The first Sunday in February arrives like any other. New Eden had been quiet in the time after Tomomi’s attempted coup, but today, she was quiet and attentive. Ayumi had surprised everyone, including Yui, by stepping up to the degree that she had. Today, she was helping Tomomi understand some of the minutiae of Yui’s lessons. At least, what Ayumi took from Yui’s lessons. Chihiro and Haruki were standing on opposite sides of the ring, training in their own way. Yui was helping them one after the other, but after their scuffle ended in two self-inflicted knockouts— thanks largely to Seia— they were not talking to one another. Ayumi was able to get them to speak when necessary, thanks to her unintended usurping of the head of the Biei-crew table. Conspicuously, the foreign girl, Evelyn Adams, was nowhere to be seen. This fact had been observed by all in attendance in hushed whispers, but Yui either wasn’t listening, or didn’t care as she approached Tomomi and Ayumi.

Yui: How’s it goin’?

Tomomi: (She pointedly ignores Yui at first, looking away before muttering) …Going fine.

Ayumi: Yui-sensei. Tomomi-chan’s taking lessons seriously today!

Yui: (She gives a subtle little nod) Good.

Tomomi: …That all you got to say? (She looks up, half wary, half agitated)

Yui: (Her expression is unreadable) …Yep. Any questions?

Tomomi: (She backs down, averting her gaze) …None that Ayumi-chan can’t answer. Apparently, you did a good job building her up. (She pauses, calculating her words carefully) …Not into a soldier, or your puppet, or in your image, but… you built her up.

Yui: (Her tone softens, if only a little) …That was the plan from Day 1. (She turns her gaze towards Seia, standing in the ring) I want y’all to weaponize your weakness. To use your disadvantages, and hone them into strengths. Seia over there’s living proof of that in practice.

Seia: (She tilts her head, speaking in a joking tone) Did I have a disadvantage? 

Yui: You mean besides the fact that you couldn’t see? And still only kind of can? I’m still confused about how that works…

Seia: I asked Kyubey to give me back my sight… but it turns out working eyes don’t do much good if you’ve never used them before you’re sixteen. 

Yui: So yeah, working eyes you can’t use right. Technically speaking, that’s a disadvantage, but you overcame that and then some.

Seia: Well, don’t flatter me too much. … Is everyone here? I haven’t heard that girl who doesn’t speak much Japanese.

Tomomi: …Oh right, that tourist I recruited. What was her name again?

Chihiro: (She has to stop herself from lunging at Tomomi, especially catching Yui’s expression as she turns to face her) You mean Evelyn? You know, that girl who got caught up in your little revenge tour, just like I did?!

Tomomi and Chihiro bicker for a moment. Haruki watches with faux concern, while Seia silently observes from the ring, making sure the spat doesn’t turn violent. Yui makes a move to step between them, but Ayumi is faster.

Ayumi: S-Stop it, both of you! Miki-san, have you heard from Miss Evelyn since the incident?

Chihiro: …No. To my knowledge, none of us have. It’s like… it’s like she vanished after the fight.

Seia: … Did she go back to her home country?

Chihiro: …We don’t know. After… um…

Tomomi: No sense trying to downplay it. After you all kicked our asses, we kinda… scattered. Left separately. Evelyn was the last to leave. Ayumi-chan and Yamano-san were the last two we know of who saw her.

Ayumi: Evelyn just kind of… walked out after all that, I think. I couldn’t really tell what she was thinking. Then again, I was too concerned with making sure the gym was okay after that fight.

Yui: Oh, don’t worry about that. The “contractors” I hired to build this place, specifically the clinic, they uh… “reinforced” the place. I’m training Puellae Magi here, just bricks and drywall weren’t ever gonna cut it.

Seia: Did you put titanium beams in the walls or something? 

Yui: Heh… I’m under an informal NDA about what went into the construction. Let’s just say I made damn sure that a little spat like that wouldn’t tear the place down. Part of the goal to keep the place hidden from outsiders.

Tomomi: L-Little spat?!

Yui: Yeah. Don’t get me wrong, the idea of someone else raisin’ a Puella Army or whatever got me nostalgic for someone I never got to square off against. Kinda surprised you didn’t like, triple down on it or something.

Tomomi: …There wouldn’t be much of a point. I could bring a dozen friends, I still don’t think we could take you.

Seia: No, a dozen would probably do it… 

Tomomi: Are you kidding? None of us know how to even stand properly once you use your power. No idea how the boss here got into that ring. Same with Evelyn…

Yui: Oh, that? I just knew where I was and felt my way to the ring. I still can’t see when Seia uses her power. Not even sure if I can fight against that sorta ability… 

Seia: (She taps her cane to her head) There are plenty of ways to deal with blindness.

Yui: Heh. But you had years of practice. None of us have.

Seia: I can recommend you all the best Braille machines and screen readers. 

Chihiro: Can we focus? On the fact that a British tourist who happened to be a Puella Magi is missing?

Yui: Look, it’s not my problem if y’all didn’t exchange phone numbers before trying to sack my gym. This place has always been a come-and-go kind of stop. Evelyn seemed pretty strong on her own. Maybe she went home? Y’all clearly didn’t know her that well. (She looks around the gym. Tomomi, Chihiro and Haruki all avoid Yui’s gaze) …Thought so.

Seia: The tourists all have to go home eventually… how did you meet her, anyway? 

Tomomi: … I was looking around for anyone and everyone who I thought made a contract. The other three of us, I knew in some form or another already. But Evelyn, I met her fighting a Witch. She looked strong, and after some, uh… awkward introductions, she agreed to tag along.

Seia: I guess even rich girls on vacation with their families have to hunt… must be a tough time. 

Tomomi: She was totally different when she was hunting, though. Like… like she was trying to figure something out. I can’t explain it.

Yui seems oddly attentive during this conversation, but as eyes fall back on her, she returns to her aloof expression with an indifferent shrug. Those who knew her by now, however, caught the look in her eye and change in her stance when the conversation came up.

Yui: If you’re that worried about it, file a missing person report or something back where you found her. But I’m telling you, a girl that strong? She’s fine. Any other questions?

Seia: … Are we all “cool” after that fight? Everyone? 

Yui: I’m not holdin’ any grudges.

Ayumi: …I-I don’t want to stop being friends over this.

Chihiro: …

Haruki: …

Tomomi: …Y-Yeah. Yeah… we’re “cool” I guess.

Seia: So long as nobody is planning to follow me home to knife me. I have a family. 

Chihiro: Relax, Tomomi’s not the backstabbing type.

Haruki: (She scoffs) Yeah, she’ll stab you in the front instead.

Ayumi: H-Hey!

Tomomi: No, that’s accurate.

The conversation and banter continues as the group descends down to the basement for treatment and healing.