’t have much experience in these… things.”

“I don’t, either…” Akiko stared down at her, noting how Yachiyo still looked pretty, even with her hair disheveled. How her normally pale face had become a shade of pink, her chest slowly rising and falling with her breathing.

Akiko kept staring, before kissing Yachiyo on the forehead, causing the latter's back to arch in anticipation, letting out a soft moan. Encouraged, Akiko moved down to the side of Yachiyo’s neck, before moving to her legs. She pulled Yachiyo’s nightgown up, trailing kisses along her thigh.

Yachiyo let out a gasp. “Mifuyu…!”

Akiko paused. “Mifuyu…?” She looked up at Yachiyo. Yachiyo looked back, a look of guilt on her face.

“Yachiyo… who is Mifuyu?”

Yachiyo took a moment to answer. “The… girl I mentioned to you a while back.”

An image flashed in Akiko’s mind; the picture she saw. The girl with hair like hers, and eyes like hers. She felt an empty pit in her chest begin to grow.

“Yachiyo… did she look like me?” She stared at Yachiyo, not breaking her gaze.

“Y-Yes…” Now Yachiyo looked completely guilty. Akiko for her part felt as if her heart had been torn out again and scraped across the floor. She looked down, just as a flash of lightning lit up the room.

“... I should go now.”

She immediately got up and made her way to her room, throwing on her clothes as fast as she could.

“Akiko, wait!”

Yachiyo followed after her. Akiko ignored her and began heading downstairs.

The door was locked; Akiko immediately went for the living room window and unlatched it, opening up to the pouring rain.

Yachiyo caught up with her. “Akiko, please!” she said. “At least stay until the storm passes…”

Akiko turned and glared at her. “Why? So you can screw me and pretend I’m someone else?” There was more bite in her words than she intended, but she couldn’t ignore how she felt.

Yachiyo was speechless. She looked at Akiko sadly. Akiko turned and put her legs through the window.

“Good-bye, Yachiyo.”

She slipped out and started heading away, just as Yachiyo called back to her.

“Akiko, please! You don’t know what kinds of things are out in the city this late at night!”

Despite how drenched she was already, Akiko powered through the rain. She had forgotten her umbrella. The rain splattered on her face, along with some tears.

All the while she ran, she cursed herself in her head. Idiot! How could she fall for this a second time? Why didn’t she just listen to Youko?

Voices from the past flooded her mind, crowding around her subconscious. She tried to ignore them, to no avail.

“I never loved you, don’t you get it? I just needed someone to make her jealous.”

“You seriously thought someone like that would love someone like you?”

“You’ll always be alone, Murakami-san.”

It’s true, Akiko thought, gritting her teeth and blinking back both tears and rain. Someone like me will never really be loved.

A new, unfamiliar voice slithered into her mind. “People will never truly love you.”

I know.

“If you disappeared from this world, no one would mourn for you.”

No one would mourn for me.

“Yeah… So how about you disappear now…?!”

The rain stopped all of a sudden. Akiko became aware of her surroundings. It was starkly quiet, and the street was gone. In its place was a black and white landscape, like a chessboard formed over hills and valleys. Instead of a black sky, she saw a white void, with a black circle hanging in the sky, like a mockery of the sun.

“W-What is this?” Akiko asked the void. The void echoed her words back. From the black squares, vaguely-humanoid shapes emerged, crawling out before standing upright and making their way towards her.

“What’s going on?!” Akiko stepped back, only to feel like her right leg was stuck in place. She looked down; she was in a blacks square, which wrapped around her, holding her in place.

Ribbons of shadows emerged from the square; the tip turned into a jagged shape, and slashed at Akiko’s arm. Akiko’s eyes widened as red drops of blood stained the white ground before her.

She screamed, only for another ribbon to wrap itself around her mouth, muffling her. More ribbons appeared, restraining her by the arms and legs. She struggled to no avail, a fresh set of tears falling down her face as the shadowy figures got closer. Their hands turned into long claws, pointed at her.

This is the end, isn’t it? Akiko closed her eyes, still shaking.

“Absolute Rain!”

