Chisato had the hardest time finding her daughter.
It was the most frustrating problem for a mother to have. Sure, they had gotten a bit distant over the past year or so. That was a necessity, and she had hoped her daughter understood that. It was a medical necessity, and the last time Chisato spoke to her she seemed to be doing just fine. The call actually got cut short because all of her friends were over, so surely she was doing fine without her mother, right?
At least, she hoped so. If Chisato had found out that her little girl resented her in some way, that'd be terrible! No, that couldn't be it. Chisato's daughter moved after the storm wrecked her apartment, and she texted her new address to Chisato, and then Chisato, like a dummy, lost it. No, her little girl wasn't avoiding her. It was just a mistake. That had to be it.
Still, without an address, Chisato was a little bit lost on how to reconnect with her child. One thing she knew for sure was that her child was still going to class, because Chisato would get report cards in the mail and they were good grades. From there, it wasn't hard at all to find Infinity, and it wasn't hard to get someone to tell her where her daughter was, and it wasn't hard to find the class.
She didn't go inside. No, she didn't want to interrupt classes, not when her daughter was taking them so seriously. Instead, Chisato waited outside, hands behind her back, leaning against a wall. Occasionally she would look at the clock, watching minutes pass as she fidgeted nervously. At one point she took of her glasses and cleaned them with a little bit of cloth she had been keeping in her purse. It wasn't until the bell rang and classes ended that Chisato started searching the crowd with her purple eyes, looking for one girl in particular.
She was already nervous about speaking to her daughter, and it wasn't really helping that there was now an angry looking teen storming towards her. Chisato doesn't know this girl. What did she even do?!
Homura's classes dragged on way too long. She made no pretense to hide the fact that she was well beyond this material and only wanted to be in this class to be with Madoka. Today was especially boring, her head against her desk looking like she was enduring the purest form of torture. Saotome-sensei might accused her several times of not paying attention in class, but every time Homura was called upon she knew the answer right away.
The one relief Homura had was that she could, anytime she wanted, glance over at Madoka and be reminded that there was always at least one bright spot in what would otherwise be a terribly gloomy world. Homura truly does love her Madoka.
The bell rings, and they shuffle out of class. Homura waits for Madoka to be ready to go, anticipating the joy of getting to walk home with her. It isn't until they shuffle out of class that Homura is suddenly distracted. She stares, wide eyed, at the woman leaning against the wall. She rushes towards that woman, not even knowing what to say to her after all this time. It isn't until the much older woman almost seems to cower that Homura allows her disposition to soften.
There's a moment's pause before Homura says, "... Mom?"
Chisato stares at Homura, and then a voice that Madoka has heard maybe all of once says, "Homhom-chan?"
Class is very important! And unlike Homura Madoka needs to pay attention in order to keep up. Her small laptop is out in front of her and her fingers tap quickly over the keys as their daily lecture is given, doing her best to write down what Saotome-sensei is teaching in her own words, since that's one of the ways she was told would help her remember the material better later.
Maybe if their teacher had gone into a longwinded rant about one thing or another that men shouldn't be picky about when dating women Homura could have at least been entertained, but sadly that isn't the case today. Madoka does look very studious when Homura glances over at her, focused intently upon her task of transcribing. She in fact looks very much like she often does when sitting at her secretary's desk outside of Homura's office at Salamander, though the uniform is of course far more scholastic than corporate.
Though their teacher doesn't notice Madoka is visibly suppressing giggles whenever Homura easily rattles off answers as their teacher thinks she's catching her napping.
As class gets out Madoka packs up her laptop and slings it's bag over one shoulder, holding onto its strap while eagerly taking Homura's hand, because holding hands is both acceptable when walking in the hallways and enjoyable as well. "You know, I bet we could find a way to get some of your paperwork on a laptop for you so you would at least be able to get something done. I really appreciate you being here with me, but I do get a little sad seeing you so miserable." For someone who has the powers she does and has repeated things over and over wasting time must really be like torture.
For her part Madoka doesn't see anything at all that catches her attention other than Homura's quick pace as they exit the classroom, most likely because she's never seen Chisato before in her entire life. She gives Homura a curious look about the manner of approach, only to blink in surprise when Homura calls the woman 'Mom'.
Now Madoka looks at her more closely, recognizing the color of her eyes and smiling a little at the glasses. Then she speaks up, calling Homura by the pet name that Madoka thought was so cute.
Despite the tension in the atmosphere Madoka immediately perks up, face brightening. "Homura-chan, is this your mother?" She releases Homura's hand and takes a step forward, holding her hands in front of herself before bowing politely, "It's very nice to meet you, Akemi-san! I'm Madoka Kaname!"
