Kumokawa Seria

Kumokawa Seria (雲川 芹亜) is a side character in the Toaru Majutsu no Index series. She is a third-year student attending A Certain High School and is described as a genius. She's currently employed by Kaizumi Tsugutoshi, one of the twelve members of Academy City's Board of Directors, as his advisor.

Appearance
She is called a “beauty senpai” by her kouhai students as a tribute to her attractive looks, which feature shoulder-length black hair, fringe tied back, and a fine body with an exceedingly ample bosom.

She commonly wears a school-issued sailor uniform with its standard skirt changed for a “defensive” long one. Her navel is readily observable in the gap between her blouse and skirt. She is smart and athletic, and looks so accordingly.

She supposedly needn't worry about money, only needing red tea to go along with cake. Although an adolescent, she could taste the difference between brandy's; she even wouldn't look out of place should she drive around in a sports car. Of course, the latter descriptions were just an impression others would get when they look at all.

Personality
She is considered to be a very manipulative and calculating person who thinks of the big picture many times. Often than not, people whom she works with feel she is a force to be reckoned with. At other times she can be seen as aloof or arrogant in her manners (something which got Fukiyose Seiri very angry). She seems to enjoy teasing people at times, as Kamijou Touma experienced himself, and once saying that Seiri copied her looks.

While she can be ruthless, she is a good person and tries her best to stop the tragedies she knows about and regrets when she couldn't stop.

Background
It is unknown when and how Seria became a "brain" for a director but in a conversation with Director Tsugutoshi, she apparently chose to be an upperclassmen with a school life meaning she had a different form of occupation. In Tsuchimikado Motoharu's conversation with Yakumi Hisako, he states that Tsugutoshi has "tamed" her.

She's very knowledgeable in things happening on the Science side, knowing about Deep Blood, Imagine Breaker, and the Level 6 Shift Project. Personally she's very interested in Touma and his ability Imagine Breaker. She likewise respects Touma for all the tragedies he managed to stop, while being depressed that she couldn't do anything despite knowing about them and having a position of power.

Despite not showing any visible powers, it is most likely she had gone through the Power Curriculum Program due to the fact that she goes to A Certain High School. It’s been implied by Tsugutoshi that she may have been quite close to Touma before his memory loss.

The Second Friday of July
Kumokawa Seria is in her school's cafeteria, sleeping on chairs put together. After being reprimanded by a teacher without anyone around, she communicates using a handheld terminal to communicate with Kaizumi Tsugutoshi, while still lying on the chairs. Starting their "dangerous" talk, Seria references the commotion outside regarding the Gemstones, to which he confirms. Though the director wonders aloud at where Seria gets her information, she dismisses the comment saying that he should be thankful that his "brain" is that excellent. Tsugutoshi then asks her what are her thoughts about the whole situation, to which Seria says that they should leave it be as the people on the outside really can't do anything. Tsugutoshi is skeptical at this plan to which Seria sighs, and says that if a member of the board of directors like him were to write that report, he could simply suppress complaints of the report around him. Tsugutoshi complains however that bureaucracy isn't that easy, though she says that as bureaucratic positions go his is pretty important.

Seria however acquiesces to Tsugutoshi's request as she begins eating in the cafeteria. Seria then mentions the list of Gemstones, and states that since it has been created a little late then America and Russia have noticed that Academy City is making it, ending up with them making the list of Gemstones on their own. She then warns that they might get in the way of their work. Tsugutoshi says that if she knew that then she shouldn't have suggested "leaving it be" just then. Seria tries to confirm if their problems are finding a way to eliminate the problem presented by Gemstones scattered around the world, and other organizations gathering and analyzing Gemstones and creating their own esper development program, to which Tsugutoshi does. Seria says that it isn't a problem that America and Russia are on the move, and mocks their failure in the Cold War, and assuredly says to Tsugutoshi that the two great powers will be unable to complete their research regardless of the amount of samples they gather as they don't even know what the data means. Tsugutoshi asks how she can be so sure. Seria gives Russia's research as an example, where they have a person activate their special power by fervently praying to Mary. Here, Seria tells him that the Russians can't distinguish between what is "miraculous" or what is not, and that they don't even know what kind of miraculous thing they are searching for. Basically saying that since the Americans and Russian don't even know what path they are going, they can never catch up to them. Still adamant to accept it, Tsugutoshi demands proof from Seria, to which she says that he has to prepare the proof himself. Seria references that despite the claims of a number of institutions developing esper powers, Gemstones, their supposed "sample", are rare. Essentially telling him that it is unlikely for anyone to gather up the few Gemstones scattered around the world.

