"Hey Madoka!"
Sayaka, who had stood on the road to wait for her friend, walked over and patted her on the shoulder.
"Eek-!"
Her body jolted as she was startled awake from her daze.
"What's up with you today?"
Sayaka furrowed her brows in confusion.
She always greets her friend like this, yet this is the first time Madoka has such an unexpected reaction.
"It's nothing…." Recalling what has been happening over the past few days, Madoka's face fell. "I've just been having some strange dreams lately."
She honestly told her friend what's been troubling her. However weird these dreams are, the pinkette still wants to confide in someone about them.
"Dreams?" The blue-haired girl's expression eased. "You mean those kinds of dreams?"
Sayaka raised an eyebrow at Madoka with a teasing grin.
"What do you mean, Sayaka??"
Madoka innocently tilted her head at her friend with a puzzled expression.
"Ah, Madoka, you're still too innocent."
Not seeing any shyness in her expression, the blue-haired girl sighed and shook her head.
"Well..."
The pink-haired girl didn't know how to answer.
…
..
.
Shortly after that short conversation, the two successfully met up with Hitomi on the way. And as usual, they walked towards the school together.
In class, something surprising happened:
"Everyone, we have a transfer student joining our class today."
Before class officially began, Saotome Kazuko announced this to her students.
"Get along with her!"
As she spoke, an aloof-looking black-haired girl walked in and wrote her name on the blackboard.
'Homura Akemi'
"Um...excuse me, could you please introduce yourself?"
The teacher couldn't help but speak up after seeing this scene.
It's not that there's anything wrong with writing one's name on the board….But shouldn't that come after actually introducing yourself?
"My name is Homura Akemi."
The black-haired girl blandly introduced herself, and then fell silent.
"...Alright, Homura-san, please sit down in that empty seat."
"Thank you, teacher."
Having gone through so many cycles and attended this class many times, Homura wasted no time. She is extremely familiar with the process and doesn't want to bother putting in any unnecessary effort.
As she passed by Madoka's spot, the pinkette seemed to sense something. She looked up, and her pink eyes met the black-haired girl's gaze.
"This person... looks just like the girl in my dream."
Besides that person who always appears, Madoka also has an impression of this girl who only occasionally appears in her dreams.
'But wasn't that just a dream?'
Looking at Homura's face, Madoka felt confusion creeping up in her mind.
Since doubt and confusion had rooted in her mind, she decided to find some time to actually ask the new transfer student.
…
..
.
But before she could find a chance to approach Homura, the black-haired girl ignored the classmates who had gathered around her, and made a beeline straight to Madoka as soon as class ended.
"Madoka Kaname."
The gloomy girl faced the pinkette, calling out her name very clearly.
"Yes, yes!" Madoka stood straight as if being called by a teacher. "What's the matter?"
"Are you the health committee member?" She put a hand on her forehead, making an obviously fake painful expression. "I'm not feeling well; could you please take me to the infirmary?"
"Uh, but..."
Madoka opened her mouth to say something- but Homura turned around and walked out of the classroom.
After a pause, she lowered her head and followed the insistent black-haired girl.
…
..
.
"Excuse me, how did you know I'm the health committee member?"
Madoka asked cautiously as she followed behind Homura tentatively.
"I learned it from my teacher."
The black-haired girl replied instantly, unconcerned.
"Oh, I see…"
Madoka nodded, feeling a strange awkwardness arising in her heart.
"By the way, this doesn't seem to be the way to the infirmary." She looked around the hallway, noticing that they weren't going anywhere near the infirmary. "Should I lead the way?"
Besides, shouldn't she, as the senior student, lead the new student to the infirmary?
"We're not going to the infirmary."
"Ah…But didn't you just say-"
Upon hearing that, Madoka almost stumbled on her steps.
"Just follow me."
Homura interrupted her quite rudely and insistently.
"Hmm... okay."
In the end, Madoka nodded her head.
She has no reason to refuse. She has a lot of questions, and this new transfer student seems to be her only lead.
…
..
.
And so the two of them made their way to the rooftop.
There was already someone waiting for them.
Looking at that incredibly familiar back, Madoka's eyes widened. Her heart began to beat rapidly with excitement and joy.
She inhaled shakily and stepped forward, even as countless thoughts were rapidly floating in her mind:
"Excuse me, who are you?"
At her inquisitive voice, the mysterious silver-haired boy slowly turned around and smiled.
"We meet again, Madoka." He paused, a thoughtful light appearing in his eyes. "No, at this time, this should be our first meeting"
The pink-haired girl frowned at his words; however, the boy continued:
"In that case…"
His smile widened. The silver-haired boy put one hand behind his back and clenched the other in front of his chest.
