Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 044

"Opening" (開会) is the 44th chapter of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun manga series.

Synopsis
At the opening ceremony of the Daihaseisai, Shokuhou Misaki and Sogiita Gunha give the opening pledge. Watching them are the teachers Watanabe and Tsukuyomi Komoe. However, Gunha forgets part of the pledge and begins improvising in his usual style. Misaki tries to keep to the script, but Gunha disrupts the event by creating an explosion with his power. The ceremony comes to an end and Misaki comments that she was beaten.

Saten recounts the nature of the Daihaseisai to Uiharu and explains the urban legend of Shadow Metal: the clash between many different esper abilities can supposedly create a metal that doesn't naturally exist. Saten is eager to find and sell off this metal, but a wheelchair-bound Kuroko approaches and scolds her for spreading such rumors. Saten distracts Kuroko by pointing out that Mikoto is competing right now (and being shown on a nearby screen).

Mikoto is taking part in the three-legged race, with her partner being Kongou Mitsuko. At the start of the race, the pair from Airin Girls' High School entangles the others in bandages to slow them down and get a lead. The other pairs break free using various means (Mikoto uses an iron sand sword to cut herself and Kongou loose) and start running as well.

The Airin pair are in the lead but fall for a trap set by another pair: hamsters, controlled by the pair from Ninoudefuzoku Middle School, waiting in the trees to ambush other contestants. The hamsters aim to cut the band between the Airin girls' legs, which would disqualify them, but mistakenly cut and remove their panties instead. This does prevent the girls from moving further. The hamsters are ineffectual against the other pairs: the Habatobi High School pair simply knock them away while the hamsters avoid the Tokiwadai pair (due to Mikoto's emission of EM waves).

Characters

 * Shokuhou Misaki
 * Sogiita Gunha
 * Watanabe
 * Misaka 10032 (cameo)
 * Misaka Mikoto
 * Kamijou Touma (cameo)
 * Kongou Mitsuko
 * Saten Ruiko
 * Uiharu Kazari
 * Shirai Kuroko
 * Awatsuki Maaya (cameo)
 * Wannai Kinuho (cameo)
 * Keitz Nokleben (cameo)
 * Ringlet curl girl (cameo)
 * Misaka Misuzu

New Characters

 * Tsukuyomi Komoe
 * Aoki
 * Pirate radio DJ (as the first race commentator)
 * Kumokawa Seria (as the second race commentator)
 * Amime
 * Todoroki
 * Kotarou
 * Xochitl
 * MEMBER's Professor (voice only)
 * Fukiyose Seiri

Trivia

 * A final scene where Misaka Mikoto, Saten Ruiko, and Uiharu Kazari meet with Misaka Misuzu was present in the original magazine release but was cut from the Volume 7 release. It appears at the beginning of Chapter 45 in Volume 8.

Referbacks

 * Xochitl is surprised to see Saten Ruiko, who doesn't seem to remember her. They had meet previously in the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS: Liberal Arts City.