I guess it depends on what theory of time travel you subscribe to. If Homura is really travelling back in time in her own universe, then all the loops happen simultaneously from an objective perspective, and are only linear to her. So the first loop would get overwritten by the second and so on, until you reach the last loop.
Alternatively, she's looping back in time and creating a split universe, in which case all of the timelines are real, and we can arrive in any of them. This from an amateur physicist who reads to much scifi, so apply a huge handful of salt.
I guess it depends on what theory of time travel you subscribe to. If Homura is really travelling back in time in her own universe, then all the loops happen simultaneously from an objective perspective, and are only linear to her. So the first loop would get overwritten by the second and so on, until you reach the last loop.
Alternatively, she's looping back in time and creating a split universe, in which case all of the timelines are real, and we can arrive in any of them. This from an amateur physicist who reads to much scifi, so apply a huge handful of salt.
according to (what little) WOG we have, she's kinda... schrodinger-ing a new universe into existence every time she loops? or possibly Slidering into a preexisting universe.
according to (what little) WOG we have, she's kinda... schrodinger-ing a new universe into existence every time she loops? or possibly Slidering into a preexisting universe.
I think how it works is that everytime she loops the universe is temporarily replaced by a image macro of Urobuchi captioned "LOL IDK", and then the next loop starts.
that's basically my understanding, except when Urobuchi tried to explain it he used "created". As wholesale creation of universes is way outside the scope of what looper Homura should be capable of, I like to use the "Schrodinger's universe" explanation. The universes she loops into exist in a simultaneous state of existing and not existing until such a point where Homura confirms it by looping into one, at which point it has always existed.
That way she's actually just abusing quantum shenaniganery.
As for why I used 'Surrounding Area' instead of specifying Kazamino and Southern Mitakihara, I really didn't want to rattle off a long list of places so I just went for 'Surrounding Area' instead so that even the places we didn't talk about get covered in our conversation.
Well, there aren't that many other places in the neighborhood. The Southern (main) part of Mitakihara is the most important and Kazamino is somewhat larger than the Northern areas where this quest is set. The rest aren't that important at the moment.
Frankly, Kyoko and Mami are the only canon Meguca that are even possible to run into here. Madoka and Sayaka are simply normal schoolgirls at the moment, and wouldn't catch your attention even if you happened to be in the same place with them. Homura is.... well, the quest concludes when she loops in and becomes relevant. Repeatedly looking for Kyoko and/or Mami gets pretty close to meta-gaming and will be dealt as such.
That said, I do have plans prepared should a meeting with either of those two become inevitable.
Vote tally: ##### 3.21
[X] ...Try to find Ami now that you have the chance? She might be here...
-[X] As you do so, telepathy Kishi. Ask her what she knows of Tokyo's, and the surrounding areas' Magical Girl scene.
[x] If she is not there, or if you are done, then leave to do something else for the evening.
-[x] Talk with uncle.
--[x] How was his day?
--[x] Deflect his teasing if necessary.
-[x] Dinner.
-[x] Remember that you forgot to do your Friday homework...
-[x] Then read one of your books if you have the time, then sleep. No. of votes: 7 Hannz, Nervos Belli, Muramasa, FelOnyx, RexHeller, Sereg, EtchedSteel
[x] Madokami No. of votes: 1 UbeOne
[x] Hannz The best ketchup No. of votes: 1 Loktarogar
Closing votes, hopefully I can get the update up before any distractions... Ooh, shiny!
[X] ...Try to find Ami now that you have the chance? She might be here...
-[X] As you do so, telepathy Kishi. Ask her what she knows of Tokyo's, and the surrounding areas' Magical Girl scene.
[x] If she is not there, or if you are done, then leave to do something else for the evening.
-[x] Talk with uncle.
--[x] How was his day?
--[x] Deflect his teasing if necessary.
-[x] Dinner.
-[x] Remember that you forgot to do your Friday homework...
-[x] Then read one of your books if you have the time, then sleep.
