Magia Record Story Another Daze

Memory [01]

As Kazumi sleeps, she hears a voice calling her name.

She awakens to find Tsuruno Yui, who noticed she was laying fast asleep at a park bench. Kazumi accuses her of being the bomb kidnapper and kidnapping her, but Tsuruno doesn't know what she's talking about. Kazumi's stomach begins to rumble and she sniffs out the food that Tsuruno was delivering, triple sweet 'n' sour pineapple pork. She attempts to take the food, but Tsuruno stops her and instead asks for her name and what she's doing here. However, other than her name it seems Kazumi has lost her memories and she begins to cry that she's still hungry.

Scene [01]

Umika Misaki calls out for Kazumi as she urgently searches for her.

Kaoru Maki asks if she found anything, but Umika wasn't able to sense or reach Kazumi through her soul gem. Kaoru wonders if they didn't mess up again, alluding to something, but Umika insists everything is fine. The two girls are nervous being in an unfamiliar city, having wound up there after the three of them chased a witch for miles and found themselves in Kamihama instead of Asunaro. Kazumi didn't want to give up the chase, since Witches were known to hurt people. As the girls unknowingly stumbled into a labyrinth, they were ambushed and Kaoru was knocked out. She woke up alone, all three of the girls flung to different parts of the city. Kaoru and Umika had been able to meet up, but Kazumi was yet to be found.

Rather than waste time and energy by searching such a large city randomly, the two girls decide to search for Kazumi at places with great food. As they discuss their plans an Uwasa zooms past the girls and almost knocks over Kaoru. They transform into their Magical Girl state and prepare themselves.

Memory [02]

At Banbanzai, Kazumi munches happily at her food and declares it to be delicious. Tsuruno is surprised to hear it, since most people rate their food as average. She describes it as tasting amazing when her grandfather was the cook , but even so a lot of people still liked this average food. Kazumi found it to taste comforting and finishes off her plate. Tsuruno worries about Kazumi's memory, since she still wasn't able to remember anything more. Even so, Kazumi is content since she can still feel hunger. She explains it's the only other thing she remembers: If you feel hungry, it means your body has the will to live. Tsuruno smiles and agrees when suddenly, Kazumi's hair coil begins to tingle. She rushes off, but not before thanking Tsuruno once more for the food.

Scene [02]

Umika and Kaoru fight with the Uwasa as Umika attempts to use her X File spell on it. The information comps back in fragments, as if it were encrypted. Umika is certain this couldn't be the work of a magical girl, but she's sure that whatever it is is an enemy. Kaoru and Umika turn and run off, overwhelmed by the volley of attacks from the Uwasa.

In an alley some distance away, the two girls attempt to catch their breath as they decide to talk to local magical girls about their plight. Before they can set off though, the Uwasa catches up to them and attacks the girls once more. Kaoru offers to draw the creature off so that Umika can search for Kazumi on her own. Suddenly, they hear a voice call out to them with telepathy. Tsuruno arrives and declares herself the strongest magical girl in Kamihama.

Memory [03]

Himika Mao and Kanoko Yayoi have partnered up to gather wild Kamihama Mushrooms from the forest. Kanoko wants to use the mushrooms as inspiration for her fashion designs and declines allowing Himika to eat some of them. Himika offers to be paid in food as exchange for her services as a guide when Kazumi shows up. Kanoko notices her hair curl and wonders what kind of clothes design would suit such a style. Himika asks if she needs anything, and Kazumi calls herself an Amnesiac. She explains she was following the tingling sensation of her hair curl, since it can often sense bad guys and other evil things. All three of the girls suddenly catch the magical signature of a nearby Witch when a labyrinth opens in front of them. Himika wonders if Kazumi is a magical girl since she too can see the labyrinth and transforms into her magical girl state. Kazumi wonders if it isn't some kind of instant cosplay, much to Himika's dismay as Kanoko explains it to be magic.

Scene [03]

Tsuruno offers to help the girls out and tells them to take a break as she takes on the Rumor that's been following them. She then transforms and takes on the Rumor, which has taken on the shape of Kazumi. She attacks with Kazumi's Limiti Esterni. Umika and Kaoru jump in and stop Tsuruno from counter attacking, explaining that her foe is their best friend Kazumi. Tsuruno thinks back to the girl she fed at her restaurant earlier.

