02x10 - Stenographic Sourcebook (Shorthand)

[bunniefuu]

How is the critical-care patient?

She still hasn't regained consciousness.

Could it be heat stroke?

Heat stroke?

Oh, right, I collapsed.

Why is that? I made sure to hydrate, and got plenty of sleep...

It seems ridiculous.

Fukiyose, are you okay?

Fukiyose!

Is he going to look at me like that from now on?

I hope not.

And I worked so hard to make sure that everyone had an enjoyable time.

Am I... going to live...?

Who do you take me for?

"A Certain Magical Index II"

Omote nara GO Ura wa STAY

Mazu kotae wo kikasete

"Douka oshiete kuremasen ka?"

Tenshi wa misadameru egao no mama

Mayoe! Sono te wo hiku mono nado inai

Kami ga kudasu sono kotae wa fukou datta

Sou sore koso kami kara no okurimono

Norikoetara miete kuru sa dakara ima sugu (Look for it by oneself, no buts about it)

No buts!

"# Shorthand (Stenographic Sourcebook)"

I lose just a bit of my edge, and this is what happens to me?

Kami has destroyed Oriana's Shorthand.

Notice any difference in the shape you're in?

I'm in business. There doesn't seem to be any problem.

Oh, yeah?

In that case, could you cast the "Four Ways to Truth" search spell?

It should still be where I set it up before.

You know how to use it, right?

Give me a little credit.

Are you okay on your end?

Oriana's intercept spell was supposed to be on an event ground.

Not a problem.

But one of the students did get taken out.

We took advantage of the commotion to make our way out of there.

I see.

Is Kamijo Toma keeping it together?

If you're squared away, get to it.

Otherwise, we'll never make it up to the student who collapsed.

It's not as though anyone is perfect.

Which is precisely why I regret being so unseasoned... I guess.

"Ball toss event has been delayed"

This is an unexpected turn of events.

I've identified Oriana Thomson's location.

School District , near Futsuka Subway Station.

Kami, Futsuka Station!

Futsuka Station? We've gone too far!

She's moving northward.

The street divides three ways...

There she is. You ready? She's up ahead...

We've spotted her!

--Tch! --A bus?!

Damn!

Hey, Kami, did the bus have any passengers besides Oriana?

It doesn't really matter, does it?!

Kami!

No, there weren't! No passengers or driver!

In that case, that's a relief.

Stiyl, number .

It still had the rune that Stiyl stuck on it at the service center.

You can't warm this young lady up using physical flames.

But then, I have gotten a bit damp from the rushing around.

Want to see? Even my undies are soaking.

A completely uninvolved person collapsed

because of the spell that you cast.

In your view, did it look like she had anything to do with magic?

There are no uninvolved people in the world.

If I want to, I can involve anyone.

Then you do know about her.

I truly did not want for that girl to be hurt.

Which makes that unlike this.

Tsuchimikado!

Oh, my...

Then you weren't the one who was hurt, were you?

There sure are some unusual kids assembled here in Academy City.

What did you do to Tsuchimikado?!

I just cancelled out his flame attribute,

the symbol of regeneration and restoration, with blue lettering.

It's a spell that knocks out a person

who has been injured any more than a certain amount.

Tsuchimikado!

Damn!

I guess I have to destroy that card.

If you want to save him,

you'll have to defeat me as quick as you can.

But will he be able to hold out that long?

His time may be surprisingly short.

Why, you...

I don't know what that s*ab Sword thing is worth.

I don't know whether it can alter the course of history that much...

...or how it might influence the rest of the world, but...

...it's wrong for anyone to get hurt over something so stupid!

If it only brings about results as lousy as this...

...then I'm going to smash it to pieces with my own hands!

Saying I had no choice because it's my job

would be unmannerly to my employer, right?

It was left up to me how I should carry this out, after all.

Stop toying with peoples' lives!

Where are you?!

This is bad! If she uses that earlier spell on me...!

Next will be the Shadow Sword.

I don't want you getting bored.

Why doesn't she ever use the same att*ck?

I don't lean toward using the same spell over and over again.

You're a real mess, huh?

This is just a little foreplay; have you already had enough?

Damn...

