Chapter Text
Walpurgisnacht is here.
Madoka remembers Homura’s warnings, the sense of foreboding that came with her words. The meetings where she explained when it was arriving, how it was going to arrive, and the levels of destruction the witch will bring to Mitakihara.
And now Madoka is here, with her family, hiding in a storm shelter while her friends are getting ready to fight possibly one of the worst witches in history.
“Madoka, are you alright?” Her mom snaps her out of her thoughts.
“A-Ah,” Madoka stammers, “I’m fine, Mama. I’m just worried about this…typhoon.”
Internally, Madoka groans. She hates lying to her family. Even when she technically didn't lie.
“Oh, Madoka,” Junko rocks an asleep Tatsuya in her arms, “We should be fine in this shelter. We just need to wait out the storm.”
“Alright…” Madoka smiles.
She lets out a sigh. Madoka can't help but feel like she could be doing more in this situation. That maybe…maybe she should talk to Kyubey about wish—
“Madoka!” A person calls out her name.
It’s Homura.
Madoka looks at her as she runs through the crowds of people towards her.
“Ah, Mama. I’m going to talk to my friend. I’ll be right back,” Madoka excuses herself.
Junko looks over to the girl running over to them and smirks, filling Madoka with dread.
“Oooooh~”
“Mama!”
“I didn't say anything,” Her mom teases her, “I’ll be with your father, have fun with your ‘friend’.”
Before Madoka could protest further, her mom is walking to her father. A faint blush forms on her face.
But she has no time to dwell on her own embarrassment. Homura is on her way!
Madoka slaps her cheeks and turns to the approaching Homura with a happy but calm expression, “Homura-chan, what are you doing here?”
She hopes Homura doesn't notice.
Homura stops in front of her, “I wanted to see you before the battle.”
Eh?
Madoka blinks.
Ehhhhh?!?!
Homura came all the way here to see me?!
“O-Oh, you wanted to see me?” Madoka fidgets in place, “W-What do you need?”
Could this be a confession?!
She isn’t ready! Right now, she is just wearing her school uniform! She wanted to ask Homura out, spend the day together, and as the date ended, confess her feelings to Homura wearing a cute dress!
Why did Madoka have to wear her school uniform today?!
School was canceled today anyway, so there was no reason to wear her uniform today!
“Madoka,” Homura stares deeply into her eyes, "Can you promise me that you’ll stay in this shelter until we defeat Walspurgisnacht?”
“...Oh,” Madoka mutters.
Of course, Homura-chan wouldn't confess to her out of the blue like that. What was she thinking?
Hahaha…
…
…
…Sayaka must never know about this.
Homura can't help but notice a hint of disappointment on Madoka’s face,“It would be reassuring for all of us fighting to know that you are safe.”
“No, I understand,” Madoka nods, “I just wish I could help out everyone with the fight. I'm feeling quite useless here.”
“Don’t say that,” Homura steps forward, closing the distance between them and holds her hands, “You’ve done more for all of us than you could have ever imagined.”
Madoka stares at their hands and then at Homura. A polite smile with a faint blush is all she could muster externally.
Internally?
I need to do something! Don't just stare at her! Say something!
“Homura-chan, your hands are soft.”
Don't say that!
“Hm? Thank you, Madoka.” Homura says, unbothered by the compliment.
Yo Homura, where are you? Everyone is here at the meet up place.
Homura sighs at Sayaka’s sudden interruption. Madoka, on the other hand, is thankful for her best friend’s timing.
She just couldn't handle being in that situation any longer.
“I have to go,” Homura lets go of her.
Madoka puts up a smile to hide her worry, “I know, tell the others to be safe.”
Homura nods before turning away.
“Um, Homura-chan!”
Homura pauses, “Yes Madoka?”
“...” She opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out.
“Madoka?”
“...It’s nothing Homura-chan, I’ll tell you later after you all win.”
