Chapter Text
For those brief moments, Madoka Kaname could only see grey. The floor on which she stood was composed of checked squares of marble and obsidian, the sharp contrast between hues not helping her blurring vision. Upon looking up and around, this section of floor was only about five meters from one end to the next, and it appeared to be floating in the sky, nothing above or below her but thick, dark clouds. Her senses were further confounded by the flashes of lightning and the howling wind. Madoka wasn’t exactly sure of what she saw next. On the other end of the island of stone was a girl around her age, in the Mitakihari uniform with long flowing black hair. She had a haunting sort of elegance to her. Madoka’s enchantment soon turned to horror, when she noticed that in her right hand, she held a gleaming silver pistol. The girl’s face remained impassive as she raised the gun, and pressed the barrel against the right side of her parietal bone.
‘No! Stop! What are you doing?’ she shouted, but Madoka could barely hear the sound of her own voice over the din of the storm. But despite the gale of wind and thunder drowning her out, the girl muttered something, and for some reason, Madoka could hear it perfectly.
‘Persona.’
She pulled the trigger, and Madoka was blinded by a bright blue light, and all faded to nothingness, save for the image of a ghostly blue butterfly.
Kaname Residence, Early Morning, Monday 14th April 2059, Waxing Crescent Moon, 14 Days Until Next Full Moon
Madoka awoke in her own bed, her pyjamas heavy and cold with sweat. She was no longer trapped in the storm, far from it, as she saw the sun pouring into her bedroom through the thin slit in the curtains. After a few moments of anxious silence, she released a deep sigh as she hugged one of the numerous stuffed animals occupying her bed.
‘Wow, that was some dream, huh?’
En Route to Mitakihara Middle School, Morning
Madoka forgot her dream in short order, becoming absorbed in her daily routine. She helped wake up her mother after Tatsuya’s inept, though adorable, attempts. She then had breakfast with her family, and she departed for school not long after her mother left for work. The morning started just like every morning before, and Madoka could reasonably guess that this was the way it would work every morning for the foreseeable future. The only thing that really set this morning apart from any other was the fact that today was the day she started her second year at Mitakihara Middle School. Madoka didn’t mind that much. In her mind, tedium was stability.
She walked down the road along her usual route, and eventually, she encountered two familiar faces. Madoka always travelled down this route with these two other girls, one with blue hair and eyes, and the other with green eyes, and greenish brown hair. With the two girls in tow, Madoka continued her approach to the school talking about frivolous nonsense on the way.
‘So, Madoka,’ interrupted Sayaka Miki, the girl with the blue hair, ‘I noticed those new ribbons you’re wearing. They look great on you!’ Madoka blushed. It was difficult to not notice the ribbons her pink hair was tied up in pigtails with.
‘I don’t know,’ she replied hesitantly. ‘They’re just what my mom picked out for me.’
‘They’re wonderful,’ insisted Hitomi Shizuki, the girl with the green hair.
‘But you know,’ Sayaka cut in, a wolfish grin on her face, ‘it’s pretty sly how you’re suddenly getting dating tips from your mom.’
‘No, Sayaka,’ Madoka exclaimed. Iit’s not like that!’
‘No way, Madoka,’ Sayaka laughed before grabbing Madoka around the stomach with a hug from behind, ‘there’s no way I’m letting you gallivant off with some boy. You’re mine, Madoka! Mine, mine, mine!’
Madoka laughed as she thrashed about against Sayaka’s grip, feet pounding as they wrestled with each other. Hitomi, clearly exasperated, coughed politely into her fist, drawing their attention. Neither of them had noticed during the walk, but now they were outside the gates of Mitakihara Middle School, their antics fully exposed to their peers. Madoka and Sayaka separated, resumed airs of dignity, and marched into the expansive school complex.
Class 2-C Homeroom, Morning
As soon as all students were occupying their seats, Saotome-sensei, the homeroom teacher, began the meeting by posing a single question.
‘Do you prefer your eggs sunny-side-up or sunny-side down?’ she asked one unlucky boy in the front row, pointing the blackboard baton at him.
‘I dunno,’ he mumbled, fidgeting nervously in his seat, ‘I wouldn’t mind either way, I guess?’
‘Correct,’ she applauded, though there was little that could hide the edge of frustration in her voice. ‘I like that answer. Students, I urge that if and when you enter into an intimate relationship, you don’t do it with someone who judges you based on how you cook your eggs!’ And with that, she snapped the baton in two to encapsulate her point.
