Micchy was at his wits end. He had just stopped another Crack from emerging to the point of being a problem in Zawame. However, the battle left him wounded. He can't go back to Mai and the others. Not like this. What's worse was that another person came out of the blue and defeated the Inves for him. Someone he knew from back when the Beat Rider scene was beloved.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing? You were about to get yourself killed!" Sayaka told him.
"It's a price I'm willing to pay to protect Mai's happiness." Micchy said.
"… I can't believe you're talking like this…" Sayaka muttered. "Look, I tried the love martyr angle. It didn't end well. While you're out 'dying' for your love's smile, she's probably going out sucking face with your best friend!" Sayaka sat back onto a crate and raised her hands. She soon sighed. "Sorry, just… I see myself in you." Sayaka said.
"No. It's alright. If Mai wants to be with Kouta, it's fine by me. I just wish to protect them from the horrors Helheim has presented." Micchy said.
"Are you doing anyone any favours by shutting them out though?" Sayaka said.
"No. You wouldn't know how much I have to go thro-" That's when Sayaka grabbed Mitsuzane by the shoulders.
"Okay, before you even think of continuing with that thought, I've been through that too. Trust me, I know how much it sucks fighting with so many secrets to keep. But it sucks fighting alone. I pushed so many people away from me that by the end, I just wallowed in misery with my last thoughts being of how much of an idiot I was. Then my friends came by and showed me the light. Is it too late for me though? Perhaps. I just want to make sure you're not gonna follow my mistakes." Sayaka said.
"No. I won't make the same mistakes you made." Mitsuzane said. Sayaka gave a smile before he continued. "Because I know the path ahead is not the path you took." And with that, Mitsuzane stormed off. Sayaka tried to call to him, but he couldn't listen. Sayaka noticed a bird following him. At first, she mistook it as a raven, but upon closer inspection, she noticed it was a mag-
"Oh no…" Sayaka tried to run after him, but a couple of vines grabbed her.
"My my, you're a little grabby…" Sayaka could hear the calm, smug, poisonous voice of a woman long warped by Helheim's power. "But I suggest sharing this toy with us…" Redyue's let her green hand slither up to Sayaka's shoulder. "We promise we'll give you the pieces when we're done breaking him…" She said with a cackle.
Mitsuzane wasn't stupid. He could hear the bird's wings flapping too closely.
"You can stop stalking me. She's gone." Mitsuzane said. He could hear a tea cup being set down onto a plate. He turned to see a woman in a black, feathery dress with blood red lipstick and dark purple eyes.
"You must be Kureshima Mitsuzane…" Homura said.
"What of it?" Mitsuzane asked.
"I heard of your struggles with protecting the world from Helheim." Homura said.
"If you're gonna tell me to stop suffering alone, Sayaka already beat you." Mitsuzane said.
"No. I actually sympathize with you. I tried so hard to protect the person I loved most, only to fail bitterly in the end. It was through sheer luck that I managed to change failure to success. I simply want you to have that same chance I had. A chance to ensure permanent protection of the one you love." Homura said.
"You mean… I can save Mai?" Mitsuzane said.
"Not just her, but everyone you care about. I can give you the means to do so… I just ask for one little thing in return." Homura said.
"… Name it." Mitsuzane said.
After a while, the vines let go of Sayaka and Redyue went away, laughing on her way out. Sayaka looked around.
"Mitsuzane!?" Sayaka tried to call for him, but a bullet streaked past her hair. Sayaka looked as she saw Mitsuzane transformed, pointing a gun to her.
"So… You're the one standing in the way of saving Mai?" Sayaka could tell that she had worked her magic.
"No! Snap out of it! Homura's only getting you to do what she wants! Don't listen to that devil!" Sayaka transformed into her Puella Magi uniform and attacked Mitsuzane. The battle would last a good hour.