Tsugutoshi is still hesitant however, to which Seria says that it is the only option and says that he should bear with the extra paperwork as she is his "brain". After a short silence Tsugutoshi then asks what a Gemstone truly is, to which Seria points out that only someone influenced by Academy City would ask a question like that as he always assumed that espers can only be created in Academy City. Tsugutoshi uses the "diamonds" metaphor here, referring to Gemstones as having been created when the exact same circumstances found in the laboratory are recreated in the natural world. He cites the Gemstones of Academy City, Deep Blood and Imagine Breaker, but says that they don't seem like proper powers. He explains it as if their powers lie in a different direction than the straightforward powers in Academy City. Seria adds the 7th-ranked Level 5 esper to his list, and explains to him that Gemstones having strange powers is a characteristic of theirs. She says that though they aren't powerful and are just rare, that alone gives them value to Academy City. Finally, Seria advises Tsugutoshi one more time as his brain, saying that he shouldn't categorize the Imagine Breaker as a Gemstone. She says that she doesn't know the details but she says that he is much more interesting than they think. Remaining silent for a bit as he was surprised that Seria said that she "didn't know" something, Tsugutoshi says that Seria seems to be enjoying herself. Here, Seria replies that she does because thinking is part of her job.

After school, Seria sees Kamijou Touma having the misfortune of having the sprinkler malfunction and having it spray water on him. Seria just laughs at him and says that the most meaningless things always happen to him, to which Touma tells her to shut up and says that is just his usual misfortune. Seria replies, saying that if Touma looks into how his misfortune works then he might be able to find an interesting set of rules behind it. Touma then says that Seria seems to be enjoying herself, to which she confirms, saying that she is and because of things like Touma's misfortune that she loves life so much. With a giggle, she concludes that the school is overflowing with exciting things.

The Second Friday of October
Kaizumi Tsugutoshi invites Kumokawa Seria into his fancy home for a conference with a CIA agent on his home theater system. After complaining of his expensive taste, the conference starts with the CIA agent explaining to them that the recent spate of simultaneous targeting of Gemstones all over the world has nothing to do with the CIA. The CIA agent explains that even though the CIA started the Stargate Project in the past to create their own espers for military purposes, but says the recent incidents have nothing to do with them. He then advises them to look over the organizations that are involved and then they will see that he is telling the truth.

Seria says that he is telling the truth, saying that the various academic organizations, scientific thought groups, sports engineering groups, and human trafficking organization that are involved seem to be uninvolved with the CIA and doubts that they are backing them. The CIA agent agrees, saying that just because they are well known doesn't mean they are behind every world conspiracy.

However, Seria points out to the man that for all those organizations targeting Gemstones, there are two CIA spies, surprising the man. She tells him that they noticed the CIA creating a network of their own with the organizations without the organizations even known. She asks him why, saying she doubts the leader of their country approves of their method. The man starts talking, but Seria simply ends the connection.

With that Kaizumi asks what she thinks. Once again, as Seria has stated before, even if they gather and tinker with the Gemstones they will just fail and that they can leave them alone. For the Stargrate Project, she says that it is obtaining the information on the failures of those individual organizations courtesy of its spies there, saying that failures are the seeds of success. She says that if they refer to the data on countless failures to create an outline, they may be able to succeed. Tsugutoshi asks what the odds of them succeeding, to which Seria says 0% and that they need not worry.

Seria explains that even if they fail, they won't know how to use all the data they gathered, putting them in a standstill. Regardless, as long as they don't know that they have failed they will continue to use up the Gemstones. Tsugutoshi is relieved but asks her what they should do now. Seria says to him that he is still naive. He tells that though the organizations will fail on their own, he doesn't like what they are doing to the Gemstones. He then stops referring to them as Gemstones and says that they are kids that happen to have a certain ability. Seria says she has already answered that question. She says that it with only around Gemstones in the world it would be faster to take care of the Gemstones themselves. She advises him to invite them to Academy City as it would be the most efficient method of protecting them from the various organizations. She tells him that his kindness forestalled him as despite thinking the Gemstones as kid who have lives of their own but in the end he did nothing. Tsugutoshi admits he was at fault as well, but now says that she is asking from him something impossible. Tsugutoshi says that the organizations are using the Gemstone list that CIA prepared via different routes than theirs to begin "mining" the children nearby. He tells her that if they dispatch forces they still won't make it in time to stop the "mining" taking place simultaneously across the world.

