[Seven, in the meanwhile, was still in Madoka's arms.]

...Thanks for tryin' to protect us, Kaname Madoka! We do appreciate it.

[He said, looking up at her with his amber-red eyes.]

[Madoka nodded, and then gave him a scratch behind his mussy-haired ears. She then paused, thinking.]

- This may sound like a strange question, Seven, but - Do you like being hugged and cuddled and having your fur patted and stuff like that?

[Seven grinned at her, then.]

...I do indeed, and so does Eight!

[He snickered, then.]

- And so does Niner, for the record, but he really doesn't want to admit it, I think - It's a sign of emotional contamination and all that, you see...