1112/I was stupid... So stupid.

I was stupid... So stupid.
Date of Scene:	14 February 2024
Location:	Dorms #1
Synopsis:	Sayaka, Klarissa, Ula and Hinoiri reunite for Valentine Day, but the pressure becomes too much, inducing Klarissa to flee just after Madoka joins them. After everyone catches up to Klarissa, a terrible truth is revealed to them.
Cast of Characters:	Sayaka Miki, Hinoiri Kirara, Madoka Kaname

---

Sayaka Miki has posed:
Sayaka and Klarissa had been preparing a cake for Hinoiri. Well, ok, Sayaka was the one doing all the work. Following a particularly big quarrel, Klarissa had decided to try out whether their Soul Gems actually are tethered or not, and went over the 100m distance that's not recommended for Puellae to get away from their Soul Gem.

Turns out they aren't, so for the first time ever since they got separated by the Scroll, Klarissa actually is alone, having ditched Sayaka in favour of going on patrol. She at least promised to be there when Hinoiri was going to get the gift.

A particularly complex gift, because it took Sayaka many tries to get right. At one point, Ula had even been completely covered in icing from head to fin, forcing the mermaid to take an impromptu bath. Nobody actually knows how that happened, not even they.

The important thing is that she has finally gotten it right, and so the three of them are waiting in front of Hinoiri's dorm room, after Klarissa has knocked for Sayaka, whose hands are busy holding the cake.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara was not always a morning person. Some days, however, they could imitate it. It was valentines day, so she'd had plans. Sayaka and Klarissa had uhhh... they deserved something nice. So she'd decided to surprise them! So, for once, she was actually up.

She didn't expect someone so early, however. When she heard the knock, she came to the door and... "W-what?" she asked, looking at the twins. "What are you two doing so-- holy... uhhhh... come in," Hinoiri said, staring at the cake. She opened the door and motioned inside. They didn't have a kitchenette anymore, but they DID have a counter. And a fridge. So...

"Wow. Where did you pick up that? I haven't seen a cake that extravagent since..." She trailed off. Since she was back home, honestly...

Sayaka Miki has posed:
Sayaka reserves Hinoiri a smile when she is clearly impressed by the cake. She got a score! "We made it!" Sayaka replies to Hinoiri. "Happy Valentine Day, Hinoiri! Since this is a special occasion, we needed something that was good enough to match it, so for our chocolate sweet, this is what we chose."

Klarissa reserves Hinoiri a barely perceptible nod, keeping in her frustration at the situation, especially after Sayaka's declaration that they made it. Why can't she be responsible for herself for once? Klarissa had no part in it.

"It took the better part of the night to make it", Ula tells Hinoiri, wanting to make it clear how actually important of an occasion it is. "They really care about you, Hinoiri, so I hope you enjoy this day. You all deserve it." And need it, she keeps to herself.

When they are invited inside, all three of them enter, with Klarissa closing the door behind them.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara looked, well... a little... shell shocked at that. "You... made it? You did? You... spent all night making it for me?" she asked.

And there was that guilt. She glanced to Klarissa. Last time they'd spoken, well... "Honestly, considering last time we uhhhh.... talked... I thought I was in the dog house, as it were... I didn't think I'd be getting anything super nice or fancy, heh... ehh... it... looks... incredible..."

She'd motion for her to put it on the counter, a perplexed look on her face.

"Dianora isn't here, so there's, um... no need to worry about... secrecy or anything..." Hinoiri mumbled, closing the door behind them and just leaning against it. "I uhhh... didn't know you liked... baking... or... preparing like that... you did? All night? That must have been... I uhhhh... I figured I'd take us out to a... one of those animal cafes. Where you can like... pet animals and stuff while... ummmm... stuff..."

