Magical Girl Madoka Magica Drama CD Memories of You
Cat: Meow!
Homura: Oh!
Cat: Meeeooowww…
Homura: Little Black Cat, where’s your collar? (alt trans: A little black cat, she doesn’t seem to have her collar) Were you abandoned?
Cat: Meow…
Homura: *giggles* How cute! Ah, you know, I’m going to transfer schools today (alt trans: today is my first day at a new school). I wonder if I’ll be alright? (alt trans: I wonder if everything will go well…)
Cat: Meeeooowww…
Homura: Oh? What’s wrong? Could it be... that you’re hungry? I have cookies. Would you like some?
Cat: Meow…
Homura: You’re so small, are you all alone? (alt trans: and yet you’re all alone)
Cat: Meeoow…
Homura: I see. Just like me.
Madoka: Magical Girl Madoka Magica
Homura: Drama CD
M+H: Memories of You
Kazuko: Ahem! Everyone! I have something important to discuss with you today! Make sure you pay attention! (alt trans: Listen very carefully now!) When eating cream puffs, do you eat them off plates or eat them by hand? Okay, answer Nakazawa-kun!
Nakazawa: Um, er… Either way is fine, I think… but it’s a hassle to wash the plate after, so you don’t really need it?
Kazuko: That is absolutely correct! (alt trans: Exactly!) It’s perfectly fine if you don’t bring out plates for them! You should never judge a woman’s charm based on how she serves up cream puffs! (alt trans: if you think a girl’s charm lies in how she arranges cream puffs on a plate, they you are terribly mistaken!) Okay, you can sit now.
Nakazawa: Yes ma’am…
Kazuko: Remember these well girls: Never date a lowlife guy who won’t eat cream puffs without a plate! (alt trans: unless they are put on a plate) As for the boys, remember not to grow up into a man who finds something wrong about eating something without a plate! (alt trans: who would nitpick over the absence of a plate!)
Sayaka: Looks like it didn’t work out, huh…
Madoka: Looks that way…
Kazuko: Okay! Now that that’s done, I’d like to introduce a new transfer student!
Sayaka: Wait, she left that for last?
Kazuko: Now then, Akemi-san, welcome!
Sayaka: Whoa, a girl with glasses and pigtails… She looks so serious (alt trans: diligent).
Kazuko: Okay, introduce yourself please.
Homura: Um, I’m… Akemi Homura… That’s, um… It’s nice to meet you all…
Kazuko: Akemi-san was hospitalized for a long time because of her heart disease. It’s been awhile since she’s been to school, so please understand that she may not be familiar with many things. Everyone, do your best to help her when you can!
Girl: Akemi-san, which school did you go to before?
Girl 2: Were you in any clubs? Like a sports club? Or an arts club?
Girl 3: Your hair is so long! Isn’t tough to do every morning?
Homura: Um, I… Umm
Madoka: Akemi-san. You have to go to the nurse’s office, right? Do you know where it is?
Homura: Huh… N-no…
Madoka: Then let me show you! I’m the health representative for this class.
Madoka: Sorry about that. They’re all nice people (alt trans: they don’t have any bad intentions); it’s just that transfer students are so rare they get worked up.
Homura: No, it’s okay… Thank you.
Madoka: You don’t have to be so nervous! We’re classmates after all. I’m Kaname Madoka. Just call me Madoka.
Homura: Um… That’s…
Madoka: It’s okay. So, can I call you Homura-chan?
Homura: Ah, I… It’s not often that I get called by my first name. And it’s such a weird name, too.
Madoka: Ehh? No way! It sounds, I don’t know, like a flame flaring up to me (alt trans: it feels fiery)-- it’s so cool!
Homura: I don’t really live up to my name (then).
Madoka: That’s such a waste though! You have such a great name; all you have to do is become cool to match it! (alt trans: Then instead of wasting such a great name, you should become cool to match it!)
Homura: Ah…
Madoka: Hey, don’t you think this corridor is neat/interesting? If feels like you’re walking through the sky. (alt trans: It kinda feels like you’re walking in the sky.)
