Afternoon and Evening, June 15th, 1999--???

[happyhalloween]

[After Maria had shown up with Minako that morning for school as if it had been any other day, Mr Policeman had decided that instead of going to classes, Maria should spend the morning talking to him about Mamma. She'd told him that Mamma had been in a bad mood that evening and that she usually tried to sneak out when Mamma was in bad moods like that and go to visit Maya or Osaka or Minako those nights, because they'd let her sleep in her room and not tell any grown-ups that would try to take her home.

She thought Mr Policeman believed her. All that stuff she'd said was true, she'd just said it in a way that made him think she wasn't there when Space Witch Venus saved her from the Black Witch.

But after such a long time of boring questions, that had gone quite past the lunch break, Maria knew she had to go somewhere else than the school, if only for a little while. And Hiroshi still needed to be given lunch. That was it. She'd go to the convenience store and buy food for Hiroshi and feed him and talk to him while the others were in afternoon classes. Maybe she could tell him more about the Moon Princess. It didn't seem like he remembered much about her, not like Venus did, but Maria thought he'd be happy to know she was probably Maya.

Maria was, anyway.

--

After her talk with Hiroshi, Maria spends the rest of the afternoon in the clubroom, putting the finishing touches on her Apprentice Witch Chibi-Venus cloak and thinking about everything he'd said to her when she visited. Eventually, just before everyone files in to gloomily discuss what to do next, Maria makes a decision.

Next time Venus leaves her alone with Hiroshi, she's going to help him.]

Comments

Locked to HIROSHI

[happyhalloween]

Hiroshi! Uu, Hiroshi! Maria's here with lunch! Sorry it's late, but Mr Policeman asks too many questions! Maria got you cup ramens and soda pop and if Hiroshi is very good, there's gonna be candy too!

[Early in the afternoon, Maria's cheerful voice echoes down into the secret place where Hiroshi is hidden.]

Maria will give Hiroshi the bucket too if he needs it, [she adds, as she opens the door to peer down at him.] Sorry again it wasn't sooner.

[happyhalloween]

After Tomosuke makes the brave sacrifice that Maria had discussed with him during her time alone (except with her turtle friend) in the clubroom and after Space Witch Venus (who Maria is sure has been eaten by the bear) leaves the two of them alone, that's her cue to climb up the statue of Ami Fey and retrieve two very important objects from their Impossible-For-Hiroshi-To-Reach-Hiding-Place.

"Hiroshi, you have to give Maria a ride on your back to the police station," she says, sliding back down the statue. "And you have to tell Maria how to make the phone work. We're busting Maya-oneesan out of jail."

She tosses him the keys. "And Hiroshi too."

[BGM: Mission Impossible Theme]