A week had passed since the initial confrontation with the Balancers at The Bends. To the outside world, Paradise Hall was just another derelict pile of rubble, not unlike its neighbors and the surrounding businesses. Looters and rioters would occasionally patrol the streets, looking for any and all who could be considered a target for easy prey. Inside, however, the illusion was dispelled. The gym was in perfect condition, even if its residents were far from the same.

Alice had been treated to the best of the others’ ability, and was given a makeshift (yet effective enough) bandaging and brace. Mei had doubled her efforts on training, to avoid a repeat of Hotaru’s fate. Yuzuki and Kohaku arrived at Yui’s request, having made the call right after returning from The Bends. Both were assisting in training Ueno and Mei, as well as keeping a lookout, just in case someone found the truth behind the ruined facade. Chiemi was beyond consolation, spending most of her time away from the others, mourning Akari’s sudden death. Aoi was keeping everyone’s Soul Gems as cleansed as possible, and there were enough Grief Seeds stored away in case of emergencies.

And Yui was coping the only way she knew how. Like Mei, Yui focused on her training. Not to improve, but because doing so was the best way to keep her mind clear, and keep herself from falling into a spiral. At the moment, she was punching repeatedly at a punching bag that Yuzuki was holding steady. Harder and harder jabs came as the memories of a week prior crept back in. Everything Shiori said… everything she became. And those others. Moonlover, that harlequin who couldn’t speak Japanese, someone Yui struggled to fight on her own. Punisher, Yui figured, was that quiet Chinese girl. Worldeater must have been that pretentious guy who did most of the talking. And behind them all, Kyubey. As Yui’s strikes grew more vicious, she suddenly stopped, hearing a voice in her head.

Cecilia: {Yui, it won’t do to keep breaking your equipment. Especially when you cannot replace it at the moment.}

Yui: {S-Sis?! Where the fuck are you?! …Where the fuck have you been?! Fuck, never mind. Are you alright? You, uh… you already know what happened here, right?}

Cecilia: {Yes. I… I’m sorry about Hotaru.}

Yui: {Let’s just get to the point. You’re reaching out for a reason. What’s up?}

Cecilia: {I just wanted to be sure you all were okay. I can see the gym, but it strains my vision to do so. Alice is maintaining the illusion with the Baton, then?}

Yui: {Yeah. But what about you? We got our asses kicked back there. If it wasn’t for Chiemi, we’d be dead, all of us.}

Cecilia: {Shiori… I fought with her after meeting up with Kohaku. You know what happened after, more or less, given your call out to her and Yuzuki. I fought with Shiori. Briefly. I… it’s hard to recall or get a read on her power. I also cannot tell if her ability to evade my sight is due to her magic, or due to being around Kaito for a while.}

Yui: {…This is a fuckin’ mess, Sis. We knew a storm was coming, but there was no way to prepare for all this. What the fuck do we even do?}

Cecilia: {Hang tight, Yui. I have foreseen this, and an associate of mine is en route as we speak.}

Yui: {And that’s all I’m gettin’, huh? No info on who this is? Conductor, ex-Balancer, Puella, accountant, nothing? Whatever… en route means soon. I’ll just wait and see who this is.}

Cecilia: {You certainly are… taking this well enough. You’ll understand when you meet.}

Yui: {I better. So in exchange for waiting patiently, where the fuck are you now?}

Cecilia: {…I cannot say.}

Yui: (Yui’s eyes flash blue for a moment) {Ah. Say hi to Kenji for me, will ya?}

Cecilia: {What?! How—}

Yui: {You remember how we were one person kinda? You learned how to fight, gained that armor and spear outfit? …Didja really think that exchange went only one way? You go ahead and borrow my power all you like. But every time you do, you give me a little bit of your vision in return.}