Seria responds that thought it is true that they won't make it in time even with the help of the supersonic passenger planes, they still have cooperative institutions scattered around the world working with Academy City. Tsugutoshi reasons that the institutions are merely companies and that fewer than 10 of them have military capabilities, as such they would be unfit to lead the rescue of the children. Seria says that it may be true on the surface, but they still have a trick up their sleeve with them. She says that she doesn't like owing favors, but they should bow down to the Frog-faced Doctor for help. Tsugutoshi asks what she is talking about, to which Seria explains that she is going to have to rely on girls with identical faces to fight for them.

Thus begins Academy City's operation to rescue Gemstones of the world.

DRAGON Arc
Seria is briefly mentioned by Tsuchimikado Motoharu when GROUP is on the run and in needing an ally on the Board of Directors to fight against Shiokishi. Here Motoharu rules out Tsugutoshi as an option, since Seria would not be fooled easily and might advise him against helping GROUP.

Homecoming Arc
She meets Touma again when he returns to the city but heavily intoxicated, she is one of the group of girls that follow him back to his dorm only to later leave. It is revealed that during his absence from the city she became lethargic and commented on being regretful neither she nor the director Tsugutoshi could help out Touma despite the fact they had power. After an attempt to re-energize herself, she commented she couldn't keep such appearance even for a conversation as it was hollow and she was not like Shokuhou Misaki to which Tsugutoshi replies she must if she ever wants to resume her connection with Touma implying they knew each other more than it seems at first.

Eve of the Festival
Kumokawa Seria is greeted by her sister, Maria, after she inexplicably comes out during the festival preparations. Seria comments on how it's only because people won't shut up being her turn. Maria thinks this as a veiled insult, and asks if she is talking about the beauty contests being held at various schools for the Ichihanaransai, and curses Seria if her "assets" have grown. Seria notes on how she will not be entering, and that her role is only behind the scenes, as such, she doesn't like standing out too much. Moreover, she states that Shokuhou Misaki will just manipulate the votes using her powers, rendering her entering useless.

Maria then accuses Seria of trying to say that she doesn't stand out a lot, to which Seria just says that it is just a difference in chest size. Maria says that Seria shouldn't become arrogant regarding that, and stop looking down on her. The two then argue about the values between large breasts and flat chests. However, much to Maria's consternation, Seria begins talking about Kihara Kagun, that she deems that Maria loves so much that it gives her nosebleeds, and involves his name in their little breast talk. The talk then transfer to what Maria was doing in Baggage City. Here, she asks if Maria really did fell in love with Kamijou Touma, and states that she will go "full-on soap opera mode." Maria then answers that it is a defamation of her character, and asks where she heard that rumor.

During the Festival
Seria reappears to have change her mind about the swimsuit competition in Eiri High School, though she claims that she doesn't even know how she found herself in the stage in the first place. There, she maintains a distance away from Shokuhou who comments on why she isn't coming near the stage with her, calling her an old woman, to which Seria states that it is used to get out of the range of Shoukuhou's powers.

Agitate Halation Arc
Kumokawa Seria is with Kaizumi Tsugutoshi in School District 3, during the height of Motoharu's quest for vengeance against those who have "killed" his sister, Tsuchimikado Maika. Here, it is shown that they too have been investigating the Agitate Halation Project and the killing of Maika. Seria warns of Motoharu's impending advance towards them after being contacted by him that he is coming and he is serious. Although he predicted that he would come for them, he asks Seria what to do next. Seria states that no matter what they do, Motoharu will always go after them, as such, the only way to deal with him is to confront him head on, telling Tsugutoshi to remove all the normal guards, removing his hiding places.

Seeing him as a threat to their plans to stop Yakumi Hisako's Agitate Halation Project, the both of them is determined to stop Motoharu and his cliched rampage of revenge. Seria says that they need someone to intercept him, and says that she will make preparations in which breaking in the front door is the only route available for him. She then suggests that she herself will suffice, and will use a method that Motoharu will hate the most. Although Motoharu is cautious of the fact that it seems they are luring him in, he predictably enters the only route Seria has given him. There, she confronts him in the entrance hall and says how she thought he would choose this route, the two schoolmates. Motoharu mocks her ineptness as he can simply shoot her from his position and she has no cover. But Seria reiterates her point and blankly states that she has total control over him. Motoharu asks if the Agitate Halation Project is important enough to warrant the "death" of his sister, to which Seria states that she has no obligation to answer him. Motoharu reminds her that he has the Wildcard coccus, but Seria states that Motoharu had no intention of releasing the bacteria in the first place as he didn't have the guts, as is the reason why she isn't wearing a mask and protective suit. Seria notes on how he didn't just scatter it beforehand and even had to contact them saying that he does so as proof of her knowledge, and she was right. Kumokawa Seria has profiled Motoharu before he arrived. Seria points out that Motoharu likes to thinks himself different from other people in the dark side of Academy City, a sense of professionalism that would not allow himself to involve people who are not part of the dark side, as such he will not use W. coccus. Hearing this, Motoharu asks her if he can read his pain, to which Seria says that it is cliched. Motoharu agrees, but warns her that she doesn't everything about him and that even if her data on him is accurate it is still faulty. Seria points out that what he's thinking is because she led him to thinking it. And with that, there is nothing left to discuss between them.

