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Assault Lily: Lost Memories

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Assault Lily: Lost Memories (アサルトリリィ Lost Memories) is a stage play created by AZONE International and acus in collaboration with Bushiroad and SHAFT. It is the sequel to League of Gardens and The Fateful Gift, and the final installment of the trilogy of stage plays centered around Team Hitotsuyanagi. Lost Memories ran from January 20, 2022 to January 30, 2022 at the Sunshine Theater in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

Plot[edit | edit source]

Prelude[edit | edit source]

Yurigaoka Girls' Academy’s Team Hitotsuyanagi is sent on an Expedition to exterminate the remaining Huge that escaped from Ludvico Private Girls' Academy’s laboratory following their Garden's collapse, having recently joined Herensuge Girls' Academy’s Legion Hervör in destroying two of the Gigant-class Huge leading the outbreak. They learn that Funada Ui and Funada Kiito, of Odaiba Girls' School’s Legion Hronesnæsse were also deployed to the area, and that while the Caves originating from Ludvico Labs have since subsided, the Garden continues to be inoperative, with many of their Lilies having deserted[1].

Prologue[edit | edit source]

Yoshimura Thi Mai speaks with Hata Matsuri, captain of Team Hitotsuyanagi's sister Legion, Eir. Matsuri tells Mai that even after sending her CHARM to be analyzed by the renowned Arsenal Amatsu Marei of Ryuto Girls' Academy, they were still unable to extract any information to help them ascertain Gozen’s true identity, as she appears able to evade the CHARM’s battle logging and tracking capabilities. Matsuri suggests that they stop looking for Gozen, given the danger she poses, but Mai insists this is a matter they must settle, for Yuyu's sake. Matsuri promises to continue investigating, and advises Mai to stay close to Yuyu in the meantime. Meanwhile, Riri talks with Yuyu, who is still unable to fully remember the last moments of her Schutzengel, Kawazoe Misuzu. Riri assures her that she will remember when the time is right, and finding comfort in her words, Yuyu once again promises to protect Riri as Misuzu once protected her.

In Ludvico, Fukuyama Jeanne Sachie and Kishimoto Lucia Raimu continue their fight against the remaining Huge in the area when they’re met by Marei. She inquires the pair about Gozen, but as they hadn't come into direct contact with her during their previous battle, Sachie is unable to offer any answers. Sachie is saddened that despite Yuyu’s continuous aid to Ludvico, she only seems to get hurt every time she comes over, but Marei reminds her that doing so is part of her duty as a Lily. Sachie then informs Marei that Toda Eulalia Kotohi has since disappeared from Ludvico, and while Marei is dismissive of her due to her betrayal, Raimu recalls how she fought by their side at the very end, and wonders if deep down, she has a good heart. Marei insists that she cannot agree with Kotohi’s hatred of Yuyu, noting how blaming a single Lily for the casualties of a collective loss is nonsensical, and Sachie wonders if her heart is in its proper place, having witnessing her friend die, and now being betrayed by GEHENA.

Marei turns to informing the pair that GEHENA's experiments previously conducted at Ludvico Labs are still continuing elsewhere, and Sachie believes this to mean they are still keeping watch on Raimu. The younger Lily recalls her previous encounter with Hervör’s Sasaki Ran, another born Boosted Lily, and points out the strange surge their Magie experienced when their hands touched. Marei hypothesizes that due to their similar nature as born Boosted Lilies, as well as the high compatibility of their Rare Skills, Lunatic Trancer and Charisma, they provoked a reaction similar to the Empathy Phenomenon displayed by the Funada twins.

At the same time, Hervör runs into Ui and Kiito, and Ran asks them if they have since met Kotohi. Kiito dismisses this, remarking how she had been working behind their backs all along, but Ran insists they find her, remembering how she protected Raimu and herself from the Gigant-class’ attack before, and that she doesn't wish to leave her behind, as she considers Kotohi her friend. Meanwhile, as Team Hitotsuyanagi continues their Expedition, Yuyu encounters a girl very similar to Riri, wearing the same black dress as Gozen. They’re approached by a Gigant-class soon after, commanded by Gozen, who shows herself together with Kotohi.

