Tsukuyomi Komoe

Tsukuyomi Komoe (月詠 小萌) is a character first introduced in Toaru Majutsu no Index. She is the homeroom teacher of Year 1 Class 7 of A Certain High School.

Although looking like a twelve-year-old child, she is one of the oldest adults known in the series. Beyond both her childish appearance and her demeanor lies a very competent teacher who cares for her students, and one of the few characters who knows Touma well enough before his memory loss.

Etymology
Tsukuyomi Komoe's surname reading is derived from the, an ancient moon god of Shinto in Japanese mythology. Her given name however, is an aptronym as the character (小) means small and the character (萌) means .

Appearance
With a height of only 135 centimeters, pink hair and eyes, as well as her apparent fondness to wearing cute and childish outfits (though this may be due to the fact that there aren't any clothes for her size), most people see Komoe as a 12 year old child. This isn't helped by the fact that Komoe often acts childishly.

In volume 9, it is said by Yomikawa Aiho that Komoe, being a teacher even older than herself, looks scarily fitting in cheerleading clothes, and in the author notes that up to that point in volume 5, she was the oldest female character in the novel.

It is later assumed by Accelerator, upon meeting her, that Komoe was part of an experiment of finding a way to stop cellular aging, and notes that Komoe may be a testament to the success of the experiment. However, because of her mysterious appearance despite being an actual adult, Komoe is referred to as one of the seven wonders of Academy City. This has become an urban legend in Academy City, something that even she is quite aware of; that her appearance is because she is a product of an experiment in the Imaginary Number District.

Personality
Despite her childish appearance, childish voice and often childish mannerisms, it is evident that she is an adult by the fact that her apartment is littered with beer cans, cigarettes and neuropsychology books. She is also allowed to drive, despite her short stature. Komoe is such a heavy smoker that Yomikawa Aiho (also a heavy smoker), a friend and colleague of hers, states that Komoe smokes five times as she does.

She contradicts her age sometimes by acting in a childish manner towards her students and having a child-like crush on Touma. Though despite her looks, she hates people mentioning the word "small" to her, yet likes people to call her "cute".

According to Stiyl, Komoe's personality is much akin to that of Index: "A petite figure, extremely naïve, one who gets angry for others sake, one who cries for others sake, one who has magical knowledge, but is unable to use magic. That tearful look when she was dyed in other people’s blood was exactly the same". Despite being a heavy smoker herself, Komoe scolds Stiyl for smoking, apparently knowing full well he is underage.

She is a highly competent teacher, being a teacher of chemistry, an expert in pyrokinesis, as well as being knowledgeable in the area of the Power Curriculum Program, Personal Reality and Esper development. However, Komoe knows when to not pry on the affairs of others especially regarding her students if they choose not to talk it out with her even if it is her responsibility as a teacher and an adult. She is somehow fond of taking in students with no place to go to, reasoning that is because of her “soul as an educator”, such as Himegami Aisa until she moves into a dormitory later in the series, and then Musujime Awaki. In fact, it has been stated that she actually goes out of her way to go to places where run away girls go to and allow them to live in her place a freeloader. Even in the first arc, Komoe allows Index and Touma to stay in her home without hassle. This may be slightly correlated to the fact that the freeloaders who live in her apartment end up cooking for her, making her feel like royalty, in the process.

Komoe is passionate about teaching but has a weakness, that weakness being the fact that she’ll feel extremely dejected whenever she feels she has lost an opportunity to teach others, like when she is told Kamijou Touma is ignoring her lesson, tearing up before the entire class. She also "threatens" her students to learn occasionally, as she has a punishment game for class where they must play and win ten rounds of Poker in a row while being blindfolded. This is also shown in Volume 9 when she wanted to teach Index how to use chopsticks.

Background
Very little is known about Komoe, what is known about her is that she properly graduated from a university and then turned up in Academy City. Accelerator upon meeting Komoe concludes that she may be the result on the research to slow down cell aging, apparently 250 year method. While Last Order hypothesizes that Komoe may have been captured the rumors regarding research to slow down cell aging. It is unknown whether or not their hypotheses has any basis.

Komoe also knows Touma very well and states in her own words that he was naughty boy when he enrolled, and "a lot of things have happened". She also states later on that she likes him, though she tries to take it back and states that she likes teaching him.

