Archive of Our Own ^beta

“A-Are you sure it’s okay if I stay over tonight, Kaname-san?” Homura’s voice nervously chimed.

The sun was just starting to set after a long day of fighting familiars and Madoka had insisted that Homura spend the night at her house.

Staring at her feet as they walked, Homura wasn’t sure how she felt about it.

It made sense logically, the two would have to be ready to fight Walpurgisnacht early in the morning, according to the last two loops at least.

On the other hand though, Homura couldn’t help but feel anxious about the whole situation.

It was stupid really, selfish even. After repeating the same month twice and selling her own soul, it took Homura only a week of alone time spent training and bonding over shared trauma to realize she liked Madoka.

Liked her as more than a friend.

Stuck with this new information, Homura was about to have her first sleepover with said crush.

“Of course it's okay Homura-chan.” Madoka turned her head back, making sure Homura was still following. “Now come on, we're almost there.”

Homura knew that she didn’t deserve to feel even the slightest bit of excitement about spending more time with Madoka. This was just her way of being kind to a friend, it’s not like anything would happen between them.

Besides, relationships were probably the last thing on Madoka's mind right now. The week they had spent preparing for Walpurgisnacht couldn’t be for nothing.

They had to protect this city. They had to succeed for their friends' sake.

For Sayaka…Kyoko…and Mami.

“I just don’t want to impose on your family, especially on such short notice.” Homura professed weakly. “Is there even going to be enough dinner for an extra person?”

“We always end up making a bit extra, so I'm sure it will be fine. And you're not imposing on anyone, Homura-chan.”

Noticing Homura’s still worried expression, Madoka stopped walking and faced her, grabbing onto both her hands for reassurance. 

“Everything will be fine, Homura-chan. I’d just feel better if I knew you weren’t alone tonight.”

Not able to meet Madoka’s eyes, all Homura could do was nod and mumble out a quiet agreement.

***

Arriving at her home, the two of them waited by the entrance so Madoka could announce their arrival to her family.

“I’m home mama!”

“Welcome back, Madoka!” A mature voice called out from another room.

Coming out of the kitchen to their left, Madoka’s mother properly greeted her daughter with a hug before turning her attention to Homura.

“And who do we have here? A friend of yours, Madoka?”

After a brief pause and a nudge from Madoka, Homura managed to speak up.

“Um, y-yes. My name is Akemi Homura. It's uh… N-Nice to meet you, Kaname-san.”

Stifling a laugh, her mother waved Homura off.

“No need to be so formal, you call me Junko.”

As Homura shrank in response, Junko decided to switch targets. Placing a hand on her chin, she began to muse.

“Homura, huh? So you’re the one my daughter’s been gushing over these past few weeks.”

“M-Mama!” Madoka shouted fearfully.

“What! It's true.” Junko laughed as she turned to Homura. “You're all she's been able to talk about, whether it's at breakfast or while we're getting ready, it's always Homura this or Homura that. Not to mention how much time she’s been spending with you lately.”

“That’s not true mama!” Madoka was blushing, attempting to push her own mother away. “Now stop embarrassing Homura-chan!”

“Ok, ok, jeez.” Junko exclaimed as she let Madoka push her back a bit. “So, I assume Homura is going to be joining us for dinner?”

Stopping her pursuit on her mother, Madoka's demeanor suddenly turned bashful.

“Well…if it's okay with you? I was wondering if Homura-chan could stay the night too?”

“Of course it's okay with me.” Junko’s carefree voice unexpectedly became serious. “But it’s not my say whether Homura can stay here or not. What I'm worried about is if her parents are okay with it.”

At the mention of her parents, Homura awkwardly butted into the conversation.

“Oh…you don’t have to worry about that… I uh…live alone.”

Junko seemed caught off guard by that response, but she quickly reoriented herself.

“Well if that's the case then—”

“Please mama let her stay the night! I know its a short notice but it’s not even a school night and there's supposed to be a big storm coming tomorrow so I’d feel bad if Homura-chan was home alone because she looks like she'd be scared of thunder and—“

“Calm down Madoka!” Junko snapped Madoka back to reality. “I was gonna say if that's the case then of course she can stay the night.”

The two girls sighed in relief. Things would have been fine like that, if only Junko hadn’t continued speaking.

“Plus, I wouldn't feel comfortable sending her off to walk home alone at this hour, especially with Sayaka still missing…”

At the mention of Sayaka’s name, the previously warm and bubbly mood between them dropped, like stepping into the freezer section of a grocery store.

Junko quickly recognized her mistake.

“Ah, sorry about that Madoka. I know you're worried about Sayaka but I'm sure they'll find her soon. Then you can give her an earful about what she’s put you through.”

Head low, Madoka responded in a crestfallen voice. “Yeah…”

Exhaling at her blunder, Junko decided to give them some space. 

“Well, dinner will be ready soon… I’lll call you two down when it's done.”

Exiting the room, the two of them were left alone once again.

As they stood still for a moment, Madoka eventually broke the silence. Her body turned away from Homura.

“We should go to my room now, Homura-chan.”

Not waiting for a response, Madoka grabbed Homura’s hand, leading her up the stairs.

***

The two barely had enough time to get settled before they were called back down for dinner.

Homura found the whole thing awkward, but at least the food was good.

Madoka barely talked at all, only when she was called on, leaving Homura to do the same.

