"One Topic a Week" Episode 24: The Sighing Witch's December

"When did this chill become so deep?" Raindrops fell sparsely around me, yet it seemed as if they were struggling desperately to gather back the shattered fragments of a world they had been struck down upon arriving. Are those ripples the result of your efforts? Honestly, I'm a little envious of your existence, completely unaware of the truth. But in this cruel world, if such efforts continue, in the end, one must still face the reality of futility and fragility... The long-sleeved shirt I wove was almost soaked through, clinging to me like a piece of tattered cloth. If it were my normal self, I would definitely detest this feeling, right? But now, it doesn't matter anymore. I'm so tired now. If there is anything I really should hate, it should be this version of myself as a magical girl, right? Letting my smooth bangs fall over my forehead and cover my eyes makes it feel like I can see nothing at all. All around me is just the sound of rain seeping through my clothes into my body. Go ahead and laugh at me. In this sinful world, what can someone like me, all alone, not do? Even if I had such a thing... My gaze shifted to the metallic ring fastened on my hand, and suddenly another hand snatched it off fiercely. The power I possess is completely useless! I can keep returning to the past, but what good is that? I can't achieve anything at all. In the end, I have no choice but to watch helplessly as that stupid person, who doesn't even act selfishly, dies painfully before my eyes... Why am I so useless! Even if I had made a wish, I couldn't save my best friend! Shielded by the shadow of my bangs, I bit down hard on my lips. Enough already. I've lost count how many times I've ended up in this conclusion. The cold winter has arrived, and this chill really makes it hard to breathe. I'm really tired. Just give up here, in a place where I was always meant to die... Placing my pale palm before my eyes, I experienced the bone-chilling sensation of rain eroding my nerves. Tilting my head back slightly, some strands of hair slid away from my forehead, revealing dull, hollow eyes. In the direction I looked, there existed something—an enormous thing resembling an ink-filled inflated balloon. On it seemed to be a grotesquely twisted face, surrounded by waves of piercing laughter... The black-haired magical girl standing before this thing is utterly insignificant.“I'm sorry, Madoka, in the end, I couldn't save you, nor could I save the world you wanted to protect... just be swallowed by darkness like this... Madoka, your strong heart must never give up! I have received all the feelings behind everything you've done for me. Madoka, you've carried too much responsibility on your own. You were never supposed to bear these responsibilities. We became magical girls by our own choice. Even if the final outcome is becoming the 'witch' we fought against, this is not something that a magical girl with the power of time, Homura Akemi, is meant to change.

“Madoka?!”
Homura widened her eyes and saw a pink twin-tailed girl in a pink and white lace dress floating in the air, squinting and smiling at her. What is going on… Then she suddenly turned her head and looked to the side; the girl in the school uniform, identical to the one floating in the air, was still lying on the ground. If her memory was correct, that girl had indeed stopped breathing in her arms, hadn't she?

“Madoka, you really have become a witch...”

Because of the future, because possibilities exist for the future... A girl makes a contract with an incubator to become a magical girl. Although she “sells” her soul, in return she gets a wish that, as long as it's possible, will certainly be granted... Homura, this world is not just filled with despair. As long as we still love this world and keep our human hearts, even the so-called unchangeable endings can be changed.

“Future? Could it be… but Madoka, you still became a magical girl. Only if you didn't become a magical girl would this ending…”

That's not necessarily the case, Homura.

The pink magical girl in the air came in front of her, opening her arms to embrace her. The dull eyes now softened.

