Kamen Rider Zi-O, Dimensional Descent

"It would be nice to know, but it doesn't really matter whether I know or not."

"Why do you say that? Ah, the tea has gone cold..."

Sitting opposite Homura Akemi, Yan Ming poured her a cup of tea that had gone cold, just like hers.

But he continued drinking without caring at all.

"Because no matter the reason, I will completely crush them."

Homura Akemi's feelings became complicated because of these words.

"...So, you said that those demons and time-jackers are from other worlds, which means you have to go to many dangerous worlds... What if you encounter a world where you might not be able to come back? Aren't you afraid at all?"

"When I chose to do this, there was no need to think about these kinds of questions anymore."

"No need to think...? How could you say something like that..."

"In that respect, aren't you the same as me?"

Yan Ming's straightforward words immediately stirred up countless memories for Homura Akemi.

To save Madoka, she spent countless years fighting tirelessly to reclaim Madoka's future.

The hardships and suffering encountered during this period are beyond calculation.

But... she won't bow down because of this. If she were to bow down just because of mere suffering, then she wouldn't have been able to embark on this path in the first place.

Now, Yan Ming's situation is exactly the same as hers.

However, the person Yan Ming wants to save is not a single individual...

Rather, it is all those who need to be saved by him.

"You really want to give so selflessly..."

"Selfless? Perhaps, but that's how it seems from other people's perspectives."

Yan Ming calmly said everything he had to say.

"But for me, I'm just doing what I want to do."

"Then, what can we gain...?"

"What you gain after successfully saving Madoka is the same thing I can get, and it's also what I want."

Saving Madoka... Homura Akemi once again unearths her long-held feelings for Madoka.

Yes, she didn't do anything to get praise or thanks from others.

She simply wanted to see Xiaoyuan enjoy a happy life without any problems... because Xiaoyuan had changed her cowardly self, so she wanted to save her as well.

Just... just for this?

Upon realizing this, the girl's expression immediately turned one of shock as she looked at Yan Ming.

"You didn't just... simply want to help people in need, that's why you're doing this... that's why you decided to travel all over the world?"

"I'm just doing what I want to do...it's that simple."

When Yan Ming said these words, he was completely disregarding any issues.

It wasn't for superficial reasons like seeking personal gain, nor was it simply a matter of acting recklessly out of passion.

Stay true to yourself, and keep refining yourself while growing... but you only want to use this power to save others.

Such a theory, which is excessively self-conscious and has no basis in fact, is probably not something that anyone in the world would easily accept.

But that's just how Yan Ming is.

No… Ultimately, no matter what others say, he will still choose to continue on the path before him, eliminating anyone or anything that tries to block his way.

To carry one's own consciousness to its extreme... that is the way to go.

Eliminating all obstacles that try to block one's path... that's domineering.

Yan Ming chose to explore both routes instead of choosing just one.

People who are capable of doing this.

Only then can one be called a true demon king.

Now, Homura Akemi has absolutely nothing left to say to him.

Because… she believed she had completely understood Yan Ming's true thoughts.

"Akatsuki Homura".

"…I…"

“I understand how you feel right now because I’ve read about your past experiences, so I can understand what you’re going through.”

Yan Ming slowly rose from his chair and stood in front of Akemi Homura.

He knew exactly what Homura Akemi wanted to say.

"...You don't want me to leave this world, do you?"

Like breaking through the last layer of paper netting, the most reserved thoughts in one's heart were revealed.

"It may not be the best way to put it, but what I'm about to say is the truth."

"...To avoid making Madoka worry and sad, you never intended to tell Madoka all of this. You were afraid that telling Madoka these things would pull her back into the world of magical girls, and there was no one else you could confide in."

but--

Among these, Yan Ming is able to do this.

Yan Ming read through Homura Akemi's past experiences, gaining such a detailed understanding that even Woz couldn't achieve with his current books.

Therefore, in this world, Yan Ming is truly the only person Homura Akemi can confide in.

"...Why did you have to say it?"

"Because besides these things, I have been observing your changes in attitude from the beginning, from your initial wariness and rejection of me to your current emotional changes."

"Then why..."

"Because I can't stay in this world forever, now you understand?"

tick-

In that instant, Yan Ming felt the other person grip his body tightly, and then their hands began to strike him.

