MHGA Chapter 373 – Homura the Flame Witch's Future
"I don't understand."
Staring at Kairo Retsu's outstretched hand, Homura Akemi shook her head.
"If our story is just that—a story—to you, then you have no real reason to do any of this for us."
"If you truly know everything, then you should also understand what that 'monster' you just mentioned actually means," she said.
"If things were that easy to fix… there wouldn't be so many Witches in this world to begin with."
"Maybe it's because most of us Hunters at the Gathering Hub are just the meddling type."
Kairo cracked his knuckles. "Let me count them off for you—the ones who decided to meddle."
"Excluding the newcomers, we've got…"
"The Four Cardinal Heroes, hailed as Saints.
The Ripple user who defeated the Ultimate Lifeform.
The reincarnated Hero who travels with a goddess.
The heir to the Sun Breathing technique.
The Demon King of Indulgence.
A treasure Alaya couldn't control.
The streaking bird-headed lunatic.
The true Hero who saved the world without a Holy Sword.
And the cyberpunk kid who chose to change the world for the girl he loved."
"They've all learned of your future—and are willing to act to change it. In return, they hope that you'll one day do the same for someone else, in a future that's been rewritten."
"Besides…" Kairo said flatly, "Madoka is already one of us now. She's our comrade. There's no way we'd let her walk into that kind of future and do nothing."
"What she wished for… giving up her future and her will, just to erase the existence of all Witches before they could be born… I don't want that to happen."
"!"
Homura shot to her feet.
Kairo's words made her look at Madoka in disbelief.
If their story does have a proper ending—then what Kairo had just said, what did it mean?
Homura never doubted that if there were a main character to their story, it would be Madoka.
"Do you want to know?" Kairo grinned, his voice casual. "It's your lunch break, right? I could explain it now, or arrange a private screening for later."
Homura was silent for a moment, then transformed in front of both Kairo and Madoka.
"I want to see that future—right now," she said firmly. "You should know what my ability is."
"Oh, time-stop anime binge?" Kairo clapped his hands. "Great idea. In that case…"
Kairo pulled out a second-hand tablet from his pocket. "Let's get started."
Homura took a deep breath, then grabbed Kairo's wrist.
The two of them entered time-stop together.
"Alright then—this is the original Puella Magi Madoka Magica series," Kairo said as he opened the downloaded anime files on his tablet.
"In the final episode, Madoka makes a wish to 'personally erase all Witches—past, present, and future—before they are born.' She thereby eliminates all Witches throughout time—including herself—and ascends to a higher plane of existence, becoming a concept."
"She becomes—Law of Cycles."
"You'll finish this part quickly enough," he said.
"But there's also a sequel that I haven't shown Madoka yet."
Kairo pulled out a cord and tied it to his wrist, handing the other end to Homura so she wouldn't need to hold on to him the whole time.
"There's more?"
A glimmer of hope appeared in Homura's eyes.
After Madoka becomes the Law of Cycles—was there something after that?
"Let's enjoy it together—Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion," Kairo said, grinning brightly. "Watching Rebellion with Flame Witch Homura—that's a dream come true."
"…Start it."
———
To Madoka, the time-stop between Kairo and Homura lasted only an instant.
But in that instant, Homura had clearly watched the entire original Puella Magi Madoka Magica series. And—
She saw the future in which she became the Flame Witch, stole away the Law of Cycles, and allowed part of Madoka to continue living as Madoka Kaname.
Not only that, but during the viewing, Kairo explained various meta-concepts beyond Homura's in-universe perspective.
Some of it… even she hadn't known.
And at the end of the story, Kairo proposed something—something Homura found impossible to refuse.
But she hadn't answered him just yet.
"Did you finish watching?" Madoka asked curiously as she looked at Kairo and Homura.
"Yep, finished." Kairo grinned. "Homura has agreed to cooperate with us."
"Really?" Madoka's eyes lit up, and she wrapped her arms around Homura. "That's great, Homura. I'm so glad you said yes."
"Yeah… it's good," Homura replied, her expression complicated, but she hugged Madoka back anyway.
At that moment, the school bell signaling the end of lunch break rang out.
"Let's head back to class." Madoka took Homura's hand and led her back toward the classroom.
"I'll stay here in Mitakihara to deal with the Witches' aftermath," Kairo said with a grin. "If you decide anything, come find me."
"I'm not hard to track down—and you've got plenty of time."
"..."
Homura said nothing as she followed Madoka back into the classroom.
And at the classroom door, she saw Hibiki returning with Sayaka.
Homura already knew—Hibiki Tachibana was one of the Hunters.
Kairo had taken the opportunity to show her glimpses of the future, including the Frenzy Virus, Gore Magala, and Shagaru Magala.
Walpurgisnacht would arrive ahead of schedule—and Shagaru Magala would attempt to devour it. If they didn't stop Shagaru, its rebirth could result in a catastrophe even worse than Walpurgisnacht.
Especially Madoka.
Homura looked deeply at Madoka.
Madoka would never abandon others.
That's the kind of heart she had.
That's why she made the wish that transformed her into the Law of Cycles and rewrote the universe itself.
So…
Homura wanted to think more—but her thoughts were interrupted by a nearby classmate.
"Homura-san, what's that you're carrying?"
The classmate eyed the stuffed bag in Homura's arms, brimming with Madoka merchandise.
Only then did Homura snap out of it and clutch the bag tight to hide its contents.
"Th-they're… important gifts from someone."
She quickly stashed away the Madoka merch—but in her heart, a strange thought bubbled up.
A thought that had never once appeared in all the loops before.
"Once I get home, I'll put all this merch up in my room…"
"I wonder if the Guildmaster has more Madoka goods…"
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