‘I guess things aren’t going so well with her new boyfriend,’ Sayaka whispered to Madoka, a mischievous smirk on her face.
‘And with that out of the way,’ Saotome-sensei sighed, putting on a relieved smile, ‘we just received a new transfer student, and we should introduce her to you.’ The classroom was filled with many raised eyebrows due to her skewed priorities. ‘There’s no need to be shy,’ she called out to the door, ‘come on in, Akemi-san!’
When the transfer student walked in the door, Madoka could scarcely believe her eyes. She had long, flowing black hair, and cold, piercing violet eyes. She was the spitting image of the girl she saw her in her dream. It had to be a coincidence, right?
‘My name is Homura Akemi,’ she said stoically, ‘I’m pleased to meet you.’ However, her voice and face suggested otherwise.
Persona.
There was no doubt in Madoka’s mind. This was the girl she saw in her dream, right down to the soft, dispassionate voice.
‘This has to be just a coincidence, right?’ she thought to herself. Her eyes darted around the room nervously to avert Akemi’s gaze, which was trained directly at her.
She was mingling amongst the classroom for only a few hours, and Homura Akemi had already made a solid impression. Throughout the lessons today, she solved complex equations like they were nothing, translated English phrases like she grew up with the language, and broke the schools’ record for the high jump. The mysterious transfer student had already proven to be something exceptional.
Homura was surrounded by a gaggle of curious girls, each asking questions about her previous schools and even her relationship status. Homura patiently, yet coldly, answered all of their questions, using only one or two words if she could. Eventually, even with her completely straight face, it was clear that she had enough, so she placed a hand to her brow and sighed.
‘Excuse me,’ she sighed, ‘I’m feeling rather ill. I’ll need to pay a visit to the nurse’s office.’ And with that, she rose from her seat, and walked with purpose towards Madoka’s seat.
‘Can I help you?’ Madoka asked, looking up towards the transfer student.
‘You are the nurse’s aide for this class, correct?’ Homura asked in return, as though she already knew the answer. ‘I’m not feeling well. I need to go to the nurse’s office.’
‘Sure, but...’ Madoka replied hesitantly. ‘How did you know I was the nurse’s aide?’
‘Saotome-sensei told me,’ said Homura in a matter-of-fact way, then turning towards the door, Madoka following suit.
Madoka couldn’t help but feel internally amused at the irony. As a nurse’s aide, her duty was to lead sick students to the nurse’s office, but instead, Homura was leading her, navigating the corridors with impressive speed for a new student, as though she had walked this route a thousand times before. Trailing behind, Madoka tried desperately to find a way to break the uncomfortable silence. ‘So, Akemi-san...’ she began, although she didn’t know what topic to pursue.
‘Call me Homura,’ she corrected abruptly.
‘Homura-chan...’ Madoka whispered, desperately trying to find a conversation topic. ‘That’s an unusual name.’ Homura continued walking, not reacting to Madoka’s observation. ‘I don’t mean in a rude way or anything,’ Madoka explained quickly, desperately hoping that she didn’t offend her, ‘I just think it’s really cool.’ Homura immediately stopped walking and turned on her heel, forcing Madoka to a halt, looking her directly in the eye.
‘Madoka Kaname,’ she began, ‘do you value the life that you live? Do you hold your friends and family dear to you?’ Madoka was blindsided by the question, but the answer was obvious to her.
‘Of course I do,’ Madoka replied instinctively. ‘Believe me when I say I care about the people I love.’
‘Really?’ Homura asked.
‘Really!’ Madoka exclaimed defiantly. ‘I could never lie about something like that.’
‘If that’s the case,’ Homura continued, ‘then you shouldn’t change anything about your life, lest you lose everything. Stay as you are, Madoka. Now and forever.’ Madoka considered Homura’s warning as she made the rest of the way to the nurse’s office on her own.
‘So that’s what she said to you?’ asked Sayaka incredulously, sitting down alongside Madoka and Hitomi with a small meal.
‘Yeah, I don’t understand it either,’ Madoka admitted with her head hung low.
‘Freakin’ typical!’ Sayaka moaned loudly. ‘We get a new transfer student who’s an academic prodigy and an athlete, and she’s also a complete nutjob. She’s so moe, it makes me sick!’ Sighing, Sayaka slammed her head down on the table, clutching her stomach.
