"Hm?"
Adam tilted his head and looked at Mami, who had stood up from under his desk, in confusion.
"....Nothing."
The blond Magical Girl pursed her lips and looked away.
She is someone who is very afraid of being alone, so when there is a ray of light, she can't help but try to grasp it like a moth to a flame.
Adam's appearance is like a ray of light; although it was brief, it suddenly captured her heart.
She wants to say many things- but she's afraid. She's afraid that if she says one wrong thing, everything will be ruined.
So for now- she'll keep everything to herself.
…
..
.
The remaining days passed quickly, and the second cycle gradually drew to a close.
Adam and Madoka also hung out on the weekend. Of course- this was done behind the others' backs.
Both of them enjoyed themselves. Though there was one black-haired girl who looked at them with a piercing gaze….She was ignored.
But happy times are always short-lived, and this cycle has finally come to an end.
…
..
.
Adam and Homura returned to the place where Walpurgisnacht descended in the last cycle. They both stood on the rooftop, the intense wind rustling both their clothes and hair.
"Homura, have you been happy these past few days?"
The black-haired girl remained standing beside him with her head down. She had a complicated look in her eyes, but in the end-
"Yes….Unfortunately, it was an illusion in the end."
She nodded with melancholy. He's right, but they still haven't gotten over the final hurdle.
"Illusion, reality, true, fake…." Adam spread his hands outward, as if embracing the world. "The distinction between these isn't as clear as you think. There's no single 'truth'."
What is real? What is fake? Can anyone tell for sure with 100% confidence?
Not to get too philosophical, but something fake in someone's perspective might be true in another person's.
"Everything we've experienced these days is real, and that's enough."
He put a hand behind his back, and moved the other one, extending it forward towards the city's direction.
"Even if they forget, everything will work out in the end."
A dim yet pure pink light bloomed on his extended palm like a flower.
"As for our future hardships, I will be there with you."
Adam looked back at her with a dazzling smile. His eyes glowed, and the sunlight behind him seemed to intensify
"Mmm."
Homura turned her head away and murmured, not daring to meet his gaze. At this moment, he seemed particularly brilliant- it's as if she is facing the light of humanity in him.
"Now-"
He smiled, and the light in his hand dimmed lightly before being transformed into a smaller form
"We should also deal with this last problem."
Adam looked up at Walpurgisnacht, which had already revealed itself in the sky. From the spot of origin, darkness spread, and clouds appeared.
A gloomy atmosphere spread, and the world seemed to crumble.
"Let me try to use 'hope'."
The pink light in his hands finally solidified into a pink crystal flower. It lit up the darkness, and it brought hope.
Holding upon something that seemed to dispel the gloominess, Adam grinned and-
"Bloom, my flower!"
Casually, almost lightly, he threw it towards Walpurgisnacht. Seemingly having a mind of its own, the pink flower flew towards the witch of despair.
BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
It made contact, and it exploded in a bright pinkish light. Shockwaves burst forth, creating trembles in the buildings and the air.
All the scattered points of light converged again, morphing into light pink chains-
And almost instantly, they by themselves wrapped around the revealed Walpurgisnacht that had cracks in its body.
….
"That's nice."
A light of satisfaction simmered in the blue eyes of the man who had just caused this scene.
"Now one final thing."
He extended his hand, palm facing the Witch, and in front of it, a pinkish-purple magical circle composed of various strange and incomprehensible runes appeared.
Adam briefly closed his eyes-
[Done]
And opened them just as quickly.
The magic circle shattered into points of light that were re-absorbed by him. Then, he turned around to face Homura and nodded at her.
"Let's go."
"Um."
Homura Akemi, who was silently watching his actions, understood his meaning. She nodded back and activated her magic.
…
..
.
What followed was the same as the previous two cycles: Adam came in contact with the main cast in various ways.
He also tried out various identities during this process.
For example, Sakura Kyoko's adoptive father, Madoka's cousin, Hitomi's tutor…
In every cycle, he traded with Kyubey for different knowledge and technology. And since it wasn't aware of what its previous cycle self learned, Adam could exchange with the same thing every time.