"Feels a bit insufficient now, though. Wow. OH!" She then ducked down, under the counter and... "I DID get you these, though! From Nounamu sweets! Their valentines day packages!" she said, grabbing the two for the pair. One dark blue, one lighter blue. Inside were an assortment of valentines sweets from the shop! Which she quickly brought over. "Sorry, uhhh. This is actually my first valentines day. So I'm not sure on all the traditions."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"Yeah, let's not be too sticklers for traditions. Thank you, Hinoiri", Sayaka says while placing the cake on the counter, approaching their girlfriend and kissing her cheek. She sneaks a particularly expressive glance to Klarissa, to which she just sighs. Can Sayaka really not mind her own business? She really shouldn't have been here.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Hinoiri", Klarissa reluctantly says. Why did Sayaka even expect her to come? Is she deaf somehow? Or did she expect that she would just say sorry to Hinoiri? Not that it matters. Even if she did, the things Klarissa said just wouldn't disappear. They are now something Hinoiri knows for the rest of her life, and Klarissa too will be taunted by them forever.

She wonders what their original would think, if she could have heard those words. Maybe she would share her opinion, Klarissa tells herself. After all, this is what she wanted to do, isn't it? Defeat evil and protect the innocents. Why isn't she drawing her blade on Hinoiri here and now? How many would be saved if Klarissa... This is just dumb.

The twins take the packages, Sayaka and Ula unaware of Klarissa's internal monologue and they are soon opened. "These are awesome, Hinoiri", Sayaka says. The gifts have earned an enthusiastic grin of approval. "I am actually not big into baking. I had to learn things by trial and error. But I am not one to stop at the first obstacle! Or at the hundredth", she says as a bit of a self-aware joke.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small nod, grinning at the kiss. However, the... body language of Klarissa spoke volumes. She gave a soft sigh. "Yeah... it's... I... you... really spent... that much... time on it?" she asked.

She looked at the cake, crossing her arms for a minute and... "I... don't deserve something like this," Hinoiri finally said. "You shouldn't have..." She made her way over to them, sitting on the edge of her bed. Her apartment was a lot smaller, now. Just the beds, the television. No private room anymore. "Sayaka... Klarissa... you... you two know... you deserve so much more than this. What you said last time, Klarissa... it wasn't wrong. It... hurt. I won't lie. But you're not wrong. I'm... being selfish. I'm... trying to minimize the damage of what I'm doing... but I am still breaking things."

"... If anyone should be spending that much time on making something for the other... it should be me. Not you..."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
Klarissa speaks up first at Hinoiri's speech. "I am not going to back down anymore, Hinoiri. Just as much as you feel you have to do these things to protect people from Sora, I have a single thing I should be doing to defeat the darkness that plagues this world."

Sayaka steps in with a glare. "Quit it, Klarissa. Can you not spare it for another day? This is meant to be our day, and what is that even meant to be, a threat to Hinoiri? All four of us know that you and I can't leave Sunbreaker alone, but that's no excuse to threaten Hinoiri. She has only been kind and supportive to us. Maybe Sunbreaker doesn't, but Hinoiri deserves this much at least."

Klarissa sighs, staring at Sayaka. "It's just as Amy said. People stare into the darkness, among all the filth, to find thoughts like their own. And that's how people get drawn into it. I bet that's how Mami was drawn into joining Obsidian. As long as Hinoiri and Sunbreaker exist, as Riventon does, they are always going to push people into the darkness."

Sayaka says with annoyance. "She didn't mean it like that, and you know it."

A gloomy expression is reserved to Sayaka, before Klarissa just looks back towards Hinoiri. "Last time, I addressed your own personal faults, but I just can't let you be even if you address them somehow. Otherwise, you are going to make more people like you. Had we been just a little less stubborn, maybe we would be in Obsidian right now. But Sayaka Miki knew that she would have never done that. And so neither will I."

Klarissa is clearly frowning with a hint of a smile now. "I am sorry, I just shouldn't be here. The next time we see each other, I won't be able to ignore Sunbreaker anymore. So, Happy Valentine's Day, Hinoiri, and thank you for all the times you have been kind to Sayaka. She really appreciated them, and she loves you."

