Since the winter season for this year doesn’t have much to cover, I went to the backlog. While the second season of Yuuki Yuuna is two different stories, the first half focuses on Washio Sumi wa Yuusha De Aru. It’s a three-part movie in 6 episodes, so that the content will be the same.
You might be wondering, is this a sequel? Yes, and it provides some details as to why Mimori lost her memories. Also, who is that bandaged girl in the hospital that the Taisha worships as a goddess? We get to find that out soon.
Synopsis
Washio Sumi (nee: Tougo Mimori) was adopted into the Washio family for her duty as a hero. She attends the same school with a sleepy and easygoing girl, Nogi Sonoko and a tomboyish girl, Minowa Gin. During class, they are transported to the Jyukai to fight some Vertexes. However, they managed to repel one, but with a few scratches. Aki, their trainer and teacher, explained what happened and the duties Sumi, Sonoko, and Gin do as heroes.
After half a month after their first duty, they struggled with the second vertex. Therefore, Aki arranged a training camp to help them prepare for the next wave, which was way off. However, it paid off as they managed to pull through, just barely thanks to Gin.
In the second part, the girls receive a day off from Aki. They did various activities such as playing dress-up, going to the pool, doing a play for the kids, and such. Eventually, they went on a class trip to a nearby playground.
After heading back from a fun field trip, they noticed time froze. They have another duty, and it wasn’t so easy. There are three Vertexes, and Sonoko and Sumi don’t have enough strength after a Vertex attacks them. However, Gin went out repelling all three Vertexes, but at a cost. She died after sustaining too many injuries. Of course, after Sumi and Sonoko find Gin motionless after she drives back the Vertexes, they realize Gin has passed.
Of course, Sonoko and Sumi participated in Gin’s funeral. With the loss of their friend, they have feelings of immense grief. During the funeral, Sumi and Washio had to drive off a Vertex, which they managed to do. Eventually, Aki picked them up. They get a little break as Sumi and Sonoko go to the summer festival without Gin.
Meanwhile, Aki worked on changing the hero system, knowing that the loss of Gin had taken a toll on Sumi and Sonoko. While they cannot die anymore, she left out a specific detail. After Sumi and Sonoko had their hero terminals powered up, they eventually faced the final horde of Vertexes. B
When they discover the Mankai ability, which allows them to gain a fighting chance against a horde of Vertexes, they realize that using this causes them to lose a part of their body. During their duty, Sumi used Mankai again, and afterward, she lost part of her memories, leaving Sonoko to fight the remaining horde of Vertexes. We know she managed to pull through, but at a considerable cost. Meanwhile, Sumi, now known by her old name, Tougo Mimori, recovers in the hospital and returns to her former family, where she meets Yuuki Yuuna, her neighbor.
Thoughts
I must admit that Washio Sumi wa Yuusha De Aru was an interesting watch since it details what happened to Mimori or Sumi. At least it gives some insights into what Mimori used to be and what Sonoko was like.
At a glance, there are the cheerful and light-hearted moments we know and love, like with the first season. This time, Mimori is Sumi, but her personality looks pretty familiar. Also, during the play they did for the children, Sumi dresses up. She has a strong sense of dedication to Japan to the point that it becomes comedic. Sonoko and Gin are the new characters. I do find Sonoko amusing as she seems to have a carefree personality. The funny thing is that “Hey Wasshi, LET’S ENJOY KANAGAWA LIFE,” Sonoko says from her limbo. This is perhaps the funniest and most memorable scene.
I admit it is funny, along with Sumi and Sonoko playing dress up with Gin in various outfits. I realized she looked cute in all those outfits. I also liked how Sumi gets a nosebleed, seeing how cute Gin was. Of course, Sonoko and Gin dress Sumi up in a fancy dress. It’s funny how she purifies herself for wearing those unpatriotic clothes.
The funny thing is that there are some idol references to one of Sonoko’s dreams of Sumi being an idol singer. This reference makes sense since Mimori Suzuko voices Sumi, the Seiyuu who also voiced Sonoda Umi from Love Live. As expected, Umi is part of a school idol group named Muse.
Also, there is that segment where Sumi and Sonoko sing a song while wearing a military uniform with a cape and mask. Yes, Sumi/Mimori takes out that outfit when she apprehends some bad guys. Also, the moment when Sumi and Sonoko are playing the cork shooting game to win that chicken during a summer festival is excellent, although it’s without Gin coming.
We also learn about Gin. While she is tomboyish, she takes care of her other siblings. Yes, her family is big, as she looks at her baby little brother. Sadly, she wasn’t long for this show as she eventually gets killed during the final battle.
Compared to the first season, Washio Sumi is a lot gorier. After all, heroes before the Mankai system came had no protection and had to heal from their injuries. Sure, she fought to the very end, but her death was just very depressing after all the happy and funny moments that happened before it.
The following episode after Gin’s death felt depressing, close to when Yuuna and her friends discovered the truth behind the Mankai and their disabilities, but even sadder. Even one of Gin’s grieving brothers didn’t want to see his older sister get taken away. It pulled on the heartstrings if the whole truth about the Mankai thing from the first season wasn’t enough.
That said, we finally learn that Sumi and Sonoko were the first to use the new Mankai system without realizing what they had to give up. They find out firsthand that they lose the ability to use certain parts of their body from using it.
What makes the whole thing worse is Sumi losing her memories when she was Sumi and not Mimori. It shows the cruel reality that the Taisha are using young girls to fight a battle they can’t win.
Ultimately, this gives insight into why Mimori felt when she became a hero again, knowing some things, and why she lost her ability to use her legs. While the movie and the first 6 episodes are the same, it’s a good adaptation that fills in the details behind what Mimori experienced with the Hero system before and after it changed. Perhaps you should have a box of tissues, as you will need them. If you like the first season, I do recommend watching this.
With that, the following review is the Hero Chapter and Dai Mankai Chapter, which complement each other, but the despair doesn’t end there.
If you haven’t already, check out my review of the first season of Yuuki Yuuna.
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