February 26th, midnight.
Shiga Taka sat in front of the TV and started watching the eighth episode of Puella Magi Madoka Magica.
Based on the foreshadowing in previous episodes, he had a good idea of what to expect: Hitomi would confess to Kyosuke Kamijo, who would happily accept, while Sayaka, consumed by regret, would die in a battle against a Witch.
It was even possible that while Sayaka fought to the death to protect the town, Hitomi and Kyosuke would be getting cozy.
He could guess the general outcome, but he had to watch it anyway. After all, this animation's brilliance wasn't just in its plot; the storyboards, music, and visuals were all top-tier. He couldn't resist continuing.
As for what Lin Zhiyan had said earlier—"The eighth episode will be very depressing, but no one will die"—he believed the first part but not the second.
With all the setup so far, how could Sayaka possibly survive?
The TV screen showed the scene picking up from the seventh episode.
Sayaka frantically slashed at the Shadow Witch, her blade shattering the Witch's Barrier into fragments.
As a massive hole tore through the Barrier, Sayaka's figure became clear again, no longer just a shadow.
She straightened up and declared in a dark, corrupted tone: "It's simple once you know how to fight. I don't think I'll lose now."
After defeating the Shadow Witch, Sayaka successfully obtained a Grief Seed. However, she immediately gave it to Kyoko, saying she didn't want to owe her a favor.
Her magical girl transformation ended, leaving her extremely weak and unable to stand steadily. Supported by the Main Character, she slowly walked away.
Watching them leave, Kyoko couldn't help muttering, "That idiot."
The opening sequence played, and as it neared the end, the title of episode 8 appeared: "I really am an idiot."
After a brief GG, the main story began.
It was still night, and a steady rain was falling.
Inside a pavilion, Sayaka sat beside the Main Character, leaning against her shoulder, both to escape the rain and to rest.
Each raindrop falling from the sky caused ripples in the puddles on the ground, as if mirroring the turmoil in the Main Character's or Sayaka's heart.
"Sayaka, that way of fighting... it's not going to work," the Main Character suddenly said.
Sayaka turned her head away, remaining silent.
"Saying it doesn't hurt is a lie. Just watching it makes me feel pain. Because you can't feel it, you don't care about getting hurt—that's not right," the Main Character said, her voice trembling with tears, her expression filled with anguish.
"But I can't win any other way. Because I'm not talented," Sayaka replied in a tone of resignation.
"Fighting that way... even if you win, it's not for Sayaka's sake."
"What do you mean 'for me'?"
"Huh?"
The Main Character froze, startled.
The rain gradually intensified.
Sayaka suddenly stood up, pulled out her Soul Gem, and held it out. "After being turned into this... you still talk about doing it for my sake?"
"Sayaka?" The Main Character looked bewildered.
"Now, all I am is a meaningless pebble that kills Witches. A corpse animated to pretend it's alive. Who would do anything for someone like me? It's pointless even to think about it," Sayaka said expressionlessly.
"But how can I make Sayaka happy?" the Main Character asked urgently.
"Then you fight."
Sayaka suddenly adopted a sharp, sarcastic tone. "I heard from Kyubey that you're more talented than anyone else, right? You don't have to struggle like me. You can just kill the Witches easily, can't you?"
The Main Character was momentarily speechless.
Sayaka continued to berate her, spewing venomous words. Then, ignoring the downpour, she strode out of the pavilion.
The Main Character scrambled to follow, but Sayaka's voice rang out, cold and sharp: "Don't follow me."
"Huh?" The Main Character froze again.
Before she could react, Sayaka had already run off.
Only after running a good distance did Sayaka regret her actions.
She ran through the rain, tears streaming down her face. "I'm such an idiot. What was I even saying? I'm hopeless."
The camera zoomed in on her Soul Gem, revealing a small clump of filth at its center.
Watching this, Shiga Taka, sitting in front of the television, didn't find it particularly alarming. After all, they had already explained that Soul Gems accumulate filth and must be purified with Grief Seeds. Since Sayaka had barely defeated the Shadow Witch and given the Grief Seed she obtained to Kyoko, the lack of purification naturally left the filth behind.
However, the next scene felt slightly off.
At Homura Akemi's home, Kyoko and Homura were discussing how to deal with Walpurgisnight.
Kyubey suddenly appeared and informed them, "Sayaka Miki's energy is depleting much faster than anticipated. It's not just her magic; her own body is starting to generate curses. If this continues, she'll cause trouble before Walpurgisnight even arrives. You should keep an eye on her."
"What kind of trouble?" Kyoko asked, puzzled.