Luckily, Junko seemed to understand why they were so unresponsive and didn’t question them too hard about it.

Glancing at Madoka from across the table, Homura wondered what she could be thinking about.

Of course, losing their friends had taken its toll on the both of them. The memory of everything was still fresh, a week passing had done nothing to dull the pain.

But Madoka seemed determined to fight on in their memory, never really showing how much it had affected her like she was doing right now.

Thinking back to how she almost died by Mami’s hands and lost the chance to save Madoka forever still made Homura sick to her stomach, but she had to be strong for her.

It was her duty, her wish to become strong enough to protect her. She had no reason to feel hurt if Madoka was also going through something similar.

So why was Homura just sitting here, doing nothing, while Madoka was in pain? Why was it so hard to just say something, anything to try and comfort Madoka?

Homura didn’t know, no matter how desperately she rattled her brain for answers.

Did something happen to Madoka today? No, Homura would have noticed. Maybe it was just the looming threat of Walpurgisnacht’s arrival?

Whatever it was, it clearly ate away at Madoka’s thoughts, which in turn just made Homura more frustrated.

Maybe she could mention it up somehow when they were alone? If only Homura could bring herself to do that.

Switching between bites of food and checking on Madoka, Homura inevitably finished her meal along with everyone else at the table.

Thanking Madoka’s parents for the dinner and for letting her stay over, the two girls departed back to Madoka's room.

***

“You can lay down if you want, Homura-chan.” Madoka smoothly asked, inviting Homura to join her on the bed, where she herself currently laid.

“Um, no thank you, Kaname-san. I’m fine over here.” Currently sitting on one of the many chairs inside her room, Homura had her head low.

It was clear to Madoka that something was on her friend's mind.

Maybe she could tell because her own mind was very cluttered right now.

Madoka hadn’t expected her mother’s comment to dishearten her this much, but it couldn’t really be helped.

The reality of Walpurgisnacht’s arrival and what it meant for them was starting to become a growing pressure inside Madoka's mind, one that would blow with the slightest touch.

Could they really win tomorrow? Homura said that Walurpigsnacht was able to be defeated the first time, but it resulted in everyone dying.

So it was possible, that was good right? And even if they failed, Homura could just go back again.

But was it really fair to put her through that? Madoka couldn’t imagine the pain Homura was going through if she relived this situation multiple times already.

Madoka was barely holding it together herself right now…she could still remember how sudden everything had been.

She hadn’t even accepted that Sayaka was gone yet before Kyoko just dropped. Mami sounded hysterical and Homura seemed scared. It was all a blur and then her own fingers just let go of the arrow…and Mami was gone too.

In what world could she just leave all her friends to die like that? It seemed like no matter what decision they made, they were all wrong.

And of course, Madoka herself felt powerless in all of this. Homura was really the only one who could change anything, all she could do was just stand there and watch.

Maybe it was pointless to worry about it. Tomorrow was going to come whether Madoka liked it or not, all she could really do was hope for the best and give it her all. 

And if she died, well… She wasn’t really sure how she felt about it.

As Madoka stared into the ceiling, she got lost in thought, accidentally blurting one of them out loud.

“Are you afraid of dying, Homura-chan?”

Startled by her morbid question, Homura yelped. “Huh!? What are you talking about Kaname-san!?”

“Nothing really… I was just thinking about tomorrow and—” 

“You don’t have to worry about that!” Homura cried out, on the verge of breaking down. “I promised you that we wouldn’t, remember?”

“I know…I trust you, Homura-chan.” Madoka smiled softly as she closed her eyes. “I guess, I was just a little curious is all.”

Taking a few moments to calm down, it was Homura who spoke up again with her own question.

“I-Is dying something that scares you, Kaname-san?”

“You shouldn’t answer a question with another question, Homura-chan.” Madoka pouted. Rising from her lying position, she began sitting with her legs hanging off the bed, facing Homura. “Come on, you answer first, then I’ll go.”

Sighing, Homura reluctantly complied. “I’ll go first then…”

Seemingly stuck in thought, Homura took a few seconds to form an answer.

“I guess, I'm supposed to say yes then, aren’t I? That I am scared to die.” Homura’s words staggered slightly as she turned away from Madoka. “But the truth is, if you asked me that same question a few months ago…before I met you…I probably would have said no…”

“Homura-chan…?”

Despite the worried tone in Madoka’s voice, Homura continued talking.

“I never really had any friends…and I wasn’t as close with my family like you are. Eventually, I began to think it would be better for everyone if I just died…”

With a soft thud, Madoka dropped onto the floor and quickly made her way towards Homura.

Embracing the sitting girl into her arms, Madoka cried out.

“That’s not true, Homura-chan!”

Homura flinched at the sudden touch, but eventually she leaned into it. “...I know.”

Not convinced, Madoka tightened her hold on Homura, pulling the girl close enough to rest her chin on top of Homura’s head.

“I don’t want you to think like that anymore…”

“I won’t.” Homura breathed out. “I was going to say that if you asked me that same question now, I think I would say ‘I am scared to die’ because…” Gently pulling Madoka’s arms down, Homura placed her hands on top of Madoka’s. “...I wouldn’t want to leave you behind, Kaname-san.”

Backing away slightly, Madoka blushed as Homura’s eyes stared deeply into hers, the warmth between their hands doing nothing to help with her situation.

