(three.) | voice.

[invocation]

[The sound clicks on, a low and unobtrusive hum before a voice is finally heard, hoarse and raw. Whoever it is, it sounds like she's screamed herself out, or cried herself out, either one, and is far more diminished than she would be normally.

It's rare for her to do this, so it must be important.]

There's a girl...someone is missing. Her name is Sayaka. She—

[—Ah, that's new. That's definitely Kyouko's voice, but she doesn't seem to be in a good state. Silence for a while. She's covered her hand with her mouth and just breathes in for a few seconds.]

She was in the outskirts, and I was looking for her, but I couldn't find her in time. I can't sense her either. If anybody's seen her, I gotta know.

Comments

[invocation]

Yeah. [And she repeats herself, at Madoka's second question:] Yeah. [Both of them knew better than that.

She listens after that, and is silent for a good long while before seeming to come to a sudden decision. She shakes her head.]

I'll tell her I did it.

[Kyouko glances off to the side.] I didn't tell the truth either, heh...and it's even worse with me. She kept talking about going home. She wanted us to go home together, and go on a real date.

[She had withheld this information from Madoka before. But there was no reason to now.] That's just like her, right? Acting like we could be together like normal people. What a stupid thing to say. Even if things hadn't happened like they did, we wouldn't have time for it, and if she really knew what happened, she wouldn't say something like that at all.

[She swallows hard. Her face almost crumples, and then her jaw tightens.] That's why I'll take the blame. Some too-nice runt like you doesn't have to.

[revelation]

I can't— [ she speaks up immediately once Kyouko voices her idea, eyes widening and heart racing. her thoughts might be a mess but Madoka knows she doesn't want this and opens her mouth to speak her thoughts, but Kyouko's voice once again silences her.

needless to say, she is surprised and for a moment it shows on her face. although she had been none the wiser about the entire relationship, her heart aches more for her friend in this moment and she the fight to control her tears is one she is slowly losing. ]

I still can't let you take the blame! It was as much my decision too, even before you knew... I had... [ she had decided on this a long time ago, didn't she? ] I won't let you face everything alone again.

[invocation]

[She looks away at that. Hadn't she always handled stuff on her own? It was the best way to do things. But...

Sayaka was Madoka's friend too. Her best friend. They'd tried to appeal to that before, with the Witch. Wasn't she both of their responsibility?]

Are you sure? [...] She's gonna be pissed off. Worse than before.

[revelation]

Part of being a friend means you take the good with the bad, right?

[ she smiles, small but offers that much at least. ]

No matter what, I want to be someone capable of standing at her side. Even if she's mad and even if she hates me... I want to help.