History Recap / ACertainMagicalIndexArc6HyoukaKazakiri

The sixth arc of ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', consisting of volume 6 of the light novels, chapters 34-44 of the manga, and episodes 21-24 of the anime.

* ADayInTheLimelight: For Index and Hyouka
* ArcVillain: Sherry Cromwell

!!Short Summary

Returning to school for the first time since the Level 6 Shift project, Touma and Index meet Kazakiri Hyouka; a physical female school student manifestation of all the esper AIM diffusion fields in Academy City.

Having befriended the non-human being, Touma sets out to protect Hyouka from Sherry Cromwell; a magician affiliated with the Anglican Church that had been lured to Academy City by its founder, Aleister Crowley, to test out the strength of his Imaginary Number District–Five Elements Institution[[note]]An overlapping AIM diffusion realm existing in the same location as Academy City[[/note]].

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!!Long Summary
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!!!Set-up

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[[caption-width-right:350:'''Protecting the Inhuman''']]

Kazakiri Hyouka is the conscious form of the aggregation of the AIM Diffusion Fields of espers in Academy City, the Imaginary Number District. She became self-aware inside the Imaginary Number District, after Kamijou Touma was introduced into Academy City 10 years ago by his father. Self-aware due to Aleister Crowley concluding that it would be much easier for the Imaginary Number District to be controlled, where he could predict its actions, and even open negotiations with it or even use coercion.

Before the start of the arc, Hyouka wandered around between the border of the Imaginary Number District and Academy City, wanting to get away from the latter as she do not want to bear influencing and changing the lives of the denizens there. Her wandering however, was not unnoticed, as several people from the Kirigaoka Girls' Academy, the school that she was somehow supposedly going to the moment she was created, and formed a research facility just to study her phantom-like existence, and ranked her as one of the highest amongst all of its student due to her queer existence, believing it to be some kind of esper power, something that caught the attention of Himegami Aisa.

Despite introducing consciousness to the Imaginary Number District, it was still a very unstable and hard to control element in Aleister Crowley's plans, despite even knowing of a way to control it. Wanting to shorten plans 2082 to 3277 as well as strengthen Kazakiri Hyouka through introducing a certain amount of "impact" to her, Aleister Crowley lures Sherry Cromwell of the Anglican Church. A troubled woman, she is already suspicious of the magic and science sides coming together, due to a traumatic event she witnessed 20 years ago, where her friend, an esper, suffered the drawbacks of using magic, and was later killed by the Knights of England after the higher-ups of the Anglican Church realized that they were in contact with the science side. Aleister plays her like a flute, manipulating her through information regarding the Imagine Breaker and the Index Librorum Prohibitorum being together, and the Key to the mysterious Imaginary Number District. Believing that she could protect her own world, she sets out to Academy City to start a war with each other, but as the self-proclaimed woman who has "as many convictions are there are stars," she had great doubts and conflicting motivations, one of which was just wanting to make both magic and science side think they were going into war in order to isolate themselves from each other, up to wanting to stop.

!!!Conscious of the AIM Diffusion Fields

Before 7 AM, Kamijou Touma returns to Academy City after aiding Yamisaka Ouma in curing the curse that had befallen the girl he has fallen in love with. Ouma escorts Touma back into Academy City, and with a little trouble, breaks into the city, which did not go unnoticed by Academy City surveillance, causing problems for Judgment and Anti-Skill, as Sherry Cromwell broke in at another gate around the same time, not hiding the fact that she's from the Anglican Church. Throughout all this, Sherry injures 15 people and critically injuring three others in her way in, forcing Academy City's Automatic Alert System.

Tsuchimikado Motoharu immediately notices this and goes to the Windowless Building himself to berate Aleister for his lackluster effort at preventing her from getting in. Aleister does not heed Motoharu's concerns, telling him that he is aware of the intruder and use this opportunity. Motoharu reminds him however, that Sherry Cromwell is of the Anglican Church, and despite the agreement Aleister made with Laura Stuart, because of the several differnent factions that the Anglican Church consists of, some people like Sherry would obviously appear, despite his best efforts to distort and manipulate information in order to stop such things from happening. Motoharu reminds Aleister that a magician should be the one that takes down a magician as to preserve the balance between magic and science, and offers to take down Sherry. Motoharu laments this, as he would have to have his identity as a spy become public.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Motoharu suspicious of Aleister's actions]]

Aleister however, says that there is no need for him to do anything. Motoharu says that if they are not careful they are truly going to cost conflict, however, Aleister reiterates his point. Motoharu then realizes that Aleister would once again use Kamijou Touma, the one who is at the center of Aleister's plans, to fight the magician and shorten his plans in controlling the Imaginary Number District–Five Elements Institution. Motoharu asks Aleister why he is going on about such a trivial thing, to which Aleister says that it is not trivial, for the Imaginary Number District is like a wild horse that can rip through the entire world, and it would be easier to tie it down. Motoharu is still worried of a conflict breaking out. However, Aleister tells him that it is job to work behind the scenes, and that if he works hard enough there would be no worry for anyone to lose their lives in the upcoming conflict, much to Motoharu's chagrin. For the rest of the arc, Motoharu is forced in the oddjob behind the scenes to manipulate information in order to avoid a major war to break out between the magic and science sides.

Touma returns, tired and worn out, back to his home, however, he comes upon Index who was tied up by Ouma again with his rope binding spell after she made a fuss about not bringing her along. Index berates Touma for leaving her, but never mind that as she just wants to be free of her bonds, and tells Touma to simply use his right hand to dispel it. Touma is reluctant of course, as Index would obviously try to bite him again, but Index insists that she will do no such thing. However, after Touma dispels the rope binding spell, she immediately clamps down on him, and tells him that she was worried as he went out to fight magicians and left her at home, and despite his inexplicable power he is still an amateur when it comes to magic. Touma could only say sorry, having nothing to say.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Index realizing Touma didn't make her lunch]]

After eating breakfast, Touma readies himself to go to school, and tells Index to stay at home. He tells Index that once he goes back they'll go out to hang out. However, after Touma leaves for school, Index realizes that Touma has not prepared lunch for her. Distressed with this, Index asks Tsuchimikado Maika regarding Touma's school.

As Touma goes to school, he meets up with Misaka Mikoto. He comments on how she is energetic, to which Mikoto nervously replies on how he could talk to her so casually in regards to what happened yesterday when he ignored him. Touma recalls and asks Mikoto why he called her back then. Mikoto nervously replies, trying to deny him the reason, and says that it was nothing. Touma asks her if it is nothing, then why did he call her. Seeing that Touma is trying to pry, she changes to topic, which ends with Touma's listlessness. Touma says that a lot of things happened the other day, to which Mikoto asks if that fake date of their tired him so much. Touma replies however that it is because he did some other things, to which Mikoto immediately accuses him of doing it with other girls. Touma calls Mikoto out on how she is the only one who would do such an embarassing thing, to which Mikoto tries to explain her situation but Touma has quickly left. Using his knowledge from his remedial lessons, Touma navigate his way through his school, though he cannot shake the feeling of being a transfer student on their first day of school. In the parking lot of his school, Touma meets up with Tsukuyomi Komoe, noticing the notes in her hands, Touma asks if they are getting a quiz, to which Komoe denies. Komoe then states that a university friend of hers has asked her to read through papers concerning An Involuntary Movement or AIM, and discusses it with Touma in detail as he accompanies her to the school. After separating, Touma readies himself in faking being the same Kamijou Touma from before his memory loss, and later, much to his relief, manages to trick them and discover that his class is pretty carefree. Celebrating that since Touma forgot his homework, they, who have also forgotten their homework, will be home free from scolding as Komoe will be attracted to Touma's misfortune.

Komoe returns for morning assembly, and states that before they go to the opening ceremony, she would like to introduce them a new girl transfer student. Touma begins to suspect who it is, from Misaka Mikoto lying about her age, an gender-bent Accelerator, to the remaining Sister clones. However, much to his surprise, Index with Sphynx, enters the room. Everyone in the class is surprised, and Touma can only respond blankly after Index notes that he is in class. However, she is later pushed away by Komoe, and enters Himegami Aisa, the true transfer student, much to Touma's relief. Komoe later gives Index enough money for a taxi ride back home as she returns back to class for the morning assembly.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Index meets Hyouka]]

With that, Index wanders around the empty halls of a certain high school hungry, and arrives at the cafeteria finding a coupon vending machine. Wanting to prove to herself that she can use machines, Index inserts the money into the machine, but fails to push a button, making the machine eat the money. Meanwhile, Kazakiri Hyouka wanders the school by the apparent machinations of Aleister Crowley, called out to Index as she was troubled with the vending machine, believing that she is just a normal student in Academy City and a transfer student in the school. Seeing as she has manifested into the real world, her first action is helping Index take her money back from the vending machine. Index asks her name, to which she says that she is Kazakiri Hyouka. The two start chatting, with Index complaining about Touma ignoring her. Hyouka points out that Index clothes stand out too much for her to stay at the school, to which Index points that Hyouka's unform stands out too, to which she says that she is a transfer student. As such, Hyouka suggests that the two of them could change into the school's P.E. outfits.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Hyouka reacts to Sphynx]]

Meanwhile, Touma escapes from the throngs of people heading for the opening ceremony, and tries to search for Index. He later hear her giggling voice in a room, and angry, barges right in through, berating Index. He later sees that Index and Hyouka are not decent, and is predictably punished by Index for it. After calming down, Index introduces Touma to Hyouka, whom she refers to as a friend. Hyouka immediately acts timid around Touma, to which Index tells Touma not to scare her. She tells Hyouka not to be scared of Touma and gives her Sphynx for her to pet. Later, Touma asks Index why she is here, to which Index states Touma forgot about her lunch. Touma points out that they're only half-day today and its just plain common sense. Index immediately goes on a tirade of "common" magic rituals, like the position of the spellcaster next to the defensive magic circle for protection against the main spell. Suddenly, Komoe appears before Kamijou Touma, worried that he wasn't in the opening ceremony. She berates Touma for casually flirting while she was worried sick, and references his uncanny ability for attracting women as his form of AIM diffusion field. Touma, annoyed with this asks Hyouka for her input on this queer situation, but when they turn to look, she has already gone quickly from them like phantom.

As Touma is forced to attend the opening ceremony as well as a lecture from Komoe, Index waits for him, with melancholy drawn upon her face. Hyouka reappears again to Index, apologizing for leaving because of all the hoopla that was going on. Hyouka starts chatting with Index, concerned as she looks depressed. Index relates on how Touma is angry with her and seem to not want to hear her side of the story, and that when she called out to him, he turned away, and wonders if Touma has began to hate her. Here, Hyouka makes a point that Touma does not hate Index, and that him being mad at Index is a sign that they are good friends, who don't hide their true feelings from each other. Touma later comes to them and tells Index that they should go out, and asks if Hyouka, who is frightened of him, if she likes to come, to which she accepts. As Touma goes to get some money, Himegami Aisa appears to Touma, disappointed at Touma for giving off a dull reaction to her becoming a transfer student. Leaving that aside, Aisa asks Touma if the girl he is with is called Kazakiri Hyouka, to which Touma confirms and says that she is a trasnfer student. She tells Touma that she should be the only transfer student, and says that back when she was still attending Kirigaoka Girls' Academy, that the name of Kazakiri Hyouka always came up at the top of the rankings of esper abilities in her school, but tells Touma that one one has actually seen her and what class or year she is in. She tells Touma that with a little investigation of hers, she figures out that her power is called Counter Stop and that she is the Key to understanding the Imaginary Number District, and that a special research facility was created just for her, but there are still unknowns regarding her identity. Touma is incredulous at this, to which Aisa responds that Touma should merely be careful. Before leaving, Touma asks Aisa if she would look to join him, and though Aisa becomes estatic at the thought, declines his invitation as Komoe gave her an errand.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Kuroko pins down Sherry]]

Due to the alert system, Judgment members is takes a leave from work to help her search Anti-Skill for the intruders. One of this is Shirai Kuroko who is in charge in finding the other intruder, she notices Sherry Cromwell, her target, near the train station, apparently looking for something and has yet to harm any civilian since breaking in. Seeing the opportunity to apprehend her, Kuroko refuses to follow protocol. She uses a signal gun to warn the civilians that a battle is about to take place. Here, seeing the warning, the people in the station quickly leave, and Kuroko and Sherry are left alone. Kuroko tells Sherry not to move, but Sherry does not heed her words. Bothered by it, Sherry takes out her pastel chalk, but before she could cast a spell, Kuroko appears before her, surprising Sherry, as Kuroko teleports her to the ground, and shortly teleporting spikes unto her clothes, pinning her to the ground.