After a few moments, Homura seemed to realize just how close they had been and quickly pulled her hands away, wiping them on her skirt.

“S-Sorry about that.” Homura stuttered out as she looked down to hide her own embarrassment.

Giggling, Madoka reassured the sitting girl. “You don’t have to apologize Homura-chan, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

Watching Homura stare at the floor while she messed with her hands, Madoka decided to give her some space.

Moving back to the bed she leaned against it, her feet still planted on the ground.

She hadn’t expected Homura to react like that to her question. No one deserved to feel like they would be better off dead, it hurt to even think that Homura once felt like that.

But it was Homura's second answer that left Madoka even more worried.

The only reason Homura had for staying alive was…Madoka? She knew Homura was a time traveler who had already seen the end of this month before, but did she only choose to come back because of her? Why? What made Madoka Kaname so special?

Whatever the answer to that question was, it still made Madoka sad to know Homura couldn’t see all the things she loved about her.

The way her hair bounced when she walked, how she always seemed to put others before herself, and those cute little glasses that drove Madoka crazy. Everything about Homura was just so beautiful, why couldn’t she see that?

Maybe that was why Madoka felt so drawn to Homura, they were similar in that regard. Sayaka had often said the same thing about Madoka.

She wished Sayaka were still here, maybe she would know what to do…

Pushing those thoughts to the side, Madoka shook her head and sighed out loud.

“I guess it’s my turn to answer now, isn’t it?”

“Y-you don’t have to if you don’t want to, Kaname-san.” Homura still refused to meet her eyes.

Shaking her head with an “Mm-mm” Madoka declined Homura’s offer. “I promised I would go after you, and I intend to keep it.”

Leaning back, Madoka's hands pressed firmly into the bed for support. Struggling to find the right words to say, she decided to just be honest.

“It's true that I started thinking about dying because of what we have to do tomorrow… But I’d be lying if I said that was the only time I ever thought about it.”

Bringing her eyes back down to Homura, Madoka focused on the sitting girl to build her resolve. If Homura had been strong enough to open up just moments earlier, then she could be too.

“Before I knew about magical girls, even before I met you Homura-chan, the thought of death always scared me. It reminded me of how I’ve never done anything with my life. I’m not very good at school or at sports. I’m not even that popular either, just a normal average girl…and that’s all I would ever be. On the day that I die, I wouldn’t have anything to show for it or leave behind any sort of impact on the world. I just thought that...it would be such a shame to go out like that, wouldn’t it?”

Madoka found herself staring at the ground, her voice faltering. Those thoughts of the girl she had been before still resonated with her.

“But I realize now, that it isn’t true anymore. When I think about tomorrow, I’m not afraid of dying at all. I know it would be for a reason now.”

However, that’s all they were. Painful memories of the Madoka without hope, without her wish.

Raising her head up, Madoka’s resolve was reignited.

“As a magical girl, it's my duty to protect those who can’t protect themselves, and Mitakihara is counting on us to protect it. Even though it would hurt leaving my family behind… I wouldn’t get to see Tatsuya grow up or ever experience drinking with mama… I think I would be happy if my death meant that my family, and the families of many others could continue living.”

Smiling brightly, Madoka stared directly at Homura. Though what she saw on the girl’s face wasn’t what she expected.

Homura seemed conflicted, her face portrayed a range of different emotions, though she mostly looked upset by Madoka’s answer.

“I...I won’t let it come to that… But I guess not being afraid is a good thing?”

“Yeah, probably.” Madoka awkwardly laughed, scratching the back of her head. “It would be best if nobody died, so let’s try to aim for that instead.”

An off-putting silence grew between the two of them as they thought about the other’s reply.

This was one of the few times she and Homura had completely different answers on something, usually they were on the same wavelength.

It was obvious that both of them had something to say about the other’s view on death, but what good would a debate be right now.

Homura was the first to speak up again, changing the topic to something else entirely.

“You mentioned something about your family. Was that the reason you started to worry about tomorrow, Kaname-san?”

“Oh, that? Well…maybe a little bit.” Madoka chuckled lightly. “I know it’s kinda silly, but I couldn’t stop thinking about a conversation I had with mama the other night. I told her that I wanted to grow up fast so that we could share a drink together.”

Closing her eyes, Madoka’s tone darkened as continued.

“I guess I got a little depressed when I thought about tomorrow and how that might never happen…”

Rising from her seat, Homura’s chair scraped against the ground, causing Madoka to turn towards her.

Standing still, Homura hesitated for a moment before approaching Madoka.

“K-Kaname-san…”

Meeting Homura’s eyes, Madoka was confused by the seriousness in them.

“What is it, Homura-chan?”

“W-Would you feel better if we shared a drink together…r-right now I mean?” Homura’s confidence had faltered in the last part, her face turning away.

“Ehhh!?” Madoka was utterly shocked, those words being the last thing she expected to come out of Homura’s mouth.

“S-Sorry! That was stupid of me to ask.”

Backing away, Homura hid behind her hands. Madoka was just barely able to hear what she said next.

“I mean…It's probably not the same with me than if it were your mother…”

Well now Madoka just felt bad, she didn’t mean to hurt Homura’s feelings.

“No! Don’t be sorry Homura-chan, I just…didn’t expect you to suggest something like that.”

“D-Do you want to then…?” Homura looked at her with pleading eyes.

