Give children a little self-destruction shock to their worldview.

“This is really troublesome,” Mayumi Haga said, voicing her true feelings. “You must be very busy with work.”

The second half of the sentence comes from the heart.

As the number one VIP in the audience next to the magical girl, Mayumi Haga always gets caught up in all sorts of accidents without even realizing it.

She knew how busy the magical girl Crimson was, dealing with monster attacks or capturing monsters almost three times a day.

According to the time flow described by the magical girl Crimson, if you stay here for even one more day, the affairs over there will pile up to an unmanageable level.

Moreover, the magical girl Crimson is also responsible for guarding the town. If those strange people notice her disappearance and take the opportunity to cause trouble, that would be a real problem.

Mayumi Haga genuinely felt that her own affairs didn't require the magical girl Crimson to come and handle them.

What she didn't know was that she was far more important to the other person than she imagined.

That's no exaggeration to say they're my best friend.

Her friend, with whom she has been together since elementary school, is a hundred times more important than her magical girl identity; she is more precious than anything else, her treasure.

Because it was someone important, I didn't hesitate and risked passing it through the gap.

Ms. Terasaki Ayasa said the crack wasn't stable enough. She originally planned to have Sugiyama Rika increase the amount of magic power input to open the crack wider before sending someone over.

Moreover, the initial choice was Sugiyama Rika, who was stronger in terms of strength, rather than Tono Hitomi, who was still very inexperienced as a magical girl.

However, Hitomi Tono was so worried about Mayumi Haga that she crawled right over.

This is an extremely risky and dangerous act; one wrong move and she could be trapped in another world. But what can she do? She's a magical girl, blessed by the goddess of fortune.

And so, Hitomi Tono successfully came into this world.

And, as soon as she squeezed out of the gap, she bumped right into Homura Akemi.

At that time, Homura Akemi had not yet transformed, while Hitomi Tono had already transformed.

At first, Hitomi Tono assumed the other person was just an ordinary citizen of this world, and she immediately panicked.

It is almost an international practice for magical girls to conceal their identities. Even outside her own world, Hitomi Tono subconsciously does not want others to know her true identity.

However, after arriving in this world, she needs to adapt to the magical environment here, so she will deactivate her transformation in about half a minute, at which point her true appearance will be revealed.

Fortunately, Homura Akemi called out her code name in time: "...Magical Girl Crimson?"

What's going on? Do they have people here who know about this too?

Because of this sentence, Hitomi Tohno gave up flying away and ran away, and instead stayed to talk to Homura Akemi face to face.

Through Homura Akemi's explanation, she finally understood why the other person knew her.

It turned out that a few days ago, the other party found a black-haired girl who was unconscious on the street. After questioning her, they learned that she came from another world, so they took her home.

At this point, even someone as oblivious as Hitomi Tono felt something was strange about it:

Who would just pick someone up off the street and take them home?

The moment Hitomi Tono showed such confusion, Homura Akemi provided the answer.

Oh, so there are magical girls in this world too, and Homura Akemi is one of them.

As a magical girl, Homura Akemi is kind, warm-hearted, and compassionate, and she loves to meddle in other people's business, which is normal, right?

This excuse wasn't actually taught to Homura Akemi by Mayumi Haga; rather, it was a brilliant reason that flashed into Homura Akemi's mind when she was pondering the character of the children's protagonist based on the information provided by Mayumi Haga.

A person who comes from a world devoid of morality will easily believe others' excuses because of their sense of identity.

...Even so, Homura Akemi felt as if her conscience was being tormented.

Ah, she's conspiring with Haga to deceive an innocent magical girl from another world...

In short, Homura Akemi lied to Mayumi Haga, claiming that she found Mayumi Haga unconscious on the street and took her home to care for her.

During this process, Mayumi Haga shared things about the other world with Homura Akemi, including the existence of the magical girl Crimson.

That's why Homura Akemi was able to recognize Hitomi Tono immediately.