Due to her short stature, and apparent fact that she is of legal age, Komoe has her own custom car that allows her to drive it through the use of buttons and a joystick.

Index Arc
Komoe plays an important part during the arc, as being the only person that Touma knows personally that isn't an esper. Touma brings an injured Index to her. Here, despite her doubts and fears, John's Pen Mode Index instructs Komoe exactly on how to perform a magic healing ritual, though she fumbles a bit she is able to properly perform the ritual with Index as the spellcaster and heal her.

Komoe later allows Touma and Index to take refuge in to her home, allowing Touma to keep the true trouble they are in, as she does not want to pry into their lives. Komoe later finds an injured Touma on the street after his beating by Kanzaki Kaori and takes him back to her home.

For the rest of the arc, Komoe stays in a certain bathhouse and gives Touma knowledge which eventually helps him free Index from the misery of losing memories every year, at the cost of his own. Komoe's roof is obliterated after the arc.

Sisters Arc
For most of the arc, Komoe delivers various information regarding the Power Curriculum Program while Touma confronts Mikoto and eventually Accelerator.

Here, she explains to Himegami Aisa (who has moved in with her) and Index on how espers gain their powers through the program by attaining their own Personal Reality, as well as the goal of understanding the will of the heaven's -- SYSTEM. She also explains on how Level 0s like Touma are anomalies in the program, as is one of the reasons why the program is continually being improved. She also states on how Touma was a naughty boy in the past, in an embarrassed manner, much to Index and Aisa's chagrin.

Angel Fall Arc
Komoe is seen briefly during this arc, telling Touma to leave Academy City temporarily after his defeating of Accelerator, while the higher-ups clean up the rumors in order for Touma to not become the target of delinquent attacks wanting to beat Touma for defeating Accelerator.

Komoe's form is later borrowed by a reporter due to the effects of Angel Fall.

Kazakiri Hyouka Arc
Komoe once again aids Touma during one of his escapades. Here, Komoe tells Touma of the true nature of Kazakiri Hyouka being an amalgam of AIM dispersion fields of espers, and giving him the resolve to conclude that it does not matter whether or not she is human, so long as they are friends.

Komoe with Aisa later scold Touma for being another dangerous incident in a certain hospital.

Daihasei Festival Arc
Komoe first appears during the Daihaseisai as a cheerleader for her class, and is later taunted for having students that poorly perform, which causes her to feel bad. Because of this however, Touma and a certain class do their best to defeat their opponents, much to Komoe's surprise.

Komoe later takes a wandering Index who wants to support Touma during the festival and had her wear a cheerleader uniform similar to hers. Touma later accidentally walks into Index changing, which forces her to bite him, however, she misses and gives Touma an accidental kiss. Komoe however, witnesses all this and is shocked. Touma is later taken away by Fukiyose Seiri. Komoe continues to console Index after the incident.

She later comes upon Stiyl Magnus trying to smoke and scolds him for it, making Aisa concerned who calls Touma's attention. She is later stopped by Aisa when Stiyl escapes for his mission. Because of this, Komoe later spends time with Aisa, to which a concerned Aisa ask about Touma. Here, Komoe later suggests to Aisa to take Touma to the Night Parade. Later however, Komoe and Aisa accidentally bumps into Oriana Thomson, who mistakes Aisa for being a member of Necessarius as she wore a Walking Church. Oriana attacks her, causing Aisa to be heavily injured, forcing a completely distraught Komoe to apply first aid on her. When Touma and Stiyl arrive at the scene, she has already prepared to try to recreate Index's magic healing ritual, instead of moving on Stiyl helps Komoe to do the ritual properly despite his inexperienced with the spell, and tells Touma to go on without. A trusting Touma leaves Aisa's life at his hands.

Stiyl and Komoe were later successful in healing Aisa whom they send to a certain hospital, much to Komoe's relief as she continually tries to give thanks to Stiyl, irritating him as he tries to escape her.

Finally, Komoe reports to Touma's parents regarding his absences in the events, and apologizes for her inadequacy. However, Touma's parents tell her that it is alright as they believe Touma is doing something more important than the events, and believes in his decision completely.

Academy City Invasion Arc
Komoe appears during a ruckus in Year 1 Class 7, and later accompanies Yomikawa Aiho to meet Accelerator and Last Order, where Aiho regards Accelerator as a prospective student for a certain high school. During their meeting both Accelerator and Last Order give hypotheses regarding Komoe's current form, which frustrates her as she believes they're not taking her seriously.

