150/The New Transfer Student

The New Transfer Student
Date of Scene:	08 July 2015
Location:	Infinity University - Classrooms
Synopsis:	Madoka appears at school, apparently having been overseas this whole time. A shocked Homura Akemi, having been unable to find her for nearly two months, tries to figure out how to respond to the sudden development. Homura's intensity scares the shy Madoka, but is there a possibilty of the two of them becoming friends?
Cast of Characters:	Madoka Kaname, Homura Akemi

---

Madoka Kaname has posed:
Infinity University sure is different from Mitakihara Public School. Standing here, looking at all the fancy glass corridors and high-tech classrooms, waiting to be called in for her introduction by Kazuko-sensei -- well. It's hard to believe she ever went here at all.

Madoka sighs quietly, leaning against the wall outside the classroom door. She'd tried her best not to feel intimidated by the looming skyscrapers and the dark, dignified uniform. She'd even asked her mom to lend her that book of positive affirmations to prepare for this first day at the genius school.

'I will face today with confidence and a cheery smile!' 'I am a good person with a lot to offer to the world!' 'I will not compare myself to others!'

'Today's going to be a great day!'

She's been repeating that last one over and over in her head since she woke up. It's not helped her nerves one bit.

"Well, now that that's out of the way, let's give a big warm welcome to our new classmate!" The voice of her new teacher snaps the pink-haired girl out of her anxious reverie with a start. Her heartbeat skipping within her chest, Madoka takes a deep breath, clutches the handles of her school bag.

Walks in, turning a shaky smile to her classmates.

"H-Hello! My name's Madoka Kaname. It's really nice to meet you all!"

(I really hope these red ribbons aren't too flashy...)

Homura Akemi has posed:
Homura Akemi has been quietly freaking out for the past couple of days.

Most people probably wouldn't notice. She isn't the most friendly or emotionally open person, with the exception of one or two people she considers very close. One might notice, if they looked very closely, that her Soul Gem has been getting dark a more easily than usual, forcing her to burn through Grief Seeds faster than she'd like. Yet there are only a very few people who would even know about that, and almost none of them are in her class.

Yet, internally, she could scream. First she shows up in a new timeline where everything is different. Then she can't find Madoka, no matter how hard she looks. She couldn't even find where Madoka /lived/, let alone go to school.

That wasn't even the worst of it. The worst part was the rumors.

Rumors of a pink-haired girl in a hospital. Reports conflicted on the exact hospital. Someone thought they spotted the girl at a certain CD store, a particular one that Homura had noted as being near the site of a known witch, Gertrude, who hadn't shown up yet.

The worst rumor of all was the rumor of a pink-haired having saved a white cat who seemingly was ran over by a car. Homura tried her hardest to find that particular white cat before it was hurt, but with everything being so different she couldn't find it at all.

It wasn't fair. Homura wanted to scream at kami-sama for jerking her around like this. It was too much.

Then one day, that day being today, Madoka just strolls into Homura's class like nothing was ever wrong.

Homura stares at Madoka for a long time as the pink one introduces herself, that blank, possibly angry stare covering her face. Her mind barely registers Madoka's introduction. Homura hears the chorus of "Hi, Kaname-san!" from the class and realizes too late that she forgot to say anything.

What follows internally are alternating waves of relief in terror. She's just fine, not wounded at all. But doesn't saving the cat mean she made a contract? Homura doesn't see a Soul Gem ring on her finger, so maybe not. Maybe she lost her soul gem somewhere?! No no, that's silly, she'd have collapsed or something. Maybe Madoka is just hiding it somewhere, like on a necklace? Well, she's never done that before.

Not that 'she's never done that before' means anything in this new world.

Mostly this happens internally. On the outside, Homura is just staring intensely at Madoka, being quiet and not saying anything. Homura starts looking around for an empty seat, trying to guess where Madoka will sit. Of all the things that have caught Homura off-guard, this is probably the scariest, but at least she was able to meet Madoka again.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
Well, everyone looks nice, at least!

Madoka's nervous smile eases into a more genuine one as the chorus of 'hi' and 'hello' reaches her ears -- to be honest, she'd been a bit afraid that every Infinity student would be a cold, perfect genius, judging her from the minute she walked in the door. And she can't say she's *completely* over that fear yet since, well, she's seen more than a few of those just walking to school today. But if her class is full of nice people, then it won't matter too much!

