"Be back soon, Hana."
"I know."
After bidding farewell to her father, Senju Muramasa walked across the field path towards the main road, but just as she was leaving the village, someone blocked her way.
"I knew you'd be going out today, Kohana!"
Seeing Senju Muramasa appear before her, Usami Suzune showed a 'just as I thought' expression.
She had already found out that every now and then, her friend, who never used to go out much, would specifically make a trip to town.
Based on the timing, it wasn't hard to deduce.
So, on this very day, when a new volume of puella magi madoka magica was released, she stood in her friend's way.
Her goal was simple: to go with her friend and continue to strengthen their relationship as 'book friends'.
She had already expended too much effort trying to get her friend to join the Literary Club, so she naturally wouldn't give up halfway.
Recently, there had finally been signs of her friend relenting.
So, she had to redouble her efforts.
"Suzune, what are you doing?"
Senju Muramasa asked, puzzled.
"I know, today is the release date for puella magi madoka magica, so I want to go buy the book with Kohana!"
Her body leaned slightly forward, her smile as bright as a flower.
"Suit yourself."
Senju Muramasa immediately stated, then walked past her.
"Wait for me, Kohana…!"
Usami Suzune followed closely behind.
After going back and forth.
Usami Suzune chose to stay at Senju Muramasa's house and wouldn't leave.
Senju Muramasa showed no particular expression about this, merely calmly turned a page of her book.
"It's been a long time since Kohana and I read together like this…"
Usami Suzune sighed and immersed herself in reading the work.
Although she initially had ulterior motives when reading puella magi madoka magica, even planning to force herself to read it for Kohana's sake, even if she didn't like it.
But what about now?
She was indeed still forcing herself to read it, but it was by no means due to dissatisfaction.
On the contrary, this work had given her many surprises… surprises on two levels.
Because she was afraid of getting too invested and getting too hurt, reading this work filled her with a thrilling fear and a corresponding excitement.
The previous two volumes had already given her a tremendous shock, so what about this one?
It couldn't possibly be ordinary!
Given Old Thief's abilities.
Unconsciously, she had developed a very high level of recognition for Izumi Masamune's abilities.
Sure enough, during Madoka's conversation with Kyubey, she felt the sharpness of the writing, which exquisitely portrayed Kyubey's condescending arrogance in every word and sentence, making her feel an intense malice towards this cute character.
"Die, die, die… Die, Kyubey! One day I'll buy a doll and teach you a good lesson then!"
Senju Muramasa looked up slightly, her gaze falling on her friend.
She actually knew her friend's personality very well; she wasn't as pure and elegant as she appeared on the surface, but rather had a demonic feeling, so regarding her friend's ferocious facial expression just now, she only glanced at it and quickly continued reading.
She wouldn't easily show her emotions, unless she truly couldn't bear it and encountered topics she had no immunity to, only then would her expression management fail.
The main perspective of the story was still on our ordinary protagonist, Madoka.
After all, Mami Tomoe and Sayaka were already gone, weren't they?
Naturally, the moment to highlight Madoka's importance had arrived.
After some back and forth, she developed a good relationship with Sakura Kyoko, and the two even discussed facing the mermaid witch that Sayaka had transformed into together.
Perhaps they could call Sayaka, who had turned into a witch, back by calling out to her?
Isn't that a common plot in anime?
But under those merciless strokes, no true miracle occurred, because when the soul gem transformed into a grief seed, Sayaka had actually already ceased to exist.
Such beautiful aspirations were merely a delusion existing under Kyubey's guidance.
I know it's a lie, but… what if it succeeded?
It wasn't difficult for readers to discern what kind of thoughts Sakura Kyoko harbored at this moment.
However, the most merciless outcome eventually arrived.
Distracted by protecting Madoka and overestimating herself, Sakura Kyoko ultimately fell into a desperate situation; if Madoka hadn't stepped forward to buy some time, the battle would probably have ended much earlier.
Homura Akemi also arrived in time and rescued Madoka.
At this point in the story, all the groundwork had been laid, and the emotions had been thoroughly evoked.
Usami Suzune's breathing involuntarily quickened by three points.
Is it coming?
The tear-jerking scene arrived as promised.
Compared to the unexpected death of the senior and the pity of Sayaka transforming into a witch, this scene was undoubtedly more deeply moving.
From being at odds to gradually accepting each other, the two had experienced similar despair and could empathize; it was also Sakura Kyoko's last sight of Sayaka, but Sayaka's realization came a little too late.
Before the two could become true friends, everything came to an abrupt end.
For Sakura Kyoko, however, it was not too late.
The girl's heart had actually been tired for a long time.
When one is tired, one naturally wants to rest.
Right at that moment, there was someone she could choose, someone worth treating with all her heart… even if the other person could no longer know.
She sent the two bothersome people away.
With her hands tightly clasping the soul gem, the girl knelt on the ground, her expression exceptionally gentle, as if she were praying devoutly.
"Don't worry, Sayaka. You must be very lonely, right? It's alright, I'm with you."
The soul gem shattered in the air, and Sakura Kyoko burned her last bit of power, unleashing a suicidal attack.
With a loud bang, everything was buried in dust…
"She's… gone! Kyoko, this, this, this… she's committing a love suicide, isn't she! This is truly detestable! If only the two of them could have reconciled while they were alive, it's such a pity that it ended this way!"
Usami Suzune said with a look of unbearable sorrow.
"If it weren't such a separation by death, then the plot here wouldn't be so moving. Compared to a farewell while alive, this is undoubtedly better."
Senju Muramasa also saw the scene and commented.
"I don't consider such professional issues! That's the author's business, I'm just a reader! So this is all the Old Thief's problem, he made me unhappy!"
Usami Suzune put on an unreasonable expression.
"Old Thief?"
Senju Muramasa was unfamiliar with this appellation.
Never going online, she naturally didn't know how others viewed Izumi Saikou.
"That's Izumi-sensei's universally recognized nickname among his fan base, you know… How about it, Kohana, doesn't it fit the description?"
Usami Suzune said with a mischievous smile.
She wanted to know what this number one fan would think after hearing this nickname.
---
Some Power stones