Memory [04]

Himika takes Kazumi to her home, where she makes a Mushroom hotpot for her siblings and friends. Both Himika and Kanoko had been explaining magical girls and witches to Kazumi, and had decided to take their conversation to Himika's house where they could eat. Kanoko had relented to allow her to cook the mushrooms they had gathered since Himika had set some aside for her designs. Despite having just eaten fried rice, Kazumi was eager to try the meal. As quickly as the labyrinth had appeared it had disappeared and none of the girls were able to find it again. Even Kazumi's hair coil had calmed down and could sense nothing.

As they wonder about the situation, Himika's siblings begin to beg for second helpings. In such a large household, meals are always a noisy affair but Himika enjoys being with her family and misses their noise making whenever she eats alone. Kazumi suddenly has a flash of a memory as she remembers making beef stroganoff for two other girls whose names she can't remember. The two girls think the meal comment on how tasty it was as the memory fades. Himika advices her to take it easy and offers her a plate of food. Kazumi smiles and states that those who waste food are evil. Kanoko remembers hearing that particular line before, from a novelist named Umika Misaki. At the sound of her name, Kanoko then breaks down in tears.

Scene [04]

Kaoru, Umika, and Tsuruno run as far as a shrine on the edge of town in an attempt to lose the shadowy Kazumi. Tsuruno is surprised that the girl she met was not only a magical girl, but capable of acting that way. She explains to Umika how they met and how she can't understand why their friend would attack them, and neither can Umika and Kaoru. The two girls agree that the person who attacked them couldn't have been Kazumi but they didn't want to attack her if they weren't sure of what was going on. Tsuruno shrugs and accepts their story, as odd things happen in Kamihama all the time and offers her help until the end. They all introduce themselves and Tsuruno takes them somewhere they can talk safely away from the Kazumi doppelganger.

Memory [05]

Kanoko suddenly begins to cry as she describes the novelist Umika Misaki. Himika asks if she ate one of the other mushrooms they picked and explains it's a Sobbing Shroom, a type of shroom that's not poisonous but does cause those who consume it to break into crying fits. Kanoko had gotten curious after Himika had warned her not to eat them. Through the tears, Kanoko advises Kazumi to go to Emiri's consultation office to get help on her missing memories. Himika offers to stay with Kanoko until she feels better and so Kazumi heads out alone. Kazumi is able to find the location successfully and an energetic Emiri Kisaki bounds up to her. Kazumi introduces herself as the Amnesiac. She asks Emiri what she should do about her missing memories and Emiri tells her to search through her belongings. She finds a flyer for a new cafe in Asunaro in her pocket. Emiri deduces she must be from there and wonders which of her friends to ask for help from. Sasara Minagi appears, looking for Emiri's help with Asuka Tatsuki.

Scene [05]

Tsuruno ends up leading Umika and Kaoru to Emiri's consultation office, however Emiri had gone out and had left Ria Aimi to keep an eye on things. Tsuruno recognized her but couldn't remember her name. Ria offers to hear them out and Tsuruno explains the situation to her. As Ria thinks of what to do, Tsuruno recalls the time a familiar took the shape of a magical girl. However, this situation feels different and so the girls are out of ideas. They decide to turn to Yachiyo Nanami for help, the resident senior magical girl, but she doesn't answer her phone. At this point, the Rumor Kazumi catches up to them and Ria offers to help.

Memory [06]

Emiri presses Sasara for details as Sasara explains that she and Asuka had gone into a witch's labyrinth when everything went dark and Asuka had disapppeared. Emiri wants to go help but doesn't know what to do about Kazumi. Kazumi knows about witches from Kanoko and wants to help, but Sasara informs her only a magical girl can hope to do anything about a witch. Kazumi, however, continues to hear a voice calling out to her and she urgently wants to tag along. Sasara is hesitant due to the danger, but Emiri points out Kazumi's determination (and her hair coil pointing straight out like a lightning rod). Sasara finally relents on the condition that Kazumi wait outside the labyrinth.