A flurry of blue light rained down on the shadowy figures, causing them to burst into nothingness. Akiko opened her eyes just in time to see them vanish.

A figure landed in front of her. They had on a blue dress, with some light armor on top, a headdress, and a halberd in their hand. The figure turned and looked at Akiko.

Akiko’s eyes widened. It was Yachiyo, a regretful look on her face. “I’m sorry,” she said, using her halberd to slash at the ribbons holding Akiko in place.

“Yachiyo?!” Akiko gasped out. “What’s going on here?!”

“I’ll explain everything,” Yachiyo said, turning around and holding her weapon up. “But first, I have to deal with… that!”

Akiko looked past the other girl; something was emerging from the black circle, like it was some kind of hole. Something huge, with a form that defied all logic and physics. Her face turned pale as that hideous thing gazed back at her and Yachiyo, a face so horrible she could not dare to describe it.

Yachiyo rushed towards the behemoth, leaping into the air and slashing at it. Akiko for her part felt her heart beating faster, before her fright overtook her.

She fainted. On the cold, warped ground, the last thing she saw and heard was Yachiyo dealing a deadly blow to the beast.

*** Akiko shot up in bed, a cold sweat on her forehead.

“Wha… What?” She looked around. She was back in her dorm room; Youko’s bed was empty, because she had gone out with friends, Akiko remembered.

Akiko rubbed her head. “Was that all a dream…?”

“I wish I could tell you it was.”

She jumped, before seeing Yachiyo leaning against the wall in a corner. At the same moment, Akiko glanced down at her arm; there was a bandage around it.

“Yachiyo? But how…?”

“I defeated the Witch,” Yachiyo explained. “You passed out, so I took you back to the university. I used your key to open the room. Luckily the heater was on, so it helped dry you off.”

“Hold on,” Akiko said, holding up her hand. “What’s going on here? What was that… that thing? Moreover, what are you!?”

Yachiyo held up her hands. “I’ll explain everything,” she said. “Just… listen to me. Please.”

“... Okay.”

Yachiyo began her explanation. She told Akiko about a white cat with blood-red eyes, with the ability to grant any wish. Of Magical Girls, and of the Witches that lurked in the shadows of civilization, the natural enemy of Magical Girls. The ones tasked with fighting Witches for the price of a single wish. It was a long, detailed explanation, yet Akiko found herself listening to every word, completely caught up in it. Eventually, Yachiyo finished, and Akiko had to take a moment to gather her thoughts.

“That is… a lot to take in,” Akiko said. Her mind was in a whirl.

“I know,” Yachiyo said. She stepped forward. “Akiko, I just wanted to say…”

“I can’t help you.”

Yachiyo stopped in her tracks. “What?” She sounded genuinely surprised.

“All of this… It’s too much,” Akiko said. She felt really, really bad as she said it, but she felt she had no choice anymore. “This whole hidden world you’re involved in. Fighting otherworldly monsters day and night. Just looking at one of them made me pass out. Whatever problems you’re dealing with, Nanami-san… I can’t help you. I’m sorry.”

Yachiyo looked at her. Her mouth became a firm line. “That’s probably for the best,” she said. “I told you, no one like me has any business having friends… or anything more. Even you ended up getting hurt in the end.”

Akiko winced, feeling her arm. Yachiyo’s face briefly showed a hint of sadness, before becoming stone cold again. “I guess this is good-bye, then,” she said, turning to the door. “Don’t feel the need to greet me if you see me on campus. Good-bye, Murakami-san.”

Soon Akiko was alone in the dark.

*** For the most part, things returned to normal. Akiko finally took up Youko’s offer to hang out with her and meet some new people. She wasn’t ready for anything more than friendship, but after what happened, she felt more company was appreciated.

She still saw Yachiyo--the two of them still had a class together, after all. But their interactions had been boiled down to just shuffling past each other, or glancing at one another before turning away. Once Akiko said hi to her, and Yachiyo responded curtly, but that was it. Eventually, Akiko took the hint and didn’t bother acknowledging Yachiyo anymore.

