2786/It's not wrong to believe in love

It's not wrong to believe in love
Date of Scene:	12 October 2025
Location:	Pearl Pier
Synopsis:	Sayaka brings up recent news and the way they affected her. Madoka offers to help out with Blue and lifts her spirit.
Cast of Characters:	Sayaka Miki, Madoka Kaname

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Sayaka Miki has posed:
After Sayaka leaves from her encounter with Riventon, she doesn't quite know what to do with herself. Her mind had slowed down since then, like she was going through molasses, and like any attempt to get away was fought back by much shaking and swaying.

Beneath it, she can feel her blood slowly cooling to a more normal temperature, even thought that does nothing to help with the sense of disorientation: rather, the ardent beating of her heart had kept away the sense of confusion, and now she feels herself stuck.

As soon as she gets home to her dorm room, she tosses her bag right into the empty bed of her ex roommate and picks up her phone.

<PHONE> Sayaka Miki texts Madoka Kaname: Hey, Madoka-chan, do you want to hang out?
<PHONE> Sayaka Miki texts Madoka Kaname: Don't expect something calm, though
<PHONE> Sayaka Miki texts Madoka Kaname: It was a bit sudden
<PHONE> Sayaka Miki texts Madoka Kaname: I know a nice place that opened up some time ago
<PHONE> Sayaka Miki texts Madoka Kaname: Wanna meet near Yumegahama Beach tomorrow?

The following day, Sayaka is waiting right in front of the cobbled path leading up to the doors of the Pearl Pier, accompanied by Ula, who is keeping a sneaky eye on her.

When Madoka comes along, the bluenette waves at her, and after giving an hug at her approach, accompanies her inside the hotel, being led to a table by a blonde golden-eyed waitress.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka has been a bit self-absorbed lately, or rather she's been caught up in taking care of her Chara and also spending quality time with Homura. Her phone is actually in Brai's hands when it dings a few times, showing new messages popping up, and the minidoka pauses her game to go tug on her Bearer's sleeve. "Saya-chan says she wants to talk."

    Madoka at first smiles as she accepts the phone, but then as she reads on she starts getting concerned. Without hesitating, she responds.

<PHONE> Madoka Kaname texts Sayaka Miki: Of course I'd love to hang out.
<PHONE> Madoka Kaname texts Sayaka Miki: I'll be free tomorrow.
<PHONE> Madoka Kaname texts Sayaka Miki: See you then!

    Madoka then glances over to Homura with an apologetic smile. "Sounds really important."

    Homura tilts her head and crosses her arms. "Something I should be worried about?"

    Madoka glances at the phone, and then at Homura. "Well, it doesn't seem urgent. I guess We'll find out tomorrow."

    Today, Madoka gets off the bus, and Kamiko trails behind her. The divine Chara specifically wanted to come, because hanging out with Sayaka meant a chance to chat with Ula again. Madoka happily exchanges hugs with Sayaka, and Kamiko smiles and waves at Ula, and after the group goes to their table and has a moment to settle in, Madoka smiles gently at her long time friend and asks, "So... what's up? From the tone of your texts, you didn't exactly sound... happy."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"I haven't been here much, but it's a nice place", Sayaka comments, dragging the chair closer to herself. Ula gives Kamiko a big smile when she sees the Chara, and asks her about the recent days, showing her a few patterns she has been coming up with recently.

Sayaka gives a nod at Madoka's question, and gives Ula the menu in response to the fairy's request. "Try not to get too much attention", she warns the koi mermaid with a whisper, gesturing to the staff.

She doesn't really want to change locations in a hurry to let the Veil kick in, unaware that her concerns are unwarranted.

"You can say that", the bluenette sighs, and watches a small group of people come in. "It's about my date with Takashi. It wasn't exactly a date."

"There was a lot more than he was letting on about his working for Obsidian." She grimaces. "He is Riventon."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Kamiko oohs and looks at Ula's new patterns. She's always liked the koi mermaid's work, even back when she was Gretchen though her grumpy demeanor didn't always let her show it. While the divine fairy doesn't really want to let Madoka out of her sight, she's more than content to chat up with another mascot while her Bearer discusses more serious matters.

