One-way traffic

Then, I returned home.

Just before going to bed, Madoka Kaname changed into her pajamas and went to her mother, who was sitting in the living room watching TV.

"Um, Mom."

"What's wrong, Xiaoyuan? Do you want to watch TV?"

Picking up a cup of coffee that her husband had just brewed, Kaname Madoka's mother, Kaname Junko, took a small sip.

The temperature is just right.

"Today is also the opening ceremony, so there's no homework. Hmm... you can watch for a while if you want."

"No, it's just that I have a few questions I want to ask Mom."

"question…?"

Kaname blinked and looked at her daughter in surprise.

"What is it?"

"What happens when a sixteen-year-old girl lives with a boy of the same age, um, living in the same room?"

"Puwah!!!"

She immediately spat out all the coffee she had just drunk.

Chapter 103 Selfish Desires and Selfish Desires

It is 9 p.m. now.

After having a simple dinner, Mami Tomoe took Kyubey and went to the street area outside.

It was very late, and there were hardly any other passersby to be seen outside, let alone on such a somewhat secluded road.

Mami Tomoe walked alone like that.

"Thinking about what happened during the day, Mami?"

"…yes."

She whispered, stroking the fur of the cub in her arms.

"Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki, those two children... are both highly talented."

"That's absolutely right."

Having heard about the magical girl, Kyubey responded immediately.

"Those two girls possess extraordinary potential. Even now, if they were to become magical girls, they would surely become incredibly powerful."

"That's right, but I always feel it's not that simple."

"Huh? What does this mean?"

Cupid blinked, looking somewhat puzzled.

Mami Tomoe paused for a moment before continuing.

"...Although it sounds absurd, I do have this thought in my mind."

How should I put it? It's like a sixth sense in humans.

That's what Mami Tomoe was thinking.

"I have a feeling that those two children are not only qualified to become magical girls, but also in some other way."

"What does this mean?"

"I don't know either. If I had to put it into words... it's almost like it was their destiny."

This is like a first impression.

It's as if someone who has never studied carving can achieve in one day what others take at least a month to learn. To outsiders, it's as if he was destined to be a carver.

Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki also gave Mami Tomoe the same feeling, as if they were destined to become magical girls.

Yes, that feeling... can be felt even more deeply with Madoka Kaname.

Cupid blinked with utter innocence.

"I think this must be what they call cause and effect, right?"

"Huh, you're talking about cause and effect...?"

"Although I don't know exactly what happened, everything has a cause and an effect. I guess that the reason they are able to possess such great potential must be due to some reason. However, even I can't immediately understand what exactly made them so capable of becoming magical girls."

"Hmm, I don't really understand this aspect. It could also just be a matter of talent?"

"Talent, huh..."

Cupid murmured something.

"Speaking of talent, Mami, what do you think of that girl named Hatsune Miku?"

"Miss Hatsune?"

Mami Tomoe was somewhat surprised, and even stopped in her tracks.

"Why bring her up all of a sudden? She's probably just a magical girl like me, right? There's nothing to worry about, is there?"

"...To be precise, Mami, your relationship with that girl is not just that simple."

"Eh?"

Mami Tomoe frowned, becoming even more puzzled.

"What, what does this mean?"

"That girl named Hatsune Miku, well, although you did see her using magic-like abilities that day, it's actually not the same as the magic we're familiar with."

"Simply put, although she has the same identity as a magical girl, she is fundamentally very different from magical girls like you. Perhaps it's similar to the concept of a singularity?"

Singularity...?

She never imagined that Hatsune Miku would have such an outrageous background. Until now, she had simply thought that the other party was just an ordinary magical girl like herself.

Wait, if, if that's the case...

"Have you thought about this at all, Mami?"

Kyubey, who was crouching in her arms, continued speaking to Mami.

"Why would Hatsune Miku say something like that during the day? Why was she so desperate to stop Sayaka Miki and Madoka Kaname from becoming magical girls? Was it really just because she was worried about them being in danger?"

