I wish I'd get a love letter.

Hitomi couldn't get her friend's words out of her mind. Sitting in class, her thoughts were a million miles away from Saotome-sensei's usual rants. Had Madoka meant anything by that? No, surely she merely wished to be popular with boys. But even if that was all, maybe Hitomi could help her friend. She carefully tore a piece of paper from her notebook and, calling upon skills honed in calligraphy club, began to write.

-----

After lunch when Madoka came back to her desk, something was waiting for her. She picked up the folded piece of paper and opened it. Hitomi watched out of the corner of her eye as Madoka blushed. Sayaka soon figured out what Madoka was holding, but Hitomi didn't join in with the teasing. She let her friends' antics play out as usual.

When school was finally over for the day, Hitomi took her leave of the other two. Sayaka was going to visit Kamijou as usual, and Madoka would surely tag along with her. But no. Instead Hitomi found herself walking home alongside Madoka.

"Y'know, Hitomi-chan, you have really pretty handwriting," said Madoka, looking straight ahead.

Hitomi felt herself go pale. "I-is that so, Madoka-san?"

"I remember when you wrote the invitations for your birthday part." Madoka smiled. "Every word was so perfect."

"Thank you." The safe response.

"But I remembered how you wrote my name the most." Now Madoka's gaze darted over to Hitomi for a split second. "And I'd recognize it anywhere."

Hitomi's heart was beating fast. Her hastily-conceived plan was seeming like less of a good idea now.

"So... Thank you, Hitomi-chan." Madoka's cheeks were pink, and she smiled as she looked on ahead. "I'm sure you were just doing it to make me feel better, but thank you."