Homura: That little black cat… I wonder if it’s there waiting for me?
Madoka: Homura-chan? Oh, Amy!
Homura: You know that black cat?
Madoka: Yeah, kinda. You too?
Homura: Yes. This morning, on my way to school…
Madoka: Is that so? Do you like cats?
Homura: I really love cats.
Madoka: Me too! My favourite thing about cats is how they sharpen their claws.
Homura: Their claws?
Madoka: Yes, the way their tails go waggling around while they make that scratchy sound is super cute! (Alt trans: the way they shake their butt while they sharpen their claws is just so cute!)
Homura: *giggle* I know what you mean. They’re cute, aren’t they?
Madoka: Yes! I’ve found something in common with Homura-chan.
Teacher: Alright, who wants to try this problem? (alt trans: Who’s going to answer this problem?) How about you, Akemi-san?
Homura: Ah! Um, okay… What do I do…? I don’t understand this at all…!
Teacher: What’s the matter?... Ah, you’ve been absent for a long time, right? Please borrow the notes from your friends later.
Homura: Yes. I’m sorry…
Girl 1: Her glasses made her look so smart and all, though.
Girl 2: You’d think someone who was stuck in a hospital would have time to study a little. (alt trans: Don’t tell me she seriously didn’t have the time to study while in the hospital)
Girl 3: I bet she was just skipping school. (Alt trans: Maybe she was just a delinquent?)
Teacher: Okay, that’s it for today. (alt trans: We’ll stop here for today.)
Student: Stand! Bow!
Madoka: Homura-chan? Homura-chan?
Homura: Huh?
Madoka: Homura-chan, cheer up. You’re not the only one who’s having trouble understanding math.
Homura: Huh?
Madoka: I come to school every day, and attend classes but even then I’m still not too good at math.
Homura: Really?
Madoka: So don’t worry about it.
Sayaka: Hey Madoka, don’t say that like it can’t be helped. Akemi-san looks so anxious. (alt trans: There’s no need for a follow up like that. Aren’t you just confusing her?)
Madoka: Yeah.
Sayaka: What?
Homura: Oh, no. I--
Sayaka: And so, here’s the notes!
Homura: Ah, um, thank you very much. Wow, these notes are written in a very easy to understand manner.
Sayaka: Heh, aren’t they? Aren’t they?
Madoka: Homura-chan, I’m so glad!
Homura: Hm!
Sayaka: Eheheh.
Homura: Ah, Miki-san’s handwriting is very pretty and clean. It feels very elegant/refined.
Sayaka: Oh, that’s because those notes aren’t mine.
Homura: Eh?
Madoka: Ah! Those are Hitomi-chan’s notes! Did she lend them to you?
Sayaka: If you ask, I’m sure she’d be happy to lend them to you. (alt trans: If I asked her, I think she’d gladly lend them to me)
Madoka: So you just took them? You sure that’s okay?
Sayaka: When there’s a classmate that really needs help, the smart student/school queen has a duty to help them out. A single notebook/set of notes can help the two of us so much that I’m sure Hitomi won’t get mad about it.
Homura: The two of us?
Sayaka: Me, of course. Lately I’ve been totally lost in math class.
Madoka: Geez Sayaka-chan, you’re way too carefree/never change.
Sayaka: Tell me then/if you’re going to be like that, Madoka… You sure you don’t want to have a look? (alt trans: then I guess you’re fine without seeing the notes?)
Madoka: Nope. My mom told me it’s bad to do stuff like that.
Sayaka: Hmm hm hm. So you’re fine/okay without seeing them?
Madoka: I, I’m fine/I, I’ll manage.
Sayaka: Really/Are you sure? You’re going to regret it.
Hitomi: Sayaka-san?
Sayaka: Guh! Hitomi…
Hitomi: You don’t have to just take my notes. If you had just asked, I would have been happy to help you.
Sayaka: I-is that so/I guess that’s true? Ah, aha. Ahahahah.
