Oddly enough, everyone(「Madoka」, 「Mami」, 「Kyoko」, and 「Jotaro」) was feeling sorry for the 「Witch」. Though 「Witches」 shouldn't receive mercy, everyone couldn't help but cringe a bit as 「Sayaka」 violently tore into the body of the Shadow Witch, 「Elsa Maria」. 「Elsa Maria」 had been fighting back, of course, but Sayaka didn't care. She simply let the attacks tear through her flesh as she did the same to her opponent.

"Hahaha… So this is what it's like…" Sayaka said as she hacked at 「Elsa Maria」 one more time. "So this is what it's like to not 「feel」 anything…!"

How does it feel, exactly? It was the voice again.

"It… feels so good…" As the 「Barrier」 collapsed, Sayaka dropped her 「cutlass」 and did something that startled everyone, but especially 「Jotaro」: she started 「clawing」 at her head with so much force that it started 「bleeding」!

"HmmHmmHmmHmmHmmHmmHmmHmmHmmHmmHmmHmmHmmHmmHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! IT FEELS SO DAMN 「GOOD」!"

...「Yare yare daze」, 「Jotaro」 thought to himself. And I thought 「Homura」 was the one making me remember 「DIO」.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-"

"Calm yourself, already!" 「Star Platinum」 shot out from Jotaro's side and 「chopped」 Sayaka's neck, knocking her out!

Sayaka awoke with a daze. It was raining. She was sitting on a 「bus bench」, and right next to her…

The one who ruined you. was 「Madoka」.

"Oh, you're awake!" Madoka exclaimed.

"...Why was I out?" Sayaka asked, her words filled with 「malice」.

Do it.

"Well… you started getting 「bizarre」, so Kujo-san knocked you out with his 「Stand」. I… I don't blame him."

"Heh! I bet you don't."

Do it.

"Sayaka-chan, please! I'm just trying to help you!"

"It's too late for that. I'm beyond help, especially from you."

Do it.

"Why?! Why are you being so cold to me?! I'm your friend, Sayaka-chan! All I want is for you to be happy!"

"...'Trying to help', you say?" Sayaka stood up and got in front of Madoka.

Do it.

"'My friend', you say? 'Want me to be happy', you say?"

"Saya-" Faster than she could anticipate, Madoka was 「slapped」 by Sayaka so hard that she fell out of her chair. "Ah!"

"Don't give that crap, you 「hypocrite」!"

Hurry up and do it, already! Lost in her own madness, Sayaka got on top of Madoka, put her hands around her 「neck」, and started 「strangling」 her!

"Saya-gh!" Her 「grip」 tightened. This was no longer Madoka's friend; it was a 「monster」.

"It's 「YOUR FAULT」, Madoka! It's because 「YOU」 were there, that day! If 「YOU」 weren't there, 「I」 would've been hit by the 「Arrow fragment」 and become a 「Stand user」! I wouldn't have needed to form a 「contract」... to become a 「zombie」... to get my 「heart」 broken if 「YOU」 didn't 「exist」! All of my 「pain」! All of my 「suffering」! IT'S 「YOUR FAULT」! JUST 「DIE」, ALREADY!"

"「That won't be necessary」." With a 「bang」, Homura appeared! The 「bang」 was also literal, as she shot Sayaka in the head with a 「pistol」, knocking her off of Madoka and into the rain!

"Gah! Kah! …!" Finally able to breathe again, Madoka started coughing a storm as she stood from the cold ground.

"「Homura」..." Sayaka started, 「blood」 and, possibly, 「brain」 dripping down her side, "even you…!" She 「saw」 it. In her 「reflection」 cast by a 「puddle」, Sayaka 「saw」 the 「monster」 that just tried to kill 「Madoka」. She 「saw」 that it was indeed her… and she 「vomited」 in disgust.

"No… I can't… How could I…"

What's the problem? She deserves to 「die」, so you sought to 「kill」 her. Did you expect a 「murderer」 to look beautiful, especially one that isn't even 「human」?

"No… No!" Scared of this 「voice」, scared of 「herself」, Sayaka started to 「run away」!

"Sayaka-chan, wait!" Madoka cried out, her pleas falling on deaf ears.

...She tried to 「kill Madoka」, Homura thought to herself. She tried… to 「kill Madoka」! In 「tranquil fury」, Homura stopped 「time」, ran over to Sayaka, and pointed her 「gun」 at the 「finger」 Sayaka's 「Soul Gem ring」 was on! I'll 「kill」 her. One shot, and she's 「dead」. Madoka won't be mad. I saved her life, so this 「killing is justified」. Her 「heart」 was resolute. Sayaka would 「die」 where she stood.

...I can't do it…? 「And time resumes」. Sayaka kept running, not noticing that Homura suddenly appeared near her.