‘Are you sure you’ve never met Akemi-san before?’ asked Hitomi, politely disregarding Sayaka’s antics.
‘Not in reality...’ Madoka murmured, trying to find the right words.
‘What do you mean “not in reality”?’ Sayaka asked with an eyebrow raised.
‘Well, I kind of met her in a dream,’ Madoka confessed, her cheeks reddening slightly. Sayaka and Hitomi considered her response for a moment, before erupting into laughter over the sheer absurdity of it.
‘Wow, Madoka,’ Sayaka managed to say in between gales of laughter, ‘I guess you aren’t exactly right in the head either!’
‘Don’t be mean!’ Madoka pouted, ‘I’m telling you the truth!’
‘Can you remember what the dream was about?’ Hitomi asked.
‘I don’t really remember...’ Madoka lied. She wasn’t about to tell them she saw Homura raise a gun to her head. Unless... ‘But... does the word “Persona” mean anything to you?’
‘No, nothing significant,’ Hitomi sighed. Sayaka simply shook her head. The three of them barely noticed as a blonde student sat up and hurriedly walked out of the room.
‘Oh, I got it,’ Sayaka perked up. ‘Maybe you and Akemi met each other in a past life or something.’
‘You think so?’ Madoka asked sceptically.
‘Whatever the case, you must have met Akemi-san at some point,’ Hitomi reassured her. ‘I’m sure you’ll be able to remember.’ And with that, Hitomi withdrew her phone from her pocket and checked the new notification. ‘Oh, it looks as though I have a tea ceremony in five.’
‘Wow, you sure are busy,’ commented Sayaka.
‘And after that I have a piano recital, followed by traditional dance.’
‘Glad I’m not rich,’ Sayaka scoffed.
‘That reminds me,’ Madoka interjected, ‘I also have archery club coming up soon, so I’ll have to see you guys later.’
‘Oh, yeah, archery club starts pretty early this year,’ Sayaka observed. ‘First day back and you’re already doing club stuff?’
‘Yeah, I know,’ Madoka agreed, collecting her things and standing up. ‘That means I’ll have to make my way home without you.’
‘Gotcha,’ Sayaka noted. ‘See you later then.’
‘Later,’ Madoka cheered as she rushed down the hall.
Mitakihara Park, Evening
Today’s meet at the archery club was rather uneventful. Since it was only the first day of practice, not much intensive archery could be performed today, and most of the meet was dedicated to prep work and maintenance. The archery gallery set up for further use, and her bow in peak condition, Madoka set off for home on her own.
Madoka was walking along the scenic route in Mitakihara Park. The park itself was arranged to have a wide yellow brick path bordered by green plots of earth, lined with bushes filled with flowers of all kinds, and the whole area was littered with fallen cherry blossoms from the towering pink trees dotting the landscape. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the entire area with vibrant oranges and reds. Madoka adored the sight of the park at this time of day, and it was almost enough to clear her mind of the strange encounter with Homura. But Madoka still thought of Homura and her cryptic warning, and of the dream. ‘Just what is a “Persona”?’ she thought, her face showing distinct concern.
Madoka was distracted from her thoughts by a rustling from the bushes. Madoka stopped and turned towards the source. Indeed, she saw a bush rattling, and as soon as she took notice of it, it began to shake more violently.
‘Woah!’ called a voice from the bush, and a girl immediately emerged from the shrubbery and fell face down on the road.
‘Are you alright?’ Madoka gasped, running over to see if she was hurt. She knelt down beside her, and that’s when she took a look at her appearance. The girl sported long dark hair, and unlike the smooth silkiness of Homura’s hair, it was messy and tatted, ending several loose curls. She also wore a very baggy T-shirt and cargo shorts, which she wore haphazardly, like they were made for people much larger than her, and her ears were decorated with earrings from which small bells dangled. The girl groaned, and very slowly scrambled to her hands and knees, shaking her head slowly. She eventually opened her eyes, which were flaming red, and looked at Madoka. For a moment that seemed last longer than it should have, her eyes were locked with Madoka’s pink ones, neither girl entirely sure what to say.
‘Uhhh...’ the girl regarded Madoka tentatively, raising an eyebrow. ‘Have we met before?’
‘I don’t think so,’ replied Madoka. ‘Who are you, anyway?’
‘Oh, me?’ she asked, her face lighting up a little. ‘Oh, my name’s Kazumi. I don’t know my surname, though.’
‘How come you don’t know your own name?’ Madoka could not help but pry.