Gozen explains that she is able to freely control any Huge that underwent genetic enhancements, and, telling Yuyu that she is “an indispensable piece” of the ideal world they seek to create, she orders her to follow them alone, under the threat of commanding all the Huge in the area to kill not only Team Hitotsuyanagi, but all of Tokyo’s citizens. With no other choice, Yuyu agrees to follow Gozen, on the condition that she uses her power to destroy the Huge in the area. Gozen consents, and allows her to briefly return to her teammates to say her goodbyes, telling her to meet them at Shinjuku’s Metropolitan Government Office once she’s finished.

Yuyu immediately reunites with Riri, and after briefly ascertaining that she has the earnest support of all her Legion members, she announces their vows as Schutzengel and Schild annulled, as that she is resigning from Team Hitotsuyanagi. Despite Riri and the other Legion members' protests, Yuyu insists on her decision, and promptly leaves while only offering them shallow explanations. Riri is left devastated by this, blaming herself for not being a partner Yuyu could rely on, but Fumi is certain that she did not truly meant her words, and the other members also deduce that she must have done so for a reason, assuring Riri they will still remain as members of her Legion no matter what.

Now with only eight members, Team Hitotsuyanagi’s Expedition privileges are in danger of being revoked. To remedy this, Mai summons the aid of Matsuri, who as the captain of Team Hitotsuyanagi’s sister Legion, is able to obtain them orders to proceed. Matsuri moves out to join them in pursuing Yuyu, and as they wait for her arrival, Fumi uses her Hawk’s Eye to track Yuyu’s location, pinpointing her to be at the Government Office, which Kaede remarks to be a location particularly infested with Huge presence.

Yuyu arrives at Gozen’s lair at the very top of the Office building, where she watches Kotohi and the girl spar, the latter wielding Yuyu’s old Dainsleif. Gozen explains that she is able to use the battle logs inscribed on the Dainsleif's Magie Crystal Core to allow the wielder to replicate the fighting style of the CHARM's previous users, that being the reason why she was able to perfectly mimic Misuzu previously, as she had been last one to form a contract with it. Gozen offers the girl to Yuyu as a gift, citing how she "was made specifically to suit Yuyu's tastes", and explains that Yuyu always needs a partner to be codependent with, and eventually lose, so that she may close her heart once again. Gozen removes her mask, and the sight of her visage causes Yuyu to break down in panic. Gozen then removes Yuyu's memories of her face, remarking how she was “already made to forget her once”.

First battle[edit | edit source]

Team Hitotsuyanagi and Matsuri meet at the Government Office, where they’re promptly joined by Sachie, Raimu and Marei, as well as Hervör and the Funada twins, who were called by Riri, Fumi and Tazusa. The Legions are immediately met by a Gigant-class, accompanied by Kotohi and the girl. They engage in combat, and the Legions are overwhelmed with fighting both the Gigant-class and the two Boosted Lilies. Kotohi tells them that the Gigant-class is under Gozen’s control, and that she seeks to turn Yuyu into “the one to save this world”. Telling the Lilies they stand no chance at winning, she advises them to leave, before retreating inside the building.

Noting the girl’s similarity to Riri, as well as her fighting style resembling Misuzu's, Matsuri presumes that Gozen is attempting to wear Yuyu's spirit down. Disregarding Kotohi's warnings, Riri insists on rescuing her Schutzengel, and they decide on Team Hitotsuyanagi and Matsuri to enter the Government Office, while the other Legions focus on taking down the Gigant-class. Raimu and Ran also run inside, wishing to uncover more about their nature as “Princesses”. With only eight members remaining, the Legions are left with no choice but to perform the Neunwelt Tactic as close to the Gigant-class as possible, in order to compensate their lack of numbers with the local Magie Intensity.