Why couldn't I do it? Homura asked herself as she let the 「gun」 fall out of her hands and into the street. It would have been so easy to do. After what she did to 「Madoka」, I had no reason to let her live, so why? …! It can't be… am I… actually caring about people other than 「Madoka」, again? For so long, Homura had closed her 「heart」 off from others, only allowing 「Madoka」 in. However, without even realizing it, the 「irregularities」 of this 「timeline」 had 「changed」 her. Sayaka didn't hate her, Mami became her 「senpai」, once more, they could all eat lunch with Kyoko… yes, without even realizing it, Homura Akemi, once again, had 「friends」.

...There's no point in thinking about that, now. What matters right now, though… Homura turned her attention to Madoka, now all but 「broken」. "Let's get you home."

It was 9:00 when Madoka returned to her house. 「Tatsuya」 was asleep, and her parents were at least retired to their room.

"Welcome home, Madoka!" At least one of her parents was asleep, as 「Junko」's greeting told her. "You know, I don't mind it if you want to hang out with your friends, but you should come home when it's raining like this. You're all soaked!"

"..."

"I already started the bath for you. When you're done with that, you can heat up your dinner and… why aren't you saying anything?"

"..."

"Madoka," Junko started as she walked over to her daughter, "what's going-?! What's this 「bruise」 on your face?! Did someone hit you?!"

"..."

"Answer me, Madoka! What-"

"Leave me alone!"

"!" Madoka didn't even wait for her mother's response. After saying what she wanted to say, she ran upstairs to her room and slammed the door behind her.

"Madoka!" Junko got no verbal response, though she heard something unmistakable to a mother's ears: the sound of her child's 「tears」.

Being Sayaka is Suffering (4)

Madoka stayed in her room all night, never opening her door once.

"You called the school and told them Madoka would be absent, right?" Madoka's father, 「Tomohisa」, asked as he fed Tatsuya his breakfast.

"Yeah, I did," Junko responded. "Just what is going on with her? She's never done anything like this? Is this the infamous 「rebellious stage」 of youth? Were we like that?"

"Who can remember? It was so long ago."

"Maybe for you. I'm still young enough for it to have just been yesterday, and don't you forget it!"

"Whatever you say, dear." Tomohisa said with a chuckle. Just then, a 「knock」 came from the door. "Wonder who that is."

Madoka had never felt so 「depressed」 before. She knew that Sayaka was mad at her, but to think she'd actually try and take her life.

Why, Sayaka-chan? Madoka asked as she lay in her bed. Do you really hate me because of my 「Stand」? Enough to want to 「kill」 me? ...That's not fair. I didn't even want this 「power」. It's not fair that you want to 「kill」 me because of something I didn't even want!

"Madoka…" Junko's voice brought her back to reality.

"Go away, mom. I don't… I can't talk to you."

"I know, you said that last night. It's not me or your father that wants to speak with you, though. It's 「someone else」."

"I don't care! I wanna be 「alone」!"

"Yes, but… she wants to talk to you about 「Sayaka」."

"? ...Okay." Madoka sat up as the door opened to reveal her mother standing next to a silver-haired woman in all black, save for the white shirt underneath her jacket. With a small nod, she walked in, closed the door, and sat in the chair at Madoka's computer desk, turning it to face her.

"Good morning, Madoka-san," the woman said.

"G-Good morning. Um…"

"Yes, allow me to introduce myself. My name is 「Misako Ishijima」. I'm a 「detective」 who was recently transferred here from 「Asunaro City」."

"Okay… Um, when my mom said you wanted to talk about Sayaka-chan, what did she mean?"

"Last night, your friend, 「Sayaka Miki」, never came home."

"What?!"

Scribble. Scribble. Scribble.

"?" What was that? It… sounded like someone was 「writing」 with a pencil…

"Normally, we can't do anything until a person has been missing for twenty-four hours," Misako said, regaining Madoka's attention. "However, when Sayaka-san's parents called the police, they brought something 「frightening」 to our attention that prompted us to make an exception." Misako reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a folded 「paper」. After unfolding the 「paper」, she handed it to Madoka and let her read it.

"Th-Th-This…" Madoka stuttered as her eyes widened. "This is…"

"Yes. A 「suicide note」."

"!"

Scribble. Scribble. Scribble. There it was again.

"From what her parents have said, Sayaka-san has never shown any signs of 「suicidal thoughts」 prior to her disappearance, and the only thing that could be considered 「depression」 was her refusing to leave her room two days ago. Something must have happened between 「two days ago」 and 「last night」. You're her best friend, do you know anything?"

"N-No…" Madoka lied, turning slightly away from the detective.

"...How did you get that 「bruise」 on your face, Madoka-san?"

"Oh, this? I, uh… fell down in gym, yesterday… really hard…"

"「Are you lying?」"

"Yes." What? "I got this 「bruise」 because Sayaka-chan slapped me." What am I doing? For some reason, no matter how much she wanted to 「lie」, Madoka couldn't stop herself from telling the 「truth」.

Scribble. Scribble. Scribble.

