{003}

[burdenbearing]

[Action: Around town.]

[Mirai's run out of drone clothes to destroy and re-use as pieces for her growing clothes and teddy bear collection, so that leaves her one option: getting a source of income. The solution? A job, of course!

She's wandering around town with a few job applications in her hand, muttering to herself in an annoyed tone.]

This is so stupid! How can it be this annoying to find a job?

[Action: John Doe Park]

[Later in the evening, around sunset, Mirai has snuck into the park to test out her latest regain. She's not very well-hidden, and anyone wandering nearby might see a bright flash of light, and a girl in a pink, fluffy dress holding a heart-shaped wand behind some bushes.]

It worked! Hah, I knew I would get it back sooner or later! This town can't keep my things away from me for long.

[How smug. Despite that, though, she seems genuinely pleased.]

Comments

[fatedmagica]

No, it's fine, I...

[ Madoka looks down. ]

... That's... your soul gem, right?

[burdenbearing]

--You know about that?

[Mirai knew that Madoka was friends with magical girls like her, but apparently it went deeper than she thought. How much else does she know?]

...Yeah, you're right. I guess there's no point keeping that hidden, if you already know about it.

[fatedmagica]

I-I see... um...

[ Madoka hesitates. She doesn't know how much Mirai knows about soul gems... but she can't take chances either by being nothing but a spectator. ]

Th-there are um! No witches... here, so... You can't get grief seeds, um so... be... careful!

[burdenbearing]

["No witches," huh. Mirai mentally adds "yet" to the end of that, but doesn't say it aloud.]

Yeah, you're right. I'm not going to be wasting magic on small things here. I'll need them to fight whatever this town throws at us next!

[She says it with force, like she's confronting someone rather than agreeing with them.]

[fatedmagica]

[ Though the volume makes her flinch ever so slightly, Madoka smiles and giggles. Not too frightened, at least not enough to lose what courage she's gathered. ]

Mm, good... I'm glad. Please let me know if, um, you need any help or anything... okay?

[burdenbearing]

So many people offering to help me lately...

[She mumbles this to herself, absently. She sounds a little wistful and a little surprised.

Yeah, none of that flinching nonsense. Mirai is just going to move closer to Madoka and grab her by the shoulder. It's gentle enough not to hurt, but it's firm and sudden.]

Fine, then. You're going to do the same for me, right? If you need help with something, you'll come to me first!

[fatedmagica]

Mirai-san... Mm, yeah... Thanks.

[ She smiles shyly. ]

Actually, um... Mirai-san... You... do you know Mami-san and Homura-chan yet...?

[burdenbearing]

[Aha. Haha. Oh, darn it.]

I don't think I've met anybody named Mami, but I've seen Homura around. Why?

[fatedmagica]

Well um! I mean, I don't mean to burden you so soon, but! But they're both Magical Girls from our world like Satomi-san and you... I-I don't think they're having any problems yet but um-.

I...

[ She remembers how upset Sayaka was. The last time she ever talked to Sayaka, when her friend told her she was upset with Madoka for not becoming a Magical Girl. ]

... There are... there are things about being a Magical Girl that only another Magical Girl can help with... so...

[burdenbearing]

[Madoka, stop being such a good girl. You're making Mirai feel like protecting you.]

Yeah, I guess you're right. I'll talk to them, if that's what you want.

[She nods to herself, pausing for a moment before she speaks again.]

Hey, Madoka. You know the risks about becoming a Magical Girl, right?