Inside the building, Team Hitotsuyanagi briefly runs into Yuyu, who once again demands that they leave before disappearing into the building once again. They later reach Kotohi once again, and she is able to effortlessly fend off all the Lilies. Kotohi urges them to give up on rescuing Yuyu, remarking that she joined them out of her own volition, but Riri disagrees, responding that she had a "pained look in her eyes", no longer having the shine they once had when Yuyu promised to protect her. Raimu and Ran join them, and together with Tazusa, Shenlin, Yujia and Miliam, they hold Kotohi in place as the rest of Team Hitotsuyanagi moves further into the building in order to look for Yuyu.

Outside, the mixed-Legion team carries on their Neunwelt, but as they do so, the Gigant-class begins to split itself, eventually creating eight new Huge, though each downsized to a Large-class level. The Lilies then switch to facing against each Huge individually. Inside, Riri’s group encounters and fights against the unnamed girl, and while managing to hold their own, they’re unable to bring the girl down due to her abilities as a Boosted Lily.

The Legions outside succeed in fending off the now smaller Huge, but while Ui and Kiito are able to fully destroy two of them, the remaining Huge reform into the Gigant-class, before dividing themselves into eight Huge once again. Marei opens fire against the group, and notices that upon doing so, seven of the Huge moved to defend one in particular. She hypothesizes that if they manage to destroy that particular copy, they may be able to stop the Huge from multiplying further. Chikaru notices a similarity to the twin Gigants she encountered during the Odaiba Counteroffensive, and points out how they were only defeated by destroying both of its cores at once. She surmises that in order to defeat these Huge, they must hit the unique copy with the Magisphere at the same time as they destroy the other copies' cores.

First interlude[edit | edit source]

Inside, Yuyu and the girl briefly talk. The girl asks Yuyu if she has ever seen a clear blue sky, and though Yuyu answers yes, the question causes her to cry, though she doesn't understand why. The girl states that she wishes to see it for herself, but knows that it will never happen. Yuyu asks the girl how she feels about fighting other Lilies, but she cannot answer, explaining that her body “just moves on its own”. Yuyu wonders if that makes the girl feel sad, and the girl says that she does feel sad when she looks at Yuyu, but regardless of what she feels, it is her duty to keep Yuyu safe. Yuyu asks if that is by Gozen’s orders, but the girl does not seem to know who Gozen is.

Using her Rare Skill, Zenon Paradoxa S Rank, Kotohi overpowers Tazusa’s team. She explains that Gozen wishes to create a world where humanity ceases to fear the Huge, and that to do so, they must reach "a greater height of power" far beyond what GEHENA can achieve. Kotohi once again begs them to give up, so they too may reach salvation in Gozen’s ideal world. Raimu and Ran try to reason with her, explaining how it pains them to know that, as born Boosted Lilies, they’re much more like the Huge than they are human, and that they don’t wish for Yuyu to suffer the same fate. Meanwhile, Riri’s team reaches Gozen, and they begin to battle.

Outside the building, Marei learns that an Irregular Gigant-class appeared in the vicinity of Odaiba Girls’ School. Sachie urges Kiito and Ui to go to their aid, but they refuse, confident that Odaiba’s Legions will be sufficient to deal with it, and they continue with their current plan. Meanwhile, Kotohi continues to fight Tazusa’s team, and Tazusa wonders if she truly is content to be a Boosted Lily. Kotohi answers that she is, as it means she is no longer a frail Lily who can be used by others, and hopes to one day surpass even Boosted Lilies and the Huge alike, and reach the same heights of power that Gozen did. Tazusa does not believe her, being herself aware that even their power as Boosted Lilies cannot soothe the pain they feel, and wonders if it was her sadness and frustration at the pain she was made to endure at GEHENA's hands that led her to resent Yuyu.

Kotohi dismisses their remarks, and resumes her offensive, remarking that Gozen told her she was free to kill any of them but the Princesses. Despite still having the upper hand, however, she is ultimately unable herself to kill them, and Yujia tells her that, knowing what being deemed worthless by those more powerful than her feel like, and having witnessed her best friend die before her eyes, she cannot bring herself to inflict that same pain on others. With her emotions in turmoil, Kotohi puts down her CHARM, and Tazusa wonders if Gozen's actions are causing her to suffer the same way, with Shenlin adding that Kotohi, being the one closest to her, would be the only one who can ease her pain.

