Astral Buddy (manga)

This article is about the manga. For the title character and ability, see Yuuri Senya.

Astral Buddy
Front cover of the first tankōbon volume.
Series Information
Written by	Kamachi Kazuma
Illustrated by	Nogi Yasuhito
Published by	ASCII Media Works (Dengeki Comics NEXT)
Demographic	Shounen
Original Run	April 2017 — July 2020
Volumes	4 (List of volumes)

Astral Buddy (アストラル・バディ, Asutoraru Badi^?), formally known as Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Gaiden: Astral Buddy (とある科学の超電磁砲 (レールガン) 外伝 アストラル・バディ, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Gaiden: Astral Buddy^? lit. "A Certain Scientific Railgun Side Story: Astral Buddy"), is the eighth manga series that is based off the Toaru Majutsu no Index franchise and the fourth to be published in Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh following Toaru Idol no Accelerator-sama. The series is a spinoff to Toaru Kagaku no Railgun and is an original story written by Kamachi Kazuma with artwork done by Nogi Yasuhito.

The series began serialization on April 26, 2017. Seven Seas Entertainment later acquired the license to localize the manga.

Background

The events of the manga feature Hokaze Junko, a prominent girl in Shokuhou Misaki's clique previously referred to as the ringlet curl girl, as the main character as she gets involved in an incident that takes place alongside the Dream Ranker Arc in the parent series.

The manga's announcement coincided with the 10th Anniversary of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun manga. It was also announced alongside 5 other new series including a new Kino no Tabi -the Beautiful World- manga.

Characters

• Hokaze Junko
• Shirai Kuroko
• Makigami Komaki
• Shokuhou Misaki
• Yumiya Iruka
• Yuuri Senya

Chapters and Volumes

Volumes

Astral Buddy Manga Volume 01
First Part of the Astral Buddy Arc
	Information
	Release Date	日本語 November 27, 2017 English February 19, 2019
	ISBN-13	日本語 ISBN 978-4-04-893434-3 English ISBN 978-1-642750-36-2
	Number of Pages	172 pages
	Cover Characters	Chapters
	Shokuhou Misaki Shirai Kuroko Hokaze Junko Yuuri Senya	1. Stay Away from My Onee-sama! (私のお姉様に近づくな！, Watashi no Onee-sama ni Chikazukuna!?) 2. What in the World Exactly Are You? (あなたいったい何者ですか？, Anata Ittai Nanimono desu ka??) 3. As I Thought, the Queen Does Not Have the Bag with Her (やはり女王にはそのお鞄がありませんと, Yahari Jo'ō ni wa Sono O-kaban ga Arimasen to?) 4. I Don't Know If I Should Carry Out My Duty (私でお役にたてるかわかりませんけど, Watashi de o-yaku ni Tateru ka Wakarimasen kedo?) 5. If I Win, I'll Take This as a Present! (優勝したらこいつをプレゼントだ！, Yūshō Shitara Koitsu wo Purezento da!?)
Shokuhou Misaki's clique is, of course, made out of only middle school girls from Tokiwadai. The ringlet curl girl of Shokuhou's clique—Hokaze Junko. This girl is the owner of the Level 4 ability Rampage Dress...

Astral Buddy Manga Volume 02
Second Part of the Astral Buddy Arc
	Information
	Release Date	日本語 September 27, 2018 English July 23, 2019
	ISBN-13	日本語 ISBN 978-4-04-912050-9 English ISBN 978-1-642750-76-8
	Number of Pages	194 pages
	Cover Characters	Chapters
	Hokaze Junko Shokuhou Misaki	6. Final Weapon (最後の武器, Saigo no Buki?) 7. The Serious You is Unbeatable (本気の貴女は無敵なんです, Honki no Kijo wa Muteki nan desu?) 8. Innermost Feelings (女王, Chūshin?) 9. Does Your Head Hurt? (あたま痛いのぉ?, Atama Itai no~o??) 10. Welcome to 'Ideal' ☆ (ようこそ『内部進化』へ☆, Yōkoso 'Aidearu' e ☆?) 11. This Time for Real (今度こそ本気で, Kondo koso Honki de?) 12. Even Though I Had No Talent (私に才能はなかったけれど, Watashi ni Sainō wa nakatta keredo?) Special. Private Lesson (個人レッスン, Kojin Ressun?)
The number 2 of Shokuhou's clique, the "Ringlet Curl Girl", Hokaze Junko, has her body possessed by the ghost girl and played around with her all day. Meanwhile, Shokuhou Misaki is chasing after the disturbing event happening in Tokiwadai Middle School under the surface. However, she falls for the enemy's devious trap and loses consciousness. Hokaze Junko rushes to save Shokuhou, however, strong enemies surround her……?

