Episode 8: Grand Champion Star Festival (Daihaseisai)

She has a strange aura about her

Today is the day of the Daihaseisai and Academy City is packed with visitors, mostly relatives. Maika is perched on her usual robotic recycler selling bentos (lunches). Kamijou Shiina and Kamijou Touya walk passed as they comment on the many visitors to the city. Suddenly Touya bumps into a woman who has a striking resemblance to Mikoto. The woman apologises and asks for the location of Tokiwadai. Touya looks through the map but cannot locate it and suggests it is not open to the public. The woman wonders on where Mikoto is and Touya asks her if Mikoto is her little sister. However he receives glare from Shiina, who then spots Touma. Touma is with Mikoto who has challenge him to a bet; the loser has to do whatever the victor tells them. Mikoto has confidence in herself but loses it when Touma tells her if he wins, she would have to do whatever he tells her to do. Nervously, she accepts the challenge as their parents look on in relief.

She needs a haircut

Meanwhile, in England Laura is in contact with Aleister and tells him that two magicians have snuck into the City to perform a transaction of a particular item. One magician is a Roman Catholic, while the other is the Carrier. She goes on that the particular item is a ‘Stab Sword’ a powerful weapon that is capable of pinning a dragon down (Lucretia is not going to like that). Laura is concern about this happening in Academy City as it puts them at a disadvantage. Aleister suggests that to use ‘the boy’ in this situation. Index, with Sphinx tucked into her ‘Walking Church’, is going around the different food stalls. She tells Touma that she is hungry with Touma complaining that she had already eaten breakfast. He then promises to go around with her later as the first event that he is participating in is about to start. He hands her a pamphlet that he marked with the events that he is taking part in and continues walking.

For the last time, I am not doing stupid star jumps!!!

Touma arrives at his school’s meeting place to find them less enthusiastic. Pierce, who is lying on the ground tells him that they used up all of their energy the day before on coming up with a strategy to beat the other schools. Touma then becomes less enthusiastic as Seiri; one of Touma’s school friends blames him for the lack of motivation of the school team. He tries point out her lateness, but she tells him that she was late due to some important business she had to attend to. Touma tells her that he has misfortune and to leave him alone. Seiri grabs him and picks him up. She tells him that she hates people who blame unluckiness and misfortune on things. She then gives him a sports drink to drink. As her forcefulness, pushes Touma back and he steps on a hose which builds up pressure and then explodes, showering Seiri. Touma looks at her as her now wet clothes reveal her bra under her t-shirt. She asks him what is wrong, but Touma avoids the question and moves away, leaving Seiri to drink on a milk carton. Touma thinks that they will fail when he hears Komoe talking to another teacher, who tells her that teaching the ‘Failures’ are a waste of time. She defends them by tell him that they have their own personal traits. The teacher leaves tell her that he would wipe the floor of them. Komoe then feels sad and Touma catches a glimpse of a tear in her eye. He then gains enthusiasm and turns to his fellow classmates to give them a ‘pep’ talk.

They are on fire

At the track, Mikoto is in the stands to find Index sprawled out across the bench. Before Mikoto can complete her sentence on what is wrong, Index has grabbed her drink and drank every last drop. Index’s stomach then rumbles, which makes Mikoto realise she was just hungry. Index asks Mikoto if she is here to cheer on Touma. Mikoto tells her she wouldn’t do such a thing. Mikoto tells her of the bet she made with him. Just then Index spots Touma and Mikoto looks over to see a motivated school team. Mikoto is then worried in this newly motivated school, with the desire to win. The event begins and Touma’s team charges the other school; who then launch attacks at them. As the dust settles, Touma’s team emerge victorious, with a concerned Komoe asking about their determination to win.

Oh good, you found your bag

Touma goes in search of Index in the stands, but is unable to find her. He then remembers he has left his mobile in his bag. He heads back to the classroom to get his mobile. He opens the door to the classroom and finds a naked Seiri. He tells her he is looking for his bag. For his misfortune, he gets bag thrown into his face. Touma returns to the field and is found by Index who asks about him crying. He shouts at her for not answering her mobile, but then looks closely to find the battery dead. Worse still as Index tells him she is still hungry.