During the final moments of the invasion of Vento of the Front, Komoe is the first one Touma tries to contact for help regarding Kazakiri Hyouka who has now transformed into an artificial angel. However, there is no answer as Komoe herself has been affected by Divine Punishment, making her lose consciousness.

Skill-Out Uprising
In the aftermath of the invasion, Komoe mentions to Aiho on how she has taken in a certain Musujime Awaki into her home. Later she and her entire class along with Index, go to restaurant to enjoy a hotpot. Here, Komoe shows her concern for parents opting to take their children away from the city since an apparent war between the Roman Catholic Church and Academy City is boiling.

Document of Constantine
With Aiho out for the Interceptor Show and her Anti-Skill duties, Komoe does her lesson plan for her, as well as other Anti-Skill teachers as well. She comes into the faculty room and makes Oyafune Suama enamored on her youthful appearance and wonders how Komoe did it. Then, Komoe apologizes for her students' behavior and asks her what happened to them. Realizing she forgot about them and the time getting late, she excuses herself to check on them.

Acqua of the Back Arc
She is in the faculty room as her class begins to starve due to lack of lunch. Here, as Touma pleads his case to open the culinary classroom, she is shown eating a 580-yen soba set, and along with the lunch of her fellow teachers, has Touma leaving with in irritation.

British Royal Family Arc
Komoe makes a brief appearance where she enters her homeroom to discuss with her class what their roles for the Ichihanaransai. Aisa, who is determined to stand out more and was just encouraged by Touma, becomes disheartened at the sight of Komoe, practically a person who stands out the most in their entire class.

Homecoming Arc
Komoe sees Touma as he was drunk and scolds him for skipping school and having the nerve to have a night walk, later many other girls come along in the scene, much to Misaka Mikoto's chagrin. After she was told by Birdway's men leave Touma alone for the time being, she was later seen talking to Aisa about him, saying that even with extra lessons in winter break, he'll still be in trouble, and worries on what is preoccupying Touma's mind instead of going to class. Aisa gives her opinion on how Touma not going to class may be a method in defeating a dragon, to which Komoe states that it not going to be helpful in life, and he should at least fill his head with useful knowledge.

Ichihanaran Festival Arc
Tsukuyomi Komoe first appears after Fukiyose Seiri drags Touma back to the school. She tells Touma that his absences has reached the point in which homework and supplementary lessons can't cover it. She asks Touma if there are any problems he is facing that may be the reason for his absences, and later asks why he is so beat up (as Touma could not protect himself from his surroundings as Seiri taped him up while she dragged him). As Misaka Mikoto visits Touma's school, Komoe meets Mikoto for the first time, though, despite knowing that Misaka Mikoto is a Level 5, she doesn't know what Mikoto looks like. Here, Komoe tells her that being an unofficial visitor to the school is not allowed by Anti-Skill. However, Mikoto completely ignores her, and assumes that, since she looks like a child, that she too is a visitor like her. Komoe is flabbergasted as Mikoto assumes that she is an elementary student and refers to her as such. As Mikoto is impressed by Touma's school's preparations despite its modest accommodations, she and Mikoto overhear Seiri shouting that Touma has been arrested by Anti-Skill (due to his little scuffle with Thor earlier).

As Touma and Thor break into the school to finish their plans against GREMLIN and Ollerus' group, Komoe is with Seiri, noting on how Touma is still missing, despite Yomikawa Aiho reporting that Touma has already been released from Anti-Skill custody.

Magic God Othinus Arc
In the first recreation of the world by Othinus, known as the Version_Alpha world in-text, where she has changed the entire perspective of the world to make Touma into the world's enemy and thus break his spirit, the alliance formed to combat her and GREMLIN in Touma's original world is an international coalition that is set out to kill Touma. When Touma first arrives through Othinus' powers, he discovers that Tokyo has been invaded by the coalition in order to eliminate him, ravaging Japan's capital greatly with 70% of its 23 special wards destroyed.

