Episode 9: Route Disturb

For the last time we are not a rock band

Touma is continuing to tail Oriana, after breaking her spell. He calls Motoharu and tells him that he is following Oriana adding that she is carrying a large ‘road sign’. He sends him his location by GPS and hangs up just before Oriana runs across a footbridge. Realising he has been spotted, Touma gives chase. He reaches the footbridge to find that she has given him the slip. He continues across the footbridge and down an alleyway and almost runs into someone. He stops and sees Oriana running across the square. He is about to continue his chase but is stopped by Motoharu, who is with Stiyl. Motoharu asks Touma which one is Oriana. Touma points to Oriana in her badly dressed factory outfit. They give chase; Oriana looks behind and sees them. She runs into a crowd of people and realises her path is blocked. She changes direction and ducks into an automated bus depot. They enter the building and Motoharu sets off a hidden trap and tells Touma to look out. However, Stiyl pushes Touma towards the attack forcing him to dispel it with his ‘Imagine Breaker’. Touma is angry at Stiyl, but Stiyl tells him that they must define their roles in this chase. He forces Touma again to break another trap and he again dispels it.

Ice is a health hazard

They stop behind some buses and Motoharu tells Stiyl to place some rune cards around. Motoharu then asks what Touma would do, stay put or help them out. Touma and Motoharu continue their run through a gauntlet of traps laid by Oriana. Motoharu tells him that they cannot stop the attacks as it would impede their progress of chasing Oriana. They make it outside to see Oriana running, but another trap is heading towards them. Touma dispels the attack and they continue. They find that they have lost Oriana due to her setting up a spell ‘Route Disturb’ which produces them with a number of possibilities that she could of escape through; a sewer entrance or a open door of a building. In essence they have lost her.

Can we play hopscotch while we wait?

Back in the building, Motoharu sets up a magic circle to determine the location of Oriana. He asks Stiyl to perform the magic. Stiyl begins the location spell and Oriana senses it. The spell breaks and Stiyl is consumed in a magical fire; screaming in pain. Motoharu tells Touma to hit Stiyl and break the spell. Touma does this and the spell severs. Stiyl complains about the magic Oriana uses as he lights a cigarette. Motoharu tells him that he assumed something was different about Oriana. He goes on to say that she is not a magician but a wizard. This means that she has the knowledge of magic books and therefore creates a magic circle without the spell caster’s actions. However, Motoharu goes on to say that even though the magic books are original, they are written sloppy and therefore won’t last long; Stiyl adding that they are ‘Short Hand’. Touma asks what the plan is. Motoharu tells him that they have to break the auto-counter spell in order for Stiyl to use his magic. Motoharu draws a circle on the ground creating a new magic ring that would allow them to locate the exact position of the counter spell and asks Stiyl to cast any magic. Touma shows some concern about Stiyl using his magic. Stiyl tells him that they have duty to complete and as he prepares he also tells Touma that he is unhappy for him to be here and he should be beside Index protecting her. Stiyl casts his magic and the echoes of pain fill the bus depot.

She is ok, just her parachute failed to open

Meanwhile back in the park, Komoe is with Index. Index is upset that she went to all that trouble to dress up for Touma but he had ran off. Komoe tries to consol her saying that he may have a good reason to go. Seiri appears and offers to help Index by giving her a red pepper. Komoe tells her she is fine as Index; who is on the floor face down asks where Touma is. Back in the bus depot, the magic circle lights up. Motoharu asks Touma for a map, but remembers he has one on his phone. Touma gets angry at Motoharu for being so cold hearted. Motoharu tells Touma that Stiyl knew of the risks and Motoharu shows Touma his injuries from casting magic. Stiyl lies unconscious on the floor. Motoharu adds that if he could use magic a lot more, he would have been able to prevent Stiyl from getting injured too much. Motoharu bandages his wounds and asks Touma for the map. He finds out that the location of the counter spell is at a Middle School.

I'm a frog!!!

An information blimp flies overhead displaying that the throwing tournament is starting in ten minutes. Touma and Motoharu run towards the stadium. Motoharu adds that there would be a lot of people there, so they would be unable to do it secretly. He goes on to say that they would have pose as competitors even though Touma tells him that they are High school students. Motoharu also tells him that people with no magic ability would be seriously injured if they come into contact with the counter spell. So they must destroy the counter-spell before that happens. Suddenly, Motoharu pushes Touma into a puddle of mud and he jumps in as well. They report to the entrance guard coated in mud. The guard asks for their ID and Motoharu puts his muddy hand on it which breaks the machine. The guard lets them in and they head to the nurse’s office to change into Middle school gym uniforms.

Forget basketball, this is ridiculous

On the field, Mitsuko taunts the opposition in that they lost already. Behind her, Mikoto is angry that she has spotted Touma in the opposing team and wonders why he is here. Motoharu tells Touma that the baskets used in the tournament look suspicious and he would search them one by one. Seiri, who is the referee for the game, begins the tournament. Motoharu and Touma begin their search of the baskets. They both searched two baskets with no luck, whilst dodging a hail of explosions and attacks from the Tokiwadai Middle School. A charging group of Middle school students knocks over one of the baskets. This creates a domino effect and one of the baskets heads towards a Tokiwadai Middle School student, who has frozen in shock. Touma and Motoharu run to help and Touma with the aid of Motoharu’s back leaps in a pushes the girl to safety. However the baskets continues to fall towards Touma, but is then destroyed by Mikoto.

Is she hot or smoking... smoking hot!!!

Mikoto asks what Touma is doing here and is about to lean on one of the baskets. Touma notices a piece of paper stuck on the pole and stops Mikoto. He asks her to come to him and promises to tell her later. Mikoto doesn’t listen and starts blushing and again tries to lean against the pole. Touma rushes her and knocks her over. Lying down in a compromising position, Touma thinks that Mikoto’s blushing is a fever and that she has been affected by the counter-spell. He calls to Motoharu, but then notices that the piece of paper was a property sticker. The match whistle goes and as the smoke clears, Seiri has spotted Touma and asks what he is doing here. Seiri is leaning on one of the poles and the magic spell paper. Shouting at Touma she is then struck down by the counter-spell. Seiri lies on the floor and a strange aura emits from her body. Motoharu runs up and tells Touma to hit her with his ‘Imagine Breaker’. Touma runs up and dispels the counter-spell, but Seiri remains unconscious. As Seiri is taken away by ambulance to the hospital, Mikoto shows concern and turns towards Touma. Touma punches the counter-spell with his ‘Imagine Breaker’ and vows to himself that involving innocent people; he would destroy Oriana and her illusion.

Not a bad episode, full of action. I have an issue with Touma, as he doesn’t seem to see the bigger picture. The magicians sacrifice themselves to save the World, even if it means their death. This anime has alot more story to it according to the manga and I think this season wouldn’t be the last, so I suspect a third season on the horizon. Here is hoping.