    Madoka sees Sayaka's concern regarding Ula, and glances towards the staff for a bit. The pinkette has actually been here a few times, so she already knows the story. She leans in to whisper, "Actually, there are some people working here who could probably see Ula." Then she waves her hand and says, "Oh, but don't worry. They're nice here. None of them are going to sell you out to Obsidian or anything. I'm sure they'd just think she was cute."

    That's all Madoka really says. She doesn't want to gossip too much on unrelated matters, and she doesn't really want to name drop Coco too openly. If anything she's underselling the matter, since she's not sure there's a single person working here who isn't at least involved in mermaid princess business.

    On the matter of dating Takashi, Madoka frowns with a bit of concern. Then when Sayaka drops the bomb, the pinkette's blood runs cold for a moment. "Riventon?" she repeats in an almost helpless sounding whisper. "Really? So both of Mamoru's brothers are..."

    The same person, she leaves unsaid. Well, that recontextualizes the fact that Takashi wasn't invited to the Moon wedding. As well as a few other things.

    "Oh... and he was also the fake Shitennou. Oh... gosh that explains so much." The pink girl speaks in a low voice, but it's clear that she's still mentally processing all of that. It's actually Kamiko who recovers more quickly.

    The divine fairy mentions, "Wasn't he one of the ones who didn't seem that bad? I know he actually seemed concerned for your safety, once he realized that you lacked a proper henshin at the time."

    Madoka silently processes that for a moment, looking sad down at the table, and then says, "Yeah... but that was a long while ago. A lot can happen. You weren't that bad either Kamiko-chan, until eventually you got worse. Regardless of whatever Gaito's true fate is, that guy is messing with dark powers. He helped against the Black Moon Clan recently too, so he's not completely an enemy, but... " Then she looks at Sayaka and says, "Eheh, that must be quite a shock to you, though. I can see why you'd want to talk about it. I can't imagine what that must feel like."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
Sayaka raises a eyebrow at Madoka's news on the staff here. "Uh, is that so." Guess this place is safer to be around than she would have thought. "Our fairies would probably be at home here." At least they would have an easier time here than at Tako Cafe.

She doesn't really want to press on the subject either. Other heroes' magical identities are they own business, after all, at least until they come up to you themselves. "I am glad she could have a place here then", she muses, giving a light shrug. She would have probably been more receptive to it a day or two later.

"Yeah." Sayaka's mouth slowly stretches into a smile, though it doesn't even get to her eyes. "Shocked me too. Apparently they fought, or something."

She feels a shiver run from shoulder to shoulder. "At least if he wanted to tell me because he couldn't bear hiding it anymore, it would have meant something, you know? At least, that's how Hinoiri did it. Instead, he was trying to keep control of things, or something."

Sayaka tilts her head at Kamiko's observation, feeling her heart tremble uncomfortably. "How are you sure he was being genuine? That's what he tried doing with me. You know, he was both the one directing the attack, and my supposed rescuer."

And yet here they are. The bluenette looks back at Madoka. "He tried to tell me he cared about the time we spent together, even. How can he expect me to believe him?", she scowls, trying to keep her voice under control.

Sayaka leans back in her chair. "I took a break from him. I am not really sure what to do..." She gestures around in a wide arch. "With any of this. Or what to tell Blue."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    As Madoka listens to Sayaka speak, her concern only grows. Her mind starts separating and processing each individual issue. She doesn't want to be unfair, nor does she want to be unkind. Her opinion of her childhood best friend is going to be a lot higher than her opinion of the weird lab guy who steals magical stuff, steals energy, lies a lot and is ultimately on the wrong side of the majority of the fights they get into. She's aware that gives her a bias, yet at the same time the bias exists for a reason.

    Ultimately, she decides that a line has been crossed here, and that Sayaka's feelings of safety and comfort are more important than the ego of some guy she dated. If that means being technically less than fair, well... too bad.

    Any further comments on the staff and their magical awareness are left unsaid for now. That's not really the important thing on the pinkette's mind.

    What's actually of greater concern is what Blue would think of all this...

