MekakuCity Actors episodes 7 and 8: Konoha’s State of the World and Lost Time Memory

Episode 7: Konoha’s State of the World

I don't get why they didn't just talk about their health problems a bit last episode. Of course she knew--Why else did she think he missed so much school?
Why didn’t they just talk about their health problems last episode? Of course she knew–Why else did she think he missed so much school?
...I had trouble thinking of anything funny to say at all the constant sadness in this episode.
…I had trouble thinking of amusing captions with all the constant sadness in this episode.

The episode opens with us learning that Haruka has collapsed and is now hospitalized. Takane feels awful for leaving him alone, and decides to leave him with Kenjirou and get his things from the school instead of staying with him.

If only that were true.
If only that were true.
Pfft.  Yes, I'm sure that would work out great.
Pfft. Yes, I’m sure that would work out great. Jin, stop trying to ruin my OTP…Please?
She says it like she's talking about herself, don't you think?
It’s almost like she’s talking about herself

As she is wallowing in shame, she runs into Ayano, who has also been attending supplementary summer classes. They talk about school and Shintaro, and eventually Ayano confronts her about her fear of being rejected by Haruka, and encourages her to tell him how she feels.

If only she hadn't been such a Tsundere, maybe she could have had her wish.
You shouldn’t have been a Tsundere, huh?

Oh hey, if is itsn't [spoiler omitted]
Oh hey, if is itsn’t [spoiler omitted]
Takane thought about what she said, and realised that Ayano was absolutely right. Unfortunately, she collapsed soon after, likely due to her condition, and then weird things started happening. When they were over, she was no longer human.

"And the reason why I'm so hyper and annoying is because I'm no longer in a state of constant exhaustion...But that's not interesting or anything, so let's not mention it in the script."
“And the reason why I’m so hyper and annoying is because I’m no longer in a state of constant exhaustion…But that’s not interesting or anything, so let’s not mention it in the script.”
Of course. This is an anime.
Of course. This is an anime.
Or the work of a writer. Sometimes, both are the same.
Or the work of a writer. Sometimes, both are the same.

The flashback ends with Ene finishing explaining her story to the bewildered Mekakushi-Dan, who are shocked to find out that Ene was Ayano, Ene, and Shintaro were school friends.

The day isn't over yet!
The day isn’t over yet!
Online friends, maybe? Dead friends, maybe? ...Cyborg friends?
Online friends, maybe?
Dead friends, maybe?
…Cyborg friends?

When Kano begins to point out that Ene’s experience of becoming a cyber-being was similar to their experience when they received their eye powers, Seto calls to tell them that Shintaro and his friend were involved in a traffic accident.

"I could have told you this kindly but no, I'm going to be a an insensitive jerk instead!"
“I could have told you this kindly but no, I’m going to be insensitive instead!”
A jerk that makes good points is still a jerk.
A jerk that makes good points is still a jerk.

While the others go to pick up Shintaro and Seto, Kano and Ene hang back at Ayano’s grave, and end up having a conversation where she confesses that she doesn’t want Shintaro to find out about her death. Kano accuses her of being so wrapped up in trying to make Shintaro forget that she completely forgot about Haruka, who, it turns out, also died.

If you thought this episode was sad...yeah, it gets worse.
If you thought this episode was sad…yeah, it gets worse.
Oh hey! Sounds like someone is making Biblical references.
Oh hey! Sounds like someone is making Biblical references.

This was a really heavy episode, and I felt like they did the story justice. However, I do think that people who haven’t already should listen to the song by the same name as the episode, because it is actually about a completely different part of the story. Despite it not being what I expected, I was glad that we got some information that I hadn’t known before, and some character motivations that I hadn’t really been aware of were revealed. Our villains are finally showing themselves, too (It’s about time!). The only thing I think I didn’t like about this episode was how awful Kano was, and…well, we’ll find out more about that, won’t we?

Episode 8:Lost Time Memory

Complete with tragic background music
Complete with tragic background music

Just a few hours before watching this episode, a friend and I were discussing how much we wanted Jin to write a song for Kido’s backstory, and funnily enough, we get to see a clip of it before the opening. Still no song, but at least it’s something.

