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[ Action ♥ Residents of Room 02-05 ]
[ Homura woke with a start. Last she remembers, she was going to sleep and expecting to attend her new school tomorrow. Fresh from one timeline to the next. Her determination is worn plainly on her face, overtaking the confusion that comes with waking in a new environment. Adjusting all too quickly, she slips out of the bed and snatches up the letters. Reading the first one, rereading those simple words over and over, before finally lowering the paper. ]
This can't be.... [ Her heart drops like a rock. That can't be. It makes no sense!

... But it does, actually, doesn't it? After seeing Madoka's soul gem taint again, it makes sense. Homura covers her face, sobbing into her hands for only a few seconds before drawing in a deep breath. ] Madoka... Everyone... [ She has yet to notice her roommates as she tries to wipe her eyes and get a grip. ]

[ Video ♥ ]
[ A calm facial expression betrays Homura's feelings. True, she's gathered some courage to keep herself relatively calm, but her heart has been ripped to shreds by this possibility. Even so, there's still hope. She reminds herself, over and over, that it's not over yet. ]
I am Homura Akemi. I am a new arrival. I have read both of my letters and have an understanding of the situation.

[ A pause. Debating. She never properly "started" her last timeline beyond being released from the hospital, so if the other girls are here then they might not recognize her. Calling out their names would be strange. ] I am from Mitaikihara in Japan. I'd like to know if anyone from home has also been 'saved'.

[ She brushes her hair behind her shoulder, a seemingly confident gesture that is actually just a nervous tick. ] How long have you all been here? And how many of you believe that letter?

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... Mm. Meeting in person would be fine. [ She pauses, thinking a moment before adding ] I have already met Sayaka Miki.

[ And then waiting for a reaction. She remembers how Mami reacted once to knowing the truth of witches, but can't help but wonder if she knows about Sayaka's grief seed. ]

All right. We can meet in Floor 38 - that's the most convenient place. Do you know where it is? [ she doesn't really...react, or probably not in the way Homura might expect. ]

Ah, did you? She's had a really tough time these last few weeks, though even before that competition started, there was... [ sob, she kind of trails off. ] I'm worried about her.

Do not worry. I will look out for her. [ Though, Homura still worries. She has been no good at caring for Sayaka in the past, and this Sayaka is especially delicate. She also cannot imagine that Mami knows about witches based on that reaction, so believes she'll be caring for Mami as well.

She'll be handling this situation alone again. ]

Yes, I believe I do. I should have no trouble getting there.

I'm sure you will. [ she has faith in you! you are a good person, homura ] All right. I'll see you there.

[ she takes a quick detour for some necessary supplies, and when Homura reaches the floor, she's laying out her tea set and pouring tea into two china cups. ]

[ Homura came to the floor expecting to have another stand-off ish talk with Mami. They'd probably end up threatening each other, Homura would be warned away from Sayaka, and life in the tower would become difficult as Homura was slowly robbed of those she cared about.

So this is unexpected. Homura quickly corrects herself when her mouth hangs open and approaches with a mix of her usual confidence and the cautioned surprise that has just hit her full on like a truck. ]

Mami-san? [ Her old way of addressing her friend and role model slips out in response to this familiar set-up. ]

[ she notes Homura's caution - she must be from another timeline, that's most likely - and smiles at her in a familiar, friendly way; completely without mistrust at all, actually. ]

Ah, Akemi-san, hello. It's nice to see you again.

You as well, Mami-san...

[ Homura almost feels tears, but she's gotten very good at locking them away. Still, the tightness in her chest reminds her that she hasn't seen Mami like this in so long and she really has missed it. ]

It's been a while.

[ she smiles at her, waits for Homura to sit and join her before speaking again. ]

It has, hasn't it? But, I think things might have gone differently for you than they did for me.

Is that right?

[ Another surprise. Mami knows about the timelines?

Homura can't imagine how she would know, so replies cautiously. ]

Perhaps. Has that been the case before?

[ she picks up her cup, taking a sip before replying. She inclines her head in a nod, to confirm that. ]

I think it has been. I didn't have memories of those previous times myself, but I think the way events happened for you and Sayaka-san diverged at certain points from the one I remember.

[ she looks kind of sad as she says that 8( you guys had it super rough, from what glimpses she had in Oktavia's barrier, what she's been told of Sayaka, and what the Homura in her own timeline had said. ]

That... could very much be the case.

[ Homura wonders if she has met this Mami in a previous cycle. It feels strange and criminal to mix them up. ]

How do you remember things, if I may ask?

Well... [ she takes another sip of her tea before she starts. ]

I barely survived the battle with Charlotte, and I was forced to retreat and recuperate. You arrived just in time to distract and defeat her. [ she was on good enough terms with Homura that she didn't tie her up for interfering, and was less hostile overall. ] It was careless of me to charge in like that.

When Sakura-san arrived in Mitakihara, she began to fight with Sayaka-san, but I was able to stop them from hurting each other. [ rueful kind of smile ] At least, the first time. I arrived a little too late the second time, when Kaname-san threw Sayaka-san's Soul Gem off the bridge.

[ they'd...at least been able to get it back more quickly though :T;; ]

A while after that, we ran into a magical girl from a neighbouring town who was close to despair. We weren't able to talk to her much before she succumbed and transformed into a Witch. That was...a very big shock. [ understatement :< they'd all gone to recuperate and think about things after that ]

We didn't have too much time to reflect on that, though, since Walpurgis Night arrived soon after. But with four magical girls to fight it...it was a difficult battle, but we succeeded without casualties among the citizens of Mitakihara, or us.

[ she kind of smiles ] It was a difficult road, but I think it turned out for the best.

[ Homura listens to all of this with mild surprise. Yes, she's been to a world where they became friends. She's fought with four girls before, but even then, Madoka had to bail them out and it was all for nothing...

... So the end to the story is the part that takes Homura's breath away. ]

Succeeded?

[ She nods. ]

Yes, we won the battle. Perhaps Walpurgis Night will come again, one day, but we succeeded in splitting it apart.

Kaname-san didn't need to contract to save any of us, either. I think it worked out for the best.

Then... that will really happen someday...

[ Well, maybe not.

But this Homura has no reason to believe that this future isn't one she won't eventually stumble upon. ]

I hope so, Akemi-san. [ She can't confirm it; perhaps the timeline she exists in is just an anomaly.

But, at the same time, she hopes that any versions of her friends can be at peace at last, with their troubles over. ]

There's no way to confirm it for sure. But with everything you've been through, I think you deserve happiness. [ she smiles at her, fondly. ] If that's possible, I'm sure you'll find it, Akemi-san.

Yes.

[ She's smiling now. Mami's tales from another world have filled her with more hope than she can express. Even if it's another world, Homura believes it is a future that she can look forward outside of the tower. And now that she knows to look forward to it, Homura is more determined and convinced than ever that she can escape here. ]

Thank you, Mami Tomoe. I hope that future will be for both of us.

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