Manaka was relieved that his mind and soul didn't get corrupted , his outfit disappeared and he was back in his school uniform.
"Hmm...The Absence of Identity?" Manaka suddenly blurted out that question. "What is the absence of identity?"
He looked at his hand and a pure black mask appeared, it had a smiling face and sad eyes. "A girl wish to never exist but she was still dragged into existence" He muttered slightly.
"She loved music but people didn't like her for who she was" He continued.
"The only thing she wanted was to be appreciated but instead she was ridiculed for her luck, when she met Kyubey she was already in despair, the moment she made her wish and became a magical girl was the moment she became a witch, this mask was her wish, so the question is, what will I do with such a wish" He brought the mask closer to his face.
He looked into the interior. "Even if I did wear it, I wouldn't be forgotten but this is more of a last resort in my hands, there might be time where I may need everyone to 'forget' me In order for me to find a way to stop Walpurgis or just devour more witches and hope it would be enough to find a way to save everyone, well being faceless won't be bad though"
"Well let's forget about this" the mask disappointed immediately as he said that, he yawned and went his way home instead of staying out any longer.
As Manaka made his way home, the evening air was cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the chaotic labyrinth he had just emerged from. The streets were quiet, with only the occasional passerby hurrying along. The events of the day weighed heavily on his mind—his encounter with Homura, the witch, and the strange mask that now seemed tied to his existence.
"Faceless, huh?" he muttered to himself, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It sounds dramatic, but I wonder if that's what I'll have to become in the end."
The thought lingered like a shadow, but he shook it off. Dwelling on such possibilities wouldn't help right now. His priority was clear: gather enough strength, face Walpurgisnacht, and protect Madoka from the despair that Homura seemed so desperate to prevent.
As he approached his house, he noticed the lights were already on. A familiar warmth radiated from within. The sight made him pause, a small smile creeping onto his face despite the darkness that lingered in his thoughts. Whatever path lay ahead, this was the one thing he wanted to protect—his family, Madoka, and the peace they still had.
Opening the door, he was greeted by the smell of dinner and the soft sound of the television playing in the background. Madoka's voice floated through the air as she chatted with their mother in the kitchen. The normalcy of it all was almost surreal after the chaos he'd experienced.
"Manaka, you're home late!" Madoka called out from the kitchen. "Did you stop by somewhere after school?"
"Yeah, just…got caught up with stuff," he replied, kicking off his shoes. "Nothing important."
"Well, dinner's almost ready, so wash up, okay?" she said cheerfully.
"Got it."
After they ate dinner with the rest of the family, Madoka was seen holding a pill bottle towards Manaka. "your medicine"
Manaka rubbed his head his eyes were looking at the side. "Yeah, yeah… I know," he muttered reluctantly, taking the pill bottle from her hand. He stared at it for a moment, his thoughts drifting.
Madoka frowned slightly. "Manaka, you know you have to take it. You always forget, and Mom gets worried. So, come on—no excuses this time."
"I didn't forget," Manaka sighed, twisting the cap open. "Just… got a lot on my mind."
Madoka softened, sensing that something was bothering him. "Is everything okay? You seem… I dunno, distant lately."
Manaka smiles. "Really? is that how i seem to you, what if i'm worried about sayaka?"
"uhm i mean she doesn't seem bothered" she said while slowly scratching her hair.
Manaka chuckled. "Yeah she hides it really well anyways i'm going to sleep"
As Manaka turned to head to his room, Madoka tilted her head in concern. "If you ever need to talk… you know I'm here, right?" she offered softly.
He paused for a moment at the foot of the stairs, his expression softening. "Yeah, I know. Thanks, Madoka."
Her reassuring smile lingered in his mind as he trudged up to his room. Closing the door behind him, he let out a deep sigh and flopped onto his bed. His body was physically exhausted, but his mind was restless, buzzing with thoughts of witches and Magical girls.
The next day school ended early and as it starts, Madoka and sayaka went somewhere else, Manaka didn't follow them this time his eyes were closed from the outside but inside of his mind, he was in his battle outfit holding a spear.
On the ceilings of his labyrinth now stood countless chandeliers all chiming together in unison, it was eerily calming but what ruined it all was the thing that was slowly being formed at the middle, it was Manaka but as an actual Male Witch.
It was a being wearing the same outfit as him but the difference in it was it was pitch black, what appeared to be wings were hanging behind his back, they were broken and feathers were floating all around him.
His head was shaped like a glass version of himself with no eyes,ears or mouth, Manaka darkly looked at it, he knew what it was, in fact if it would grow further it would become like the twisted Version of his sister.
And the worst part of it was, he couldn't even approach it, there was a barrier he couldn't break both for his own safety and for everyone's safety.
In reality he opened his eyes and stood from his chair and went back home.
On his way the streets were more silent than before, he wondered if he killed himself now would it be possible for him to get rid off it?.
But if he did that wouldn't it be a waste?.
"Hey what got you so worked up little witch" Manaka raised his eyebrows, Kyoko was standing right in front of him with a toothy grin on her face.