Komoe is in the deeper part of Shibuya Station's underground tunnels, allowing her to avoid the two bombings of the station by the international coalition antagonistic to Touma and everyone who knows him. She is apparently somehow part of the evacuation of students from Academy City. Her first appearance in this world is to stab the already injured Touma with a kitchen knife. Touma is shocked to find that it was Komoe that stabbed him as she was not the type of person who could do it. Still calling him "Kamijou-chan", Komoe apologizes to Touma as she decides to try and stab him again with Touma no longer having the energy to defend himself. He collapses to the floor as Komoe says that after seeing all the horrible things happening to the class, she had to take responsibility.

While Komoe approaches Touma, continually apologizing to him, he catches a glimpse of his parents being put into trial for the crime of conceiving him and later finds them denouncing him as an evil and should be killed to make amends for their mistake. Hearing this and after the people in the court reacting positively to that comment, Touma falls into despair in his final moments in that world. Othinus once again appears before Touma just before Komoe stabs him again, freezing time before she could push the knife on him. She asks Touma if there was actually someone who saw him for who he was. She states that she created a world where people had a different point of view. She then tries to break him by telling him that people were not actually looking at him and that they do not see him for who he is and that is the reason why they were easily manipulated by changing their point of view. She then asked him if this kind of world is worth risking his life to protect, to which Touma responded that it is. She then realized that she could not break him that easily and decided for a slight change of plans. At a snap of her fingers, time sped back to normal and Komoe proceeded to kill Touma.

In the second recreation of the world by Othinus, known as the Version_Beta world in-text, where another "Kamijou Touma" exists living Touma's life. Komoe first appears right after Index arrives to complain about her lunch, and sees "Kamijou Touma's" roughhousing with Aogami Pierce and Tsuchimikado Motoharu, leading to "Touma" getting stuck in a duct opening, surprised on how he got there. Aogami then believes that the duct may lead to the girls' locker room, while Motoharu ponders how Komoe was able to tell it was "Kamijou Touma". He later falls after much struggling and later writhes in pain, much to the shouting of his classmates. "Touma" later negotiates with Index to later have a luxurious dinner of a scraped together lunch there.

Magic God Invasion Arc
Komoe only appears briefly in the story, advising Touma to play his part as a "criminal" in the Anti-Crime Orientation really well in order to get points to make up for all the time Touma has skipped school, worried that he may be held back. It is also mentioned that Komoe's alcohol intake has secretly gone up, perhaps due to Touma.

World Rejecter Arc
As Kamisato Kakeru and his faction use one of the apartments in the building where Komoe lives in as a safehouse, she becomes their neighbor. She and the other tenants later become curious about Kakeru and the others because of the stench of Ellen's terrible cooking. She ends up helping them deal with it, much to their amazement.

Salome Arc
On December 4th, with their school unusable due to damage from the High Priest's rampage, Komoe and her students moved to a nearby middle-high school to have classes in the schools' spare classrooms.

Level Upper Arc
In the final episode regarding the arc for the anime adaptation, Komoe teaches an entire classroom full of Level Upper users regarding Personal Reality. Here, she encourages them to gain their own personal reality in order for them to truly gain the powers that the Level Upper has showed them.

Poltergeist Arc
She appears in an episode focusing on Tessou Tsuzuri, where she, Tsuzuri and Aiho enjoy baths and eat outs together. Here, Komoe references the destruction of roof of her room by a certain student, but states on how she loves students like him as well.

Silent Party Arc
Komoe gets a non-speaking appearance in the anime-original arc. Here, she cooks up some cup noodles for Aiho while she stays with her after being suspended by Anti-Skill after snooping around too much regarding STUDY.

Daihasei Festival Arc
She watches the opening ceremony of the Daihaseisai with Watanabe. They agree that it was less than successful.

Toaru Majutsu no Index: Love Letter Competition
Fukiyose Seiri thinking that it would be a bit of hassle, decides to give Komoe the "love letter" Kumokawa Seria gave for Kamijou Touma instead. Much to her chagrin, she is forced to deliver it, but is at least accompanied by the teasing Yomikawa Aiho. Her indignation regarding the letter is overheard by Misaka Mikoto, and the letter itself is blow away from Komoe and coincidentally towards Mikoto's direction.