 “S-Sure.” Madoka didn’t know why she agreed, but seeing the smile on Homura’s face made her glad she did.

Maybe this was what they needed all along. A break from all the worrying, a break from all the stress.

If they were both not guaranteed to survive tomorrow, why not try to make the most of what little time they had left.

There was still one glaring issue with Homura’s suggestion though.

"But um, Homura-chan? How are we going to get our hands on some…” Madoka leaned in closer to Homura and whispered. “...Alcohol?”

Puzzled, Homura seemed like she also forgot to think about that.

“Doesn’t your mother have any here?”

“Yeah, she has a whole bunch.” Madoka laughed softly. “I think she’d notice if we take anything though, especially if we both go downstairs together.”

“Don’t worry then, I have an idea.” Raising her hand, Homura offered it to Madoka. “Take my hand, Kaname-san.”

“O-Okay.” Madoka accepted it, blushing a little. “Now what?”

Transforming into her magical girl attire, Homura seemed confused at Madoka’s question.

“Huh? Don’t you remember? I can stop time with my magic, but as long as we make physical contact you won’t be affected by it.”

“O-Oh! Right… Silly me.”

Pulling her mind out of the gutter, Madoka mentally scolded herself. How could she forget something like that? They literally used it multiple times this week.

Blissfully unaware of Madoka’s inner turmoil, Homura’s free right hand moved towards her shield.

With a whir and a click, the world around them became utterly silent, draped in a grayscale filter.

Time had stopped.

Madoka never really got used to this sight. It just seemed so unnatural, but at the same time, so ethereal.

If only Homura could keep it like this forever.

***

“This is where mama keeps most of her drinks.” Madoka announced to Homura.

They had just arrived downstairs with the help of Homura’s magic.

In the dining room, a large cabinet with multiple compartments stood before the two of them.

Bottles of wine were sticking out of neat cubicles, while the glasses hung off to the side. Larger bottles of what looked like whiskeys and vodkas were in their own racks.

Taking a look at the plentiful selection, Madoka contemplated her decision.

“Mama usually drinks these darker ones over here, but they look a little too strong for my tastes.” She winced at the thought of drinking them. “Do you have any suggestions, Homura-chan?”

“Not really, no… I was going to ask if you wanted to try any in particular.”

Humming in thought, Madoka turned her attention back to the cabinet.

“I guess…something sweet? That would probably be best for my first time.”

“If you are looking for something sweeter then maybe we should try some wines, I think?”

Bringing her attention to the wines sticking out at them, Homura was drawn to a dark purple bottle with golden accents.

Pulling it out carefully with one hand, she read the name aloud.

“Lilac Wine?” Homura turned to show Madoka. “Does this one look good to you?”

“It’s named after a flower so it’s probably pretty sweet.” Madoka nodded. Though the name also reminded her of something she learned in her after school club. “Do you know what lilacs represent, Homura-chan?”

“N-No, I don’t.”

“It’s said that they represent the feelings of first love.” Madoka smiled warmly at Homura. “It’s kinda romantic, don’t you think?”

Blushing, Homura was barely able to get a response out. “U-Um yes, I-I suppose it is.”

Homura kept staring at the bottle in her hand, as if the cure to embarrassment was a listed ingredient.

Madoka found it cute, but she should probably tone down the teasing.

“Well I think it’s perfect. Are you fine with trying this one, Homura-chan?”

Tensing up at Madoka’s voice, Homura finally brought the bottle down.

“O-Of course, Kaname-san, I’m fine with anything you want to try.”

“Careful Homura-chan, I might take you up on that proposal.” 

Leaning in closer to Homura, Madoka could practically feel the warmth radiating from her face.

One more tease couldn’t hurt, right?

Homura resorted to turning her head away from Madoka, their entwined hands not allowing much distance to be made between them.

After a few moments to calm down, Homura managed to squeak out a reply.

“C-Could you grab the wine glasses, Kaname-san?”

Giggling, Madoka happily obliged. “Of course, Homura-chan.”

Carefully, Madoka used her free hand to pick up and comfortably carry two wine glasses.

She was usually pretty clumsy, though even if she dropped them, they would probably just freeze in mid air…maybe.

Madoka still didn’t really know how Homura’s magic worked, so it would be best not to test it right now, especially with how long time had been stopped already.

They should definitely get going soon.

Tightening her hold on Homura’s hand, Madoka quickly led the way back to her room.

***

Once the two of them were safely inside Madoka's room again, Homura was able to undo her time stop, reverting back into her school uniform in the process.

Madoka had continued to hold Homura’s hand afterwards though, only letting go after Homura reminded her that it was no longer necessary.

Already missing the warmth between them, Madoka dejectedly took the wine bottle from Homura and moved to place everything on top of her bed.

Pushing their ill-gotten goods off to the side, Madoka climbed onto the bed, sitting in a cross legged position.

Calling out to Homura, Madoka patted the spot directly in front of her.

“Come sit with me, Homura-chan.”

Homura’s eyes shifted from the bottle of wine to the light colored blankets.

“Are you sure we should drink on the bed? What if we spill some of it?”

“It’s ok. Whenever Hitomi and Sayaka would come over, we would always have tea on the bed, and we only spilled it a few times.” Madoka faked a laugh, hoping Homura wouldn’t see through it. Those days with friends were long gone… “Besides, it’s more comfy sitting on the bed, don’t you think so?”