As for what that actually means? Well, she'll let Homura broach that subject as she wishes.
Bringing paperwork on a laptop? Homura considers. "Yeah, but could you imagine Saotome-sensei suddenly looking at my screen and reading it out loud? Actually that might be funny." It'd also be the kind of thing that gets teachers annoyed at you. The last thing that Homura needs is Saotome's ire. "At the very least it'd be something to do while pretending that I still need notes. Still though, it's not that bad. If I wasn't in class with you I think I'd just drive myself to distraction by wishing you were there."
Chisato, for her part, looks very much like she could be an older version of Homura. Purple eyes and black hair are the obvious things, but it's not as if Homura is the only girl around with that color combination. The exact shape of her face, though slightly more angular due to age, is a little more telling. Her black hair is tied up into a bun behind her head, and her glasses are black, not red. She wears a long white dress that goes down to her ankles, high cut around the neckline and with long sleeves down to her wrists. She wears a black vest over her dress, unbuttoned and parted in the middle, and a navy blue purse hangs from her shoulder.
"Well, since I've already met your parents, Madoka-chan..." Chisato's eyes dart towards the pink haired girl as Homura speaks, mind racing as she tries to figure out what's going on right in front of her. Homura's met this girl's parents? And they're holding hands? Nevermind that, what happened to Homura's hair? She's reaching up with her hand, and flipping it outwards so confidently. A tiny ring glimmers on her finger.
"Madoka-chan, this is my mother, Chisato Akemi. Mom, this is Madoka Kaname. She's my wife." Chisato goes pale, looking straight at the ring she just noticed.
"WHAT?!"
"Just kidding. She's just my girlfriend." Homura looks up at her mother's eyes, but Chisato isn't calming down, nor is she becoming less pale. "Okay, seriously... I was just kidding, mom." Homura is starting to feel really guilty now, because Chisato actually looks like she might cry. "... are you okay? No seriously. I wouldn't have--"
Chisato suddenly laughs out loud. It's loud, forced laughter, and there is no mirth in her eyes. She's trying, so hard, to relax, but it's clear to Homura that she just can't. Homura looks over at Madoka, wincing. After a moment, Chisato turns away, coughing into her fist and clearing her throat.
There is a very long pause, and when she speaks Chisato's voice is very soft, almost apologetic. "I- I'm sorry. I haven't spent nearly enough time with you. I know that I haven't been around much, but the thought that you might get married without me even knowing scared me a little, b-but now that I get it it's a really funny joke!"
Homura's eyes narrow. Her mother isn't telling her the full truth. However, she doesn't have time to call her out on it before Chisato turns towards Madoka, bowing her head slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kaname-san. I hope you've been taking good care of my Homhom-chan. I don't know why she's acting so tough now but she's really a soft and sensitive little sweetheart."
Homura sticks out her tongue. She isn't acting!
Madoka considers Saotome-sensei's reaction to that, and actually has a hard time guessing what it'd be. "...not as bad as if you were looking at a dating website," she finally says in a solemn tone. They got a lecture on why those were a bad idea just a week before. "I'm glad you're in the same class as me too, Homura-chan," she agrees.
The resemblance is certainly there once Madoka is looking for it. Maybe she should have recognized that sooner with how Homura dressed up in glasses for her birthday? The pink-haired girl looks happily between Homura and the woman now confirmed as her mother, nodding excitedly to her girlfriend as she makes to introduce them. She neatly files away the name Chisato for later, perhaps much later depending on how things go. When she's properly introduced she starts to bow politely again, only for her eyes to widen and take a step back from Homura in surprise, "H-h-h-homura-chan..!"
Of course she realizes right away that Homura is trolling her mother, and perhaps Madoka herself, but that doesn't make it any less shocking. Especially since eventual marriage is actually something they've discussed recently!
Once the shock wears off Madoka is smiling with closed eyes and a slightly pained, embarrassed expression, though when Homura's mother still seems to be upset about something it changes to one of concern instead. Then Chisato laughs, and Madoka is realizing that meeting Homura's mom isn't going to go anything close to what she was expecting at all. She gives a worried, questioning look to Homura, but calms a little herself once Chisato visibly makes the effort to calm herself down.
Well, that was very odd, but Madoka is going to do what she thinks is best and act like nothing strange ever happened. The two of them haven't seen each other in over a year and it really isn't surprising that there'd be confusion and tension between them. If she hadn't seen her own parents for a year... lots of crying and hugging, probably.
