A few more days passed.
Ever since that encounter with the Witch, Mami started frequently interacting with the two girls. As a result, they became good friends, and she also got to know Hitomi as well.
Madoka originally wanted to bring Homura Akemi into their little circle, but Homura declined.
…
"Are we just going to let this go on?"
Homura whispered to Adam, pursing her lips.
"Several Witches infiltrated Mitakihara yesterday; Kyubey must have lured them in."
The group was in the school cafeteria, eating together and chatting about casual topics.
The black-haired girl sat beside Adam, leaning close to him. Though her move was quite obvious, the silver-haired boy made sure that no one could hear them.
"We both know what Kyubey is after." The transmigrator lowered his eyelids, taking a bite of the dumpling he held with the chopsticks. "But this is a necessary step for Madoka."
His face hardened.
"Without going through this, she won't develop the resolve she needs."
How could this universe be saved if Madoka doesn't have the willpower to save it? Simply put, the fate of all the magical girls rests on her shoulders.
Even more- the continued existence of this world rests upon Madoka. It's a heavy responsibility, sure, but with the Incubators barely keeping the universe alive, this pink-haired main character, along with Homura, are the only true potential saviors.
"Resolve..."
A thought crossed her mind, and the light in Homura's eyes dimmed slightly.
She has to have this resolve too, doesn't she?
"Don't worry; I'll always stand by your side."
Adam took her hand, gently interlocking his fingers with his own.
"Mm."
Homura rested her head lightly on his shoulder, closing her eyes.
Yes, she has him by her side. After experiencing so many reincarnations, she has already made up her mind and tempered her resolve.
"We will succeed."
The silver-haired boy gently held her close. As a barrier separating them from the rest of the world arose, he repeated words that he had said countless times, with the same amount of conviction.
Bathed in sunlight, the two of them shared a moment of unique, tranquil serenity.
For the Homura Akemi of the past, such a moment of rest would have been a luxury. To save Madoka, she had to fight ceaselessly and endure endless cycles- endure time that almost felt like an eternity to her.
In the end, she was left to walk this path entirely alone. She was the only one who could do this.
She had to suppress the exhaustion and heartache weighing on her soul until she eventually became numb to it all. In her mind, only the goal of 'saving Madoka' remained, and everything else dulled.
-Yet, the inclusion of Adam changed it all. His unwavering companionship over this long period offered a measure of solace to her heart.
Having someone by her side that she could rely on and lean on….Someone who could share in her goal and experiences….It brought life back to her previously dead heart.
Without this, she wasn't sure if she could hold on up until now.
People say, 'I could have endured the darkness had I not seen the light', however, if darkness was all that remained, what would happen to 'Homura'? Would she still be herself, or just a walking corpse who was only held up by a sole obsession?
"Please, let me be weak for just a little while, Madoka." The black-haired girl murmured as she stared ahead, her attention mostly focused on the face of the boy in the corner of her vision. "Adam has it all planned out…"
"Well, of course….If I wasn't sure after all these years, I might as well commit seppuku."
The silver-haired boy's lips curled upwards.
In all these regressions, he hasn't been idle. Except for trying to keep his personality the same and not get affected by this desolate cycle of cycles, he has focused his development on other aspects.
…
..
.
After school.
Just as the two had predicted, Kyubey set its plan in motion.
On their way home, Madoka and Sayaka encountered a Witch once again.
"How is this happening? Why have we run into a Witch again? Kyubey, didn't you say the chances of encountering one were very low?"
Clutching Kyubey in her arms, Sayaka, with Madoka behind her, gazed in bewilderment at the disorienting reality surrounding them.
"This Witch is actively capturing people in the area; you two were drawn in as well."
Kyubey offered no explanation as to why the Witch was lying in wait along their route home, nor why it had singled them out instead of targeting others.
"So, what do we do now?"
The guileless Sayaka and Madoka didn't overthink the details; Instead, Madoka nervously asked the white creature.
Their anxiety in this situation is overflowing- even if they have already experienced such danger.
"There's no other choice." Kyubey flicked its tail, its red eyes focusing on Madoka. "Either you wait for Mami Tomoe to rescue you, or you make a wish to me right now and become magical girls."
"I..."
Madoka hesitated.
They aren't in immediate danger, so perhaps they can wait a little longer?
-After all, Adam said that making such a decision requires careful consideration. The Pinkette doesn't want to be rash and make this choice hastily
FWOOOSH
Fortunately, just as the two were immersed in their thoughts, Mami Tomoe- clad in her magical girl outfit- descended from the sky.
"Mami-senpai!"
Sayaka shouted in relief, and then she and Madoka quickly hurried over to her side.
"Are you hurt?"
The senior magical girl looked them up and down. Seeing no injuries on their bodies, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"And how did you end up here?"
She then frowned, puzzled.
This was an isolated location. Logically, these two should be nowhere near here.