Cecilia: {And you’re using it to track me?! Instead of the Balancers?!}

Yui: {I don’t need to track them. They’ll come knockin’ one way or another. We got eyes out, watchin’ in shifts the old fashioned way. Knowin’ what you’re up to is more important to me right now.}

Cecilia: {Mmmh… well, I guess I deserve that. But please, don’t do anything with that knowledge, okay? It’s bad enough keeping things true to my vision as it is.}

Yui: {Relax. S’none of my business what you do with the Birds right now. I’m focused here. That satisfy your script, Oracle?}

Cecilia: {Y… Yes. Yes, it seems fine like this.}

Yui: {Good. I’ll leave ya to it. But I’m gonna be watchin’ ya whenever ya borrow my power.}

Cecilia: {Just… be safe, Yui. All of you. We cannot let anyone else fall to these Balancers.}

Yui: {You too, Sis. You’re not immortal either, y’know.} (Yui’s fist remained aloft, centimeters away from the punching bag)

Yuzuki: (She peeks out from behind the punching bag) Yui-san? All done? 

Yui: (realizing she still has her fist up, she lowers it, shaking her head) Y… Yeah. Sorry, kinda, uh… got trapped in my head there for a bit. I’m good now. …Wait, “san”? The hell’d I do this time t’get ya all formal, Yuzu?

Yuzuki: Uh, I-I always call you that. But I guess it’d be appropriate for me to stop by now, huh… uh, Yui. 

Yui: Oh. Huh. Really? I guess that tracks… damn, man. After all these years. Guess that’s who you are, though. No need to be different, if it’s comfy for ya. Right…

Yuzuki: (She frowns) I don’t really think it’s “who I am,” or anything… 

Yui: I guess. (she rubs the back of her head, then turns her head towards Mei, on the opposite side of the boxing ring, going even more vigorously on a punching bag) Oi, Mei. Take five, yeah?

Mei: (Mei grunts as she punches a hole into the bag, pulling her fist out and panting heavily) C’mon, Ma— …Yui.  I can keep going. I need to. I need to get stronger…

Alice: I think you’re officially graduating from boxing balls there, Mei. If you won’t take it from your mom, take it from your mom’s mom.

Mei: Haah… I just… I don’t wanna be a burden the next time those bastards roll in. I wanna be able to stand at everyone’s sides and help out, y’know? When that crazy lady grabbed me from behind, I… I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t get Hotaru out of there. I was so… so fucking useless!

Aoi: (From the half-open door to Aoi’s room issues a stream of tiny Walpurgis Night familiars. They gather around Mei, patting her head, hugging her arms, and dancing in front of her.)

“She thinks it’s her fault!”     “But it’s not true!” 

“Hotaru-chan wouldn’t blame you!” 

“Everyone is with you!”   

         “Mei will get much stronger!” 

Mei: …! Wh—

Yuzuki: (She jumps to attention, reaching for her Soul Gem) Whoa! Wh-what the!? 

Aoi: (Aoi emerges from her room a moment later, hands raised) It’s okay! Nobody get out your weapons! (The familiars return to her, tittering like children) They’re mine, don’t worry. I’m sorry about them.

Alice: … Full of surprises, aren’t we?

Yui: (Yui shows no outward reaction, simply tilting her head and muttering to herself) Huh. That’s a pretty cool trick, actually.

Mei: (Mei’s eyes, meanwhile, well up a bit as she wipes her face on her sleeve) A… Aoi…

Yui: Those’re yours, Wings? That means that those things they said are how you feel, right? I mean, that’s just common sense, an’ not one of us here feels any different, Mei. Look, you can’t go beatin’ yourself up over this. We’ve all lost somethin’ we can’t replace here. We can’t get ‘em back, but we can prevent any more suffering from happening, as best we can. That’s all we can really do. Pushin’ yourself over the edge like this isn’t gonna help.

Aoi: Everything is the fault of these people that did this. Not anyone on our side. None of you should feel bad about themselves.

