[accidental video]

[anothersoul]

[The video camera shows Mami's apartment--richly furnished but empty. Nothing but a few dishes on a glass table and the light coming from a sliding glass door are seen. Nobody's home. That is, until the noise of an opening door. Lights flicker on as someone flips a light switch.]

Mother, Father... I'm sorry I was out later than usual.

[Mami walks into the view of the camera. She doesn't look around and instead just puts her schoolbag near the table with a heavy sigh, looking a bit more ragged than usual.] I understand that I could probably have returned sooner but not tonight. It was busy.

[As Mami talks, she picks up the dirty dishes and moves out of sight of the camera. There's noises of someone putting water into a pot.] I believe I've made a couple of new friends. I'm sure you would have gotten along well with them.

I hope you weren't too mad at having a strange man in the apartment. He was very cordial, as you remember. I used your recipe, Mother. [Mami re-appears as she sets the table again: for one person.] Don't worry about me, I promise I've been taking care of myself.

[Mami sits down at the glass table, pouring herself a cup of tea. She continues talking to herself but the video cuts out.]

Comments

[voice]

[anothersoul]

I've been pretty busy for nearly a year. Must be nice to have a break once in a while.

[voice]

[oceanicbutterfly]

It's hard not to worry about everyone who's still involved in such things, though. I feel as though I should be helping.

[voice; locked]

[anothersoul]

We're not talking merely about clubs now, are we?

[MAGICAL GIRL SENSES THROUGH THE ROOF]

[voice; locked]

[oceanicbutterfly]

We weren't even talking about clubs from the start, I think.

[voice; locked]

[anothersoul]

Are you like Kise-san, then?

[voice; locked]

[oceanicbutterfly]

There are some differences in the details, but yes. Cure Aqua, Pretty Cure of Intelligence, at your service.

[voice; locked]

[anothersoul]

I have no title, other than maybe protector of Mitikihara City. I'm very surprised to see other magical girls here that seem to follow more traditional roles.

[voice; locked]

[oceanicbutterfly]

More traditional roles?

[voice; locked]

[anothersoul]

Which is to say, from what I've heard from Kise-san and about the Bad End Kingdom and Precure and all that... It seems more like the anime. Most of the time, in my experience, magical girls don't fight together.

[voice; locked]

[oceanicbutterfly]

I see.

[There's a pause. This isn't necessarily a SHOCKING TWIST, and in fact it's entirely consistent with what she already knows about magical girls in Mami's world, but:]

It shouldn't be that way.

[voice; locked]

[anothersoul]

You're right. It's completely inefficient--there's more enemies than a single person can fight alone.

[voice; locked]

[oceanicbutterfly]

I'm not talking about efficiency.

[voice; locked]

[anothersoul]

I guessed.

[voice; locked]

[oceanicbutterfly]

Tomoe-san, I don't have to tell you your own situation.

[voice; locked]

[anothersoul]

I understand the dangers. I also understand the dangers of fighting alongside other magical girls.

[voice; locked]

[oceanicbutterfly]

You understand the physical dangers.

[voice; locked]

[anothersoul]

...There's more?

[Karen, be careful. Be very careful.]

[voice; locked]

[oceanicbutterfly]

[BRB derailing canon into a horrible mess, as opposed to its usual organized horribleness.]

Humans aren't meant to face things alone. By fighting by yourself, you're just hurting yourself.

[voice; locked]

[anothersoul]

[Okay, that's fine. It's not going to make her have a mental breakdown and become a magical girl hunter.]

I understand. Were it up to me, I would fight alongside another magical from my world. However, most don't fight for the good of others.

[voice; locked]

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Karen's actually acting under the assumption that Mami already knows all those horrible details, because despite her title she can be kind of an idiot sometimes.]

We already know about one. Why shouldn't there be more?

[voice; locked]

[anothersoul]

Because, in my experience, those who do believe in that change their mind eventually or die out of recklessness. It's horrible to say but most magical girls don't last long.

[voice; locked]

[oceanicbutterfly]

Tomoe-san...

--Then, I'll be your ally.

[voice; locked]

[anothersoul]

Have you ever fought a witch, Minazuki-san?

[voice; locked]

[oceanicbutterfly]

Of course I haven't.

[voice; locked]

[anothersoul]

To face a witch--to kill it--to know that monster will only continue to grow in power... I'm so very glad for the offer, Minazuki-san. Yet I'm afraid I must decline it.

For the miracle of a second chance, this is the price. You and Kise-san and any other Precure are not bound by such things. Witches--whatever they are--are the duty of the magical girls of my world and their's alone. I am sorry from the bottom of my heart.