Madoka Magica Drama CD 1: Memories of You

The Drama CD came with the "Puella Magi Madoka Magica DVD volume 1". The official title for this Drama CD is "Memories of you".

Summary

This is fully translated here: http://nagumo19.livejournal.com/45844.html

Homura is released from the hospital, because of her health problems she is concerned that she will become a burden to other people for the rest of her life.

Homura transfers to Mitakihara and on her way to school she meets a black cat and she takes a liking to it. After her introduction to class Madoka takes Homura around the school for a tour, on their way they meet the same black cat from earlier and both of them bond over it (its so cute in the audio). Madoka tells Homura that the black cat is a frequent visitor to the school.

Homura's first day of school consist mostly of her failing every subject, as a result students start to badmouth her behind her back without taking into consideration her health problems. Homura starts to get depressed and Madoka tries to console her, this is when Sayaka approaches both of them to save the day with math notes to help them study. We then learn that Sayaka actually stole Hitomi’s math notes to help them out. Hitomi at first feigns anger and she chews Sayaka that her math notes were taken without her permission, but she tells Madoka and Homura that they can borrow her notes as long it can help them.

When Homura fails PE more students continue to bully her behind her back. Homura hears their whispers and decides to push her frail body pass to its limit and she collapses. Madoka helps Homura to get up and she takes her to the school infirmary. Homura is so depressed with her failures that she launches into a tirade of how useless she is. Madoka tries to cheer her up by encouraging Homura to just do her best. Madoka then decides to secretly help Homura by giving her a helping hand by using her magic.

Madoka places an enhancement spell on Homura that helps her pass the first running jumping test. This makes Homura feel better about herself so she tries the second jumping test. But when Homura tries to do a second jump, her legs won't stop running and she is carried away by her feet. Madoka telepathically calls Mami for help to dispel the enhancement spell, which she does. Homura stops running but she falls unconscious after overexerting her body. While unconscious the Witch Isabel tries to invade Homura's psyche by playing on her negative emotions. When Homura wakes up she hears a strange conversation of Mami lecturing Madoka about the misuse of magic. Once they both noticed that Homura is awake, Madoka tries to explain things to her, but she isnt sure how to. This makes Homura depressed again and she blames herself for what happened.

On her way home Witch Isabel senses Homura's depression and starts to whisper suicidal thoughts on her head. Homura is depressed enough to wander into Isabel's barrier. Just like in Episode 10, Homura is saved by Madoka and Mami from Isabel and they explain to her that they are Puella Magi. Back on Mami's apartment they have a conversation about Puella Magi (this is expanded a little from episode 10). Mami talks about Walpurgis Night and she describes it as a festival of witches to Homura. Madoka then admits to Homura that the PE accident was her fault and properly apologizes to her for that. Homura wonders if she should become a Puella Magi just like them. Madoka seems excited, but Mami tells Homura that she should never become a Puella Magi on a whim. Being a Puella Magi is a calling with responsibilities and not an escape from one's problems.

Madoka walks Homura home, on their way Madoka shares her sense of purpose after becoming a Puella Magi with Homura. Madoka tells Homura that if she should ever decide to become a Puella Magi, she must think about it properly. Homura promises that she will. The black cat that Homura and Madoka met earlier then interrupts their conversation. Madoka tells Homura that Mami's reasoning is right but Madoka also confesses to her that she became a Puella Magi to save that black cat from being ran over by a car. Madoka admits that she's a text book example of someone who became a Puella Magi on a whim, so she asks Homura to keep it a secret from Mami. Homura in response tells to Madoka that her kindness is cool.

Madoka tells Homura that she wanted to adopt the black cat but apparently it likes being independent. So she asks Homura that if something were to happen to her, she would like Homura to take care of it. Homura panics but Madoka tries to calm her by telling her she is not planning on dying soon. Instead, Madoka is just concerned that the battles with witches have become more dangerous and unpredictable, also she is not sure what could happen inside of a Witch barrier. Madoka then apologizes to Homura for making her worry. Then the cat jumps into Homura's lap and licks her face, Madoka is joyful as it seems that it has taken a liking to Homura (cute moment with cat and Homura). Madoka excuses herself as she has to prepare for Walpurgis Night. But before Madoka leaves she gives Homura one last advice. Madoka asks Homura to promise that if a big storm were ever to come to town, that under no circumstance she should ever leave her house.

Time passes and Homura is siting at home, she notices that there is a storm forming outside and she remembers Madoka's warning. She wonders if the black cat will be ok, then she notices that Madoka has been absent from class lately. Homura then remembers Mami's conversation about Walpurgis Night and she wonders what could it be. Homura decides to do a search on the internet and she learns that it refers to a Witch festival from Europe, the internet search also gives her alot of other information. Homura deduces that it cant be a good thing in the context of magical girls. This is when the rainstorm starts to get stronger and she becomes concerned with Madoka's safety. Against Madoka's advice Homura decides to leave the safety of her home and she starts looking for Madoka around the city. On her way to find Madoka, Homura runs into the black cat and it helps her by guiding her toward Madoka's location.

And the rest we know...

End of Drama CD 1

Observation

• Episode 10 shows a Homura that is meek, burdened with self-doubt, and with a weaken heart. However, the Drama CD further explores her character and depicts her as a girl with a weak constitution and a fragile spirit that is easily bullied into depression. The depiction of Homura's difficulties in the anime was far too gentle in contrast to the Drama CD.
• Madoka's first wish was born from the kindness to save a cat, she admits that she did it out of a whim. Homura tells Madoka that her kindness is "cool".
• The Drama CD helps us to understand Homura's and Madoka's relationship and their strong bond to each other, something that was lacking in Episode 10. Madoka didnt just save Homura from Isabella, she also saved her from bullying when no one else did. Madoka was by Homura's side on her time of need by always encouraging her to do her best.

Trivia

• The Drama CD takes place during the events of Episode 10
• The cat's name is Amy
• In an interview with Gen Urobuchi, he admits that he was not aware of any cat and that he was surprised when he saw it at storyboard of the OP. The cat was never part of the original storyline as it was fabricated by SHAFT for the OP of the Anime to mislead viewers and fans with a red herring. However, SHAFT approached Urobuchi for the Drama CD and asked him to include the cat in it.

Past Speculations

• Before the Drama CD was released, there were past speculations regarding the cat in the OP and its relationship with the storyline and Madoka. There were many wild theories regarding that cat only to find out in an interview with Urobuchi that it was all a fabrication by SHAFT.

• Similarly, there were many speculations regarding Madoka's first wish (one that included cake). The Drama CD explains that Madoka’s wish in the original timeline was to save Amy who was ran over by a car, which does not concur with any theory known to have been proposed, so far. In retrospect, it should be no surprise to one that knows Madoka's personality.

See Also

Episode 10

Gallery

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• Memories of You Fan art.jpg

  Fan art of the Drama CD with Homura, Madoka, and Amy