I give Mami a call. The phone rings and after a couple of moments, she picks up.

"Hello?"

"Hi Mami. Is it alright if I stay at a friend's place? It's rather urgent."

"Is your friend from the same class?"

"Yes, Homura is my science partner. You might've heard of her."

"Oh, the honor student. If it's her, fine. Let me know in advance when you plan on coming back."

"Okay. Bye."

"Take care. See you."

   She hangs up. I move in the direction contrary to the one towards my house. A while later, I find the familiars and follow them. They are unaware of my presence, probably because of their one track mind towards their current goal, i.e., Homura. They're definitely terrifying when it comes to their faces, which really makes me wonder about what exactly they want to do.

   I reach another fork in the path when the rest of the familiars are visible. The sight shocks me. The dolls have tomatoes and apples and are throwing them at Homura. She hardly attempts to defend herself, getting hit by many of them.

    I call out to her. She cannot hear me. I get closer, into her line of vision so that she knows she's not alone. The familiars stop, dropping all they held in their hands. She lifts her head.

"Why won't you stop?"

I reply in a monotone,"I don't like seeing people being hit by their own familiars."

"Even then, don't you have better work to do? For example, managing your studies or being around your friends."

"I can take care of all that later. Just so you know, a demon being attacked by its own familiars looks pathetic. I could help with your appearance, people aren't going to be scared of you if they see you like that."

"Really? Well if you're up to the challenge you'd start with staying over, seeing how late it is."

"I guess I'll have to." Little did she know I've already informed Mami, expecting this outcome.

    She opens the door to her apartment and lets me in. We enter the hall. Everything inside is neat and orderly, quite unlike the mind of its owner. She lets me sit on a couch. There is silence for a long time.

    I break it.

"I have a way to make you convincing, depending on what you'd want people to think you are."

"What is your ulterior motive?"

"The same as yours, except I might have some resources that you don't, plus I'm willing to help you with that. We could do this together."

"I've always managed alone."

"Yet this time it's getting to you. Give yourself a chance, just once. If it doesn't work you can go back to this state. That is, if you're even that lucky."

    She reluctantly agrees. I show her ways to get her self-esteem up, how to cope with her emotions to delay or even prevent a complete breakdown, considering its effects on the universe. The entire time I keep contact with Sayaka, reporting about any progress made.

    At school, we find that there is conveniently a project that has us paired with a ten-day deadline. The two of us finish it in record time and continue with therapy ver. delay the apocalypse , day in and day out.

    On day 4, we submit our project. Our teacher is impressed. Madoka and Sayaka want to meet me, but I have to keep a fair distance so as not to allow Homura to get suspicious. She puts a hand over my shoulder and takes me to the corridor. She begins to speak in a tone of urgency.

"I need to meet Madoka alone soon."

"I'm not sure Sayaka will allow for that. She's obviously suspicious of you and protective of her as well."

"Then we'll just have to meet her together."

"Let's go."

    We go to the grounds and find Madoka, Sayaka and Hitomi chatting. I call Madoka, asking her to get me her notebook from the class. We enter the hallway, empty, with the exception of Homura.

"Did you really call me out so we could meet her?"

"Yes, but I had to lie."

Homura walks towards Madoka and says, "Be ready. It won't be long now."

"What could you mean by that?"

"Please just trust yourself. Try to be truly happy. I can't explain anything more."

    Homura stops speaking, to which I call out her name, then snap my fingers in front of her face to get her back into reality.

    Madoka looks scared. She appears to want to run, but she's frozen in place. A golden light begins to emanate from her, her face taking on a more calm composure. At the same time, I spot Sayaka from the window. She's just noticed we've been gone for longer than usual and will probably find us here soon.

I've seen enough of the signs. Madokami is trying to emerge. It's not time for her arrival yet. How do I stop her?

~ Interrupt by holding Madoka's hand.
(Continues in 6 a)

~ Interrupt by taking her away from Homura.
(Continues in 6 c)