Tazusa’s team leaves to find Yuyu, while Kotohi recalls how it was her hatred towards Yuyu that allowed her to endure the pain of the Boosting procedures she went through, but realizes that after Gozen freed her from GEHENA's grasp, her company allowed her pain to subside, and eventually, caused her resentment towards Yuyu to fade away. Regaining her clarity, Kotohi explains to Ran and Raimu that while GEHENA sees them as mere disposable test subjects, she views them in reverence, as their "Princesses", who carry the power of the Huge while being untainted by any experiments. Warning the pair of the dangers they are sure to face going forward, she bids them farewell, setting off to find Gozen.

Second battle[edit | edit source]

Riri’s team continues to fight with Gozen, who brings them before Yuyu, appearing numb and unresponsive. As their battle continues, Gozen attempts to strike Yuyu, but the unnamed girl shields her from the attack, causing her to be lethally wounded. In her final moments, the girl speaks to Yuyu in Misuzu’s voice, repeating to her the last words she had left her with two years ago: "you won't have to feel sad anymore, for I'll take all of your sadness with me".

The girl's body disintegrates as she dies, leaving only the Dainsleif behind. In shock from reliving her Schutzengel's death once again, Yuyu unleashes her Lunatic Trancer before Riri immediately brings her under control. Yuyu remarks that she finally remembers everything that happened two years ago, recalling that she and Misuzu had been surrounded by Huge, and she had activated her Rare Skill to hold their ground, causing her to lose control of herself. As she attempted to fend off an incoming Huge, she accidentally impaled Misuzu, who had jumped to protect her. Riri tells Yuyu that the girl must have acquired Misuzu’s memories that were left imprinted on the Dainsleif, leading her to act the same way as she did that day, remarking how Misuzu had now "saved her life twice."

Second interlude[edit | edit source]

Tazusa’s team reaches Riri, and tells Gozen that they were able to get through to Kotohi. Frustrated, Gozen removes her mask once again, revealing herself to be Shirai Saaya, Yuyu’s biological older sister, thought to be dead. Saaya was the first Lily to ever awaken to the Rare Skill Testament, and as such Yuyu had high expectations to follow the same path. However, she instead awakened to Lunatic Trancer, and Gozen notes how this left Yuyu saddled with grief, noting her younger sister's tendency to be codependent with others. Yuyu remembers how much she used to adore her older sister, wishing to follow in her steps as a Lily, but remarks that her current self is nothing like the person she remembers. Yuyu tells her of how it was Misuzu who soothed her heart after Saaya’s death left her completely desolate, and how it was her support that allowed her to continue being a Lily. She argues that the real Saaya would never use someone so important to her against her, but Gozen rebuffs Yuyu, revealing to her that it was Misuzu who removed all memories of her from Yuyu, and subsequently took her place as the one most important to her.

Gozen explains that Misuzu was actually a Boosted Lily with the Boosted Skill "Enhancement". This granted her the ability to temporarily use her Subskills to the full capability of their Rare Skill forms, which she used to convince others that her Subskill Charisma was actually the Rare Skill Laplace. Misuzu's Rare Skill was actually Übersein, which in its S Rank form, allows a Lily to manipulate the memories of others, which Gozen claims she used to remove Yuyu's memories of her. Yuyu, however, recalls Misuzu's last words to her, and realizes that she took her memories of Saaya in order to prevent her from further losing herself in her grief, allowing her to move on.

Gozen then takes to explaining how after her death, it took an insurmountable level of power for her to be resurrected, and as a result, it allowed her to glimpse at "the greater heights beyond the limits of this world". She believes that Yuyu, as her sister, may be able to reach an even higher level of power than her own if she undergoes the same procedure, which would lead her to ultimately acquire the power needed to free humanity from all suffering, but would entail Yuyu needing to die once. The other members of Team Hitotsuyanagi presume that Gozen's resurrection caused her to go insane. Yuyu refuses to join Gozen, and rejoining with Team Hitotsuyanagi, they begin to battle one final time, as Gozen still wishes to carry her plans forward by force.