You've always protected me. I'm truly very grateful. But Homura, you've also been forcing yourself all this time. Don't you understand? The ones who truly need to be saved are not me, but magical girls like you who have fallen into despair. Trust me, okay? Use your time ability to chase the answer once more, and you'll realize that the ending can be changed.
Like suddenly realizing something, Xiao Yan looked a little panicked and said to Xiao Yuan: "If it means that Xiao Yuan will cease to exist forever in this world, I can't just sit idly by! Xiao Yuan, you can't leave me!"
Xiao Yuan, even if in the end you really let me be saved, if this world can't be saved, I still won't be happy. And I, Xiao Yan, won't just stand by either. I simply hope that you, Senior Mami, and everyone including my family can live happily, and that alone satisfies me. This is what I wished to achieve when signing the contract.
Looking at Xiao Yuan's smiling profile, Xiao Yan's panic faded, and she buried her face in Xiao Yuan's neck. "So, so warm..."
Even if you all forget my existence, I will still always be by your side protecting you, so there's no need to be afraid, because there is no longer a witch. And we will definitely have the chance to meet again in the future. This winter isn't actually cold.
"No! I will never forget Xiao Yuan!" Just as Xiao Yan made such a declaration, witnessing Xiao Yuan's final smile, Xiao Yuan disappeared right before her eyes.\"I certainly won't...\" Xiao Yan lowered her head, her bangs once again covering her eyes, but they couldn't hide the tears streaming down her cheeks. In her line of sight, between her palms, there was a red ribbon clearly meant for tying a ponytail.
\November seems to be even shorter than I remember. Maybe it's because Xiao Ji was a bit absent-minded himself? Looking back, November didn't really have much significance. Apart from preparing twenty episodes of “Weekly Topic” to celebrate the record and writing an article commemorating the conclusion of Naruto, there really wasn't much accomplishment. It seems like a friend who spams forums has even better found their niche than me. Xiao Ji is a bit unsure about that. However, there were still quite a few gains in November, like the chorus competition in the three-dimensional world, where my class got first place, and we rightfully organized a class party to have fun. After being eliminated in the campus Top 10 Singers competition, Xiao Ji also got the opportunity to perform one more song. As for the two-dimensional world, besides still following "Parasyte" (finished the manga) and catching up on "Fullmetal Alchemist," I also finished watching the HKTV Cantonese version of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica."Originally, with the keyword "magical girl" being so obviously female-oriented, I probably wouldn't have gotten involved. However, after all, “Madoka” has a well-known reputation, and I had come across related jokes when watching "Hayate the Combat Butler" (the TVB Cantonese version of "Hayate no Gotoku"). Interestingly, the HKTV version of Madoka's voice actress is the same as the original "Hayate" my favorite pink-haired character, Kiku-kun, and hearing her voice without much change really gives a sense of familiarity. Another reason is that the scriptwriter is Key. Since my first encounter with Key's scripts was "Saya no Uta," how could I not be interested (♂) in related works with a stark contrast in themes? Although after experiencing "Saya," most people went on to "Fate/Stay Night"… As for what might have been confusing earlier to everyone, the parts where I was deliberately showing off my writing are actually my own thoughts after finishing all 12 episodes of "Madoka." (Anyone who hasn't seen it definitely won't catch my spoilers!)\Little Base added quite a lot of extra content (so much rambling) in this week's "One Week, One Topic," almost merging the contents of two posts, and basically wanted to express a topic:
For this last month of 2014, do you have any particular thoughts?
On this somewhat sudden winter, do you find it very cold or...?

Silver Wolf 〤 (ID:38887) said: “Indeed, the end of 2014 came unexpectedly cold; I sneaked out of bed in the middle of the night, put on the long johns my mom stuffed in when she last came, the school's ATM had no money to withdraw, chewing on a 50-cent portion of dry rice, thinking about how unprepared I am for next week's exam, feeling the cold air wishing if only a girlfriend were next to me, holding me gently and happily without embarrassment, but in reality, I watched the ebb and flow of the 2D world under the covers… Next February, the wandering student Yousu will return to that beloved land, thinking about it still makes me a little excited~ Silver Wolf, keep going, fellow Seven Forum members, keep going!”\(Is this Silver Wolf the heartfelt end-of-year voice of a 2D otaku in 2014? Nevertheless, only those with ideals are true 7723 youth!)\△ Rules\⑴ No abusive comments, whether directed at things or people.\⑵ Only share views related to the topic; using replies to chat, spam, etc., will be dealt with strictly and may result in the participant's removal (all their replies in the thread will also be deleted).\⑶ Interaction posts will be pinned for one week from the date of posting.After the event, Xiao Ji selects unique and meaningful replies from friends and edits them into the post content, then forms a post. Lucky friends who are selected will receive rewards from Xiao Ji. If you want to review after the event, you can find the "2014 'Weekly Topic' Series Interactions" in the special section to view it.