However, despite being overwhelmed by Kuroko, Sherry has already written a magic code upon the ground she is pinned upon, and catches Kuroko unawares. A giant arm, made out of various solid objects, looms above Kuroko, who is unable to teleport away as she in pain, being caught in the ankle by the Sherry's golem's mouth. Kuroko doesn't know magic, and can only presume that Sherry is an esper from the outside. As the arm launches towards Kuroko, Misaka Mikoto arrives just in time to cut the golem's arm with her iron sand attack, severing it cleanly. Finally, as a finishing blow, Mikoto fires her Railgun towards the severed arm, blowing dust and smoke in their surroundings. Sherry uses this to her advantage, as she quickly escapes from Kuroko's spikes. Mikoto later calms Kuroko's nerves, and tells her to rely on her more. Much to her frustration, Kuroko takes advantage of the situation and starts molesting Mikoto.

Alone, Sherry then begins her search for one of her targets. Using Automatic Writing, Sherry figures out the name of one of her targets, Kazakiri Hyouka, the Key to the Imaginary Number District. She then uses her magic to summon several mud eyes to search for the name that she has found.

Touma, Index, and Hyouka visit the School District 7 Underground Shopping Center. Here, Touma suggests that they should go eat first, to which he asks Index and Hyouka. Hyouka however, becomes timid as Touma focuses his attention on her, remarking it's because he saw her naked, though Touma couldn't hear her. Index then chastizes Touma for his behavior around Hyouka, and as they argue, Hyouka is forced to choose a restaurant in order to end it. The restaurant she chose is School Lunch Restaurant, and after ordering their meals, Hyouka mentions that it is her first time eating this kind of cafeteria food.

Meanwhile, back at a certain high school, Yomikawa Aiho of Anti-Skill, is making fun of Tsukuyomi Komoe, regarding Kamijou Touma's secret meeting with outsiders, and later asks Komoe to confirm if there were actually two outsiders, leaving Komoe confused. Aiho then receives a call for work as Sherry Cromwell has been found, and later leaves. Himegami Aisa then enters the room, carrying a book that Komoe asked for, whom stayed back as she was helping her friend finish her report on AIM diffusion fields. Komoe apologizes to Aisa for troubling her, and then tells her about on how Touma went off not with just Index but with another girl as well. After Komoe describes her, Aisa then asks Komoe if there really is a Kazakiri Hyouka in this school.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Touma walks in on Index and Hyouka cosplaying]]

The three of them later go the Underground malls various arcades and amusement venues. Back at the school, Aisa tries to contact Touma's phone, but due to being underground the receptions is terrible, and Touma is unable to understand the caller. Back with Index and Hyouka, Index tells Hyouka not to be scared of Touma as he will not do anything bad to her, to which Hyouka says that she doesn't herself, and describes her feelings for Touma, as the hesitation one feels when one comes upon a wool sweater with a lots of static electricity, and assumes that it just because it is her first time talking to a guy. They later drink soda from a vending machine, to which Hyouka says that it is her first time. Index later forces Hyouka into a cosplay photobooth, and at the same time as Touma finishes his call. He comes upon the booth, and though Index and Hyouka warn Touma not to come close, Touma tempts fate, and much to his misfortune, their movement in the photobooth causes the curtains that cover the booth to fall. Touma is predictably punished by Index.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Judgement student confronting Touma's group]]

Index gives Hyouka half of the pictures they took together and comments on how school life is great, to which Touma disagrees, citing his reasons. Suddenly, a girl from Judgment confronts them and tells them that she has been trying to contact them through telepathy, and tries to send out a message to the three of them. Index and Hyouka receive the message, but Touma is unable to receive it. Failing this, the girl tells them that there is a terrorist in the underground mall, and that a red alert has been issued. The operation to detain her would start in 902 seconds with likely gunfire, and by that time, the separation wall in the underground mall will closed down, and sealing it to prevent the escape of the terrorist. As a Judgment member she is instructed to have everyone escape as soon as possible. She explains that she is using telepathy to prevent the terrorist from knowing of the operation. With that, the Judgment personnel leaves them. Touma heeds the instruction, and tells Index and Hyouka to go before the wall closes down. However, a voice calls out to them, and then the three of them are horrified to discover that a mud eyeball is stuck on the wall. It is Sherry Cromwell, who is apparently delighted that the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, Imagine Breaker, and the Key to the Imaginary Number District are gathered up in a single place, though saying that she'll just kill them all. Index upon seeing this, recognizes that it is a golem that has been forced into the role of an English guardian angel. Hearing this, Touma realizes that the terrorist maybe a magician. There, a large rumble reverberates throughout the underground mall, the separation wall closes down, and the lights disappear. The detainment of the terrorist has begun.

As Anti-Skill battle Sherry Cromwell, Touma, Index, Hyouka, and a whole lot of civilians are stuck inside the underground mall, as the seperation was forcefully closed down. Seeing that he has no choice but to fight, Touma suggest to Index and Hyouka, that they should go and hide as he will take care of the magician himself. Index says that it is her job to face the magician, and tells Touma and Hyouka to hide. Touma and Index begin to argue, and ignores Hyouka's attempt to ask if she is of any use. Hearing footsteps around the corner, both Touma and Index tell each other to run away as they try to face the impending threat, however, both trip upon each other, and making Sphynx mew.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Kuroko evacuating civilians from Sherry's attack]]

Meanwhile, Kuroko, whose duty it is to aid civilians to evacuate, is escorted by Mikoto (who spotted Touma in the guard room's surveillance camera and came rushing towards his location), both of which hear Sphynx's mew, as they turn around the corner, Kuroko and Mikoto, much to the latters surprise, see Touma and Index fallen down closely together on the floor. Mikoto demands Touma for an explanation on why he is there with a girl on top of him, but before he could respond, Index asks if Touma knows who the two classless women in front of them are. Kuroko is speechless, but Mikoto just becomes irate. However, the both of them suddenly discover the both of them has been saved by Touma without being asked, and the both of them then asks what he is doing behind the both of their backs. As the two of the lecture Touma, and he then explanation, Hyouka is unable to speak up and is frightened by Kuroko's expressions after hearing that Mikoto confided to someone like Touma.

Seeing on how Touma is involved with something troublesome again, Mikoto asks if the terrorist is related to the goth woman Kuroko fought with. Kuroko briefs them on how she is troubled because of the fact that there are two seemingly different intruders today. Hearing this, Touma could not help but point out that he was the one who was likely the other intruder, and explains the reason, to which both Mikoto and Kuroko exasperatedly let him slide. Kuroko then tells them that it is her job to help the trapped civilians escape as she has the teleport ability. After much argument on who should leave the underground mall first, both Index and Mikoto got teleported by Kuroko, leaving Touma and Hyouka behind. Touma apologizes to Hyouka for leaving her behind, to which Hyouka replies that she doesn't mind. However, the battle continues to rumble on forwards deeper within the underground mall, Touma specifically tells Hyouka to stay and wait for Kuroko as he will try to stop the magician, quickly leaving her alone.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Touma vs. Sherry's golem, Ellis]]

About 20 Anti-Skill personnel has engaged Sherry for a while, and Sherry and her Golem Ellis' movements continue to rock the Underground mall. Despite being on the offensive, the Anti-Skill is unable to pierce through Sherry Cromwell's Golem Ellis' defenses. One of them tries to use a grenade at it, but Sherry notices this, and uses her golem to make the Anti-Skill fumble. Immediately after, the grenade explodes, injuring the Anti-Skill, and the golem continues its rampage.

Though there are no casualties, the Anti-Skill suffer terrible injuries, and by the time Touma finds them, they are still recovering their wounds. Touma is shocked that a magician could defeat the force of the science side, but presses onwards. Yomikawa Aiho who is part of the team, recognizes Touma as one of Komoe's students, and tries to stop him, but fails to do so. As Touma goes further into the darkened halls, Touma finds Sherry Cromwell and her golem. Sherry notices that he is the Imagine Breaker, and wonders where the Key to the Imaginary Number District is, but then says that it doesn't matter if the one she kills is him. She makes no effort to hide that she is from the Anglican Church, introducing herself from it to Touma, surprising him, as Index came from the same denomination. Here, Sherry declares that she wants war, and wants a reason for it, telling him that she wants as many people as possible to know. She orders Golem Ellis to attack, but to protect Touma, the still able-bodied Anti-Skill attack with their rifles, chipping away at it, but to no avail. While the hail of bullets fly, Touma hears footsteps behind him to discover Kazakiri Hyouka.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Hyouka realizes she's artificial]]

Touma demands to know why she is there, but Hyouka hesitates to answer, Touma then tells Hyouka to get away, however, as the battle goes on, a debris hits her square in the face, utterly obliterating a side of her head. Touma goes to her side, but discovers something queer. There is a strange rectangular prism-like object inside Hyouka's hollow head, controlling her movements. Here, Sherry too, is stunned and watches as Hyouka discovers what is inside her head. In her terror however, Hyouka runs towards the wrong direction, Touma tries to stop her but is too late. Sherry orders Golem Ellis to attack her, downing her through brute force. However, she somehow survives. Terrified, she runs away again. Interested, Sherry orders Ellis to follow her, and destroys surrounding walls as so Touma and the others will not interfere with her hunt, though just simply slowing down Touma and the Anti-Skill's advance.

As Kuroko returns to find that Touma and Hyouka are gone, she is forced to prioritize to help the other civilians trapped in the mall as well. Meanwhile, as Touma helps the Anti-Skill clean up the debris and once again, is able to lose them with little effort, going towards where Hyouka and Sherry went. As Anti-Skill lick their wounds in the distance, Touma goes to a antennae area and contacts Tsukuyomi Komoe, to ask her about regarding Kazakiri Hyouka. Here, Komoe does not hide to Touma that she was looking for him and that Aisa tried to contact him a while ago but failed. Touma tells him about his position, and Komoe perfectly guesses that Touma is talking about Kazakiri Hyouka. Komoe shares her suspicion on how Hyouka was not caught in any of the surveillance entering the school premises, despite appearing before Touma and Index. Komoe explains to Touma about the AIM diffusion fields that espers emit again, and tells him that a phenomenon would occur, if energies that consists what humans are made out gather together, should form a human. With the 2.3 millions of espers in the city, with all their different powers, and in turn, differen AIM diffusion fields, it would create a process known as Kazakiri Hyouka.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Komoe talking to Touma over the phone]]

Touma says that Hyouka doesn't seem to notice this as well, as if she always thought that she was normal human. Komoe asks if she thought she was human from the start, there should be no reason to suspect that she wasn't human. Komoe says plainly that Kazakiri Hyouka is not human but a physical phenomenon created by AIM diffusion fields. Touma is shocked after hearing this, interacting with a phenomenon, to which Komoe replies to him with a lecture. Komoe says that, indeed, Hyouka is not a human, even if she has everything that one could deem a human, despite this, she is still not human, a nature that is non-existent, an illusion that will disappear on the slightest touch. She then asked Touma what he thought of Hyouka in his own eyes, if she was just a lifeless illusion to him. Touma tells her that even if she was just an illusion, that doesn't mean she should disappear. Hearing his reply, Komoe is glad on how Touma was brought up the right way. With that, Touma decides he will try to save his important friend.

