[ Voice ]

[bydesign]

[ Madoka's voice comes over the journal singing!! ]

Happy birthday to me~! Happy birthday to me~!

Happy birthday [ ........ nope too shy to go on. She cuts herself off with giggles at and is almost audibly covering her face. She still sounds pretty pleased though; ] Ah, never mind, forget that! It's too embarrassing!

But, back when everyone was still at Isla Empieza, did anyone see somewhere that might have cake? Just a small one would be fine...

Comments

[infinitime_loop]

[ Homura holds her head high, falling into the brisk, no-nonsense walk she used back home without really thinking about it. It probably isn't helping matters, and some of the residents start muttering. ]

We should avoid the main roads. Use the rooftops if necessary- we can't afford any trouble.

[bydesign]

D-do you think there will be trouble? Yeah, I definitely want to avoid it...

[infinitime_loop]

Hopefully not. Even if there is, I'm sure we'll be fine.

[ Few things that aren't Witches can stand up to two magical girls, after all. ]

[bydesign]

I'm not afraid. I just don't want to have to fight.

[infinitime_loop]

... that would be for the best. It would attract the Navy's attention, after all.

[ Homura hesitates, before confiding in Madoka: ]

I wouldn't feel comfortable fighting the inhabitants of this place, either.

[ Homura's changed an awful lot, but even she would hesitate to use her powers against civilians who aren't magical girls or Witches. ]

[bydesign]

I don't think it will come to that... We're just shopping before we head out.

[infinitime_loop]

I suppose that's true.

[ She doesn't want Madoka to worry. Not on her birthday. So Homura forces herself to relax, and gives her friend a small smile. ]

It shouldn't take us very long to pick up what we need, after all.

[bydesign]

[ Madoka pats at where she's storing her journal! Probably a small purse or something, I don't know. ]

Hajime-san gave me a list of ingredients!

[infinitime_loop]

[ Homura can't judge, she's keeping her journal in THE VOID BETWEEN WORLDS (or whatever strange hammerspace the back of her shield opens up into) ]

That will be useful. Did she say how much of each ingredient we'll need?

[bydesign]

Yes! She knew all the measurements and everything.

[infinitime_loop]

That's impressive. We'll have to thank her the next time we see her.

[ That's like... three times she owes Hajime personally, at least. ]

[bydesign]

She mentioned her birthday is next month. Do you think we can buy a little extra so we have the ingredients for then, too? That way if we're close to her at the time we could make her a cake! [ Not that Madoka is sure they'd be anywhere near her at the time but who knows. ] Just in case.

[infinitime_loop]

[ Who knows, indeed. Homura nods her agreement, though. ]

We can do that. We'll stock up on flour and sugar, but we'll have to buy more milk and eggs when the time comes; they won't last that long.

[bydesign]

Oh, you're right. I didn't think of that.

Ahh... I should have asked her what kind she likes...

[infinitime_loop]

It'll be fine. I don't think she'll have a problem with either chocolate or strawberries.

[ Because seriously, who doesn't like chocolate or strawberries ]

[bydesign]

Right~?

I don't think anyone will complain if someone else makes them a cake, hehe.

[infinitime_loop]

Especially not someone like Hajime.

[ For a moment, Homura looks a bit- ruffled? Exasperated? - as her last encounter with Hajime comes to mind. ]

... do you know if she's doing alright?

[bydesign]

She seemed alright to me... But I don't know for sure, I guess.

[infinitime_loop]

That's good.

[ They enter the market area; Homura glances over at the stalls, looking for any selling fruit. ]

... the last time I spoke to her, she and her friends didn't even have a ship yet. It's worrisome.

[bydesign]

I know I've spoken to her since then, at least. She has a crew, and one of them is prone to sea-sickness - but that means they're all out on the water.

[infinitime_loop]

[ A bit of the tension drains out of Homura's stance. ]

As long as they're out on the water and haven't sunk their ship yet, I'm sure they'll be fine.

[bydesign]

I'm sure Hajime-san has it under control.

[infinitime_loop]

You're probably right.

[ Homura pauses, looking over the market stalls with a frown. ]

... I don't see any strawberries. Are they out of season?

[bydesign]

I think they are... Maybe raspberries, then? Those are in season!

[infinitime_loop]

[ After a moment, Homura nods, focusing in like a hawk on the hunt. MADOKA'S BIRTHDAY CAKE IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. ]

There. That stall has them. How many do we need?