The Second Rondo [voice/action]

[knightlyrondo]

A

[Sayaka's been on the move constantly. Even after meeting up with Mami and Kyouko both, she didn't stay long in their company. Heroes had to protect everyone. In lulls she checked her phone. Nothing for a while. After seeing how full the gym is, Sayaka's headed off in a direction she thinks is less populated. She hasn't seen any elementary kids in this place so she assumes that area is safe enough--why would the shadows hang out in an area where there's nothing to find?

So, she finds a quiet area near there and makes a call.]

This is Miki. Where's everyone? [She means, 'where's Madoka', mostly but she hasn't seen a lot of people after meeting up with Mami and leaving her behind. She sounds tired--being on the move hasn't let her sleep much. She's also kind of hungry.] It's been kind of quiet. You better not all have been gotten by those things!

[A pause.] The gym's filled with shadows, avoid it if you can. I'm near the elementary school... if you need help, send me a text.

B

[After about twenty minutes of talking on the phone, Sayaka's going to start moving closer to the elementary school. Due to being at her wits end and not being in top condition, she's easily overcome by the shadows alone.

Oops.]

Comments

b.

[replayed]

[ Homura was watching when she was swallowed up. She could have helped the girl, but it was already too late. She wasn't fast enough. That didn't matter to her, though. But she knew that Madoka would be upset once she found out the news.

Guess it's time to check on her while class is still going on. Just to confirm her suspicions. ]

[knightlyrondo]

[Sayaka's moving back towards the middle school. She had decided to take a walk. Somehow that walk taken her to the elementary school but she's walking back quickly enough. The teacher's going to be mad. There's a quickness to her steps, yet there's nothing more than that. She sees the other girl and raises her hand in greeting.]

Akemi-san? Were you on a walk, too?

[replayed]

No.

[ "A walk" is too simple of a way to put it. Too simple. What Homura was doing was more or less lurking, if only because she had to keep an eye on everybody at once while simultaneously trying to protect Madoka.

Her fingers run through her hair as the earring that sat on her ear rings slightly. Of course, she could always attempt on trying something if she really had to, but if Madoka saw-

She would hate her.

It's not that she cared either way, as long as Madoka stayed happy, forever, for all eternity. ]

You're going to class?

[knightlyrondo]

[She tilts her head slightly. That's a little confusing--if she hadn't been on a walk during the break did that mean she was skipping? That wouldn't do.]

Of course I am. You're not thinking of skipping, right?

[She doesn't ask about Madoka like she normally would have. Why would she? Kaname's just another classmate. Not close enough to be called a friend.]

[replayed]

That depends.

[ There's no reason for her to explain further. After all, her intentions should be obvious. NPC or otherwise. ]

[losthersheep]

[ It takes a while for Mami to send a message to Sayaka, not because she's pinned down, but because she's scared. She's scared she might try to contact her and she won't pick up. When she hears Sayaka's voice on a post though, she take a deep breath and answers. ]

Miki-san.. I'm with Suzumiya-san, trying to find Ai-san. Are you alright?

[knightlyrondo]

I'm okay.

[Mami's alright. That's good. One out of three is good, right? Maybe. Sayaka sounds very tired as s he talks, though.]

Are you okay, though?

[losthersheep]

I'm fine..

[ That's worrisome, hearing that exhaustion in her kouhai's voice. She can't just ask if she's tired, she knows she's not going to get a truthful answer. ]

You can't run yourself ragged, Miki-san. You have to be careful out there.

[knightlyrondo]

I just need to catch my breath. Getting away from the gym was pretty hard.

[That's all she's going to say on that. She's not going to mention that she's only gotten minutes of sleep or how she's only snacked on food from vending machines on the last few days.]

Have you found Madoka?

[losthersheep]

You have to keep yourself safe..

[ She repeats herself, trying to get through to Sayaka, despite knowing it's impossible. She should have never left Sayaka leave her side, but then she's never been able to keep Sayaka from doing something she sets her mind on. ]

Not yet, I'm heading to where someone said they saw her last. If she's with Akemi-san though, at least she'll be safe from the Shadows.