The teacher's electronic marker clacks against the board as she writes out her name. "Tell us a bit about yourself, Kaname-san."

"Oh! Well..." the girl begins, a bit of a blush rising to her cheeks. Did everyone already know that she lived in America for a while? That's the only really interesting thing she can think of to talk about. Otherwise, what can she say that would impress Infinity students?

Jeez, she should have thought about this ahead of time.

"I-I actually went here before, back when this school was Mitakihara," she explains, tripping over her words just a bit. Her hands fidget unconsciously, tightening around the straps of her bag. "But my mom had to work in America for a few years, so I moved away before middle school." Madoka looks around the room, seeing if she can spot any familiar faces -- Sayaka's in another class, she thinks, but maybe there's someone else --

That's when she sees it. The angry glare from the girl with gorgeous black hair. In a sea of friendly faces, the cold look pierces through her cheery facade like an arrow of ice.

Her heart falls in her chest. Someone already doesn't like her? But -- but *why*?

"I'm...uh."

'Happy to be back,' she tries to say, but her mind is stalling, unable to look away from the judgmental gaze. Her fidgeting doubles as she hides the trembling in her hands.

"U-Um..."

Homura Akemi has posed:
Homura continues to stare at Madoka, completely oblivious to how she looks to the newcomer. Oh if only she had a mirror.

Her purple eyes stare at Madoka, unable to look away. Her mouth is an unreadable line, slightly frowning. Her eyebrows are a cold, worn neutral. From the way she looks, one would never guess that she adored Madoka.

.oO(Madoka is nervous, but that's actually normal for a first impression. She wasn't the most confident, usually. The best ones never seem to know how great they are... wait, she keeps looking back at me. She can't know me, we've only just met. Am /I/ making her nervous? Maybe I shouldn't stare.)

Homura looks away, in a gesture that could easily be mistaken for disinterest. No one would ever accuse Homura of being a social butterfly.

.oO(America... so that makes a lot of sense. She moved away, was that before or after Mitakihara burned down? Seemingly before, from her description.)

Homura's mind starts trying to put the pieces together, things clicking into place. Questions are answered, but the answers bear further questions. She'd have to get Madoka alone to ask her... no, too early for that. It would be too strange to single her out and just start interrogating her, wouldn't it?

Homura had to be careful. Without the ability to rewind time, things were incredibly delicate. It was hard to hold onto hope, but her grip on that hope is the only thing keeping her from falling off a cliff.

Homura's baleful gaze turns back to Madoka. She's very serious, very focused on Madoka specifically. She /has/ to speak to her alone soon. If there's still a chance that Madoka hasn't made a contract yet, Homura can't afford to give up this opportunity.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
Perhaps sensing Madoka's anxiety, Kazuko-sensei stops writing on the board and faces the class once again.

"Alright, class. Kaname-san has been studying in America for three years, so she might be a bit behind on our material. I want everyone to pitch in and help her out if she needs it, alright?"

Madoka's blush intensifies as another chorus of 'ok!' echoes back from the class, her posture slouching in defeat. It's embarrassing, but true: America's schools weren't nearly as rigorous as the standard Japanese school, and here she is, at one of Tokyo's most elite institutions. If she can't cut it...

(The girl's looking away now. Is that a good sign? It doesn't make her feel any better.)

"Your seat's over by the wall there," the teacher says, gesturing to an empty spot on the floor. Madoka nods vigorously -- it's over at last, thank goodness -- and walks swiftly over to the indicated space, keeping her head down to avoid the unreadable stare that prickles at the back of her neck.

(She really must hate me, huh.)

The thought makes her so flustered that she can't figure out how to work the high-tech desk, fumbling around with it for upwards of a minute. Some friendly soul has to come over and set it up for her, and by the time the girl is well and truly settled, her face is as pink as her hair.

ONE CLASS PERIOD LATER

"Hey, Kaname-san! Where did you live in America? I have some relatives over there!"

"You're so tiny, you're like a grade schooler!"

"So you're fluent in English, right?"