"If only you had appeared sooner... I've really... been going on for so long... I! I just... wanted Xiaoyuan to live the normal life she used to have... Why is it so difficult! I've tried so many times, so many times... but I just can't... I'm so tired..."

"Every time I'm reincarnated, I see the people around me die for all sorts of reasons, become witches, or even have to kill them with my own hands! I really can't stand it!! But... but I have to endure it... because I want to reclaim our ordinary daily lives... I don't want Madoka or anyone around me to have their lives taken away for some random reason! But I've really... already..."

She shared all her thoughts.

From initially trying to hide my true feelings, to uncontrollably letting my inner thoughts flow out... and finally ending up completely empty.

Homura Akemi has always been hiding herself.

In order to rediscover the beautiful everyday life she shared with Madoka and her friends, she chose to become a magical girl. Her actions to save Madoka, however, only deepened the various karmic entanglements between them.

Everything that happened in this process must be borne by Homura Akemi herself.

She bore all the despair of fighting the Witch Night, the rampage of her companions after learning the truth, the constant witnessing of the deaths of those around her, and even the act of having to harm her companions for certain purposes.

However, as expected... Homura Akemi did indeed endure everything.

But the constant wear and tear on her spirit and time had driven her to the brink of despair.

So... at times like this.

Yan Ming, who appeared like a ray of hope and paved the way to peace for her, became her only confidant.

Because it was a shared experience, Yan Ming knew everything.

He didn't say anything more.

He simply held the girl in his arms and let her cry loudly.

After an unknown amount of time, I realized that the girl in my arms seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.

After calming her down, Yan Ming picked her up and turned her around—

He then saw Gates and Woz looking at him with surprised expressions.

"...I was taking her to bed and I was in the way."

After Yan Ming left.

Without hesitation, Woz took out the dial of the Galaxy's End and tried to observe the two of them again.

"Could you please save a seat for me?"

Gates couldn't help but nudge Woz on the shoulder and ask him a question.

Volume 6, Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Chapter 285 Witnessing the End of an Era and the Beginning of an Era – The King

When Homura Akemi woke up, she found herself lying in her own room.

"... "

Upon realizing that she was in her own apartment, Homura Akemi quickly went into the living room.

Then, I saw a familiar figure sitting at my table.

Yan Ming was sitting there at that moment.

Several delicious-looking dishes were laid out on the table, naturally prepared for her.

"Are you feeling any better?"

What do you mean?

"Of course it's your mental state."

Hearing Yan Ming ask this question, Homura Akemi realized that the feeling of discomfort that had been bottled up inside her didn't seem so bad anymore.

After all, Homura Akemi has been carrying such a burden and negative emotions for so long... Even if someone could let her confide in someone, she couldn't possibly recover so quickly.

But... it feels much better than before.

Normally, Homura Akemi carries a very repressed and heavy psychological state, even during her daily activities. Now, not only has this state improved, but she has also... regained something she had lost.

Those were feelings I had only experienced when I first encountered magical girls... and even when I was still human.

She now seems to have returned to the version of herself she was when she was still weak.

"The food is getting cold, sit down and eat."

After hearing Yan Ming's words, Homura Akemi had a lot to say, but at this moment she couldn't utter a single word.

In this almost dazed state, she sat down in a chair and quietly began to enjoy the sumptuous meal before her.

"…tasty."

Although it was a very soft sound, Yan Ming did hear the other person's whisper.

"That way, you can truly appreciate every detail of your daily life, something you could hardly experience when you were a magical girl."

Homura Akemi is still a magical girl, but the situation is different now. With Yan Ming's help, all the magical girls have regained their human bodies and souls.

After taking a few more bites, she put the bowl and chopsticks on the table.

"Is the food not to your liking?"

"No... I'm full."

Yan Ming continued to look at Akemi Homura in front of him. She had her hands on her knees, but her eyes were still wandering over the remaining dishes.

It looks like they still want to eat these dishes.

However, the girl was already very full and couldn't eat any more, but the delicious food made her linger, leaving her in a rather conflicted state...

Then, Homura Akemi discovered that Yan Ming was secretly watching her.

"—!!"

She quickly turned her eyes away and tilted her head, a barely perceptible blush flashing across her face, and then said nothing.

"...You, you really are going to leave this world after all, right?"

"Just like I told you before."

"This is your original world, isn't it? So you'll definitely come back, right..."