Kikansha no Mahou wa Tokubetsu desu Season 2 Interview: Terashima Takuma & Suzushiro Sayumi Talk Growth

The TV anime Kikansha no Mahou wa Tokubetsu desu Season 2 will begin airing in October 2026. The story follows Desir, who has lived through the destruction of the world at the hands of the worst calamity, the ‘Shadow Labyrinth.’ He returns to 13 years in the past and works with his companions to change the future. In Season 2, after Desir and his friends have overcome their school life and trials together, new powerful enemies and a harsh fate stand before them.

Terashima Takuma, who plays Desir, and Suzushiro Sayumi, who plays Romantica, sat down for an interview. They discussed how the characters have grown since Season 1, what they kept in mind during recording, the relationship between Desir and Romantica, and—echoing the series’ time-travel theme—the one moment in their lives they would go back to if they could.

Terashima Takuma, Suzushiro Sayumi

Interview and text by Yoneda Kaori; photography by Fujita Ayumi.

Romantica Has ‘Grown Up,’ While Desir Tends to Be ‘Heroic’: Growth Seen in Season 2

— In Season 1, Desir and his companions built trust and grew together. Now that recording for Season 2 is finished, what scenes from Season 1 stand out most when you look back?

Suzushiro: When I rewatched Season 1, the scene where Romantica first meets Desir made me think, ‘So that’s how it was!’ It felt nostalgic. In her debut episode, while competing with everyone, she was running but her eyes wandered to something cute. Seeing that, I felt a little sentimental, thinking, ‘Romantica used to be so busy and flustered, and now she’s grown up this much.’ (laughs)

Terashima: It really was like that at first. (laughs) But because they met, had all kinds of interactions, and overcame problems together, the bond between them as companions grew. As Desir, rather than thinking, ‘Let’s do this together,’ his goal was to make each person grow.

Suzushiro: It was close to spartan training, though. (laughs)

Terashima: Desir in Season 1 strongly felt like he was in a teacher’s position. (laughs) That’s why the scenes where each character cleared their own challenge left a big impression. Romantica became able to control magic, and Pram properly noticed the secret of his sword. By overcoming each wall one by one, they were able to build such a strong bond.

— Suzushiro mentioned that Romantica had ‘grown up.’ When recording for Season 2, did you do anything to recall the characters?

Suzushiro: When I watched Season 1 all at once, I thought my voice sounded a little… younger. (laughs) After that, I recorded with my current voice and listened back, and it felt lower. I found myself thinking, ‘Wait, was Romantica’s voice really this high?’

Terashima: I’ve had that experience too. In fact, when you play the same role after a few years, it’s a phenomenon that always happens. As you get older, your breathing changes too.

Suzushiro: So that’s how it is…! Back in Season 1, I think my breathing was a little shallow. Because it was shallow, my voice was also a bit higher. Of course, I wasn’t deliberately trying to make it high. As I gained age and experience, I felt my tone and breathing became slower and calmer.

Terashima: That’s proof you’ve gained experience.

Suzushiro: So everyone falls into that phenomenon. I felt a little relieved. (laughs)

Terashima: If someone asked me to do a work from 10 years ago now, it might become something a little different. Your insides have already changed. That happens more and more when you work as a voice actor. Even though I don’t train, my chest area keeps getting bigger. (laughs) It happens naturally. I think it’s the same as athletes. The parts you use develop on their own.

— Were there any differences in direction from Season 1?

Suzushiro: The direction told me clearly, ‘You’ve gotten a little older.’ (laughs)

Terashima: (laughs)

Suzushiro: They said something like, ‘Haven’t you become more like an older sister?’ (laughs) But in Season 2, Romantica herself has grown, so I wanted to hint at a slight older-sister quality. At the same time, I tried to adjust little by little so that the ‘Romantica-ness’ viewers felt in Season 1 would remain.

Terashima: In my case, maybe because of my natural disposition or how I was raised, I tend to become heroic. I’ve watched and performed in a lot of robot and hero works. (laughs)

In Season 1, that was pushed down quite darkly. I received a lot of direction like ‘Don’t raise your voice too flashily’ and ‘Don’t turn toward the light.’ Desir had a strong drive for revenge over what was lost.

But in Season 2, there is a sense of security after everyone has overcome their walls, and bonds are born from that. So, even half-unconsciously, when I thought, ‘Was that a little too bright?’ or ‘Did I push too hard?’ those takes were often approved as they were.