Astral Buddy Manga Volume 03
Third Part of the Astral Buddy Arc
	Information
	Release Date	日本語 July 26, 2019 English July 14, 2020
	ISBN-13	日本語 ISBN 978-4-04-912643-3 English ISBN 978-1-64-275745-3
	Number of Pages	192 pages
	Cover Characters	Chapters
	Hokaze Junko Shokuhou Misaki Sogiita Gunha Yumiya Iruka Houjou Arei	13. The World Where That Person Is (あの人のいる世界, Ano Hito no Iru Sekai?) 14. Everyone's 'Big Sister' (みんなの『お姉さん』, Min'na no 'Onē-san'?) 15. The Meaning of Being Born in this World (この世に生まれた意味, Konoyo ni Umareta Imi?) 16. Strong (強く, Tsuyoku?) 17. So, At Least... (だから せめて, Dakara Semete?) 18. Close Friends (親友, Shin'yū?) 19. Astral Buddy (アストラル・バディ, Asutoraru Badi?)
In order to rescue the kidnapped Shokuhou Misaki, Hokaze Junko proceeded to enemy territory alone. She seemed to have barely defeated the enemy that stood in her way, Yumiya Iruka. However, final move Iruka has taken is to resolve herself to self destruction...!? ――And then, the repulsive past that was the origin of all of the incidents is made clear!!

Astral Buddy Manga Volume 04
Fourth Part of the Astral Buddy Arc
	Information
	Release Date	日本語 October 26, 2020 English June 22, 2021
	ISBN-13	日本語 ISBN 978-4-04-913390-5 English ISBN 978-1-64505-468-9
	Number of Pages	242 pages
	Cover Characters	Chapters
	Hokaze Junko Yuuri Senya Shokuhou Misaki Shirai Kuroko Sogiita Gunha Yumiya Iruka Mitsuari Ayu Houjou Arei Houjou Seigo	20. Rarity Ability (稀少力, Kishōryoku?) 21. ...Somewhat Ticked Me Off (少しカチンときました, Sukoshi Kachin to Kimashita?) 22. If I Had Been Stronger (力があればなんてのは, Chikara ga Areba Nante no wa?) 23. If I Was A Level 5 (私が超能力者なら, Watashi ga Reberu 5 Nara?) 24. Even I Have An Intelligent Side (わたくしだって頭脳派な一面が, Watakushi Datte Zunō-hana Ichimen ga?) 25. Coupling (共有, Kappuringu?) 26. How Can I Ever Beat These Geniuses (どうやって天才共に, Dōyatte Koitsura ni?) 27. Rampage Dress (天衣装着, Ranpeiji Doresu?) 28. Because We... (だってわたくしたち, Datte Watakushi-tachi?) 29. The Wind in My Sails (帆を押す風, Ho wo Osu Kaze?) 30. Selfish (わがまま, Wagamama?)
After defeating the mastermind of the case targeting Shokuhou’s Clique, Yumiya Iruka, and her collaborator, Houjou Arei, Hokaze’s life seemed to have regained peace. However, this time the #7 Level 5, Sogiita Gunha, challenges Hokaze to a match! In front of the overwhelming difference in ability, Hokaze was left on the defensive, but...!? And... despite the turmoil that befalls Hokaze, the true mastermind, Mitsuari Ayu, steadily advances her plan. The incident that originated with a ghostly disturbance, finally engulfs the whole of Academy City into chaos!!!

Chapters Not in Volume Format

• Chapter 5.5
• Chapter 21.5

Trivia

• According to a now deleted tweet by Nogi Yasuhito, the original plot for Astral Buddy didn't have Shokuhou Misaki showing up at all and Kongou Mitsuko was supposed to appear sometime around the second or third chapter, but all that changed when developing the plot into an actual manga.