“Yeah, I guess it is.”

Maneuvering herself onto the bed, Homura sat opposite Madoka, also in a cross legged position. Her back was facing Madoka’s pillows and stuffed animals.

Staring at the bottle of wine to their side, the two remained sitting in anticipation, both of them too nervous to get started just yet.

In an attempt to calm their nerves, Madoka decided to ask Homura a question.

“So, have you ever done anything like this before? Drinking, I mean.”

“I have actually.” Homura responded nonchalantly.

Madoka’s eyes widened, surprised by Homura’s answer.

Was the cute look just for show? Is Homura actually some delinquent? It would explain a few things actually. She literally admitted to making homemade bombs in her spare time. But there’s no way Homura was some alcoholic, right?

Stuck in her line of thinking, Madoka was interrupted by Homura waving her hand in front of her eyes.

“Kaname-san? Are you ok?”

“Huh… O-Oh yeah I’m fine. It’s just, I didn’t expect that answer from you.”

Homura stared at her with a look of utter confusion, like Madoka was the one who just said something crazy.

It was only a few seconds later when Homura seemed to understand how Madoka may have interpreted her answer.

“I-It’s nothing that scandalous!” Homura frantically stammered out. “I just had to drink some wine at the orphanage for my first communion, following Catholic traditions and all…”

Recognizing the tone in Homura’s voice, Madoka knew that she accidentally brought up some painful memories for Homura.

Frowning, Madoka apologized and dropped the subject, not wanting to pry further.

“S-Sorry, um… Do you know what to expect then? Like how it tastes or how getting drunk feels?”

Slightly embarrassed at the question, Homura turned her head away from Madoka.

“They only let us take sips, so I don’t really know what being drunk feels like.”

Madoka let out a disappointed “Oh” which made Homura quickly blurt out a response to redeem herself.

“B-But the taste was kind of like grape juice, only more bitter I think. I didn’t really like it, but maybe they just picked a bad wine.”

Listening to Homura’s description, Madoka stared at the bottle before her.

“Hopefully this one tastes better…” Now having some sort of expectation, Madoka didn’t feel like waiting around any longer. “...I think I’m ready then. What about you, Homura-chan?”

“Yes, I’m ready too.”

Taking a deep breath in, Madoka reached for the bottle of wine and picked it up. Thankfully they chose one that had already been opened before, so all she had to do was unscrew the metallic cap.

Taking a peek inside the bottleneck, Madoka caught a faint floral aroma coming from it. The smell was quite pleasant, not at all like the harsh scent of rubbing alcohol she fearfully expected.

Catching one of the wine glasses entering her peripheral vision, Madoka raised her head to find Homura offering it to her with a shy grin on her face.

Returning the smile, Madoka accepted the glass. “Thank you, Homura-chan.” Placing it between her legs for now, Madoka was able to put both hands on the wine bottle. “Here, let me fill yours up first.”

Waiting for Homura to extend her glass out, Madoka carefully poured Homura some wine, stopping once it was about half full.

Madoka expected a darker red or purple color to come out of the bottle, but what filled Homura’s glass was more like a pale amber in complexion. This must have been a white wine.

Homura seemed worried as she brought the glass down, her hand shaking slightly.

“I-Isn’t that too much Kaname-san?”

“Is it?” Madoka knew you weren’t supposed to fill it all the way, but was half also not the right call? “Mama usually fills it up to that level though.”

“It’s just that… Usually during church, one big glass was supposed to be enough for everyone attending.”

Thinking about what Homura said, Madoka quickly reassured her.

“They might have done that just so everyone could at least have a little bit. I’m sure it will be fine.”

Pouring herself a glass next, Madoka made sure to give herself about the same amount she gave Homura.

Handing the bottle over to Homura, Madoka instructed her to put it on the nightstand for now. She took note that the bottle had already lost about a third of its volume.

Did she actually pour too much or did the bottle have less than she thought?

Oh well, not like they could pour it back in now.

With that done, the two sat in an anxious silence, neither of them daring to take the first sip.

Madoka alternated from staring into her own glass and watching Homura stare into hers.

It was only when Homura nearly brought the glass to her lips when Madoka suddenly got another idea

“Wait, Homura-chan! Shouldn’t we make a toast first?”

“Ah!” Almost spilling some at Madoka’s sudden request, Homura stopped herself just in time. She took a second to recollect herself before replying. “A toast to what though?”

Madoka hadn’t really thought about it, she just thought it looked cool in movies and wanted to recreate it.

“Um…how about to…beating Walpurgisnacht tomorrow?”

Madoka wanted to beat herself up for being so awkward, but she hid it behind an even more awkward laugh.

It seemed to somehow work though, getting a chuckle out of Homura before she raised a glass up to Madoka, smiling at her.

“To beating Walpurgisnacht then.”

Getting lost in Homura’s eyes, Madoka mentally snapped herself out of it and raised her glass to match Homura’s.

With a clink, their glasses collided, causing the wine to swirl around and a chime to echo around them. Soon after, they both brought the glass up to their lips, taking their first drink.

Surprised by its taste, Madoka voiced her thoughts to Homura.

“It started off a little strong, but the aftertaste is sweeter than I expected.” While a slight bitterness was present, it wasn’t completely overpowering. “Is it the same for you, Homura-chan?”

“It definitely tastes better than what I’m used to.” Homura cleared her throat. “But I think it has more alcohol in it too, my throat burns a bit.”

