[taki-chan here to meme on homerun-chan] ♝
【♦】——It's been a while since Homura last had the chance to sit down and learn something new. She'd been reliving the same month over and over for what seems to have been years, by now... Yet for some reason, this time was unlike any other. It was bizarre and uncomfortable, but it was still Mitakihara, and she still had a job to do.
But this instance of Mitakihara was strange... Madoka was nowhere to be found, and instead there were plenty of new strangers that she'd never seen, even in the many times she's been sprinting back and forth. Akemi was sitting with one right now, after all.
Taki Tooru was older, but not by far. She had a kind voice and a gentle face and was too sweet for her own good, much like Madoka. That sympathy was loving and warm, but it was entirely too dangerous. That kind of softness got good people killed. She'd seen it all before.
Vaguely, fleetingly, while Tooru spoke of spirits and youkai and strength, leafing through a journal of her grandfather's, Akemi wondered if she could protect this girl, too. Madoka was her priority, yet she still hadn't saved her. Because she wasn't strong enough. But maybe she was strong enough for Taki, at least.
Still, they had time. Nothing worrying had happened yet, and although Homura truly wasn't accustomed anymore to spending time in leisure, she enjoyed these moments in between. When was the last time she had felt at peace?
"Please tell me more, some day. About the youkai... and yourself."