However, Touma has one debacle: the golem. Surely, he cannot handle the golem himself in the narrow halls of the mall, where every movement of the golem cause the surroundings to tremble. Touma debates with himself for a while, then discovers that there are Anti-Skills he had left behind. Touma later goes to their side and simply asks them to help his friend, and there, they formulate a plan to save Hyouka and defeat the golem.

Despite the massive injuries her body incurred, Hyouka is fine, and somehow, her body is able to regenerate, even her glasses. Suddenly, Sherry catches up to her, and immediately attacks her with Golem Ellis. Hyouka tries to escape, but is too late, the golem catches her hair, and drags her head down and grinds her body to the floor. However, even this, is quickly regenerated by Hyouka. Sherry is surprised that the Key to the Imaginary Number District is in the form of a timid girl. Hyouka asks Sherry why she is doing such a cruel thing, to which she says that there is no particular reason, that it needs to be her, but killing her is the quickest way. Seeing Hyouka's expression, Sherry tells her that she is not human, and demonstrates it by having her golem destroy a part of itself and then regenerate, just like what happened with Hyouka. She concludes that she and Ellis are the same, monsters. As Hyouka falls into despair and cries, Sherry tells her that she shouldn't cry, as it is unseemly for a monster like her to cry, and orders Ellis to attack Hyouka.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Anti-Skill vs. Ellis]]

However, as Hyouka flinches, she discovers that she has been saved by the timely arrival of Touma, who used his right hand to stop the golem in its tracks. With the golem destroyed, Sherry quickly draws up a new one, and comments on how Hyouka should celebrate on how there is at least one idiot in the world who would protect her. However, Touma says to her that he is not alone, and much to Sherry's surprise, the Anti-Skills she defeated appear before her, rifles drawn and flashlights set upon her. Sherry commands Ellis to attack, however, the Anti-Skill go into formation, protect Touma and Hyouka, and start firing at the golem. it chips it slowly but is unable to move forward through the onslaught. Sherry commands the golem to force itself through, as such, it begins to move, and slowly gets used to the barrage of bullets. While protecting Hyouka and Touma, Yomikawa Aiho asks Touma if he is going to continue with his plan, telling him that nobody will blame him if he chickens out. Hyouka asks what he is going to do, to which he says it is to stop the golem. Hyouka pleads to Touma not to do it as he'd never make it, Hyouka tries to reach out to him, but Touma tells her not to touch him, as his right hand will surely destroy her too. However, Touma tells her that just because cannot touch each other, doesn't meant that they could not be friends. Touma tells her that he will be back, and that they could hang out with Index again.

Sherry however, notices that the Anti-Skill and Touma are planning to do something, and waves her pastel chalk frantically to give the golem's steps more focus. The Anti-Skill then cease their firing in order to let Touma through. The unstable Ellis is orderd by Sherry to attack, to which it does so, attacking the ground Touma is in, delaying his progress. It raises its fist again, and Touma bends down towards the opening between the golem's legs as it tries to maintain its balance. With that, the Anti-Skill resume firing, and Touma confront Sherry. She can't move Ellis as she will only get his by the bullets, and seeing Touma, notes on how they are both trapped by the hail of gunfire by the Anti-Skill, but Touma says he doesn't need to, and just needs for her to sleep quietly, punching her in the face, and negates Sherry's control of the golem.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Sherry escapes through a magic circle]]

Touma tries to negate the golem, but then notices Sherry drawing a magic circle on the ground, making Touma believe that she's making another one. Sherry tells Touma that she cannot create and sustain two at the same time, and says that even if she tried, it will collapse like mud. However, she says that if she uses that principle, she can create a useful effect. With that, the ground under Sherry collapses, and she escapes, creating another golem, and destroying the one above.

Despite escaping, Touma is still restless about Sherry, and recalls on how her interest with Hyouka were not very high, and then remembers on how she said that the one she has to kill didn't need to be him. Here, Touma realizes that her next target is Index.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Touma decides to go after Sherry]]

While a now injured Sherry has formed a new golem, intending to find Index, Touma, Hyouka, and the Anti-Skill is stuck with each other. Touma demands to know why the separation wall has not been lifted, to which Yomikawa Aiho replies that it is not within their control. Frustrated, Touma goes to the hole that Sherry created, wishing that he can go down and chase her. Hyouka then asks what's going on, and Touma tells her that Sherry's new target is Index.Hyouka tells Touma that they should ask Anti-Skill for help, to which Touma says that Index will only get in trouble as she isn't part Academy City. Touma laments on how he is unable to get to Index, or get down to where Sherry is. Hyouka then asks if Touma is really going, to which Touma confirms. Hyouka however, says that it is all right as there is a way to save her without him doing anything, and shows that she herself will save Index, a monster must face a monster after all. Hyouka says that she may not be able to stop the golem, but says that she will use herself as bait for Index to escape. Touma is obviously not fine with this, and calls her out on still saying that she is a monster. Hyouka says that she is fine with being a monster, because it will be the key to saving Index. Despite Touma's remonstrations, Hyouka willingly falls into the hole, and Touma is unable to stop her. Hyouka lands violently onto the hard ground, but her queer powers allow her to easily recover. She quickly sprint towards the golem, determined to save her first friend. Here, she finally recalls that she is not of this world, and of the City of Shimmers, where she was the core of the whole machinery of the city, and her actions and thoughts influenced the people there. She also recalls that she saw Academy City at the edge of that City of Shimmers and longed to escape the burden of influencing that queer city. One day, as she walks upon Academy City, she notices Index being troubled, and reached out to help her, and there, she somehow manifested into the world, not knowing who she truly was, but mattered not as she has made her first friend, even if she hated her for being a monster.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Index departs to help Touma]]

Meanwhile, after being teleported by Kuroko, both Index and Mikoto wait for the others. After conversing about her destroyed Walking Church, on how Index is worried of Touma being with Hyouka, and on how Index believes Touma will always come back no matter how many times he goes off, Index leaves Mikoto as she is forced to chase after Sphynx, who has detected something queer. Mikoto stays behind as her powers will only stay away animals like cats. Here, she notices that the ground is rumbling for some reason. At the same time as this, Sherry has let Golem Ellis go before her, controlling the thing remotely. She also lets Hyouka pass her by, and later sets up a trap for Touma, seeing him as the person she needs to defeat.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Sherry surrounds Touma with magic circles]]

Touma comes down the hole with a firehose he found lying around. After running deep underground for awhile, Sherry notices him and uses her magic to make a pillar collapse next to him. Sherry tells Touma that she has let Ellis go first and taunts him that it might've already found its target. Sherry continues to taunt Touma, telling him to be her opponent, as so he won't be able to save Index. Touma asks Sherry why she is causing a rift between the balance of magic and science. Sherry answers, and talks about on how espers self-destruct when using magic. She tells Touma of the tragic fate of her friend, Ellis, the first attempt at a successful Magician-Esper hybrid. With this, Sherry says that the magicians in their magic side, and the scientists in their science side cannot co-exist together, and that if they do not set up clear boundaries between each other, tragedies such as what happened to Ellis twenty years ago will happen again. Touma is confused on how contradictory she is being, but then realizes that Sherry doesn't want them to start a war between each other, but only have them assume that they are in a brink of war. This angers Sherry and summons several magic circles on the walls and ceilings of the underground tunnel, an ambush. As the tunnel begins to collapse however, Touma notices the magic circle near Sherry on the floor. Discovering that it is the one made to protect her, Touma charges towards it and negates it, forcing Sherry to stop the spell. However, as she was distracted, Touma is able to punch her in the face.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Touma defeats Sherry]]

Sherry is down, but not out. She stands up again and continues to mumble on how she needs to create a spark for war, saying of her reasons, such as Academy City's security getting lax, the Anglican Church having the Index Librorum Prohibitorum go out of their hands, etc. Touma asks her what Hyouka and Index did to warrant her attack, asking her why she is causing conflict even though she doesn't want it. Sherry goes loose, telling Touma that she doesn't know. She says that she hates everything, wants to kill everyone who killed Ellis, and bury all the scientists and magicians together. However, strangely, she also says that she doesn't want magicians and espers top fight each other, and tells Touma that her mind has been in conflict from the very beginning. She tells Touma that to her, everything seems logical, and that's why she is in pain. She doesn't live for a single belief, but of many, and tells him that she has as many convictions as there are stars. Touma, upon hearing this, tells her that even though her words are contradictory, there was only one belief that sprouted all of her other beliefs, which is that she didn't want to lose her dear friend. Touma asks her if she saw with her own eyes that he and Index were unhappy together, and tells her that there is not a need for them to separate, as they are happy together. Touma then asks her not to take away his dear friend as well.

Sherry completely breaks down, knowing that her wish can no longer be fulfilled, and that what she is doing is useless folly. She calls upon her magic name, and charges towards Touma with her pastel chalk. Here, Touma realizes that another belief of Sherry's, and that is she wanted someone to stop her. And with that, Touma destroys Sherry's pastel, and punches her face, destroying her illusion. Touma tie Sherry down with found materials, and continues on his way. However, Sherry quickly regains consciousness, and wonders why she isn't dead. She wonders what belief out of many will pop out of her. She understands Touma's pleas, but a contradictory thought forms out of her. As she moves, another pastel chalk falls out of her, and in her many convictions, gives out a meaningless order, to either destroy the target or abort the mission.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Index vs. Ellis]]

Index finally catches up to Sphynx, however, the cat begins to act erratically, and almost immediately, the ground begins to shake. The ground tears apart, and a large arm appears and attacks Index, who manages to escape. It is Golem Ellis, which is what Sherry Cromwell is controlling remotely, however, instead of running away, Index stands her ground firm. She narrows her eyes, and with the knoweldge of a 103,000 grimoires, analyzes the golem. The golem is based from the Kabbalah; its main use is for defense and the elimination of enemies. The golem was apparently created from the mixing of Anglican Church's spells creating a new spell, with the linguistic system changed from Hebrew to English. Index's discovers that it is also being manipulated from a distance. The golem tries to attack Index, but she shows no fear as she knows of ways of defeating it without magic—Spell Intercept. By reciting codes, Index is able to hijack the magician's commands. It works, all movements of the golem are intercepted by Index, and are given new movements that are completely destructive to it. The golem attacks again, and Index uses a long code that manages to make it fall, and buy her enough time. Knowing that evading won't be enough, she takes out the pins that holds her clothes together to take advantage of the golem's regenerative powers. Knowing that the regenaration of the golem occurs every three seconds after being severe damage, Index prepares her pin, which is like a spanner in the works. In a whirlwind of power, the golem stands up again and attacks Index, who dodges it and prepares her attack. She throws the pin at the golem, which absorbs it. The effect hinders it considerably, unable to come closer to Index. Smiling, Index prepares for another pin. However, the golem surprises her, blowing her away. She tries to use Spell Intercept again, but is interrupted by the golem's assault. Down on the ground, the golem prepares for another attack. Index tries to use Spell Intercept again, and is successful in saying a code but is no longer working. The golem slowly rips out the affected leg that Index used a pin on, and moves closer to Index. She realizes that the long distance manipulation has been switched to automaton mode, rendering her unique ability useless. Index looks up to her doom, as the golem roars fill the air. With tears in her eyes, Index whispers the name Touma before a sickening sound is heard.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Touma defeats Ellis]]

However, like Touma before, Hyouka is now the one protecting Index, kicking the golem down with great power, much to Index's surprise. She discovers that Hyouka is injured after her attack, but then sees her powerful regenerative ability. Hyouka tells Index to run away, as the golem's regeneration goes haywire, making it bigger. Index tells Hyouka to run, but tells Index that she should do so instead, as she needs to fight the monster before them. Index says that she can't fight a monster like that, and that she'd die for sure. However, Hyouka says that it is all right, as she isn't human either, and apologizes to Index for it. With that, the golem attacks, and Hyouka manages to block with it her powers, but her form starts breaking apart. Suddenly, the golem attacks with the use of it's other arm. Hyouka flinches, but then Touma shouts towards her. He charges forward with his raised fist, and collides it with the golem. The moment it touches Touma's right hand, all it's power and momentum completely vanishes, and the golem collapses unto itself. Hyouka smiles, as if relieved, now with her nice illusion is over.

