Mahou Shoujo Troper Magica * Fujiwara City *

Kiyoko saw Kyubey appear in the classroom, much to her surprise.

"Eh?! Ky...Kyubey?!", she yelled out loud, gaining the attention of the class yet again.

"E...Eheh....Sorry, I must have dozed off...."

"What are you doing here, Kyubey? Did you fail your classes?"

"Ah, you're on this class too, Kiyoko!" Kyubey exclaimed, looking back at the girl, his voice full of delight "I was just telling Suoh here about a Witch that's about to appear in the city"

"I'll be ready to go after class." Suoh sighed, and tried to pretend there was still a chance he could focus on what the teacher was saying.

"A Witch?! Ooooh.... I wonder what they look like! Do they eat? Oooh, I wonder if they like strawberries- I looooooooove strawberries!!! Can they talk? Oooh Ibettheycantalk!! Can I come? Can I, can I?"

"Well it will be dangerous but if Suoh is willing to take you along I can´t see why not"

Chiyo floated in her barrier. It seemed to come with a floor build-in, but she didn't need it. As the goddess of this world, she could simply make the air itself carry her weight.

Some part of her mind wondered how long she'd been in her world. Surely it had been some time since the battle with the witch. Since Yuriko- No, she mustn't let her thoughts go there.

Yes, it may have been hours. Or days. Or maybe only minutes. Chiyo wasn't really keeping track of time. Perhaps it was malleable within this world, just like everything else.

Her barrier started as a mere simplified reflection of the world outside. But she'd learned to alter it. Spheres were easiest. Spheres of all sizes and colours were around her, now. Some were even light sources. She'd moved on from spheres, though. She figured out how to replicate the things that had already been there, and from there, how to alter them. And even how to make them into entire new things. It was wonderful.

She grinned to herself. She wouldn't merely kill witches. She'd beat them at their own game. Her world would one day be greater than any world created by a witch. She would be greater than those monster that killed-

No. Mustn't dwell on that. She had known what she signing up for. She'd known it had a possibly. Sure, Chiyo had been useless, and had simply watched helplessly as Yuriko had been impaled and then there was only blood and that horrible monster and oh how could she ever thought those things was wonderful when they so, so horrible and-

No. Stop it. That was the past. Live in the present.

She noticed it was getting a bit harder to manipulate things. Hmm. Had she really used up so much magic already? Time to go back to God's world, she supposed.

So then she was back in her house, and no longer in her Magic Girl outfit. And yeah, now that she could look at it, her Soul Gem was darker.

Time to go witch hunting, then.

Better find someone else, then. Can't go fight them alone. Can't go fight them alone.

She looked out the window, and saw that it was daytime. She'd been in her barrier the entire night.

I should go to school, then. That's where the others will be.

She quickly got ready and rushed out the door, a smile nearly frozen on her face.

Saiko finished up the last lesson, jotting down a couple of key points for the upcoming test. Closing up her books as the bell rang, she slotted her school supplies into ordered pockets in her bag and clipped it closed, slinging it over her shoulder.

She had football practice. As captain, she was extra obliged to attend. But there were new duties to attend to, possibly far more important than getting to the nationals.

"Sorry Rin, I have some family matters to attend to. Tell coach I'm really sorry." Saiko noted a team member that she had to go somewhere. A white lie wouldn't hurt every now and then. With her practice dealt with, she started looking for the magical girls.

Chiyo had reached her classroom door. On the way, she'd happened to glimpse a clock. She'd been shocked by how long it'd been; school was practically over!

All the better, she supposed. There would be nothing to hold back Hiroko or Suoh. Or anyone else who might be around.

The only one inside who was in on it was Suoh, however.

He was as good as any other.

"Suoh!" Chiyo called out, still wearing that too-wide smile.

Suoh looked up. "H-huh? Chiyo? What is it?"

"Ah, Chiyo perfect timing! Suoh is just needing some help with dealing with a new Witch in town. Your assistance would be indispensable in the battle ahead, should you feel like providing it!" Kyubey transmitted cheerfully.

"Just checking in to let your know I'm alright!" said Chiyo.

"That sounds perfect," she added mentally, "I may have used up a little too much power practicing after last night, so I could really use a Grief Seed. That's why I came here, really!"

Even her mental voice was cheerful, only cracking for a second at the mention of the previous day.

Saiko dashed into the conversation. A bit later than expected, which surprised herself.

She had spent the time dodging her football coach. One of the reasons she asked her friend to tell him of her absence was that he was notoriously strict, handing out punishments for the smallest offences. Just that week, an unlucky pair of freshmen who spoke out of line were forced to do a couple hundred push-ups each. Saiko had spotted him coming from a hallway and was forced to take the extra long route, running to make sure that he didn't spot her. She'd have to deal with hell the next day but she could worry about that later. For now,

"Hey girls. Oh man, you would not BELIEVE what I had to go through to get here. I am so dead tomorrow. Oh, and hi Kyubey."

"Hello Saiko! Did you come up with a wish?" Kyubey asked.