Adam popped into the Madoka Magica universe, fading into existence like he was always there. This time, there wasn't a flashy golden glow to welcome his entry into this world.
"You've arrived."
Before he could even take a look around, a calm, gloomy, yet pleasant voice echoed in his ears.
A beautiful girl appeared at his side, instantaneous and silent as a shadow.
She had hip-length black hair, straight and immaculate, and flat, emotionless violet eyes that fixed themselves on him the moment she materialized. A thin black headband held her hair back from her face.
Arms crossed, she stared at him expressionless.
"I have."
The silver-haired boy put his hands in his pockets, nodding promptly without any surprise at her sudden appearance.
"You're late."
She simply stated, black eyes scanning his figure up and down. Perhaps it is to see if he's injured- since it definitely isn't an appreciation of his good looks.
"Sorry, an accident happened."
At his nonchalant shrug, she tilted her head, a faint hint of curiosity appearing in her eyes.
However, that curiosity disappeared soon after with a shake of her head.
"Then, please tell me your plan."
She asked him immediately, wasting no time.
No small talk, no chit chat- blunt and just straight to business. As expected of her.
"Before that, I must ask you clearly…."
Adam stared at Homura Akemi's somewhat lifeless purple eyes and spoke solemnly:
"Homura Akemi, are you willing to give up everything for Madoka Kaname?"
His voice came out slowly- yet every word sounded like a thunderclap to her ears. However, the answer instantly came out of her without hesitation.
…
..
.
On the path in front of Mitakihara Middle School, a girl with pink hair tied in pigtails with red ribbons, and wide, oval-shaped dark pink eyes- Madoka Kaname- and a short, medium-blue hair pinned back with yellow hairclips, and matching blue eyes girl- Sayaka Miki- were playfully bickering, all the while a girl with slightly wavy olive-green hair and bright green eyes - Hitomi Shizuki- watched them gently from the side.
They all wore the same school uniforms- evidently being classmates and friends.
"Isn't it wonderful?"
Adam spoke to the black-haired girl beside him, who was also watching them silently.
They were standing on the roof of the teaching building, looking down at the scene below.
Don't get them wrong, they weren't perverts, and they weren't planning to put up a sign saying 'Free Candy', they were just observing their 'target' for saving.
Besides that, he was also admiring….their youth. Indeed, that free-spirit and child-like innocence…One of the most beautiful phases for any human.
"This is just a false sense of beauty. An illusion that will be shattered."
Homura's pupils reflected the pink figure, her gaze softening slightly.
"False? Fake?" Adam scoffed, "But the smiles on their faces aren't fake. Just because something is temporary doesn't mean it's an illusion."
The silver-haired boy then smiled knowingly, "And Homura, you actually want to join too, don't you?"
Homura briefly paused-
"I don't have such a silly idea." She shook her head, tightening her hands into fists. "Until I've saved everyone, I will not stupidly play house with them."
Until everything is over, she can't be happy.
The black-haired magical girl had tried to trust her companions in the past… but after experiencing even more despair in each cycle of reincarnation and shedding so much blood and tears, she resolved herself to stop relying on anyone and face everything alone.
Trusting in her companions and facing everything together never worked.
'No matter the cost, I will definitely save you, Madoka! Even if…'
Homura clenched her fists even more as she thought of this with an unwavering conviction.
"Little magical girl, how many reincarnations have you completed?"
Seeing her like this, Adam asked out of the blue and tried to change the subject.
"53."
The regressor's fist unclenched as she replied calmly.
A long time has passed since her last chat with him. She had already experienced many more reincarnations.
"Alright then, first step of the plan: get closer to Madoka!" He pumped his fist, an easygoing grin gracing his face. "You're more familiar with her, so you can make the arrangements."
It felt like trying to get a girl to sell out her best friend, or using the classic Japanese line of: 'You don't want Madoka to [X] either, do you?'
But it's all necessary to save her, despite how weird it sounds!
"..."
Homura thought for a moment in silence before finally speaking:
"In most cases, Madoka encounters a witch today." Her brows furrowed, a trace of worry in her eyes. "I originally planned to lure Madoka away, but this might be an opportunity for you."
Though she understood the need for him and Madoka to get closer, she still feels uneasy. It was an instinctive reaction she couldn't suppress, no matter what she did.
"...Please phrase that better."
"Why?"
"....Nothing."
Adam looked away from her.
"Do you have anything that can help with our plan?"
Adam looked down at his childlike body and asked.
For the sake of this plan, he aged himself down- roughly at the age of 14-15.
Ah, the sacrifices to make to save his dear friends! Experiencing a semi-shota state for the 3rd time!
[( ⊙ _ ⊙ )]
"...."
The black-haired girl didn't comment on his behavior; instead, a focused look appeared in her purple eyes.
