April Fool's Delight: "Mahou Shoujo After the Rain" Returns with New Song, Fans Ecstatic Over Soraruko's Cuteness

On April 1st, "Mahou Shoujo After the Rain," widely known as an alter ego of the popular utaite duo After the Rain, made a surprise release of a "utattemita" (cover song) video for their new track, "Chocolate and Secret Recipe." Posted via Mafumafu's X (formerly Twitter) account, the video featured the singing voices of "Soraruko" and "Mafuyu," immediately flooding social media with an outpouring of joy and astonishment from fans.

The vocal performance of Mahou Shoujo Soraruko, in particular, garnered significant attention. Fans showered her with praise, with comments like, "Her voice is too cute, it made me shout!", "Her vocal quality is much smoother now," "I was surprised by how much cuter she's become than before," and "The way she pulls off the chorus is too beautiful." As for Mafuyu, many expressed admiration for her consistent charm, saying, "Her stable cuteness is reassuring," and "Amazing, I love it, divine, cute, an angel." It was also noted that Soraru handled the mixing for this track, leading to an outpouring of gratitude for his professional work.

The long-awaited return of "Mahou Shoujo After the Rain" sparked an explosion of emotions among fans. Comments included, "I've been waiting for you...", "Soraruko-chan, I've been waiting for youuuu😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭", and "Seeing Mahou Shoujo After the Rain after so long, I realized there's a kind of nourishment you can only get from Soraruko-chan." The video also included a heartwarming message from the magical girls, whose mission is to "protect world peace," stating that they "wanted to see everyone" despite their busy schedules, a gesture that touched many hearts.

Delivered as a special April Fool's Day project, this "utattemita" video was truly a "blessing" for fans (a play on "After the Rain" meaning "ame no ato" or "after rain" in Japanese, which also contains "ame" meaning rain). The word "Soraruko" trending overnight underscored their enduring popularity and high expectations for their future activities.

The Context

After the Rain (AtR): A highly popular Japanese utaite (singer who covers existing songs and uploads them online) duo composed of Soraru and Mafumafu. They are immensely famous in the utaite and net-music community for their unique voices and creative musical arrangements.

Utaite: This term refers to singers who cover existing songs, often Vocaloid tracks or J-pop, and upload their renditions to video-sharing platforms like YouTube or Niconico. Utaite gain a significant following through their distinctive vocal styles and interpretations.

"Mahou Shoujo After the Rain" (魔法少女あふた〜ざ☆れいん): This is a playful alter ego or parody unit of After the Rain. "Mahou Shoujo" translates to "Magical Girl." In this persona, Soraru becomes "Soraruko" and Mafumafu becomes "Mafuyu." Such creative alter-egos are a common and beloved form of fan engagement among Japanese artists and content creators, particularly around special occasions like April Fool's Day.

"Utattemita" (歌ってみた): Literally meaning "tried to sing it," this term refers specifically to cover songs uploaded by utaite, showcasing their vocal talent and interpretation of a track.

April Fool's Day in Japan: Beyond simple pranks, many Japanese companies, artists, and media outlets embrace April Fool's Day as an opportunity for creative, often humorous, and typically wholesome "false announcements" or surprise releases. These initiatives are designed to delight fans rather than deceive them, and the "Mahou Shoujo" release perfectly exemplifies this celebratory tradition.

Soraru / Soraruko & Mafumafu / Mafuyu: Soraru and Mafumafu are the real-life members of After the Rain. Soraruko and Mafuyu are their respective magical girl personas created for this project. Notably, Soraru also took on the role of mixing the track, highlighting his professional involvement even within this lighthearted and creative endeavor.