Homura stared into her teacup as if she were staring into the very abyss itself. She knew her friends were looking at her in concern, but she couldn't bear to look back at them. She couldn't bear to keep her thoughts from Madoka and their promise, and her dedication to change the world. There was no way she was ever going to let her best friend's sacrifice be in vain. The cup began to clatter as her hand started shaking a bit. She was brought to her senses when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Mami Tomoe smiling down at her with motherly affection. Homura offered a smile back and then brought the tea to her lips, finishing it off. The only reason she made it to this time line was because Madoka had given it all to become part of the earth and even though she could still feel her and sense her all around, she couldn't hold her anymore or talk to her whenever she wanted. She couldn't laugh with her or make her smile. She couldn't do a damn thing except try and eradicate the filth that had replaced the witches.

She stood up abruptly and excused herself, knowing the others would forgive her. She knew that they were used to her walking out often and a part of her felt bad for it. A part of her buried far, far back in the past that she could never show or retrieve for anyone but Madoka. That was her vulnerable side, and if she showed it to anyone else in the world she would become vulnerable and unable to complete her tasks. On her way home, Kyubey began to follow her.

"Is something wrong? Do you sense something?"

The incubator shook its impish little head and bounced around on the fence next to her.

"Don't you ever get tired, Akemi Homura? Even though you erased the world of the witches, you're still essentially fated to do as you've always done. Have you really accomplished anything?"

Homura stopped in her tracks and stared at her feet. Those thoughts from so long ago came rushing back to her. Maybe it would have been better if she died in the first place, jumped off that bridge or let that witch manipulate her mind. Maybe she should have become a witch herself- would that really have been so bad? She clenched her fist, realizing thoughts like these were such a weakness and that Madoka would be disappointed to hear about them.

"No matter how many times I have to, I'll keep reliving my life until I accomplish what I set out to do. I failed to save Madoka but now… I will live for her too. And that means I can't ever lose my hope."

She heard Kyubey saying:

"How foolish!"

She picked up her pace as the sun was beginning to set. Finally, she arrived home with a tired sigh. Inside her home was as empty as usual with only the sound of the swinging pendulum to comfort her. Knowing that time was still flowing in its same pattern had always comforted her. If she had a hold on anything, it was her power to keep time in the palm of her hand, which gave her reassurance. However as of late she felt a rift in the threads. Something big was coming, though she couldn't sense what.