Final battle[edit | edit source]

Outside, the mixed-Legion team continues to carry on their Neunwelt, while simultaneously fighting against the Huge clones. Before they can take the final shot, the main Huge attempts to attack Kiito, but Ui manages to shield her, though injuring her leg in the process. They’re joined by Ran and Raimu, who aid them in gathering all eight Huge. Finally, Sachie shoots the main Huge’s core as the other Lilies take to destroying the clones', and the Huge is successfully eliminated. Despite attempting to revert Ui's wound with her Rare Skill, Z, Marei remarks that she'll likely still be unable to fight for a while. With the other Gigant-class still active, the twin sisters decide to return to Odaiba, while the remaining Lilies move to join Team Hitotsuyanagi inside the building.

Team Hitotsuyanagi continues to struggle against Gozen before she is stopped by Kotohi. Angered at her betrayal, the two battle, with Kotohi urging Gozen that they stop their plans. Yuyu joins Kotohi in fighting Gozen, asking that she forgive her for not realizing the pain she had to carry back then, and that even now, she still wishes to save her. Gozen dismisses her pleas, insisting that her goals are not driven by emotion, but Kotohi disagrees, citing that everything she did was for the sake of reuniting with her sister, and that even in spite of everything, she still loves Yuyu, and wishes to spare her of the suffering she had to endure. Activating her Charisma, Riri tries to reason with Gozen, telling her of how much it pains her to fight against someone important to the one she loves, and asks her to think of her own suffering brought on by her own actions, arguing that fighting to bring pain not only to others, but to oneself, cannot be the right path to walk on.

Gozen continues to fight Team Hitotsuyanagi, determined to get to Yuyu in spite of their attempts to stop her. Unlike before, however, she appears to struggle more, which allows the other Lilies to hold her in place. Taking the opportunity, Riri strikes her with Yuyu’s Dainsleif. Though she is quickly able to heal her wound, Gozen is left defeated, and finally, she admits that she would not be able to bring herself to force Yuyu to face the same hopelessness that she experienced the moment she died. Gozen asks that Yuyu and all her loved ones continue fighting to save the world, just as she herself had, before using her Dainsleif to demolish the building. Team Hitotsuyanagi makes their escape, but Kotohi stays behind, telling Gozen that she still wishes to see the "greatest of heights" that they dreamed of, as she believes that even without Yuyu, they’ll be able to achieve it one day.

Epilogue[edit | edit source]

Yuyu speaks with Misuzu’s spirit, telling her of how she finally reclaimed all of their memories together. She is joined by Riri, and they speak of Yuyu’s relationship with Misuzu and Saaya. Yuyu admits that she had been too dependent on them in the past, but Riri remarks that it was thanks to her devotion that she was still able to save Saaya’s soul at the very end. Reuniting with Team Hitotsuyanagi, Riri looks back on her experiences during their Expeditions to Tokyo, having met all kinds of different Lilies, all carrying different hopes and ideals. Riri wishes that one day, their efforts in the battlefield may be able to bring true peace to the world, and that they'll all be free to look up to the clear blue skies together.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Team Hitotsuyanagi

Legion Hervör

Legion Eir

Ludvico Private Girls' Academy

Odaiba Girls' School

Ryuto Girls' School

Others

  • Tsukui Minami / 佃井皆美 as Gozen / Shirai Saaya
  • Tanoue Marina / 田上真里奈 as Toda Kotohi
  • Maki Natsumi / Natsupoi (万喜なつみ / なつぽい) as L / Kawazoe Misuzu (voice only)

Production[edit | edit source]

Lost Memories is the third stage play released under the "Assault Lily Project (アサルトリリィプロジェクト)" label, a joint venture between AZONE and acus, holders of the Assault Lily brand, and the multimedia enterprise Bushiroad. The project aimed to expand the production of Assault Lily's stage plays, as well as the launch of several other media, such as music, merchandise, the television series Assault Lily: Bouquet and the smartphone game, Assault Lily: Last Bullet, which the play was developed in conjunction with.[2] While the Assault Lily Project continued after the play's release, Lost Memories is the last stage play to be developed in direct collaboration with Bushiroad and SHAFT, with all subsequent plays being primarily produced by AZONE and acus, with aid from the Ludvico Private Girls' Academy theatre troupe.