!!!Aftermath

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[[caption-width-right:350:Touma comforts Hyouka]]

Index is later taken away by Kuroko and Mikoto, saying that Judgment and Anti-Skill are coming, leaving Touma to fend on his own as his Imagine Breaker will prevent Kuroko's powers. As Index struggles from afar to get away from them, Touma comes upon an abandoned building. Here, Touma finds a lone Hyouka crying, and as she turns towards him, she says that she was happy that she use all of her strength to protect her important friends. Touma doesn't reply, but lets her continue with her pour her heart out. She talks to Touma about how she has known from the very beginning what happens when a monster's true nature is revealed. She tells him that she could not do anything about being a monster, but since a person who called her a friend was in danger, she needed to save her. She comes towards Touma and leans her body into his, whom cannot even embrace her. She asks Touma why she must lose the thing that she holds dear, why she must be afraid, despite the fact that she just wanted her friend safe from her, all the while burying her face in the comfort and warmth of that boy's chest.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Index happy her friend is safe]]

Hyouka continues leaning on him, justifyin her actions, that she wanted to be with her friend forever, and knew that she could become good friends with her. Then she says that it was impossible, she could not just stand by and allow her to get killed, at the cost of Index not hating or not being afraid of her. She keeps on crying, and trying to justify what she has done was a necessity, in spite of the fact that now Index may hate or even be afraid of her. Touma was silent for the entire time during Hyouka's self-depacration and justification, however, he finally speaks. He tells her that if she is in pain or is sad, then she is not a monster. He tells her that she is indeed human, and that her illusion isn't over yet. They turn around and see Index, looking for them, and as she sees them, tears well up in her eyes. Hyouka is unbelieving of this, as Index tries to approach them, pouting but teary-eyed. Perhaps not learning her lesson, Hyouka is still unbelieving of the fact that Index is looking at her like a friend. Touma tells that maybe indeed her composition is a bit different from humans, and that she may be able to do thing other people can't, but that doesn't change the fact that she is Index's friend. And at that moment, Index jumps into Hyouka's arms, like true friends.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Touma gets scolded by Komoe and Aisa for his actions]]

Touma goes back to A Certain Hospital, bragging to the Heaven Canceller about on how he has improved and that there is not a scratch on him this time. However, he is quickly punished by Himegami Aisa and Tsukuyomi Komoe about her actions towards girls, like Kazakiri Hyouka, as well as Touma being in the custody of Anti-Skill. The doctor then tells him that due to Touma's recent actions, his hand would've gotten fractures, which stops Touma's bragging. Komoe then says that there has been suspicious events during this whole debacle. She says that there were great coincidences, like Kazakiri Hyouka specifically appearing before Touma, as well as the true nature of Kazakiri Hyouka being the Key to the Imaginary Number District, and finally, on how the terrorist was able to find Hyouka, despite she appearing just now, and implicates the administrators of Academy City. Finally, Komoe says that there were too many coincidences happenign at the same time, the most suspicious point of all. Only the Heaven Canceller can understand what's going on, as he looks towards the Windowless Building.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Hyouka bids farewell to her first friend]]

While in the waiting room, Hyouka begins to dissipate, saying that she has little time left in the world, as she is an existence of concentrated espers, as such, she can only exist in an unstable state. Index asks if it's because of Touma's power, to which Hyouka explains that it is not Touma's power because it if it was, she should've been destroyed long ago as she is an aggregation of all esper's powers, surpising Index as it is not in any of her 103,000 grimoires. Hyouka tells that it is time for her to go, and says to Index that will always be with her even if she doesn't see her. Index says that if they would ever meet again, to which she says that they will, finally parting ways.

Back in the Windowless Building, Tsuchimakado Motoharu asks him if he is happy now that he is now closer to holding the key that can control the Imaginary Number District. He tells the man that he is a monster, an ironic comparison throughout the events that just have happened. To gives the Imaginary Number District consciousness and allow it to materialize into something like "that", adds to back-up his claim, and Motoharu claims him to be insane. Aleister says that it is easier to control humans, as they can be used through coercion and negotiation. Motoharu asks what would happen if he created a villain, to which Aleister replies that villains are much easier to control. The difference between these two is only in the method used one handle them. Motoharu then asks if there is any meaning to doing all this just to get the Imaginary Number District, warning him of the magic side not being easy after what happened with Sherry. However, Aleister says that if he had managed to attain the Imaginary Number District, there would be no need to fear magicians.

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[[caption-width-right:350:Motoharu ponders what Aleister's overall goal is]]

As Motoharu ponders his words, he discovers a part of what Aleister is thinking, and demands to know if he is making an Artificial Heaven. Motoharu warns Aleister that if the Anglican Church discovers this they will surely declare war, pitying Sherry for being manipulated because she only thought that she was protecting her own world. Aleister tells Motoharu not to be paranoid, as he does not intend to fight the Church, and tells him that these terms such as heaven is beyond him as it is the business of the magic side. However, Motoharu points out as if he was insulted, that nobody knows more about magic than anyone else except him, Aleister Crowley, the magician.

Before leaving, Motoharu gives Aleister advice, and asks him if he knows something about the term hard luck, and tells him that it means that no matter how many times one meets a hellish fate, the person is lucky enough to overcome it safely. Motoharu tells him that he has no idea what he is planning, but warns him that if he continues using the Imagine Breaker, then he should ready himself not to treat him half-heartedly, for surely, his right hand will eat his illusions alive. As Motoharu leaves him alone in that Windowless Building, Aleister tells that all his illusions were destroyed a long time ago.

With the appearance of Kazakiri Hyouka, Aleister sets his plan in motion in creating Fuse=KAZAKIRI, a prototype model, in order for Aiwass to be able to take form in the world. Meanwhile, with Aleister's actions, Motoharu is forced to act behind the lines, to manipulate information in order for him to stop war between the magic and science sides, a job that he would eventually fail at doing. Furthermore, despite the thousands of damages done during Sherry's attack, the Underground Shopping Center's repair has been hastened due to the Daihaseisai, removing all signs of damage from September the 1st.

Finally, even after what Sherry has done, due to her combat and decoding capabilities, the Archbishop Laura Stuart, after intense negotiations with Aleister, gave her a generous disposition. She is punished with shutting her in and letting her do document arrangements to reflect on her actions. She would later calm down considerably, and would later try to move on from her past, and hope that she won't lose control again.

----

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While a now injured Sherry has formed a new golem, intending to find Index, Touma, Hyouka, and the Anti-Skill is stuck with each other. Touma demands to know why the separation wall has not been lifted, to which Yomikawa Aiho replies that it is not within their control. Frustrated, Touma goes to the hole that Sherry created, wishing that he can go down and chase her. Hyouka then asks what's going on, and Touma tells her that Sherry's new target is Index.Hyouka tells Touma that they should ask Anti-Skill for help, to which Touma says that Index will only get in trouble as she isn't part Academy City. Touma laments on how he is unable to get to Index, or get down to where Sherry is. Hyouka then asks if Touma is really going, to which Touma confirms. Hyouka however, says that it is all right as there is a way to save her without him doing anything, and shows that she herself will save Index, a monster must face a monster after all. Hyouka says that she may not be able to stop the golem, but says that she will use herself as bait for Index to escape. Touma is obviously not fine with this, and calls her out on still saying that she is a monster. Hyouka says that she is fine with being a monster, because it will be the key to saving Index. Despite Touma's remonstrations, Hyouka willingly falls into the hole, and Touma is unable to stop her.[31] Hyouka lands violently onto the hard ground, but her queer powers allow her to easily recover. She quickly sprint towards the golem, determined to save her first friend. Here, she finally recalls that she is not of this world, and of the City of Shimmers, where she was the core of the whole machinery of the city, and her actions and thoughts influenced the people there. She also recalls that she saw Academy City at the edge of that City of Shimmers and longed to escape the burden of influencing that queer city. One day, as she walks upon Academy City, she notices Index being troubled, and reached out to help her, and there, she somehow manifested into the world, not knowing who she truly was, but mattered not as she has made her first friend, even if she hated her for being a monster.

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[[caption-width:350:Motoharu suspicious of Aleister's actions]]

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[[caption-width:350:Index meets Hyouka]]

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[[caption-width:350:Kuroko pins down Sherry]]

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[[caption-width:350:Judgement student confronting Touma's group]]

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[[caption-width:350:Touma vs. Sherry's golem, Ellis]]

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[[caption-width:350:Komoe talking to Touma over the phone]]

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[[caption-width:350:Sherry escapes through a magic circle]]

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[[caption-width:350:Index departs to help Touma]]

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[[caption-width:350:Touma defeats Sherry]]

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[[caption-width:350:Touma defeats Ellis]]

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[[caption-width:350:Index happy her friend is safe]]

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[[caption-width:350:Hyouka bids farewell to her first friend]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Motoharu discusses with Aleister what is overall goal is]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Motoharu discusses Aleister's goal]]

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[[caption-width-right:350:Hyouka realizes she's not normal]]

Returning to school since the Level 6 Shift project, Touma and Index meet Kazahiri; a physical female school student manifestation of all the esper AIM diffusion fields in Academy City.

Having befriended the non-human being, Touma sets out to protect Kazahiri from Sherry Cromwell; a magician affiliated with the Anglican Church that had been lured to Academy City by its founder, Aleister Crowley, to test out the strength of his Imaginary Number District–Five Elements Institution[[note]]An overlapping AIM diffusion realm existing in the same location as Academy City[[/note]].

It is the morning of September 1, the first day of the new school year. Apparently, Touma and Index were able to tidy their apartment up after they got back from dealing with Ouma Yamisaka's problem. Touma is annoyed that he barely got any sleep and lost his homework and now he has to go back to school. He makes breakfast for Index and himself. As they eat, she realizes that when he goes back to school, she'll be home alone and becomes depressed. He sadly says it is for the best that she stay inside, because he's worried that she would be in danger if she went out by herself. She asks him to come home as soon as he can. He promises he will and leaves for school. Index plays with Sphynx for a bit, then realizes with horror that Touma didn't prepare any lunch for her. They are out of junk food and snacks and she has no idea how to cook.