You leave the locker room as soon as you are done putting on your clothes. There's no need to stay here for any longer than necessary after all. The way to the lobby isn't very long, but you nevertheless have enough time to think what to do.
The list of choices is long, but you realize there is one thing you still need to do.
Your uncle is sitting on one of the benches in the main hall, eyeing through some form of cooking magazine. His attention seems to be elsewhere, however, and his gaze wanders constantly across the room.
Upon noticing you, he calmly throws the magazine away and jumps up, "So, how did it go? Are you ready to leave yet."
"I-it's fine, I'll be able to join the gym class tomorrow," you begin with a slight smile, "but... there's still something I need to do here."
Your uncle seems somewhat befuddled, so you hastily attempt to explain, "I-I heard there... t-that Ami might have gotten hospitalized. I-I know we haven't seen each other in a long time, but... I-I need to see her. S-so can you wait for me, please?"
Your uncle looks at you silently, as if gauging your words. You avert your gaze, genuinely feeling anxious and almost desperate about this. He clearly notices your reaction, sighs and appears to relent, "Heh, I don't see any reason not to. Just don't stay for too long, okay?"
You feel a small sense of closure bubble inside you, and hug your uncle, "T-thank you, I'll be back soon. I-I promise..."
Without further ado, you turn around and run to the info point to ask about your old friend's whereabouts.
"Wasn't Ami the one they covered in tomatoes?"
===
After gaining the clerk's attention, getting the information wasn't too hard. You found out the Ami was still in the hospital, although they didn't reveal what for. Still, visitors were allowed for her, and after a few minutes of wandering around you finally found your way to the ward she's staying in.
However, you soon realize that you don't know what you are even doing here.
She is the only one in the small room, sitting on the clean hospital bed and scribbling something to a notebook, fully awake even if a bit worn. She is blissfully unaware of your presence in the room, and you can only stare at her smiling face, fearful of what would happen if you actually spoke to her.
After the last two and half years, it feels strange to be face to face again... Your heart is beating fast and your breathing has become shallow from the anxiety boiling inside you.
It shouldn't be this difficult. You have a lot of memories and images of your times together, and you are fairly sure you used to be good friends before.
But which parts are true, and which just your desperate dreams you created to hold on... You don't know.
Vote in abeyance:
-[X] As you do so, telepathy Kishi. Ask her what she knows of Tokyo's, and the surrounding areas' Magical Girl scene. [x] If she is not there, or if you are done, then leave to do something else for the evening.
-[x] Talk with uncle.
--[x] How was his day?
--[x] Deflect his teasing if necessary.
-[x] Dinner.
-[x] Remember that you forgot to do your Friday homework...
-[x] Then read one of your books if you have the time, then sleep.
I decided to leave the Kishi conversation for after this one, and I will remind you about that when you decide to leave the room.
What do you do?
[] Leave, come back some other time.
-[] Continue with the vote in abeyance.
[] No backing down now, it is time to talk.
-[] Pick your words.
[X] No backing down now, it is time to talk.
-[X] Knock on the wall or something to catch her attention.
-[X] Introduce yourself! Remind her of who you are.
-[X] What's she scribbling?
[X] No backing down now, it is time to talk.
-[X] Knock on the wall or something to catch her attention.
-[X] Introduce yourself! Remind her of who you are.
-[X] What's she drawing?
I don't recall, did she get a good look at us in the barrier? Is she going to recognize Tamiko as the one who rescued her, or as someone she used to be friends with, or possibly not recognize her at all because of wish-induced mindfuckery?
I don't recall, did she get a good look at us in the barrier? Is she going to recognize Tamiko as the one who rescued her, or as someone she used to be friends with, or possibly not recognize her at all because of wish-induced mindfuckery?
I was mostly worried about the "recognizes Tamiko has having saved her, but doesn't recognize her as someone she used to be friends with" scenario because that would have been awkward as hell for Tamiko for multiple reasons...