After that, Tono Hitomi, who was looking for someone, was brought back and sent a text message to summon Haga Mayumi.

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

"This Homura Akemi is incredibly enthusiastic. Knowing I was here to see you, she brought me back right away." Magical Girl Crimson briefly explained the background of why she was waiting for Mayumi Haga to return, and then flashed a smile so bright it almost blinded everyone present.

Almost everyone could see that the red-haired magical girl had an invisible tail wagging wildly at Mayumi Haga.

Miki Sayaka glanced at Akemi Homura, who stood beside her, exuding an aura of darkness from head to toe, and couldn't help but nudge her with her elbow: "Hey, transfer student, look at her."

"Sayaka Miki, I don't know you well, thank you." Homura Akemi's eyes were full of indifference, as if she didn't want to talk to the person next to her.

Mami Tomoe's accident was enough to quickly alert Sayaka Miki and Madoka Kaname, but the existence of the magical girl Crimson only seemed to confirm certain stereotypes...

Furthermore, in this playthrough, it's uncertain whether the homemade bombs left behind by the enemy will still be usable after Yuga returns.

Although she knew that her actions would be more difficult without Mayumi Haga's presence, Homura Akemi did not feel any regret.

Originally, this cycle of reincarnation was her personal matter, and it was already an unexpected pleasure that Mayumi Haga was able to help in a few cycles.

Now that the other party has managed to escape this quagmire, she has no reason not to feel happy for them.

Besides, Mami Tomoe survived, so things will eventually get back on track.

Mayumi Haga has already helped her a lot; she can walk the rest of the way on her own.

Thinking this through, Homura Akemi suggested taking the two of them back to the rift to see if they could leave now.

Unexpectedly, the magical girl Crimson uttered a carefree voice: "Ah, you got the rift? It'll probably be another month before it reopens."

Haga Mayumi:?

Homura Akemi: ?

No, if it can't be opened, why are you still sitting here so leisurely?

Wasn't this supposed to be to take Mayumi Haga back? Now that they can't go back, they're not worried at all?

"Because it was unstable when I came here... it will take a long time for it to reopen from my original world." The magical girl Crimson was not flustered at all. "Don't worry, after the rift closes, the time flow of the two worlds will no longer be synchronized, so it won't take long..."

That's not the point.

The key point is that at least a month will need to pass in this world before the rift can be reopened. Normally, a month isn't too long.

But at this point in time...

There are only two weeks left until Witch's Night arrives.

If you stay, you'll definitely run into them.

Mayumi Haga and Homura Akemi's eyes met, and they both read the complexity in each other's eyes.

The latter had no intention of dragging others into this battle; although Hitomi Tono was also a magical girl, she was not from this world.

To put it bluntly, Hitomi Tono has no obligation or even the slightest responsibility to fight for unrelated people.

But to defeat Witch's Night, and without Sayaka Miki and Madoka Kaname making any wishes, they must unite everyone they can...

Homura Akemi wanted to make a request, but she had many concerns.

And, coincidentally, both Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki are here today.

She couldn't tell the two people who knew nothing about it...

"...I'm sorry, did I say something that made you feel awkward?" Magical girl Crimson noticed Homura's predicament and realized that her staying here for so long was indeed causing her a lot of trouble.

A month... I don't have the world's currency, I don't know how I'm going to survive.

“Hama isn’t worried about that,” Mayumi Haga said, her concerns were fewer. “The city will host the Witch’s Night in two weeks. It will be troublesome if we can’t leave before then, and that’s what she’s worried about.”

Homura Akemi suddenly realized: "...Haga!"

"Are you planning to fight alone under these circumstances?" Mayumi Haga crossed her arms.

Putting her aside for now, the two girls, Pink and Blue, who were originally going to sign contracts to become magical girls, probably won't sign them now. As for Mami Tomoe, it's hard to say whether she can regain her fighting power.

Including Homura Akemi, who had already contacted Kyoko Sakura, there are only three confirmed combatants at most.