Hitomi: Let’s have a study session together next time. And of course, Akemi-san is more than welcome to join us.
Homura: Oh, thank you very much.
Madoka: Oh, then, I’ll come too! (alt trans. Let me join too) Please!
Hitomi: Of course/certainly.
Girls: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight!
Teacher: Today we’re doing high jump: forward jump, scissor jump, belly roll, Fosbury Flop. Try them all out, okay? (alt trans: be sure to try many jumping techniques such as the eastern cut-off, scissors-jump, straddle technique and the fosbury flop)
Girls: Yes!
Teacher: Akemi-san, are you all right? You look terrible, are you tired/light headed?
Homura: Um, er…
Girl 1: Seriously, tiring out from the warm-up? It must be tough… (alt trans: She’s already feeling weak just from the warm-up exercises? How pathetic)
Girl 2: Well, she did have to stay in bed for half a year… it’s kind of expected.
Homura: Ah, sensei, I’m… I’m fine.
Teacher: But, you look very sick…
Homura: But… !
Madoka: Homura-chan!
Teacher: I know you want to participate but you shouldn’t push yourself so hard. You can just observe today. Okay? (alt trans: but if you aren’t feeling well then you should just sit out for today, okay)
Homura: I’m sorry.
Madoka: Sensei, I’ll stay with/accompany her.
Sayaka: Miki Sayaka, taking a jump!
Madoka: Are you okay, Homura-chan?
Sayaka: *Whoops, hahahaha*
Homura: I’m the worst/worthless, aren’t I…
Madoka: Huh?
Homura: On the very first day of school, I can’t understand what’s being taught in class or participate in gym class.
Madoka: It can’t be helped, it’s your first day.
Homura: It’s going to be the same tomorrow, as will my whole life. I’m so worthless, I just cause trouble to everyone around me and can’t help anyone. (Alt trans: I’ll never be of any value, nor will I ever be of use to anyone) All I can do is just exist. (alt trans: and I’ll continue to exist/go on this way) Today, tomorrow… forever/always…
Madoka: Homura-chan, that’s not true. Believe in yourself. If you do your best, I’m sure things/you will change.
Homura: I… I’m not strong like you…
Madoka: Homura-chan…
Homura: No, it’s fine if I can’t become stronger. Rather… I just want to be normal. I want to go to class normally, to participate in gym normally… To laugh/smile like that/everyone else.
Madoka: You will/can…
Homura: Eh?
Madoka: You can do it, Homura-chan. It’s just that your timing was bad. Give me your hand. Imagine yourself jumping.
Homura: Okay.
Madoka: Ehehe, you saw yourself jumping, didn’t you?
Homura: Yes… Kaname-san, all of a sudden my body feels so much lighter.
Madoka: Your face looks better too.
Homura: Do you think I can return to class/participate?
Madoka: Of course!Let’s go!
Homura: Yes!
Madoka: Kaname Madoka, taking a jump!
Teacher: Kaname-san, you just cleared 1m 55 cm!
Girls: Awesome! To be able to jump 1 m 55 cm in one go! You can aim to be in the prefectural competition/tournament.
Homura: Kaname-san, that was amazing.
Madoka: Um, well, sort of. Next jump is yours, Homura-chan.
Homura: Um, yes! Akemi Homura, taking a jump!
Teacher: Akemi-san also cleared it?
Girls: Whoa!
Girl 1: Amazing! Amazing!
Girl 2: Could it be that Akemi-san is actually an amazing athlete?
Girl 3: Hey, hey Akemi-san, take another jump!
Homura: Um, er…
Madoka: Homura-chan, go for it!
Homura: O-okay! Akemi Homura, second attempt/once more, here I go! Eh?
Madoka: Huh? Homura-chan? Where are you going?
Homura: I-I don’t know!! My legs… I can’t stop them! H-help me!! Kaname-san!!
Madoka: Homura-chan, wait for me!
Madoka: Mami-san! Mami-san!
Mami: What’s wrong, Kaname-san?
