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Mami couldn't remember the last time she had relaxed like this. Always alone, always fighting witches, crying herself to sleep. That was fate for a magical girl, after all, the price she had paid for her wish. But Kaname Madoka was different. She could still smile from the heart, even after becoming a magical girl, and little by little they grew closer.
At a small, isolated beach, Mami and Madoka swam together in the water, splashing and laughing like normal girls. Maybe it was a little too chill to be swimming, but shopping for swimsuits and planning this date - it all almost felt like a dream. The water was clear, sparkling under the blue skies, and Madoka was most radiant of all. A blush came upon Mami's cheeks as she floated upon the water; at some point, she realized she was no longer able to tear her gaze from Madoka.
Giggling, Madoka took Mami's hand and floated beside her. "Careful, you don't want to drift away, Mami-san."
A smile tugged at Mami's lips, and her fingers curled around Madoka's. "As long as I'm with you, I don't think I'd mind."
Madoka's eyes went wide, and Mami had never noticed how rosy her cheeks were.
Eventually the two of them returned to the sandy shore, and Mami sat down on a beach towel, shaded by a large parasol. When was the last time she simply had fun like this? Probably in elementary school, before her parents had died, when she still had friends. She bit her lip; since becoming a magical girl, she could no longer remember the names or faces of her childhood friends. When she met Sakura Kyouko, she had hoped finally escape that curse of loneliness, but then…
A cold soda can touched her cheek, and Mami nearly jumped out of her skin. "Kaname-san!" she scolded as Madoka sat beside her. "You shouldn't startle me like that!"
"Sorry," Madoka said with a sheepish smile as she handed the cold drink to Mami. "So, what were you thinking about?"
Mami hesitated, staring at the can of soda in her hands. Madoka was a nice, normal girl, too normal to be a magical girl. But she had become a magical girl anyway for Mami's sake, and Mami no longer had to fight alone. "Kaname-san, what did you wish for?"
"That's a secret," Madoka said, pressing her finger to her lips.
A sigh fell from Mami's lips. In other words, Madoka was likely afraid Mami would scold her for her wish. Had she wished for something frivolous, or had she used her wish for another, much like Kyouko had? Whatever her reason, Mami could only hope that Madoka truly understood what she had been wishing for. "Well then, let me rephrase my question. Do you regret becoming a magical girl?"
"Of course not," Madoka said quickly. "With this magic, I can finally help people. I'm not useless anymore."
"You truly are a selfless girl, Kaname-san…" Mami whispered. The way Madoka smiled at her now was too much to bear. She turned her face away, staring at the water before her.
Madoka laid her hand over Mami's. "And I can be with you now. I won't let you be alone again, I promise."
The sunlight on the waters was almost blinding, but still Mami couldn't meet Madoka's gaze. Here were just the two of them. No witches, no magic. She could almost pretend she was a normal girl again. Yet, as she glanced down at their hands and saw those silver bands engraved with strange black runes, she couldn't forget the burden they now had to carry. Magical girls lived in the shadows, the rest of the world never knowing of their sacrifice. If Mami had never met Madoka…
"Mami-san?" Madoka leaned in closer, raising a hand to touch Mami's cheek. "Is something wrong?"
Mami pressed her lips against Madoka's. Because she had met Madoka, there would be at least one person who would remember her.
The waves splashed against the shore, and Madoka took her lips from Mami's, her cheeks a bright red. "Mami-san…?"
"You should be careful, Kaname-san," Mami said with a wink. "If you say you want to be with me, I may try to take advantage of that kindness."
Madoka's smile grew bolder. "As long as you're with me, I'll never regret becoming a magical girl."
Her eyes watering, Mami pulled Madoka into a tight embrace. As a magical girl, Mami would never again truly know peace, but with Madoka by her side, there was nothing more she had to fear. Madoka's arms came around her back, and the sound of waves filled her ears.