Madoka turns her head from one student to the next, their barrage of questions overloading her poor brain, which was still reeling from the math lesson that started off their day. Part of her is glad that people are being so friendly, but the attention is not something she's used to at all. And...does she really still look like a grade schooler?

She laughs nervously. "Y-Yes, I guess I am fluent. I still have an accent, though. Honestly, I'm glad to be back to Japanese." Her eyes dart around for an escape. She wants to make friends, really she does. But this is so much so fast. It's a bit overwhelming for a girl who's naturally a bit shy.

Homura Akemi has posed:
Homura watches as Madoka finishes her introduction, eyes locked onto her while Madoka finds her seat. Even as class resumes, Homura spends a bit too much time looking at the new transfer student. She doesn't breathe a word to her, not even getting up when she sees Madoka struggling with the electronic desk.

(She was about to, but someone beat her to it, really! Stunned silence has a way of disabling most forms of conversation.)

END OF CLASS

Homura is a bit slow packing up after class, distracted as she is. After nearly two months of wondering and worrying, for Madoka to suddenly show up like this is a shock. Homura finally stands, only to hesitate as Madoka is suddenly surrounded by students. They're crowding her. She's getting nervous.

Homura can't stand it, and she just can't wait any longer. She walks up behind the crowd, speaking in an authoritative voice. "Madoka Kaname-san. Infinity is a lot different from the old Mitakihara. Have you had the tour yet?"

Homura's intimidating presence causes the students to spread apart a bit, and Homura steps into the gap they create. "I'd very much like to show you around, Kaname-san. It wont take long."

It was a bit of a role reversal from usual. Typically Homura would be the new kid, and Madoka would be the one escorting Homura to the nurse's office. That things would change so much is something that Homura will have to adjust to, and quickly.

She extends a hand, her cold gaze unchanging, "Would you come with me?"

She wanted to phrase that as a polite invitation, but the severity in her voice turned it into a sharp demand.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
An unfamiliar voice breaks through the din of small talk and questions that surrounds her. Madoka straightens, looking around curiously for the source -- and nearly leaps a foot in the air when she finds it.

That girl again, with the beautiful hair and the cold, unreadable eyes. She's walking over to her desk, and...and...she's being friendly? Sort of? Madoka blinks once in confusion, mouth open just a bit, as she'd been preparing to answer yet another of the people that have surrounded her.

"Ah, I see," she finally spits out, making eye contact with the approaching girl once before her gaze flits away anxiously. It is certainly nice of her to be concerned, and much more than she expected from her after what happened during her introduction. She just can't figure out *why*.

Maybe she completely misinterpreted what that stare actually meant?

But why is someone who wants to be friendly so...well. She doesn't want to say scary, but that's the only word she can think of.

It really doesn't help that she seems to be demanding her to come along on the tour. Madoka stares a bit at the offered hand, glancing a few times to her expressionless face and back again. "Um," she says, realizing that she'd been silent a moment longer than is really polite. "Yeah, sure. Thank you very much."

The girl takes her hand and stands up from the desk, looking back at the small crowd of astonished students behind her. "Sorry...I'll talk to you guys later?"

And then they're walking out of the classroom, silence hanging between them like a leaden curtain.

Homura Akemi has posed:
Homura Akemi leads Madoka out of the classroom. Her pace is brisk. She doesn't speak up. She moves with direction, as if she already has a path in mind. Her hand keeps a hold of Madoka's, but Homura doesn't look back at her.

Homura's mind races. How should she approach this? If Madoka has already contracted, any warning Homura gives her would be useless... Normally she'd start with that, but things were so different this time.

Maybe, since Homura doesn't have all the information, maybe gaining information would be the best course of action.

Once Homura is sure that the two of them are isolated, at least from other classmates, she slows down. "So, I've been hearing rumors about a girl matching your description. I'm wondering how many of them apply to you."

Madoka clearly hasn't been hurt, at least not seriously. The teacher would've said something, or she'd be in a cast, or a wheelchair, or something similar if it was anything serious. As much as Homura would like to make sure Madoka was okay, it's pretty clear that she is, so that isn't really the most urgent question on her mind.

"... have you saved any cats, recently?"

God that sounds so weird, Homura.

The two of them walk by the nurse's office, and Homua points it out to Madoka, "That's the nurse's office. Are you planning on being the nurse's aide?"