She twisted her hands, closed her fist, and then opened it again.
On her open palm now lay a faint purplish black ticket.
"And this is…?"
Adam raised an eyebrow, but Homura stared at him and said nothing.
"Take it."
The black-haired girl extended her hand and handed him this 'ticket'.
"...."
The silver-haired boy lowered his head, looking at the description.
[Time ticket: Time and Space intertwine.
Temporarily severs the connection of this world with the other worlds of the Chat Room, allowing its time to pass independently.
Primary purpose: Allows the user to spend up to a maximum of 10 years in the current world with no time passing in other Chat Room worlds. During this time, interaction with other members is disabled.]
"....."
The silver-haired boy frowned, his brows furrowing as he stared at this ticket and its description.
'...Why does this feel familiar?'
The moment this thought arose in his mind, the ticket flashed, and the description changed.
[PS: An infusion of Space-Time power expanded the Gacha pool. However, this ticket only appears on those who urgently need them-
Ablablahblah! Stop yapping, you stupid dream!
Ehem, it's your favorite Yog-chan! Surprised? Unexpected? Gobsmacked? Awed? I'd use even more 'surprised' synonyms, but this is enough already!
Anyway, after hearing your whole plan, I decided to pitch in a little help.
Though I'd love to see the consequences of staying here for so long while normal time flows in other worlds….I don't want to see my little unknown sad and unhappy!
So please, make sure this performance succeeds, okay? I'm watching from inside you closely~!]
'....'
Adam's mouth opened in gape, his now very beautiful and bewitching eyes widening.
'Knock knock!'
Instantly, he reached inside his [Stomach] and metaphorically knocked on that connection.
{Liked my gift, ehe?}
And as soon as he did, a smug and proud reply came from little Yog-chan.
'Mommy Yog, I want to hug you right now!'
{Me too. Ah, unfortunately, I like my loli form very much. So you won't be able to bury yourself in a big chest!}
'.....Damn. That reply is so unexpected that I don't know how to react.'
{What? No 'Even better!'?}
'No. Just a 'It's okay, small ones are cute too.'.'
{You're right! They are!}
'That's right! I've gotten so used to your loli form that any other form will seem weird to me. So please, keep being a loli!'
{Ehehe, I'd still keep this form even if you didn't say that~}
'Nice, you're truly such a….bro? Sis? Bestie? Dear? Well, anyway, how did you even give this ticket to Homura?'
{Retroactively}
'That says nothing, but okay!'
{Mhm. By the way, unless someone like the One Above All, the Presence, Featherine, or another Outer God ambushes you, I won't intervene. I like being an observer, okay?}
'Yeah, I know. That's why I'm surprised.'
{Well, this is just some utility help. I was feeling nice, so I decided to make your life easier.}
'Many thanks! I'll take you on a date to another world someday!'
{Looking forward to it!}
…
..
.
After finishing school in the afternoon, Madoka and Sayaka said goodbye to Hitomi, who was going to get private tutoring, and started walking home together.
"Madoka, let's go to the record store together!" Her friend vibrated in excitement, "There's a new record that I really want to buy."
With a skip in her step, she bypassed the pink-haired girl by half a step.
"Mhm, okay."
Nodding, Madoka hurried after Sayala.
-Although she herself has little interest in music, she never refuses requests from her friends.
….
The two walked all the way to the record store. Unseen to both of them, a 'creepy stalker' and another person followed sneakily behind them.
Looking around, the 'stalker' shook his head.
The architecture in Mitakihara city really gives off a strange vibe.
Despite the high level of technology, its overall style, atmosphere, and architecture has an extremely oppressive and twisted feel.
Adam wondered…. Is this because of Kyubey's guidance of human civilization? There was no explanation otherwise.
As people always say: When in doubt, blame Kyubey!
…..
After arriving at her destination, Sayaka began sifting through records, wanting to find the best one so she could send a copy to her friend Kyosuke Kamijou.
She does this every time a new album comes out. She just hopes that with his favorite music by his side, Kyosuke Kamijou won't be as depressed because of his injury.
-Of course, she understands how much the injury has affected her friend. So she only hopes to slightly lighten his mood and cheer him up a bit.
….
With her friend enthusiastically searching and making her selections, Madoka started aimlessly wandering around the store.
However-
"This is... a doll?"
Madoka paused as she suddenly saw a peculiar doll in the store.
It is a wooden doll with a small ball connecting its joints. A smiley face is painted on its face, but much of the paint has peeled off, making it look very old and withered.
It seems out of place in this trendy and modern record store. Has it been forgotten here?
She reached out her hand, trying to touch the doll out of curiosity.
"Hehehe..."
A chilling, shivering-inducing laugh suddenly broke the comfortable silence.
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