[center][h3][b][color=92278f]Ayumu [/color]& [color=fff79a]Machiko[/color][/b][/h3]

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Through the hallways, Machiko would feel a lone presence approaching.

Those fights had really done a number on the school, Ayumu thought, lips curling into a smile as she took in the dented lockers. Too bad she'd missed them. She could just imagine the expressions on any onlookers' faces. The magician sneaked onwards, towards the one person still here.

An aura of gloominess permeated the air, emanating from the Detention Club room. Time to liven things up. [color=darkmagenta]"Hey, don't you worry,"[/color] Ayumu called, striding into the room in her shadowy stage outfit. [color=darkmagenta]"No need to head home just yet!"[/color]

With a gloved hand, she pointed behind Machiko. Just a second ago, the room had been plain save for the table sheet. Now, streamers - or rather, knotted-together handkerchiefs, ragged and bloodstained, hung from the ceiling. Balloons floated around, some shaped like unsettlingly detailed skulls, others like eyeballs. A cabinet rose from a trapdoor, opening to reveal rows of gleaming spikes, although the many figures who leapt from the small space were unharmed. "SURPRISE!!" the other dark magical girls called in unison, their good cheer contrasting with their sinister transformed appearances.

[color=darkmagenta]"Although there's been a slight change of plan,"[/color] Ayumu explained, waving her hand. The room became ordinary once more, empty besides her and her former partner. [color=darkmagenta]"Since school's out, the meeting's being moved to Ami's place."[/color]

Machiko remained perfectly still all the while illusions; eyeballs, bloodied things, skulls and balloons appeared and caused chaos in the room - for a little while. It all disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared, and only after the last illusion was gone did Machiko slowly turned around to look at Ayumu, bearing her usual nonchalant expression. By the time Ayumu had made her way to the room, the feast of sweets and pastries had been packed back up in their boxes. Holding one in her arms, Machiko walked over to Ayumu. 

[color=fff79a]"Here."[/color] she said as she put the box in her friend's arms and went back to the table to pick up the other one. 

[color=fff79a]"Help me carry those to Ami's home then."[/color]

She aimed for the door, but stopped as she was passing Ayumu and turned her head towards her. [color=fff79a]"It's been a while. You must have a new partner by now."[/color] she said, with no traces of either being happy to see Ayumu or not. Since those two had been partners, the magician would know that's just how Machiko was: Jaded. 

Ayumu didn't take offense at Machiko's minimal reaction. On the surface, the two appeared to be opposites. Deep down, Ayumu could relate to that cynicism all too well. A magician entertained and enthralled at the cost of experiencing such joy themselves. A stage act hid a myriad of secrets, just like a smile did - and just like this world did.

[color=darkmagenta]"Yeah, but I'm not gonna leave a friend behind,"[/color] she replied, helping Machiko with the boxes. As she did, she returned to civilian form. Inspiring urban legends and ghost stories was fun and all, but probably not something Machiko would be in the kind of mood to help with. [color=darkmagenta]"Good to see you again, and I'm sure the rest of the club will agree. Ooh, Ami's gonna love these."[/color]

As she led the other magical girl from the room, Ayumu decided not to mention the fact that she'd come back to Miso City at a less than ideal time, with that high-and-mighty force of light invading Detention Club territory. If the club wanted to discuss that at the meeting, they would, and she wasn't going to be the one to bring the mood down. Aegis had done enough of that recently.

[color=fff79a]"It doesn't matter."[/color] she said, talking of course of whether or not the others would or would not care or be happy to see her again. [color=fff79a]"I wonder who will be my partner now. Ahh. I guess I'll have to wait for Touka to decide. Now..."[/color] the both of them were now outside of the school. It was quite late, some time after all of the commotion. Machiko turned to her old partner and looked her in the eyes of her jaded stare. [color=fff79a]"...Which way?"[/color]