“Really? I couldn’t tell. Maybe it's because I don’t have anything to compare it with…”

Wondering about the alcohol percentage, Madoka decided to bring the glass up for another taste.

Not wanting to be left behind, Homura quickly followed in Madoka’s footsteps.

With each following sip, the wine seemed to grow sweeter and sweeter. The faint bitterness that was there before was now nearly extinct.

This wasn’t the kind of sugary sweetness you’d find in something like a juice, however. It was more refined, like the taste of fresh hot tea stirred with honey.

It wasn’t long before Madoka finished her glass. Bringing it down, she turned her attention to Homura.

It seemed like she wasn’t too far behind, her glass almost empty too.

“Are you feeling anything yet, Homura-chan?”

“No, I still feel fine.”

“Yeah, me too.”

While one glass obviously wasn't enough to get full on drunk, Madoka had expected to at least feel tipsy.

Should they wait a little longer for the effects to kick in? Or did they not drink enough? Could magical girls even get drunk? That would suck if they couldn’t.

Crawling across the bed, Madoka reached for the bottle on the nightstand.

“I’m going for another round, do you want one too, Homura-chan?”

“Yes please.”

***

Madoka had taken longer to finish her second helping, spending more time in between sips just talking and laughing with Homura.

The two avoided mentioning anything about magical girls or Walpurgisnacht, an unspoken mutual agreement to just enjoy themselves tonight. 

Soon enough though, Madoka felt the weightlessness in her glass. With a sigh, she was about to go for a third serving before she felt it, a subtle yet glowing warmth on her cheeks.

Placing a hand on her face, Madoka confirmed that her face did in fact feel warm to the touch.

Now that she was aware of it, her head also felt lighter. Was this the “buzz” her mother talked about?

“Homura…chan?” Madoka’s thoughts had trouble keeping up with her voice. “I think I’m starting to feel something.”

Looking over at Homura, she also had a noticeable flush, eyes squinted slightly behind her glasses.

As if also just noticing for herself, Homura giggled at the realization.

“I think I can feel it too, Kaname-san.”

“No wonder mama likes drinking so much…” Madoka stared at her hand as she got used to the sensation. “...I feel so relaxed.”

“Me too!” Homura enthusiastically leaned in, startling Madoka. “It’s like, when I think about tomorrow, I’m not worried at all anymore. If it’s just the two of us, then we will definitely win!”

Faced with Homura’s innocent smile, Madoka couldn’t resist smiling back.

It seemed like the alcohol had a greater effect on Homura, probably due to a lower tolerance or something.

Closing her eyes, Madoka was glad she agreed to Homura’s idea. “Thank you, Homura-chan.” She whispered in a heartfelt voice.

“Huh? What are you thanking me for, Kaname-san.” Homura had a dumbfounded expression on her face.

Madoka thought it was cute. “For being here, talking with me…drinking with me… I really appreciate it.”

“But it was your idea for me to come over?”

“I know, but you didn’t have to come.” Madoka was honestly surprised Homura agreed to stay over, it was a really sudden, spur of the moment kind of idea. “I’m glad you did though. I would have never got to experience drinking with someone close to me if you didn’t.”

Stunned by Madoka’s sincerity, all Homura could do was accept her gratitude.

“Y-Your welcome, Kaname-san… It makes me happy to know I helped you.”

Laughing a bit at Homura’s hesitation from being acknowledged, Madoka decided to tease the poor girl further.

“You’re always so formal, aren't you, Homura-chan?” Leaning in closer, Madoka practically breathed into her ear. “I told you calling me Madoka is okay, didn’t I?”

Watching Homura fumble with her words, doing everything in her power to avoid eye contact, made Madoka want to hug the girl like a stuffed animal. But she contained herself for now.

Falling backwards, Homura buried her head into a pillow. Madoka could just barely make out what she said through her muffled shouts.

“I’m sorry Kaname-san, but there’s no way I can do that! It’s too embarrassing!”

While Madoka was amused by her reaction, she didn’t want Homura to explode or something.

Backing away from her, she toned down the intensity of her teasing.

“That’s alright, Homura-chan. The longer I wait, the happier I’ll be when you do call me by my first name.”

Giggling, Madoka fell onto her back as well, now laying on the bed opposite Homura. This left her staring at her ceiling light though, which was strangely irritating. Has it always been this bright?

“Homura-chan? Is it okay if I turn the light off? I think we should probably go to sleep soon.”

“Yeah, it’s fine with me Kaname-san.” Flipping over, Homura freed her face from the pillow. “Do you know where your family keeps the futon, I can go grab it if you want?”

“Futon?” Madoka chuckled. “Don’t be silly Homura-chan, you’re sleeping with me tonight.”

“Eh…?”

While Homura was frozen in place, Madoka had enough time to get up and turn the lights off. Slowly walking back to the bed using only the moonlight, Madoka stood beside a laying Homura.

Taking Homura’s wine glass from her hands, she placed both of them on the nightstand beside the wine bottle.

Feeling bold however, Madoka gently reached down and took off Homura’s glasses. Folding them, she placed them on the nightstand as well.

“Come on Homura-chan, scoot over.” Madoka nudged her shoulder. “Or else I will have to climb over you.”

After a brief moment, Homura reluctantly moved, giving Madoka enough space to lay down right next to her.

