Mami Tomoe: What Is This Guy Talking About?

At an open-air café somewhere in Mitakihara City.

Senior Mami Tomoe was sipping her black tea with utmost elegance, while across from her, Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki were excitedly eating cake.

The white Kyubey lay obediently on the table, its red eyes quietly watching these two highly promising magical girl candidates.

"Senior Mami, we've decided!"

Madoka clasped her hands tightly, her eyes glittering with longing for the future. "If... if we can become as brave as you, then we'll definitely make a contract with Kyubey!"

"Is that so? That's wonderful. With you joining me, I won't be alone anymore." Mami Tomoe smiled gently, and the deep loneliness in her eyes finally found a trace of solace.

Meanwhile, atop a distant clock tower, Homura Akemi stared fixedly at the scene below. Even though she knew how the story would unfold, the hopeful smile on Mami Tomoe's face still filled her with a wrenching pain.

"Bzzzz—!!!"

Without warning, golden ripples spread through the space behind her! A warm, weighty presence descended upon the clock tower!

Homura Akemi whipped around. A somewhat handsome young man slowly stepped out of the golden portal.

"You're the group leader? That Light Giant?"

"That's me." The young man walked over to Homura Akemi's side and followed her gaze down toward Mami Tomoe, Madoka Kaname, and the white Kyubey, all happily gathered at the café below.

"So these are magical girls? It does look pretty heartwarming."

At those words, Homura Akemi tightened her grip on her gun and stared coldly at the white creature below. "Mr. Lin Xiao, should we make our move now?"

"What's the point of killing one spare body? Even if you grind it into meat paste, this pyramid-scheme rat will just come back tomorrow in a new shell and keep selling its pitch." Lin Xiao shook his head, cutting off Homura Akemi's killing intent.

"But since we're here, let's go down and say hello to them."

"Huh? Now? But..." Homura Akemi froze.

Before she could react, Lin Xiao had already swaggered down the clock tower stairs toward the open-air café below. Homura Akemi gritted her teeth and hurried after him.

Beside the café.

Mami Tomoe was smiling as she poured black tea for Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki, while Kyubey lay obediently on the table, coaxing the two future magical girls.

Just then.

Kyubey's long ears suddenly twitched violently! Its eternally expressionless red slit pupils instantly locked onto the young man walking over from across the street!

This person... this feeling... what is it?

Madoka Kaname's once-in-a-century potential was nothing more than a matchstick before this man, compared to an entire sun!

"Whoosh!"

Kyubey's body turned into a white blur with utterly unnatural speed. It did not even spare Madoka Kaname another glance, instead sprinting toward Lin Xiao's feet with the fervor of a hundred-meter dash!

It raised its expressionless face high and shouted in an urgent voice that even carried a hint of fanaticism:

"Sir, please make a contract with me! Become a magical girl!!!"

The moment those words came out.

Mami Tomoe's wrist trembled, and the scalding black tea spilled straight onto the table.

Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki's eyes widened as they stared at Kyubey by their feet as though it were an alien.

Homura Akemi, standing behind Lin Xiao, stumbled and nearly fell flat on the ground.

"?????"

The straightforward Sayaka Miki was the first to lose it. "Hey! Are you crazy?! Look carefully, he's a boy!! How can a boy possibly become a magical girl?!"

"Gender means nothing to him!"

"As long as he's willing to make a wish, forget magical girls—even a magical burly man is possible!"

Looking at the white-haired pyramid-scheme ringleader sprawled across his shoe, wildly pitching the "magical burly man" business, Lin Xiao's mouth twitched violently twice.

What kind of hellish joke was this?! I'm a dignified Light Giant, and you want me to wear a little skirt and become a magical girl?!

"Sorry, but I'm not interested in becoming a magical girl in this world."

Lin Xiao moved his foot back half a step in disgust, avoiding Kyubey's fluffy assault.

"I really don't like your magical girl system. Giving up your soul in exchange for so-called miracles is way too bad a deal."

Lin Xiao's words made Mami Tomoe rise to her feet warily. She frowned at Lin Xiao, then at the black-haired girl behind him who looked strangely familiar.

"Who are you? You can not only see Kyubey, but you also know about magical girls. Are you magical girls from another city?"

However, Lin Xiao did not respond at all to Mami Tomoe's hostile probing.

His gaze fell upon Mami Tomoe's delicate, proud face. Then his eyes slid downward in an oddly deliberate manner, settling on her slender, fair neck.

"Don't be nervous. I was just passing by and came over to say hello."

Lin Xiao looked at Mami Tomoe's neck, a gratified smile curving his lips as he sighed softly.

"Mm, seeing that your head is still properly attached to your neck right now..."

"That's really nice."

"..."

A breeze passed through the café.

Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki exchanged bewildered glances.

Mami Tomoe, meanwhile, touched her own neck in utter astonishment. Her face, which had been tense with hostility, was now filled with the most absurd question marks.

What is this guy talking about???

Mami Tomoe felt her elegant upbringing slipping away. "You... what kind of nonsensical nonsense are you spouting? Of course my head is on my neck! Is this some new kind of provocation?!"

"It's nothing. Just a heartfelt sentiment."

Lin Xiao waved casually, then turned and walked toward the other end of the street. With his back to them, he waved over his shoulder. "Well then, see you next time. Everyone, remember not to get careless before victory—especially when fighting the Dessert Witch."

Homura Akemi looked at the utterly baffled group, then at the group leader who refused to play by any rules. Suppressing the twitch at the corner of her mouth, she hurried after him.

Kyubey was still shouting behind them.

"Sir, don't go! Come become a magical girl—"