Akiko continued her art. One sunny Sunday afternoon, she was practicing her sketching, sitting in a cafe and sketching people that passed by. She was also pouring through an issue of Vanity Fine, using the models as reference.

She had just finished sketching one model--a girl with purple hair and dark brown skin--when she flipped the page. She frowned. Yachiyo’s face greeted her back, wearing a nice sundress. Akiko had to admit she was still pretty; then, in a move of pettiness, even for her, she tore the page out, and crumpled it into a ball, tossing it aside.

The sound of feet walking stopped nearby; she heard someone pick the paper up and look at it.

“Not a fan?” a voice called out to her.

Akiko glanced back; she could make out what appeared to be a girl her age. “Can’t say I am.”

“That’s a shame,” the voice said. “Yachan looks so pretty here.”

The name the stranger called Yachiyo made Akiko pause. Yachiyo had said only one other person called her that. Could it be…?

Akiko turned to face the girl. It was her! She wasn’t wearing her uniform like the picture, instead having a red off the shoulder long-sleeved shirt, black short shorts, and equally black leggings, but there was no mistaking that familiar haircut, hair color, and eyes.

Mifuyu looked Akiko over. “Oh… whoa…” she said.

“You could say that again,” Akiko said. “Like looking in a…”

“Mirror.” Mifuyu turned her attention back to the crumpled paper. “I get that everyone has different tastes, but did you have to be so cruel to Yachan’s picture?”

“Yach… Yachiyo. You know her?”

Mifuyu nodded. “Do you?”

“I… I do. We have class together.” Akiko frowned. “We don’t talk much, though.”

“It’s been a while since I talked to her,” Mifuyu said. “I still think about her now and then; I wonder if she thinks about me, too…”

She just stood there, a sad look on her face, before perking up. “Anyway, I should get going now. I have to meet up with some people.” She held the magazine page up. “You don’t mind if I take this, do you? Seeing as you tore it out.”

Akiko shook her head.

“Perfect,” Mifuyu said. “Bye…”

She started walking away from Akiko. Akiko sat down to draw again, only to stand back up when her conscience demanded she do so.

“Hey, I think you should know, Yachiyo still thinks about you…” But when she turned around, Mifuyu was already gone.

#magia record #puella magi madoka magica #madoka magica #yachiyo nanami #mifuyu azusa #yachiyo x mifuyu #yachimifu #yachiyo x oc #fanfic #fanfiction #writing #my writing #text #the girl who loved yachiyo nanami

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shiny-procrastinates · 3 years

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(re)Watching Magia Record S1 - part 12

part 11 here

Hello and welcome back everyone to this kinda watch-along of Magia Record s1. Last time, Mifuyu invited our girls to a lecture about the "salvation" her cult is preaching and took the opportunity to make a psychological attack on Yachiyo, who's now avoiding her team. Oh, and also Momoko was going to tell the truth to Rena. How will the girls react to learning the truth about magical girls? Why did Yachiyo suddenly start distancing herself from the others? We can only find that out by watching, so let's get on to this penultimate episode!

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story: Magia Record S1 episode 12

Yachiyo's seriously not having a good time since she saw Mifuyu. After talking briefly with what I guess are the illusions of old companions of hers and denying that the girls are her friends, Yachiyo decides to follow after Iroha and co. with the excuse of being unable to ignore other magical girls being fooled.

pft, what a callback, I can't believe she's still tracking Felicia. Yachiyo, please, you look like a stalker lol

Back at Memory Museum, Iroha's having a not very pleasant reunion with one of her best friends (also Felicia's growling at her haha). Iroha refuses to accept the reality that Touka's a Magius, since she thinks that the Touka she knows would never do that, but Touka really doesn't remember either her or Ui.

While Touka Mary Poppins around, Mifuyu steps in on their little argument, reminding Touka that she's supposed to be giving them a lecture, and Iroha also pulls herself together to do what she actually went there for.

Oh, that's a nice transition to the op, I forgot that happened. I forgot this ep had the opening at all.

Back at the bridge, Momoko's about to let Rena in on the truth about magical girls, when a certain person joins them.