Making herself comfortable, Madoka noticed that Homura was practically stiff as a board, doing her best to not make any accidental physical contact.

Not wanting to bring it up herself, Homura eventually managed to stutter out what was on her mind.

“A-Are you sure this is alright Kaname-san, I don’t mind sleeping on the floor…”

“Of course it’s alright, Homura-chan.” Under the covers, Madoka placed her hand over Homura’s. “Besides, if you slept on the floor then I’d just have to sleep down there too.”

Despite how faint the moonlight was, Madoka could still see a small smile on Homura’s face.

Closing their eyes while facing each other, they tried to get some rest.

***

Homura wasn’t sure how much time had passed, all she knew was that despite feeling sluggish, sleep seemed impossible right now.

Being this close to Madoka was nice, but weren’t they moving a little too fast? And while most of the alcohol’s effects were gone by now, she still felt a radiating warmth on her face.

Of course, sleeping next to Madoka didn’t help with that either.

It wasn’t just that though. Left alone with her thoughts in silence, Homura couldn’t help but start worrying about tomorrow again.

The odds of victory were not in their favor, even if they somehow managed to defeat Walpurgisnacht, they most likely wouldn’t be alive to celebrate.

Tossing and turning, Homura let out a frustrated sigh at how much it bothered her.

Why did it matter if she could just reset and do it all over again. It would be like this timeline never happened at all…

But it did happen… And it would keep happening, over and over again until she got it right.

Homura shivered just thinking about it.

Turning back time wasn’t an option right now, Homura didn’t have the strength to do it.

They would just have to make the best out of what they currently had.

And if they failed…well, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe the two of them could just…

“Are you still awake, Homura-chan?” Madoka’s voice rang out despite being a whisper, cutting her thoughts short.

Surprised that Madoka was even awake at this hour, Homura turned over to face her.

She could just barely make out Madoka’s head peeking out of the blankets, hair down and a slightly worried yet warm expression on her face.

“Couldn’t sleep either, huh?” Madoka asked in a playful tone.

“Yeah… Something like that.” If Madoka was having trouble sleeping, Homura believed that she must have also been worrying about tomorrow. “I-Is there something on your mind, Kaname-san?”

“Was it really that easy to tell? I thought I hid it pretty well…” While what Madoka said could’ve come off as a joke, Homura thought she just sounded tired. “...But I guess, there are a few things on my mind.”

Waiting for Madoka to continue, Homura was met with silence, causing her to hesitantly speak up.

“Y-You can tell me if you want, Kaname-san.”

With a faint chuckle, Madoka began to get up.

“Do you mind if we sit down again, Homura-chan?”

“Oh um, sure.”

Complying with Madoka’s strange request, Homura sat up. It wasn’t like she was really tired right now anyways.

While she did that, Madoka had moved a little further down the bed to sit, similar to the positions they were in an hour or two ago.

It was fairly late already, all that could be heard was the sound of each other breathing and the rhythmic tapping of rain against the window.

Homura's voice was the first to interrupt these noises.

“Are you alright, Kaname-san? You’re not feeling worried or anything, right?”

“No, not worried, it's just…” Madoka let out a weak sigh. “...Everything seems so real now, doesn’t it? I know that no matter what, we both have to fight tomorrow. That’s not why I can’t sleep though. I just can’t stop thinking about the things I dreamed of. Everything I ever wanted to try or do… It hurts knowing I might leave it all behind…”

“Kaname-san… I…” Homura was never the best at comforting others, she never really had the chance to before. “I’m sorry… I know this is all unfair but…”

Struggling to find words, it was Madoka that stopped her from speaking any further.

“Don’t apologize, Homura-chan. It's not your fault. I only have myself to blame.”

“That’s not true…” Homura refused to let tears fall, yet her voice still faltered. “You didn’t choose any of this. All you wanted to do was help others. There’s no reason to feel bad about that.”

“Maybe so…”

Madoka still seemed conflicted, her head low, like she still had something heavy on her mind.

Murmuring out into the dark, Madoka actually sounded shy for the first time that night.

“I know it’s selfish to ask, but there's actually one other thing that I wanted to do tonight…and I kinda need your help with it, Homura-chan.”

“You can ask me anything, Kaname-san. No matter what it is.”

“Well… I really want to know what…” With a gulp, Madoka closed her eyes, hesitating for a moment before continuing. “...What kissing someone feels like.”

…

“K-Kiss!?”

Homura’s heart skipped a beat. She did hear Madoka correctly right… And why was her mouth suddenly so dry.

Did Madoka drink too much? No, she barely seemed affected by the alcohol earlier, it definitely must have worn off by now.

So then why was Madoka telling her this!?

Thinking about it rationally, Homura began to piece it together.

When Madoka wanted to drink with someone, they ended up drinking together.

So now that Madoka wanted to kiss someone… Connecting the dots, that could only mean—

“Homura-chan…”

Hearing the sincerity in Madoka’s voice, Homura was freed from her jumbled thoughts.

“Y-Yes, Kaname-san…” 

Blushing deeply, Madoka stared longingly into Homura’s eyes.

Oh.

This was really happening, huh?

Homura thought about this before, but she never planned on confessing until after they defeated Walpurgisnacht. She wasn’t even sure if Madoka liked girls, let alone someone like her…

Yet here she was, feeling like all of her dreams just came true.

“So… Is it okay if we kiss, Homura-chan?”

