Magia Record Story Mitama's Special Training - Asuka Episode

Part One

Asuka finds herself in a cloud-filled void. She sees a shadowy version of herself standing in front of her. She wonders how that could be and what it could be. As she finds herself getting lost in thought, she decides to do something or else she’ll just keep wasting time thinking things over. She’s surprised her copy is also a practitioner of Ryushinkan. The copy affirms it, stuttering as she does so. It apologizes for appearing so suddenly in front of her. Asuka yells at her that that’s a million times rude to do, just appearing before her like that. She demands to know who the shadow is. The shadow replies that her name is Asuka Tatsuki and that she is the hidden part of her heart. Asuka doesn’t understand what she means by that but the shadow says that’s not important. What is important is that Asuka is not good enough to be a practitioner of Ryushinkan and that she knows is here to show her this is true. Asuka then demands an explanation and the shadow asks her if she truly wants to master the Ryushinkan style. Asuka proudly declares that it is her life’s devotion. The shadow says her blade has been sullied and that she is no longer fit as such. Asuka becomes upset and demands to know how this can be. The shadow replies it is because she contracted as a magical girl.

Part Two

Asuka wants to know why her being a magical girl should matter. The shadow asks her why she contracted in the first place. Asuka tells the shadow if she is really her, then she should know why. The shadow knows what she wished for, but she still wants to hear her explain her reasons why. Asuka doesn’t believe she should have to explain herself, but she reminds the shadow that her wish was for her cousin to safely become a police officer. The shadow recounts what happened: her uncle was caught running an illegal election for the mayor of Kamihama. He managed to get his cousin involved unknowingly, thereby jeopardizing the dream of her cousin. Kyubey appeared soon after, and she signed her contract in exchange for making her cousin a police officer. Her shadow says her wish is the problem. Asuka doesn’t get her point, since she knows the reason she contracted was for her cousin. The shadow replies that that is it exactly: by using her wish to make a miracle, she twisted fate and changed the outcome. She cheated by having her cousin take the easy way and just wished for him to become a police officer. It was unfair. The right thing would have been for Asuka to accept what happened rather than change life to suit her.

Asuka can’t reply, and the shadow prods her once more, telling her motivation is her desire to see her cousin as a police officer. It asks her if she can honestly say what she does was right in her own eyes. Asuka stutters, but doesn’t answer. The shadow not-so-subtly mentions that her blade is still sharp and reminds her of her father’s words: From the point of view of the heart, the sword is no longer just. Asuka remembers the words that her father often mentioned of a famous swordsman. Much like her swordsman style, Asuka knows that she must stop the quavering in her heart if she wishes to stop the quavering in her blade. The shadow agrees, since Asuka’s heart is no longer true she should abandon the Ryushinkan style. It proclaims that Asuka is walking on a false path, and despite Asuka’s protests, it portends that she will never find the truth so long as she continues walking on the path of a magical girl.

The shadow’s words echo in Asuka’s head, “You’re wrong” “You’re walking on a false path”. Asuka begs her to stop as the shadow tells her that those with an unjust heart walking false paths bring shame to the Ryushinkan style all because of her selfish desires. As it repeats these words, it finishes by telling her the price she must pay is her very life. Asuka looks down in despair as her shadow eggs her on to commit suicide, saying repeatedly that now is the time.

Part Three

Asuka thinks of her father in her despair and remembers some words he once said to her. He tells her she shouldn’t think too hard on things. Much like water that fills a square bowl, she should face her problems and ask her own heart what it thinks is right and just. The shadow asks her if she’s given up yet, but Asuka assures her that she has remembered her father’s words. She tells the shadow that water is poured by a vessel and changes shape and therefore perceptions of what is just and unjust can change as the situation changes. The shadow can’t believe what it just heard and yells that what she said is just self-righteousness. Asuka won’t deny her earlier claims, but even so she knows that when she made her contract it wasn’t out of a selfish desire but a true desire from her heart to see her cousin become a police officer. While she won’t lie, she knows her heart believed what she did was just. The shadow tells her to calm down, saying it wasn’t trying to argue with her, just talk to her.

Asuka says she has trouble conveying her meaning, but that she wants to come at the shadow to show just how strong her blade will be with a blade that reflects her heart. The shadow backs down for the moment, saying that it was enough that she was able to understand her more. The shadow giggles and Asuka asks her what’s so funny. The shadow says she is her, and that if they were to battle then it would technically be suicide if either one of them were to kill the other. Asuka says she’s prepared to not show fear and the two come to blows.

The two stand exhausted from the fight. The shadow compliments Asuka on their fight and notes that her blade was as pure as her heart. The shadow will disappear for now, but warns Asuka that her heart may waver in the future. When that happens, the shadow will be sure to reappear once more though perhaps in a different form (Asuka’s doppel form flashes on the screen).

Shortly after, Asuka awakens near a small pond deep in the forest. She had gone into nature to meditate as part of her training. She had pondered what her path was and what Ryushinkan, her sword and her heart had meant to her. She remembers the ominous words of her shadow, promising to reappear once more. Asuka doesn’t understand what all of it meant, and thinks of asking Mitama the next time she sees her. She remembers her father’s words once more and feels that they have been more deeply engraved in her than before. She feels she’s truly unwavering now and really wants to practice with her sword. She then realizes she’s been talking to herself and heads back to the dojo, taking a straight path out of the woods.