It didn't take long before the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the courtyard. Then, a delighted voice rang out, "Madoka! I'm so glad to see you!"
Madoka spun around in surprise and joy, throwing herself into Silica's arms. "Silica! Madoka's so happy to see Silica!" she cried with pure delight.
"H-Hey! Don't just rush in and rub your face against mine like that!" Silica protested, her cheeks flushed bright red as Madoka nuzzled her face affectionately. This idiot... you're making this so embarrassing!
Meanwhile, behind the courtyard wall, Asuna leaned against it, tilting her head back and covering her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Kimi-nee, you idiot... at least remember our promise properly," she murmured softly. When she lowered her hand, her eyes were filled with quiet loneliness.
Under the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard, Silica and Madoka sat back-to-back, smiling so brightly that even the flowers seemed to bloom more radiantly around them.
"Madoka, where have you been lately? I couldn't find you anywhere! Do you know how worried I've been?" Silica bent her knees and wrapped her arms around them, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears, her voice full of emotion.
"Silica, I'm sorry." Madoka quickly reached out, gently patting Silica's head with a guilty, caring expression.
"Then tell me where you went, and I'll forgive you," Silica said, tilting her head with a gentle smile.
"Eh? Where did I go?" Madoka blinked, her face full of confusion as she looked back at Silica, her eyes wide and questioning.
"I told you, don't ask me! How should I know where you went?" Silica sighed helplessly, flicking Madoka lightly on the forehead.
Really, how could someone this airheaded just disappear? How could I not be worried?
"Ehehe~" Madoka rubbed her forehead, then grinned proudly.
"Forget it. You're back now, and that's all that matters," Silica said softly, her smile warm and gentle as she placed her hand atop Madoka's.
The warmth of Madoka's smooth palm soothed Silica's heart, filling it with a tender sweetness.
"Madoka, is this your home? It's such a beautiful, old-style mansion," Silica said, looking around the courtyard. Her long lashes fluttered as her lovely eyes shimmered with curiosity.
"Eh? This is Madoka's house?" Madoka asked in surprise, looking at Silica as if she were the one who should know.
"Oh, honestly... there's no one in the world more absent-minded than you," Silica sighed, shaking her head. Still smiling, she stood and gently pulled Madoka up by the hand. "Come on. Since we have the chance, let's explore your house together."
"Okay!" Madoka beamed, gripping Silica's hand and starting to walk—but the next second, she abruptly turned ninety degrees toward the pond and nearly stepped straight into it.
"Madoka! Let me lead. Don't you lead me," Silica cried, yanking her back just in time. With Madoka's sense of direction, even walking in a straight line somehow turned into a random detour. Silica was certain Madoka could get lost even inside her own home.
"Hmmph!" Madoka puffed out her cheeks, glaring at Silica indignantly. "Silica, Madoka is not bad with directions!" she said with utter seriousness.
Seeing that adorable little face all scrunched up in determination, Silica hurried to soothe her. "I know, I know. Madoka's not bad with directions—she just has... a unique sense of direction."
"Mm! Madoka's not bad with directions, Madoka's just special!" Madoka said proudly, nodding with satisfaction as her bright smile returned.
"So, let me lead, alright?" Silica said with a giggle, covering her mouth to hide her laughter as she led Madoka by the hand out of the courtyard.
They walked through the hallway, past the living room, and just as they were about to step through the main gate of the mansion—thunk! Madoka managed to bump right into the doorframe.
"Ow, ow! My nose hurts!" Madoka whimpered, crouching down and clutching her nose, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Let me see," Silica said, gently pulling Madoka's hands away. The sight that greeted her was an adorably red nose.
"Pfft—" Silica couldn't hold back her laughter. How could Madoka possibly manage to run into a door on her way out? Even if she tried not to laugh, she simply couldn't help it.
"Uu!" Madoka puffed out her cheeks in anger, turning her head away—but the moment she did, the pout vanished from her face, replaced by pure delight. Her wine-red eyes sparkled with joy.
Forgetting all about her sore nose, she jumped to her feet and ran toward the vibrant garden where countless flowers bloomed in full color. She reached out to touch one, sniffing its scent, then another, smiling brightly as she wandered farther into the blossoms.
"Madoka, wait for me!" Silica called, hurrying after her. The flowers were beautiful—but none could compare to Madoka's radiance.
As she watched the innocent girl among the blossoms, Silica's eyes softened, though a trace of worry lingered. "Hey, Madoka... have you noticed anything strange lately?"