Scene [06]

Ria attempts to fend off the attacks of the Rumor Kazumi, but they're too strong. Yachiyo calls Tsuruno back and Ria continues to distract the rumor so that she can answer the phone. As Tsuruno explains the situation as quickly as she can, Umika and Kaoru also help in fending off the attacks as they plead with the rumor that has taken their friend's shape. Tsuruno tells the girls that Yachiyo advised them to meet at Mitama's placejust as Emiri returns to her office. Emiri tries to take in the scene in front of her as Ria explains it's an emergency. Emiri can't make heads or tails of what's going on, but transforms into her magical girl state and decides to go with her gut instincts and help out.

Memory [07]

Emiri has Sasara take them to the last place she saw Asuka. Kazumi confirms her hair curl doesn't sense anything either and both Sasara and Emiri are amazed that it's able to track witches much like a soul gem. In a flashback, Kazumi asks Kaoru if they had given the old Kazumi a haircut as well. Kaoru apologizes since it's her first time and Umika offers to use her magic to fix the hairstyle, but Kazumi insists she likes it.

Kazumi recites the memory to Emiri and Sasara who determine the girls in her memory must have been very good friends. As they talk about her friends, a labyrinth belonging to the witch that kidnapped Asuka appears before them. Sasara reminds Kazumi to wait for them outside the labyrinth, but Kazumi can feel a power inside of her growing. Her earring glows in light and she transforms into her magical girl state.

Scene [07]

As the group approaches Mitama's place, the Rumor Kazumi continues its pursuit of them, hot on their heels. Emiri manages to hit the rumor with her illusion magic, allowing them to escape. They tumble into Mitama's, tired and out of breath. Mitama greets them all as Yachiyo appears and asks if they're alright. Tsuruno and Ria demand to know what's going on but Yachiyo ignores them as she turns to Umika and Kaoru. She asks them if the 'person' who is after them is their friend. Yachiyo then asks for the name of their friend and proposes they take her down.

Memory [08]

Kazumi blasts the witch with her Limiti Esterni, destroying the witch and freeing Asuka. Asuka thanks Kazumi, then declares she is going to kill herself due to all the trouble she caused. Sasara explains how that doesn't make sense as Asuka tells them of how she continued to hunt down the witch after she was separated from Sasara. 

Kazumi turns to the group and tells them how she remembered that she had amnesia. Or more precisely, how she's always had amnesia. She also remembered how her and her two friends had been chasing the same witch and had fallen for the same trap. Emiri is pleased with how neatly things seem to be wrapping up as Asuka and Sasara deduce that Kazumi and her two friends must have been separated by the witch. But none of the girls have a clue as to where to start looking for them. Asuka advises them to speak to Yachiyo but doesn't have her number. Sasara suggests Kazumi head to Mitama's place since Mitama would know how to contact her. In the meantime, the rest of them would split up and search for her friends on foot. Emiri offers to lend her spare cellphone to Kazumi in case they find her friends.

As Kazumi gets closer to Mitama's place, she has trouble finding the right turn. No matter how closely she follows her new friends' instructions, she somehow keeps winding up on the same street over and over. She stands confused for a moment when her hair coil begins to tingle.

Scene [08]

Umika and Kaoru begin to threaten Yachiyo for even suggesting they hurt their friend but Yachiyo tells them to calm down. She informs them her friend is already here and points them to a sleeping Kazumi. Emiri is amazed to find her there and tries to call her on her phone. Yachiyo hands her the cellphone and tells Emiri it had fallen out of Kazumi's pocket when Yachiyo carried her body in. Umika asks where she'd been all this time and Yachiyo opts to explain everything from the beginning.

Yachiyo explains about the existence of Rumors, and how they're both similar and different from Witches. Yachiyo had been suspicious of certain incidents that couldn't have been witch activity but couldn't be explained in any other way. She finally manages to track down a Rumor which told her of a certain road where a doppelganger would be produced. Should the doppelganger meet its original again, the original would disappear and be permanently replaced by the doppelganger. Yachiyo herself had encountered the rumor but managed to escape before she was caught. As soon as she had managed to escape from the road, someone grabbed at her. She turned to find Kazumi and shortly after received the call from Tsuruno. Yachiyo had gone with her instinct and brought Kazumi to Mitama's place.

