Initially, in the eyes of the readers, Sayaka was immature and unlikable… In fact, by this point in the story, everyone's evaluation wasn't much better, but because of the suffering she endured, people couldn't help but feel sympathy for the girl.
This led them to try to understand the other person, to put themselves in their shoes, rather than just standing in a god's-eye view.
Sakura Kyoko was the same; because her own prayer destroyed her family, she vowed that the power of magic would only be used for herself.
This means that their circumstances were similar; both initially prayed for others.
But Sayaka's attitude differed from hers.
"I've already decided not to regret it anymore…"
This is Sayaka's current expression.
However, can she truly not regret it?
Internal changes cannot be expressed merely by saying so on the surface.
In a subsequent battle with a witch, Sayaka's performance clearly changed; she no longer spared her body, no longer feared pain, and her face only held a wildly arrogant smile, joyfully swinging her weapon to attack the enemy!
How could she bear it?
This scene looked truly cruel.
From the readers' perspective, didn't that interpret the meaning as—
How could she not regret it!
But what good is regret? It's meaningless now!
She was no longer a 'living person,' not qualified to pursue love, and unable to say 'Please kiss me' to the person she loved.
Her soul gem was quietly changing…
Sayaka couldn't actually bear such a blow. Many times she was just putting on a brave front, and dark emotions gradually grew within her. She even had an argument with Madoka.
Even if those weren't her truest thoughts, once emotions surged, many times she couldn't control herself.
From initially praying with hope, to being deeply struck after learning the truth, and then feeling angry at her own weakness.
Because of these experiences, Sayaka found herself in her current predicament.
"It's too cruel, this world! Because of Kyubey's existence, Sayaka has completely entered a dead end… She doesn't dare to express her love to the person she likes, and hope eventually turns into despair, which is why she became this way. Old Thief, Old Thief, you've really gone too far! Damn it! Sayaka is such a good girl, why must she suffer such punishment…"
Reading this, Kousaka Kirino gnashed her teeth in anger.
This anger could be directed at Kyubey, or it could be directed at Izumi Saikou.
This is actually not difficult to understand.
Because the novel explains it.
The hope guided by prayer will lead to an equal amount of despair, thus achieving the law of conservation of quality.
Salvation is also a curse.
Mami Tomoe's wish before was to live.
At that time, she hadn't considered her parents, so she ended up surviving alone, living a solitary life, facing endless battles.
When she met Madoka and first considered her a companion with whom she could live, she then died.
So, this can be said to be despair equivalent to hope.
Sayaka's situation is also not difficult to guess.
Her wish was to help the person she loved, so the outcome is also predictable; she would also suffer an equivalent despair.
When the spirit loses its support, that is the moment a magical girl Towards the end.
Because of Madoka's request, Homura Akemi, who knew the secret, even harbored thoughts of executing her.
Seeing Sayaka, who had completely given up on herself in the dialogue, the readers at this moment felt even more heartache.
"It's over, it's over! Something bad is going to happen!"
Kousaka Kirino cried out anxiously in her heart.
Although Sakura Kyoko's timely appearance saved Sayaka's life, that wasn't the crucial point.
The key was Sayaka's current vacant-eyed state; she had truly become a walking corpse.
As the saying goes, there is no greater sorrow than a heart dead to hope.
If this description continues, not only will her heart die, but her soul gem won't be saved either!
Sure enough, Sayaka later overheard two scumbags sharing their experiences while riding the train, and her already fragile mental state, hanging by its last thread, completely snapped, plunging her into a state of complete blackening.
"Hmph…"
Kousaka Kirino , who had been sitting on the bed, directly lay down, her expression utterly despairing.
Numb, numb.
Will there be a reversal next?
Highly unlikely!
If Kui-sensei were in charge, even if they died, it wouldn't matter; she'd revive them all!
But if it's Izumi Saikou, there's absolutely no hope.
There's only one outcome: a dead end!
Mami Tomoe died, so why should Sayaka be spared?
In this situation, most readers would only bet on Madoka, who appears in the title, the current ordinary female protagonist, to survive.
Everyone else, including the enigmatic Homura Akemi, is very likely to simply disappear.
…
Getting up, going downstairs to pour a glass of water, and adjusting her emotions slightly, Kousaka Kirino then resumed reading.
It must be said, this content was indeed quite captivating, partly due to the compelling plot and partly due to the writing skill.
Among ordinary authors, his ability to evoke empathy had reached a high level; it could be said this was the area where he had improved the most and excelled the most this past year, with detailed descriptions of combat ranking second.
He was no longer like a lesser version of Senju Muramasa; instead, he resembled a hybrid of Senju Muramasa and Kani Nayuta.
Of course, still a lesser version.
"Continue…!"
The girl was impatient, wanting to finish reading this volume completely before sleeping.
If it were an ordinary work, she wouldn't be so eager; even with her favorite galgame, she often saved her progress and wasn't so impatient.
Old Thief's "puella magi madoka magica" truly showed her something different; although there were some parts that bothered her, it was undoubtedly a superior work, especially in its deeper aspects.
Kousaka Kirino turned to a new page, only to find the plot suddenly shifted, with the perspective moving from Sayaka to Madoka.
From the feel of the book in her hands, it was clearly still some distance from the end of the volume, so it was easy to guess that before the plot of Sayaka's complete blackening, there should have been another, less important plot segment.
However, unexpectedly, this segment of the plot was also full of explosive moments.
Because of Sayaka, the usually silent Homura Akemi clearly began to lose her composure, and when she saw Kyubey continuing to tempt Madoka to become a magical girl, she, in order to uphold a promise, directly activated her ability, riddling Kyubey with holes.
Satisfying! Very cathartic!
This was the feeling that arose in many people's hearts.
Of course, Kyubey wouldn't die just like that; a new Kyubey quickly popped out, and because of this shooting, it confirmed a fact that shocked readers.
Homura Akemi was actually a time traveler!