Something wet is trickling down on her cheeks, Klarissa feels. Touching her face with a finger... Are these tears? When did she...?

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara cringed. Every. Single. Word. It was... right. Accurate. "I... I'm not... I understand... I just..."

However, admittedly? It was Sayaka's words that hurt the most. "Sayaka, don't... if she... if you want to threaten me... I... only... I..." She hugged one leg up to her chest, looking at the two of them.

"I'm not trying to throw anyone into darkness. I've been trying to keep you out of the darkness. Sayaka... since this..." She sighed. "I can't fix you. I've tried. I really want to. I don't... have the power for this. I want to. Ever since you... found out about your ring, about..." she pulled out the ring of Sayaka's. The one Ula made her. She hadn't worn it, though. Only.... incredibly rarely.

"... You're a person, Sayaka. Klarissa. I just... I wanted to try and help you. To fix you. But I can't. I'm not the kind of person you deserve. And... I haven't... been kind... I'm not... kind..." She glanced towards the cake. Then back to Klarissa and Sayaka. And...

"... I knew a while ago we wouldn't last. But things just... kept... happening. They kept getting worse for you. I didn't know what to do. How to *help*. But I couldn't just leave you alone. So... I kept... playing your girlfriend... I figured.... maybe... if I was there, it'd run its course. But it's not going to, is it? I thought..."

"... I... think I do love you. Just... not... as a girl friend. But... as a friend. I want you to be happy. I want you to have what you deserve. I want you to be.... I want you to have a good life. But... I can't... make that happen. You shouldn't... be wasting your time on nice things like this for me. I'm not doing anything good for you. I'm just... causing you pain. I'm probably pushing *you* into the darkness at this point."

"... If you have t o fight me, I understand. But you... deserve better than me. Both of you do."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Someone who is very worried about the Sayaka twins, one they might not be expecting, is Gretchen. The X-Chara's position in this is, well... to call it 'awkward' is the understatement of the century. She has Madoka's memories from past timelines, jumbled and confused as they are, and she knows how things often end for Sayaka.

    Her burdens here are twofold: She wants to spare her Bearer the loss of her best friend, and she wants to keep the true source of Witches a secret. Her various attempts at mitigating either of these have been completely unsuccessful. It's only by pure blind luck that things have gone as well as they have, for as long as they have.

    Thus, Gretchen has started to rely more upon that luck than she has her own ability to manipulate things. Being the cute mascot secretly pulling the strings may work for Kyubey, but the little Witch Chara has considerably less influence and experience. One such lucky break, or so the X-Chara had thought, was the relationship between Sayaka and Hinoiri. After all, the bluenette wouldn't waste her time pining after Hitomi's boyfriend if she's already got someone of her own, right? At the very least, Gretchen assumes that Sayaka would be too moralist to cheat.

    However, today is a special day for lovers, and such it is that Gretchen just happens to be wandering the halls around Hinoiri's dorm. She's not hiding. A Witch cannot hide from a dedicated Witch Hunter, and such deviousness would only invite unnecessary ire.

    By coincidence, Madoka is also approaching, with Sio hovering over her shoulder. The other Chara are somewhere else on campus doing Chara things. Madoka's own motivations here are significantly less dire, though roughly the same. With the Sayaka twins taking things as hard as they have, and Klarissa specifically taking it especially hard, it only makes sense that Madoka would be checking up on her friend. According to the text she received earlier, they're visiting their girlfriend, so Madoka heads in that direction.

    Approaching from opposite sides of the door, Gretchen and Madoka's eyes meet for a moment. The Bearer smiles, but the Witch shyly looks away. Madoka frowns, knowing that Gretchen is worried about something, but not knowing what. Another Gretchen mystery, she supposes.