Kaede! Long time no see. Normally, I'd be glad to see her back, but there's just something very ominous about her showing up now of all times, with a black umbrella and smiling, after what happened to her.

While that's going on, Iroha's team is getting a very handy educational slideshow on Magical Girls, courtesy of Touka. First, she proposes the scenario of a Soul Gem breaking, asking our girls what would happen in that case. After Sana and Tsuruno get it not wrong but not exactly right either, Touka gives them the answer: The Magical Girl dies.

Alas, that's a very Touka slideshow indeed, condescendingly giving a lot of synonyms for "death" just to make sure you get it. Thanks, Touka.

Back at the bridge, I wasn't imagining it, there really must be something weird going on with Kaede. Did popping a witch really break her this much? Rena hugs Kaede, who apologizes and promises they’ll be together forever now... in any other situation, I'd say that's really sweet, but right now it's really disturbing. Then, Kaede-

Kaede? KAEDE? Why and how do you know about that already?! Did Momoko tell you? Momoko's also acting suspicious. Just what the heck is going on here?

Thanks for this shot anime. Yes, Touka does very much sound like the white weasel here.

In Memory Museum, Touka explains what exactly a Soul Gem is, to the very understandable shock of Iroha and the others. After complaining about their inability to keep up, Touka urges them to move on to the next part of the lecture: "Magical Girl Theory: About Witches". Ohh man here we go.

Exactly what part of being a magical girl is exciting escapes my understanding. Maybe "scary" or "hopeless" would be a better descriptor. That aside, no wonder the rumor says you'd be affected by the memory you saw. Vicariously experiencing it is a whole 'nother deal...

Except that they don't. Unlike the game, they only get to watch the memories, not take part in them. One has to wonder why the script even bothered having Mifuyu say that if they weren't going to do it after all.

In Mifuyu's memory, just like Touka had described earlier, Yachiyo's group, who at the time was her, Mifuyu and one of the girls Yachiyo had hallucinated earlier, Kanae, are having a hard time against a powerful witch. When taking an attack from the witch head on, Kanae's Soul Gem ends up cracking and breaking so, although she managed to reflect the attack and kill the witch, she dies.

So that's how Yachiyo and Mifuyu learnt the truth about the Soul Gems, and now the Mikadzuki girls were proved that through their memories (though it's specifically Mifuyu's memory).

Back at the entrance, Yachiyo has finally caught up with the group (kinda). Touka tries to talk to her, maybe to buy some time, but Yachiyo gives absolutely zero cares and just slides down the rope like she's in some video game. Girl has no chill huh, didn't even wait to hear Touka's name, which means she has no idea that that’s one of the people Iroha was looking for.

Continuing the "practical part" of the lecture, Iroha's now seeing Mifuyu's memories from some time (years, I think) later. By this time, she and Yachiyo already had a new team with Tsuruno, Momoko and Mel, one of the other girls Yachiyo had seen the illusion of earlier, and Mikadzuki Villa was basically back to normal.

That day, when Tsuruno was busy, Yachiyo and team went to hunt a witch who had moved all the way from the east to their own ward. Like in the previous memory, the witch was powerful and her team was having a hard time, so Yachiyo told them to run away while she distracted it (remember Seance Shrine?). However, Yachiyo ends up in a pinch and Mel, the day's lucky girl, ignores Yachiyo's order and comes in to save her.

The result, too, is very much like Seance Shrine. Mel used up all her magic on saving Yachiyo and, before they can go find a Grief Seed to purify her Gem, Mel ends up witching out.

I have to say though, even though it's her own memories, Mifuyu's being pretty damn cold about this. Man, how can you watch this smiling? Are you alright? (from the point she's a magical girl, probably not.)

Rena, who probably just heard this very same story, is having the expected reaction.

Back then, Momoko was indignant to learn this truth, pressing Kyuubei for answers. The stupid cat-rabbit, however, gives the very same explanation he had given on the og about magical girls and saving the universe.

With this, Iroha's team has also learnt the truth behind Witches, whether they wanted to or not. I feel Kyuubei would like to complain about that statement saying that he's fooling someone, considering his stance is "no one asked".