As Touma walks to school, he runs into Mikoto. He says he doesn't have time to deal with her, as he needs to get to class and yesterday's shenanigans left him exhausted. Insulted, she asks if going on a date with her yesterday was really so horrible, but he says he did far more than that. She starts blushing and stammering and angrily asks if he was going out with other girls on the same day. He says he did no such thing, and comments that she must have a dirty mind to suggest such a thing. She gets really embarrassed and angry as he walks off.

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[[caption-width-right:180:How are you doing that?]]

Touma makes it to his school. He gets a little nervous and muses that it's like he's a new student because of his amnesia. Komoe Tsukuyomi drives up and parks her car in a parking space. Confused, he asks how she can drive when her legs are definitely too short to reach the pedals. Instead of explaining how, she gets pissed and tells him to never doubt her. As they walk to the school together, he asks about the stack of papers she's carrying, worried that they are a pop quiz. She explains that one of her colleagues is doing a report on AIM (An Involuntary Movement) and asked her to help gather data. AIM is the energy that all espers emit when they use their powers. Normally, it can only be detected with special equipment. Touma muses that there might be an esper who can detect AIM. Komoe agrees that it is possible, and that such an esper would be able to detect the presence of other espers and even determine how strong they are. She goes to the faculty room while he goes to his classroom.

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[[caption-width-right:250:Thank you, my dear.]]

Meanwhile, Motoharu Tsuchimikado is brought into the Windowless Building by a red-haired girl who can teleport. The building has no entrances, so teleportation is the only apparent way in or out. The girl looks tired, and Motoharu thanks her for taking time out of her busy schedule to bring him in and out of the building so often. She smiles weakly and teleports away. He walks up to the glass tube holding Creator/AleisterCrowley and berates him. A magician has broken into Academy City, and Aleister did not make any effort to stop her even though he could have done so easily. Aleister says it will be alright, and his surveillance systems have already detected the intruder. Motoharu pulls out a picture of the intruder, Sherry Cromwell. Unlike rogues like Aureolus Izzard and Ouma Yamisaka, Sherry is a well respected member of Necessarius. She broke into Academy City without checking up with Necessarius, unlike Stiyl, Kaori, and himself. Motoharu speculates that Sherry has turned against them and plans to get into a conflict with an esper or Academy City's authorities to break the fragile truce and trigger a war between the Science and Magic sides. He says he will be able to take her down without any repercussions because he is a magician as well, but Aleister says there is no need. Touma Kamijou will defeat Sherry for them without them having to lift a finger. Aleister says Touma's actions will help accelerate his plans. Motoharu asks if these plans involve the Imaginary Number District, and Aleister gives a cryptic answer.

Note: In the light novel version, Motoharu decides to intervene with the situation despite Aleister's instructions, but realizes he can't leave the building without the girl's help, and he has no way of contacting her. After deciding that physically threatening Aleister is pointless, he sighs and waits for her to come back.

Touma and the other students settle in their seats while waiting for Komoe to enter. Motoharu isn't there, and nobody knows where he is. Pierce Aogami smugly reveals he deliberately didn't do his summer school homework so that he could enjoy being scolded by Komoe, and Touma is disgusted by his perversions. Komoe comes in and says they have a new transfer student, and the guys in class cheer when she says the student is a girl. She should be coming in any minute.

Note: In the light novel and manga versions, Touma decides to speculate on who the new student is. He first imagines Mikoto (having bumped up a few grades since she's a lot younger than them), then Kaori Kanzaki, then inexplicably '''Accelerator''' in a dress and claiming to be a girl named Yuriko Suzushina. He almost vomits from the horror of that mental image.

Index walks into the room, holding Sphynx. The class gets confused by her outfit, and Touma is incredibly shocked, but it turns out she just wandered into the school of her own accord. Komoe tells Index that since she's not a student, she can't just enter the school if she's not on official business. The teacher hands her some money for taxi fare and tells her to go home. As Index leaves, the real transfer student comes in. It's Aisa Himegami, now in a school uniform instead of her miko outfit.

Note: In the manga, since the Deep Blood arc was skipped, this is Himegami's introduction, and she seems to be an ordinary girl.

[[quoteright:180:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/180px-toaru_majutsu_no_index_e21_08m_48s_2763.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:180:Hello, new friend.]]

Index wanders the halls annoyed, and claims she is hungry even though she just ate breakfast. She finds and enters the empty cafeteria. She happily puts the money Komoe gave her into a food vending machine, but then can't find any buttons to press. As she demands the machine at least give her the money back, a girl taps her on the shoulder and explains that the vending machine uses a touch screen. Index has no idea what that is, surprising her, but she patiently shows Index how to use it. Index is extremely grateful, and the girl introduces herself as Hyouka Kazakiri. They sit down and start chatting. Index talks about how she wanted to be with Touma, but the teacher wouldn't let her stay. Hyouka says that is standard policy: only students, official guests, and faculty are allowed in a school. Index comments that Hyouka seems to be an outsider too, but she says she is a transfer student. Index says she wants to be a transfer student as well. Hyouka says Index's outfit is too strange for her to blend in with the school, but there are some P.E. uniforms in the nurse's office.

Touma, knowing full well Index didn't go home, wanders the halls looking for her. He hears her voice coming from the nurse's office and enters, only to find Index and Hyouka in the middle of changing. The girls get embarrassed, and Index angrily bites him.

The three of them go back to the cafeteria, where Hyouka, who's really shy around Touma, introduces herself. After Index explains that she couldn't stand being separated from Touma for the whole day, he explains that on the first day of school, they get out early and he would have been home around noon. She gets angry that he didn't tell her, but he says it's common knowledge. Index retorts that Touma only knew it because he has been taught it his whole life. She starts spouting MagiBabble, like about how certain spells require a secondary spell to protect the user from the first one's effects, and Touma concedes to her point that there are topics people do not automatically know about. He starts talking to Hyouka, who explains that she is a transfer student, and Index tells him to stop bugging her because she is clearly nervous around him. She hands Hyouka Sphynx and tells her the cute cat will calm her down. She hugs the cat, and its head gets stuck between her massive breasts. Touma quickly looks away, and the girls ask what he is doing, while Sphynx narrowly breaks free and avoids suffocation.

Komoe shows up and yells at Touma for ditching the opening ceremony. She notices the others and gets jealous, asking rhetorically if Touma's esper power is to attract girls. Touma asks Hyouka to help him out, but they turn to her and she is gone.

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[[caption-width-right:180:I've got my eye on you.]]

As Index waits in the school yard for Touma to get back from the opening ceremony, Hyoka walks up and apologizes for leaving like that, but the teacher scared her. Index says its okay, and that Komoe is really nice. Hyouka notices Index looks sad and asks what is wrong, and Index says Touma was really annoyed with her for coming to his school, and she's worried that he doesn't like her. Hyouka says not to worry because friends who quarrel from time to time have really strong bonds formed when they forgive each other in the end. She says Touma really cares about her, and that he was angry because he was worried about her. Hyouka also comments that Touma is admirable because he didn't act like a pervert when he saw them half-naked. Touma walks up and says school is now over. He invites Hyouka to join them for lunch, and she accepts when Index insists. As they walk away, Himegami stares at them.

Touma tries to withdraw money from an ATM while Index and Hyouka chat in the distance. Himegami walks up and asks why he didn't greet her when she entered his class. He apologizes, saying he was distracted by Index. She sighs and says she is used to being ignored all the time. He tries to make up for it by inviting her to eat lunch with them, but she says she has to run a errand. She asks who the girl chatting with Index is, and he says she's Hyouka Kazakiri. Surprised, Himegami says there was a Hyouka Kazakiri at her old school, Kirigaoka Girl's Academy. However, although she was on the class roster, she never showed up to class, yet she would always appear near the top of the class test scores leaderboard. Himegami got a little suspicious of this and looked her up. Her esper power is the Level 4 Counter Stop, but the file doesn't explain what it does. More importantly, the file calls Hyouka "The Key to the Imaginary Number District". Touma is a little surprised and says that the Imaginary Number District was Academy City's first research facility, but nobody knows where it is now, so it has been relegated to urban legend. Himegami asks what such a special person is doing at their school. Touma says she is a transfer student too, but she says she was the only transfer student. She warns Touma to be careful and leaves.

Touma, Index, and Hyouka go to an underground mall. Touma tells Index they can't go to a restaurant that is too expensive. He asks Hyouka if she has any suggestions, but she gets scared and jerks away from him. Concerned, he asks if he did anything wrong, but she says no.

Back at the school, Komoe talks with her colleague Aiho Yomikawa, a member of Anti-Skill who works part-time as a teacher. Yomikawa laughs about the antics Komoe described today, and says she wishes her own class was as lively. She gets a call on her cellphone and leaves, saying it is official Anti-Skill business. Himegami walks in and hands Komoe the textbook she asked her to retrieve. She then asks her about Hyouka.

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[[caption-width-right:180:What are you grabbing!?]]

Meanwhile, Sherry Cromwell walks the streets of Academy City until she is spotted by Kuroko Shirai, a member of Judgment (a law enforcement agency similar to Anti-Skill). Kuroko shoots a flare gun into the air, making the crowd scatter. Kuroko introduces herself and says Sherry is under arrest for illegally entering Academy City. Annoyed, Sherry pulls a piece of chalk out of her pocket, but Kuroko suddenly teleports in front of her and knocks her down with a judo throw. She then teleports several needles to pin Sherry's clothes to the ground. Kuroko gloats about her easy victory, but Sherry managed to hold onto her chalk and uses it to write "Golem Ellis" on the ground in cursive. Suddenly, a massive giant made of dirt and concrete bursts of of the ground and grabs Kuroko. It squeezes, and she is unable to teleport away because she is in too much pain to concentrate. Fortunately, Mikoto arrives and destroys the golem with her Railgun attack. In the confusion, Sherry escapes. Mikoto and Kuroko are surprised that Sherry was an "esper" (they have no knowledge of the Magic Side's existence) and wonder how she could be one without going through Academy City's Power Curriculum. Mikoto berates Kuroko for going into battle without backup. She apologizes, then suddenly hugs her and buries her face into her bosom, thanking her for saving her life. Mikoto gets annoyed when Kuroko's hug degenerates to full-on groping.

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[[caption-width-right:250:I've ''really'' got my eyes on you.]]

Sherry walks around, chanting about how God formed man from the earth, making earth the source of all life. Angels taught the humans how to do this, but much of the knowledge was lost, so humans can only produce crude golems instead of real people. She writes on several surfaces with her chalk, then claps once and says, "Ellis". Everything she wrote on forms eyes out of their material. The eyes all roll away until they are out of sight. Sherry tells Ellis not to take too long to find her target. She smiles.

Note: In the light novel and manga, Sherry also performs a spell to determine the name of her target. She pulls out a black piece of paper and holds her white chalk to it. Her hand writes, "Hyouka Kazakiri" on the paper by itself. She comments that it's an unusual name, but shows it to the eyes and tells Ellis to find her.

Touma, Index, and Hyouka come out of a restaurant, stuffed. They pass by an arcade, and Index mistakes the games for multiple TV's, to Touma's chagrin. Touma gets a phone call and steps out of the arcade, but there is no reception and he can't understand what the caller is saying before the person hangs up. Index plays a game and then notices two girls wearing PlayboyBunny outfits going to a photo booth. It turns out the booth provides costumes so people can take pictures while cosplaying. Index finds costumes of characters from ''Magical Powered Kanamin'' and excitedly drags Hyouka into the photo booth to change. Touma comes back and asks where they are. He hears their voices coming from the booth and says he's willing to wait until they are done, but the girls accidentally step on the curtain and rip it down, revealing them half-naked to him once again. Index angrily bites him. He screams, while the passerby ignores his suffering.