"Nice to meet you, Madoka Kaname." He bowed theatrically. "I'm Adam."
…
"What do you…mean?"
Madoka didn't understand what this Adam was saying.
When have they met before? And why did he say it is their first meeting?
Though this boy sparks extreme familiarity in her heart, she doesn't recall ever meeting him….
"Let's discuss this slowly."
Adam gestured to the side, at the weirdly placed wooden chairs on this rooftop, and indicated that they sit down.
"...Okay"
The pinkette obediently sat down. She placed her hands on top of her thighs, and looked towards Adam as she waited for him to speak.
"Madoka, do you have a wish that you must absolutely fulfill?"
-But to her surprise, this mysterious man simply asked her a weird question that seemed random.
"Wish?"
Faced with this question, Madoka only thought for a little while before shaking her head.
"I'm sorry, but I don't seem to have any wishes that must be fulfilled."
After saying this, she scratched her head sheepishly, feeling that her answer was embarrassing.
"Hm, I see."
This answer does not surprise Adam.
The Madoka of now has a happy family and many friends- she is already very satisfied with this kind of life. In terms of spiritual fulfilment, it's already maxed out.
"If your wish could come true, would you use it to save other people?"
"If that's the case- then yes"
Came her instant reply. It was without hesitation, spoken purely from the bottom of her heart.
"..."
Adam closed his eyes, feeling a pang of emotion. She's truly Madoka. Already so kind.
In all the cycles he experienced, Madoka has become a magical girl in a lot. But all these times hold something in common: she has never made a wish for herself.
She has made wishes for Adam- hoping that he would be well.
She has also made wishes for her family and friends, and even for Saotome Kazuko- hoping that her teacher will get married.
"Madoka, listen carefully:"
Adam opened his eyes sharply, staring at this girl who doesn't yet know the cruelty of this world with a dead-serious expression.
"In one month, Mitakihara will be destroyed. Only you can save it."
A brief silence fell over, with the pinkette's face turning blank-
"Mitakihara will be destroyed?!"
Madoka gasped, staring wide-eyed at Adam as his words registered in her mind.
"And I can save Mitakihara?" She pointed at herself, doubt coloring her tone. "Really?"
It's an absurd notion. Thinking that a normal middle school student can save an entire town from a mysterious calamity?
How come she herself didn't know that she was that amazing?
"This month, you will learn some new things." Adam didn't stop being vague. "Some bad, some despairing. However, undoubtedly, you will understand everything."
At that time, she will know everything. And at that time, she will need to make a choice.
"I'm telling you all this now just to prepare you mentally in advance, not to force you to make a choice."
The silver-haired boy's face hardened. He looked at her straight in the eyes.
"Whatever you ultimately choose to do, I won't stop you." After all, this is her world- not his. "I just hope you won't regret your decision."
"After all, in life:" He raised his hands, as if grasping at the unreachable unknown. "When it's your turn to make a choice, make one that you won't regret."
Beyond wanting to utter this famous quote from Honkai: Star Rail, he does indeed believe in this. In life, make choices with peace of mind, as long as you know you won't regret them in the future.
Of course, life is unpredictable. However, humans can only try their best to make their choices with the information they know at the time.
"...Although I didn't understand much, I will remember what you said."
Hearing this boy's solemn tone, Madoka carefully noted down his words mentally.
Though she doesn't know him(ignoring that familiarity), her instinct is almost screaming at her to trust his words.
"Then let's call it a day."
Adam smiled in relief and stood up, preparing to leave.
"E-excuse me-"
Upon seeing him so suddenly prepare to leave, the pink-haired girl couldn't help but raise her hand to interrupt him.
"What's your name?"
He stopped. And with his attention gathered, the pink-haired girl finally asked what had been present on her mind since he first saw his back.
"Ah, right, I almost forgot." The silver-haired boy made a face of realization. "My name is Adam."
He looked back at her with a smile- and that spark of familiarity in her heart exploded.
"Well then, see you next time, Madoka."
After saying that, Adam nodded at her and disappeared- yes, actually disappeared from view. Magically and incomprehensibly.
The pink-haired girl's pupils dilated, and her head snapped towards Homura.
The new transfer student was still standing there with a calm and nonchalant expression, as if what happened was an everyday occurrence.
Madoka opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak. In the end, as she saw the black-haired girl's complicated expression, she didn't voice any doubt or surprise.
"Madoka Kaname... " The other girl pursed her lips. "Enjoy your life while you still can."
Leaving behind this ambiguous remark, she turned and left with a torn expression.
In the end, only Madoka, who seemed a little lost, was left at the scene.
…
..
.
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