Passionate Despair

Act 1.

It had been a month since transfer student Kaname Madoka had arrived at Mitakihara Middle School. Everything had been going great, sorta. She got to hang out with Sayaka and Hitomi again, who, had introduced her to two girls, one by the name of Tomoe Mami, and the other, Sakura Kyoko. They were all friendly enough, and Madoka was just happy to be home.

Of course, things had also been strange. A quiet girl by the name of Akemi Homura was... causing Madoka some confusion. Homura was the most gorgeous girl Madoka had ever met, but she was also the most mysterious.

Out of no where the girl hugged her! And wouldnt let go! It scared Madoka a little, but she didn't hold any grudge or ill-will towards Homura. But she felt like Homura was always watching for some crazy reason. And the thought made Madoka unnerved, but also, kind of intrigued. What was the story behind Homura?

She wanted to uncover it. She wanted to be friends with the raven-haired beauty. And Madoka, the determined, clumsy person she was, started by going to Homura's desk.

Madoka was nervous, so much so she was fiddling with her skirt. How could she talk to this ice queen? Her thoughts were cut short though when Homura spoke for her.

"Hello, Madoka. Is there anything I can help you with?."

"I- uh- can I call you Homura? If that's okay, um, I don't have many friends here, and was wondering if you would, um, l-like to hang out sometime, but only if you want to!"

Madoka was alarmed when Homura started to smirk, her dangling earring sparkling in the light. And that's when she spoke;

"Are you quite sure you would want to hang out with me out of everyone? I wonder what your peers would think, especially, that Miki Sayaka."

Madoka glanced towards the back of the classroom where she noticed Sayaka glaring at them. It made Madoka sad.

"Yes, Homura-Chan, I choose to hang out with you." Madoka smiled.

Homura smiled back, but her smile reminded Madoka of a spider cornering its prey. A shiver ran down her spine.

A shock ran through Madoka when Homura gently pulled her down, and she felt Homura's lips against her ear;

"There is a dance coming up in celebration of this school's heritage, if you would like to spend time with me, allow me to accompany you to this dance." Homura's breath tickled Madoka's ear.

Madoka pondered it, they just met after all! Wasn't a dance too much? Is she asking me to come as friends or as more...? I don't even know if I like girls!

But then she caught Homura's eyes, and felt like she was melting. Maybe I do like girls...

"Y-Yes Homura-Chan, I will come with you to the dance." Madoka stuttered out.

Homura grasped Madoka's hands, and Madoka realized how cold they were.

"I look forward to it, the dance is tomorrow, I will come by your house and pick you up. Good Day, Madoka."

Homura gracefully walked away, and Madoka yelled;

"Wait! Don't you need my addre-"

Homura was already gone.

Madoka tilted her head in confusion, but then went to sit down. Sayaka came up and slammed her hands on her desk.

Sayaka yelled; "What were you thinking? Talking to that de- to that girl! Let alone accepting her invitation! She's bad news, Madoka!."

" I can make my own decision's, Sayaka. No one hangs out with her. I want to be her friend. Please, don't try to stop me." Madoka said sadly.

Sayaka blinked.

She turned and glared at Kyoko who was stifling her laughter at her little outburst.

"Whatever. Dont say I didn't warn you, Madoka."

Madoka nods, and the bell rings signaling for class to continue. Madoka could barely focus, she was chewing on a pencil and imagining what it would be like tomorrow at the dance.

Madoka could do ballet, she use to take lessons when she was younger. But dancing? With a partner? Madoka was unsure. What if she wasn't good enough? Homura didn't seem like the kind of person to care but... the insecurity was still there.....

"Kaname, Kaname-San, KANAME-SAN!."

"Yes! Ms. Saotome!" Madoka stuttered out.

" Pay attention, girly! Please answer this question; what is the square root of 10?"

"Uh..., 9?"

Ms. Saotome sighed. "Kaname-San, that was incorrect. NEKOZAWA!"

Nekozawa stood quickly. "YES MAAM!"

And the rest of class was a blur for Madoka. She tuned it out. She was busy daydreaming of dancing beneath the moonlight with the mysterious raven.

School passed quickly from that moment onwards. She didn't even realize she was walking home with Sayaka and Hitomi. It felt like magic.

And sleep wasn't possible that night either. She tossed and turned and had a dream, a dream of a demon and a goddess, in love but separated by wishes. It made her heart ache.

And once she had her strange dream she just laid awake, imagining what it would be like when they danced, would she get her first kiss? How did Homura know where she lived?

Madoka found it strange that Homura knew certain things about her, like her address and personality, but it oddly made Madoka feel content. And Admired. Homura clearly paid attention to her, but why? What's special about her? She would confront her tomorrow at the dance.

Meanwhile, Homura relaxed under the stars, watching the Clara-Dolls play. Homura turned her head when she heard The Incubator start speaking.;.

"Your worried about tomorrow, aren't you Akemi Homura, you put on that cool front but you can't hide your true emotions from me. I am well aware of your... predicament with Kaname Madoka. She's the whole reason you have created this new world, you have created it to trap your prey and then pounce. To take on the burden in which you call The Law of Cycles. How do you plan on juggling all of that? Hmm?."

"I have heard enough now, Incubator. I don't need to hear your opinions on the matter. I am in no way worried about tomorrow."

In response to this, The Clara-Dolls throw a tomato at Homura in spite of her blatant lie.

Homura's eye twitches.

"Whatever you say, Akemi Homura. I am certainly not complaining, with you at the dance occupying Kaname Madoka, I won't have to worry about consuming another one of my corpses."

Homura started laughing darkly, and then patted The Incubators head.

"It's so strange. I hate you yet your company is mostly All I have right now. I look forward to whatever you decide to entertain me with next, In-Cu-Ba-ToR~."