Production was conducted by the Music branch of Bushiroad, with Ikeda Shoma (池田祥馬) as lead producer, Sano Mizuki (佐野瑞樹) as stage director and Kitani Takaaki (木谷高明) as lead supervisor. Credited with additional production are Hayazono Sho (早園正) and Nakagawa Shuuhei (中川秀平) of AZONE, Kubota Mitsutoshi (久保田光俊) and Ooshima Miku (大嶋実句) of SHAFT, as well as Kawashima Masayuki (川島将之) and Kobayashi Masahide (小林正英) of Pokelabo. Event organizer Odyssey Inc (オデッセー) and theatre troupe Gekidan Hikosen (劇団飛行船) are credited with providing additional staff.

The original draft was by the author of the Assault Lily Series, Obanazawa Ken'ei (尾花沢軒栄), with Sakuragi Sayaka (桜木さやか) of the Ludvico Private Girls' Academy troupe in charge of the screenplay. Tani Naoki (谷ナオキ) composed the play's opening theme, "Overflowing Memories" and ending themes "Count Our Blessings" and "Neunt Praeludium", and was also in charge of the stage music direction.

Production issues[edit | edit source]

The play encountered several problems leading up to and during its theatrical run. On January 13, it was announced that one of the play staff had tested positive for COVID. Following this, on January 17, Ishitobi Erika (Iijima Renka) and Nonaka Mio (Serizawa Chikaru) withdrew from the production due to developing fevers, with Nonaka later confirmed to have tested positive, while Ishitobi's fever was found to be due to a thyroid condition. Because of this, Chikaru was played in all performances by understudy Kosuge Rei (Saeki Julia Karen) while Renka was played by understudy Kurushima Rio.

Following the afternoon performance on January 21, Tsumugi Risa (Ando Tazusa) began to experience severe back pain, later diagnosed as a sprained back. This led to the cancellation of the evening performance on January 21 and both performances on January 22. Tsumugi Risa was later replaced in by understudy Yashin Airi (Tsuzuki Hisui) for the remainder of the run.

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • Team Hitotsuyanagi now wears their Legion uniform, “Around the Willow”, which would be used for all subsequent appearances of Team Hitotsuyanagi in the stage plays.
  • Yujia's Asterion is now blue, as opposed to the black one used in the previous plays.
  • Though only ever referred as "that girl" (あの子) throughout the play, promotional material for Lost Memories refers to Natsupoi's character as "L".
  • Having left Ludvico, Kotohi is now only referred to as "Toda Kotohi" in official material.
  • The play's final battle occurs in the real building of the Metropolitan Government Office in Shinjuku, Tokyo, which was also where the final battle of Assault Lily: Last Bullet's Chapter One took place.
  • Following the revelation that the Gigant-class operates in the same way as the twin Gigants encountered during the Odaiba Counteroffensive, Sachie hypothesizes that those Huge could have been genetically engineered as well.
  • Because of the different continuities, it is not yet known if Misuzu's nature as a Boosted Lily, as well as her true Rare Skill being Übersein also applies to the anime/game continuity. Notably, when Misuzu was released as a playable character in Last Bullet, her Rare Skill is listed as neither the anime's Charisma nor the stage play's Übersein, but instead as "Devotion" (鍾愛), which is unique to Misuzu, though it seems to primarily serve gameplay purposes.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. The term utilized is "戦線離脱", which means "desertion from the battlefront". The context doesn't make it clear whether they deserted the Garden entirely.
  2. https://www.4gamer.net/games/488/G048838/20191204065/ 4gamer "Assault Lily series unveils 'Assault Lily Media Project', with stage play, animation series and game based on the doll line given premiere dates". Japanese, published on December 4, 2019