“We will win Madoka. I’ll see you after the battle,” Homura disappears from her sight.
Madoka lets out a sigh, her heart is hammering in her chest.
That would have been a terrible time to confess her feelings to Homura…
The moment the winds stop howling and the clouds start to clear up is when Madoka decides to leave the shelter.
She runs through the city ruins, looking for her friends.
Her eyes check every corner for a lingering familiar.
Then she hears it, everyone's voices!
“Damn, it's huge!” Kyoko’s voice can be heard up ahead, “I knew that thing would drop one hell of a grief seed, but shit.”
“Yeah…where are we going to put it?” Sayaka asks.
“If it's alright with everyone. We can place it in my apartment, and whenever we need to. You can stop by and use it.” Mami suggests it.
“That sounds reasonable. I can carry the grief seed in my shield. Although, I would need assistance in lifting it in.” Homura says.
“Jeez, come on, Homura. Can’t you just suck it in or something?”
“...my shield is not a vacuum, Sayaka Miki.”
“Homura-chan! Sayaka-chan! Mami-san! Kyoko-chan!” Madoka calls out to them.
She turns the corner to see all of them surrounding a strange grief seed.
The grief seed was ginormous, looking like an amalgamation of regular grief seeds, combined to the size of a washing machine.
“Hey, Pinkie, you finally joined us!” Kyoko waves.
Sayaka, next to her, cups her mouth,“Madoka, we won!”
“It’s good to see you safe Madoka-san,” Mami lets the musket in her hand disappear.
Madoka smiles at all of them, her eyes landing on Homura.
Homura stares back, frozen in place. Her eyes widen, as tears start to prick the edges of her eyes, “Madoka…”
“Homura-chan!” Madoka runs up to her, wrapping her in a hug.
Homura, taking the impact, takes a step back. She slowly and gingerly returns the hug, her arms trembling as she does.
“Madoka…” Homura repeats with a whisper, “You’re alive…”
“What?” Madoka is confused by what Homura said, but is too happy to see all her friends fine and alive, “Of course I am! I should be saying that to you.”
Kyoko lets out a wolf whistle, reminding Madoka that they weren't alone.
“Jeez, Madoka, I know you’re happy to see Homura, but what about the rest of us?!” Sayaka cries out mockingly, hand against her chest as if clutching her heart.
“S-Sayaka!”
“I’m kidding, I'm kidding,” The others laugh as Madoka pouts.
“Alright, that's enough,” Mami claps her hands, “We should all leave the area right now, it’s not safe.”
Right on cue, a nearby building shifts. Homura instinctively covers Madoka with her shield before it collapses, sending dust and debris everywhere.
They all look at one another and quickly agree to leave.
“Alright, let's get the hell out of here,” Kyoko taps Sayaka’s shoulder as she walks by, “Blueberry, help me lift this thing,” She jerks a thumb to the huge grief seed.
“Ugh, fine,” The two of them walk over to the grief seed.
“We should go help them,” Mami says to Homura.
Homura nods in response, releasing her from their hug, “Madoka, I'll be right back. Is that fine?”
“Um, sure, of course, Homura-chan.” Madoka blushes, realizing she is still clinging to Homura.
Madoka watches as Mami wraps the grief seed’s jagged edges in ribbons to keep them from hurting their friends’ hands and as Sayaka and Kyoko lift it into Homura’s shield.
Homura turns back and walks to Madoka, “Madoka, you said you wanted to tell me something.”
“Eh?” Oh.
I-It’s happening now, isn't it. Madoka did say she was going to tell Homura after the fight, but now that it's happening, she can't help but panic!
She looks over to her friends, all of them frozen, hearing Homura’s question. They look at one another.
Sayaka pulls out her phone and holds it to her ear, “Oh, dang it, hold on. I’m getting a call from my mom. She's probably wondering where I am. I have to go take this.”
