As she slowly walks towards Mitakihara Middle School, she's running on autopilot as her feet take her down the familiar route.
Taking into account the events in the previous cycle, she has decided that she will treat this timeline as if it will become the one.
That is, she will try and make this timeline continue as perfectly as possible.
She will make sure that Charlotte doesn't eat Mami. That Sayaka doesn't turn into a witch, and inevitably drag Kyouko with her.
Most importantly though, will be that they defeat Walpurgisnacht without Madoka making a contract.
Easy and simple.
Simple and easy.
If her ears and tail were visible, they would've been twitching out of nervousness. Instead, all anyone can see is her passive face as she continues on her way to where this timeline will finally, really begin.
Though she wants to deny it, she feels a spark of hope ignite from deep within, and her lips almost tug upwards.
The impossible may be finally coming to an end.
\
This timeline being the one means that she will try and gain the trust of everyone. It means that she will not antagonize the people who always (always!) ruin her plans.
It also means no weird glares thrown to Madoka, and no strange speeches meant to scare her into submission.
In class, she is polite to her peers while remaining mysterious and aloof.
She also makes sure not to stand out in P.E. If she uses magic, her ears and tail will appear, which is not something she wants to happen.
When break hits, she has Madoka escort her to the nurse's office. They exchange a polite conversation that Homura manipulates, because there is no way she will not have the defining moment from their (first) friendship not occur.
She doesn't lead the way though, and she doesn't tell Madoka to stay the same.
By the time they arrive to their destination, she manages to get Madoka to call her by her first name.
All in all, a success.
Madoka seems shy and quiet around her, but she doesn't mind. If things go as planned, then she will finally have all the time in the world to become close friends with Madoka once more.
/
Though the cycles and timelines and events repeated, things always varied, and things were never exactly the same.
Whether it meant witches spawning a few days early or late, or new witches appearing where previously there had been none, she has seen it all.
The timeline when Mami had been a brunette had thrown her off for a bit, but that is a story for another day...
So, as she follows Madoka and Miki Sayaka when they exit the music shop, she isn't at all surprised when her cat ears and tail suddenly appear. They always run into a barrier on this day, and this timeline is no exception.
She remains hidden in the shadows, moving quickly to shorten the gap between her and the two girls that are being unconsciously lured closer and closer to the barrier.
Unwilling to let herself be discovered—at least not until the last possible moment, she remains untransformed even as the barrier washes over them and traps them inside.
She hears and watches as Madoka screams, as Sayaka yells, and suddenly, little mustached familiars spring up to surround them.
She waits, knowing that Mami will always come in to save them. She assumes it's because Kyuubey always leads the blonde straight to them.
Just like the opportunist he is.
Madoka stumbles, and before Homura can move to intercept, the sound of a familiar gunshot echoes through the area. There's a flash of light, and the familiar that had been advancing towards the now fallen girl disappears.
Enter Tomoe Mami.
Homura sighs in relief from her hiding spot. She hears Mami say some encouraging words to Madoka and Sayaka, before putting on her usual flashy show.
"Tiro! FINALE!"
A huge canon—because something that size could not still be called a mere gun—sends a large beam through the witch, completely destroying it.
A moment later, Homura hears the tink as the grief seed falls onto the concrete floor.
As the barrier fades and the colours of the real world return, she quickly hides her ears and tail. Just as she turns back to face the others, Mami throws the grief seed her way.
She catches it without looking.
"This is what you wanted, right?" Mami asks, watching Homura with shaded eyes.
"Homu...ra-chan?" Madoka is staring at her confusion. "W-Were you trapped too?"
Homura doesn't answer and approaches them, prompting Sayaka to raise her arm in front of Madoka.
Silently, Homura curses her luck.
Closer, and she can see that Mami has no animal ears. That she has no tail.
A half animal Mami is easy to deal with; a human Mami...not so much.
Knowing that she still has yet to respond, Homura gives a subtle nod to Mami in thanks, before she pockets the grief seed.
Mami immediately relaxes with a smile. Her transformation disperses in a flash of light, and she quickly turns to the other two girls.
"My name is Tomoe Mami, and I'm a magical girl."
/
The familiarity of Mami's apartment never really fades with her, even when she spends cycles avoiding the blonde girl like the plague.
She remembers the first time she had stepped foot inside, and every other time after that.
She takes note that in this timeline, the bookshelf in the living room has swapped places with the small table lined with house plants. Those, if she bothered to check, always changed with every new restart.
