[center][h1][i]Mizuhara Saki[/i][/h1]
[color=#B2FFFF]Saki's Dialogue Color[/color]
[color=#CCCCFF]Shia's Dialogue Color[/color]
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Saki wasn't fond of cram school. It left it her more exhausted than regular school did. Her body had all this pent up energy to spare, but her brain felt numb. A nice jog around the campus sounded nice, even if they would reprimand her for breaking curfew. 

The commute back to the dorms always felt like an eternity. The aisle seat next to her was stained with what she assumed with cherry soda. Anytime someone passed by a sweet aroma wafted into the air. She rested her head against the window, which was cool and refreshing. She could feel the faint rush of wind against her skin as it filtered through the loose window seals. She tried to just focus on the rumble of the bus, they subtle changes in how it shook the seats. Almost like meditating, it eased her mind.

An automatic diesel is still a diesel. No amount of padding could mask the intense power that resonates along the vehicles frame like a tuning fork. The bus seat thrummed in tune with the engine, but the vibrations felt off. She had been riding this bus home for the past weeks since she enrolled in East Umitori. She liked to think she knew it well. 

[color=#B2FFFF][i]There! It did it again[/i][/color]

About a week ago the engine began to shift gears more roughly. The lurch is sent through the bus was becoming stronger. Despite her best efforts to giver her brain some rest, her mind wandered and old habits resurfaced. 

[color=#B2FFFF][i]A bad gasket or seal maybe?[/i][/color]

A little fairy rustled inside the pouch of Saki's backpack and yawned, derailing her train of thought. 

[color=#B2FFFF]"Did you have a nice nap?"[/color] Though small and meek, Saki's voice was clear. Her lisp was still obvious but smoother. She had been practicing. Her hands still reflexively gestured a few signs out of habit.

Shia rubbed her eyes and looked up at her partner. [color=#CCCCFF]"Oh yes! I needed that,"[/color] she said with an earnest smile. 
[color=#CCCCFF]"I can't imagine anything more boring than watching you read and study silently for two hours."[/color] Her matter-of-fact way of speaking left no hints of mockery or sarcasm. Shia's tired expression said it all; she didn't even need to speak. She stretched, then let her arms hang over the lip of the pouch. [color=#CCCCFF]"I don't know how you put up with it."[/color] 

[color=#B2FFFF]"Begrudgingly."[/color] Saki returned with a smirk. Such small lips were harder to read, but Shia always spoke with the same even rhythm, so it wasn't hard to follow along once Saki got used to it.

[color=#CCCCFF]"Wanting to become a public speaker is admirable, but you need to be able to talk louder than whisper, if you want people to hear you. Your lisp is getting better at least. Would you like me to praise you for it?"[/color]

Saki might have taken offense and glowered if it had been anyone else, but she knew Shia was trying to be encouraging in her own way, no matter how patronizing she seemed. Shia was sincere about nearly everything she did or said. It was refreshing in a way, if a bit grating sometimes.

[color=#CCCCFF]"We're going on patrol tonight. It's been a week since we last went out, and you need to practice your magic as much as you do your trigonometry."[/color]

A long sigh heaved from Saki's chest. It's hard enough to keep up with schoolwork by default. How do those other magical girls keep up with it all?

With a lurch, the bus slowed to a stop. Sake could feel the frame start to lower slightly as the air brakes engaged Saki offered her fairy an ambivalent, pensive look, the uncertainty plain on her face, but eventually gave a meek nodded.

[color=#B2FFFF]"We'll do it together!"[/color]