Though she’s not paying attention to them, Aoi’s familiars try to pile up at her chest and push her arms into position to hold them all.

Alice: (she puts her free hand on Mei’s shoulder) I didn’t even last five seconds against that, eh, colorful intruder. Of course I didn’t. But would you say I was useless? Of course not. I showed that girl that we — none of us — are just going to lie down and die. Even if you couldn’t defeat her, you still landed a hit. Even if you didn’t land a hit, you still stood up to her. Even if you couldn’t stand up to her, your sheer presence still… motivated your friends to fight in your stead. No one is useless.

Yui: The most important thing we can do now is stick together. We fight them together, we’ll come out on top. That’s about the simplest truth I got right now. I took on Moonlover with Mei, we got our asses kicked. Dunno how the fuck Shiori— er, “Firestarter” I guess fights yet. Captain says that Punisher’s just as intense as Moonlover was for us. That theater class dropout, Worldeater, he probably can’t fight for shit outside of the Dreamscape. 

Alice: … Why do they always have preposterous nicknames?

Yui: Between all of us, we got some muscle and crazy powers of our own. We just… we gotta keep this ragtag bunch, er… bunched up. (Yui sighs, shaking her head) …Yeah, never leave the speeches up to me. S’why I wanna hire a goddamn writer…

Alice: Not me.

Yui: Shit. Okay, Plan-B. My, er, point is, we need to stick together. As a collective group.

Aoi: I don’t want the girls from my old group to get involved in this. But someone needs to tell them what to do to stay safe. (She dismisses the group of familiars and they disappear into light) … I don’t think they’ll follow what I say anymore. (She turns to Yui) They know you from running this gym with me. Can you tell them what to do?

Yui: What, like a leader? ‘Cause I’m not—

Mei: Oh! I second Aoi’s nomination of Yui as leader!

Yui: Oi!

Aoi: That wasn’t really what I was saying, but you all can decide that yourselves… 

Yuzuki: Yeah, I think… it’d have to be either Yui or Hayama-san…

Kohaku: (As if on cue, she comes down the stairs into the gym’s basement) I’m back. Did you call me?

Yuzuki: Oh, we were deciding if maybe we should pick a leader… 

Alice: In times of crisis, it’s not uncommon for one person to take singular responsibility. It could help us cut back on a lot of arguing and red tape. I just don’t—

Chiemi: (she is standing in the doorway leading towards one of the back rooms, having emerged without anyone noticing) Rinju’s right. Even the ancient Romans knew this. When the going gets tough, you can’t afford to waste any time listening to every gripe and nitpick under the sun. Someone needs to make the decisions in the end. Someone whose authority goes unquestioned and unchallenged. It may seem like a risk, I understand, but in the end it will give us a higher chance of survival than continuing to weigh dozens of options until the cows come home. The longer we keep faffing about, the more of a chance our enemy gets to prepare another assault.

Alice: I don’t think that’s exactly what Aoi was alluding to. Yui’s not—

Chiemi: With all due respect, but I’m not talking about Arashi. I know she’s not up to the task. 

Yui: Ex-fucking-cuse me?

Chiemi: Plus, I can’t help but shake the feeling that she tends to overthink things. Understandable… but in a situation like this, it’s the last thing we need. When I… killed Rui Tomatsu, I didn’t hesitate. Consequences be damned. I knew what I had to do… to give Akari peace. E-Even now… that hasn’t changed. I was born to avenge her. It’s clear as can be what I was meant to do. I don’t think anyone else here can say the same.

Yui: Hold up. I’m not sayin’ I’m a born leader or whatever. Up to me, I’d vote for Kohaku, since that’s actually what she does. She’s the best out of us for the task. But who the fuck do you think you are tellin’ me what I can and can’t do, huh?

Chiemi: Am I wrong? Can you tell me, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you can, right here, right now, deliver onto these “Balancers” what they deserve? Because I can. As long as you can’t, you haven’t reached your full potential yet, Arashi. That’s not an opinion, that’s a fact.