‘That’s an interesting story,’ Kazumi explained, now on her feet and bouncing around energetically, making it apparent how ill-fitting her clothes were. ‘See, I just woke up from a coma and all I remember is that my name is Kazumi...along with how to cook, how to speak, how to use the toilet...’
‘I don’t think I need a list of the things you can remember,’ Madoka interjected. ‘So you woke up with no memories of who you are?’
‘True that,’ Kazumi confirmed. ‘To be specific, I woke up naked in a suitcase, so my first concern was getting clothes. Shenanigans happened, and now I’m just wandering around, doing whatever.’ Madoka was completely taken aback. What Kazumi had just said was utterly ridiculous, and yet she was able to say it with a straight face.
‘I see,’ Madoka sighed. ‘If that’s the case, don’t you have anywhere you can stay?’
‘I’ll figure something out,’ she replied. ‘I just have to find a warm place for the night, then see if I can find some food so I can—CONTRACT!’
Madoka flinched at the sudden outburst. ‘What?’
‘I just remembered something,’ Kazumi exclaimed, rifling through her pants pocket before withdrawing a folded piece of paper. ‘When I woke up, I was carrying this thing. I think it’s a contract, and I think I remember that I was supposed to give it to someone.’
‘A contract?’ Madoka asked, taking the sheet that Kazumi handed to her and unfolding it. Beneath the column of writing, there was a line at the bottom, presumably for signatures, and on that line was Kazumi’s name written in hiragana.
‘Yeah, I know I was meant to give this to someone,’ Kazumi pondered, before breaking into a huge grin, ‘but since you’re here, it might as well be you!’
‘I don’t know...’ Madoka muttered. She didn’t have the heart to tell her that she was not insane enough to sign a contract a complete stranger handed her out of nowhere.
‘I don’t think it really binds you to anything,’ Kazumi assured her, though she seemed unsure herself. ‘I think it just says that you have to take responsibility for your actions, or something like that.’
Upon closer inspection, Madoka noticed that the block of text above the signing line was only a small one, and in fact, consisted only of one term.
“I, the undersigned, assume full responsibility for the consequences of my actions, and I accept that my fate is of my own choosing.”
‘And I’ve also signed that thing anyway,’ Kazumi commented, ‘so if it ropes you into something crazy, you won’t be alone.’ Kazumi pulled a silly smile with that comment, though there was something warm about that smile.
‘Okay, why not?’ Madoka relented, pulling out a pen from one of her pockets. ‘There’s only one term, and that’s how I planned to live my life anyway.’ She removed the cap and drew her own name on the line in kanji. She handed the contract back to Kazumi, who briefly looked over it.
‘Well, it was nice to meet you, Madoka Kaname,’ she commented. ‘If you wake up one day with only one kidney, feel free to punch me in the face, okay?’
‘Sure thing,’ Madoka agreed somewhat hesitantly, chuckling slightly. ‘I should probably get home.’
‘Don’t let me keep you,’ Kazumi smiled, tucking the contract into her pocket. ‘You know, if I ever find a place to stay, I’ll invite you over and cook something for you. How does that sound?’
‘Sounds great,’ Madoka affirmed. ‘Hopefully, I’ll see you again.’
‘You too.’
The girls walked past each other, each walking in a different direction along the path. Madoka was looking forward to a some sleep after a long day, so much so, that she didn’t notice the fluffy white tail flailing in the air as its’ owner scampered through the bushes.
Night had settled over Mitakihara City, but that did not mean that light had disappeared. Like every other major city in the developed world, Mitakihara only truly came alive after the sun had set. Lamps flooded the streets with light, marking safe places to walk. Tall buildings had most of their lights on, littering the town’s heart with radiant spires. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to say that Mitakihara at night was only marginally less bright than during the day. However, the brighter a light grows, the larger the shadow it casts, and when a Shadow grew too great, that was when Mami Tomoe stepped in.
She was standing on the roof of her apartment complex, gazing out over the city skyline. She had made a few arrangements, and she was waiting for a friend to arrive at the meeting place. A long, antiquated rifle slung over her back, and a silver pistol in a holster underneath her left armpit, Mami was ready to make the rounds, like she did every night she was able. After a few quick phone calls earlier on, Mami was grateful to learn that Shadow activity was rather low tonight, meaning that she could start the evening later than usual. Mami’s head perked up at the new presence joining her, and she hoped what he had to say would make the wait worthwhile.