Wanting to quickly eliminate her, Motoharu makes the first move and takes out a fully automatic handgun. He shoots at her, but it did not hit her. Despite his marksmanship, and the fact that Seria did not do any special tricks, none of the bullets hit her as she descends the staircase. She keeps on smiling and asks if he thought that a full automatic weapon would make his "heart" disappear. She tells him that no matter what weapon he wields, so long as it is wielded by human hands, the human hear will bleed through, allowing for it to create an opening that she can take advantage of. Motoharu, annoyed takes a handgun that was rigged to become an explosive. With a range of three meters, the handgun explodes, but Seria remains unscathed, and once again mocks Motoharu. He shoots his handgun on her, trying not to let her advance, but it does not good against her. Kumokawa Seria has analyzed and read every move Tsuchimikado Motoharu has made as well as used her surroundings to influence his decisions. Using her mind, she took control of their "hearts" and made use of their fear to make them lose their true potential. Seria decides to walk leisurely according to rationalizations. Motoharu approached right in front of her, abandoning his weapons and opted for hand to hand combat. However, Motoharu was an open book, and she could read all of his moves, claiming that his status has dropped to the same level as an average high school girl. Suddenly, Motoharu's hand reached out and plucked out her eyeballs. However, despite this, Seria simply mocks at his attempts. With a smile, she revealed a hidden handgun inside her sleeve and shot at Motoharu's gut, making him collapse. Seria points out his flaw, she states that he was the type to slowly savor his revenge, but when he started to eliminate her as quickly as possible, he should have realized that he was being led on by her. With the deed done, Seria tries to call Tsugutoshi on how it is over, and to prepare the parts she had put in Micro Cosmos as a replacement for her missing eye.

Just then however, she felt a strange pressure in her chest. She soon discovers that Motoharu is still alive and that he is using her eyeball for a spell. It is magic, something Seria has no knowledge about on Motoharu, the only missing part in her profile on him. Using her eye as a medium, Motoharu was able to put a curse on Seria and she collapses, a battle won out of simple lack of information.

Seria comes to after Motoharu has left to get to Tsugutoshi. Exhausted, Seria could only move her fingers, she took her phone and used an anonymous address to contact someone who could stop Motoharu. Influenced by Agitate Halation, using all her might she sent a message to someone whom she deemed to be a hero that could stop Motoharu, Kamijou Touma. Before Touma arrives, Seria later withdraws from the building. Much later, her missing eye is replaced.

After the events of the arc, and having her eye successfully replaced, Seria is sent to execute Motoharu for his actions. There on a bridge, he greets asking if her eye is okay, to which she states that it has been eight hours, as such she doesn't feel strange in the eye anymore. With that done, Seria asks him if he is ready, and he confirms it. She takes a large handgun and fires paint rounds on him containing his blood. The force knocked him out into the river. And though, he is still alive, convincing the dark side is all it takes that would allow him not to be attacked again by them as they already have given the sign that they were convinced. It was the etiquette in the dark side of Academy City. Seria then contacts Tsugutoshi to confirm the "kill", he asks if she will recover the body, but states that someone else will pick it up for them, as because the both of them knowing each other may cause strange conspiracy theories if she did, like the execution was an act and that he is still alive. Hearing this, Tsugutoshi states that it would be best to let their enemies pick him up. With that, she ends her call. Her punishment of Motoharu for taking her eye is done, and her sparing of his life by her was because it was thanks for not telling Touma about her.