Yui: You’re on this shit again? You got somethin’ up your sleeve that lets you do to them what I can’t? ‘Cause in case you forgot, Scarecrow back there was able to move freely in your stopped time. So fuckin’ enlighten me. What’s your grand plan, your ace in the hole that puts you above me? Above Kohaku? C’mon, kid. Let’s fuckin’ see it.

Kohaku: … I don’t think this infighting is a good idea. Leadership is something everyone, or at least most of us, have to agree on for it to mean anything. You can’t become a leader just by beating down everyone else. We’re not sukeban.

Chiemi: Please, ma’am, you aren’t actually claiming you elected your superior officers? The military appoints the people in charge based on their merits. So should we. I’ve got Magia. None of you do. I can’t think of a better qualifier to measure our abilities objectively.

Yui: That word again. “Magia”. You said that before. When I kicked your ass and sent you running. What does it even mean? What the fuck is this “Magia”?

Chiemi: “Magia” is the ultimate manifestation of a Puella Magi’s abilities. Unlocking it means you’ve become the person you were always meant to be. If you lose yourself, you’ll turn into a Witch, right? Think of Magia as the opposite of that. You find yourself. Your true purpose. Magia is defying the fears that would turn you into a Witch if you gave into them. Only by acknowledging what you were made for, you gain the power to make it a reality.

Yui: (Yui is silent throughout the entire explanation, wearing a neutral expression. Once Chiemi had finished, Yui broke the silence) …Self-actualization, huh? And you somehow tapped into this power?

Mei: H-Hey! Master, you’re not buying into this snake oil bullshit, are you?! She’s bluffing! She just wants revenge!

Yui: I don’t think she is, Mei. I can feel it. (Yui’s eyes flash violet as she stares at Chiemi) Her soul’s definitely different than all of ours. It’s… more radiant. …But that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t see you as someone who can lead all of us unquestioned.

Chiemi: (she glares at Mei) A sentiment you’re all too familiar with, aren’t you, Tsukuda? You’re welcome, by the way. Think Rui wouldn’t have turned you into a Witch if it weren’t for me?

Mei: (Mei scoffs) You think you’re the one who kept me from turning into a Witch? You weren’t the one who found me right as I was about to turn. Yui was. Yui saved my life, not you. Don’t pretend for a fucking second you give a shit about anyone or anything aside Akari. If it was up to you, you would’ve let me turn, then hunted me for my battery. Why do you think I ran away in the first place—

Alice: Look, let’s just make it a vote, okay? Captain Hayama is right. This isn’t friggin’ Mad Max.

Mei: (glaring right back at Chiemi) …I vote Yui.

Yui: I’m goin’ with the Captain.

Yuzuki: Um… Captain Hayama, you’d still give, like, tactical advice to Yui if she won, right?

Kohaku: Of course. I don’t plan on insisting if I’m not chosen. I might have qualifications, but Yui knows you all better and is more trusted, and that’s important too. I’ll provide what help I can either way. 

Yuzuki: Then… Yui. (When nobody else speaks for a moment, she continues) I count two for Yui and one for Captain Hayama. She, Alice, Aoi, and… Takahata are left. First alphabetically would be… Aoi.

Aoi: (She looks away) Don’t worry about me.

Yui: C’mon, man. You’re one of us now. Your voice matters just as much as any of ours do. Those fuckers are after you as much as they are the rest of us. So you definitely get a vote.

Aoi: (She gives Yui a stern look) I think you should remember what happened and what I did before I came here. You should watch out for people like me. But… if I have to, then I say Yui.

Yui: All of us have some kinda history we wanna leave behind us. I don’t care about then. I care about now, an’ your actions here at the clinic matter a lot more now than whatever bullshit you were in on before. Like I said, you’re one of us now. 