Still, she has wanted to meet Homura's parents, and when Chisato speaks to her she warms back up quickly. She also can't quite help herself as she's told Homura is a soft and sensitive sweetheart, stepping closer to her girlfriend and wrapping both of her arms around one of her Homura's, clinging to her lightly and enfolding both hands around one of Homura's, "Hehehe, I know she is. Don't worry, I'm doing my best take very good care of her, especially her sensitive and sweet little heart~!"
Sitting placidly one the hand around Homura's facing Chisato is a very similar small ring wrapped around her finger.
"Lucky for me, I have no need for a dating website." Homura smiles knowingly at Madoka. "I'd hate to have the kind of trouble Saotome-sensei was talking about."
Outside in the hall, as the students begin to clear out and go on their way, Homura glances sideways at Madoka and smirks. Yeah, she was trolling her girlfriend a little bit, too. Seeing Madoka's cute reaction makes her squeal internally.
Chisato is studying closely at the way Homura looks at Madoka, because mothers know that look.
When Madoka looks at Homura, Homura shrugs. She really has no idea what's going on. Sure, Homura's joke may have been a little much, but she didn't think it was that cruel. Yet, Chisato... still looks pained. To anyone else it might look like a blank expression, but Madoka might recognize it from Homura. She's fighting back tears.
It isn't until Chisato sees the ring on Madoka's finger that she relaxes, at least a little bit, though the worry remains behind her eyes. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. It makes me happy to see her with so many good friends, and now even a girlfriend. She used to be so lonely."
Homura looks away, and her mother suddenly gets self-conscious. "Ah! I hope I'm not embarrassing you!"
"She already knows," says Homura. "I haven't hid a thing from her."
Chisato nods, and then clears her throat. "So how long have you two been seeing each other?" asks Chisato, focusing a lot on this strange new girl holding her daughter's hand. "Were you at her last birthday party? I heard so many of her friends there, but I don't remember their voices. I'm sorry."
Chisato turns towards Homura, with a slight tilt of her head as she clutches her hand over her chest. "Homura-chan, I'm sorry, but I lost your new address. Could you give it to me again? Also, your phone number..."
Homura suddenly frowns. It's not a serious frown so much as an 'oh i'm dumb' frown. She takes out her phone. "Sure. One moment."
"... could you write it down instead?"
Homura blinks, putting her phone away, and checking to see if she has any paper. "Yeah, one second. Are you coming over for dinner?"
Chisato looks at Madoka, and then at Homura. Then, meekly, "W-well if you don't have other plans."
Madoka spares a peek back towards their teacher, "I would, too."
There's no lack of affection in Madoka's eyes as she looks at Homura, especially when she hugs onto her girlfriend's arm. Her eyes sparkle, and she doesn't seem worried at all about embarrassing Homura by talking in such sweet, cutesy ways about her in front of her mother. It also seems to have calmed Chisato down a little? Which makes Madoka think that she's telling the truth about her reasons for being worried. She's rather relieved, because she probably couldn't help but rush over and try to comfort her if she did start crying, and that might not be very appropriate given the circumstances.
She eases up on her grip to Homura's arm, but remains holding hands with her again, giving a gentle squeeze when Homura looks away. Suddenly the conversation is turned to her, and Madoka looks to Chisato and smiles, "I was! I understand if you didn't hear me because it was a very, um..." memories of Crescent Beams flying all over the place, Mami pointing a gun at Kyouko, Sailor Moon drinking an entire spiked bowl of punch, or trying to, "energetic party. Eheheh..."
No, that sounds strange! Salvage, salvage! "B-but we started dating a couple weeks after that! It'll be nine months on the 25th," her head turns and she smiles up to Homura, "Right, Homura-chan?"
Madoka gives a sympathetic look to Chisato and then a mildly embarrassed one to Homura as the phone number and address are mentioned. She lets go of Homura's hand when writing things down are mentioned. She pulls her laptop bag over her shoulder, unzipping a side pocket and pulling out a small flip notepad with a glossy white cover with a stylized black lizard on the front quick as a whip and flipping to an empty page while pulling out a mechanical pencil, clicking it a few times before jotting down pertinent information on it. Homura Akemi at the top, underlined, followed by Home Address, Home Phone, and Cell Phone numbers.
The yellow paper with blue lines is ripped free, the pad put away with the pencil, and Madoka steps forward and holds it out to Homura's mother with both hands in a very polite, somewhat formal manner.
This contrasts with what happens when dinner is brought up, Madoka trying to take Chisato's hands very gently with her own and looking up with a sweet, inviting smile, "We couldn't possibly have plans more important than properly receiving Homura-chan's mother. We'd like it very much if you would." A quick glance to Homura to make sure she isn't completely off base, but she can hardly imagine she is.