Shifting and Fluctuating World
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. Both Seria and Maria are first seen walking home together. Ever they busybody, Maria complains about Seiri moving again, but the latter mentions that it is not something to be worried about, much to Maria's chagrin. As they argue about Seria's inherent laziness, Seria mentions that she is relieved that Maria's obsession with working only applies to her, and that she was worried that Maria might live in some guy's house, casually mentioning "Touma" of course. As they argue of who really likes "Touma", he and Index come upon them as they ride a bike. After much arguing, Index slams the breaks and catapults "Touma" out of the bike. This eventually leads to "Touma" falling between Maria's legs, much to both Seria and Index's chagrin. Maria tries to explain to Seria on how she is fine with it because she wears panties for her abilities. As "Touma" is in danger of being bitten by Index, he gives Maria a piggyback ride, his head between her thighs in order to stay Index biting him, knowing that she only bites him. Maria naturally cries out as he does so, and gathered strength in her thighs to keep her balance, annoying her sister Seria. "Touma" tells to Index to calm down or else he won't put Maria down while they shop, though Maria as well doesn't want to be piggybacked either while they're shopping. Index agrees with him, stating that she will have to master some techniques using her arms and legs, much to "Touma's" horror. Seria then mentions on how Maria is grinning a little bit, and casting aside her cool and intellectual demeanor, screams and dropkicks on "Touma's" back. He falls, but Maria manages to land safely. He later ends up in Index's skirt, to which she tells him to prepare himself for some pain. Both Maria and Seria attack him as well afterwards.

In the final recreation of the world by Othinus created specifically to break Touma's spirit, known as the Version_Omega world in-text, where several characters from the original world have been "saved" or have not experienced great tragedy, the now-broken Touma partakes his "last meal" as he decides on the method on how he should kill himself, he sees Seria again, but this time with Misaki. As they usually are, the two of them are arguing after Misaki uses her power to cut in line with elementary students just for a hot-dog.

VS the World
Seria later contacts the Hikoboshi II to inquire to Amano Kaguya on what she is going to do after Academy City decided Kamijou Touma and Othinus should be killed. Here she is teased for being Touma's "ally" and discovers that Kaguya was tasked with firing a cargo at Touma and Othinus' location using the S5.

Daihasei Festival Arc
A small part of her body is shown wearing the A Certain High School's PE uniform during the the three-legged race in which Misaka Mikoto and Kongou Mitsuko competes in. She is a commentator along with the Pirate Radio DJ found in Toaru Jihanki no Fanfare. Here, she refers to herself as "Bare navel headband."

Toaru Majutsu no Index: Love Letter Competition

 * Main article:Toaru Majutsu no Index: Love Letter Competition

Seria is the main character of a short story found in the artbook Rainbow Spectrum Colors by Kiyotaka Haimura, in this story she set ups a plan on where she will catch a spy by using a love letter from her to Kamijou Touma, under the logic that the spy will believe the love letter to be an actual important confidential message from Seria to Touma; for this purpose Seria creates a great ruckus and makes it quite known that she wrote a letter to Touma. At the end of the story not only Kumokawa catches the spy, but it is also slightly hinted that she is aware of Touma's memory loss.

Abilities
Seria has no special powers, but has a very high intellect instead. She is shown to be an extreme planner, in that she orchestrated a plan to catch the spy by using a "love-letter" to deliver to Kamijou Touma, so as to create a ruckus and let the spy think she is delivering secret documents.

She is also said to be an expert in manipulating people's 'hearts', using only words or hypnotic suggestions, making her enemies fear her and create a mistake if they panic. This, combined with her intellect also allows her to predict people's actions. Even against an expert assassin with weapons like Tsuchimikado Motoharu, she was able to control most of the battle until he used Magic, which is outside her knowledge. Seria is also able to apply self suggestion on herself to dilute pain, but she comments that it isn't perfect.

Later on, it is shown that she's physically adept to perform a dropkick with enough strength to send Touma flying while at the same time catching Maria that fell from the air. .

Design evolution
Seria's design remains static throughout the series. Haimura strayed from making look moe, as she has an extreme facial expression that is difficult to convert into a standard moe format.

Quotes

 * (To Kamijou Touma, from SS2): "This school is overflowing with exciting things.”"
 * (To Kaizumi Tsugutoshi, from NT 1): "Kumokawa Seria, the Super JK Tactician bossed around by the Board of Directors, is here!! I’ll dull the judgment of any pure boy☆!"
 * (To Fukiyose Seiri, from Love Letter Competition): "Oh, well, let's ask someone else. Hm, who should I look for...? Maybe that person with black hair, a huge forehead, and large breasts, the one imitating me?"
 * (To Kumokawa Maria, from NT 5): “By the way, I have a serious question for you. Is it true you fell in love with Kamijou Touma in Eastern Europe? If so, it’s time for full-on soap opera mode.”
 * (To Tsuchimikado Motoharu, from NT 7): "Are you aware you are only thinking that because I led you to think it?"
 * (To Tsuchimikado Motoharu, ibid): "Did you think your ‘heart’ would disappear if you used an explosive?"