Ave Mujica – The Die is Cast – episode 6 certainly feels like the beginning of build up toward what could be Ave Mujica’s reunion, but there’s definitely going to be some problems that need to be addressed. The band, with Sakiko and Mutsumi at its center, is fractured, and episode 6 makes it clear that the band’s most contentious members must reconcile, one way or another.
Spoiler warning: there will be story spoilers ahead for episode 6, including plot points, reveals, and major character choices.
Episode 5 made it obvious that Sakiko did not want anything else to do with her former CRYCHIC bandmates, or anyone from MyGO!!!!!. Those pleasant memories remind her of the currently shattered dream—Ave Mujica’s disbandment. Tomori, Sakiko’s former best friend, couldn’t take much more of seeing her in such a state, and episode 6 shows that she’s not alone in that sentiment.
Ave Mujica – The Die is Cast – Episode 6 Focuses on the Rift Between Sakiko and Mutsumi
Ave Mujica episode 6 began with Tomori begging Sakiko to rejoin a band, a request that fell on deaf eyes. In actuality, Tomori just wants Sakiko to be her friend again instead of distancing herself from everyone. It’s quite an emotionally charged exchange, but Tomori and Anon have to go back the drawing board after Sakiko kicks them out the Togawa Estate.
Meanwhile, Mutsumi, who’s entrapped in her Mortis personality, reunites with Soyo in a rather strange way. They weren’t that close to begin with, but Soyo becomes a sister figure for Mortis in an attempt to get Mutsumi back. Surprisingly, she stayed with Mortis for three days straight, then encouraged her to go back to school and meet up with her former CRYCHIC friends and MyGO!!!!!. I think this episode did a good job developing Mutsumi as a very strange but loveable character, as she even befriends the eccentric Rāna.
On the other hand, Mutsumi is a tragic character, as she essentially locks her real self away behind the Mortis personality, and she’s afraid of letting Sakiko down again. She constantly fights with herself in the episode, and it even gets the attention of the public outside of her school. This leads to another intriguing conundrum, with Ave Mujica trending on social media as people expect the band to reunite. Mutsumi’s scene definitely stood out in a slightly unsettlingly way, but it captivated me nonetheless.
Lingering Resentment
Meanwhile, Taki finally talks to Umiri to learn why Ave Mujica disbanded, which Umiri answers by stating that Sakiko and Mutsumi’s strained relationship was the cause. Taki is somewhat taken aback by the Umiri’s response, which also makes Umiri feel like she’s shifting blame away. Taki believes there’s more to the situation than meets the eye as she storms off. I thought this exchange was telling, and it plants some seeds for Umiri’s character development. I especially want to see how she will influence Ave Mujica’s reunion, if it happens.
Surprisingly, Uika was missing entirely from episode 6, but it did show Nyamu’s reaction to the Mutsumi incident. Despite Nyamu’s friendly, and lack for a better word, goofy nature, it’s apparent that Ave Mujica’s disbandment made her bitter. The past few episodes have only show glimpse of what she’s doing, so I really can’t wait to see Nyamu’s inner demons eventually come unbound once the time is right.
MyGO!!!!! is the All-Important Key
The end of the episode shows Sakiko fall deeper into her own despair as she pretends to not know Mutsumi, Ave Mujica, or any of the MyGO!!!!! members. In a rather ironic way, the scene shifts to Mortis, who talks to Soyo about how Sakiko treated Mutsumi and locked her away. Despite that, it appears that Mutsumi is slowly but surely regaining herself, and Mortis continuously pushes her back into her comfort zone.
Soyo decides to visit Sakiko’s apartment, but she’s startled by Sakiko’s drunk father and returns to MyGO!!!!! the following day at school. There, she learns about Sakiko’s current behavior, and the rest of the members believe both Sakiko and Mutsumi are acting very similarly, drawing a parallel between them. Soyo is angered that Sakiko would say she doesn’t know Mutsumi or her bandmates, ending the episode on a cliffhanger.
Overall, I was thoroughly pleased with Ave Mujica episode 6 since MyGO!!!!! was center stage for once. They will be an important key that will get Sakiko back into the right mindset, but first, Mutsumi must break free from her own shell. If the episode 7 preview is anything to go by, then it could happen very soon.
Ave Mujica – The Die is Cast – is streaming right now on Crunchyroll, with new episodes premiering on Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. PST.