Homura had to stop herself from adding 'again' at the end of that sentence.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
Well. This is an odd way to be walking.

Madoka looks around bashfully at the other students on their break as she and this girl make their way down the hallway, hand in hand. After being so terribly intimidating this morning, after making her think that someone at this school already hated her -- this is how she's chosen to give her the school tour? She obviously has nothing against holding hands; really, she loves physical affection, from both friends and family. But this...

It's just so strange. And yet, at the back of her mind...so very familiar.

Her tour guide's voice breaks through her moment of deja vu, snapping Madoka back to reality with a small gasp. "R-Rumors?" she repeats, incredulous. Had she done something already that people want to talk about? Her family's only been back in town for a week! "I mean...some of them might be me? I don't know what you've heard, I really don't do anything interesti--"

Wait, did she just mention saving a cat?

Madoka cuts herself off, looking confusedly up ahead, not that the black-haired girl can see it. Perhaps the few moments of silence get her surprise across.

"I -- I mean...I haven't -- no?" she finally says, not entirely sure what the right answer is. "My dad's allergic, so we can't really take in any strays. Did you lose your cat, Miss -- ah."

That's right. This mysterious girl hasn't even introduced herself yet.

"I'm sorry. I don't know your name yet."

The question about being the nurse's aide is met with the same silent puzzlement as the first question. Possibly more, as she definitely *had* been planning on being the nurse's aide, and she can't for the life of her figure out how her escort would know that. "Yes, I am," Madoka replies, tilting her head a bit to one side. "Did Kazuko-sensei tell you, or something?"

Homura Akemi has posed:
Homura quietly walks past the nurse's office. She already gave away a bit too much. Still, hearing the news about the cat...

"I guess it was someone else. Don't worry about it."

Homura's grip loosens a bit. She might be relaxing. Yet, no, she isn't in the clear. As long as Madoka has magical potential... she isn't going to be safe.

When Madoka asks her name, a few moments of silence pass before she answers.

"Homura Akemi."

So... if the cat story wasn't her, then the hospital story may not have been her, either. Her question about being the nurse's aide may have given too much away. A few more moments of silence pass as Homura tries to think of an excuse.

"I overheard her talking about it to another teacher."

A lie, but probably one she wont ever be called out on.

"The cafeteria is up ahead, to the left. The gym is a bit further on... I'll show you."

Homura releases Madoka's hand and walks further ahead. The two of them stand in a long hall. There are no doors and no classrooms nearby, no nearby corners, and the windows show no one but the two of them around on either side. Homura turns around suddenly to look Madoka dead in the eyes.

"Listen to me very closely. If someone comes up to you promising wishes or miracles, don't believe them. Only tragedy can result from listening to people who talk like that. They're only tricking you."

Homura pauses. Can she just come out and ask something like that? Well, it's a bit too late to avoid sounding like a wierdo. She didn't see any sign of a Soul Gem, but Homura wants to make sure.

"No one has approached you with promises like that already, have they?"

Madoka Kaname has posed:
Homura Akemi. Of course a beautiful, cool girl would have a beautiful, cool name.

"Akemi-san..." Madoka says quietly, only half-aware that she said it out loud. 'Homura' -- that means 'flame', right? It certainly matches the girl's elegance and confidence, though she seems to have more in common with ice than with fire, from what she's seen.

No. That's a mean thing to think. Even if she is a bit...intimidating, the other eighth grader has still taken time out of her day to help her find her way around Infinity. She's being nice. Calling her an ice queen is totally unfair, and she feels bad for having thought it at all.

"That's a really cool name," she says, almost too brightly. Her voice still shakes with nerves. "Thank you so much for taking me on this tour. I mean, the student office gave me a map and stuff, but I was still kind of getting lost. This school is so much bigger than I remember it--"

Suddenly, Homura's turned around and looking her directly in the eyes, and the rest of the words die on Madoka's tongue.

She blinks in surprise, bringing her hands up to her chest as she listens to the warning that comes apropos of nothing. What -- what is she *talking* about? No one's ever promised her anything like that, no one outside of her dreams. Dreams that...now that she thinks about it, there's something so naggingly familiar about them. About this.

A glass bridge between two buildings. A question.