Madoka: Can you see the track field/school yard from your classroom?
Mami: I can but… Huh, what is that sandstorm? Is it a witch?
Madoka: No, its magic-- I used some on a friend but it’s gone out of control! (alt trans; I accidentally made my friend run wild)
Mami: Why did you use magic during class?
Madoka: I’ll explain latter, so please use your magic to stop my friend! (alt trans: right now we have to stop the magic controlling my friend!)
Mami: Oh for/Jeez… Once I put her to sleep (alt trans: I’ll put her to sleep for a bit), carry her to the nurse’s office/infirmary. She’s going to fall (alt trans: She’ll probably collapse), but make sure that she doesn’t get hurt, okay? (alt trans: so follow behind her to make sure she doesn’t get hurt)
Madoka: Got it!
Mami: Okay then, here we go. Let’s make sure to get the timing down right. (alt trans: be careful to watch your timing)
Homura: Huh? What? How? Why? (alt trans: I’m starting to feel sleepy/dizzy again…)
Madoka: Homura-chan? Homura-chan?! Homura-chan!
Izabel: I found you. I found you. A bothersome/troublesome girl. I found you.
Teacher: Ah, you’ve been absent for a long time, right? Please borrow the notes from your friends.
Girl 1: Her glasses made her look so smart and all, though.
Girl 2: You’d think someone who was stuck in a hospital would have time to study a little. (alt trans: Don’t tell me she seriously didn’t have the time to study while in the hospital)
Girl 3: I bet she was just skipping school. (Alt trans: Maybe she was just a delinquent?)
Homura: No, I really was sick! I wanted to go to school but… but…
Izabel: An embarrassing girl. I found you.
Girl 1: Seriously, tiring out from the warm-up? It must be tough… (alt trans: She’s already feeling weak just from the warm-up exercises? How pathetic)
Girl 2: Well, she did have to stay in bed for half a year… it’s kind of expected.
Homura: You’re wrong! (alt trans: Don’t say that!)
Mami: It’s wrong to think that magic can do anything and everything. And the magic you just used, it’s tainted your gem which could have come in handy in the future (alt trans: could have been saved for something important). It’s not as if there are an infinite number of grief seeds out there either, so please try not to use magic in such a frivolous manner. (alt trans: So I’d like you to conserve your magic to the best of your ability)
Madoka: I… I just wanted to help her a little.
Mami: I understand your feelings, but there must have been a different way. Don’t forget, magic should always be a last resort.
Madoka: Sorry.
Homura: Ma… gic?
Madoka: Ah, Homura-chan.
Homura: Kaname-san… This place is…
Madoka: It’s the nurse’s office/infirmary, um, lots of things happened during gym.
Homura: Happened? Oh, that’s right… I caused trouble to everyone again.
Izabel: Really, an troublesome girl.
Madoka: That’s not true Homura-chan. You see, earlier I…
Homura: I’m sorry… Thanks for everything today.
Madoka: Ah… Homura-chan
Mami: Kaname-san, why don’t you leave her be for today. I think your straight forward and earnest personality is wonderful but it might not hurt to take things a bit more slowly.
Madoka: Mami-san…
Mami: Even if you don’t use magic, I’m sure you’ll find a way to become close friends with her. (alt trans: I think you could become real friends with that girl, no magic involved)
Madoka: Ah, my soul gem is detecting something.
Kyubey: A witch is definitely hunting for her prey.
Madoka: Ah, Kyubey.
Kyubey: There might be movement around this area. (alt trans: It may be on the move)
Mami: Let’s look for that witch.
Madoka: Yes.
Homura: What should I do?
Madoka: All you have to do is become cool to match it!
Homura: That’s impossible. I can’t do anything right. I only cause trouble for others and embarrass myself… Why am I like this? Will I stay like this forever?
Izabel: Then it’d be better if you just died now, wouldn’t it?
Homura: It might be better if I just died…
Izabel: Yeah! You should just die!
Homura: If I just died… Wha- What is this place?
