Puella Magi Rei ♥️ Magica: Afterglow

Chapter 6: "Leave The Nest; An Appraisal"

Once again welcoming back Hisoko 's character "Gin"!

"Thank you so much for coming so quickly, Homura.."

"N-No need to thank me, Madoka.."

Homura gently sat down a tea kettle, using what Mami had taught her such a long time ago to her advantage as she quickly turned on the stove, before turning and facing Madoka. ".. You're my friend, of course I'd come help you.. Sayaka and Mami, they.. I'm sure they were just a bit tied up today."

"Maybe.." Madoka sighed.

Homura slowly sat down, across from her best friend. ".. So.. I-If you don't mind me asking, uh.. W-What exactly happened?"

".. Mom came into my room.. And she had this list of brochures to colleges in cities like Asunaro.. In Kamihama.. She immediately began telling me their benefits and.. Almost speaking for me, and telling me that I am going to a certain college because it'll benefit me.. And I.. Well.. I told her I wasn't ready.." Madoka sighed. ".. I don't want to leave Mitakihara.. But the colleges here do not teach the field that I want to go into.. So until I am able to make up my mind.. I told her I wasn't ready, and I respectfully asked her to stop.."

".. And she didn't take it well?" Homura frowned.

Madoka slowly shook her head. ".. We got into a pretty heated argument.. And she brought up how I am grown now, and I needed to start taking my life seriously.. It's not like I haven't taken my life seriously before though.. I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs.. I've been on the straight and narrow path since I was able to walk.. But it's like she's worried about me failing or something.. As if she doesn't have confidence in my ability to take care of myself and set myself up for a bright future.." She explained.

"That's-.." Homura's eyes widened, before she cleared her throat. ".. That's very wrong of her to assume such a thing.. Mothers are suppose to guide their children, yes, but they know when to let their child make decisions for themselves.. Junko.. Doesn't seem to grasp that."

Madoka shook her head. ".. Not at all.. And it's frustrating to me.. This isn't the first time she's sprung colleges on me, but she's usually so much more lenient and understanding.. Today she just-.. Snapped, it felt like.."

"Madoka.." Homura sighed, shaking her head. ".. I am so sorry you had to go through that."

"I love Tatsuya very much.. But he's getting old enough to understand that his big sister can't always hover around him.. Which is why I've decided that I want to move out of my parents' house and begin my own life. I've had a steady job since before graduation.. I have money stashed back.. All I have to do is try and find a place to stay, and I won't have to deal with the drama anymore.. I can live life at my own pace without worrying what my mother's going to think, you know?" Madoka shrugged.

"What does Tomohisa think?" Homura asked.

".. I haven't spoken to Dad about it yet.." Madoka slowly rested her face in her hands. ".. Part of me can't bring myself to face him about such a thing. He's so softhearted.. I'm worried I'd worry him too much and put him in an early grave.. He cares about Tatsuya and I so deeply.."

".. What if.." Homura thought, before trailing off.

"Huh?" Madoka perked up.

"N-No, it's nothing.. It was probably a.. Really stupid idea anyway.." Homura laughed, scratching the back of her head.