[center][h2][color=darkturquoise]Tama Miyara[/color] and [color=tomato]Honoka Takahide[/color][/h2][/center]
[@TheWindel] [@SimpleWriter] [@floodtalon]

Tama listened with rapt attention. So it turned out Miso City did have another much-needed magical girl. Presumably a light one, going by the way Miss Tamashii had broken up the fight, and an incredibly powerful one at that. A subdued [color=darkturquoise]"You learn something new every day, huh?"[/color] was all Tama uttered at first, in contrast with Honoka, who beamed as she skipped after the teacher.

[color=tomato]"Ahhh that's so awesome!!"[/color] the redhead squealed, eyes shining. [color=tomato]"So you've been helping fight Nightmares this whole time! I bet they don't stand a chance against you!"[/color]

Despite the complete and utter bewilderment, Tama gave a slight smile at Honoka's good cheer. A second later, the bluenette's usual solemn expression took its place. [color=darkturquoise]"About that... Do you know what amped up all those Nightmares back then?"[/color] she asked. [color=darkturquoise]"Also, the other girl who was with us just now."[/color] She glanced over her shoulder. [color=darkturquoise]"Is she going to be ok? Yes, she put us in that state, but we can't just leave her."[/color]

Honoka nodded. Hopefully the flying girl had been fixed up along with the scenery, but if she hadn't... The musician knew all too well what a bad fall was like. [color=tomato]"Yeah, let's go check! It's not like she can harm us right now anywa- Ah!"[/color] She raised her hand to her mouth, recoiling. [color=tomato]"What is this?!"[/color]

Her sudden stop nearly caused Tama to bump into her. Both stared at the crowds of students pouring out of the doors, as the blaring of a fire alarm filled the crisp winter air.

[color=darkturquoise]"Fuck."[/color] The word slipped out of Tama's mouth despite the proximity of a teacher. [color=darkturquoise]"So much for protecting the school."[/color] Guilt struck all over again. Should she and Honoka have stayed behind after all when the fight had left school grounds, to make sure nobody else got hurt?

As soon as Miss Tamashii had returned their magic and released the light girls from a hug, Tama and Honoka rushed over to the other teachers, asking - or frantically babbling in the younger girl's case - what had happened, and if everyone was alright. They were, as far as the staff knew, but apparently something had gotten into the school, smashing up lockers. Tama's hands clenched by her sides. She had a good idea of what had happened, more than likely to do with that miasma of darkness from earlier, but it wasn't exactly something she could tell school staff. 

[color=darkturquoise]"And to think everyone got brought here for their own safety,"[/color] Tama muttered, trudging away from the crowd, with just Honoka at her side. Both Soma and Rose had left without a word for all their apparent camaraderie just now, and Ami wandered in the other direction, no longer interested in picking a fight to Tama's relief. In all likelihood, the dark girl was heading off to check on her friend.

Were those of the dark really more loyal than those who sided with light...?

Shaking her head, Tama pushed away the thought. Positivity was needed more than ever. Honoka had the right idea, that spring returning to her step.

[color=tomato]"At least everyone's ok!"[/color] the redhead reminded her. [color=tomato]"As for the damage, it'll get fixed up in no time!"[/color] She glanced in the direction Miss Tamashii had gone, then grinned back at Tama. [color=tomato]"You know what I'm talking about!"[/color]

In truth, Tama was less than certain such a thing would happen. If everything suddenly became good as new with no explanation, that would weird everyone out further. The cracks in the city's facade of normality wouldn't be so easily fixed, not as they spread and deepened by the day.

As a familiar figure descended, both turned to face her.

[color=tomato]"Yui!!"[/color] Honoka bounded over to the other light girl, before skidding to a halt, remembering that to most she seemed to be greeting thin air. [i]Gahhh,[/i] she thought, [i]still so much to get used to.[/i] [color=tomato]"Huh?"[/color] She brought her voice to a whisper, noticing the tears welling in Yui's eyes. [color=tomato]"What happened?"[/color]

Tama stepped forward, her response just as soft. [color=darkturquoise]"You found her, right? There wasn't more trouble, was there? Was it... Was it anything about Luna?"[/color] She started to lead the other two away from the school building. [color=darkturquoise]"Or Alara? Did you find out where she is?"[/color]

Before Yui could respond, a fourth person approached them. The white-haired, Western-looking maid wasn't someone Tama or Honoka had seen before, and radiated no magical aura. As such, her announcement of a message for all of them came as something of a surprise, in so much as anything was surprising any more, especially as she handed Yui the letter. 

[color=tomato]"You can see her?"[/color] Honoka blurted. It must have been a mascot, she figured, who had shown the maid their location and revealed to her what was normally hidden. The redhead craned her neck, eyes widening as they scanned the text. Once she'd finished, she jumped up from her stooped position, her face resolute. [color=tomato]"We'll be right on it! Don't you worry, we'll get that emblem back for her straight away!"[/color]

Tama's eyebrows furrowed. A stolen emblem... She'd felt vulnerable enough just now while depowered for a few minutes. For a magical girl to not just lose her powers with no certainty that she'd regain them, but to know that her life was in danger... The memory of Luna's bloodstained corpse resurfaced, her tattoo slashed down the middle. [color=darkturquoise]"It seems it'll be best to discuss this once we've spoken to her, found out more,"[/color] Tama said, with a compliant bow to Elizabeth, [color=darkturquoise]"and we'll find our friend as fast as we can."[/color]

She turned her attention back to the crowd, alert for any sign of Illya.