Toaru Majutsu no Index II Episode 08

Synopsis
Academy City is filled with visitors from outside its city walls, a majority of them parents and siblings of the students inside. Tsuchimikado Maika takes the time to sell boxed lunches for the visitors while she travels around on a cleaning robot. Meanwhile, a familiar pair passes by her: Kamijou Shiina and Kamijou Touya. Shiina shows her fascination at the many schools composing Academy City, while Touya bumps into a woman who looks exactly like Misaka Mikoto, who is looking for Tokiwadai. Touya goes into gentleman mode as a jealous Shiina glares behind him.

Soon, Shiina catches a glimpse of her son Touma, who is walking with Mikoto. Touma is talking about a punishment game with the Electromaster, with the loser having to do whatever the victor wishes. Touma teases Mikoto for losing confidence after hearing the consequence, and Mikoto is forced to seal the deal.

As the two argue, their parents watch with relief. The day of the Daihasei Festival begins.

In England, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church, Laura Stuart speaks with someone from Academy City as she grooms her excessively long hair. They soon discuss about two magicians who have infiltrated Academy City, which Laura identifies as a high-ranking member of the Roman Catholic Church and her courier seeking a certain object: "Stab Sword". She explains that it has the power to slay a dragon and pin it to the ground, a weapon which can place the Anglican Church in a disadvantage. Laura is worried about having Academy City as the place for the trade, so the person on the other line decides to request someone to get involved...

Back in Academy City, Index accompanies Touma into the many food stalls provided for visitors. She finds herself hungry due to the various scents of food all around her, so Touma decides to treat her, though later. Touma then leaves her a brochure of events (with events he would join in marked) before sluggishly walking away.

At A Certain Highschool, Touma finds the entire class even more sluggish as he was; Aogami Pierce told him that the students lost a lot of energy arguing over a viable strategy to defeat the other schools.

Soon, one of Touma's classmates scolds him for transmitting his lack of energy to everyone: Fukiyose Seiri. She adds that her tardiness is understandable, given that she is part of a special committee. Although Touma tries to defend himself, Seiri instead picks him up and tells him that she hates people who blame bad luck on their lack of resolve.

Touma then finds himself being forced against a wall as she continues her speech, his foot eventually landing on one of the hoses, which then exploded after being clogged up. A gush of water drenched Seiri's clothes, causing her shirt to reveal her orange bra. Touma frantically apologizes for the accident, but Seiri looks away calmly and instead sips some milk instead.

As Touma realizes that they are hopeless for the next event, he overhears the voice of his teacher Tsukuyomi Komoe. She is in an argument with a teacher from another school who belittles the students of A Certain Highschool, and as the teacher leaves, shows a few tears in her eye. Touma and the other students saw what happened, and they managed to use it to psyche themselves for the upcoming event.

Soon, in an athletic track, the Pole Assault event begins, with Tokiwadai fighting against A Certain Highschool. Mikoto goes to watch the event and discovers Index sprawled across the seats. After stealing Mikoto's drink, Index finds her familiar and lets her sit beside her. Mikoto sees the determination in Touma's team instantly, which shook her a bit knowing about the punishment game, and watches as Touma's team charges against the clearly superior espers from Tokiwadai.

Unfortunately, they lost the match, and bruised up by the event, they walk back as Komoe shows her concern for her students. Meanwhile. Touma goes to look for Index, but is unable to find her; unfortunately, he left his phone back at school, so he walks back to get it.

At a seemingly empty Certain Highschool, Touma returns to his classroom, only to find a set of dirty clothes neatly folded... and a Fukiyose Seiri completely undressed except for her panties. Touma nervously explained about his cellphone, and gets his bag mercilessly thrown to his face. Meanwhile, it turns out that Index is still at the athletic field, and hasn't been answering to his calls because her phone's battery is dead.

What's worse for him is that Index is still hungry.

They head over to a stall a short walk away, however, Yomikawa Aiho tells them that a parade going along the street would block their way, and an alternate route would be a detour 3km longer. Out of sheer frustration, Index tries to attack Index, only to be dragged away by Mikoto.

Adapted From

 * Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 09

Major events

 * The first day of Daihasei Sports Festival begins.
 * Oriana Thomson infiltrates Academy City.

Characters
By order of appearance
 * Tsuchimikado Maika
 * Kamijou Touya
 * Kamijou Shiina
 * Kamijou Touma
 * Misaka Mikoto
 * Laura Stuart
 * Aleister Crowley
 * Index
 * Sphinx
 * Aogami Pierce
 * Himegami Aisa
 * Touma's schoolmates from A Certain Highschool
 * Tsukuyomi Komoe
 * Yomikawa Aiho
 * Shirai Kuroko
 * Uiharu Kazari
 * Stiyl Magnus
 * Tsuchimikado Motoharu
 * Kanzaki Kaori (mentioned-only)
 * Oriana Thomson
 * Lidvia Lorenzetti (voice-only)

New Characters

 * Misaka Misuzu
 * Fukiyose Seiri

Abilities

 * Imagine Breaker - Kamijou Touma, level 0

New Abilities

 * Several unnamed projectile-like esper powers
 * Chaos and calm on the surface - Lidvia Lorenzetti, Oriana Thomson
 * Shorthand Original - Oriana Thomson

Locations

 * Academy City
 * Tokiwadai Middle School (mentioned-only)
 * St. George's Cathedral
 * A Certain Highschool

New Locations
No notable locations were introduced during this episode.

Trivia

 * The Tokiwadai Middle School and A Certain Highschool sports attire make their debut in the Toaru Majutsu no Index storyline during this episode.
 * Shirai Kuroko is seen on a wheelchair, despite being able to stand perfectly without trouble in the previous episode.
 * Though accidentally, Index is the first girl to have ever kissed Touma.
 * Though both members of Necessarius, as well as Stiyl referring to Tsuchimikado back in the 2nd episode, this episode marks the first time both Stiyl Magnus and Tsuchimikado Motoharu appear onscreen.

Referbacks

 * The Daihasei Festival that was referenced as far back as of episode 24 of the first season, as well in episode 2 and episode 6 of the current season is finally featured.

Cultural References

 * The operating system that Laura's computer uses is similar to that of the Windows 7 OS.

Animation Trivia

 * The episode marks the first onscreen appearance of the "Spiky-haired girl with glasses" and "Girl with the Yellow headband" in the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime adaptation. Originally appearing in the background of some of the Light Novel artwork, they later appear in the manga adaptation as well.

Unanswered Questions

 * Does Laura know that the General Superintendent of Academy City is Aleister Crowley?