Kamen Rider Zi-O, Dimensional Descent

"Magical girl..."

"Are you referring to the senior student whose story was reported on the news these past two days?"

"Yes, I remember her name is Mami Tomoe. She revealed her identity at this school about two days ago. She's a magical girl."

Mami Tomoe...?

Sayaka and Madoka were not familiar with this name; at most, they had only seen it by chance while watching the news.

…but.

Why do I feel a slight...heartache when I hear this name?

"Like I said, I don't know the specifics, but it must be because of her that the school was temporarily closed."

"Did...that senior do something bad?"

"It shouldn't be like that. If it were, the police here would have an explanation... But they're just here to stop the students and passersby who are watching the commotion. It's really a headache..."

The female teacher sighed softly and continued.

"According to rumors, the school seems to have had to close down due to some social reasons and a notice from the government. For the time being, you should be able to have a three-day holiday, right? But this will make your studies more difficult, especially for Kaname."

"Huh?! How could this be..."

"Your Chinese score wasn't very good this time. I heard from your math and English teachers that your scores in those two subjects weren't great either. You can't forget to study hard these three days, or you'll really fall to the bottom of the class!"

"Oh dear, poor Yuan..."

"Waaah, Sayaka, please don't laugh at me!"

While Madoka and Sayaka were chatting, another figure suddenly appeared behind them.

"Whoa—!"

The two unsuspecting people were immediately startled and jumped up involuntarily.

"What...it's Homura."

"You scared me! Oh, speaking of which... Homura's coming here means you didn't know about the holiday starting today...?"

"...I guess so."

Homura Akemi responded simply to the two of them and nodded.

"By the way, Sayaka, I met someone who wanted to see you on my way here."

"The person who wants to see me?"

Sayaka blinked and looked behind Homura Akemi.

Then, a familiar figure walked towards her.

"Huh—? It's Hitomi!"

"Oh my? Sayaka is here after all!"

When Sayaka saw Hitomi Shizuki, who was in the same class as them, walking over, she happily went to greet her.

"Good morning~! But speaking of which, did Hitomi not know that there was a holiday today, so that's why she came to school?"

"No, I know."

Under the somewhat strange gazes of Madoka and Sayaka, Hitomi Shizuki smiled elegantly and said.

"Actually, Sayaka... I've heard about what's been going on between you and Kamijou-kun lately."

"...!"

"He seems to be going to participate in a violin competition soon, right? That's great... Kamijou-kun has always been like this, handsome and amazing."

The girl's expression then turned serious.

"I do have feelings for him."

"...Just as I thought..."

"Sayaka, you probably guessed it already, I... I've been planning to confess to Kamijou-kun lately, but... I know you like him too, so I want to talk to you—"

"I'm prepared for this kind of thing."

Huh?

These words surprised not only Hitomi Shizuki, but also the others.

Including Homura Akemi.

"Although Hitomi, you... really like Kyosuke-kun, right? But I can't give up. Even though you're very talented, there's one thing I absolutely... will not give up on!"

"Sayaka...this is the first time I've seen you like this...waaaah..."

"Oh, sorry, I got a little carried away for a moment and said something like that, haha..."

Sayaka was blushing and scratching her head casually. Madoka was surprised, and Hitomi Shizuki had the same expression.

What... happened? Is that how it is?

Homura Akemi felt as if her understanding had been shattered, because in all the loops so far, Sayaka had always been hesitant about Kyosuke Kamijou, how could she be like this now—

...Could it be because history has been rewritten?

Because of that man... Yan Ming, he changed everything in this world, restoring Kamijou Kyosuke's health as before, making Witch Night no more, and causing the Kyubey race, which was a threat to humanity, to disappear entirely—directly leading to this divergent result.

"What's wrong? Xiaoyan, your expression... it looks scary..."

"what…"

It was only then that Homura Akemi noticed that her expression had become quite gloomy because she had been thinking too deeply.

"It's nothing... I just thought of a few things."

