Gogyo Ruri did not participate in constructing the main plot of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica.' Instead, as a simple key animator, she explained to Kamiyā Yuu her ideal characterization for Sakurā Kyōko.
Every line and every movement was imagined and discussed several times by the two of them.
As for Kamiyā Yuu's plan to express the character's true nature through a smile when Sakurā Kyōko exited the story, Gogyo Ruri agreed to the change after careful consideration.
If the character's image remained overly tough and strong-willed from beginning to end, then rigidity would make her easy to break.
Even if the character portrayal succeeded, it would only succeed in Gogyo Ruri's own heart.
Only she alone understood Sakurā Kyōko's truly fragile inner self.
Therefore, that smile would become the most important expression that made the audience remember Sakurā Kyōko as a strong-willed character.
In the original work, Sakurā Kyōko came from a church family.
Because the church run by her father had never been popular, their family's life grew increasingly poor.
Japan was different from China. Over there, there was so-called freedom of religion, and Japanese people often opened unknown churches to frantically make money. After a long time, everyone got used to it and stopped being deceived.
Seeing everyone treat her father coldly, Sakurā Kyōko was tempted by Kyubey and made a wish: "I want everyone to listen carefully to Father's words."
The wish was successfully granted.
More and more people joined the obscure little church run by her father.
But afterward, the Silver Witch appeared inside the church run by Sakurā Kyōko's father.
At the time, Kyōko still had no experience as a magical girl.
After desperately defeating the witch, she forgot to undo her transformation and was seen by her father.
Young and ignorant, she was completely immersed in the beautiful fantasy that she had helped her family.
She believed this happiness was a miracle she had created herself.
When her father questioned her, the naive Sakurā Kyōko honestly told him about the magical-girl contract.
Sakurā Kyōko's father learned that the increase in church followers had come not from faith or God, but from the "magic" he despised most.
As a fanatical believer, his entire ideology began to collapse.
He angrily denounced Sakurā Kyōko as a witch who deceived people's hearts.
Sakurā Kyōko's mother and younger sister, Sakurā Momo, were also dragged into it and forced into death.
Sakurā Kyōko's wish had caused a once relatively happy family to be destroyed.
It was probably from that time onward that the originally gentle Kyōko decided to walk the path of egoism.
She swore never again to use magic to interfere with other people's lives, and to use magic only for herself—
because she believed using magic for others would bring misfortune upon them.
If she used magic only for herself, then the misfortune she created would be borne by herself alone.
Kamiyā Yuu felt that the original Sakurā Kyōko's backstory was still too immature.
Especially the idea of using magic only for herself to bear the cost, which carried a distinctly Japanese kind of childishness and stubbornness.
Having witnessed her mother and younger sister's deaths, and having witnessed the rise and fall of the church her father ran, what would an ordinary girl think of the magical-girl contract?
What would she think of herself?
Sakurā Kyōko had nothing left.
Then why not deepen her background further under that premise and strengthen the portrayal of her character?
Gogyo Ruri crossed her arms and pondered.
"After Sakurā Kyōko experienced such a tragedy, rather than shaping her in a positive direction, why not try a tragic setting?"
"After being abandoned by her father, the price of making that contract caused her to lose everything. Part of her as a human being had long since become incomplete."
"Because of that, in battles against witches, she shows a desire to fight—or perhaps a desire for death—that exceeds ordinary imagination."
"Only in life-and-death combat can she forget the scene of her mother and younger sister dying."
"Because she sees her former self in Miki Sayaka, she wants to help her."
"She notices Sayaka gradually breaking down, yet is powerless to stop it."
"And in the end, her choice to perish together with Sayaka also contains an element of self-redemption."
"Not entirely a good person, and not entirely a bad person. Just a pitiful girl imprisoned by the memories of her past."
After finishing with lingering enthusiasm, Gogyo Ruri secretly glanced at Kamiyā Yuu, waiting for his evaluation.
She was a fan of chūnibyō-style settings. Even before entering the anime industry, similar ideas had already been circling in her mind.
Kamiyā Yuu quickly recorded Gogyo Ruri's character proposal with his mechanical pencil.
After thinking for a moment, he agreed.
"It's a good idea."
"The setting of 'she looks like a bad person but is actually good' has indeed become too clichéd."
"Making it more complicated and showing a character nature completely different from Akemi Homura will be very helpful for both character portrayal and emotional impact."
"We'll revise the finer plot details again."
"After Sakurā Kyōko learns that Miki Sayaka became a magical girl after making a wish for someone else, she thinks of herself and mocks her, which triggers conflict."
"But in truth, she quietly observes Miki Sayaka's life from the shadows."
"When Miki Sayaka is at her most disappointed, Kyōko hands her the apple she loves most to encourage her."
"Then how would Miki Sayaka, who already regrets signing the contract, react?"
"Accept it?"
"No."
"Sakurā Kyōko is someone who once mocked her reason for forming the contract."
"That level of goodwill would naturally be mistaken as gloating over her embarrassing situation."
"If this continues, Sakurā Kyōko will become quite tragic."
"As for Miki Sayaka, the audience will probably find her both pitiful and hateful."
"They will pity what happened between her and her childhood friend, but hate that despite going through all of that, she repeats the same mistake and fails to understand Sakurā Kyōko's goodwill."
"Using Miki Sayaka's final words of thanks as the trigger for Sakurā Kyōko's smile—this arrangement can greatly reduce the negative impression Sakurā Kyōko gives."
Having reached that conclusion, Kamiyā Yuu recorded his latest idea in his notebook.
...
After work, Kamiyā Yuu did not hurry home.
Instead, he drove to a large sporting goods store.
The moment he entered, a clerk with a springlike smile approached and asked respectfully,
"Honored customer, how may I help you?"
In Japan, customers were generally addressed as *okyaku-sama*. The romanized *sama* could be directly translated into Chinese as "lord" or "honored one," and from this form of address, one could see the status of Japan's service industry.
"I'm looking for some bamboo swords or wooden swords for practicing kendo."
"Yes. Please follow me."
The clerk led Kamiyā Yuu to a corner of the store.
Three entire large shelves were filled with different kinds of bamboo swords.
A rough count put the number at several hundred.
Below each shinai was a tag listing its specifications: weight, material, length, and so on.
Kamiyā Yuu casually picked up a few and tested their weight.
Compared to Busujima Murasaki's wooden sword, they were extremely light.
They did not feel particularly comfortable in his hands.
"The main material of this bamboo sword is moso bamboo. Although it isn't as durable as madake bamboo, its price is very affordable. The handle has an oval octagonal design, which is very good for correcting a beginner's grip."
"This one is made of madake bamboo. After special treatment, it has excellent impact resistance and is heavier, making it suitable for experienced users."
Each time Kamiyā Yuu picked up a bamboo sword, the clerk explained it professionally.