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[[caption-width-right:180:Our memories.]]

After Touma pays the price for seeing them (even though it wasn't his fault), the girls finish dressing and take pictures. Index divides the pictures up and hands half to Hyouka. She blushes, but takes them and says she will cherish them. Index says school life is so much fun, but Touma reminds her that this was only possible because it was the first day of school. The rest of the time, he and Hyouka will be in class for most of the day. Suddenly, they look up and find that the mall is devoid of people. Index and Hyouka hear a girl's voice, but Touma says he doesn't hear anything. A girl from Judgment runs up and asks what they are still doing there. She sent a telepathic warning throughout the mall to evacuate. She starts thinking really hard at Touma, causing her face to turn red with effort, but he still doesn't hear anything, and he realizes it's because of Imagine Breaker. Frustrated, the girl verbally tells them that a terrorist has been spotted in the underground mall, so the metal shutters on the entrances will be closed. They need to get out before that happens. She then leaves. Touma agrees and the trio starts moving toward the exit.

Suddenly, Sherry's laugh echoes through the mall. One of her eyes appears on the wall. While Touma and Hyouka are shocked, Index calmly looks at it and recognizes the spell, making him realize the terrorist is a magician. Sherry's voice tells them to scream as loud as they want, for this place shall become their tomb. An explosion rocks the mall, shutting the power off and plunging the place into darkness. The metal gates shut, leaving several people, including the trio, trapped underground.

Touma tells Index to take Hyouka and hide somewhere while he finds and defeats the magician, but she insists that as a magician herself, it is ''her'' duty to defeat her while he hides with Hyouka. He incredulously asks how she's supposed to fight, and reminds her that he is the one who saves the day all the time. She mocks him and says that while he has a strange ability, he's won all his fights with dumb luck, not skill. He angrily reminds her that he has no luck. Hyouka timidly asks what are they talking about. They hear footsteps approaching and turn to face them, but Touma and Index bump into each other and fall over, with her on top of him.

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[[caption-width-right:250:Come along, you two.]]

The people approaching them turn out to be Mikoto and Kuroko. Mikoto gets angry and asks what they think they are doing, while Kuroko makes fun of them for acting so lewd in public. Index asks who these classless women are and if they are Touma's acquaintances, and Mikoto calls her out for calling someone she just met classless. Index jealously asks what Mikoto's relationship with Touma is. She is too embarrassed to answer and fires the question right back. Index says Touma saved her and she owes him everything. Surprised, Mikoto replies that Touma did the same thing for her. The two turn to Touma and start yelling at him, jealous that they weren't unique, that he saves many girls. Kuroko starts laughing about how badly Mikoto wants him, which she tries to deny. Touma says they don't have time for this and asks Kuroko what is going on. She explains that now that the terrorist has made her move, she is going to use her teleportation powers to evacuate everybody who is still trapped. He agrees and tells her to get everybody out while he buys them some time. The girls protest, but he reminds Kuroko that she can't teleport him. She says she remembers, and points out that she can only take up to two people with her when she teleports. He tells her to take Hyouka and Index to safety first, but Index protests that this would leave him alone with Mikoto. He then tells Kuroko to take Hyouka and Mikoto, but Mikoto protests that this would leave him alone with Index. The two jealous girls start arguing in spite of the fact that they are in a ''terrorist'' situation. Kuroko eventually has enough, grabs Index and Mikoto, and teleports away.

Touma sighs in relief and apologizes to Hyouka for the craziness. They hear gunfire in the distance and realize that Anti-Skill is fighting Sherry. He tells her to wait for Kuroko to come back while he deals with this, and runs toward the battle.

An Anti-Skill squad led by Aiho Yomikawa engages Ellis, while Sherry lurks nearby. The squad's bullets have no real effect on the golem's rocky body, and they are desperate to stall for time until the place is completely evacuated. One of the Anti-Skills foolishly lobs a grenade at Ellis despite the others' protests, and it goes off. Touma arrives to find Ellis unharmed and the Anti-Skills devastated by the explosion in the enclosed space. He runs to the bloody Yomikawa, and she asks what he is doing there. Ellis advances, and he stands in defense of the squad.

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[[caption-width-right:250:Oh My God!]]

Sherry comments on how she is facing Imagine Breaker instead of the Key to the Imaginary Number District, but it does not matter as he is a good target as well. She tells Ellis to attack, but Touma dodges his punch. She introduces herself and says that she is from the Anglican Church, but that information won't matter to him because he will be dead soon. He's surprised because that means she is from Necessarius and asks what she wants. She says it's simple, she wants a war. All she has to do is kill a valuable member of the Science Side and it and the Magic Side will clash at last. Touma dodges another punch from Ellis and he muses that at this rate, it may be difficult to touch Ellis with Imagine Breaker without getting squashed. Suddenly, they hear a voice and find that Hyouka had followed him. He calls her an idiot and asks why she didn't wait for Kuroko, but then says never mind and to get to safety. Ellis punches the ground so hard that it makes several shards of concrete fly through the air. Touma dodges, but one piece of debris hits Hyouka square in the head with a horrible noise. He runs to her, but is horrified to find that her head has been broken open. It is hollow, with no blood, and a glowing prism inside. She gets up and asks what he's staring at. She feels the abnormality on her face and sees her reflection in a store's window. He tries to console her, but it is too late. She gives a blood-curdling scream and runs away... in Ellis' direction. Before Touma can do anything, Ellis hits her, knocking her further down the tunnel. She gets up and keeps running. Sherry and Ellis pursue, and Ellis collapses the tunnel to stop Touma from following them.

Kuroko comes back but is unable to find Touma or Hyouka. She decides to evacuate everybody else instead.

Touma runs through another tunnel trying to figure out what is going on. Komoe calls him on his cellphone, saying Himegami had been trying to reach him but her calls wouldn't go through. She says that this morning, Hyouka Kazakiri didn't show up on the school's security cameras. She has done some research on her, and has concluded that Hyouka is an artificial being formed from the combined AIM fields of all the espers in Academy City. Each power, like electricity, air control, etc combined in a unique way to simulate life. He says that's crazy, but she says it is the truth. He says he believes her, but it seems Hyouka was unaware of this fact. She asks what he thinks of her now. He digests this and says it doesn't matter that she's not human, she's in trouble and needs help. Komoe says she's proud of him and to do his best to help her.

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[[caption-width-right:300:I am here, my friend.]]

Hyouka leans against a wall in horrible pain. Slowly, all of her injuries heal good as new, and even her glasses reappear. She calms down and wonders what is happening to her. Sherry and Ellis catch up to her, to her horror. Sherry mocks her, saying she expected the Key to the Imaginary Number District would have a more fantastic form, perhaps like the descriptions of angels in the Bible where they have several heads, limbs, and wings, instead of that of a boring human. Hyouka asks why she's trying to kill her, but Sherry says she is nothing but a monster and does not deserve to say she is afraid to die. Sherry orders Ellis to break his own fist, and they watch as the fist regenerates. Sherry says Hyouka and Ellis are exactly the same, and nobody would care if a monster or an inanimate object were destroyed. Hyouka has a flashback of the good times she had with Touma and Index today. She starts to cry, and Sherry is disgusted, saying she looks absolutely pathetic. She orders Ellis to attack. Hyouka closes her eyes and waits for the end, but is surprised when nothing happens. She opens her eyes to see an amazing sight: Touma holding back Ellis' fist with one hand, showing no signs of strain. He says he's glad he finally found her. He tells her not to worry anymore, everything will be all right.

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[[caption-width-right:250:I'm not out yet!]]

After holding Ellis back for a few more seconds, the golem crumbles to pieces, having been negated by Imagine Breaker. Undeterred, Sherry quickly draws a large symbol on the wall, and a new Ellis is formed from the concrete. Sherry laughs and says she can't understand why an idiot would want to protect a monster and take on her and Ellis all alone. Touma says she is mistaken, because he is not alone. The Anti-Skill squad led by Yomikawa show up, battered and bruised, but ready to defend the two teens. Hyouka asks why they are trying to help her, and Touma tells her not to be silly, she is his friend, and even if she wasn't, he would still save her. After the Anti-Skill squad patched themselves up, he told them she was in trouble, and they agreed to help without hesitation. Sherry says she's had enough of their stupidity and orders Ellis to kill them all. The Anti-Skills lock their riot shields into a phalanx formation to shield Touma and Hyouka. Showing flawless teamwork, half of the squad members defend while the other half opens fire. Sherry is forced to take cover, while Ellis gets so saturated with bullets that parts of him start breaking off. Sherry quickly draws another symbol, and Ellis absorbs material from the surroundings to regenerate bigger and more armored. Yomikawa asks if Touma is really going to do his crazy plan, and he says they saw what he did to the first golem. It will work.

Hyouka asks what he is planning to do, and he says he's going to stop Sherry. She says it's too dangerous and reaches for him, but he warns her to stop. He's figured out why she was so shy and fearful around him earlier. It was because she subconsciously sensed his Imagine Breaker, and her survival instincts warned her to avoid him, even if she didn't understand why. He explains how his right hand destroys anything supernatural on contact, and if she touches it, she will disappear as well. He assures that they are still friends, even if they can never touch. They will all make it out of this, and they will have more fun times with Index. He counts down from three, and when he reaches zero, the Anti-Skills cease fire. Touma jumps over the shield wall and charges. Sherry asks if he's gone mad, and Ellis punches the ground, making him fall over, but he gets up and continues his charge. Ellis prepares to punch him, but he baseball slides between his legs and ends up face-to-face with Sherry, just as he planned. Now that Ellis is between them and Touma, the Anti-Skills resume firing on the golem. Scared, Sherry tries a spell, but Touma tells her to shut up and go to sleep, then punches her in the face, sending her flying. As soon as he does, Ellis stops moving. Touma turns around and prepares to destroy Ellis with Imagine Breaker, but Sherry laughs and draws another symbol on the floor. Shocked, he asks if she's going to summon another golem, but she says she's only powerful enough to summon one at a time. The symbol activates and the ground under her collapses, making her fall into a deeper level. Once she is gone, Ellis falls apart into a pile of rubble. Yomikawa calls a cease fire to avoid hitting Touma. He looks into the hole, but it is too dark to see anything. He ponders her motives, remembering that she wanted to trigger a war by killing someone important, and realizes with horror that she has a third viable target: Index.

Meanwhile, Index and Mikoto stand in the streets, bored and complaining about the heat. Kuroko is busy evacuating everybody, but Touma and Hyouka have not been found. Mikoto asks Index what's up with her outfit, and why it is held together with safety pins. Index remembers how Touma had destroyed her outfit the first time they met and says she doesn't want to talk about it. Index wonders what the enemy magician wanted, and Mikoto gets confused about what she means, but drops the matter. Mikoto asks who the girl with them was, and Index says she was her friend Hyouka, and "this time", she met her first, not Touma. Mikoto gets jealous hearing that, as it means Touma regularly meets with girls. Index starts worrying if Hyouka is okay. Mikoto asks why she's not worried about Touma, and she answers that he's tough and always comes back to her in the end. Mikoto gets even more jealous upon hearing that. Suddenly, Sphynx jumps out of Index's arms and runs off. She gives chase, while Mikoto shrugs and stays where she is. The manhole cover near her trembles, piquing her curiosity.

