Rationalizations and Bad Decisions (Mami Tomoe)

From Radiant Heart MUSH

Rationalizations and Bad Decisions (Mami Tomoe)
Date of Cutscene: 22 October 2023
Location: Mitakihara Ward
Synopsis: Mami thinks about everything that was said between her and Takashi after they killed a witch together and Kyubey expresses his disapproval.
Cast of Characters: Mami Tomoe

[Immediately following scene 627: Once Upon a Time in Flavortown]

Mami sat at her table, with an empty teacup and a steeping pot of tea arrayed in front of her. In her left hand she held her soul gem, and in her right hand the grief seed Takashi gave her. She brought them close together and watched as the inky black corruption flowed from left to right. Her soul gem glowed brightly, and then shimmered back into the ring on her finger. She inspected the grief seed, and then tucked it back into her pocket. She could use it one more time before it was full.

You should make friends with people who don't want grief seeds but do want to help you kick witches out of Tokyo.

There was no denying Takashi saved her in that fight. Sure, she would have used a different strategy if she'd been alone, but that witch was strong. She would have really been pushing herself. And then, he gave her an extra grief seed. Considering how little he wanted it, his explanation for how he got it was suspicious, but she wasn't going to question it too closely. She got a grief seed out of it.

«Hello, Mami Tomoe,» a familiar voice said in her mind. Her eyes snapped up and there was Kyubey, perched on her bookshelf across the room. He hopped down and trotted across the floor, brushing up against Mami's hip before hopping up onto the table to look her in the eyes with his own, beady little orbs. «You should be careful what company you keep.»

Mami reached up to pet Kyubey and sighed. "I know, Kyubey," she said. "He's a villain. I'm not foolish." She nudged him aside just a little, then, and reached for her teapot, pouring carefully into her cup. She needed to relax before she tried to sleep, and tea was one of her best ways to do that. Nothing calmed her down like some hot, steeped goodness. "But, he did save me in that Laybrinth. And he gave me a grief seed, so he can't be all bad."

Kyubey nuzzled his head up into her scritches and then turned around so that her fingers ran down his back. He sat back down, his tail swishing around to wrap around his feet and he looked at Mami again with his red eyes. «It is good that you did not die, and that you have that grief seed.»

Mami took a sip of her tea and just looked at Kyubey for a moment. She could feel his eyes boring into her. She felt judged. She looked across her teacup at the fluffy little feline creature. She defended herself, "It's not like I invited him along. He just showed up and helped out." She paused, looking very thoughtful for a moment, and then laughed. "Honestly, it was very un-villain-like of him."

«His organization is dangerous and unpredictable. Don't be foolish,» Kyubey said before bounding down off the table and hopping up onto the windowsill. «Mami Tomoe, your job is to kill witches. That boy is just a distraction.» Then he was gone.

Kyubey didn't understand. He couldn't understand. He didn't feel things the same way she did. It's why he always came off so cold. And he wasn't exactly wrong. She knew it was a bad idea. But when she closed her eyes she could see his face, and hear his voice, and he was clearly rather taken with her. He did help her out, and he did give her a second grief seed.

It's a little forward, but, can I call you Mami-san?

She'd called him Agera-san to see what he would do. The crestfallen look on his face had told her everything she needed to know. The flustered look on his face as he asked if he could call her by her first name was a pleasure to witness. It had been difficult for her to keep her smile contained. She knew it was a bad idea, but she did it anyway. As they parted ways, she gave him his answer.

Of course you can, Takashi-kun.

Maybe what she needed right now was a distraction.