"Something strange? Oh, yes! Madoka found something weird—every year has a different number of days!" Madoka said cheerfully, her hands gently cupping a peony as she smiled.
Silica was speechless. That's just because of leap years... 365 and 366 days alternating! Of course they're different!
"Last year had three days, the year before had two, and this year has so many—eight days already! It must be because Silica is Madoka's friend. That's why Madoka gets extra days this year!" she said, tilting her head with a sunny smile, her expression radiant.
But that light pierced Silica's heart. She remembered what Kimi-nee had once said: 'Madoka only wakes a few times a year. The rest of the time, she sleeps.'
"Madoka... have you ever noticed you're different from other people?" Silica asked softly, her heart aching but unable to suppress the need to know—she wanted to understand everything about this girl.
Madoka nodded seriously, pressing her hands against her chest. "Madoka noticed. But Madoka doesn't think about it. Because whenever Madoka remembers that she's special... Madoka starts wondering if she even exists at all. And when that happens, it hurts here... it hurts so much, and Madoka gets scared."
Her eyes shimmered with fear as she released her chest and returned to gently smelling the flowers. Her smile bloomed once again as she said, "So Madoka doesn't think about why there were three days last year, two the year before, or eight this year. Madoka just wants to make every day happy. That way, even if next year only has one day, Madoka will still be satisfied."
A wave of dizziness struck Silica, and tears streamed down her face before she could stop them. She clapped both hands over her mouth, trying to stifle the sobs—but no matter how hard she tried, the tears wouldn't stop.
"Eh? Silica, why are you crying? Did Madoka say something wrong?" Madoka asked, her voice full of worry as she hurried closer.
"These are happy tears. I'm happy because I'm with you," Silica said, forcing a trembling smile.
"Mm. Madoka's happy too—but Madoka can't cry," Madoka said with a small smile, though her tone was puzzled.
"Then don't force yourself. Just keep smiling the way you always do," Silica whispered, pressing a hand against her aching heart while wiping her tears away. Madoka wants every day to be happy... so I can't cry either.
"Mm!" Madoka nodded firmly and crouched by the flowerbed again, tending to a small blossom.
"Do you really love flowers that much?" Silica asked softly. Though her chest felt unbearably heavy, her voice was full of gentle warmth—tender enough to make anyone ache with sympathy.
"Mm. Madoka loves them most of all," Madoka said, smiling brightly from the heart. "Flowers are so beautiful."
"You can pick the one you like and wear it," Silica said gently, wanting to give Madoka a bit more kindness.
"No! Madoka can't pick them," Madoka said immediately, shaking her head. Her expression turned serious as she continued, "If you pick them, they'll wither. Flowers don't want to die when they're most beautiful. It would make them sad."
Her wine-red eyes were steady as she spoke with quiet conviction. "So Madoka won't pick flowers. Madoka will let them bloom and fade naturally. Every moment they shine belongs to them. When they finally wither, they'll have no regrets."
"Because flowers have lived their beauty fully. Even if that beauty turns to decay, they'll still be satisfied—because their life was truly their own. That way, they won't be sad for blooming briefly, or regret their fleeting existence."
"Uu..." The tears Silica had barely contained burst forth again. This time, even covering her mouth couldn't stop her sobs.
"Madoka, I'm sorry... I can't hold it in anymore. I'm sorry... I'm so useless..." Silica wept, wiping at her eyes with both hands, but the tears fell like beads from a broken string.
"Silica! I'm sorry! Madoka said something bad! Don't cry!" Madoka panicked, kneeling before her and pulling Silica into a tight embrace.
Holding that soft, warm body, Silica's heart ached unbearably. I'm sorry, Madoka... I can't fill the void in your heart.
"Madoka," Silica whispered, lifting her head. Looking into the worried eyes of the girl before her, she smiled through her tears. "You're the one who should be worried, yet you still care about everyone else, you silly girl."
Then, without warning, Silica pushed Madoka down gently onto the grass, lying atop her.
"Eh? Silica, what are you—" Madoka's words cut off abruptly, her lips silenced.
Brushing a strand of hair from her forehead, Silica spoke softly, her voice trembling with affection. "But this kind, foolish Madoka... this sweet, clumsy Madoka... I love you most of all."
Then Silica leaned down again, pressing her lips to Madoka's.
Crack! The garden gate shattered under a clenched hand. Asuna turned and bolted away, tears in her eyes.
"Kimi-nee, you idiot! You absolute idiot!"