I — [she stops herself short, but after a beat, she musters a tiny nod, clamping her eyes shut and lowering her head to try to block the tears.]

[she should be stronger than this. why else would Madoka have traded in her ordinary life, if not out of a desperate desire to be strong enough to help others, no matter what? being suddenly pulled away from the life she knows doesn't mean she can crumble and just shirk her duties as a magical girl — if anything, she needs to be even braver than before.]

[deep breaths. be more like Mami-san, Madoka.]

[she finally lifts her head again to meet Minato's eyes, her own still watery, but her smile much more confident.]

Sorry, I just ... got really homesick for a minute there. You're right, though — here I have a new ribbon for every day of the week and then some.