At college the next day, Haruki couldn't walk five steps without hearing whispers.
"That's the guy who killed Sayaka!"
"Evil... pure evil."
He didn't care.
The episode had done exactly what he wanted: shattered expectations and revealed the true nature of the world he'd built.
He remembered what he'd said during that very first interview:
"Madoka Magica will subvert the magical girl genre."
Back then, fans didn't fully grasp just how far he intended to go.
Now they did.
They were watching a once-bright, hopeful genre twist into something dark and bitter, and realizing he hadn't been joking. He meant every word.
That night, countless fans stayed awake into the early hours, discussing the shock of Episode 8. Forums and anime boards overflowed with speculation. Social media buzzed nonstop. "Episode 8 of Madoka Magica," "How to Eat Kyubey," and "Warrior of Love, Mizushiro" all broke into the top fifteen trending topics in Japan.
The truth revealed in Episode 8 shook the foundation of what fans thought they knew about magical girl anime. Longtime enthusiasts, especially hardcore otaku, were hit the hardest. For them, the image of magical girls had always been bound to cheerful mascots, radiant transformations, and heroic ideals. Now, every time they saw another mascot character, all they could think of was Kyubey's deceptively innocent smile.
Even elementary and middle school students who insisted on sneaking a peek at Episode 8 couldn't handle it. The bleak tone left a mark. Yet, despite the heaviness, the shock only drew them deeper. Madoka had gained a reputation as another grim, melancholic work from Mizushiro-sensei, and still, fans couldn't stop watching.
"Depressing or not, I'm watching it to the end," one comment read, echoed by thousands.
Meanwhile, professionals across Japan's anime industry, especially scriptwriters, watched with growing unease. The pattern was all too familiar. Just like Mizushiro's earlier works, Madoka had started slow, then tightened its grip on viewers until they couldn't let go.
Could Madoka really pull off the same meteoric rise and claim the crown as Best Anime of the year?
Skeptics weren't so sure.
At that point, Madoka Magica and Into the Abyss were locked neck and neck, both averaging 8.4 million views per episode with only three episodes left in the season. But there was one undeniable fact: 5 Centimeters per Second still stood apart, holding an average of 12.5 million views per episode.
The battle for the winter crown was heating up, but the true peak was yet to come.
At T-Bone's studio, the Into the abyss team was feeling the heat too.
They'd spent nearly a year preparing this anime, and for most of the season, they had thought it was the clear frontrunner. But suddenly, the magical girl show had given them serious competition. Saya had locked onto Haruki as her rival, and after watching Episode 8, she knew something big was coming. She could sense it was going to attract even more attention.
Still, they weren't without confidence. Episode Eleven of Into the Abyss was their ace, a piece they hoped would be one of the best episodes of the year. She threw herself into the work, making sure not a single frame suffered from direction issues.
Sleep became an afterthought. She obsessed over how to craft the perfect ending. Madoka had pushed her into high gear.
Meanwhile, Ryuko watched everything unfold with mixed feelings.
As the voice actress for Into the Abyss's protagonist, she naturally wanted her own show to succeed. But she was also thrilled by Madoka's success because it was Haruki's work.
Honestly, Ryuko might've been the happiest person in the industry. Two shows she was emotionally invested in, both thriving. She came to work every day with a smile that puzzled everyone around her. If Saya knew the reason behind it, she'd definitely grumble that Ryuko was "cheering for the enemy."
And Haruki? He had taken the next Monday off from classes. The fallout from Episode 8 had given him such a bad reputation on campus, he didn't even feel like going to classes with Episode 9 and the new Fullmetal Alchemist chapter releasing later this week. He just wanted to lay low.
Haruka had also reminded him that "Bloody Stream," JoJo's new opening, would be releasing on Friday. She told him to post the announcement on his page, which he did. The comments started pouring in immediately:
"Mizushiro is dropping the JoJo OP? Man, I'm so hyped. I still listen to the Fullmetal Alchemist OP daily."
"The music alone is already great, but when it ties into the story, it takes everything to another level. I'm all here for it."
"Finally, some good news after the chaos of Episode 8."
By the time Friday arrived, the anticipation was at its peak.
At school, during lunch break, Shion noticed a notification on his feed. Mizushiro's JoJo opening had just been released. He couldn't contain the excitement and immediately called out to his group.
"Hey! JoJo's OP is out! Wanna watch it now, or wait till we're home?"
"No way I'm waiting. I've been hyped for two weeks. JoJo's been killing me with laughs. I've reread the first two chapters ten times already. Kinda regret starting it this early."
"Same here. Just play it already. It's already hit a million views!"
Shion hit play. The music began with bold horns as Joseph struck a flamboyant pose in the background. Characters flashed by, some who hadn't even appeared in the manga yet, since only two chapters were out.
A trumpet blast cut through the noise, making nearby students pause.
"Wait… where's that sound coming from?"
The melody felt like it was spilling out of the screen. Other students, hearing the tune, started drifting toward them, drawn by the music's energy. By the time the song ended, Shion and his friends looked up from the phone to find a circle of classmates gathered around.
"Yo, Shion, what was that track?"
"Who's the artist? That horn was insane."
Shion grinned. "It's the new JoJo opening, 'Bloody Stream.'"
"Wait… that was a manga opening?"
One of the boys groaned. "Man, I got spoiled! I was saving it for later on TV. Still, the music's fire. I'm blasting it at home tonight. Nobody's in, my parents are late."
"What's it called again? JoJo something?"
The group kept chatting as the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. On the way back to class, Shion couldn't stop smiling.
"Man, I'm fired up. Totally forgot about the heartbreaking last episode of Madoka Magica. Today has already been perfect. Can't wait to get home, then read the new chapters of JoJo and Fullmetal Alchemist."
Shout out to Maelstorm, Никита Козлов for joining my p-atreon! your support means everything to me.
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/Alioth23 for 60+ advanced chapters)