Poor Seto. In adition to having only a miniscule role in the plot,  everyone gets mad at him for being helpful.
Poor Seto. In adition to having only a miniscule role in the plot, everyone gets mad at him for being helpful.

 

The entire anime in a sentence.
The entire anime in a sentence.

In the present, Kido, Momo, and Marry go to meet Shintaro at the hostpital. Shintaro is arguing with Seto, insisting that what he saw was no traffic accident.

Hello, Hibiya. It's been a while.
Hello, Hibiya. It’s been a while.

 Hiyori

Surprise!
Surprise!

As soon as he’s finished giving a vague and panicked summary of the end of episode 5, Hibiya rushes out of his hospital room and runs into Momo. Thinking that he’s still in the Heat-Haze, he starts to rush off to save Hiyori, but Shintaro stops him. While he’s trying to explain what happened, he collapses, and Kido realises that he’s becoming one of them.

Well, it worked with you...
Well, it worked with you…

 

Oh nothing, he's just being a terrible human being
Oh nothing, he’s just being a terrible human being
I can't argue with that.
I can’t argue with that.

The Mekakushi-Dan decides to kidnap Hibiya, so they can keep him safe while his eye-power develops. Marry guards him while he’s sleeping, and the other members discuss the situation. Kido notices that Kano is still gone, and Seto goes to go look for him.

Notice that the only near-death-experience story NOT shared was Marry's.
Notice that the only near-death-experience story NOT shared was Marry’s.

MekakuCity Actors
Kido tells Shintaro and Momo a little more about the background of the Mekakushi-Dan, including how they got their eye-powers. The general theory is that you have to die or have a near-death experience on August 15th with another person. Both people enter the Heat-Haze, and only one makes it out alive.

Easy mistake, I think
Easy mistake, I think
I bet most people are like this now we know her tragic backstory.
I bet most people are like this now we know her tragic backstory.

Hiyori

Kido mentions Ene, and reveals that she was once human, without giving anything away. Kido explains that those who don’t escape the void seem to have vanished, but the general goal of the Mekakushi-Dan is to get them back. Hibiya enters, and, hearing that Hiyori is still trapped in the Daze, runs off. Kido and Momo pursue him, leaving Shintaro to wait.

Maybe I shouldn't, but I do find it a little funny that everyone is now convinced she's evil.
Maybe I shouldn’t, but I do find it a little funny that everyone is now convinced she’s evil.

What's she doing

Well, the secret's out now.
Well, the secret’s out now.

Shintaro goes to check on Marry and discovers that she’s fallen asleep. As he pulls a blanket over her, he notices a family portrait. In one second, all of Ene’s hard work at trying to make Shintaro forget Ayano is unravelled.

I'm going to be sad if this scene isn't actually in the anime. It probably isn't going to be, but I would be sad anyways, so I guess it doesn't matter?
I’m going to be sad if this scene isn’t actually in the anime. It probably isn’t going to be, but I would be sad anyways, so I guess it doesn’t matter?

Instead of the regular ending, Lost Time Memory (The song) plays, and we get some footage from the PVs, scenes from previous episodes, and some bits from the manga that I haven’t read yet. I felt like the mood for this episode was perfect, even is, like pretty much every episode since Kagerou Days, it has very little to do with the song. I suppose Ayano’s Happiness Theory-Which is next week’s episode–Is not going to have much to do with Ayano’s Happiness Theory. It’s a pity, but I’m enjoying myself regardless.

Murasaki Lynna

2 thoughts on “MekakuCity Actors episodes 7 and 8: Konoha’s State of the World and Lost Time Memory

  1. I loved reading your subtitles for these episodes! It made those episodes feel a little less gloomy.

    Also, the absence of a backstory of how Marry got her powers does make me worry–especially since none of the other stories were particularly happy.

    By the way, that French comment is complete spam. It keeps repeating for one to buy a house in Montpellier.

    1. XD Thank you! The episodes have gotten progressively darker, so I’m glad to cheer them up a little ^^

      I actually already knew the French comment was spam, as I speak it *sort of* proficiently. I just forgot to mark it as such in my disappointment that it wasn’t a legitimate comment and I wasn’t going to get to practice my French (Though why I thought someone would comment in French on an English post, I’ve no idea…just wishful thinking, I guess) But thanks 🙂

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