Mami's guard drops during battle. Repeat. Sayaka sacrifices everything for an oblivious boy. Repeat. Kyouko charges ahead into disaster. Repeat.
Homura hates them.
She hates Kyuubey, always appearing at the worst possible moment. She hates Madoka, for always throwing her life away, in spite of the last request she doesn't remember. And as she fails, over and over again, she hates herself the most. But she still has a promise to keep.
The two of them walk to the nurse's office. Homura's head is pounding; she doesn't hear Madoka's words or notice that she's walking very far ahead for someone who isn't supposed to know where the infirmary is. Madoka isn't wearing the ring yet.
"Oh, there's Mami-san! Let me introduce you to her, Homura!"
Madoka wants to be just like Mami. She's sure they'll be great friends. Homura knows she has to keep the two of them apart. Meeting Mami Tomoe is always the first step she takes towards becoming a Puella Magi.
But Mami doesn't understand. None of them ever do.
"How is it your business who Madoka talks to? You only just transferred here today. No, Madoka doesn't know what she wants to wish for yet, but that's her choice. As Puella Magi, we should be allies, Akemi-san. You're acting suspiciously. What do you have to gain from all of this?"
Homura finds her after school and tells her where witches really come from. Two days later, a witch with an affinity for teacups appears at an apartment complex. Homura dispatches it quietly and moves on.
Kyouko arrives, but they mostly ignore each other. The days left until Walpurgisnacht grow fewer and fewer. She keeps an eye on Madoka. There's silence and something like peace – at least until an irregularity occurs.
A scheduling conflict brings Sayaka to the hospital early, where her green-haired friend has been visiting their mutual crush. She makes the contract immediately upon meeting Kyuubey, as if this will change everything. She's reckless. She clashes with Kyouko. She doesn't have enough Grief Seeds. Every day, her gem turns a darker shade of blue.
Madoka is desperate to do something, as always. It would be a lie to say Homura didn't hold something of a grudge against Sayaka. Every time she becomes a Puella Magi, Madoka goes through hell, watching her friend sink into despair. And what came of the last battle with the mermaid witch is still fresh in her mind.
"You don't get it, do you, transfer-student? I can't use these things people died to make! If you're Madoka's friend, you should be with me on this. Are you scared of Kyouko? Fine. I'll fight by myself."
Don't get involved. It's none of your concern. They might as well be deaf. It's infuriating. Why can't they let her save Madoka?
Sayaka transforms not long after. Kyouko goes into her barrier and doesn't come out. Madoka is silent until Walpurgisnacht arrives.
Out of the corner of her eye, she sees a familiar grinning unevenly. Is it just her imagination, or does the one to its right have a musket? The doubt is smacked out of her when a spear handle jams into her gut. The three of them whirl around her, interfering with her aim. On her own, she doesn't have enough firepower or time. The witch is looming over her, gears clicking into place. It turns upright.
Her vision blurs with technicolor flames.
Repeat.