IX.
She'll go it alone. She's done it before. She doesn't need anyone. She doesn't even need Madoka to be involved, except as being alive.
And yet she cannot stop herself from going to the school anyway, transferring in anyway, trying to see Madoka anyway.
The Madoka before her eyes has pink hair as always, pink eyes, as always, the innocent looking school uniform as always. But her eyes are tired, her ribbons are black (strange but not a big deal ultimately), and she simply looks drained of color.
Her eyes alight on Homura. There's a mild interest, but also a complete boredom. Hitomi kicks her chair gently and Madoka turns back to smile, just a little.
A green ring sits on Hitomi's finger.
What? Hitomi Shizuka, a magical girl? What?