    Madoka approaches the door to Hinoiri's dorm, frowns for a moment as she considers some of their previous interactions, and then decides that she's going to put on a bright face anyways for Klarissa's sake. She knocks on the door and waits, while Sio and Gretchen form up behind her.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
Just as Hinoiri has practically finished speaking, a knock is heard through the door. She is still absorbing the fact that Hinoiri just doesn't love them like that, but this must be dealt with, she guesses. "Were you expecting guests?" Sayaka asks Hinoiri.

Or maybe her roommate is back. That would be awkward, but she guesses that it would be ok to just... introduce themselves? Even if Klarissa just isn't really presentable. But then again, it's not like they can tell this 'Dianora' "No, don't enter into your room".

So Sayaka is surprised when she opens the door and sees Madoka on the other side of it. "Oh, hi, Madoka-chan? What brings you here?" At hearing that name, Klarissa's tear-stained face turns towards the entrance, gazing at the newcomer with a hopeless expression.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara blinked and shook her head. "No. I... don't think Dianora would knock, either. She's... well.... uhhhhh... yeah. Go ahead and--"

And it was Madoka.

And Hinoiri responded to her arrival with a resounding "Oh shit..."

She looked between the two, her arms crossed over her chest. She then sighed and looked away. "Hey... Kaname-san... it's... either the best time or the worst time. I think... I think I'm just making everything worse. So... so much worse... turns... out I'm... really... not... any good at this girlfriend thing. Heh... eh... I'm sure the slap from before probably clued you in..."

"... I was just... telling them... they deserve someone a lot less... me. Why... are you here?"

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka is somewhat relieved that it's Sayaka who answers the door. It means that she can offer a genuine smile instead of faking one for politeness. "Oh, well... I guess I'm just checking up on you. I was going to track you down to ask if you wanted to go on patrol, but I wasn't sure if you already had plans." Looking past Sayaka and into Hinoiri's room, Madoka adds, "Um, but it's okay if you already do. I'm sure Sio and I can handle things."

    When she spots Hinoiri, she gives her a wave, but at the mention of the slap Madoka just makes a waving motion with her hand. "We all have issues, Hinoiri, and we don't always handle them in the best way. Don't worry about it." She says that, trying to be graceful and trying to let it be water under the bridge, despite not being completely over it. "More than that, I just wanted to make sure everything's going okay."

    Speaking of Sio, she's a little preoccupied by giving Gretchen the side eye. Casting a suspicious glance at the mischievous, secretive X-Chara is nothing particularly unusual, but it's somewhat rare for Sio to do it. Perhaps the reason why the Junko-based Chara is giving Gretchen such a look is because the tiny Witch is looking at Klarissa like her blood has run cold.

    Gretchen's eyes nervously dart between Klarissa's Soul Gem ring and her expression, and she cautiously hides behind Madoka.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
Instead of Sayaka answering Madoka, it's Klarissa who intervenes. "Sorry for having you check on us while I am like this, Madoka-chan. I think I should just go, let Sayaka and Hinoiri enjoy Valentine." And with that, she storms off running like death itself is behind her.

"Wait, Klarissa!" Sayaka exclaims, rapidly going on a chase, stopping just long to let Ula hold onto her. "Let's get after her! We can't leave her like this!" When everyone follows, Klarissa will double down, only eventually stopping at a Train station.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara hugged her leg a little tighter to her chest. "... Yeah. So it's... not going okay. Obviously. It--"

But Klarissa's comments made her cringe. "Klarissa, it's not--"

But the girl RAN! Oh no. Hinoiri had... done that often enough in her life that she knew it wasn't good. Fleeing from your problems? That was HER power move! Klarissa couldn't do it! It wasn't HEALTHY!

She got to her feet, pausing only a minute to grab her, albeit damaged, jacket, and then ran after Klarissa and Sayaka, slamming the door behind herself. Madoka was likely already on her way.

