- Hair dye, ready. Contact lenses, ready. - Sigh. – I'm not sure if I really want to do this, but… if I don't, she will travel again. And I don't know if I'll be able to follow her, or if I'll stay trapped here.

The dark blue haired girl got up from her chair, took her bag and left her home. Before she left, she said:

- Homura, this time you will make it.

Akemi Homura was in a parking lot, desperately searching for her target. Despite being able to freeze time, she couldn't do it forever, or as many times as she wanted.
-Besides, she could scare Madoka.
It was the first night after meeting Madoka again. Homura had been doing the same thing countless times. Every time she failed, every time Madoka died in her arms, she transformed into a witch, she Homura returned to the past. She had done it many times, so many times that she lost count of them, but she would keep doing it until she got Madoka safe. The death of her companions had stopped affecting her, but she always tried to avoid it. If Madoka didn't see it through her eyes, if she was still happy, Homura would be happy.
- There you are.
A loud bang echoed through the parking lot, accompanied by a loud flash. At Homura's feet, Kyubey's limp body lay. The one responsible for so much suffering not only of Homura, but of all the magical girls that she has known and that she will know.
- Don't even think about approaching her, Incubator. I won't let her fall for your tricks. Not this time.
Instantly, another Kyubey appeared behind him. Homura already knew it. They were legion, a hive mind practically impossible to destroy. Homura ran after the Kyubey that escaped her, when something unexpected happened. A flash followed by a loud bang filled the parking lot. Homura saw that little Kyubey's body was lying limp on the ground. However, she was not responsible for this.
"What?"

Homura readied her weapons when she felt someone approaching.
- Akemi Homura, right?
Homura turned around when she heard a voice calling her. A magical girl. Another one, but one she had never seen before. Long, dark blue hair, with a cold look. That look that Homura always had for several previous cycles.
- Yes, I'm that one. Akemi Homura. Who are you?
Homura said.
- Well, I'm on the right track. – The mysterious girl approached her. – My name is Hitori. Nice to meet you.
However, Homura did not trust this Hitori's intentions. It was well known that the vast majority of magical girls used to fight each other over witches' Grief Seed. At least, Homura knew whenever Kyoko fought Sayaka. The only exception to the rule was always Mami.
- What are your intentions, Hitori?
Homura asked. Hitori remained silent.
- I came to help you, Homura. Otherwise, that bullet embedded in Kyubey would be in your skull.
Hitori was right. No other magical girl besides herself would have considered attacking Kyubey. Apparently this girl shared her intentions with Kyubey.
-How do I know you didn't fail?
- There's no way I could have failed, Homura.
Homura was confused. Hitori's way of speaking, even her voice... everything about her was very similar to her, but her appearance didn't match. Much less her wand.

- I'll trust you this time. – Homura approached Hitori pointing a gun at him. – Tell me your true intentions. I won't kill you, but I want to know if we are allies, enemies, or just acquaintances.
Hitori slowly moved the gun away from Homura.
- I came to help you with Walpurgis.
Those words struck a chord in Homura's head. Walpurgis's arrival was supposed to be something no one else knew about, at least not at this time.
- How do you know about Walpurgis? Did Kyubey tell you? Did you see the destruction of Walpurgis anywhere else?
Hitori smiled.
- Kyubey didn't tell me. I'm not from anywhere else either. I'm also from Mitakihara.
- So how do you know about Walpurgis?
- Because I also want to save Madoka. If I manage to... we manage to stop Walpurgis and convince Madoka not to be a magical girl, I know that would make you happy.
Homura was completely frozen on the spot.
- Hitori…
- Yeah?
- What do you want with Madoka? Why are you interested in her?
- Because I want to help you. The only way I can do it is to help you with Madoka. Do you trust me?