Yuzuki: R-right. Then… Alice. 

Alice: O-Oh, I’m supposed to vote, too? Well, I know Yui will do an excellent job if she has to, but… I don’t wanna force her into anything she’s not up for.

Chiemi: Look, this is exactly the problem. We need a leader because no one here can make up their damn mind!

Alice: Hey, take it easy, okay? If it’s so important to you that this leader’s authority goes unquestioned and unchallenged, — your words, not mine — that means you’ll unconditionally support whatever the majority’s decided on, too.

Chiemi: You talk as if she’s already been elected.

Alice: Because she has. I’m voting Yui.

Yui: Oh motherf— (she sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose) …Well then. First order of business, I ain’t a “leader” or “boss” or “Maestra” or (she pointedly scowls at Mei) “Master” or whatever. No titles or accolades. I’m just Yui. Y’all want me to call the shots, fine. But don’t ever take anything I say as an order, unless we’re under fire directly an’ I’m trying to save your goddamn lives. Question me. Call me out. Discuss shit, with and without me. I’ll be straight up leanin’ pretty heavy on the Captain’s advice, combat-wise, while we strategize. But if someone has to carry the flag for morale, then… whatever. I’ll do it.

Chiemi: (she sounds exasperated rather than angry) Come on, man. We all decide we need a leader, and then we elect someone who doesn’t want to be the leader, nor is planning on actually using the authority she’d been given? Is this some kind of joke? Do… Do you people even want to take these fuckers down? Or are you waiting until they take someone you care about before you start taking this seriously?

Aoi: (Thinking of Hotaru, she audibly sighs at the last question)

Alice: Takahata, calm down. Please. We think someone else is a better fit for the job, that doesn’t mean we don’t understand you, okay? We feel your pain, and we need you.

Chiemi: Don’t fucking patronize me, man. Don’t fucking patronize me! You don’t understand what you’re dealing with! These Balancers, they know Magia like the back of their hands. You won’t stand a goddamn chance! (she grinds her teeth) Let me show you. (she transforms, pointing her rifle at Yui) Fight me, and I’ll show you why the votes don’t matter.

Yui: No. (Yui doesn’t even flinch) You had Magia last time we fought, and I sent you running then. Now that I know what’s up with your soul, you stand less of a chance against me now. This isn’t some shounen punchy anime, Chiemi. You don’t just power up and beat your enemy. Better idea, you teach us the mechanism you used to unlock this power, and work with us as a team. You think I’m not chompin’ at the bit to get even for Hotaru’s death? I’m just not being a suicidal idiot about it, or usin’ my friends and comrades as tools to get there either. There’s more to fighting than raw power, Chiemi. And there’s more to bein’ a leader than bein’ the strongest. If you don’t even know that much, you never had the right to even try to lead us. You just wanted an army to avenge Akari, not a group to stand together against the Balancers. Go ahead and ask that Ozymandias chick how that went last time around.

Chiemi: Take that back! Take that back, you coward! You don’t get to compare me to that monster when you haven’t even got the guts to fight me! If you’re so sure you can take me in a fair fight, what’s keeping you? You’re not gonna be able to preach your way out of a fight against them!

Yui: ‘Cause I already did take you in a fair fight. Fuck, you had the ambush advantage last time! And you still ran. ‘Sides, prove me wrong. Prove to me that this is about us and not Akari. About revenge! You can’t do that by force.

Chiemi: This is about her! Of course it is! You’re saying she doesn’t deserve revenge? Is that what you’re saying? That your bravado, your high and mighty ideals are worth more than her life? Than my grief? Prove it!

Mei: (she gets right up in Chiemi’s face) Look me in the fucking eye, Chie, and tell me this. Are you willing to throw us all away, if it means getting revenge?

Chiemi: (tears well up in her eyes) Throw what away, Mei? I have nothing left. Nothing. It was all for nothing.