Kyubey: I can hear the witch’s heartbeat. It seems to be completely awake.
Madoka: The soul gem is reacting very strongly (alt trans: going crazy)
Mami: The witch is close. Where’s it’s barrier?
Madoka: Ah, Mami-san! Over there!
Mami: That’s…
Kyubey: That’s the witch’s barrier. I can smell a human inside!
Homura: What? What’s going on?! No! This is…
Mami: That was a close call.
Madoka: You’re safe now, Homura-chan!
Homura: You’re…
Kyubey: They are Puella Magi/Magical Girls. They hunt witches.
Madoka: Looks like our secret has just been revealed… But don’t let the others in class know!
Homura: A- amazing.
Madoka: We did it, Mami-san!
Mami: Yes we did. You’ve gotten a lot better (alt trans: You did very well) Kaname-san.
Madoka: Tee hee, thank you very much. Homura-chan, are you all right? You’re not injured are you? Homura-chan?
Homura: Yes… Yes, I’m fine.
Madoka: Oh that’s a relief, I’m so glad, Homura-chan.
Homura: Tomoe-san, do you live alone?
Mami: Yes. So go ahead and make yourself at home.
Homura: All right, thank you.
Madoka: What about you Homura-chan, won’t your family at home worry?
Homura: My family… is fine with it.
Madoka: Then that’s good.
Homura: So Kaname-san, you’re fighting things like that all the time?
Madoka: Not really all the time… Mami is the veteran but I just made the contract with Kyubey last week.
Mami: But in today’s fight you were much better than before, Kaname-san!
Madoka: Tee hee
Homura: Are okay with it? Aren’t you afraid?
Madoka: It’s never really safe, and of course I get scared… But defeating a witch saves a lot of people, so it’s kind worth it, right?
Mami: We’ve got to make sure Kaname-san’s a pro before Walpurgis Night arrives.
Homura: Walpurgis Night?
Mami: Hm, how should I explain, it’s a sort of festival of the magic world?
Madoka: In any case, on a day with a powerful storm, make sure you don’t go outside.
Mami: Leaving that side, Kaname-san, don’t you have something to say to Akemi-san?
Madoka: Yes.
Homura: Huh?
Madoka: Um, you see Homura-chan; it’s about today’s gym class. Er, everything that happened is because I used some magic on you. (alt trans: that was all caused by me using magic on you…)
Homura: Really…?
Madoka: Yea I’m really sorry. You were feeling so down, so I thought I’d cheer you up with some magic. It didn’t really work. (alt trans: it didn’t go so well)
Homura: Thank you, Kaname-san…
Madoka: Huh?
Homura: When my legs wouldn’t stop running, I worried ‘what should I do…’ (alt trans: I didn’t know what to do when my legs wouldn’t stop) but when I was able to do the high jump, I was so happy. So… thank you.
Madoka: Homura-chan…
Homura: Becoming a Magical Girl, means you bring happiness to others in all sorts of different ways.
Madoka: Yup, that’s right. Why don’t you become a magical girl too?
Homura: Huh? Is it really that easy to become one?
Madoka: She can, right Kyubey?
Kyubey: Well to put it plainly, I grant the wishes of humans in exchange for a contract where you work as Magical Girls for me. (alt trans: basically, I change the girls who are willing to work in exchange for their wish into magical girls) If you say that’s simple, then I suppose it is.
Mami: It’s not that simple/easy. Becoming a Magical Girl means giving up any possibility of living a normal life. It means bearing the duty/fate of hunting down witches. And no one knows when the fights will ever end. Not to mention it’s extremely dangerous. If you become a Magical Girl half heartedly/on a whim, all you’ll do is regret it.
Homura: I… guess you’re right…
Mami: Let’s call it a night… It’s getting late now.
Madoka: Yes, thanks for having us.
Homura: Thank you very much.
Madoka: Homura-chan, about what we were talking about before.
Homura: Which one?
Madoka: The one about you become a Magical Girl too.
Homura: Oh that one/What about it.
Madoka: I didn’t mean to say it so carelessly.