    Kamiko and Madoka both glance at each other for a moment before looking back at Sayaka. They both know what that means for her. For Cure Sharpsong. Again the tiny divine fairy crosses her arms and says, "Well, there are different standards at play here, aren't there? There are a variety of standards for trust, for vulnerability, depending on the situation. Just because we think we can sometimes trust him in a fight, that's not the same as thinking it's safe to get all cuddly and kissy with him."

    Madoka fidgets with her hands on the table and says, "I mean... whether you feel safe dating him is up to you, but based on what you've told me, I'd be tempted to run away from him. Homura-chan has her darker sides too, but that's not the same. I know she' really cares about me. I know she's sincere. She's demonstrated that time and time again. On the other hand, Riventon... he lies all the time, and when it gets right down to it... I think it's clear that there are some really important things that you both disagree pretty strongly on."

    Kamiko plants her tiny hands on her hips and says, "Also, okay, so he says he cares about the time you spent with him. What does that mean, exactly? Sure he's trying to make it sound good, to imply certain things, but Riventon implies a lot of stuff that we aren't entirely sure is true. Like, we've already dealt with Kyubey. We know how that game is played."

    Madoka winces, because she wants to be nice and sweet and kind to everyone, but Kamiko isn't even slightly bending the truth. The tiny goddess calls it like she sees it. The pinkette clears her throat and says, "I think... I think if you need to take a break from him, you should. If he wants you to trust him again, that's on him. It's not your responsibility to have faith in him. It's his responsibility to earn that faith, if he wants it."

    After a pause, she clears her throat and says, "That said, there's a chance that Blue already knows about all of this. There's no point in arguing over the facts of the matter. Lying to a god is often an exercise in futility, but... I don't think you did anything wrong here, and I don't think you made a mistake. If anything, the way you're handling this is proof that you've grown as a person, and that's nothing to be ashamed of. You're respecting yourself and being honest about the situation. I think the worst thing you could do here is pretend that everything's okay when it clearly isn't, but that's the opposite of what you're doing."

    Kamiko floats a little closer to Sayaka and asks, "What exactly was the wording of the deal you made with him? More importantly, do you remember why it was a big deal that you don't date? We can probably negotiate something if we need to, since I know being a PreCure is really important to you."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
Madoka's words are taken to heart, and Sayaka starts reflecting on her childhood friend's suggestions. She can trust Madoka not to mince words on a situation as important as this one, and that is only a source of relief to her. There are few others she could have gone to with this.

Ula is always with her, and Hinoiri is one of her most trusted friends. She isn't sure at all she would have asked Mio. While the other Precure had known Blue for a long time, Sayaka could only define her relationship with Mio as acquaintances at best.

By now Ula has put the menu down and is watching the conversation between the two magical girls. "We have lots we don't see eye-to-eye on, even when he was Hiddenite. I don't think he meant to let slip that he hides things from people to protect them, but I made him promise he wouldn't ever do that with me."

She gives out a shorter sigh. "That seems kinda foolish now that we know everything he was hiding." Still she gives a big smile at the comfort her friend gives her, and her faces shines a bit more now.

"I don't doubt Blue knows", she agrees with the pinkette's suggestion. "That's how Takashi's trustworthiness came up, when he showed me and Hinoiri the scene of his rescue of me." He was already right back then, she thinks. The thought doesn't bring her much comfort.

If she tries to ignore the part of her that is still hurting about this change, then her other regret would be connected to Blue himself. "There is something that hurts Blue too, about this entire love matter. I wanted to help him too. Show him he could turn around."

She is at least dealing with it much better than before, Madoka is right about that. Even if saying she is displeased about it is a massive understatement. If she can think that, she really owes it to her friends.

And then, she also owes them she isn't alive as only half of herself. There is a lot she owes them.

With Madoka's query, Sayaka bites her lip lightly, turning her mind back to that day. "It's something he has seen happen before, I think. Someone being shaken so much by a love turned sideways that it interfered with her duty." And there is something pained about the way the god carries himself, she is sure of that.