Toaru Majutsu no Index: Road to Endymion
Komoe appears only momentarily. Here she teaches Touma in one of his supplementary lessons regarding the categorization of esper powers between PK or ESP. Index later appears and asks Komoe to explain to her what electromagnetic waves mean. She tries to explain it to Index on how the microwave over uses electromagnetic waves to vibrate things to make it hotter, to which Index tries to do with a bucket of water but obviously fails in doing so, leading to Index dismayed that Komoe is stupid, much to her chagrin. Komoe demands Touma to clear things up with Index, to which he gives Index an extremely simplified version of it, referencing their preoccupation with the Gate of the Gods Come from the Heavens using Agni's Festival Fire in Academy City. Komoe becomes worried, but since the bell already rang, Touma and Index quickly leave.

Toaru Majutsu no Index Movie: Miracle of Endymion
Komoe first in a certain high school for class. Here, she discovers that Touma is too listless to bother with class, and punishes him by having stay later than the others.

Touma later calls Komoe after Meigo Arisa was abducted by Stiyl and his witches. Here, she provides transportation for Touma as she follows Stiyl's flight, and is clearly scared of the explosions that occur due to Stiyl's battle with the Black Crow Unit.

Toaru Majutsu no Index-tan
Komoe appears in the first episode of Toaru Majutsu no Index-tan, here in the first skit she appears is a parody of her the magic healing ritual she performs with Index. Similar to Index's instructions, Index-tan instructs Komoe to summon an image of angel during the ritual, she succeeds only to summon images of poorly drawn angels, as if drawn by a child. In another sketch during Index's visit of Komoe's home during Touma's in the Sisters Arc. Komoe continually tells Aisa on how the ingredients are now cooked, which forces Aisa to respond, while eating the meat for herself, much to Aisa's dismay since she wants meat herself.

In the second episode Aogami Pierce relates to a disbelieving Touma regarding a car that drives itself. Here, Komoe's car appears apparently driving itself while Komoe does spooky sounds.

Near the end of the third episode, Komoe is given a label above her head during the Daihasei festival (after a certain high school), on how she is apparently was not mentioned at all during the special.

In the fourth episode, Komoe and Aiho arrive in front of the class that Komoe usually teaches and the pink-haired teacher is shocked by the chaos inside the classroom. After entering, the students ask what kind of bra she wears, back or front. Komoe replies that she doesn't wear one because she wears a training bra.

Toaru Kagaku no Railgun MMR Specials
In the first episode, in a scene somewhat similar to her second skit of the first Index-tan episode, Komoe, Aiho and Tsuzuri enjoys a night together in Komoe's home, here, Aiho comments on how Tsuzuri cannot have meat since she gets into trouble, later the conversation later involves Aiho's apparent fondness for the word jan, a verbal tic of hers, which later uses to cite examples of subjects that has the sound of jan in them, while Komoe for some reason is being noisy.

Dengeki Gakuen RPG: Cross of Venus
Komoe is part of the characters from the Index universe that acts in the game as part of the support cast.

Abilities
Komoe is apparently a normal human and not an esper, which allowed her to cast magic. Komoe has magical knowledge which allows her to perform the magic healing ritual that Index taught her during the arc, it is the only spell she knows. However, despite her knowledge she needs assistance of an actual magician for her to perform the spell.

Apart from that, Komoe is knowledgeable in esper related things, and is a major in Pyrokinesis. Komoe can apparently control her internal clock, which is so perfect that she doesn't see the need of having any digital nor mechanical watch.

Design evolution
Komoe had the least revisions in her design. Her preliminary draft stuck through for the first volume, and her short stature allowed her to easily fit in with the light novel format illustrations.

By volume 12, Komoe became affected by deformed artstyle that Haimura has for the characters.

Trivia

 * She is aware of Kamijou's Imagine Breaker, even disclosing that fact to Yomikawa Aiho.
 * She mentions that Touma may emit some sort of AIM dispersal field that causes girls to always appear near him, and complains that when it comes to girls, his movement and thinking ability will improve many times over.

Quotes

 * (During Volume 1) “I know I shouldn’t ask in this situation, but do you dislike girls who smoke?” - to Touma, as he's seeing the mess in her room.
 * (During Volume 3) “Well, Kamijou has been quite naughty ever since he came to the school. A lot has happened. Yes, a lot. Hee hee. Hee hee hee hee”
 * (During Volume 6) “Why is it that when it comes to girls, Kamijou’s movements and thinking ability improves by multi-fold times? Sensei hopes that you can use that on your studies!”