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[[caption-width-right:180:Come on, let us out!]]

Touma asks Yomikawa to open the metal gates, but she says she has no way of doing that. They have to wait until someone opens them from the outside. He gets really frustrated, but calms down and asks Hyouka if she is okay. She says she is and thanks him for driving Sherry away. He says he didn't drive her away, she merely decided to switch targets. She is going after Index now. Horrified, Hyouka asks him to call the Anti-Skills above ground to protect her, but he says he can't. He wanted the gates to be opened to he could get to Index faster, but it looks like he'll have no choice but to follow Sherry's path down the hole. She says she has a better idea: she'll follow Sherry down the hole instead. After all, it takes a monster to beat a monster. He protests that just because she is artificial doesn't mean she is a monster, but she is adamant and jumps into the hole. He tries to grab her arm to stop her, but stops, realizing he almost grabbed her with his right hand. He reaches with his left arm, but it is too late and she disappears into the darkness.

Hyouka hits the bottom of the tunnel hard, but finds she is all right, remarking that a normal person would have probably shattered her ankles. She finds Ellis' massive footprints and follows them.

As she runs, she starts remembering her origins. Ten years ago, she just woke up in Academy City, the same age as she is now. She had an ID card on her person which named her Hyouka Kazakiri. She was apparently in another dimension overlayed on top of the normal one, because she was invisible, inaudible, and intangible to everybody. For ten years she was lonely, unable to figure out how she got into this situation, but was able to educate herself by observing everyone around her. Then a few hours ago, she saw Index struggling with the vending machine and was compelled to help her. She was overjoyed when Index and then the others were able to see, hear, and touch her. Today was the first time she spoke with someone, the first time she wore a gym uniform, the first time a boy saw her body, the first time she went to an arcade, and most importantly, the first time she had friends. Once Index learns what she is, she will hate her, but it doesn't matter. She will save her.

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[[caption-width-right:250:I have safety pins and I'm not afraid to use them!]]

Index manages to catch up to Sphynx and grabs her, asking her why she ran off like that. She starts scolding the cat like a mother would scold a child. Suddenly, Ellis appears, alone, and attacks, but she dodges. She looks the golem over and analyzes it. According to the grimoires in her head, the spell that created it is based on the Jewish tale of the Golem, an effigy of rock and dirt that was given life, but is dependent on the instructions of its master. Ellis attacks again, but Index uses the spell Spell Intercept to disrupt the instructions that Sherry is giving it remotely. She starts making Ellis do things like trip, punch himself in the face, and run into a wall, but the golem regenerates and attacks again. She removes some of the safety pins holding her skirt together (exposing her legs) and throws them into Ellis' joints, further damaging him. She smiles and says she can win, but finds that Spell Intercept is no longer working, and she gets knocked back when Ellis punches the ground. Scared, she realizes that Ellis is now on automatic, so he no longer needs instructions. Ellis stands over her and prepares to squash her flat. She can do nothing but whisper Touma's name.

Touma lowers himself down the hole with a fire hose and runs through the tunnel, calling for Hyouka. Suddenly, a pillar falls toward him, but he dodges it. Sherry appears and compliments his reflexes. She explains that she sent Ellis ahead and stayed here to keep him busy. Hyouka ran through here earlier, but she let her pass because she highly doubts she will be able to do anything.

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[[caption-width-right:250:Sherry is defeated.]]

He asks why she's trying to start a war. She tells him to think: when an esper tries to use magic, his body will destroy itself, but how do they know this? Twenty years ago, an organization from the Science Side and an organization from the Magic Side joined forces to try to create a magician/esper hybrid. In this experiment, she met her best friend, an esper boy named Ellis. She was assigned to teach him spells, but when he tried to use them, his blood vessels burst. Then the Knights of England burst into the facility, saying this experiment was blasphemy. The Knights slaughtered everybody, but the heavily injured Ellis sacrificed himself to buy her enough time to escape. Suddenly shouting in rage and grief, she declares that this experience taught her that the Science and Magic Sides can never truly coexist, and she must separate them forever to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. Disgusted, Touma says she has to be out of her mind. Doesn't she realize that a war will cause many more tragedies? Sherry says he has no right to judge her and reveals that she drew symbols all over the tunnel with her chalk. She boasts that she controls earth itself, so she is invincible underground. She activates the symbols, and they start exploding, making the tunnel start to collapse. Touma flashes back to when Index talked about how certain spells require a secondary spell to protect the user from the first one's effects, and realizes that the symbol next to Sherry serves that purpose. He runs up and destroys the symbol with Imagine Breaker. Sherry looks on in horror as the ceiling above her falls, but she charges her chalk with magic and slices the falling piece of concrete in half with it. He quickly uses the opening to get in front of her and punch her in the face so hard that she makes a crater in the concrete wall. Sherry gets up and wearily tries to get away, muttering that she won't be stopped. Academy City has grown complacent lately, and Necessarius allowed Index Librorum Prohibitorum to live in the city of Science. If she doesn't do something soon, the same fate that happened to Ellis will happen again. Touma says that's enough. She claims she doesn't want something like what happened to Ellis to happen to anyone else, but her plan is inexcusable. Besides, he, Index, and Hyouka have already proved that people from the Science and Magic Sides can live together in peace. He can understand her being angry for losing her friend, but she has no right to try to kill his friends. Enraged, Sherry declares her magic name: Intimus115 - I Offer Everything To My Lost Friend. She lunges and swings her razor sharp chalk, screaming, "DIE, esper!" He punches the chalk with his right hand and destroys it. She throws a punch, but he throws one as well, winning the CrossCounter and finally knocking her out.

Note: In the light novel, Touma ties Sherry up with some electrical cables before continuing down the tunnel. In the anime, he just leaves her there.

It turns out that knocking Sherry out was what caused the golem Ellis to switch to automatic mode. Right before he can kill Index, Hyouka arrives and nails him with a flying kick so powerful that it knocks him back and caves his chest in. The impact also broke her leg, but it quickly heals up. Index is shocked by this turn of events, but Hyouka tells her to run as it's not over. Case in point, Ellis gets up and absorbs material from the surroundings to regenerate. Index says they have to escape, but Hyouka says she will stay behind and hold Ellis off. It is okay, she is a monster just like Ellis and she won't die very easily. She's sorry she didn't tell her earlier, but she just learned it herself. Ellis attacks, and she catches his punch and holds it in place. The impact makes her arms crack, but they heal up. She roars and starts shoving Ellis back with incredible strength. However, Ellis raises his other fist and throws a punch. Since she's using both hands to hold one fist, she can't block it. She prepares for the end, but Touma arrives and intercepts Ellis' fist with a flying punch, destroying him once and for all. Hyouka sighs and muses that it is over, so it is time for her to disappear.

Mikoto arrives, having just missed the battle. Seeing the massive pile of rubble that was once Ellis and the incredible property damage, she asks what kind of trouble Touma had gotten himself into. Meanwhile, Index looks around, but finds Hyouka is nowhere to be seen. Mikoto realizes she's standing really close to Touma and starts blushing. Kuroko arrives and asks if Mikoto caused all this damage, but she denies it. Noticing they are standing really close to each other, Kuroko glares at Touma and jealously teleports Mikoto away, ignoring her protests.

[[quoteright:193:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/re_done__713.png]]
[[caption-width-right:193:Cry until you're done.]]

Touma notices Hyouka is sitting on top of an under construction building, and climbs up to her. She sadly looks over the pictures Index gave her and says it is over for her. She had to reveal she was a monster to save her, and now they can't be friends anymore. She says it's not fair and cries against his chest. He hugs her with his left arm, careful to keep his right arm extended and away from her. After patiently waiting for her to calm down a little, he asks if she feels sorrow, fear, pain, and happiness. She's surprised, and he says that if she feels these emotions, then she is no monster. It doesn't matter if she is an artificial being, she is human in every way that matters. Index arrives, and Hyouka is surprised. She remembers when she told Index about how people get angry when they are worried, and realizes Index is looking at her that way. Index runs into her arms and hugs her, glad that she is okay.

Back in the Windowless Building, Motoharu asks Aleister if he is happy with what has happened. Their talk reveals that the Imaginary Number District is another dimension formed from the combined AIM of every esper in Academy City. Aleister's machinations caused it to develop a consciousness, which became Hyouka Kazakiri. Motoharu becomes a little fearful, as he realizes that the Imaginary Number District can be considered an artificial Heaven, while Hyouka can be considered an angel. Aleister scolds him, saying he is a man of science and does not like terms like Heaven and angel, but Motoharu tells him to cut the crap. He knows who he truly is, Creator/AleisterCrowley, one of the greatest magicians of all time before he went AWOL and founded Academy City. He doesn't know what he is up to, but he has his eye on him. As the red-haired girl comes to take him away, he adds that if he continues to use Touma as a pawn, Touma will eventually destroy him. Aleister retorts that he was destroyed a long time ago.

Note: The light novel reveals the machination that created Hyouka. Aleister arranged for Touma to be sent to Academy City as a child. As soon as he arrived in the city 10 years ago, Hyouka was born, because the Imaginary Number District sensed Imagine Breaker could destroy it and became afraid. A being must fear death to be alive.

Touma goes to the hospital to greet Heaven Canceler, and comments on how he finally made it through an adventure without being hospitalized (even though he already went through two adventures in the Three Stories arc without being injured). Suddenly, Komoe and Himegami appear and hit him. They berate him for getting involved in other people's problems again and putting himself in danger.

[[quoteright:180:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/180px-toaru_majutsu_no_index_e24_20m_14s_4973.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:180:Until we meet again.]]

Index and Hyouka sit in the hospital's waiting room and talk. Hyouka comments on Index's ruined skirt and she gets embarrassed. Hyouka explains her origins to her. Just like Touma said, Index doesn't think any less of her. Hyouka starts to turn transparent, and she explains that she is reverting to her previous state of invisibility. Index is distraught, and wonders if she is being destroyed by Imagine Breaker, but she assures that she is not being destroyed. She comments that she can tell that Imagine Breaker is not an esper power. In fact, it doesn't make any sense from a scientific perspective. Shocked, Index says Imagine Breaker doesn't make any sense from a magical perspective either, so what could it be? Hyouka says that even if Index can't see, hear, or feel her, she will always be with her. Crying, Index asks if they will ever see each other and play together again. Right before she disappears, Hyouka smiles and says, "Of course!"

The anime adds a few extra ending scenes.

The next day, Index is bored because Touma is now at school for the whole day. Maika Tsuchimikado meets her but is unable to console her.

At their school, Aisa Himegami copies a pose from ''Magical Powered Kanamin'' at Pierce Aogami's request, and he celebrates at how hot it makes her look. Komoe walks in and takes attendance, and finds that Motoharu is absent yet again. Meanwhile, Motoharu talks to someone on his cellphone about his next job as a double agent.

In the hospital, Kikyou Yoshikawa watches over the sleeping Accelerator and Last Order. His bullet wound has healed, and he's wearing a collar of Heaven Canceler's design to link his mind to the Sister's Network. Aiho Yomikawa walks up and says that since the three of them are currently homeless, they will be moving in with her once they have fully recovered.

At the Tokiwadai Middle School dorms, Mikoto takes a shower when Kuroko drops her ribbon into her stall, using it as an excuse to enter her stall and try to grope her. Mikoto angrily punches her out.