Once she uses a spell, she doesn't use it again,

so how does she have so many combinations?

Next will be Blade Crater.

Sweetie...

...if you move from there, you will die.

If I move, I die...

So what's the big deal?

The Daihasei Festival,

which Fukiyose worked her butt off getting ready for today,

looks like it might be completely ruined.

Are you just going to let that happen?

There's no way you can be happy with that, can you, Kamijo Toma?!

"A Certain Magical Index II" There's no way you can be happy with that, can you, Kamijo Toma?!

"A Certain Magical Index II"

Y-You fool!

His right hand... It's that powerful? Then...

Drop Rest!

Tsuchimikado!

Are you okay, Tsuchimikado?

You're so violent...

Look, my button came off.

That was well done, for an amateur punch, I suppose I could say.

However, I am accustomed to having my att*cks countered

and then being struck back at...

...though not at this increasingly frustrating level...

But, as for now...

I'll leave that with you for the time being.

But don't think the game is over just yet.

Things are just starting to heat up.

Wait! What about Tsuchimikado?!

The spell only works for twenty minutes. It will be over soon,

my anxious little esper.

All right,

then destroy the s*ab Sword.

Your right hand should be able to handle it with no problem.

But are you sure I should destroy it?

If Academy City gets att*cked by them...

If they do, it will be the women who are surrounded.

This is Academy City. For all magical forces,

this is the center of enemy territory.

They will likely pull out,

and then come up with a rational strategy to deal with it.

All right.

Hurry it up.

I'll see about figuring out our next move.

Okay.

Well, then...

What is this?

What's going on?

What the hell is going on?!

Well, there were some hiccups,

but for now, all the necessary checkpoints have been cleared,

so please rest at ease.

What kind of hiccups?

Oh, you just let me worry about that.

Oh, right--they have retrieved the signboard,

so they've probably found out about the s*ab Sword, as well.

Oh, it's all right! This isn't anything serious enough

to influence the deal itself.

I won't let anyone interfere, and nobody can interfere.

Especially not if this deal will make everyone happy, right?

"The original s*ab Sword doesn't exist,

and only peoples' speculations concerning it remain, as folklore."

Ho...

Could what is written here be true, Charles Conder?

I am terribly sorry.

Even the British Museum was unaware of this until just today.

Then what exactly is it?

Ma'am, as a result of the lore crisscrossing and snowballing,

there is no conclusive evidence...

...but this is not a sword.

What?

Called "Croce di Pietro" locally,

the item is called in our language the "Cross of Peter."

The Cross of Peter?!

In that case, the reason for the "deal" they are negotiating

has become something entirely different.

The conclusion of this "deal" will be the demise of Academy City.

No--it could be something even more serious.

Man, what a number this is!

So I guess it must be something dangerous, right?

"Croce di Pietero," the Cross of Peter, they said.

Long ago, the Vatican,

which is the main basilica of the Roman Orthodox Church,

is said to have been built where the body of Peter was buried,

and a crucifix erected, over a vast expanse of land.

But the reverse is also true.

The reverse?

Any space where the Croce di Pietero is planted

comes under exclusive Roman Orthodox control.

Even if that place is Academy City.

Control?

Everything will play out in a way

that serves the Roman Orthodox Church,

and everyone will go along, not sensing anything out of place.

It means that no matter how outrageous the demand,

or how unreasonable the load one is made to carry,

the world will be such that no one feels anything but happiness.

Oh, man...

If Academy City fortuitously slips under Roman Orthodox control,

then the world as we now know it,

with science and magical sides kept in a - balance,

would tip to an overconcentration of the Roman Orthodox Church.

Then, this whole transaction is...

Yeah, for dominion over Academy City, and the rest of the world.

We're going to stop this deal.

Otherwise, the world will face a state more dire than just collapse.

Toma!

--A world where everyone can only feel happiness?

--Toma! Toma! --A world where everyone can only feel happiness?

Toma!

Ungh, even thinking about it, I don't get it.

Toma!

Nuh-uh, there's no way Index could be wearing that outfit.

Toma!

Why wouldn't you even look at me?!

I've got to ask, what's with that getup?

Come to think of it...

Toma, Toma,

you were just trying to remember some off-color scene, weren't you?

