You call this a love game?

Judging from this description alone, she doesn't seem very strong, but Sayaka said that if Mami Tomoe were still alive, she could definitely defeat the arrogant Homura Akemi very easily.

When talking about her senior, Mami, her face was full of pride and joy, but when she thought about how she died, her mood immediately plummeted.

Bai Yu could only offer a few words of comfort, then took the opportunity to pat the girl's soft head.

If Mami Tomoe is really that strong, then how powerful must the witch who killed her be?

Can Sayaka, who has temporarily made a contract with Kyubey, really defeat that witch?

He temporarily expressed doubts about Sayaka's statement, but the plan to save Mami Tomoe was also included in his plans.

However, that opportunity will only come in the next simulation. This time it's Homura Akemi and Sayaka's turn to shine. Aside from Homura Akemi, who was won over after he gave her some advice, he's quite worried about Sayaka's situation.

Why don't you take the initiative?

Sayaka is like an abacus bead; she only moves when you push her.

If things continue like this, he'll have to go and talk to Sayaka herself. Otherwise, he can't imagine how far that idiot will have to go before she takes the initiative.

Although he also wanted to slowly cultivate his relationship with Sayaka and then work out the details, he didn't have much time left.

Seeing the scarlet countdown that suddenly appeared in the upper right corner of his vision, Bai Yu felt a bad premonition.

23:59:49

He didn't know what would happen after the countdown ended, but just by looking at the color, it didn't seem like a good thing; something bad was sure to happen after the countdown ended.

Surely he can't die by now tomorrow?

It's a plot-driven death, right? The countdown ends and he's forced to die before the walkthrough is complete.

Unable to figure it out for the time being, he had no choice but to put the thing aside for the time being.

Even if you ask the system, it most likely won't answer. The AI ​​will just repeat things like "Please explore on your own, host," which is completely useless.

We'll know everything tomorrow.

Chapter Twenty-Five: We Are No Longer Human

Just as he was pondering what would happen tomorrow, Sayaka, who was searching for the witch's whereabouts, ran into Homura Akemi once again.

"Hey, transfer student, I challenge you to a duel!"

Sayaka stared intently at Homura Akemi, her longsword pointed directly at the black-haired girl's head.

"It's really troublesome..."

Having just finished a battle with a witch, Homura Akemi turned around and her gaze fell on the blue-haired girl in front of her.

"Do you really think you have the ability?" Homura Akemi asked expressionlessly.

If she wanted to win this battle, she could have declared victory the moment they met, but she didn't want to do so at this moment.

Last night, she and Shiraha deepened their bond. Although she didn't like Miki Sayaka, and she even had to go against her every time they cycled through time, since Shiraha-kun cherished her, she usually didn't bother with her unless necessary.

However, Sayaka only felt humiliated by these words. She gritted her teeth and gripped her longsword tightly. "I don't care! You did such a despicable thing to Shiraha-kun, I will never let you get away with this!"

"Oh? You knew?" Homura Akemi's mouth dropped open in surprise.

She didn't go to school today; I didn't expect that guy to be so perceptive.

Whether she knew or not was irrelevant to her; she had already tasted the forbidden fruit, so giving it to Sayaka next time wasn't unacceptable.

Sayaka was confident. "Hmph! Let's duel! I won't let you hurt Shiraha-kun again."

"What an incurable idiot..."

Homura Akemi sighed softly, then suddenly appeared in front of Sayaka in a flash. A grenade exploded almost instantly in front of her, and the shockwave made Sayaka stagger. A sharp pain shot through her wrist, and the longsword slipped from her hand as she fell to the ground.

Her carefully prepared defensive stance vanished, and just as she was about to get up and resume her defense, the cold barrel of a gun was pressed against her forehead.

Sayaka bit her lip tightly, lowered her head and remained silent, her heart filled with resentment.

Even with the information, she still couldn't fight against that strange ability. She originally thought that as long as Homura Akemi touched her body and the time stop was lifted, she could immediately react by focusing her mind and then turn around and swing her sword to hurt her.

But... theory can never compare to practice. She didn't expect Homura Akemi to not engage in close combat this time. The grenade she pulled out from somewhere completely surprised her.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," Homura Akemi said coldly, her icy gaze sending a chill down my spine. "You're always so impulsive, time and time again. Can't you just give me, and Shiraha-kun, a break?"

"It's all because you've always... always been towards Shiraha-kun..." Sayaka felt wronged and wanted to cry. She had always wanted to protect Shiraha.

She finally managed to heal Bai Yujun by making a wish and even became a magical girl. She thought she would soon be able to live a happy life, but the sudden appearance of a transfer student completely shattered her fantasy.