Is it telling that she uses 'we' and speaks for them both? Madoka does so naturally and without even thinking about it.
Homura isn't at all embarrassed by the cutesy way the various women in her life are talking about her. If anything it only confirms in which one way her mother is like her girlfriend, which isn't surprising considering what she's read about people modeling their ideas of romance upon their parents. Of course Homura would be subject to that same trend.
If Homura has to gun down a few youma to regain her credibility after this, well... she was probably going to do that anyways.
Still, Homura's eyes are on her mother, and she has no idea what she's thinking. Not that Homura ever fully understood her parents. Chisato has more or less retreated into unreadability. She isn't going to cry, but her smile is faked. Homura doesn't like it. This isn't the impression that she wanted Madoka to have of her parents, but... well... this is reality.
"It sounded very energetic." Chisato speaks in a cool voice. "Someone said you were... LARPing?" She says that word like she knows what it is. "You must be pretty good to be able to do that so quickly. When I was your age, every time I tried to roleplay people would get bogged down in rules and dice rolls."
"That's right," confirms Homura. "Of course I was crushing on her for a bit before that."
Nine months? Chisato thinks back. "So just a couple of weeks after her birthday?" She's silent for a moment. There's a scrunch between her eyebrows, as if something isn't adding up. "Ah, but you knew each other before then." There's another pause, and then a smile. "Well, you've been dating for a while."
Homura can't quite find her own notepad, which is fine because Madoka has hers out and ready. When Madoka hands over the piece of paper, Chisato blinks at Madoka and takes the paper. "Thank you, Kaname-san. I suppose if you've been dating for that long, I shouldn't be too surprised that you know that by heart."
When her hands are taken, Chisato looks down at Madoka's hands, and then Madoka herself. She doesn't seem to mind the handholding, or rather it doesn't affect her general sense of unease. There is a little bit of shyness and insecurity there, now that her emotions are a bit more readable, but she does smile sheepishly at Madoka. "Are you sure you don't have something more pressing? No... LARPing?"
"We don't," says Homura, firmly, as if to squash with certainty any notion that there's anything more important to do. When she sees Madoka looking to check if it's okay, Homura nods. She wouldn't have asked if it wasn't okay.
Chisato looks between the two of them, and especially looks at Madoka. "I'm surprised that you can be that active, Homura-chan, considering your heart trouble."
"My heart's been fine since the surgery. The medicine worked. I think I'm in the clear," says Homura. "Though... um..."
"You don't have to say it. You have a life here now. I wouldn't want to mess that up." Chisato's voice has a definite tinge of sadness to it. Homura is about to say more, but her phone rings.
When she looks at her phone, it's clearly something from work. "What timing." She hands it to Madoka. "I'm sorry, I really do need to talk with my mother. Can you handle this, Madoka-chan?"
Madoka actually has next to no idea what LARPing is, or how roleplaying and dice rolls go together. Clearly she must have been there because Homura was her friend and less because sweet live action roleplay was supposed to be happening at this party. "Eheh, y-yeah, it was certainly something." She can't help but remember it all a second time, "...I think there was a lot of fighting over 'rules', though."
Admitedly that does catch her attention, what Chisato might have been like at their age. It puts a happy smile back on Madoka's face, "Oh, was that the kind of thing you liked? It'd be neat to know about what things were like and what you liked to do when you were our age, Akemi-san." A softer smile, "Though I'd understand if you'd rather catch up on recent events with Homura-chan." Yes, the young pink-haired girlfriend does seem to take an interest in the mother, and seems eager to get to know her better.
"Mhm!" Madoka replies, confirming the time when they started dating. Then to being friends before then she nods, "We've been good friends for a while now. Homura-chan helped me a lot when I moved back from America, so I'm grateful. It's partially in thanks to her that I'm getting such good grades!" A bright smile is given between the two of them. Having a girlfriend to study with who knows all the information by heart is handy indeed.
"You're welcome, Akemi-san." As to whether or not it's surprising she knows that information immediately Madoka merely smiles softly and nods in agreement. Really, she'd probably know that by heart even if Homura were 'merely' her very best friend, but being her girlfriend, partner, and secretary as well means it'd be almost irresponsible not to.
Okay, Homura's mother being shy, even a little bit, at her hands being taken is simply adorable. Chisato is clearly where Homura got so much of her cuteness! Homura answers the question of more pressing issues for her, and firmly so, so Madoka leaves that as the final say on the issue.