Mami gestures to the low, triangular shaped glass table in the middle of the room. "Please have a seat while I grab some refreshments."
"Ah! I'll help, Mami-san!" Madoka follows after her.
Homura settles into her usual spot at the table: near the balcony with a clear view of the front door.
Sayaka watches her, still quite suspicious. Somehow, she feels that Homura can't be trusted.
She deliberately takes a seat across from her.
Madoka and Mami's idle chatter from the kitchen plays as background noise while they sit in silence, waiting for the other two to return.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Homura seems at ease.
Sayaka taps her fingers on the glass in slight agitation though she has no idea why she feels that way.
"So...transfer student."
Homura's not surprised when the other girl speaks.
"You're a magical girl like Mami-san, right?"
Knowing she has resolved to try and make this the one, Homura humors Sayaka's attempts at small talk.
"Yes," she says, flicking her hair behind her at the same time; it's a bad habit that she had picked up sometime ago that she's still trying to break.
At her reply, Sayaka frowns. "So, why didn't you step in to help Mami-san then?"
Here, Homura knows she has to tread carefully. Mami had most likely noticed her presence as soon as she had arrived; magical signatures stood out like a sore thumb, after all. While Homura could lie, and say that she had arrived too late to lend a hand, Mami can easily refute that. And that, will only serve to put a black mark towards Homura's still blank reputation.
So, she knows she will have to appeal to them somehow through another lie.
As her mouth opens to reply, Madoka and Mami's entrance into the living room interrupts her answer.
"I hope Earl Grey is to everyone's liking?" Mami smiles as she sets her tray with teacups and a teapot onto the middle of the table.
Madoka places her tray with plates of cakes right besides it.
Homura glances at the tea, and then back to Mami. Normally, she would accept whatever was placed in front of her without complaint. In this timeline, however, she's a bit different, and something else seems more delicious than the bitter liquid that is being steeped into perfection.
Licking her lips nervously, Homura decides to take the plunge. "...would it be alright if I had a cup of milk instead?"
Mami blinks, before giving her a smile. "Of course, Akemi-san! I'll bring a cup right away."
The other three watch as Mami hurries into the kitchen to fulfill Homura's request.
Sayaka suddenly snickers, and Homura looks at her almost warily.
"Milk?" Sayaka laughs harder.
"...Is there something funny about drinking milk, Miki-san?" Though her voice and face remain passive, Homura is less than amused.
"Sayaka-chan!" Madoka scolds her even though she herself thinks it's cute how the mysterious and cool transfer student prefers milk to tea.
"W-what are you? An elementary school kid?" Sayaka asks in between laughs. She's now grinning at Homura. "Is tea too bitter for the little transfer student?"
"S-Sayaka-chan!" Madoka gives Homura an apologetic smile. "I still add in a bunch of cream and sugar to my tea too," she tells her. "Guess I'm still like a kid as well."
Homura blinks, but there's a light clatter as a cup of milk is suddenly placed in front of her. It distracts her, and she barely manages to keep her cat ears from popping out in excitement.
"Here you go, Akemi-san. I'll be happy to get you some more later," Mami tells her as she takes a seat in the last unoccupied area of the table.
"...Thank you," Homura murmurs.
She tunes the others out as she takes a sip, and it takes all her willpower to not gulp down the whole thing in seconds.
Cake, cups, forks and knives are passed around, and the others dig into their snacks as Homura continues to sip her drink.
When they're finally settled in, and Kyuubey materializes from wherever, Mami decides that they should continue their discussion about witches, magical girls, wishes and signed contracts.
"I haven't been a magical girl for very long," Homura lies, finally putting down her cup to glance at Mami.
"Ah." Mami straightens up, and Homura can see her immediately adopting her 'senpai' role. "I will gladly answer any questions you may have as well, Akemi-san."
Homura is once again drinking her milk, and Mami turns to the other two expectantly.
They ask their usual questions, and Mami and Kyuubey tell them about the road to becoming a 'hero.'
Like always, Mami wants the two to sign a contract and join her on her quest to save the world. She warns them of the potential dangers, and suggests that the two tag along on a real witch hunt before making a decision.
Homura keeps her thoughts to herself, easing her annoyance by taking large gulps of milk.
At least Mami keeps her appeased by the quick refills.
By the time the meeting is over and they're parting ways, Homura can feel the milk inside her stomach sloshing around with every step.
Sayaka is left wondering if the transfer student has some kind of weird, unhealthy obsession with the liquid.
Madoka gives Homura one last glance, before she smiles to herself as she turns around to walk home with Sayaka.