In England, Stiyl Magnus meets the head of Necessarius, Archbishop Laura Stuart. She talks about how the situation with Sherry Cromwell was taken care of and she has been handed over to them for punishment. She tells Stiyl there is a new situation in Japan he needs to take care of. He may need Index's help, because she's been unable to contact Kaori Kanzaki.

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/250px-toaru_majutsu_no_index_e24_23m_32s_463.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:250:Such Misfortune!]]

After school, Touma walks home and is met halfway by Index, who is angry that he forgot to prepare lunch for her again. He tries to apologize, but she bites him, with Sphynx joining in as well. He screams and complains about his luck.

The sixth arc of ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', consisting of volume 6 of the light novels, chapters 34-44 (volumes 7-8) of the manga, and episodes 21-24 of the anime.

Having befriended the non-human being, Touma sets out to protect Kazahiri from Sherry Cromwell; a magician affiliated with the Anglican Church that had been lured to Academy City by its founder, Aleister Crowley, to test out the strength of the cities Imaginary Number District–Five Elements Institution.

Returning to school, Touma and Index meet Kazahiri; a physical female school student manifestation of all the esper AIM diffusion fields in Academy City.

Having befriended the non-human being, Touma sets out to protect her from Sherry Cromwell; a magician affiliated with the Anglican Church that had been lured to Academy City by its founder, Aleister Crowley, to test out the strength of the cities Imaginary Number District–Five Elements Institution.

Returning to school, Touma and Index meet Kazahiri; a physical manifestation of all espers AIM diffusion fields in Academy City.

Returning to school, Touma meets Kazahiri; a physical manifestation of all espers AIM diffusion fields in Academy City.

* WeHaveGrownComplacent: Sherry claims this about both the Science and Magic Sides.

Back in the Windowless Building, Motoharu asks Aleister if he is happy with what has happened. Their talk reveals that the Imaginary Number District is another dimension formed from the combined AIM of every esper in Academy City. Aleister's machinations caused it to develop a consciousness, which became Hyouka Kazakiri. Motoharu becomes a little fearful, as he realizes that the Imaginary Number District can be consider an artificial Heaven, while Hyouka can be considered an angel. Aleister scolds him, saying he is a man of science and does not like terms like Heaven and angel, but Motoharu tells him to cut the crap. He knows who he truly is, Creator/AleisterCrowley, one of the greatest magicians of all time before he went AWOL and founded Academy City. He doesn't know what he is up to, but he has his eye on him. As the red-haired girl comes to take him away, he adds that if he continues to use Touma as a pawn, Touma will eventually destroy him. Aleister retorts that he was destroyed a long time ago.

Sherry comments on how she is facing Imagine Breaker instead of the Key to the Imaginary Number District, but it does not matter as he is a good target as well. She tells Ellis to attack, but Touma dodges his punch. She introduces herself and says that she is from the Anglican Church, but that information won't matter to him because he will be dead soon. He's surprised because that means she is from Necessarius and asks what she wants. She says it's simple, she wants a war. All she has to do is kill a valuable member of the Science Side and it and the Magic Side will clash at last. Touma dodges another punch from Ellis and he muses that at this rate, it may be difficult to touch Ellis with Imagine Breaker with getting squashed. Suddenly, they hear a voice and find that Hyouka had followed him. He calls her an idiot and asks why she didn't wait for Kuroko, but then says never mind and to get to safety. Ellis punches the ground so hard that it makes several shards of concrete fly through the air. Touma dodges, but one piece of debris hits Hyouka square in the head with a horrible noise. He runs to her, but is horrified to find that her head has been broken open. It is hollow, with no blood, and a glowing prism inside. She gets up and asks what he's staring at. She feels the abnormality on her face and sees her reflection in a store's window. He tries to console her, but it is too late. She gives a blood-curdling scream and runs away... in Ellis' direction. Before Touma can do anything, Ellis hits her, knocking her further down the tunnel. She gets up and keeps running. Sherry and Ellis pursue, and Ellis collapses the tunnel to stop Touma from following them.

The people approaching them turn out to be Mikoto and Kuroko. Mikoto gets angry and asks what they think they are doing, while Kuroko makes fun of them for acting so lewd in public. Index asks who these classless women are and if they are Touma's acquaintances, and Mikoto calls her out for calling someone she just met classless. Index jealously asks what Mikoto's relationship with Touma is. She is too embarrassed to answer and fires the question right back. Index says Touma saved her and she owes him everything. Surprised, Mikoto replies that Touma did the same thing for her. The two turn to Touma and start yelling at him, jealous that they weren't unique, that he saves many girls. Kuroko starts laughing about how badly Mikoto wants him, which she tries to deny. Touma says they don't have time for this and asks Kuroko what is going on. She explains that now that the terrorist has made her move, she is going to use her teleportation powers to evacuate everybody who is still trapped. He agrees and tells her to get everybody out while he buys them some time. The girls protest, but he reminds Kuroko that she can't teleport him. She says she remembers, and points that that she can only take up to two people with her when she teleports. He tells her to take Hyouka and Index to safety first, but Index protests that this would leave him alone with Mikoto. He then tells Kuroko to take Hyouka and Mikoto, but Mikoto protests that this would leave him alone with Index. The two jealous girls start arguing in spite of the fact that they are in a ''terrorist'' situation. Kuroko eventually has enough, grabs Index and Mikoto, and teleports away.

Hyouka asks what he is planning to do, and he says he's going to stop Sherry. She says it's too dangerous and reaches for him, but he warns her to stop. He's figured out why she was so shy and fearful around him earlier. It was because she subconsciously sensed his Imagine Breaker, and her survival instincts warned her to avoid him, even if she didn't understand why. He explains how his right hand destroys anything supernatural on contact, and if she touches it, she will disappear as well. He assures that they are still friends, even if they can never touch. They will all make it out of this, and they will have more fun times with Index. He counts down from three, and when he reaches zero, the Anti-Skills cease fire. Touma jumps over the shield wall and charges. Sherry asks if he's gone mad, and Ellis punches the ground, making him fall over, but he gets up and continues his charge. Ellis prepares to punch him, but he baseball slides between his legs and ends up face-to-face with Sherry, just as he planned. Now that Ellis is between them and Touma, the Anti-Skills resume firing on the golem. Scared, Sherry tries a spell, but Touma tells her to shut up and go to sleep, then punches her in the face, sending her flying. As soon as he does, Ellis stops moving. Touma turns around and prepares to destroy Ellis with Imagine Breaker, but Sherry laughs and draws another symbol on the floor. Shocked, he asks if she's going to summon another golem, but she says she's only powerful enough to summon one at a time. The symbol activates and the ground under her collapses, making her fall into a deeper level. Once she is gone, Ellis falls apart into a pile of rubble. Yomikawa calls a cease fire to avoid hitting Touma. He looks into the hole, but it is too dark to see anything. He ponders her motives, remembering that she wanted to trigger a war by killing someone important, and realizes with horror that she has a third viable target, Index.

Hyouka asks what he is planning to do, and he says he's going to stop Sherry. She says it's too dangerous and reaches for him, but he warns her to stop. He's figured out why she was so shy and fearful around him earlier. It was because she subconsciously sensed his Imagine Breaker, and her survival instincts warned her to avoid him, even if she didn't understand why. He explains how his right hand destroys anything supernatural on contact, and if she touches it, she will disappear as well. He assures that they are still friends, even if they can never touch. They will all make it out of this, and they will have more fun times with Index. He counts down from three, and when he reaches zero, the Anti-Skills cease fire. Touma jumps over the shield wall and charges. Sherry asks if he's gone mad, and Ellis punches the ground, making him fall over, but he gets up and continues his charge. Ellis prepares to punch him, but he baseball slides between his legs and ends up face-to-face with Sherry, just as he planned. Now that Ellis is between them and Touma, the Anti-Skills resume firing on the golem. Scared, Sherry tries a spell, but Touma tells her to shut up and go to sleep, then punches her in the face, sending her flying. As soon as he does, Ellis stops moving. Touma turns around and prepares to destroy Ellis with Imagine Breaker, but Sherry laughs and draws another symbol on the floor. Shocked, he asks if she's going to summon another golem, but she says she's only powerful enough to summon one at a time. The symbol activates and the ground under her collapses, sending her fall into a deeper level. Once she is gone, Ellis falls apart into a pile of rubble. Yomikawa calls a cease fire to avoid hitting Touma. He looks into the hole, but it is too dark to see anything. He ponders her motives, remembering that she wanted to trigger a war by killing someone important, and realizes with horror that she has a third viable target, Index.

He asks why she's trying to start a war. She tells him to think: when an esper tries to use magic, his body will destroy itself, but how do they know this? Twenty years ago, an organization from the Science Side and and organization from the Magic Side joined forces to try to create a magician/esper hybrid. In this experiment, she met her best friend, an esper boy named Ellis. She was assigned to teach him spells, but when he tried to use them, his blood vessels burst. Then the Knights of England burst into the facility, saying this experiment was blasphemy. The Knights slaughtered everybody, but the heavily injured Ellis sacrificed himself to buy her enough time to escape. Suddenly shouting in rage and grief, she declares that this experience taught her that the Science and Magic Sides can never truly coexist, and she must separate them forever to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. Disgusted, Touma says she has to be out of her mind. Doesn't she realize that a war will cause many more tragedies? Sherry says he has no right to judge her and reveals that she drew symbols all over the tunnel with her chalk. She boasts that she controls earth itself, so she is invincible underground. She activates the symbols, and they start exploding, making the tunnel start to collapse. Touma flashes back to when Index talked about how certain spells require a secondary spell to protect the user from the first one's effects, and realizes that the symbol next to Sherry serves that purpose. He runs up and destroys the symbol with Imagine Breaker. Sherry looks on in horror as the ceiling above her falls, but she charges her chalk with magic and slices the falling piece of concrete in half with it. He quickly uses the opening to get in front of her and punch her in the face so hard that she makes a crater in the concrete wall. Sherry gets up and wearily tries to get away, muttering that she won't be stopped. Academy City has grown complacent lately, and Necessarius allowed Index Librorum Prohibitorum to live in the city of Science. If she doesn't do something soon, the same fate that happened to Ellis will happen again. Touma says that's enough. She claims she doesn't want something like what happened to Ellis to happen to anyone else, but her plan is inexcusable. Besides, he, Index, and Hyouka have already proved that people from the Science and Magic Sides can live together in peace. He can understand her being angry for losing her friend, but she has no right to try to kill his friends. Enraged, Sherry declares her magic name: Intimus115 - I Offer Everything To My Lost Friend. She lunges and swings her razor sharp chalk, screaming, "DIE, esper!" He punches the chalk with his right hand and destroys it. She throws a punch, but he throws one as well, winning the CrossCounter and finally knocking her out.

Touma runs through another tunnel trying figure out what is going on. Komoe calls him on his cellphone, saying Himegami had been trying to reach him but her calls wouldn't go through. She says that this morning, Hyouka Kazakiri didn't show up on the school's security cameras. She has done some research on her, and has concluded that Hyouka is an artificial being formed from the combined AIM fields of all the espers in Academy City. Each power, like electricity, air control, etc combined in a unique way to simulate life. He says that's crazy, but she says it is the truth. He says he believes her, but it seems Hyouka was unaware of this fact. She asks what he thinks of her now. He digests this and says it doesn't matter that she's not human, she's in trouble and needs help. Komoe says she's proud of him and to do his best to help her.

In the hospital, Kikyou Yoshikawa watches over the sleeping Accelerator and Last Order. His bullet wound has healed, and he's wearing a collar of Heaven Canceler's design to link his mind to the