She lets go of Chisato's hands after another couple moments, not wanting to make her overly nervous or embarrassed. "Homura-chan hasn't had any trouble with her heart so far as I know since I met her," she comments head tilting to the side and eyes looking upward as they so often do when she's thinking carefully. "I think if she did the nurses at Mitakihara General would have called me right away."
She blinks when she realizes that might seem very odd, especially given the joking about marriage, so she adds, "I volunteer there in my spare time and they're very nice about letting me know if something happens with one of my friends. Luckily that's not too often!" Anymore. It really used to happen way too often, and the mild embarrassment at that shows on her face.
A mild look of sadness shows on her face at the mention of Homura clearly wanting to stay, her heart going out to the both of them. Family is so very important to her and she can't help but imagine it must be hard having such distance between them. She looks just about to say something when Homura's phone rings, Madoka blinking in surprise. "I've got it," she tells Homura quickly before taking a few steps to the side.
A deep breath. An exhale. She answers the ringing phone, "Salamander Salvage and Construction, office of Homura Akemi. This is Secretary Kaname speaking, how may I be of service?" Her voice is warm and friendly, though restrained in an obviously well rehearsed manner. "Oh, they did?" she asks after a few moments of talking from the other side, the pink-haired girl visibly relaxing and smiling, "Ah, I'm so glad to hear it! I know you said they were very particular, but I was sure we'd be up to the task. Mhm. Yep! Oh, no, don't worry, it really wasn't any trouble. We understand that a residence is a home as much as it is a house, we're just glad everything was ready in time." Another pause and then a nod, "Yes, I'll make sure to tell her as soon as she's available. Thank you so much for letting us know."
The call ends and Madoka has a bounce in her step as she walks back over and offers the phone back to Homura. "That was the Governor; her brother arrived today and when he visited the family estate he didn't realize there had been so much damage." She giggles softly, "We'll have to give the crew some extra appreciation for doing such a good job."
Chisato frowns sympathetically at Madoka. "It's never fun when friends fight. I hope it turned out okay." When asked about her youth, her eyes widen slightly. Then she looks down at the floor. "W-well... yeah... I had... friends and we... did stuff." After realizing that it sounds very nonspecific, she chuckles at herself. "It was a long time ago, but I wouldn't mind discussing it over dinner."
Chisato is giving the two teenagers the thousand yard stare, and Homura takes the pause in the conversation to talk about studying. "Yeah, I had a lot of time to study things in the hospital. It was a good thing too, because I think I'd have fallen pretty far behind if I couldn't study during all that time."
Chisato nods, but she has to clear her throat before she says anything. "We're actually very proud of Homura-chan's grades. She must work really hard."
Homura shrugs. "Actually once you get ahead of the curve it starts being easy. I could probably take college courses by now but I'd rather focus on other things."
There's a slight sadness to Chisato's smile. "I suppose you might be eager to grow up, considering your... condition. I can't blame you for wanting to live a full life, just in case." Homura clears her throat, and starts looking down the hall. Chisato continues, "Still, no matter what, you'll always be my Homhom-chan." Homura chuckles at the use of the nickname, and her mother giggles along with her.
Madoka talks about heart trouble, or lack thereof, and Chisato nods. "I'm glad to hear that. We were so worried about her. That's why we sent her to Tokyo, so that she could receive the best care." When Madoka mentions Mitakihara General, Chisato's eyes widen. "Ah? Did you meet my Homura-chan there? Were you taking care of her? Eeeee that's so cute!"
Homura almost sounds sad that she has to break the news. "That would have been cute, but no, I was discharged before Madoka-chan came back from America." Chisato looks visibly disappointed. Romantic fantasies smashed!
As Madoka answers the phone, Homura walks up closer to her mother and whispers. "What is it?"
"What is what?"
Homura squints. "Do you think you're fooling me? I'm your daughter. I know when something's up." Her expression softens, as does her voice. "You can tell me. It's okay."
Chisato looks down at Homura, frowning. She doesn't say anything. She just can't bring herself to. When she finally does speak, it's to say, "I'm glad to hear that your heart trouble isn't bothering you anymore. You even seem so physically active, from what your teachers have been telling me." With a smile and a tilt of her head, she adds, "It sounds like a real miracle."
Homura blinks, and leans away. She looks at Madoka, who is just finishing up the call. "Oh, right. Well, thank you, Madoka-chan. We can give them a bonus or something. They'll be saving up for Christmas sometime soon, right?"
Chisato is staring at Homura in a much different way, surprised and a bit less depressed. "You work for Salamander?"
Homura shakes her head. "No, Salamander works for me." She takes her mother by the hand, and her girlfriend by the other. "Shall we go?"