Kyubey didn't explain, instead directing her to ask Homura.
Homura's expression remained cold. "I've heard enough. Please leave."
After Kyubey left, Homura Akemi explained Sayaka's situation to Kyoko: "Her Soul Gem has accumulated too much corruption. If we don't purify it immediately, the situation will become irreversible."
She didn't specify what that irreversible situation would be, but it felt deeply wrong.
The next day at school, Sayaka was absent again.
The Main Character attended class but couldn't focus. She was secretly regretting not chasing after Sayaka when she ran off.
After school, she went to Sayaka's house to find her, but was told that Sayaka hadn't returned home since the previous day.
Worried, she immediately rushed off to search elsewhere.
At that moment, Sayaka was hiding in the shadows, watching her best friend Hitomi laughing and chatting with Kyosuke Kamijo, the boy she loved.
As Homura had said, Hitomi had confessed to Kyosuke Kamijo. Although the scene of his response wasn't shown, their easy interaction made it clear he had accepted.
Sayaka could only watch them become a couple, unable to intervene or even express her own feelings.
She felt immense pain, as if drowning in the lightless depths of the ocean, her mind numb, like a true zombie.
With a turn of her head, the scene shifted to evening. Alone, she fought desperately against Familiars, as if trying to numb her inner anguish through the struggle.
After defeating the Familiar and dispelling her transformation, Sayaka stood panting heavily, clearly exhausted.
At that moment, Homura Akemi appeared and dropped a Grief Seed at her feet, urging her to purify her Soul Gem.
Sayaka, who had always disliked Homura, refused her offer and kicked the Grief Seed away.
Homura, growing angry, lectured her briefly.
After Sayaka retorted, she spoke with a slightly stern tone: "You're going to die."
"If I die, it will be when I've failed to kill the Witch—when I've become useless. That will be enough," Sayaka replied indifferently.
The recent battle had drained her so much that she could barely stand, forced to kneel on the ground. Yet she stubbornly declared, "A me who can't defeat the Witch has no right to live."
Homura couldn't understand why Sayaka was rejecting her so vehemently, when she only wanted to save her.
Sayaka answered: "Why? I just know in my heart that you're lying. You have the eyes of someone who has given up everything, and you keep spouting hollow words. Even now, you say it's for me, but you're really thinking about something else, aren't you? You can't fool me."
"In that case, you'll only make Madoka suffer more."
"This has nothing to do with Madoka, does it?"
"No, it's all for her."
"..."
Sayaka froze.
Homura Akemi instantly transformed into a magical girl and declared, "You're so perceptive. You're right. I don't want to save you. I just don't want Madoka to see you destroyed. Since you'll die anyway if you refuse me now, it's better I... personally... kill you right here!"
She was serious, truly about to kill Sayaka, but at the critical moment, Kyoko suddenly intervened.
Kyoko grabbed Homura Akemi from behind, preventing her from using her "strange techniques." With Homura restrained, she urged Sayaka to run.
Sayaka struggled to her feet, staggering as she slowly retreated.
Inside the train car, a dim scene unfolded.
Sayaka, utterly exhausted, slumped against the seat.
Nearby, two men were talking:
"We can't let her make excuses. She has to hand over the money we saved."
"Women are fools. They'll just waste any money they get on trivial things."
"Ugh, what a pain. You can't treat women like people."
"We should discipline them like dogs. She'll even enjoy it that way."
The overwhelming negativity and scum-like remarks were the final straw that broke Sayaka.
She ran up to the two of them, berated them briefly, and then demanded, "Hey, is this world even worth protecting? What am I even fighting for? Tell me! Tell me right now! Otherwise, I'll..."
The train swayed slightly.
A shadow began to creep up Sayaka's body, from her feet to the top of her head.
The screen went black, leaving only one eye visible. Within that eye, it seemed as if a map was unfolding.
The train continued to hurtle forward, and faint screams could be heard.
In front of the television, Shiga Taka stared in bewilderment.
Sayaka, so full of justice, had just... blackened?
No way!
What kind of insane plot twist was this?
After blackening, would she continue fighting Witches?
Would she start thinking about destroying the world?
Could it be that, just as Old Thief Lin said, this episode would be heartbreaking, but Sayaka wouldn't die?
Could it be that Sayaka was going to become the final boss? That the Main Character would have to become a magical girl and team up with Homura Akemi and Kyoko to defeat her?
Please Support me by becoming my patreon member and get 15+ chapters.
[email protected]/Ajal69
change @ with a
Thank You to Those who joined my Patreon