"I see. But I won't give up so easily. When the time comes... shall we settle this once and for all?"

"Oh... Oh! Hitomi, even though we're good friends, I'm not going to let you have your way!"

Thus, history did not follow the path of tragedy and despair that Homura Akemi had experienced in the past; instead, it unfolded in a more reasonable way.

Both girls were frank and worked hard to win the hearts of the boys they loved, and there were no more painful regrets. Everything was back on track.

'This is'

She quietly swallowed.

'Is this the change he has brought to us...?'

Although things like the Witch's Night disappearing, the world becoming peaceful, and no longer having to reincarnate have happened, but...

Watching Hitomi Shizuki leave, Homura Akemi finally realized that the people around her had truly experienced a change in their fate because of someone's actions.

…If it weren't for Shirin Enmei, the future in which Sayaka could live peacefully would probably never have existed.

"Hey... Xiaoyan, are you really okay?"

Because she kept wearing a thoughtful expression, Homura Akemi made the two girls think that she was really troubled by something.

Sayaka, seeing Homura Akemi in this state, quickly put aside what had just happened.

"Hmm... Could it be because of magical girls or something like that?"

"Huh? Why do you say that?"

"Because, isn't Homura the same way?"

"Ah! So that's how it is."

It seems they were worried because of their magical girl identity.

"It's not what you think."

She simply shook her head.

"So, Xiaoyan, what's troubling you?"

"To be honest, there are things that bother me."

That's right.

My parents are coming to see me today.

Today is the day that Homura Akemi's parents are coming to visit her.

She had been thinking all night about how to face her parents on this day, and even with Yan Ming comforting her, she still felt nervous.

How ridiculous... They're my own parents, and I'm actually nervous about seeing them? I'm such an unfit girl...

"Eh... Eh eh eh eh—?! You, you didn't live with your parents before?"

"Little Flame's parents..."

"Don't worry about me, everything will be fine."

"Really? But... well... to be honest, I don't know what to do either..."

"It's okay, they are my own parents, of course there's no problem."

Seeing Sayaka's somewhat worried expression, Homura Akemi couldn't help but laugh.

"Thank you for your concern... but I'll handle things today."

“…I understand, Homura.”

"Hmm... I don't know what's going on between you and your parents, but I wish you all the best! Remember to greet them nicely!"

Homura Akemi responded to these questions with a natural smile, but—

That's not the real problem.

How should I explain the illness to my parents about magical girls, and...

How should I tell my parents about his situation...?

All of these factors converged to form the root cause of the girl's heartache, but facing her closest friends, she could only swallow this pain in silence and savor it alone...

"That girl... seems to have something on her mind."

On the other side, on a rooftop in the distance.

Gates and Wozniak were standing here, observing everything below from upstairs.

Because Yan Ming had previously instructed them to protect the girls as much as possible.

"Are you sure it's okay? Are we just going to leave it like this?"

"Even if you or I get involved, we can't help much."

Wozniak, standing to the side, was peeling an apple, eating as he peeled.

"We're all combat-oriented people. This isn't a problem that can be solved by simply destroying a continent or blowing up a planet. The human heart is a very delicate matter, and..."

"And what?"

"Besides, this is Homura Akemi, someone my Demon Lord will personally help. How can we possibly interfere?"

"Oh...oh oh oh oh?!"

Then Gates started yelling as if he had realized something.

"You mean, that guy is going to interfere in the girl's parents' affairs, that is, their family matters? This... this is equivalent to..."

"cough."

Gates shut his mouth after Wozniak coughed, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

And so, the two of them went back to their jobs.

However, they all had their own estimates of how things would develop.

Volume 9, The Demon King Appears: Chapter 417: How to cheer up Mami Tomoe...?

Mitakihara High School is on holiday starting today.

For the next three days or so, the students will be at home with nothing to do.

…And what happened to the person who caused all of this?

Now, in an apartment, the girl is sitting alone on the bed.

She hugged her legs with both hands and did nothing but stay on the bed, lost in thought.