That was the end to that part, but it seems there was still more to be learned here, since the lecture is not over and we continue seeing Mifuyu's memories from after that.

Mifuyu felt pretty damn miserable after what happened to Mel and couldn't get over it even after half a year had passed. Momoko tells her to just forget it already, but Mifuyu just can't. Momoko also says they shouldn't tell Tsuruno, which explains why she didn't know.

Unable to forget and unable to tell anyone about it, Mifuyu ends up witching out... or, that's what should happen normally, but instead of witching out for real Mifuyu releases her impurities to an outside form, just like Iroha, Kaede, the Amane twins and Alina all did throughout the series.

At this point, Touka cuts in to continue her lecture, now on exactly what is this event that we had been wondering the whole series about. Thanks, Touka.

According to Touka, these crystallizations of a magical girl's impurities is called a Doppel and she's the one that created the system that makes them possible. That, itself, is the proof of "salvation" that the Magius are preaching, and their goal is to reject Kyuubei's system, releasing all magical girls. Well... that's fine and all, but 1: how are you doing this; and 2: why do you need Rumors and witches for that? Still fishy.

Poor magical girls indeed.

Oh, oh no Kaede also entered the cult, she's now repeating the salvation spiel!

At the same time, Iroha and co. are also at their last stop.

I really, really like how this last scene fells like Mifuyu is inviting us, the viewers, to join the cult too. Almost makes you want to root for them... almost.

Because being meguka is suffering.

- x - (if you have been reading this as a hamster face, you're right)

Aaand that's it for episode 12! Finally, FINALLY I can call doppeling out by what it is without it being a spoiler, thank god... but now it doesn't matter because there's only one episode left, dammit >:v

So yeah, there's the explanation, kinda. It's not like they were breaking any rules (if we ignore the fact this universe shouldn't exist at all thanks to Madokami), but more that Kamihama is a special place. And yet we still have no idea of how exactly the cult's doing this, what is a Rumor, why exactly are they collecting emotional energy like Kyuubei would... actually there's one more thing that makes the cult not much better isn't it, Touka's saying they reject Kyuubei system and yet they're doing the exact same thing as them, that's super shady. Also there's no way there's no consequence to doppeling out when this series works on equivalent exchange, there's definitely gotta be some con to it. SO MANY QUESTIONS.

Talking about questions, I'm always curious about the exact timeline for this story. Whenever they talk about Mel's incident, they say it was "one year ago", and then half a year later Mifuyu's still not over it and it seems like she doppels out at this point, but in the game they say it takes another half year before that happens, I think(?). Which always left me the question of: When exactly did the Magius start acting then? It should've taken some time to get the organization as big as it is now, so one has to wonder how long ago did the incidents in Kamihama start, since by the time Iroha shows up the magical girls here already seem used to it. This always leaves me feeling like this “one year ago” is closer to “almost two years ago” rather than “a bit over a year ago”. At least by this time in the story, it should be.

Knowing exactly when did The Wings of the Magius start would also let us guess at how long Iroha herself has been a magical girl, since Touka was probably still hospitalized when she made her wish. If Iroha's really been a magical girl for over half a year, that'd explain why she was already used to it by the time she came to Kamihama, despite being weak. Rather, that'd mean she's done a great job surviving thus far considering how she's only been shown sucking at battles lol (I’ll probably never get the answer to this, tho)

By the way, we STILL have no clue as to what happened to Iroha's little sister... I don't think we're making any progress on this front this season anymore. Poor Ui, even the show forgot about her.

So yeah, that was ep 12. Next episode, hopefully, we'll get more on the reactions of our girls upon learning the truth, and see what Yachiyo plans to do, if she had a plan at all coming here... which I suspect she doesn't, she's in fact even too late to do anything about it. I told you she'd regret it! The next episode's also the last one for this season, so you can look forward to having some awesome thing to tie it off *wink*

This is it for this post, hope to see you again on the next one. Have a good morning/afternoon/evening and remember to stay hydrated!

#Magia Record #pmmm magia record #magireco #puella magi madoka magica

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