Mei: (Mei’s glare is piercing) Yui was right, then. We’re just tools to you. How the fuck are you any different than— 

Before Mei can transform, the bell on the front door rings. Light footsteps, yet quick, make their way through the front room, and a tiny, saccharine voice calls out from the stairs.

???: Ding-doooong~ Helloooooo~? Magic clinic thingy plaaaace~?

Alice: (she immediately turns to Yui, whispering) Who the fuck is that? How did they get in here?

Yui: What, she’s not with you?

Alice: You think I’d invite someone who talks like that?

Mei: (Mei turned to face the girl, tilting her head) What the hell…?

???: (descending the stairs, a very young looking girl wearing a red hood and beige tunic would call out again) Is everyone down here? Are we playing hide-and-seek? Oh! Is it a surprise birthday party? (now in view, the girl’s brown eyes scanned the room, resting on each girl in turn) …’Cause it’s not my birthday, but I like a good birthday cake!

Chiemi: (she points her rifle at the newcomer) Shove it, Balancer. One of your colleagues has already got the faux peppy psychopath gimmick covered.

???: (swaying a bit on the spot, the girl’s smile begins to fade) You must be Chie-chan. I was told you were a bit of a hothead, but this is a bit much, don’cha think?

Chiemi: You don’t get to call me that, twerp.

Yui: I may not see eye-to-eye with Chiemi here, but I don’t blame her this time. Who the fuck are you, kid?

Kiwako: (her smile fades completely) …Cece-chan told me she was giving you the heads up. I’m Kiwa-chan, a friend of the Oracle of the Conductors. I’m here to help! Cece-chan sent me to help!

Yui: (Yui scans the girl, her eyes flashing violet for a solid minute before she steps in, lowering Chiemi’s rifle) Kiwako Kobayashi. …You’re not lying.

Kiwako: Kiwa-chan!

Alice: Yui, what the hell is going on? This is a child. Or at least, someone doing a poor impression of one. (she eyes Kiwako with suspicion) How come we don’t know her?

Yui: While I was hittin’ the bag earlier, Cecilia reached out to me, telepathically. She told me an associate of hers was coming by the Gym. Only someone aided by Cecilia’s vision can get through the illusion Alice put up. I didn’t expect someone like this though. But if Sis’s willing to vouch for her, I’ll at least hear her out.

Alice: (she keeps looking at Kiwako) Where’re you from? You’re not from Mitakihara. 

Kiwako: Kamihama!

Yui: Oh, son of a—

Alice: How did you get in here? The entire city has been quarantined.

Kiwako: I rode on top of a medical supply truck. It almost got robbed, but I stopped the bad guys myself. Saved the driver, too! Did a lot of sneaking around to get to Paradise without being followed.

Alice: Oh, so the cutesy affectations are just an act. (she mumbles) Thank God.

Kiwako: (she says nothing, swaying a bit on the spot)

Chiemi: We’re in the middle of something, kid.

Kiwako: Kiwa-chan. Not “kid.”

Chiemi: Do I look like I give a damn?

Mei: …We were settling something. Chiemi wanted to decide who leads our group by force.

Kiwako: Oh, like a trial by combat? I’ll play! It’ll help save me some time explaining why I’m here!

Chiemi: Sure. Why not let the kid fight for you, Arashi? Make the farce complete.

Yui: (she pauses for a long moment, then nods) If it helps you understand that raw power doesn’t solve everything, then fine.

Mei: Yu… Yui, are you serious right now?!

Kiwako: (Kiwako bounces a bit) Yay~! Don’t hold back, Chie-chan! 

Chiemi: (without a word, she takes a step back, letting herself fall backwards into a fold into space. Seconds later, she reappears at the top of the stairs leading to the gym’s second floor, aiming her rifle at Kiwako and firing)

Alice: (she sighs) I’m so not cleaning up once they’re done.