Homura Akatsuki, Mayumi Haga and Kyoko Sakura.

Furthermore, Mayumi Haga was somewhat constrained by the appearance of Hitomi Tono.

With such a powerful force standing in front of you, why not ask for help? Are you really going to fight Witch Night before you've even fully developed your strength?

Or has Homura Akemi given up on this playthrough and plans to start a new one immediately after failing?

Putting everything else aside, if you ask Hitomi Tono for help, at least the probability of her getting hurt is very low.

"If you don't mind, I can help too." Magical girl Crimson agreed almost without hesitation, saying enthusiastically, "After all, Akemi-san helped me take care of Mayumi!"

Then she realized something and asked, somewhat confused, "Speaking of which, are Ms. Yuhe and Ms. Xiaomei very close?"

Why are real bows now being called "Homa"?

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

"Haga, what are you really thinking?" Homura Akemi couldn't hold back any longer when she was talking to Mayumi Haga in private. Her anxiety was beyond words. "You've dragged innocent people into this."

“Given that child’s personality, as long as he stays here, he’ll help even if he encounters an enemy without knowing it,” Mayumi Haga said.

“But…” Homura Akemi said, “she might get hurt, or even die.”

The world here is much crueler in comparison, and without the protection of children's world, some problems are bound to arise.

Mayumi Haga said, "I will protect her."

Homura Akemi's face clearly showed her disapproval.

Mayumi Haga knew that Homura Akemi's guilt stemmed from the bitterness and helplessness that arose after she had dragged innocent people into an uncontrollable situation.

But she didn't just blurt out the Witch's Night to Hitomi on a whim.

They must return through the rift, but the rift won't open for another month. If the city isn't protected, their path home will never be able to reopen.

Are we just going to hide and watch Homura Akemi fight?

This is neither Mayumi Haga's style nor Hitomi Tono's style.

Mayumi Haga didn't know how she had exited the game in past cycles. But the fact that Homura Akemi was still in the cycle showed that it would be difficult to break the deadlock with their power alone.

The hope and the variables of this cycle have already appeared, and there is no reason to let them slip away.

Moreover, Mayumi Haga knew that Hitomi Tono wasn't that fragile.

Although magical girls aimed at children may seem frivolous, they are not as fragile as one might imagine.

Mayumi Haga chose to place her trust in him.

Side Story: Mayumi Haga and the Revue Starlight: Revue Starlight 1 - The Poor and Adorable Hollow Doll

"I have never felt happy acting again."

When her childhood friend Mayumi Haga, who had always stood behind her, said those words, Nana Ohba was initially confused.

Then, the absurdity of doubting whether he had misheard, the unprecedented anger, and the panic of something seemingly slipping through his fingers erupted all at once.

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

— An empty, pitiful, yet adorable doll.

This was Nana Oba's first impression of Mayumi Haga, whom she had known for ten years.

When she was seven years old, Mayumi Haga was adopted by her next-door neighbor, and Nana Oba met Mayumi Haga shortly afterward.

Our first meeting was in a small park near my home. Mayumi Haga was standing under a tree, seemingly trying to find shade, but she ended up exposing her entire head to the blazing sun.

The girl with black hair and pale skin stood there blankly, not looking like she was waiting for someone, and she didn't make any movement.

Nana Oba walked up to her curiously: "Aren't you hot?"

"..." Mayumi Haga blinked slowly, then turned her head.

Because he had been exposed to the sun for a long time, his face was not only red, but also covered in sweat.

Most people would show some discomfort, but Mayumi Haga did not.

She just stood there blankly, her face revealing no thoughts, like a beautiful doll that happened to be placed in this open space.

The little girl in front of me was really beautiful, delicate yet sickly, pale and fragile, and her taciturn appearance only added to this feeling.

Nana Oba asked, "What are you doing here?"

"..." Mayumi Haga finally spoke this time, "My guardian lady let me go out to play."