Magia Record Another Story Part 2 Chapter 6: The Changing World From Behind the Shield
The following is a summary posted to Discord by Mochi.
Chapter 6: The Changing World From Behind the Shield
Episode 1
Sana is back at her family's home watching TV. Her brother comes up and asks her why she's crying. It's because Miku-nyan died. Her brother does what is called a dick move and starts making fun of her for crying over a dead anime character. Her older brother then comes in and starts lecturing her that anime, manga, games, picture books are all fake. He says she is delusional and just trying to escape from reality, grow up and face reality if you wanna call yourself a Futaba, etc.
Sana wakes up from her dream, now in Mikazuki House. She fell asleep in the middle of drawing a picture book, and doesn't even know a "Miku-nyan" character or remember having that convo with her brothers. She concludes that everything her brothers said was her own words to herself. She remembers making Nemu happy because she chose to remember Ai, but if her picture books are her way of escaping from reality, it's all pointless and has no value to anyone. The doorbell rings.
Kagome is at the door. She explains that ever since Ikumi-san died, she's been going around to check on everyone and how they're handling the situation as part of her coverage to show the world who mahou shoujo are. She apologizes at how rude it must seem, especially to start with Mikazuki, but Sana says it's okay. She says she's okay if everyone ends up hating her in the end, because even Ai-chan told her to see her work through to the end.
Kagome asks where the rest of the family is. Sana says Iroha is probably out treating the injured, Yachiyo is having a meeting at Ryushinkan, everyone has something to do except her. Kagome says she will just come back later because she can't imagine walking into a meeting or where people are being treated to ask to interview them. She also says she's been following girls that are using the barriers to travel, and is scared, but Rii-chan is there to protect her.
Sana offers to go with her as a bodyguard, since she uses a shield and it might make others less cautious of Kagome. She's determined to start living in reality, so she's going to protect Kagome-san as her way of helping mahou shoujo.
Episode 2
Kagome and Sana head out, Kagome says she's going through Electric Town. They spot team I Made Friends hanging out at the park, but all of them look upset. They decide to watch them from a distance before getting closer.
Ayame and Kako are talking to each other telepathically. They're both worried that Felicia still looks sad despite all the effort of getting Asahi to summon her parents to talk to her. They're not sure if her parents were mad at her from beyond the grave, but they're afraid of asking her to talk about what happened. Felicia figures out that Kako and Ayame were behind her the whole time, Ayame says she has a secret (instead of telling her what they were thinking). Kako breaks and tells Felicia that they're the ones who summoned her parents' ghosts.
Felicia says it's way too late to be apologizing, because she wanted to thank them, thus she knew all along what they did. She figured it out because Ayame was acting strange around her since going to the temple and the ghost sighting. After some arguing, Felicia thanks both of them for what they did.
Flashback to Kagome doing research about Felicia's incident. She talks to an old woman outside Felicia's apartment building. She says Felicia ran away in the middle of the night without even saying hello. The inside of the room was on fire, there was no smoke, everything else was perfectly intact, and people started getting creeped out by that fact, causing many people to move out. Every room on the 15th floor is vacant now. Flashback ends, Kagome and Sana head elsewhere.
They stop by Hozumi's coffeehouse. Kagome knows how painful it must be for Shizuku to lose two friends, but she still feels the need to interview her. They discuss her for a little. Sana says she's sure Shizuku must hate her since she was there in the fight and couldn't protect Makino. Sana concludes that even if she is hated, she should take responsibility.
Inside, Shizuku's father is in a clear panic with his hands full. Shizuku is nowhere to be seen. They decide to leave him alone. Sana says she's glad Shizuku wasn't there, since she would feel better if Shizuku let her anger out on her, being another way to escape from reality.
On a train, Kagome uses Aru-chan to get Sana's attention and talk to her. She asks why Sana chose to follow her around. Her being there benefits Kagome, but she's wondering why Sana would join her without any benefit to herself. Sana reveals that she's drawing a picture book. At first she wanted to draw them to benefit others in a similar situation as herself, then it was to help her cope with leaving Ai-chan behind. After Ikumi's death, she can't bring herself to draw anymore. She's certain she doesn't believe in the power of her picture books anymore. She believes her drawings would never actually save someone and are just her pushing away from reality to comfort herself.