It looks to me like you have a very pleased look on your face.

I do not, I do not!

I mean, where is your usual nun's habit?

Hmph, I'm letting Komoe hang onto it.

U-Um, what are you so upset about?

Oh, I know! You're hungry, right?

We're about to meet up with my mom and dad to have lunch,

so just hold on a bit longer, and...

Um... Miss Index...?

Ow!

It's not that, Toma, you dummy!

Then what is it?

I specifically changed clothes so I could cheer for you,

so where were you when I was going to?!

Oh, uh, you see...

I tried so hard, thinking I could be together with you, Toma...

...but then you went off on your own somewhere.

What was I supposed to do then?

Oh, sorry.

I just thought you were cranky from being hungry, like always--

--I am not! I'm angry because you never pay attention to me! --Ow! Ow! Ow!

--And as for being cranky because I'm hungry, --Ow! Index!

--as a Sister, I am free of such feelings, Toma! --What happened to biting me, like always?

Er, I mean, you don't need to go out of your way to...

Toma, you sicko.

Wha--?!

No! Up to now, you were always the one who bit me!

So if anyone's a sicko, it's you--

Ee-yow!

It seems to me like we haven't seen very much of Toma around.

Well, with all of the people here, there are times when you won't see him.

Ah!

Hello. We meet again, huh?

Ah, from this morning...

Yes. Thank you very much for this morning.

Thanks to you, as you can see...

Who are they? Someone you know?

They're the parents of that boy you're interested in, Mikoto.

Nice to meet you. The name's Kamijo.

Hello.

Er, that is...

Come on, charm them, charm them.

I-It's not like that! What are you talking about?!

Ah, come to think of it, have you had lunch yet?

No, not yet.

If you'd care to, would you like to join us?

I know a great spot.

Are you sure? We would be glad to.

A-Are you all right?

Oh, no...

Sorry. I'm not quite accustomed to having so many people around.

N-No, I was too inattentive...

Well, if you'll excuse me...

S-Sure...

My, my...

Not again, Toya...

No, Mom, it's not like that!

I wasn't staring or anything, I was just, you know...

I am so sorry!

That's his father, all right.

Hey, Toma!

Over here! Over here!

I'm surprised you found this place.

Oh, well, she's the one who showed us.

The name's Misaka.

Is that right? Thank you very much.

Ah, I am starving!

Hey, you...

Why is it I'm the only one who never gets any search hits from you?

Well, I figured we'd naturally end up stuck like this somehow.

We're not "stuck" like anything!

As if there's anything natural about what flows anywhere near you!

And who is this girl who's always with you and where does she live?

Hm?

Who is she? Well...

She's right, Toma. Come to mention it, who is that girl?

When we took that overnight trip to the beach, she was with you, too.

Th-The beach?!

O-Overnight trip to the beach...?

What about you, short-hair? Who are you and where do you live?

Are you Toma's girlfriend, or something?

Huh? N-No, I'm not really...

You came to cheer on Toma's school, didn't you?

The tower topple, as I remember.

I did not!

Look, you be quiet!

Now, now. Why don't we all get something to eat?

So um, Kamijo Toma, is it?

Yes, it is, but... Are you Misaka's older sister, or something?

Mm-mm.

I'm Misaka Misuzu, Mikoto's mother. Nice to meet you.

Mother?!

Karamatta unmei mo kaete ikeru kara

subete wa kono te no naka ni aru!

Dare nimo makenai chikara ga koko ni nai nara

imajin nante kowashite shimaeba ii

Harimeguru shisutemu bakkappu insutooru wa OK

Kami sae mo shirienai fiirudo ga hiraku

Juuman no deeta mo isshun no mirakuru sae

suisoku fukanou na "ikite'ru katachi" dakara

In a Magic∞world exciting time or space there's no limit

Dareka wo mamoreru chikara ga hoshii

Karamatta unmei mo kaete ikeru kara

subete wa kono te no naka ni aru!

"Preview"

"Preview" Solving hidden riddles, one step at a time,

we draw closer to their objective.

But then, something happens when by chance, we run into Himegami...

Next time, "s*ab Sword."

When science and magic cross paths, the story begins.