This is a translation of projectMDHM‘s “petite amie magique ~Madoka and Homura’s Exam Week~”.
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The living room at dinnertime.
【Junko】 「In any case… good job making it through your exams!」
【Tatsuya】 「Good job!」
Mama raises her glass high to toast, and Tatsuya imitates cheerfully. The rest of us follow suit.
【Junko】 「Mmm, tonight’s dishes are delicious too! You’re pretty much ready for marriage.」
She opens a bottle in high spirits.
【Tomohisa】 「Mama, don’t drink too much, okay?」
【Junko】 「I know, I know.」
【Junko】 「Now, about your exam scores… judging from your expressions, it looks like I don’t need to ask.」
【Tomohisa】 「You two really worked hard. And Homura-chan, thank you so much for helping Madoka with her studying.」
【Homura】 「Ah, no… I didn’t really do anything. The effort was hers alone.」
She humbles herself.
【Madoka】 「I only did my best thanks to her.」
I said to my parents.
【Madoka】 「Her way of teaching is really effective. I think she could become a schoolteacher.」
【Junko】 「Hahaha, a teacher, huh. Watch out if your classmates start flocking towards you.」
【Tomohisa】 「Homura-chan, is there a career you’d like to have in the future?」
【Homura】 「I……」
Our harmonious dinnertime continues like that.
【Junko】 「Say, by the way…」
After waiting awhile, Mama cleared her throat and had a somewhat serious expression.
【Junko】 「Homura-chan, you moved here about a year ago, right?」
【Homura】 「Yes, that’s right…」
【Junko】 「Could you tell me why?」
【Homura】 「Yes…. I transferred here from Tokyo for treatment of my heart disease…」
Despite the sudden question, she answers in her usual calm tone.
【Homura】 「There’s a specialist at the Mitakihara medical school who I received continuous treatment from, including hospitalization and checkups.」
【Junko】 「Are you fully recovered now?」
【Homura】 「Yes. I have follow-ups every now and then, but the doctor said that it’s pretty much in remission.」
【Junko】 「I see…. That’s the most important thing.」
Mama nods and looks quite pleased.
【Junko】 「So you’re living alone? Are your parents always in Tokyo?」
【Homura】 「Yes…. They cannot take time off from work.」
【Junko】 「Neither of them?」
【Homura】 「……」
【Junko】 「Sorry, seems like I asked something too personal.」
【Homura】 「It’s fine…」
【Junko】 「You don’t plan on going back to Tokyo… where your parents are?」
【Homura】 「…… There’s……」
She falters slightly. She seemed to be choosing her words.
【Homura】 「Irreplaceable, important things in this town……. So, I want to stay here instead of returning to Tokyo.」
【Junko】 「I see…」
Why does Mama ask such serious questions? I held my breath, waiting to see where this conversation was going.
She continues after a short pause.
【Junko】 「Say, Homura-chan. Would you be interested in… living with us?」
【Madoka】 「Eh!?」
I couldn’t help blurting out.
【Madoka】 「Mama, what do you mean by that?」
Mama looks at Homura-chan and I as she continues talking.
【Junko】 「Yesterday, Papa… Tomohisa and I talked it over. We thought it’d be a lot better for her, if she and her parents are fine with it.」
【Junko】 「We can’t help but worry about teenage girls living alone these days, even if they are someone else’s daughter.」
【Tomohisa】 「We know you’re very capable, but isn’t it difficult balancing schoolwork and housework?」
Papa, who was taking care of Tatsuya, chimes in.
【Homura】 「Do you mean…. Something like a homestay?」
【Junko】 「Well, I suppose so…. No… it’s more like taking in a daughter-in-law?」
That’s a bit hasty! Mama laughs heartily at her own joke.
【Junko】 「Homura-chan, you’re already like part of our family. … Madoka’s very attached to you too. So, how about it? Do you want to live with us?」
Homura-chan living here…! Ah, what a wonderful offer!
【Tatsuya】 「Homura nee-cha, live with us?」
Tatsuya raises his voice joyfully.
【Tomohisa】 「Tatsuya likes Homura onee-chan a lot too.」
【Tatsuya】 「Yeah!」
【Junko】 「You’d like it too, Madoka?」
【Madoka】 「Yeah, of course!」
As if she needed to ask. Ah, it’s like my dreams!
【Madoka】 「Homura-chan, isn’t that great! You’ll say yes, right?」
I became really happy from this unexpected event.
However, she didn’t answer right away, seemingly lost in thought as she continued to look down.
Why, Homura-chan…? Was I the only one who wanted us to always live together?
Anxiety seized my heart.
But, I soon knew that I had nothing to worry about.
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Aletheia 