Kiwako: (Kiwako ducks just in the nick of time) Whoa whoa whoa! I wasn’t ready for spacetime sniping! (from her crouched position, she leaps up the stairs towards Chiemi, a handaxe made of a light blue crystal appearing in her right hand and swinging towards Chiemi’s arm)

Yui: (telepathically conveying the fight to anyone that doesn’t want to follow, Yui makes her way carefully towards the stairway, wary of errant shots)

Chiemi: Tsh. Damnit! (before the handaxe can hit her, she warps herself a few meters away from the attacker, reloading her rifle before taking aim again, only to realize Kiwako has already closed the distance. Her finger grazes the trigger, but she realizes it’s too late. If she fires now and misses, she’s a sitting duck.) Too fast. (she lowers her rifle and vanishes again) 

Kiwako: Ehh? Chie-chaaaan? Where did you gooo? (she looks around, her weapon at a lax stance)

Chiemi: (she emerges again, a few metres away from Kiwako, immediately pointing her rifle at the girl’s back. Her eye twitches as she notices the barrel shaking, making it hard to get a clean shot) …! (she tries to focus and take a deep breath to adjust her aim, but she is not quick enough to put her crosshairs exactly where she wants them when she pulls the trigger)

Kiwako: (her ear twitches, not unlike a wolf on the hunt, and at the last possible moment, Kiwako ducks, the shot grazing the back of her hood. There are no taunts this time, and with a swiftness beyond someone Kiwako’s size, she swings her weapon, aiming at Chiemi’s waist)

Chiemi: No way! (she stumbles out of the way of Kiwako’s attack, needing to take a few steps back before shifting her balance back in the right direction, her eyes glowing) I’ve had enough of this. If we were out in the open… Time to level the playing field! (she exhales, spatial energy gathering at her feet) This is what I’m talking about!

Kiwako: (a warm smile lights Kiwako’s face) Yeah, yeah, yeah! That’s the light you wanted them all to see! Well, just to make it interesting… (her eyes begin to swirl with a color not unlike an oil stain on pavement, and she crouches down) I’ll be the shadow that light casts, then~

Chiemi: (she holds out her arm, expecting one of the long barreled guns she used in her fight against Hanako and Shinju to appear, but after a few seconds, she realizes nothing is coming) …! (suddenly, a sting courses through her skull and the energy swirling around her dissipates) Nngh…! No!

Kiwako: (she tilts her head, lowering her weapon) Chie-chan? Where’s that light of yours…?

Chiemi: God DAMN IT! What even is the POINT! (she summons her “regular” rifle again, pointing it at Kiwako, but she is shaking too much to pull the trigger) What the hell is that power? Those black eyes?! What are you doing to my Magia!

Kiwako: (Kiwako’s voice drops considerably, though stays within her natural range, and the darkness in her eyes persists) I’m not doing anything to you. We’re just letting that darkness that lives in all Magical Girl hearts take over. Venefica in Puella. It shouldn’t affect you at all, Chiemi. It’s gotta be something to do with you, if I had to guess. If you can’t fight, though, there’s no point in me fighting back. Sorry, Chiemi, but it looks like you lose.

Chiemi: (clenching her teeth in rage, she stares Kiwako down, before eventually averting her gaze) Why… Why didn’t you just listen? Damn it! (before anyone can react, she has disappeared, leaving an empty spot where she used to stand)

Yui: Oi! Tch… she’s gone. God damn it. (turning to face Kiwako, Yui emerges from the stairwell) So start talkin’. What the fuck was all that?

Kiwako: I told you. (her voice returns to normal, and the darkness dissipates from her eyes) Just letting that darkness that awaits every Puella Magi take the wheel.

Yui: Show me.

Kiwako: Hmm~ Do I really need to, Yui-chan? From what Cece-chan told me, you’re already on good terms with your Witch.

Yui: Show them, then.

Kiwako: Okaaay~ Lemme just send a quick message first~