It was a small creature; a quadruped resembling a cross between a ferret and a small cat. It was covered in immaculate white fur, ending in pink at the feet and the bottom of the long ears bound in gold rings. It had large, pink eyes, and a mouth pulled into a feline smirk.
‘I have done what you asked of me, Mami,’ the creature announced, though its mouth did not move as it spoke.
‘That’s good to hear, Kyubey,’ Mami replied. ‘So have you found any potential new recruits?’
‘I went with your suggestion, and I focused on the three individuals you pointed out to me,’ Kyubey reported. ‘Although Shizuki did not have the potential, Miki and Kaname do have it.’
‘As I thought,’ Mami noted, a satisfied smirk forming on her lips. ‘I heard one of the three mention the word “Persona.” I knew it couldn’t have been a coincidence. So how do they shape up?’
‘Sayaka Miki has a considerable amount of potential,’ it observed. ‘If you can convince her to join, she would make a valuable asset.’
‘I see,’ Mami commented, pleased, ‘and what about Kaname?’
‘Unprecedented,’ Kyubey replied. Though its tone was as cold and clinical as ever, Mami could swear that it was excited. ‘Like nothing I have ever seen before.’
Mami was definitely surprised by this point. ‘If that’s the case,’ she commented, her shock masked with a pleasant smile, ‘then we can’t waste any time in recruiting them.’
‘I agree,’ it nodded, its half-smile never faltering, ‘but for now, it is best to make the rounds. We should deal with our duties for tonight, and figure out the best way to approach them tomorrow.’
‘Understood,’ Mami replied curtly, pulling the rifle from her back. ‘After all, the Pleiades Saints are known for their thoroughness.’
By the time the moon had climbed over the city skyline, Madoka was just about ready for bed. She was leaning back into the couch in the lounge, nursing a small cup of tea. Her brother, Tatsuya, was sitting on the cushion to her right. He was so small he could sit cross-legged on the seat and still leave plenty of space, and his head was bobbing up and down as he struggled to stay awake. Her father, Tomohisa, was in the kitchen washing the dishes. Her mother, Junko, was still at work, and probably wouldn’t return until much later in the evening when she came stumbling through the door blind drunk.
Madoka was still deep in thought about the day’s events. She thought about the dream she had the previous night, about how the girl she saw in that dream walked into her life and gave her a cryptic warning, and about Kazumi and her contract. The TV was casting a dim glow to add to the low light of the lounge, but Madoka was barely paying attention, but she at least knew it was some sort of news report.
‘Looks like there’ve been more of those strange murders, haven’t there?’ asked Tomohisa rhetorically, a teacup and a washcloth in his hands. ‘Seems they’ve been on the rise lately.’
‘Yeah,’ Madoka replied, not really paying attention. Every other week, the news would make a broadcast about a suspicious murder. The bodies were of people from all over the city, and the list of fatalities covered a wide range of age groups and demographics, making it impossible to establish a pattern. The only thing that tied the victims together was the cause of death, or lack thereof. It was as if something tore the souls out of their bodies.
‘Hey,’ Tomohisa intoned softly, looking slightly concerned. ‘You feeling alright?’
‘Oh, I’m fine,’ Madoka lied, smiling softly. ‘It’ll take little while for me to get back into the routine. I’m just a little out of it, I guess.’
‘Well, you’re not the only one,’ Tomohisa chuckled as he gestured to her right. Madoka turned to see Tatsuya still sitting there, but with his head drooped down to his chest, fast asleep. ‘I’ll take him to bed,’ Tomohisa announced quietly, gently picking up Tatsuya and cradling him in his arms, ‘I suggest you follow his example and get some rest.’
‘Okay,’ Madoka chimed, because nothing sounded better than a good night’s sleep.
Madoka made sure that all the lights were turned off, save the porch light for when Junko eventually returned. She then said goodnight to both her father and Tatsuya as she retired to her room, stripped off her uniform and put on her pyjamas. The warmth of her sheets nestled her resting form, and her legs would not stop moving as she took in the softness of the fabric. Now she could forget all about Akemi, Kazumi or about anything. She wanted sleep, and she allowed herself to be consumed by the comfort of her bed as she closed her eyes.
When Madoka next opened her eyes, she was not resting on her back, but rather sitting on something soft and leathery. Her vision was filled with nothing but blue, and when she focused, the first things she saw were bloodshot eyes and an abnormally large nose.
‘Welcome to the Velvet Room.’