Something that might be Homura Akemi or might be Madoka Kaname inelegantly shuffles out of the darkness while you are alone. She makes no effort to conceal herself, as Noriko has proven reasonable, based on her observations.
"You've been busy lately haven't you? I don't know what's wrong with this timeline, but of all the things here you're the one that's been the most perplexing to me. It brings me back. It's been so long since I've met someone of any importance who I didn't recognize."
Homura(?) pauses, seemingly to reminisce, her eyes glazing over slightly, but before a response can be uttered, she speaks again, voice on a higher register, as if doing an impression.
"It's nice to meet you Noriko! You kind of remind me of Homura-chan. Maybe you two could be friends? And as friends, maybe you could tell her, or me, since I'm her friend too, what exactly it is you're doing. Please?"
Noriko's initial reaction was something unlike her. Or, perhaps, more correctly speaking, how she would have reacted before she became a Magical Girl. Her eyes widened and she had to put a hand over her mouth to stop from rudely leaving it agape. Somehow, paradoxically, she knew exactly what she was looking at, and yet, she had no idea why or how it came to this.
Of all her battles, of all the things she's seen... nothing like this.
She had to shake off the shock, violently, physically, literally shaking her head a bit before returning to her usual demeanor.
Even as her face returned to being stern and unreadable, her voice couldn't help but lose confidence.
"What... who... are you? You look..." The words 'barely holding together' felt insensitive here. "...disheveled."