"We're fine." The blue-haired girl shook her head. "We were on our way home, but then we were suddenly brought here."
It was weird how sudden it was- however, both Madoka and Sayaka suspected nothing.
"You two really have rotten luck…" Mami's frown eased, and she face-palmed. "Oh well, now that I'm here, you can rest easy. I'll take care of this Witch."
She delivered that with an air of absolute confidence- as if nothing could ever defeat her.
And she's right to be confident. Her magical girl ability is fairly strong. Combined with her combat experience, she's confident in facing almost all witches.
"Mami-senpai is so reliable!" Stars seemed to shine in Sayaka's eyes. "Seeing this makes me want to become a magical girl too!"
Hearing that, Mami stopped in her tracks.
"I've told you before, haven't I?" She turned to face Sayaka with a frown. "Don't make decisions lightly. Being a magical girl carries life-endangering risks."
Being a magical girl isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Danger and tragedy can strike at any time.
"Oh- um, sorry, Mami-senpai."
Seeing her absolute seriousness, Sayaka apologized instantly.
Reality is not fiction- she understands that. But….as a middle school student and manga lover, she couldn't help but have unrealistic fantasies
"Mami-senpai, it's just that… we really look up to someone as reliable as you."
Madoka scratched her head, feeling that her friend Sayaka hadn't said anything wrong.
Though her current life is very fulfilling and she has no specific wishes, having magical powers sounds very cool.
"Looking up to me... I don't think someone like me is worthy of that."
Mami's face fell, and she shook her head.
"I'm just forcing myself to keep up appearances." She lowered her head, closing her eyes. "Even when I'm scared or sad, there's no one to confide in- I have to bottle it all up. I only have myself."
This has been Mami Tomoe's life as a magical girl. She distanced herself from friends and acquaintances alike- and even her sole fellow magical girl friend left her. Being a Magical Girl meant taking a path of loneliness.
In the fight against witches, it's inevitable for your close ones to be affected.
Fighting repeatedly to save the world…Sounds grand, but in reality, it is exhausting. Mami doesn't wish people to follow in this fate.
"That's why being a magical girl is absolutely not good!"
For the first time, Mami Tomoe bared her true feelings to them. She openly admitted her vulnerability and exposed the dark side of this profession.
"Mami-senpai, you aren't alone anymore!" Madoka spoke gently but firmly, her hands clasped over her chest. "We'll be here with you."
As friends, it's their duty to be there for her!
"That's right! We're good friends now!" Sayaka followed up with a determined nod. "Even if we don't become magical girls, we'll be friends forever!"
"Thank you... thank you both."
Mami felt tears welling up in her eyes. She tried holding them back- but to no avail. This is the first time in a while that she has felt this way.
Madoka stepped forward and gently hugged her from the side.
"We're the ones who should be thanking you, Senpai." The pinkette smiled brightly. "After all, you've already saved us twice."
"Honestly…" She bit her lip. "And here I wanted to keep acting like the senior for a bit longer."
There was a kind of frustration- or exasperation. However, along with it came a sense of relief. A relief that from now on, she could unreservedly show her true self.
"Mami-senpai..."
"Then let's go hunt some witches!"
Mami gently pulled away from Madoka's touch, placed her hands on her hips, and flashed a confident smile.
"With you two by my side, there's nothing left to be afraid of!"
She uttered a classic, iconic line that often raises death flags. However, it is impossible for anything to happen to her! She is Mami, and countless witches have fallen by her hand!
"Yeah!"
…
..
.
And then, Mami Tomoe died.
They watched as her headless corpse plummeted from the air and crashed stiffly onto the ground like a puppet without strings.
"WAAAAAAAAA!"
Madoka and Sayaka covered their mouths in horror, tears streaming uncontrollably down their faces.
"Madoka! Sayaka!"
Kyubey reappeared beside them, shouting with a faux urgency.
"There's no time left. Sign the contract with me right now and become magical girls! Decide on your wish- hurry!"
"That's it!"
Sayaka's eyes lit up as a sudden idea struck her
"A wish!" Her head snapped towards the white creature. "Kyubey, I want to make a wish!"
The blue haired girl gritted her teeth and pointed at Mami's dead body. She kept her gaze on Kyubey, trying to ignore the horrific sight beside her:
"I wish to bring Mami-senpai back to life!"
Although it wasn't Madoka making the wish, Kyubey didn't hesitate; it immediately signed the contract with Sayaka.
A surge of blue light washed over them, enveloping Sayaka and the body of Mami Tomoe lying on the ground.
….
Watching this scene from kilometers away, Adam shook his head and sighed.
Quietly, he teleported the unconscious Mami he had been holding back to her proper place, swapping her in to replace the fake corpse he had created.
...
..
.
-------
A/N:
I was tempted to do a cliffhanger at the moment she dies, so as to leave whether she truly died or not a mystery.....But I didn't feel evil enough to do that.
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