"I still want to help protect people, and there is still Scorn who has to be saved from the Phantom Empire. But", she huffs lightly, "I can't really deny him if he thinks he has won the bet."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka listens. Kamiko, also. The pink girl and her pink fairy are both listening very intently as Sayaka speaks. Madoka is more than happy to be here for Sayaka, and they've both helped each other out a lot. Truly a magical girl's best asset is her support network, or so Madoka thinks.

    "I see," says the Chara Bearer finally. "So it's not just about showing that looking for love isn't a mistake, or that showing that one can endure heartbreak without it destroying them as a person. You wanted to prove something to Blue, maybe to show him that it's right to trust in love, that it's good to keep trying. Is that right?"

    Madoka smiles softly at Sayaka, then turns her gaze down to the table where her hands rest, clasped together. Her thumbs press and fidget against each other for a moment, and she sits back in her chair. There's a whole lot here, and all at once. Madoka is still processing the surprising news about Hiddenite, but her main focus is still on Sayaka's feelings. After all, the bluenette was dating him at some times and fighting him during others, and what's more he knew that. He had to have known that the girl he was dating was also the one he destroyed the fake jar in front of.

    Yikes. Whatever excuses he could have, that's still a lot.

    "Well... even if things went south, I still think you did your best at every step of the way, and I think you still are now. If things don't go over well with Blue, we can try to find you another magical source maybe... but I still kinda hope he can be reasoned with." Madoka leans back in her chair and looks up

    "Love is... kind of unfair sometimes. Actually, I should say there's nothing about it guaranteeing any kind of fairness at all. You draw closer to someone, and if they seem safe you keep going, step by step. At the same time, they're doing the same with you, deciding how much they feel like they can share, deciding what is or isn't safe to share with you. It's no surprise that you can suddenly learn something that will someday be a dealbreaker, or maybe you learn that they've betrayed you in some way, or you could also just both decide that you aren't really right for each other... It's rare to find a romantic connection that can really last. If they get scared before you do, they could just break up with you or close themselves off from you and you might not even know why."

    Shaking her head, she looks over to Sayaka again. "Love is a risk, and I don't think anyone should be asked to take that risk if they don't want to, but I also don't think it's wrong to try if you want. A lot of good things can come out of it, though..." She laughs a little awkwardly, more out of embarrassment instead of amusement, "... that might be hard to argue right now, considering how it all turned out. Maybe you lost the bet, but if your goal was to succeed in love while suffering no mistakes or setbacks then the cards were kinda stacked against you."

    Madoka fidgets with her hands for a little bit more before saying, "If you want to, I wouldn't mind advocating on your behalf. To Blue, I mean. If I can win arguments against implacable rules of karmic order, maybe I can help convince a heartbroken god. Regardless of whatever you decide to do with Takashi... I still think you're a model magical girl, and we'd all be worse off without you fighting by our sides."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
A waitress comes in just then with two bottles of water and two shot glasses, leaving as quickly as she came. It doesn't seem they have any problems with the two girls ordering nothing.

Sayaka hums at the smaller glasses and starts pouring a bit of water in it for the two fairies, not really giving any comment about it. She then flips her own glass and pours some for herself, offering to do the same for Madoka right afterwards.

"It's exactly that. Even with everything, I don't think it's wrong to believe in love, and I want him to understand that. I think it would help him out too."

There wasn't really any trouble in that for her, because if she would have found somebody like that for her, then she would have been plenty happy with that.

"That was nice for as long as it lasted", she comments. "I did enjoy my dates with him, and it's good I found out before I could get too absorbed in it." She is aware she is justifying it to herself first, but she finds it a bit hard to stomach still.

The bluenette takes a sip of her glass. "It's really hard to get that to go well. But since it has turned out this way, I only have to adapt and keep going. You are really helping a lot just by talking with me about it. Thank you, Madoka-chan."

She places it back down. "There is nothing wrong with what you said. I guess we just weren't really right together despite how it was going. It could have happened at any time, and we can solve the other parts of this situation still." She grins at Madoka, all the more happily at the support her childhood friend is giving her.

