Kyouko Sakura

Kyouko Sakura is one of the main characters of the Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime.

Kyouko is a veteran magical girl who appears to Sayaka and Madoka in episode 5, but not before making a brief appearance at the end of episode 4. She is introduced as an abrasive, fiery, and self-centered girl who fights only for self but later adopts a more sympathetic outlook.

In the AWA fics, due to the AWA gang's interference, her tragic fate was averted. Kyouko is a student at the AWA Academy.

Appearance
Kyoko has long, pale red hair which is always seen up in a high ponytail tied by a black ribbon. She has a set of risen bangs which frame her red eyes.

In her casual clothes, Kyoko wears a black crop-top hidden by a light seafoam hoodie which is unzipped at the bottom, revealing her belly button. She wears denim shorts with fur around the bottom edges, and black below-the-knee boots. In her magical girl form, she wears a dark red dress with an opening for her soul gem and a mandarin collar. The borders of the dress are covered with thick white ruffles that cover the opening of her dress and go down to the back of it. She wears white arm sleeves that go halfway up her bicep, with black buttoned cuffs around her wrists. Underneath, she wears a pleated pink skirt and a black corset with white detailing. She wears tall red boots with white cuffs and white symbols, and black thigh-high tights. Her weapon in her magical girl form is a gold, silver, and red spear.

Personality
Kyoko is fairly stubborn and has a fiery personality. She can be self-centered when she wants to be, though this is just a facade she made to herself and to others, since she's actually really sympathetic and tender. She really does love people and there are many precious to her, but after going through multiple bad experiences, she decided to cover up those feelings and become a totally different person, even though she couldn't transform completely. In the end, she couldn't even handle herself. It is thought she was afraid of getting herself hurt again, as well as the people she cared for the most. Kyoko appeared to be very rude at first, however she proved she was actually someone with good intentions. Kyoko believes that wishes shouldn't be used for someone else, because of what happened to her when she tried to use hers for the good of someone else. She is a more knowledgeable magical girl, since she became one at a young age.

After Kyoko's father lost supporters, she and her family almost starved, which is the believed reason she loves food so much and hates those who waste it.

Abilities
Kyoko's special attack is called "Rosso Fantasma" (Red Phantom) but for personal reasons she no longer has her illusory powers during the time of the anime events.

Kyoko's full ability is finally displayed in the Drama CD "Farewell Story", she has the ability to confuse her opponents with illusions as well as split herself into multiple images to confuse opponents in battle.

In Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story, Kyubey explains that Kyoko's magic is called "enchantment". When Kyoko rejected her power after losing her family, she also rejected her own wish. Kyubey explains that Kyoko's magic is now useless, because her subconscious mind has rejected her own wish and along with it her magical ability. As long has Kyoko's mind rejects or regrets her own wish, she won't be able to use her magic as she did before.

Kyoko has also displayed the ability to produce warding spells as well as demonstrated transfigurative magic, such as when she transformed her soul gem into binoculars.

Trivia

 * In the AWA fics, Kyouko was reunited with her resurrected family including her father.
 * Kyoko is a callous magical girl who doesn't even mind sacrifices, no matter how much, if it's to gain a Grief Seed.
 * The first character for Sakura means "to help" while the second means "warehouse". Though, her last name sounds the same as "cherry blossom".
 * Her first name means "Apricot tree".
 * She is almost always seen eating something.
 * Her birthday is May 9, making her a Taurus.