Railgun 03

Summary:

As Uiharu and Saten-san wished to visit Tokiwadai, I arranged entry clearance to the School Garden where our school is located alongside others of similar distinction. However they were late, keeping Oneesama and I waiting at the gate, because Saten-san had fallen into a puddle. I lent her a spare uniform and we proceeded to Pasticceria Manicagni but while Uiharu was still choosing her cake, she received a summons from Jugdment. At 177 Branch Office, Komori-senpai briefed us about attacks, since yesterday, on six Tokiwadai students, all within the School Garden, including that insufferable Kongou woman. Since all our students are at least Level 3, the assailant must be quite powerful indeed. Oneesama then delivered news that Saten-san had been similarly attacked in the cafe's washroom. Thankfully her condition was not serious though the same could not be said of her face; a woman's face is her treasure after all.

As the culprit was visible on CCTV, it was not an invisibility power using optical manipulation. Inspired by an off-hand exchange between Uiharu and myself, Oneesama realized that the attacker was using Dummy Check which fooled only the human eye, the only registered user being Jufuku Miho - only Level 2 but was positively identified by Saten-san who had seen her reflection in the mirror. After I had masterfully persuaded the Judgment Executive to give us jurisdiction, Uiharu programmed at her usual efficiency to link up the footage from all 2,458 CCTV cameras in the School Garden. Oneesama and I narrowed things down and, guided by Uiharu, Saten-san and I chased the assailant down until she could no longer maintain her cover. Cornered, she was foolish enough to taser Oneesama but, of course, Tokiwadai's ace and electrical princess was completely unaffected and gave her a taste of her own medicine. Attempting to take her revenge, Saten-san discovered Jufuku naturally had huge eyebrows. Which she had wanted to visit unto every Tokiwadai student after one took her spring lover away. Saten-san, with some utterly insincere words, tried to cheer up the girl but ended up triggering her flag - what a sinful woman! Jufuku even asked to write her while being taken away by the Anti-Skills. I still don't understand how a Level 2 could have hidden herself so well. Anyway I heard from Uiharu that Saten-san's enlarged eyebrows, drawn with special ink, will last yet another one to two weeks.

Reaction:

Keeping in mind that many of you were put off Oneesama's glorious spinoff series by my overly passionate pursuit of her love in the last episode, I have been the model of decorum and self-restraint this week, even inviting those two who are always getting in the way of me x Oneesama time together alone in a display of my graciousness and magnanimity. And I believe I more than adequately showcased how I could be a good team member, working seamlessly together with Oneesama, Uiharu and Saten-san, for peace and justice within Academy City. And to think some of the very same ones amongst you had previously complained, rightly so of course, about how the power of my love for Oneesama had been circumscribed in the Index anime. Really!

Having perused the manga, I must say that this week's mostly anime original episode was an inspired one. Certainly Jufuku and her antics made for much more lighthearted viewing comparing to the miserable misanthropic Judgment-hating miscreant who also created a situation where it was not Oneesama or any of us who saved the day but that unfortunate, spiky-haired, long-winded person. As such, it was much more befitting of a series where my dear Oneesama is the title character and I, her faithful companion and lover.

What Others Are Saying:

• Hanners liked how this episode tread "a far more gentle and less menacing, evil route...just outright fun, pure and simple." Which goes better with the different group dynamics highlighted over at Anime Diet.
• The good Sir FlareKnight prefers that things will get "more serious" but astutely points out how some of the things in this episode has raised questions and set the scene for things to come, as encapsulated in my closing question this week. Something which Omni is also hoping will be built up in the weeks to come. Certainly Jufuku could provide a way into the mystery that may be more satisfying and emotionally involved than the accidental route which Saten-san stumbled upon in the manga.

Well, we shall see, we shall see, desu no.

Related posts:

1. Railgun 07
2. Railgun 10
3. Railgun 14