(AKA SHERLOCK READER)

     I enter the garden since that seems to be the only place where Homura might possibly be. I sit at a table similar to the one that night. Tired, I fall asleep after a couple of minutes. She wakes me.

"What's a girl like you doing out here alone?", she asks, mockingly.

"Would you like to join me, Homura?"

"And do what? Talk here?"

"Nope. I want to invite you out. You've not given me a phone number or an address, so I had to come here."

     She is shocked, likely didn't expect this. Seeing the look on my face makes me laugh till my stomach hurts.

"Geez, it's just a karaoke night, I've always wanted to go to one of those."
 
    I have a hunch she might just come with me if karaoke is included, she's been caught humming to herself quite a few times in class.

"I guess I'll accept just this once." My plan's working.

"You mean right now?"

"If you really want to."

     I move towards the gate. She follows. That probably means a yes. I spot another Incubator, this time a bit less injured. I call out to Homura and point out to it. On seeing her, it freezes.

"Are these cat-like animals what you call Incubators?"

"Yes, those exactly. This one isn't the ringleader, we should just leave it be for now."

     The two of us continue until we reach the place. An attendant takes us to a room. The first thing I notice is a screen, which is probably where the video will play. The room seems to be soundproof and appears isolated from the others. They give us the option of recording our performance onto a disc, which I take before she gets a chance to disagree. Homura then says she'll go first to give me a first-hand preview but keeps the song a secret. She turns on the laptop, types a bit, then checks the volume and other settings.

    When ready, she picks up a mike and moves away from the laptop, closer to the screen. She presses the play button. The screen flashes "Bad Apple". The intro sounds familiar, quite likely it is from one of the impossible to play videos.

     The music is crazy fast. She begins to sing. I didn't know it has lyrics, and what lyrics it has. They're totally in dissonance to the music. While the beat is quick and upbeat, even dance worthy; the lyrics on the other hand are the opposite. It sounds like a depressed person singing their final song. Maybe it's just me, or maybe it really fits Homura. The song is filled with emotion, and she brings them out in such a way that it appears she owns the song, even though she isn't the original singer. The music stops and she hands the mike to me.

    I guess I sang mine average - it definitely pales in comparison to the previous performance. The attendant thanks us as we leave and hands us each a copy of our recording.

    We spot something dark floating around a building — similar to smoke, yet different. I point out to it.

"Do you see that? I wonder what it is."

"That is what we call a Nightmare, or a Wraith. Don't worry about those. They're being taken care of, even as we speak."

     Indeed, a couple moments later, a gust of wind dissipates the smoke.

"How many of these are around here?"

"There were more earlier. I'd estimate a hundred currently. Once these are done with, there'll be one less problem to solve."

"And those there? The ones looking like dolls. What are they?"

"They're called familiars. They could be considered parts of a witch, but witches don't exist anymore."

"Shouldn't they not exist anymore too then?"

"Well, these ones are perfectly harmless, because they're not of a witch."

"Let me guess. They're your familiars."

"You're quite smart for someone new here. This just confirms the image you've given me of yourself in class."

"Can I be so bold as to ask what that is?"

"It's a secret."

"That's unfair. Why tell me anything else then if not this?"

"You seem trustworthy, that's why."

    I don't know what to say to that, so we continue on our way, till a crossroad appears. One way leads to my house, the other probably hers, considering her turning to that direction.

"Till we meet in class?"

    I wait until I see a few of the dolls coming towards Homura with tomatoes in their hands. Perhaps they want to give them to her, but I have another hunch, that it won't be the case. After all, familiars resemble their original being and these are hers.

I now have the choice to go to Homura's place and find out about her mental state or return home to include others into a plan to save the world. Which way of thinking should I go with?

~ I can't bring anyone else into this yet. First I'll check if Homura is still in her mind myself and then decide to break the others out of their peaceful lives.
(Go to 5a)

~ I choose to meet the others and try to get them to form a group. After all, more people means a higher probability of success. 
(Go to 5b)