One-way traffic

The lights flickered back on, and the power was restored.

But the expressions on their faces were no longer calm.

"What happened just now?"

Accelerator looked up and gazed out the window.

He could clearly sense that the force was coming from the outside.

—Through the window, you can see that above the clouds outside, some kind of unseen thunderstorm is constantly gathering.

Both he and Homura Akemi were taken aback.

"what is that?"

"Oh dear... it seems to be even more extraordinary than I imagined."

The sound came directly from behind them.

The two turned their heads, and a pure white shadow slowly walked out from the darkness of the room.

That was a figure that both of them knew and recognized.

Accelerator and Homura Akemi almost instantly revealed hostile expressions.

"It's quite unusual that the two of you would treat me with such identical expressions."

Kyubey.

The culprit behind all the tragedies.

It appeared directly in front of the two of them, its gentle laughter unchanging.

"...What are you doing here?"

"I'm just giving you a brief overview of the information."

Before Cupid could finish speaking, his voice rang out in the room.

Bang! The bullet pierced through the floor where Cupid had been standing, creating a dark crater.

The number one esper in Academy City held up the silver pistol and looked ahead with displeasure.

"You still dare to show your face in front of me? Very well, you're a spineless scoundrel."

"So, at least listen to what I have to say before you act, okay? I've brought you some very important information this time."

It casually leaped onto a sofa to the side, dodging Accelerator's shot.

That's it.

With an innocent and naive expression, Cupid said.

"Two weeks from now, Witch's Night will descend upon this city—that's how it should be."

"But it's different now."

It was as if in response to its words.

An even louder rumble of thunder came from outside the window.

"That witch's night will be coming to Mitakihara in three days~!"

Chapter 124 One-Way Street

The television was turned on at almost the same time.

Like a projection, this must be the most advanced level in the world so far, transmitting such a message on a television screen.

"—Breaking news now."

The TV presenter was outdoors, holding a microphone and wearing a raincoat, and seemed to be speaking in a hurry.

She quickly explained in a very anxious tone.

"Right now, an unknown thunderstorm is coming from the clouds on the outskirts of Mitakihara. Its scale and intensity are very likely to be no less than that of a category 10 typhoon, and it will probably reach Mitakihara in three days!"

"Please take protective measures immediately. Mitakihara has prepared a large enough shelter. If necessary, you may need to take refuge in the shelter within three days."

"Please make sure everyone takes the necessary precautions. This thunderstorm is unusual!"

Then a strange change occurred.

The TV presenter seemed unable to explain everything before a storm suddenly struck. Shouts and howling winds could be heard on the screen before the broadcast was forced to stop.

Both of them wore thoughtful expressions.

"Thunderstorm, huh..."

"It's actually Witch's Night."

If that's really the case, then it perfectly matches what Kyubey said before.

The so-called thunderstorm will strike in three days, and the latest operation time for Witch's Night, as mentioned by Kyubey, will also be in three days.

In the end what happened?

This is a realm that even Homura Akemi cannot comprehend. In her memories of each reincarnation, Witch's Night should always arrive two weeks later at this time.

However, this also directly confirmed another idea in her mind.

—There is hope.

The variables that have occurred in this cycle are more numerous than in all the cycles that have been experienced so far.

If that's the case—!

"I advise you to be more vigilant."

Kyubey's merciless voice interrupted Homura Akemi's thoughts.

"Now, the Witch's Night is about to arrive. I have already reiterated its power to you many times. And right now, the number of you who can fight against the Witch's Night is only these few."

Mami Tomoe, Homura Akemi, Accelerator, and Hatsune Miku—that's only four people.

Even if we include Sakura Kyoko, there are at most five people.

Kyubey is right. Even if it were Accelerator, could he really defeat Witch Night?

Homura Akemi began to feel uncertain.

"Think it over carefully. This is probably the last time you have left to think things through."

Kyubey shook his head, revealing for the first time a tone that sounded like advice.

"No matter what, if Madoka Kaname becomes a magical girl, she will eventually be able to unleash unimaginable power. At that time, Witch Night will just be a minor problem."

"I hope you can think all of this through carefully."

As the sound disappeared, the white shadow vanished from their sight as well.

What exactly needs to be done is already very clear.

…What Kyubey is going to do will never change; it will always be aimed at making Madoka Kaname a magical girl.

Therefore, Homura Akemi's tasks will remain unchanged.

Defeat the Witch Night.

Only by doing this can we finally end all of this.

"I will go and defeat Witch Night."

She stood up and said what she had always planned to do.

"No matter what, I will not give up. How to proceed from here is entirely up to you."

Ultimately, what Accelerator does is his own choice.

"Tomorrow, I will gather everyone I can find so far and hold a meeting to subdue Witch Night."

"If we have the chance, we can successfully defeat Witch Night; if we fail... we'll have to start all over again."

He understood perfectly what Homura Akemi meant by starting over.

It doesn't mean starting the battle over again, but rather starting the entire timeline over again.

If she fails to defeat Witch Night, she will choose to reverse time and go back to the time when she first entered school to replan everything.

Everything was just to protect Madoka Kaname and defeat Witch Night.

…So.

What was the decision made by Accelerator?

What choice will the number one in Academy City make? Will he help her? Or will he do something else?

He did not respond to this.

Now that things have come to this, everything that needed to be said has been said.

Neither of them continued to discuss the matter further; they simply parted ways and each made their own subsequent choices.

Accelerator said nothing and simply left the apartment that belonged to Homura Akemi, nothing more.

…but.

Indeed, something had taken root and sprouted in his heart.

——————————————————————————————————————————

After dinner, the television was turned on.

Accelerator sat on the sofa, letting the light from the television reflect into his eyes, but he had no interest in watching TV.

Throughout the day, he experienced things he had never imagined before.

He witnessed the darkness of this city, no… it should be said that it was the darkness of this world.

Magical girls, witches, and Kyubey.

And, the matter of Witch's Night.

He already knew everything.

but.

"...What should I do?"

What does he need to do?

Is it simply a matter of opening his arms and going to kill Witch Night as usual, or is it about doing something he's never thought of before?

Or should we simply stay here and do nothing?

There are many choices, but in Accelerator's heart at this moment, there should be the path that is most suitable for him.

If you think about it carefully, you can actually understand the outcome of all of this.

The number one Level 5 esper in Academy City, he is a simple villain.

Evil people cannot accomplish what only heroes can do.

"...one side."

A voice calling out came from beside me.

Hatsune Miku, dressed in casual clothes, walked out of the kitchen.

We've already had dinner, and there's really nothing else to do after that.

Both of them had nothing to do.

There's no need to gather any more information; they've already figured out everything about magical girls and witches.

Under Accelerator's watchful gaze, the girl walked up to him.

Then, I sat down next to the sofa, to my right.

"It seems you've gotten some very important news from Xiaoyan."

"Yeah, so what?"

Responding in a flat tone, Accelerator had no intention of explaining.

He didn't want Hatsune Miku to know about these things yet.

Unlike him, this idol from another world should just be a simple girl, and there's no need to involve someone living in the light of day like her in this mess.