"What's the meaning…?"

"What I'm trying to say is actually quite clear."

It remained expressionless and continued speaking.

"Hatsune Miku said those things in order to preserve her unique identity as a magical girl. She simply wanted to prevent her dazzling brilliance from being stolen by girls who were more talented than her. She was just jealous of Madoka Kaname and the others, which is why she said those things."

Have you considered this possibility?

Mami Tomoe stood there completely stunned.

If Kyubey's statement is true, then Hatsune Miku may have already seen through Madoka Kaname and the others' aptitude and potential to become magical girls long ago.

If, if that's really the case—

If Hatsune Miku is truly just afraid that girls with more talent than herself will become magical girls, and simply wants to nip them in the bud...

The image of a certain girl in her mind began to waver little by little.

"Are your thoughts so easily swayed by others?"

An unexpected sound broke through.

Mami Tomoe snapped out of her daze, and as she looked ahead, footsteps accompanied a figure that subtly approached her.

She was a girl with long, straight black hair, wearing the same style of school uniform as the one she was wearing from Mitakihara Middle School.

She vaguely remembered the other person's name because they were from the same school, and the other person was a transfer student who had just transferred here today.

"...It's you."

The blonde girl's gaze suddenly sharpened.

Homura Akemi's expression remained unchanged as she faced him, seemingly having anticipated this scene.

"You really just listened to what that guy said? Don't you even have any of your own opinions?"

"What, it's none of your business who I want to listen to, is it?"

Mami Tomoe's tone was calm, but anyone could tell that what she said was anything but ordinary.

"Besides, whether in terms of age or other aspects, I should be considered your senior. Don't you think your tone is a bit arrogant, Homura Akemi?"

"At this point, is there any point in the rules that the school has transferred to us?"

"That's true."

She smiled silently and placed Cupid on the ground.

The two faced off in silence.

The evening breeze blowing quietly at this time creates a tense atmosphere.

"I don't want to fight with you in a place like this."

"Oh? Then what brings you here?"

"Because you're trying to seduce them."

The black-clad girl stared intently at the blonde girl in front of her and said in a low voice.

"You're trying to lure those two ordinary people into our affair. You should understand what kind of danger they would face if they became magical girls."

"That's outrageous. They are all children that Cupid has his eye on. They're already beyond the average person."

"...It has nothing to do with that kind of thing."

She paused for a moment, then spoke again.

"Whether it's Sayaka Miki or Madoka Kaname, I don't want them to become magical girls."

“Especially, Madoka Kaname.”

All she got in response was a soft laugh.

"Aren't they adorable? Is it because they have better qualifications than you?"

Mami Tomoe completely ignored Homura Akemi's words.

"You think that way because you're afraid they'll become stronger than you after they become magical girls, and that they'll have more amazing potential than you... That's really something only a pitiful child would think."

"I knew it. You're the same way, aren't you?"

Homura Akemi gently closed her eyes.

"...Let me make this clear beforehand, I advise you not to approach that girl with a conspiracy theory mindset."

"Oh? How do you know I would definitely think that way? And even if I did think that way, what could you do to stop me?"

"If you were to clash with Hatsune Miku, you would have no chance of defeating her."

For the first time, Mami Tomoe showed an unpleasant expression.

"That's really interesting. You're so sure about it?"

She has no intention of backing down.

Moreover, in the end, although she didn't know exactly how strong Hatsune Miku was, Mami Tomoe didn't think she would lose to that girl.

Although the opponent displayed great strength that night, it was merely a matter of sheer power; there were significant flaws in the way he used that power, his techniques, and so on.

Compared to a seasoned magical girl like her, she's incredibly inexperienced.

She doesn't believe she can't beat Hatsune Miku.

just.

“You’ve got one thing wrong, Mami Tomoe.”

"Hmm? What is it?"

Mami Tomoe responded with a light laugh to Homura Akemi.