Toaru Majutsu no Index II Episode 09

"Route Disturb" is the ninth episode of the second season of the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime adaption, and the thirty-third episode overall. It was first aired on December 3, 2010.

Synopsis
With Fukiyose Seiri announcing the start of the event, all hell breaks loose.

As Tokiwadai bombards the students from Minamikawa, Touma and Motoharu rush to participate. The game's objective is to fill baskets on top of massive poles while avoiding being hit by the defending team. Eventually, a ruckus among Minamikawa students causes the poles to topple onto one of the students from Tokiwadai. Touma senses what is going on, and with Motoharu's assist, saves the girl.

Then, as the poles came crashing on to her, a Railgun melts away the poles and averts the situation. There, Misaka Mikoto scolds Touma for participating (despite being from another school). Touma then sees what he and Motoharu are looking for - something taped into the pole just beside Mikoto, and asks her not to get involved, as it was too dangerous. In fact, Touma suspects that thing stuck on one of the poles is the Shorthand.

Soon, Seiri goes to Touma to investigate on what is going on, only for Touma to realize that on Seiri's hand, is the thing Touma is feared to hit anyone on the stadium: the Shorthand.

In an instant, a force knocks away Seiri from the pole where the Shorthand is placed, and a mysterious magic emerges from her body. Motoharu urges Touma to dispel the effects of magic to Seiri and after Touma manages to dispel Oriana's magic on Seiri, she is taken to a hospital for treatment.

Mikoto looks on with puzzled eyes as Touma realizes something: that Oriana Thomson is not considerate of the damage she will inflict to others, and will do anything to complete her duty.

On that moment, Touma finally declares war against Oriana Thomson.

Adapted From

 * Chapter 2 Part 5, 8-9 & Chapter 3

Major Events

 * Touma, Motoharu and Stiyl begin their pursuit of Oriana, with Stiyl and Motoharu incurring considerable damage in their pursuit.
 * Seiri becomes the first civilian victim of Oriana's operations.

Characters
By order of appearance
 * Oriana Thomson
 * Kamijou Touma
 * Tsuchimikado Motoharu
 * Stiyl Magnus
 * Index
 * Tsukuyomi Komoe
 * Fukiyose Seiri
 * Misaka Mikoto

New Characters

 * Kongou Mitsuko

Abilities

 * Imagine Breaker - Kamijou Touma
 * Shorthand - Oriana Thomson
 * Soil Symbol: Unknown magic that alters ground
 * Wind Symbol: Counter Spell
 * Rune magic - Stiyl Magnus
 * Several unnamed esper abilities
 * Electromaster (Railgun-variant) - Misaka Mikoto, Level 5

New Abilities

 * All-around Reality Circle - Tsuchimikado Motoharu, Stiyl Magnus
 * Counterspell - Oriana Thomson
 * Divination Circle - Tsuchimikado Motoharu, Stiyl Magnus

Locations

 * Academy City
 * District 7

New Locations

 * Minamikawa Middle
 * Automated Bus Maintenance Terminal

Trivia

 * This episode marks Kongou Mitsuko's debut in the main Toaru Majutsu no Index anime storyline.
 * The number of both school participants have been divided by 10 where there are supposed 200 student for Tokiwadai in the novel but there is only 20 student in the anime.
 * Touma actually refers to Mikoto by name in this episode rather than by saying "you" or "Biri Biri."

Referbacks

 * Mikoto references the punishment game with her and Touma, that was setup an episode ago.

Cultural References

 * Stiyl references sorcerers, which has a similar definition to a magician, however, his wording implies that they are different and are possibly superior to a magician.

Animation Trivia

 * During the scene where Motoharu's back is focused when he was trying to bandage his injuries, the blood that came out of his left temple is missing.
 * Touma and Motoharu somehow switched positions right after Tokiwadai assault the Minamikawa students during the ball tossing competition.
 * When the paramedics are taking Seiri away, before a close-up to her face, one can see that the stretcher is missing Seiri's body.
 * This episode features a slight animation change to the ending theme, Magic∞world.