A beginning...or a reunion?

Madoka shakes her head. "No," she says quietly, her face solemn. For the first time this morning, she seems to be really looking at Homura, instead of shying away. "Nothing like that's happened at all."

She clasps her hands together, lowering them from her chest as her nervousness gives way to curiosity.

"Akemi-san...have we -- have we met somewhere before?"

Homura Akemi has posed:
Homura watches Madoka's reaction change. She's getting more confident, maybe? More comfortable?

Well, whatever it is, Homura hears what she hoped to hear. Good, there's still time to salvage this timeline. Maybe she can get it right this time. Maybe Madoka will make it out okay. How long would it even have to last? Until she was out of her early teens? Or just her teens in general? There will be a point after which Madoka will be useless to Kyubey. Akemi will just have to last until that point.

Homura was so focused on her questions and concerned that the earlier compliment didn't even register. The intensity in her eyes is... not so much gone as much as it has been replaced with a calm melancholy. Finally, after so long...

Madoka is asking if they've met before. What does Homura say to that? They've met so many times before.

"I transferred in a couple months ago, and I was in the hospital for a bit before then, so it's not likely."

"... and... Thanks. I like your name, too, Kaname-san."

Meeting your best friend all over again was always weird. Homura has never gotten used to it in any of the previous timeloops, and this was no different. She always felt like she messed something up, one way or another.

Homura turns around to start walking again, keeping a more casual pace so as not to leave Madoka behind.

"Have you thought about joining any clubs?"

Madoka Kaname has posed:
The instant of familiarity vanishes as quickly as it had come on, leaving Madoka embarrassed, looking away from Homura once more. No, that was a silly thing to ask. Of course they haven't met before -- surely she would have remembered if they had. It's not like someone as striking as the black-haired girl would fade easily from her memory, after all.

"Ah, yeah. Then we probably haven't," she says, doing her best to smile, though it trembles slightly on her lips. How many times is she going to embarrass herself today, she wonders. "Sorry. I guess I must have had deja vu, or something."

The compliment is unexpected, and enough to truly surprise Madoka, who is the picture of bewilderment for a moment, before she brings her hand to the back of her head, bashful. "Oh, my name's not as cool as yours. But thank you anyway. It's nice of you to say." She smiles, genuine this time, the tension of embarrassment loosening as her shoulders drop back to a normal level.

Maybe she was wrong about Homura. Maybe they'll manage to be friends after all.

She thinks she'd like that.

"Clubs?" Madoka repeats, hurrying along for a few paces to be able to walk alongside her guide. Or, well, nearly alongside her. She still needs the girl to lead the way, of course. "I haven't thought too much about those. The move was pretty stressful and, well, clubs were kinda different in America," she explains, more casual than before. "I probably won't join any, to be honest. I've been trying to do community service, lately. And -- well. I'm just not very good at a lot of things." She lets out a small laugh to make that last sentence a little less depressing-sounding. "I mean, I'm good at some things. But not, like, Infinity-level good. The students here are all so amazing, I'm a bit afraid I'll get left behind."

Homura Akemi has posed:
Homura feels bad about lying but... the truth would just add to her weirdness levels. Also, telling her about magical girls and Puella Magi and contracts would just drag Madoka into the very world that Homura wanted to keep her out of.

Walking next to Madoka like this... how long had it been since Homura could just do this? Just be Madoka's friend? For several timelines she had to take a completely different path from Madoka, never even meeting her except for a few times.

For once, Homura was starting to think that maybe everything could turn out okay after all. Without the ability to accurately predict the future, sticking close to Madoka would probably be the best way to protect her. Homura couldn't afford to let selfish thinking get in the way of success, but... the selfish choice might also be the smartest.

Homura frowns slightly as Madoka talks down her own skill levels. Who cares about something like that? Homura doesn't.

"I'm not in any clubs either, but don't worry about getting left behind," says Homura. Any dissatisfaction in Madoka's life right now could be a potential wish, and wishes were dangerous. "If you need to catch up, I can help. I've studied the material pretty well, and I've made lots of notes."

That's no lie at all. Homura's been attending the same ~30 sessions of class at least... 20 times? 50? 100? It was hard to keep track after a while.

"So don't worry about getting left behind."