Puella Magi Rei ♥️ Magica: Afterglow

Chapter 14: "Ami"

"You do realize people have to conceal their true feelings, right?.. Some people are just empty shells like that.. And it could end at any second. You haven't seen what I've seen.. At all.." Gin looked over at Ami, before looking down at the ground.

"..I've seen my father burn to death.." Ami whispered, tears pouring out of her eyes. "I've seen old friends die.. A-and die again, and you know what?! It sucks! But I had to get over it! I had to be strong!.. Gin!.." She hiccupped. "Y-You have to let those emotions out too, dammit!" She hissed, stomping her foot against the floor as she dug her fists into her sides, as her body trembled.

Raising her hands to her eyes, Gin lets out a frustrated scream, the ruined building falling completely silent as Ami stared at her, in shock. She had never seen such an outburst from such a stoic girl before.. Never.

".. Ami.. I'm sorry.." She whispered, before starting to stomp away.

"N-No!" Ami sharply grasped Gin's hand. ".. You're not leaving me too!"

"Ami. Please, go check on Tatsura." Gin tried to pull her hand away.

"You're not. Going. Anywhere!.." Ami whispered, tears in her eyes. ".. Gin.. I-.. I need you.. Tatsura needs you.. Aria, a-and Manami, and Hotaru.. Akira.. Miku.. We all need you!.. I know it doesn't seem like we care, but we do!.. A-And as long as we're able to fight alongside each other, we're not going to abandon you.. We're not going to throw ourselves into danger and get ourselves killed, and leave you alone like you have been for so long!"

Gin stared at Ami, tears pouring down her cheeks.

".. W-.. We need you.." Ami whispered, slowly sinking down onto her knees, in the pile of rubble that surrounded them. ".. So you have to be strong.. J-Just like we do.. I.. I'll be stronger for you! I will be more careful, I will take care of you just like you've taken care of us.. So please.." Ami begged. ".. Don't shut us out.."

Gin slowly knelt down beside Ami, holding her hands tightly into her own as she let out a soft hiccup, her tears dripping into the rubble below her. ".. I.. I won't shut you out.." She whispered, letting a soft smile escape through her stoic expression. ".. It.. May be hard, but.. I.. I'll try to be more open with my feelings with you.. I-.. I'll do it for you.." She whispered.

".. Gin?.."

Ami slowly opened her eyes, as memories flooded into her mind. She winced, feeling her own tears running down the sides of her face as she slowly sat up. She looked down at her near-depleted soul gem, as the violet tinge began to fade away from it entirely, allowing the dull sapphire glow of her natural color to barely shine through the grief.

"G-Gin-san?!" She called out, slowly standing up. She found herself in a warehouse of some sort, with no recollection of how she got there to begin with. She couldn't remember Homura finding her in the light witch's labyrinth, she couldn't remember how she encountered the light witch to begin with.. She didn't even know if she was still in Mitakihara or not.

This all felt like a bad dream.

"..N-.. Nggh.."

"Kh!-" Ami quickly turned around, blinking a couple of times when she recognized who the groan of pain came from. ".. T-Tatsura Yomone? Is that you?.."