Mami places a hand on Kyoko’s shoulder, “Kyoko can you assist me in checking the state of my apartment. I’m worried about any damages that may have occured.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah!” Kyoko agrees.
The three of them begin to leave, but before exiting her line of sight, they all glance at her.
You got this Madoka!
You better not chicken out Pinkie.
Madoka-san, just be confident. I know you’ll succeed.
The words of encouragement, while helping soothe her panic, bring in another emotion.
Madoka covers her face, hiding her uncontrollable blush.
Oh my god.
Did…did they all know?!
When?! How?! Madoka was sure she hid her crush on Homura fairly well!
All her friends, plus her mom, were able to figure it out.
Was she that obvious?!
“Madoka?” She moves her hands to see Homura furrowing her eyebrows, “Are you okay?”
“I…yeah, I'm fine Homura-chan.” At least Homura hasn't realized it yet.
…
Actually, Madoka isn't sure if she’s completely fine with that revelation, but she needs to move on.
“Madoka, if you wish. We can hold off on the conversation till later.”
“No, it’s fine Homura-chan. If I don't say this now. I’ll just be making more and more excuses until it's too late.”
Madoka takes a deep breath and looks Homura directly into her eyes. Her heart is pounding, as if she just ran a marathon,“Homura-chan, I…I love you!”
Homura freezes at Madoka’s declaration. Tears start falling from her eyes, she wipes them away with her palm as her hair blocks her face.
Madoka’s heart clenches.
Did she mess up?
“Madoka…” Homura looks up at her, her cheeks flushed, "I love you too.”
Madoka gasps at Homura’s words, as a rush of euphoria hits her, “Homura-chan…” She whispers.
“I’ve been waiting to say that to you for so long…” Homura admits, “You are an amazing friend Madoka.”
…
“Eh?” Madoka's arms drop to her sides. Her eyes turn dull, losing their shine and luster.
Homura smiles, not noticing Madoka’s dilemma,“Madoka, you are the kindest person I've ever met. If not for you, I would still be the person I once was…” She looks off into the distance as if reminiscing about something, “So thank you, Madoka, for helping me become stronger.”
Madoka smiles while hearing Homura's short speech, but she feels her stomach drop lower and lower. Homura’s words are like a knife covered in honey, every stab hurts, but it's so sweet coming from her.
“Homura-chan, I'm glad you feel this way.”
Madoka would love it if Homura felt something…more, but it's not like Homura outright rejected her. She just didn't understand her actual feelings.
If Madoka explains it, maybe Homura would accept her confession!
“U-Um Homura-chan!” Madoka speaks up.
“Yes, Madoka?”
…
Maybe later…
“We should meet up with the others,” Ugh, Madoka can’t help but feel like a coward.
Homura nods, “We can catch up to them easily.”
The two friends follow the way Madoka had walked earlier, but as they turn the corner Sayaka, Kyoko, and Mami are all standing there, freezing upon their arrival.
No…it couldn't be.
Madoka’s eyes scan her friends, seeing various looks of guilt.
They know…
“Oh? Everyone is still here?” Homura raises an eyebrow, “I thought you all left.”
“O-Oh, hey, Homura, we were just um—” Sayaka looks back at the other two magical girls.
“We thought we spotted a familiar,” Mami quickly adds.
“I didn't hear any fighting,” Homura says.
“There weren’t any familiars!” Kyouko jumps in, “Yeah, my bad guys. It was just a rat.”
“I see…”
Homura wasn't dumb. She can easily tell that everyone was lying.
But why?
So she might as well ask the one who will break the quickest, “Sayaka Miki.”
“Y-Yesh?”
“What are you hiding from us?”
Sayaka lets out a weak chuckle, “I-I don't know what you are talking about.”
“Sayaka Miki,” Homura repeats sterner.
Sayaka gulps while averting her gaze, feeling Homura’s stare burning into the side of her head.