Unfortunately, well... Klarissa had a head start. Also, the puella bodies? VERY good over long distances. They could probably hunt prey by just running after them. By the time Klarissa finally stopped, Hinoiri was panting and almost keeled over, face red. "F-f-f-finally... h-holy... crud... muffins... s-she's... f-fast for such a... a tiny thing..." Hinoiri said between gasps of air.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    And this is it.

    This is where all of Gretchen's hopes fall apart.

    She tried to avoid this, really. As best as she could. Thing is, when you're a tiny dark fairy you can only do so much. If she told the truth, it'd go just as badly for her as it did for Homura. Worst case, people actually believe her and decide that hunting down Puella Magi was the only viable recourse.

    tIt really doesn't help that Gretchen's attempt to get Mami and Sayaka to get along went so poorly that Mami ended up in Obsidian. She can tell herself that wasn't her fault, but her very existence is one of the major changes in this timeline.

    The tiny X-Chara goes into a panic. Maybe, if she acts quickly, she can stop things from getting worse. Maybe...

    Sio suddenly interrupts her line of thinking, "Gretchen-chan... what's wrong?"

    The X-Chara goes pale as Sio looks at her. Before she can think up a response, Klarissa is already moving past them. Madoka calls after her saying, "Wait! Klarissa... you don't have to leave!"

    Gretchen follows after Klarissa, shouting, "It's not as bad as all that, really! Don't get upset! Please don't cry!"

    Sio floats after after Gretchen, asking, "What's going on, Gretchen-chan?"

    The X-Chara just gives her a haunted look and then turns away. "Madoka-chan... If you let her run away, you'll regret it."

    Hearing what Gretchen says, and with such a serious tone, makes Madoka go pale. She doesn't need any further prompting, and so she turns and bolts out the door after Klarissa. There isn't much time for the pinkette Chara Bearer to really think too deeply about her X-Chara's behavior, but that doesn't stop Sio from giving her concerned, suspicious glances.

    During the pursuit, Madoka occasionally glances over to Hinoiri to make sure she's keeping up, even if most of her attention is on Klarissa for the moment. "She's been keeping in shape, huh?" she asides, also having a rough time of it. Fortunately, they stop before she has to rely on Chara Change for some extra stamina.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
When Klarissa stops, she looks around at each of them, her expression making it clear she isn't at all surprised by this. "You couldn't just let me go. No, you had to follow me here instead of enjoying your celebration."

Then Klarissa turns to Madoka specifically. "You know, Madoka-chan, we actually had plans. Or at least, Sayaka sure had them. She stood up all night to make Hinoiri this chocolate cake to celebrate Valentine. And I stood out of it because I did not want to waste anyone's time, really."

The ring that Gretchen has looked up is bubbling with despair. "And yet, that is what I did. I really should have never come here. Then Hinoiri and Sayaka would be happily celebrating their Valentine, and maybe Sayaka would never know that Hinoiri doesn't actually feel she does."

Klarissa abandons herself on a chair of the train station, as if centuries of tiredness just catched up to her. "What is it I should care for? Should I have actually taken part in the cake making? Should I just have stood away despite Sayaka's wish? I don't know what it is important to me, what I want to protect. Do I even care anymore?"

Klarissa's eyes turned to Madoka. "Before you came, I was being hurtful towards Hinoiri. Because of what she did. And this was the second time, even. And she would have had all reason to cast me away. And yet she didn't."

In a flash at Klarissa's behest, the Soul Gem ring returns to its oval form, not a single speck of blue visible. "I feel like the more you all try to make me feel better, the more I fight so people can still hope, the more I feel angry, resentful and despondent. Why do I have to hurt those I love?"

A sardonic wide smile appears on her face, tears streaking down her face. "Maybe I am cursed. Is that it, Madoka-chan? Am I cursed? I only wanted to do the right thing, but the more I try the more I feel happiness fly elsewhere. Maybe this is what being a Puella Magi is like. I am sorry, Madoka-chan. I am such an idiot."