Unable to form a spoken word, all Homura could do was nod.

“Thank you…” Madoka happily breathed out.

Placing both hands on Homura’s shoulders, Madoka slowly leaned into her.

Closing her eyes, Homura accepted the embrace, waiting for their eventual contact.

Not daring to move forward, all she could do was wait until Madoka reached her. Keeping her eyes shut, she waited…and waited…waited for the moment that Madoka would—

“—Hmmm!”

Feeling something pressed against her lips, Homura instinctively tried speaking only for no words to come out.

Something had physically stopped her from speaking.

Whatever it was, it felt soft, extremely soft. Homura felt more relaxed the longer it stayed on her lips.

It was warm too, with a slight dampness to it as well. A sweet floral aroma filled Homura’s nose, similar to the wine she drank earlier.

Opening her eyes, she was met with pink hair. Madoka’s face was close, really close.

That’s right, this was real.

Madoka kissed her, she just had her first kiss with the girl she loved more than anything.

Watching as Madoka’s face eventually backed away, the pressure on her lips went along with it.

Staring at each other, they were both gasping heavily, trying to catch their breath.

Looking at Homura warmly, Madoka’s face grew more and more red.

“D-Did you enjoy that, Homura-chan?”

Still processing what just happened, Homura was unable to answer Madoka as she fought hard not to pass out from excitement.

Noticing this, Madoka gave a knowing smile and asked a simpler question.

“Do you want to do it again?”

Responding with another quick nod, Madoka pulled herself close to Homura again.

Placing her hands on the back of Homura’s head, Madoka pulled the girl in, pressing her lips into Homura’s with much more passion than the first kiss.

Now that Homura knew what was happening, she moved her own arms to tightly hug Madoka’s lower back, bringing their bodies even closer together.

As their kiss deepened, Madoka ended up pushing Homura onto her back, separating their lips momentarily.

Using this as a moment to breathe, Madoka remained hovering over Homura, a loving look in both their eyes.

“More?” Madoka panted out.

As Homura nodded for a third time, Madoka smiled seductively before locking lips again.

As their bodies intertwined, and their chests pressed against each other, Homura could feel the beating of her own heart align with Madoka’s.

***

Coming apart for the umpteenth time that night, Homura took a moment to look around Madoka’s room as she caught her breath.

Outside the window, the sky seemed just a shade brighter than it had been earlier, the sun would be rising soon.

“K-Kaname-san? I think it’s almost going to be morning.”

Looking over for herself, Madoka sighed at the realization. Rolling off Homura’s body, she fell onto the bed.

Making herself comfortable, Madoka threw an arm around Homura, pulling her close.

Homura was glad she didn’t have to pry Madoka off and make her go to sleep. It wouldn’t have taken much to convince her to keep making out until morning.

Leaning into Madoka’s warmth, Homura adjusted the blankets to cover her.

“Try to get some rest, Kaname-san…” Giving Madoka a kiss on her forehead, Homura whispered to herself. “...We will have to be up early today.”

Enjoying the sight of Madoka’s peaceful face sleeping beside her, she burned the image into her mind.

It looks like Homura had been proven wrong, it was possible for Madoka to be even more adorable than she already was.

Then again, Homura never thought she’d get to kiss Madoka either. If two impossibilities had been proven wrong today already, who’s to say they won’t win against Walpurgisnacht.

Feeling the flickers of hope within, Homura no longer felt worried about the witch’s arrival. Besides, there were other things to worry about right now.

First of all, there’s no way she would be able to sleep, especially after what just happened. She’d probably be reliving this moment every time she closed her eyes.

Homura supposed that this was a good thing though, there was still some evidence that needed to be dealt with.

Someone had to put the wine bottle and glasses back before Madoka’s parents woke up.

Not to mention the sore spots Homura felt all over her neck. She needed to find a way to cover those up, it would be too embarrassing if Madoka’s parents saw them. Hopefully magic could be used to get rid of hickeys.

Sighing, Homura reluctantly freed herself from Madoka’s grasp. Sitting up, she was alone in the dark.

She would probably need to stop time in order to sneak downstairs. After that, well she’d deal with the marks Madoka left her. By the time that was done, she should hopefully be tired enough to rest.

The order to evacuate will be on the news this morning, they had maybe a few hours left to get some sleep.

Stepping out of bed quietly, Homura transformed into her magical girl uniform. Despite feeling the ground beneath her feet, everything still seemed like a dream.

Looking out the window, Homura gazed at the sky above. While the surrounding houses and trees were still pitch black, there was a single spot of deep dark blue that was otherwise untouched by the stormy clouds.

The stars were just faintly visible through it, and as Homura stared at them, she thought to herself.

Maybe…just maybe…everything would work out in the end.

***

The clouds were finally opening up, the light coming in through them made the skies above near golden, almost like heaven itself.

It would only be fitting then, if what stood below them could be described as hell.

Ruined beyond recognition lay what used to be Mitakihara City, debris sticking out of the ankle-deep water that had flooded its entirety.

There, among the wreckage, laid a pink-haired girl holding out her soul for the one she loved most.

“Homura-chan, you…finally called me…by my first name… I’m…so happy…”

The pattering of the dying rain was loud enough to drown out the sound of a gunshot, yet the anguished cries of the only girl remaining could still be heard through it all.

With a whir and a click, that very same girl disappeared.