"Did anything happen after that?"

"She... " Don't say it! In an effort to stop herself from talking, Madoka slammed her face into her pillow, turning her confession into indecipherable gibberish. However, Madoka suddenly found herself losing control of her arms as she removed the pillow from her face and shouted, "She 「strangled」 me with the intent to 「kill」 me!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Scribble. Scribble. Scribble.

Why?! Why can't I 「lie」?! It doesn't make sense! It's almost like… like…

Scribble. Scribble. Scribble. Madoka figured out where that sound was coming from: 「above her」. Madoka slowly turned her head to the ceiling and saw 「it」! 「It」 looked like a bipedal 「lioness」 dressed like 「Sherlock Holmes」 while taking notes on a 「notepad」! This was clearly

"An enemy 「Stand」!" Madoka quickly summoned 「Connect」 and moved to 「fuse」 objects with the enemy 「Stand」, but before she could, 「Misako」 grabbed her by the arm.

"You… You have this 「power」, a 「Stand」, too? What's more, you can see 「mine」?"

"Eh? That's your 「Stand」, Ishijima-san?"

Scribble. Scribble. Scribble.

"Um…" Madoka started, "why is it…"

"Don't mind her; she's just taking notes," Misako said. "I'm not looking for a fight, if that's what you implied with that 'enemy 「Stand」' comment."

"Sorry. Is your 「Stand」 the reason I couldn't 「lie」 to you?"

"Yes. My Stand, 「Find a Stray Child」, can make it impossible for people to 「lie」 once I ask the question '「Are you lying?」' Even if you shoot yourself in the head to hide your secrets, you'll spell out the 「truth」 in your 「blood」 before you die."

Scary!

"The reason 「Find a Stray Child」 was taking notes was because with enough 「information」, she can automatically find her 「target」's location."

"But… that note…"

"Madoka-san… 「Find a Stray Child」 cannot take 「notes」 on someone who is 「dead」. Regardless of what that 「note」 says, Sayaka-san is still alive."

"She… She is? ...I'm sorry that I tried to lie, Ishijima-san. I just… even though she tried to 「kill」 me…" Once again, Madoka started 「crying」, "I still want to help her! We've been friends too long for me to abandon her! I want to be able to protect her!"

"I feel you. I feel you deeply. Your feeling I can feel deeply. I became an officer of the law to help people, after all. I won't include the 「attempted murder」 in my report; from your tears, Sayaka-san isn't the kind of person who would normally do this."

"Just from… my tears?"

"The most important rule of being a 「detective」: 「don't forget the heart」."

"..." Madoka simply nodded in response.

"Now, back to the matter at hand. When did you last see Sayaka Miki."

"Last night at about 8."

"It's past 9, already. 「Find a Stray Child」 needs a sighting less that 「twelve hours」 old to automatically 「track」 someone, so that can't be done. I'll have to use regular detective work to find her and gather more information. Can you think of anything else that might be relevant?"

"I don't…? Wait. There was something she said. Something about… a 「broken heart」. Did something happen with 「Kamijou-kun」?"

"'「Kamijou-kun」'? Who is that?"

Scribble. Scribble. Scribble.

"...I'm a 「villain」," Sayaka told herself as she sat in a filthy alleyway. "Madoka didn't do anything, but I took everything out on her. If Homura didn't show up when she did, I would have…

"...I don't want to kill myself. People say that 「suicide」 is the coward's way out, but it takes a lot of 「courage」 to take your own life… and I don't have it. I'm a 「cowardly villain」, and I hate it!" Sayaka's 「despair」 was truly great, warping her entire mind. So focused on her sorrows, she was, that the darkening of her 「Soul Gem」 went unnoticed.

TO BE CONTINUED

Elsa Maria the Shadow Witch: Out of function/RETIRE

Elsa Maria the Shadow Witch

Destructive Power: B

Speed: A

Range: A

Durability: A

Precision: C

Developmental Potential: A

Abilities

Tree of Death: The composition of Elsa Maria's body is akin to a plant. She can fire off powerful roots from her body that can take the forms of arms and carnivorous mouths. Her head can also be seen as a branch, as losing it doesn't kill her.

Find a Stray Child

User: Misako Ishijima

Destructive Power: C

Speed: C

Range: A(D for Lie Prevention)

Durability: A

Precision: C

Developmental Potential: C

Abilities

Data Collection: Find a Stray Child is able to record all things the user hears on her notepad. When data is being gathered on a person, that person must be alive, or Find a Stray Child won't record anything.

Automatic Tracking: When enough data is gathered, Find a Stray Child can automatically locate someone. However, if the most recent sighting of the target is more than twelve hours old, it won't be able to work.

Lie Prevention: When Misako asks the question "Are you lying?", anyone in a 5 meter radius will be forced to tell the truth. Actions done to silence themselves will be forcibly stopped. Even if a person killed themselves to hide the truth, something would be done in their last moments of life to reveal their secrets.