A final teardrop falls down, landing exactly on top of the Soul Gem, and with a crack, all the dark energy inside explodes outwards, releasing a strong wind and enveloping all the figures present.

Klarissa's body floats down in the new enviroment, a gigantic three-eyed mermaid with armor and a crown standing in front of it. The Witch emits an eerily human scream in this Labyrinth from the helmet covering her face, in her Labyrinth, a concert hall with several windows panel in which many memories play out, somewhat familiar and yet too fuzzy to know for sure.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara nodded to Madoka. "Y-yeah. Heh. The s-starfi...sh... is..."

And oh. Oh those words hurt. Hinoiri hugged herself. Her... her goals had been good. She'd wanted to protect Sayaka. She'd wanted to thank her. Then protect her. It wasn't Sayaka's fault. None of this was. She'd transformed to keep... both of them safe.

... But then more and more happened. Things got out of control. And she... She couldn't fix it. She'd been selfish. Greedy. She'd... dumped on Sayaka. Made the girl put up with her drama. Her angst. And it was... everything Klarissa said about her was true. She couldn't argue it. She was the one putting others at risk for HER wants. Her need to ascend. Her...

Then she saw that soul gem. What?! Why was it so dark?! Was she not using grief seeds?! She felt a moment of rage. How dare Klarissa not--

Then it erupted.

Then there was darkness. Hinoiri stood in the labyrinth, her eyes wide.

A witch.

A witch!

A WITCH!

Klarissa... became a witch. She was... smart. Very smart. And she could put two and two together. They didn't... die... when they went out.

They became the very things they fought.

Oh. Oh Sora. Oh Sora please no.

She'd... done this. To Klarissa. To Sayaka. She'd... She'd...

She had to henshin. To turn into Sunbreaker. She had to stop this. She had to... she'd... done this to her. Klarissa's witch... was... her fault.

She didn't see Sayaka. She didn't see Madoka. And now... now she... she turned. She ran away. As Hinoiri always did when she... when she couldn't face something. She ran away.

She'd done this. She'd hurt Klarissa and now... now... Sayaka was gone. She'd broken everything...

So someone else had to pick up the pieces.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka is catching her breath as Klarissa speaks, and starts confessing that she was being hurtful. That's... generally not a good thing for a couple to do. As much as she doesn't want to interfere with her best friend's relationships, she can't help but feel that what they have isn't that healthy. Would Klarissa take it badly if Madoka suggested a breakup? Would Hinoiri?

    Then as the bluenette goes on, Madoka starts to realize that the problem is actually with Klarissa. Something is going on here, and she's not sure what. Even with all the things going wrong, Madoka can't understand why Klarissa can't enjoy her life anymore.

    As she sees the teardrop fall, the pinkette moves forward to give Sayaka a hug, but that turns out to be the wrong decision.

    She barely has time to think about it before strong winds blast her and the Chara backwards. Madoka catches the Sio and Gretchen in one arm and holds them tight, using the other arm to grab onto a nearby fence as the wind sends her off her feet.

    "Klarissa-chan!" calls out Madoka. "What's happening?!"

    Gretchen can't handle this anymore. She starts to cry, and immediately pulls her mask down over her face to hide it. Sio, with gritted angry teeth, glares daggers at Gretchen. "I want you to tell us what's happening."

    The wind dies down, and Madoka finds herself inside the Labyrinth. Both of her fairies are still in her arms. None of the trio question it when Hinoiri flees, because as far as they know Hinoiri still has no powers.

    Gretchen is shaking. The mask only covers her face, but it doesn't hide her body language at all. She breaks away from Madoka's embrace and turns her back on the other two, looking up at Oktavia.

    There's no running away for her. There was only ever a single, inevitable fate that she was always marching towards. The truth has come out, and now everything is going to fall apart.

    "Klarissa... has become a Witch."