-Until the seventieth cycle.
…
..
.
Adam and Akemi Homura stood together once again on the main street of Mitakihara.
Each cycle lasts for about one month, and…. he has spent a bit more than 5 years in this world.
Time has flown like water.
To be honest, the silver-haired man is getting tired. He has missed so, so many people.
"Homura, this is the last time."
There is weariness and relief in his voice.
He has repeated the same one month so many times….He does not understand how Homura could do this in the original plot, by herself.
"Okay, I understand." Homura Akemi's gaze towards him softened. "No matter how it ends….Thank you.."
-Indeed, companionship is the most enduring expression of love. They have been together for 5 years. They are the only people who can confide fully in each other.
"Don't worry, I will succeed."
Adam made the same promise to Homura as he had five years ago.
"I trust you."
…
..
.
Under a gloomy sky, the whole world distorted. All sorts of bizarre monsters emerged from the shadows, and the surrounding buildings were collapsing and crumbling.
Tap…tap….tap
The sound of shoes hurriedly stepping on the ground echoed throughout this whole empty space.
"Haaah….haaah….haaaaah."
Panting, Madoka ran alone across the dark scorched earth. Her heart felt as though it's gripped roughly by a hand- a surge of helplessness permeating her whole being.
She suddenly slammed the brakes on her legs and stopped. She found that there is no road ahead.
The pinkette turned around nervously. Her body trembled, and what reflected in her eyes were several dark, tree-branch-like tentacles rushing towards her.
With nowhere to retreat, she could only grit her teeth and use her hands to shield herself.
-But her body felt nothing. Neither pain nor shock.
"Don't be afraid."
Instead, a voice that made her feel all warm, fuzzy, and safe echoed throughout her surroundings, piercing gently straight into her ears and striking at her soul.
When Madoka opened her eyes, she saw the afterimage of a pink streak of light across the sky.
In front of her stood a figure protectively, with his back turned to her.
"....."
The figure turned around, and she widened her eyes, trying to observe his appearance as much as possible-
But a sudden flash of pink light prevented her from seeing the person's face clearly; she could only see a pair of gentle eyes.
…
..
.
"Ah!"
Madoka's eyes snapped open with a gasp. Her body jolted, and her blanket was thrown off.
"This…."
Looking around, her mind registered only the pink room around her- Madoka's own room.
"Another dream..."
The drowsy pinkette yawned cutely, straightened her loose pajamas, and then rubbed her eyes.
Lately, she has been having all sorts of strange dreams.
Without exception, a boy appears in every nightmare. Sometimes, a black-haired girl occasionally appears as well.
"I haven't even gotten a clear look at that person's face..."
Inexplicably, her heart contains an overwhelming amount of concern for that person who appears in these dreams.
Unfortunately, she is always interrupted just as she is about to see that person's face clearly.
…
..
.
After spacing out for a while, Madoka got up, finished washing up, then sat down at the dining table to have breakfast with her parents.
"Madoka, is something on your mind?"
Kaname Tomohisa asked worriedly as he watched Madoka take a bite of her sandwich and then stare ahead blankly for a few seconds
He has never seen his daughter be like this before.
"I'm fine, Dad."
The pink-haired girl snapped out of her daze and shook her head in response
"Mhm, do you have someone you like?"
Her mother Shunko, leaned forward with a teasing smirk.
"Mom! I… I don't have anyone I like!"
Though she vehemently denied it, when these words escaped her mouth, the figure from her dreams reappeared in Madoka's mind.
"Wow~ Really? Then..."
"Alright, alright. Shunko, it's almost time for you to go to work."
Just as Shunko was about to say something more, Tomohisa spoke up and reminded her.
"Oh right, I need to get to the company quickly."
Shunko slapped her forehead in realization. Without delaying any further, she grabbed her briefcase and hurriedly left.
"Madoka, you need to hurry up too."
"I understand, Dad."
The pink haired girl nodded in understanding. She then finished her meal in a few bites, grabbed her schoolbag, and headed out.
…
..
.
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