Author's note: Hey there! It's me again. I finally got into my writing momentum again and I finally decided to write a multi-chapter story featuring Homura and Mami as the main pairing. Other characters may appear as the story progresses and the rating may change, too. I am also working on my last Strawberry Panic! story and I am aiming to have these two updated at the same time as much as possible. For now, I am uploading both the prologue and the first chapter of this story. I hope you enjoy this. Do R&R. I'd really appreciate it. More HomuMami goodness! ^_^

Prologue

"No..."

The hand was pale and motionless, making the black-haired girl cry out louder in despair.

"No... No! This can't be!"

The sky became dark, gray clouds covering the sun.

"No... Not…again! I don't want to lose you..."

"MAMI!"

Six months prior.

"Akemi-san! I'm really sorry for making you wait!"

The raven-haired girl turned around and saw a blonde girl with twin curls fastened by a pair of floral hairclips approaching her.

"It's okay. I just got here."

"Well, then." Tomoe Mami panted for breath. She seemed tired with all that running. "Shall we go?"

Akemi Homura simply nodded and started to walk. This kind of thing didn't use to happen every day. It rather started quite unexpectedly: Homura and Mami saw each other one time outside the school building. They had a little chat first about what happened at school. At first, the raven-haired girl found it a bit uncomfortable to talk to Mami. Her shy and introverted nature was to blame for it. The blonde girl was kind of insistent, however—pointing out that it wasn't wrong to have company every once in a while. Homura didn't find it wrong, so she finally allowed herself to talk to the older girl and walk home together. Normally, the raven-haired girl would go home immediately since she didn't belong to any school clubs. Ever since that one time, Homura made it a habit of waiting by the school gate. Mami would usually arrive within five minutes. The waiting time wasn't really long, but Homura would use that few minutes in skimming through her notes.

And so school ended quite normally, the two of them can be seen walking together down the street. Mami stared at the afternoon sky and tried starting small talk with the quiet girl.

"How did your exams go?" Mami asked cheerfully.

"Ah, the usual." Came Homura's short reply.

"You were reading through your notes earlier." Homura didn't expect that Mami would notice that.

"We still have another round of exams for tomorrow." The raven-haired girl mumbled.

"I see." Mami smiled. "No wonder you're the best student among eighth graders."

The remark made Homura blush. She'd normally hear this kind of thing from her classmates or teachers. It was her first time to hear something like this from her senior. "That's…not true at all."

"But you are, Akemi-san." Mami tapped the younger girl's shoulder. "I can see you're working so hard."

Homura kept herself silent and made no comment at that. They continued walking until they reached the apartment complex where Mami's unit was located. The blonde girl stopped by main door and pulled off a grateful smile to Homura.

"Thank you for walking with me again, Akemi-san."

"Don't mention it." Homura said in return. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Take care." Mami waved a hand to bid her goodbye. "Don't stay up too late, okay?"

Homura's eyes widened as she heard those words. She turned her head only to see Mami entering the apartment complex. Deep inside her, Homura felt something strange. For some reason, she couldn't understand what that feeling was. She found herself—smiling as she heard those words play in her mind all over again.