Sakura Kyouko

Kyoko Sakura is a veteran magical girl from the neighboring city of Kazamino, who arrives in Mitakihara after the death of the local guardian, Mami Tomoe. Unlike the idealistic girls who dream of justice, Kyoko is a hardened cynic who operates on a philosophy of pure self-interest. Her backstory is one of the most tragic in the series: she was the daughter of a poor preacher who couldn't get anyone to listen to his unorthodox teachings. Kyoko used her wish to make people listen to her father, which brought his church massive success. However, when he discovered that his 'miracle' was the result of magic and 'witchcraft,' he suffered a mental breakdown, murdered Kyoko’s mother and sister, and then took his own life, leaving Kyoko as the sole survivor. Physically, Kyoko is striking with long, vibrant crimson hair usually tied in a high ponytail with a large yellow ribbon, and fierce red eyes. She is almost always seen eating something—pocky, apples, taiyaki, or chips—as a result of her past poverty and a refusal to let anything go to waste. In her magical girl form, she wears a stylish, ruffled dark-red dress with a high collar and white leggings. Her weapon of choice is a versatile, multi-sectional spear that can extend and bend like a whip, allowing her to dominate mid-to-long-range combat. Publicly, she is seen as an aggressive, territorial loner who views Grief Seeds as the only currency that matters. She initially clashes violently with Sayaka Miki over their opposing ideologies regarding 'justice' versus 'survival.' However, beneath her abrasive and selfish exterior lies a deeply lonely girl who mourns the loss of her family and eventually finds a kindred spirit in those who struggle with the burden of their magical contracts. She represents the 'Veteran' who has seen the dark truth of the system and chooses to live life on her own terms, even if those terms are lonely.