Sana says she can't heal others like Iroha, be a supportive figure like Yachiyo or Tsuruno, doesn't have a circle of friends like Felicia, can't be a mediator between people like Ui. She only draws picture books, which she isn't skilled at, doesn't make money, and doesn't help anyone. Kagome knows how she feels a little, since she can't help save everyone and wants to tell the world. Sana says she's following Kagome because Kagome has the power of the wind evangelist, so if she protects Kagome, she can do something realistic to help others. She apologizes to Kagome for using her.
Off the train, Kagome asks Sana to look over and takes a picture of her. Kagome says it's important to record Sana as well since she's interviewing everyone she can. Sana says her picture wouldn't be useful in revealing mahou shoujo to the world since she could only ever appear as one. Kagome says there may be a day when the wind evangelist may be able to use it.
Episode 3
Sana and Kagome arrive at Ikumi's cafe. One of the maids greets Kagome, who asks if she's dining alone today, taking Kagome off guard. She starts saying it's the two of us, but Sana interrupts her saying she can't be seen by ordinary people. Kagome says she's here with her doll. The maid says she's so cute and calls her Fushigi-chan (Little Miss Mystery, you could say?). Kagome says she's starting to panic because she doesn't understand this kind of restaurant.
Sana remarks that the place is very noisy. Kagome says they must be preparing behind the scenes for the memorial event for Ikumi-san next week. Ikumi's family made the public announcement of her death the day before. Kagome says the reason she came to the cafe today is, as horrible as it may sound, to record what is happening regarding her death.
A couple guys start talking about her, one is wondering why she died, the other hasn't heard from the manager yet, but it could've been suicide. The first guy says even after Ikumi came back from her long absence, she wouldn't go back on stage, and that her smile looked strained. The 2nd guy tries to talk sense into him, saying it wasn't suicide. Kagome notes that Ikumi's death has had an impact on the people that were around her. Sana thinks to herself that she's happier that no one's remembered her since her disappearance.
Kanagi shows up and greets Sana and Kagome. She's here to help the store prepare for Ikumi's memorial event. Kagome and Sana explain why they're there, Kanagi seems to be genuinely grateful about Kagome recording everyone. Kanagi tries to wrap up the conversation (partly because she's talking to the air), but Kagome wants to ask her why she wants to help with the event.
Kanagi says originally it was just Nanami that was pushing her to help, but there's more to it. A friend told her she's been thinking too much and putting too much blame on herself. She decided herself that she wanted to put on a bigger performance in Ikumi's honor.
"When we die, we return to the earth or burn to ashes. That is how it should be. But Makino-kun's death left nothing of her behind... I believe all deaths are equally terrible... But even so, I suppose I find it regrettable that there is nothing of her left. So I thought the least I could do is have her remain in memories. Some mourn to forget... But in this case, I want to mourn so that she is not forgotten." Sana looks on in surprise.
Kagome's next stop is the Mirrors. She spoke to Kanagi and learned that Mifuyu and her search team are going to search the Mirrors for Alina and Karin, after treating minor injuries. The search party is formed at the entrance to the Mirrors. Kagome interrupts them just before they leave, some recognizing her immediately as the girl that's recording everyone to inform the world. Kagome asks if she can join them inside, since she has both Rii-chan and Sana to shield her.
Inside, Kagome starts asking everyone if they get along with Alina and Karin. None of them really know who they are, so they can't say one way or another. Rika starts having doubts considering what Alina did while in Magius. Moka speaks up that she likes Alina since they go to the same school and was saved by her. Sana finds that hard to believe. Ren says she is a little scared of Alina herself.
Kagome is surprised that everyone is going out of their way to risk their lives to find them in the Mirrors. Moka says it's because they don't want anyone else to die. Rika and Ren agree. Maria says that regardless of what Alina has to pay for what she's done, she doesn't want her to die because of it. Sana once again thinks to herself, that she might not be happy if she finds Alina, and realizes she's been thinking negatively.
