[b]"Are... Are you going to be ok?"[/b]

Such words were not unfamiliar to her ears. Her appearance alone, this wretched state she was left in, often drew many a concerned look and words of worry. Much like her own end most interactions with friends and strangers alike typically reached the same terminus: Her condition. It was not their fault though. Much like her magic she brought that element of melancholy to pretty much everything that involved her. That sadness simply clung to her, afflicting those around her. Inevitably the same as always.

[b]"Let's not hang around here too long. Sure, if anyone comes back and makes the connection, we'll be able to take on them no problem, but it's something we could do without."[/b]

Sophia nodded in agreement to Noriko's conclusion. As they traveled she largely remained quiet, her eyes largely fixed to the path on the lookout for bumps and cracks in the road that might give her wheelchair trouble. It seemed Fuyuko was intent on talking however.

[b]"So, um... Where to?"[/b] Fuyuko asked. It seemed before either of them could provide any input she continued on.

[b]"That is, of course, if you want us to stay around. Ah! I-I'm not saying we don't want to stick around! What I meant is... After that just now, and considering everything going on tonight, would you rather be alone, or...?"[/b]

_
After a lingering silence carried in the air for the moment Sophia answered.

"I am sorry... To have brought you discomfort." Her face was an unbroken mask of calm, no change to her inflection. Even despite that the weight of the pause between her words wove the apologetic subtext into her words no less.

"Nonetheless I am happy to meet you two. My welcome into this magical girl community has been much warmer than some. I fear a newcomer to the magical girl trade itself was greeted with far more cruelty from her peers."

It was something she had on her mind even throughout the tense confrontation and mysterious run-ins she experienced. This was her way of subtly steering the topic to that of the magical girl community while also providing the two insight in regards to a new arrival amidst their flock. In part she was helping them. In part she was hoping to encourage them to open up about the other local magical girls. It was a possibility they knew them better than she did.

It also didn't hurt that it steered the conversation away from the topic of herself, something she loathed to discuss. It was hard not to loath the subject when it always came back around to the same end it always did.

Inevitably the same as always.
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[@LuckyBlackCat]