I wouldn't borrow that, you don't know where it has been

Touma and Index go to the food stalls but arrive at a road closed sign, placed there by Aiho who tells them that a parade is coming through and that the closes bridge that they can use is 3km away (How stupid). Touma tells her she has to wait until huge ball event is over. Index gets angry and launches a bite attack at him. However, Touma is dragged away by Mikoto and avoids the attack. She runs off with him and tells him that he is a condition for her event. She crosses the finishing line in first place, winning the ‘Rental Run Competition’. She tells him the rules of the race and that he was needed. He tells her that there were other competitors to choose from. He then receives a towel jammed into his face by Mikoto. He starts shouting at her and then starts coughing. Mikoto concerned tells him to have a drink. She then notices she has already had some from her flask. She shoves the drink at Touma and walks off blushing, leaving a confused Touma.

She should be in a cage, or a pokeball

Meanwhile Kuroko is in a wheelchair getting pushed by Kazari around the City. Kuroko notices the billboard screen announce the winner of the last race as Mikoto. Kuroko looks in awe over Mikoto on the huge display but then gets angry with the intentions to kill when she spots Mikoto with Touma. Touma arrives back where he left Index, but he cannot find her. He then spots Stiyl and Motoharu having a conversation. They both tell him about the situation about the magicians sneaking in and also tell him that Index or Kaori cannot get involved. Elsewhere, Komoe has spotted Index and gives her food to eat. Index finishes all of the food and tells her that she wishes she could spend more time with Touma. Komoe tells her that the next event she can be close to Touma and leads off somewhere. Touma is still searching for Index and comes across Aisa and Maika who point him the right direction telling him that they saw Komoe taking a nun somewhere. Touma continues walking and finds Sphinx in the park. He goes in searching and finds Komoe dressing Index in a cheerleading costume. This angers Index and she attacks him with yet another bite attack. However, Touma barely avoids it and Index ends up kissing Touma on the cheek. She then turns red and falls to the ground just as Seiri arrives looking for Komoe. She sees Touma, a totally-blushing Index in a cheerleading outfit and Komoe with a sad expression on her face. Seiri then gets the wrong impression and swiftly punches Touma in the face.

A kiss on budget

Seiri drags Touma off and asks him if he thinks the Daihaseisai is boring. She goes on to tell him that she was on the committee to help everyone enjoy the events from today and have some memories from it. Just then a ‘CLUMSY’ student bumps into Touma and pushes him close to Seiri’s face. Seiri gets angry and head butts him. Touma spins round and his face lands in between a woman’s breasts. Touma quickly gets up from this position; the woman apologises and offers to kiss him, which is swiftly rejected by Seiri punching him in the face. The woman offers a handshake, Touma shakes it and feels his ‘Imagine Breaker’ break a magic spell. The woman walks off, leaving a suspicious Touma. She uses a piece of paper to contact someone. She tells her she is Oriana Thompson and that she has felt her magical barrier dispelled. The woman on the other end of the conversation tells her she is worried about her. Oriana tells her she is excited over the prospect; however she plans to lose the person that is following her, Touma.

Quite the interesting episode, Touma’s parents are back in the series after the ‘body swap’ arc last series. Also I believe it is the first time we see Mikoto’s mother in the anime as well. I seem to find that although Touma does get himself into compromising situations. People who get the wrong impression jump to conclusions and deal with the matter by physically hurting Touma. Frankly Touma doesn’t help himself in these matters; he just stands there, digging a deeper hole for himself until he gets attacked, stupid in my opinion. Anyway a situation has developed with the two magicians sneaking into the city, but most importantly, Touma and Mikoto’s challenge. I can’t wait to see the outcome of this bet. Finally, Mikoto blushes when she hands Touma the drink is because she realises it is an ‘indirect’ kiss.