In a brief moment, Sayaka’s eyes meet Madoka’s to convey a message. A message they didn't need telepathy for.
Please help me.
“Um, Homura,” Madoka gently rests a hand on Homura’s shoulder, “Can we talk about this later? I know you’re worried, but maybe this isn't the best place to do it.”
“Madoka, they’re hiding something from us.”
They’re hiding the fact that they were eavesdropping on her failed confession! Of course, Madoka couldn’t say this, Homura would probably get mad.
…
Okay, she would get mad.
“Please?” Madoka says sweetly.
Homura stares at her for a moment, wanting to retort so she could get an answer. After all this time, she finally won and doesn’t want anything to potentially ruin it.
But since it was Madoka who was asking…
“Okay Madoka,” Homura crosses her arms, “But we will talk about this later, Sayaka Miki.”
“Hey, why am I the only one getting the third degree?”
Homura turns to Mami, “Tomoe-san, how about I come with you to drop off the grief seed?”
“That sounds good,” Mami gives Sayaka and Madoka a small wave, “Please come by later, I should have a cake ready for a celebration.”
“Sounds great, I'm looking forward to it Mami,” Sayaka flashes her a thumbs up.
“See you, everyone! Make sure you all get some rest. You deserve it,” Madoka waves back.
Everyone says their goodbyes as Homura, Mami, and Kyoko jump away, leaving Sayaka and Madoka alone.
Once out of sight, Madoka turns to Sayaka, who is already bowing to her at a ninety-degree angle.
“I’m sorry Madoka!”
Madoka lets out a sigh, “Sayaka, why?”
“Well, we were gonna leave you two alone,” Sayaka sheepishly rubs the back of her neck, “But sorry, we all got a bit too curious.”
“I figure as much,” Madoka groans, “This is awful.”
“Hey, Hey! It’s alright!” Sayaka runs up to her, “She…technically didn't reject you. She just misunderstood everything! You know transfer student isn't the most socially aware person around, right?”
“I know. I can clear up the misunderstanding by just talking to Homura-chan,” Madoka begins to pout, “But I don't like knowing almost all my friends spied on me getting friend-zoned by my crush.”
“I…yeah, that's fair.”
Perhaps I could be of assistance.
Standing on a nearby piece of rubble is Kyubey, staring at them with an unblinking gaze. He hops down and walks towards them, only to stop and sit on the ground just a few feet away.
“Ugh, what do you want Kyubey?” Sayaka asks.
I’m here to offer Madoka a contract.
“Kyubey, please, I've told you I'm not interested,” Madoka says.
Even if you were to wish to have Homura Akemi understand your romantic interest?
“Ha! Nice try Kyubey, but Madoka isn't that desperate. Right Madoka?” But Madoka doesn't respond right away, “Madoka?” Sayaka turns to her best friend.
The same best friend who is currently in deep thought.
Madoka totally wasn't actually considering the idea!
By making this wish, Homura-chan would definitely understand her feelings. But that doesn't mean she would feel the same, right?
Actually, making a wish in general would upset Homura wouldn't it? For the past month, Homura has been against the idea of Sayaka and Madoka making a wish. She can still remember that disappointed look Homura gave Sayaka when she saw her in her magical girl outfit. As if the girl had turned into a pile of trash on the spot.
Would she get the same look?
W-Would Homura be disappointed in her?
“Thank you for the offer Kyubey, but no,” Madoka firmly states.
Are you sure? Surely if you wish—
Madoka looks Kyubey directly in the eyes, “Kyubey, I said no.”
…Very well, but if you ever change your mind.
“Kyubey, leave.”
Without another word, Kyubey leaves the area.
Madoka lets out a sigh; the temptation has finally left. She turns to Sayaka and is faced with a pitiful look.
“Madoka, you weren't actually considering it, were you?”
“Huh?” Madoka processes what Sayaka is saying,“O-Of course I wasn't gonna say yes!”