She just wanted a peaceful daily life, what did she do wrong!

“Miki Sayaka, I know you like Shiraha, and I know you're worried about him. I like Shiraha-kun just like you, but have you ever thought that your impulsiveness might cause him trouble?”

Sayaka subconsciously shook her head, but then immediately glared at Homura Akemi with wide eyes.

"It seems you still don't understand." Homura Akemi sighed. "I didn't want to tell you... the truth about magical girls."

"What truth?" Sayaka looked at Homura Akemi with a puzzled expression.

"Witches are born from magical girls, which means that the origin of all evil is ourselves. When the magic of the Soul Gem is exhausted or can no longer spread hope, it will transform into a witch who only spreads despair. And you, Sayaka Miki, will one day become such a terrifying witch."

"No...this is impossible!"

If what she said is true, then wouldn't that mean she...

Sayaka shook her head vigorously, unwilling to believe what Homura Akemi was saying.

"Heh, then ask that Cupid over there if I'm right."

Sayaka quickly turned her head, her eyes filled with panic, and looked to Kyubey for help, hoping that Kyubey could say something to refute Homura Akemi.

However, Kyubey just tilted her head cutely and blinked her red eyes. "She's right, but I'm curious where you got this information, Homura Akemi."

However, Homura Akemi ignored it and continued to instill the cruel truth into Sayaka.

"For magical girls, their original bodies are just external things. The soul, which is our true form, has been simplified into another form, namely the Soul Gem on your body. The body is just an empty shell without a soul, supported by the Soul Gem to move. From the moment we become magical girls, we are no longer human."

"That's true. After all, a body that's just as easily damaged as a normal human's would be a disadvantage in combat. This form is actually more convenient."

Kyubey jumped down from the platform and strolled over to Sayaka, explaining its 'good intentions' in doing so.

"Even if your heart is pierced and all your blood is drained, you can move again as long as you repair your body with magic. As long as the Soul Gem is not damaged, you are invincible. Isn't that more advantageous in battle than the human body, which is full of weaknesses?"

“It’s a lie…this must be a lie…” Sayaka’s voice trembled so much it was almost inaudible, and tears of anguish welled up in her eyes.

She sat on the cold floor, her hands tightly hugging her knees, her body trembling slightly, her eyes empty and lost, as if all light had been lost. The words she had just heard kept replaying in her mind, the truth about the Soul Stone, facts that she refused to believe no matter what.

"You've always been like this. I always have this same reaction after I tell you the truth. I really don't understand why humans are always so fixated on the existence of the soul."

"Then what am I now?" Sayaka suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with despair and a hint of hysteria. "A walking corpse? Or just a shell containing the Soul Gem?"

Cupid jumped onto her shoulder: "From a biological point of view—"

"Go away!"

Sayaka grabbed Kyubey and threw him away with all her might. The white creature drew an arc in the air and crashed into the wall with a thud, turning into a puddle of flesh.

"Even though it can be replaced, I would still feel bothered if it was destroyed for no reason; it would be such a waste."

Suddenly, the supposedly 'dead' Kyubey reappeared from nowhere, came to the side of the original corpse, and began to feast on it.

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Approaching Storm

"Tomorrow, a colossal witch known as the Witch's Night will arrive in this city. She will destroy everything in sight, and no one will be able to escape, not you, me, or Bai Yu-jun."

Homura Akemi looked down at Sayaka with an indifferent expression, her tone icy, "If you've thought it through, go to the harbor at this time tomorrow. Witch Night will appear there. Come and fight Witch Night with me, and you'll have a chance to survive."

"Of course, you can also take Bai Yujun away from here directly and come back after the Witch's Night is over, provided that you give up your friends and family."

"Also, it's best not to let Bai Yujun know about this, otherwise you don't want him to be hesitant to leave because he's worried about me or you, right?"

After saying that, she turned and left without offering any further explanation, and seemed to have no intention of comforting or taking care of Sayaka's current bad mood.

After dozens of reincarnations, she no longer had the energy to take care of more people, and the feelings and circumstances of others were irrelevant to her.

Protecting Bai Yu and preventing him from being harmed again is the only thing she wants to do and only wants to do. This will be her lifelong commitment until Bai Yu no longer needs her protection.

Only after Homura Akemi had completely left, and Kyubey, knowing he was disliked, had also disappeared, did Sayaka finally stand up from the ground. Dragging her heavy steps, she staggered towards home.

She originally wanted to go to Bai Yujun to confide in him about her bad mood and seek his comfort, but when she thought of what Xiao Meiyan had said, she immediately turned around.

Although her body is now a walking corpse, her love for Bai Yu deep in her soul cannot be transferred or erased.