The team arrives at the Mirrors Terminal. Moka immediately starts screaming out for Alina and Karin. Meguru joins in and starts yelling too. Ren tries to yell, but starts coughing, saying she isn't good at raising her voice. Rika asks if that will really work, Maria points out that they felt Promised Blood's magic come from one of the mirrors before, so maybe Alina and Karin can be felt through one of them too. A witch comes out of one of them. Sana takes Kagome and backs up.
Sana blocks an attack from a familiar, protecting Kagome. Meguru starts announcing all her moves as she shows off in front of them. Meguru gives everyone her magic to encourage them. They all start getting fired up and fighting. Kagome says she's a little scared of how intense fighting is up close. Sana says it's okay, there isn't anyone here that isn't a little afraid.
With Meguru's announcing, Moka tries to one shot the witch, but gets blown back by a massive attack that goes all the way over to Sana on the opposite side of the terminal. Sana asks if Kagome wants to move back further, but Kagome wants to stay close enough to be able to take notes. Everyone plans on making one focused attack, but Maria says one of them should distract the witch so the other 4 can hit it. Sana apologizes to Kagome, saying she needs her help.
The witch's attack is stopped, confusing everyone. Meguru notices it was Sana with her unique magic. Everyone thinks Kagome is defenseless, but look over to find her holding Sana's shield over herself. Sana is defenseless, making a suicide attack, as Meguru calls it, fighting the witch on her own, allowing everyone to focus their magic together. The witch is defeated, and everyone crowds around Sana to thank her for her courage, surprising Sana. Kagome says Sana must be tired, so they decide to call the search off for the day.
Episode 4
Back at Mikazuki House, Sana is left wondering if there was any meaning to what she did today. She decides to call Sunao. Sana awkwardly explains that since it's not good for them to meet in person, and since Sunao said it was okay to call her, she called. Fast forward after a conversation about Shizuka scaring Sunao, she starts saying that ever since Shizuka learned about inherent goodness, she's been almost obsessed with the idea of good and evil. She says Shizuka is using that ideology to escape from reality. Sana is surprised that someone who works so hard is trying to escape from reality.
Sunao decides the convo has gotten too dark, so she mentions she saw the Koneko no Gorogoro movie Sana recommended her on blu-ray. She says the part where the always timid Buruburudoggu (Shiver Bulldog maybe? It's a play on shaking in fear "buruburu" and bulldog "burudoggu") comes out of hiding to make an all-or-nothing suicide attack gave her goose bumps and made her cry at the same time. Sana is shocked upon hearing this.
Sana says she felt the same way when she first saw that scene. Sunao asks her if she saw the interview with the director in the special features. Sana only ever saw it in the theater when she was little. Sunao says in the interview, Director Nekoyanagi based that last scene on their own childhood experience. Sana thinks to herself that what she did today must have been caused by her watching that movie when she was little, and reliving the director's experience. Sana thanks Sunao for the chat, despite Sunao not actually hearing what her problem was.
Sana goes down to talk to Nemu. She asks her if anime, novels, or picture books have the power to move people. Nemu asks Sana if people who didn't like her picture books were saying something to her. Nemu then goes on to say that, using their own words, some people tend to only judge things by their cover, that stimulating scenes can have a negative effect on children, thus admitting that creativity has the power to change reality.
Nemu asks if Sana has stopped believing in the power of creativity. Sana explains that this morning she got anxious because she thought all her work was just her trying to escape reality. She explains that she wanted to spend a day in the real world, but didn't accomplish anything except for one small thing, something she learned from a movie she saw when she was little.
Flashbacks to Kagome saying she wants to record everything even if she gets hated, Kako wanting to tell Felicia the truth and apologize to her, Felicia thanking them for being able to talk to her parents, Kanagi saying she wants to mourn so she doesn't forget Ikumi, Maria wanting Alina to live regardless of her actions, Sunao mentioning over the phone that Shizuka is still a human being.
Sana concludes that her picture books are not an escape from reality, but a way to inspire people trying hard to live in reality. Nemu agrees with her, then mentions that Touka hasn't been doing well on social media, and tells Sana she should make use of the online community. Sana asks what she means by use. Nemu says Touka could publish her picture books online for her. Sana is shocked, but then says she wants to try, and wants to do her best.