Kamen Rider Zi-O, Dimensional Descent

"...Sayaka".

She had already said the name herself.

She still didn't understand what Yan Ming was saying.

"Sayaka... chose to become a magical girl because a man named Kyosuke Kamijou injured his arm."

This seems to be the same reality in countless cycles so far, almost unchanged.

"So theoretically speaking, once Kyosuke's hand is healed, Sayaka will have no reason to continue being a magical girl..."

"It's not that simple."

Yan Ming immediately rejected Akemi Homura's somewhat straightforward idea.

"Although I didn't know the whole story from the perspective of the person involved, I read your memories, so I at least know what Sayaka went through back then."

"Then, through these situations and experiences, I finally saw Sayaka's real problem."

"What...is that?"

"The problem lies with her, not with what Kyosuke Kamijou is like."

To be honest, Yan Ming even felt that even if Kamijou Kyosuke confessed to Miki Sayaka instead, reality would probably still lead to a very extreme situation.

All the problems stem from Sayaka's own perception of herself.

“I’ll help her to the end, so I’ll be more comprehensive in my words. In my opinion, Sayaka sometimes doesn’t see her own position clearly. Most people think highly of themselves, but she thinks less of herself. For various reasons, she doesn’t have enough courage to face the person she loves. In that case, even if she heals a mere arm, it won’t mean much.”

"Moreover... because countless cycles of reincarnation have revolved around this aspect, the accumulated cause and effect have reached a kind of harmony. In places we cannot see, there are indeed things that are hindering our progress."

After hearing Yan Ming's words, Akemi Homura also fell silent for a while.

"So you mean... you're implying that Sayaka's fate will ultimately be to become a magical girl?"

Her expression also became slightly... disappointed.

"...Is fate unchangeable? Is that so? Does that mean...that I...have witnessed so many mistakes and tragedies throughout my long reincarnation, and that Madoka's fate is all unchangeable..."

"You must be mistaken."

Yan Ming tapped the table with his finger and looked at her calmly.

"The future is always uncertain. No matter what causes and effects occur, as long as you are willing to make changes, there will definitely be opportunities to change the future."

"No matter how great the cause and effect you face are, they are all made up of people. Things that arise from people will eventually fall back to people, so there is no way to change this statement."

Although it sounds like just some words spoken in a plain tone, but...

"...Are you trying to comfort me?"

"No, I'm just stating the facts. I never say anything to comfort people; I only use the knowledge I have to explain."

If Yan Ming really knew how to use gentle words to comfort people with grand principles, he probably would have had a lot of people wanting to be his friends or even his girlfriends. Unfortunately, Yan Ming is just a very honest person.

In his view, all of this was simply the most basic fact.

"And you are the one who has been supporting this fact all this time... Don't tell me you're going to deny all the long road you've traveled so far."

"Could you... please stop talking about things like this from my past in public?"

Upon hearing Yan Ming mention her, Homura Akemi's tone suddenly became urgent.

Yan Ming, however, remained unconvinced.

"Didn't you used to brag about all the things you did in the past? Why can't you do them now?"

"...That's not the problem."

"And what is the reason for that?"

"...Nothing, nothing at all."

Suddenly, Homura Akemi seemed to hum softly, turned her head slightly, and sat down to drink her coffee.

Oh dear... it seems I've offended her.

When Yan Ming questioned her, Akemi Homura simply covered it up by gulping down coffee and then stopped talking to him.

Even someone as knowledgeable as astronomy and geography as he is, to be honest, Yan Ming still couldn't understand why the other party would get upset over such a trivial matter.

What Yan Ming didn't actually know was that... Akemi Homura, like this, had rarely appeared since she became a magical girl.

Lively, communicative, and expressive... perhaps this is what a normal girl's mind and body should be like.

just now.

Perhaps... Homura Akemi is slowly moving closer to her former self.

----------------------

The entrance to a hospital in Mitakihara City.

After school, Miki Sayaka did not walk home with Madoka as usual.

Because today is a very important day for her.

In fact... every Wednesday, Sayaka would come to this hospital with very mixed feelings.

To see someone.

Whenever I see him, I feel very nervous, excited, happy, and scared.

Does this sound contradictory? But for Sayaka, this is exactly the situation.

She longed to see that person, but was also afraid of being met with a cold response, which made her nervous yet also a little excited.

The girl was holding a CD she had bought from a nearby shop.

Step by step, towards the second-floor ward—

"...Huh?"

Just around the corner, she saw a familiar figure walking down.

"Yan Ming... Mr. Yan Ming? Why are you here?"