She is a magical girl, and her body cannot be damaged. Even if she is damaged by a witch, she can recover. But Bai Yu is different; he is just an ordinary person.

If Bai Yu were to be injured or even die because of her, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life and would never be able to forgive herself.

Besides, she will fight with all her might in tomorrow's battle, and she will definitely come back alive to see Bai Yujun.

Most definitely!

…………

April 30th, 4:00 PM

[...Mitakihara is likely to continue experiencing this heavy rain for the next 12 hours. Evacuation orders have been issued. Residents in the vicinity are requested to evacuate to designated locations immediately. This is the Mitakihara City Hall broadcasting vehicle. Residents in the vicinity, please...]

Inside a brightly lit stadium, residents who had come from nearby areas to seek refuge were gathered. The stadium was noisy, with most people gathered together discussing the unprecedented and unusual weather.

"Hello, is this Uncle Miki? Have you found Sayaka yet?... Still looking? Sorry, I haven't found her yet either. If you really can't find her, you should take her to the shelter. It's too dangerous outside... Have you already contacted the police for help? I understand. I'll continue to try my best to help... Okay, you're welcome. That's all for now."

"How is it? Still no news from Uncle?"

Seeing that Shiraha had ended the call, Kaname Madoka, who had been waiting anxiously, quickly asked what was wrong.

Bai Yu shook his head regretfully, "No, but they've already contacted the police to help search, but..."

Although I haven't lived here for long, I can attest to the effectiveness and efficiency of the Japanese police, especially in such extreme weather. It takes a lot of courage for them to go out in this heavy rain, let alone search for someone in the rain.

The clouds were very low, almost no light could get through, and visibility was very low. Finding someone in this huge city was like finding a needle in a haystack.

As for finding surveillance footage, not to mention that there aren't many surveillance cameras installed in Mitakihara City, for some unknown reason, most electronic devices have been affected and are unable to function effectively. Even though Shiraha was using a satellite phone for the call, the call was still very unstable and intermittent.

Shiraha and Madoka Kaname stood under the eaves, briefly recovering their strength. They were each wearing a raincoat of different sizes, but the coldness still seeped through the gaps in their cheeks, wetting their faces and soaking their bodies.

"Sayaka, where did you go..." Madoka Kaname murmured.

Mingming had just talked to her on the phone last night, saying that she would definitely study hard in the future and try to catch up with Renmei's pace. Although she felt that it would be extremely difficult, she still cheered her friend on and sincerely wished her success.

As a result of the sudden abnormal weather today, the school was closed and everyone was transferred to a shelter. At this time, she suddenly received a call from Miki's parents, asking if Sayaka was with her.

Unable to understand where Sayaka would go at a time like this, Madoka Kaname could only pray that she would be safe and sound.

Bai Yu looked at Kaname Madoka, who was struggling to stand due to the strong wind and rain, and reminded her, "Madoka, you should go back first. It's too dangerous outside right now."

“But Sayaka hasn’t been found yet…” Kaname Mitsuru’s face was full of worry. “And isn’t it more dangerous for you to be alone, Kamijou-kun?”

Hitomi Shizuki originally wanted to come and help, but she had already been picked up by her parents and left the city. The only people left who were close to Sayaka were her and Shiraha. If she gave up, what would Sayaka do...?

Bai Yu pondered for a moment and said, "I've thought of a place she might go to, but it's quite far away, and it wouldn't be very convenient to take you there. You should go back first, and I'll come back immediately if I don't find her."

"Alright, I'll head back now. Please be careful, Kamijou."

Kaname Madoka was still a little reluctant to leave and wanted to accompany Shiraha to search for her friend's whereabouts, but she was already exhausted from walking and knew very well that she was just a burden, so she had no choice but to compromise.

"Well, I will."

Bai Yu waved goodbye to Kaname Madoka and watched the girl walk away.

Do you really know where Sayaka is?

A familiar voice sounded from behind Bai Yu, and the small white beast leaped lightly onto the railing in front of him.

Even a torrential downpour seems to have no effect on it; the raindrops automatically part to the sides as they fall, as if it were covered by some kind of shield.

"Of course I don't know, but you definitely do, so can you tell me where Sayaka is?"

Bai Yu's eyes shone brightly as he stared directly at the harmless white beast in front of him.

╱人????人╲

"How cunning! But I don't think I'm qualified to say such things."

"As long as you are self-aware."

"Come with me, we should be able to make it in time."

Without saying another word, Cupid turned and left, leading the way to the very center of the storm.

Seeing the timer flickering and turning red in the upper right corner of his vision, Bai Yu quickened his pace; there wasn't much time left.