Scene [09]

Yachiyo explains what she meant earlier. She explains that there are now two "Kazumis" in Kamihama and the fake one must be destroyed to prevent it from replacing the real Kazumi. As Tsuruno gets pumped to take down the fake, Yachiyo tells them that Kazumi's magical pattern felt irregular. She had also learned that the Rumor scatters her mind in eight different directions. Umika deduces that they must then capture the eight different Kazumi's fakes spread across Kamihama into one spot in order to reassemble Kazumi's broken psyche.

The girls suddenly sense something outside the door and go out to find the Rumor Kazumi waiting for them. Yachiyo tries to hold the girls off but Umika and Kaoru blindly attack the rumor, unable to even make a scratch on it. Tsuruno attacks it next as Yachiyo pulls Umika and Kaoru aside. She calls over Mitama and Emiri as well and explains her plan. Yachiyo also calls out to Tsuruno but she's unable to evade the attacks of the Rumor. Yachiyo decides she'll have to hold the rumor back herself for the plan to work but Ria steps forward and offers to fend it off in her place. The rest of the magical girls quickly head back into Mitama's place. Ria is just able to keep up with the overwhelming power of the Rumor Kazumi.

Scene [10]

Kazumi wakes up in a bizarre cloud-filled world. She hears the voice that had been beckoning her to this place throughout Kamihama. She recognizes it as Umika's voice and finds both Umika and Kaoru standing next to her. Initially relieved to find them at least, Umika and Kaoru both sadly tell Kazumi that they're not really there. They disappear as their voices ring out, calling Kazumi and telling her dinner is ready. Kazumi smells food and begins to follow the scent only to awaken inside Mitama's place. Umika and Kaoru are overjoyed to see her awaken as Tsuruno offers the fried rice she hurriedly cooked for her. Himika is also there along with some of the mushroom hotpot Kanoko insisted she bring with her.

Yachiyo introduces herself and explains how Kazumi had been attacked and replaced by a Rumor. Mitama then used her magic to allow Umika and Kaoru to call out to Kazumi and help her come back to the real world. While they were calling out to her, Yachiyo had heard about how much Kazumi loved to eat and had the other girls bring her food. The smell of the food from her new friends as well as the voices of her old friends helped guide Kazumi back to everyone. Kazumi thanked everyone for all they've done for her but they tell her that the Rumor isn't gone yet and could take over once more. The girls will have Mitama link their soul gems together so they can gather the different parts of the scattered Rumor into a single place and defeat it once and for all. Ria pops back in and asks for help in fending off the Rumor outside. Yachiyo and Tsuruno offer to help while Umika, Kaoru, and Kazumi search for the parts. Himika offers to help while Emiri calls Asuka and Sasara for back up.

Scene [11]

Kazumi, in magical girl form, confronts her Rumor self and demands her memories back. Umika and Kaoru also attack the Rumor as Kazumi powers up and discharges her most powerful attack, Limiti Esterni. The girls cheer triumphantly as the rumor is defeated once and for all. Back at Mitama's, the remaining magical girls drop to the ground from exhaustion. Kazumi and her friends return to Mitama's as well and thank everyone for all their help. Yachiyo asks Kazumi what the voice of her friends sounded like. Kazumi describes it as being far away but at the same time as sounding strong but tender, like a caring feeling. This gave her the strength to continue to keep going. She later learned that she had never really lost her memories, she had only thought she had because the Rumor had taken control of her mind. Umika and Kaoru both reassure Kazumi and all three head back to Asunaro City.

Before they leave the city, the girls reminisce on how delicious the food was. They decide to stop by a supermarket on the way to pick up ingredients they might not find in their home city. Kazumi is pleased by this and always thinks of her adventures whenever she makes fried rice or mushroom soup.

Gallery

• Substitute Street Rumor.png

  The Rumor Kazumi