"nothing."

Yan Ming, who had appeared out of nowhere, spoke to Sayaka in such a calm manner.

"...My presence here is purely coincidental."

"Coincidence...wait, coincidence?!"

"Yes, that's right, it's just a coincidence."

Is...is that really true?!

Although Sayaka was a hundred percent skeptical, she could only nod in the end.

So the two of them turned and headed towards the second floor together.

Volume 6, Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Chapter 262 A Boy Who Is Also Touma But Is Different

"Did Senior Yan Ming come to the hospital to see someone he knows?"

"No, I don't know many people, so there's no question of me visiting anyone in the hospital."

"I see..."

Sayaka and Yan Ming walked through the ward on the second floor, chatting about related matters.

"And what about Sayaka? And what kind of person is the one you want to visit?"

"Ah, as expected... Senior Yan Ming is planning to visit Kyosuke-kun with me?"

When she saw the other person nod, Sayaka seemed a little surprised for a moment.

However, in order to avoid Yan Ming noticing, she quickly adjusted her emotions and tried her best to appear as if nothing was wrong.

…Of course, Yan Ming saw all of this silently.

"Although I don't know who this Kyosuke you mentioned is, it's rare to run into you at the hospital. Since he's someone Sayaka knows, I'll just go and visit him too."

"That makes sense..."

"And what kind of person is Kyosuke, whom Sayaka mentioned?"

Upon hearing Yan Ming's question, Sayaka seemed to hesitate for a moment.

"Hmm... she's actually a very strong person, and also very musically talented."

"That sounds like a really impressive person. So this is his hospital room, right?"

"Huh—? They've already arrived?!"

Sayaka seemed genuinely unaware that the two of them had arrived at Kyosuke Kamijou's hospital room before they even realized it. If Yan Ming hadn't reminded her, she probably would have already passed by.

After confirming the name on the doorplate in front of the ward several times, Sayaka stood in front of the door in silence.

"What's wrong? Didn't you say you were going to see him? Kamijou Kyosuke-kun, right?"

"Yes... but I'm a little... um..."

Sayaka, who usually speaks with a very strong tone, has now become weak and powerless, as if her fire has been extinguished.

"Relax, there's nothing to be nervous about. Haven't you visited this person many times already? It's okay."

After repeatedly making gestures as if to encourage herself, she finally knocked on the door.

"...Come in."

The voice that came from the other end was that of a boy.

That was undoubtedly Kyosuke Kamijou, but his voice sounded weak and listless.

"Then, then I'll be rude!"

As the two entered the ward, the dimly lit room and atmosphere immediately became apparent.

Kyosuke Kamijou lay alone on the hospital bed. The lights were off, and the twilight light added another layer of gloom to the dim room.

The boy simply lay on the hospital bed, his body turned to the side, with his bandaged arm resting on the edge of the bed.

"Um, Kyosuke-kun, well... someone wants to see you today!"

"who is it?"

"This is him, his name is Shirin Enmei-senpai, he's also my and Madoka's senior...? Anyway, he came with me to visit Kyosuke today!"

"I see. So, it means that senior Yan Ming and Sayaka have a good relationship?"

"Eh—? No, that's not it! Ah, I mean… it's just, it's just a friendship!"

Sayaka was momentarily confused by Kyosuke Kamijou's words, while Yan Ming remained silent throughout.

Kamijou…? The first person that came to mind when I heard that name was another man with the same surname as Kamijou Kyosuke.

However... compared to that spiky-haired boy also named Kamijou, the boy in front of him named Kamijou Kyosuke is quite different.

“Kyosuke-kun, right… I just came along with Sayaka to visit her, but the one who really wanted to come was Sayaka herself.”

"is that so?"

"Yes, doesn't she come to visit you like this every week? She should be the one hoping you get better soon."

Yan Ming calmly walked to the side.

"I don't think this is something that's hard to understand."

Sayaka was at a loss for words, so she quickly smiled wryly and went to Kyosuke Kamijou, and the two of them started chatting.

Of course, Yan Ming didn't stay in the same place any longer. He went outside the ward to wait, and only after Sayaka finished her visit did he say goodbye to Kamijou Kyosuke together.

Previously, he had only glimpsed it from his memories, but now that he has met the real person, Kyosuke Kamijou's actual image is even more complicated than Yan Ming had imagined.

This further convinced Yan that a person's specific image cannot be defined solely by pure memory.

So, not long after, the two left the ward on the second floor.

"It's over..."

You seem very nervous... Are you okay?

"Yes, no problem."

That's what she said, but Sayaka's mood was clearly not good.