"I don't want to quit either. What heroine of justice would I be if I stopped when we all got this far. If that's what Blue wants, I can look for any other magic I have potential for, but honestly, having you by my side is really a relief to me. I don't know what I would do without you, Madoka-chan."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Bottled water is left for them, and Madoka ohs as she looks at it. Truth be told she didn't really even think about what to order, having gotten absorbed by her conversation with Sayaka. There's a lot to say, a lot of feelings to process, and Madoka wants to take the time to be honest and thoughtful. Especially since it's Sayaka, of all people, having this trouble. When Sayaka offers to pour her drink, she says, "Oh! Um. Thank you, Sayaka-chan." Then she accepts the glass with a smile before taking a sip.

    Kamiko, also, thanks Sayaka before sipping her shot glass. The tiny fairy thinks nothing of what it might look like to the other patrons. Magic is magic, and magic is weird.

    Madoka reaches over to finger pet her Chara before looking back at Sayaka. "Maybe that conviction is enough. That you still believe that love is worth it, even in the rough times when it doesn't go perfectly. You really have no idea how it's going to turn out until you try it, and well..." Madoka shrugs. "Who knows? If things had been slightly different, you might've been really happy."

    With a smile, the pink girl leans over to offer Sayaka a brief hug, before saying, "I'm more than happy talking to you about it. I know it can be pretty difficult to sort out your feelings after something like that. I feel like maybe I'm mostly just telling you that you're valid for feeling the way that you do and making the choices you've made, but if that actually helps then I'm glad."

    She gets quiet as she takes another sip of water, but after she puts the glass down she says, "Besides, this is what friends are for, right? Looking out for each other, supporting each other. I'll be happy to be at your side if it makes things any easier."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
Considering how many different timelines Madoka has seen, Sayaka wouldn't have had any trouble she is talking from experience when thinking about some other time and place she could have found her own special happiness.

It would have even been ironic if that Sayaka had been the one she almost met that one time a few of their friends found out about Cure Euterpe.

Ula drinks from her own glass after being offered one, and she keeps silent, thinking back about that same day too, and watching Kamiko too calmly drinking without much concerns about their surroundings.

"Maybe you are right", Sayaka keeps that wide smile as she thinks up about what to do. She still has a few things to deal with emotionally, but with how strongly Madoka has been able to work so far, she doesn't have any doubt she would have to consider.

"It has been a whole lot better, thanks to you. It's all just a bunch of sore bruises now, nothing I can't deal with", she reassures the pinkette.

"It all feels a lot less daunting to work through now", Sayaka smiles at her friend. "Do you want to stay here for a bit more time and actually order something now that you have been helping me? Or do you want to do something else? My treat, of course."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka's smile remains warm and sweet, but there's a bit of a tinge of sadness at the corner of her eyes. For Sayaka to admit that she's bruised means that it really did bother her. Not that Madoka doubted that, because it would bother anyone, but the human mind has a way of pretending that everything's fine when it's actually not.

    "Well, as long as you feel better. Don't worry, you'll get through it, and I'll be more than happy to help in any way you need."

    At the offer of a treat, Madoka says, "Oh! Well... something from the dessert menu, maybe? I'd feel bad if we wasted their time and ordered nothing, eheh."

    Kamiko hovers over the table and waves her arms saying, "Oh, do they have cupcakes? Can I get one?"

    Madoka giggles and says, "Well, sure, if that's okay with you, Sayaka-chan?"

    After a pause, the pinkette blinks as she remembers something. "O-oh. Um. When you were first dating Hiddenite and we didn't know anything about him, Hinoiri and I tried to ask Mamoru and the Shitennou. Nothing serious, just... a reputation check, to see if he was on the level. They didn't really know, because I guess Takashi had kept that henshin secret from them too, but... ah... I guess what I mean to ask is, are you going to tell Hinoiri what you told me? Should I keep that to myself? I think she'd also be concerned about it."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"Why not? Getting a cupcake sounds just right", Sayaka confirms, turning to Ula. "What about you? Do you want one too?"

The koi fairy pushes her glass to the side. "Yeah, I think so!" She turns her gaze over to the hotel's sweets display. "One with coffee frosting, please?"

Sayaka nods, keeping it in mind. Once the waitress has come and gotten their orders, Sayaka turns to Madoka. "I probably am, yeah. She is right to be concerned, honestly."

And knowing the whole story will probably make her even more so at first.