Homura: Huh?
Madoka: You said it yourself Homura-chan, ‘ I’m no use to anyone, I just cause trouble to everyone around me and can’t help anyone. (Alt trans: I’ll never be of any value, nor will I ever be of use to anyone) All I can do is just exist. (alt trans: and I’ll continue to exist/go on this way)’. I know exactly how that feels. I felt that way too for the longest time. But, when I became a Magical Girl and began to fight Witches, I began to have more confidence in myself. I’ve made a lot of mistakes and troubled Mami-san a lot too but I thought to myself, even someone like me can defeat witches and help someone too… That made me so happy. That’s why I thought, maybe Homura-chan should become a Magical Girl too.
Homura: Kaname-san…
Madoka: But what Mami-san said is true. So if you really want to become a Magical Girl, then make sure you think really hard about your wish and decide what your future will be.
Homura: Yes. I promise you, I won’t become a Magical Girl without a good reason/just on a whim.
Madoka: Thank you.
Amy: *meow*
Madoka: Oh, Amy!
Amy: *meow*
Homura: Good evening. She’s really fond of/attached to you, Kaname-san.
Madoka: Yea, um actually, I saw her get run over by a car right in front of me.
Homura: Huh?
Madoka: Ever since then, we’ve been friends.
Homura: Could it be…
Madoka: Yeah, to save her, I became a Magical Girl.
Amy: *meow*
Madoka: I wanted to take her home with me, but she likes being outside/roaming around. We see each other in town a lot, don’t we?
Amy: *meow* *meow*
Madoka: If I told Mami-san, ‘I became a Magical Girl to save a cat’, I’m sure she’ll get really upset and scold me.
Homura: I don’t think she would! I think your wonderful kindness is really cool/admirable.
Amy: *meow*
Madoka: Thank you, Homura-chan. Amy. If… and this is only if, okay? If something happens to me… Could you take care of Amy for me?
Homura: Kaname-san?
Madoka: It’s not that something is going to happen to me, it’s just that. You know, Mami-san said it, we don’t know what will happen when we fight witches. Sometimes, I feel really worried about it. So I wanted to have a friend who knows my secret, like Homura-chan, to listen to me. (alt trans: since you know my secret, I feel like I can talk to you about it)
Homura: Kaname-san…
Madoka: Sorry for making you listen to something weird.
Homura: Um, no, not at all. I’m very happy that you wanted to share something this important with me.
Amy: *meow*
Madoka: Wow, it’s unusual for Amy jump into someone else’s arms like that.
Homura: R-really? Hee hee, that tickles.
Madoka: Amy, it’s so wonderful that you’ve made a new friend.
Amy: *meow*
Madoka: Homura-chan, thanks for staying /hanging out with me tonight.
Homura: No, not at all. It was fun for me too.
Madoka: Then, see you later!
Homura: See you tomorrow!
Homura: What a storm. I wonder if Amy’s okay. That reminds me; Kaname-san didn’t come to school today.
Madoka: ‘In any case, on a day with a powerful storm, make sure you don’t go outside.’
Homura: Could it… today? Wa-lp-ur-gi-s N-ig-ht… Walpurgis Night is… a festival commonly celebrated throughout Europe. In Germany… In Germany, the Walpurgisnacht is also known as the Hexen Nacht, which means “night of the witches”. On that night, witches hold a feast … A witch’s feast… Don’t Magical Girls fight witches… if that’s the case, a night where witches gather means… It couldn’t be, a battle tonight…
Homura: Where… Where are you, Kaname-san?
Amy: *meow*
Homura: Ah! Amy!
Amy: *meow*
Homura: You’ll show me the way?
Amy: *meow*
Homura: Amy, take me to where Kaname-san is!
Amy: *meow*
Homura: That night… I became a Magical Girl… To save Kaname Madoka… But… Back then, I knew nothing… I still believed that if you become a Magical Girl, you could change everything… That when tomorrow came, we would see each other with smiles… (alt trans: I’d be able to smile with you again…)