[sleepybuster]

"Shadows"? You're sure talking about a lot of strange things lately, Miki-san.

[knightlyrondo]

I guess I really should go to the nurse's office, huh.. I was on a walk and I guess I haven't been feeling up to par lately... Riki-san, can you come out to the elementary school to help me back to the nurse's office?

[This is before she's NPC'd... Maybe she can smack some sense into him literally. Maybe.]

[sleepybuster]

[She could, maybe. But for now, regardless of Riki's NPC status, he's concerned about his friend.]

Ah... See, I thought that was the case. You probably should have gone before though, since you would have felt better by now... But either way, sure, I'll meet you there. Just stay put, okay? And take it easy.

[knightlyrondo]

Yeah, I'm sorry. I should have been more careful. I'll wait here for you.

[With that she hangs up. She's glad she managed to convince him. In her conversation, though, she hadn't realized the shadows were coming out.

That plan could have gone better. By the time he arrives, she's still there but looking a bit more confused than before.]

Riki-san?

[sleepybuster]

[When he spots Sayaka, he speeds up his pace, jogging on over to her to make sure she's all right.]

Miki-san. How are you feeling?

after B sort of? if you try to break my heart i'll just break yours!!

[happyends]

[ Madoka's been relatively safe. Thanks to Homura, that is. She feels sort of bad having to rely on the other girl, but there's only so much she herself can do even with the bow she's gotten. And she wouldn't want to let herself be turned into an NPC - because it's scary, sure, but also since she would never want to let anyone worry about her. If she got turned into an NPC, Sayaka and Mami and Homura and probably even Kyouko and all the other friends she's made in this place would be sad-- and she can't do that to people.

So even now she's mostly trying to be carefuly as she goes around, trying to either be with Homura or - like now - sticking to quiet areas. But even if there are no shadows around in those, that doesn't mean there aren't any NPCs-- including one that looks very familiar to Madoka.

So familiar that she doesn't even realise the other girl is an NPC. ]

Ah-- Sayaka-chan, there you are..! I've been looking for you, are you alright?

s-so violent...!

[knightlyrondo]

[It's been a good, if somewhat strange, day. Everyone's just a little stressed from the finals. That's normal enough. She hears Kaname before she sees her.

Huh. That's another strange thing, they weren't close enough to use first names. Maybe Kaname's just a bold person.]

Kaname-san? Yeah, I'm fine. What did you need?

can't stop won't stop!!

[happyends]

[ ...

Huh? Sayaka suddenly seems so calm despite the situation. But the stranger fact about all of this is-- "Kaname-san"? Sayaka always calls her Madoka, of course she would, that's just what Sayaka is like, so..

Why is she... ]

Um, I.. was just wondering.. [ Not really, it's not the reason she approached, but she can't help but wonder now. ] .. are you alright, Sayaka-chan..? I mean-- I already asked it, but.. [ .. how does she even put it? ] .. there's something.. different.

o-oh no! what am i to do?!

[knightlyrondo]

[She blinks at the question. After all, she already said she was fine.]

I'm pretty sure I'm okay. [She hadn't been sleeping well but that just was because of exams. She's sure of it.]

Is there?

suffer, that's what... [yanderecat]

[happyends]

Well, if it's your decision, then it's okay, and-- o-of course there's no way I'd ever be mad at you over it! [ She hasn't even gotten to the problem yet since Madoka's the type who has to reassure other people entirely before she can even get straight to it.. ]

But.. why aren't you just calling me "Madoka" anymore?

A

[masturbatestoyou]

Yaegashi here. I'm holding out okay, I've been trying to lie low a bit more after a few close ones though.

[knightlyrondo]

I'm glad. Did you finally get a folding chair?

[masturbatestoyou]

Yeah, I've managed to bash a good number of shadows with it.

[knightlyrondo]

Good. Just keep moving, okay?

[masturbatestoyou]

Right. You be careful too, Miki.