In the meantime, Hanako, Shinju, Yasu, Koharu and Yosuke have made it to the unspectacular centre of yet another one of the countless small municipalities still separating Kitayama from the mountains surrounding their hometown. The difficult decision to stop using public transport — to avoid endangering more innocent lives — has quenched the desire for anyone in the group to know what wherever they are now is called. They stopped taking in the sights hours ago, after a friendly truck driver had dropped them off at what he had called “their final chance to stock up before heading into the woods”. At the time, they didn’t consider just how anachronous that sounded. But here they are. Preparing to cross into one of Japan’s biggest cities on foot through a hiking trail, now its only way in not barricaded shut by the JSDF, or worse.

Looking at her worn-out shoes, Hanako ponders how many bottles of water she could hypothetically carry on their final track. Weight is not an issue for a Puella Magi, but carrying too many bottles at once will always be unwieldy, no matter who you are.

Hanako: Mmgh… maybe… maybe half a dozen at most. …Could I carry them in my cyclone…?

Shinju: Oi, oi. Even if we’re in the boonies I think people will notice if we have a pet dust devil following us around carrying water and snacks. Man, some of these snacks though. I haven’t seen this since I was a brat… 

Hanako: Maybe… but is there really a risk of onlookers while we’re in the middle of the forest? (Hanako looks back at the display of water bottles with a pensive expression)

Shinju: I dunno. Could be hikers or something. I don’t know this area. (Shinju turns a package of “barn millet potato chips” over in her hands) At all.

Hanako: (Hanako casts a wistful look towards the water bottles, sighing before grabbing one for everyone in the group)

Shinju: All done? Well, just say the word and I could make us a whole ocean to dr– er, wait, it’d be salt water. I wonder if I could make fresh if I tried… 

Hanako: …Perhaps if we boil it. But I should hope it doesn’t come to that. These bottles are large enough for a trek through the woods, I should think. (Paying for their respective items, the two leave the store, spotting Koharu and Yosuke nearby. Yasu emerges from the restroom around the back)

Yasu: Got everything we need?

Hanako: Mm. I believe so.

Shinju: Too bad they don’t have a pharmacy…

Yosuke: Wouldn’t be much good without a prescription, I’m afraid. (he gets up from where they had been sitting, alongside the two backpacks Yasu brought with her from Tokyo, before helping Koharu up as well) All set to go?

Yasu: Sure. Lemme just make sure everything is accounted for, and we’ll head out. (Yasu makes her way over to the group’s belongings, searching through the bags)

Yosuke: We’ve been here the entire time, haven’t we?

Shinju: Thanks for watching the stuff.

Hanako: Everything alright…?

Yasu: … (Yasu takes another, more calculated search through the bag) …We’re short two of our medical kits, a sleeping bag, and one of the sodas we took from the last hotel’s vending machine.

Yosuke: Sure you didn’t just leave those at the hostel? I’ve been here this entire time. Barely anyone even passed by.

Yasu: Indeed. You two were the only ones watching our stuff since we got here. I know for a fact I had those things with us. Not sure if you noticed, but in our predicament, medical supplies are kind of crucial to survival. I wouldn’t just leave them behind.

Hanako: (Hanako casts a wary, yet concerned glance at Yosuke)

Yosuke: … and I know for a fact that no one even touched that bag between us arriving here and now. Like, what are you even implying here?

Koharu: He’s right. He’s not lying.

Hanako: (her gaze remains on Yosuke for a minute or so longer, before glancing at Koharu) …And, I can assume you were both watching our things, along with one another. …I trust you, Koharu.

Yasu: …

Hanako: Besides… (she turns her attention back to Yasu) We’re not completely out of medical supplies, right?

Yasu: Yeah. I got some in my personal pack, just in case. Never leave your eggs in one basket, and all that. Still, we’re at more of a disadvantage now.

Shinju: If there were… Seeds out here, we might not need them so much, but… 

Yosuke: Aren’t there, err, Witches around here you can hunt?

Hanako: Not any nearby that I can sense, no. It’s to be expected, the more rural areas we travel through.

Yasu: We’re okay enough on those for now, anyway. If we’re careful, that is.

Koharu: … He did not take anything. He didn’t. Why would he?

Yasu: …We should get going. Before the sun starts to set.