Episode 02 - When Working Under a Hot Sun, Rehydration is Essential
Mikoto runs along the street, seemingly looking around for something. A spiky-haired high school boy scurries past behind her, but she catches sight of him and gives chase. They wind up in a dead-end alley; Mikoto gives a slightly evil grin and says that she's caught him. As sparks begin to fly, the boy hastily raises his right hand in front of him...
A few moments later, Mikoto is back on the main street, looking puzzled. Uiharu and Saten happen by and greet her. Noticing her expression, they ask what's wrong, but she says it's nothing. Back in the alley, the whole ground is scorched except for where the boy was standing.
At the Tokiwadai school dormitory, Kuroko is hoping to celebrate the one-month anniversary of her friendship with Mikoto with a romantic evening. After getting herself ready, Kuroko starts to greet Mikoto passionately as she enters — only to find that Uiharu and Saten are tagging along with her. The latter two are thrilled to be in the Tokiwadai dormitory; Mikoto cheerfully plays host for them while Kuroko, feeling neglected, mopes.
Unashamedly deciding to snoop around, Saten pokes around under Kuroko's bed and finds her collection of fancy underwear. Kuroko is unfazed, but Mikoto is embarrassed when a considerably less mature pair of her own shows up in the same place. She yells at Kuroko, who only grows more petulant in response. After a hasty change of subject, the girls look through Mikoto's childhood photo album; Saten remarks that her upbringing looks surprisingly normal. After more snooping, however, she finds Kuroko's 'private' photo album of Mikoto, which triggers more arguing.
With Mikoto growing increasingly annoyed and Kuroko increasingly resentful, Uiharu and Saten wonder if they should leave. The escalating argument is interrupted by a package delivery of 'computer parts' for Kuroko that turns out to be aphrodisiacs, which only angers Mikoto more. Both she and Kuroko start using their powers, and the quarrel spills out into the hallway... just as the Dormitory Supervisor arrives to enforce discipline.
The next day, Mikoto and Kuroko are cleaning the school pool as punishment. Kuroko offers Mikoto a water bottle to cool down, but Mikoto correctly guesses that it's been spiked with the aphrodisiacs Kuroko just ordered. Before much can come of this, a pair of girls from the swim club happen by: Kuroko's classmates Kinuho Wannai and Maaya Awatsuki. They and Mikoto hit it off immediately; Kuroko, still sulking over the previous day, grows jealous. Wannai and Awatsuki soon head back inside, after promising to come back and help later.
Kuroko continues moping until Mikoto tells her that this reminds her of the day after they met, when they were punished by having to clean the dining hall together. She says she considers that day the true start of their friendship, and that today is the one-month anniversary. So saying, she gives Kuroko a present which turns out to be a rather goofily-printed T-shirt. Kuroko's mood instantly turns around, and she becomes even happier when she realizes the design on the shirt matches that on Mikoto's Goofy Print Underwear. In her excitement, however, she accidentally drinks the aphrodisiac-laced water she brought for Mikoto.
Suddenly very frisky, Kuroko starts coming on more outrageously than ever, even using her teleport powers to steal Mikoto's underwear. Mikoto finally snaps and resorts to her own powers.
A few moments later, Wannai and Awatsuki return to help with the cleaning... only to see Kuroko writhing ecstatically on the ground as Mikoto shocks her. They promptly decide that discretion is the better part of valor and depart, agreeing to say nothing of this to anyone.
Tropes
- A-Cup Angst: When Mikoto is introduced to Wannai and Awatsuki, she briefly glances at their chests note , looks gloomily at her own, and mutters to herself that they're a year younger than her.
- Amusing Injuries: The Dormitory Supervisor breaks Kuroko's neck and then tosses her aside like a rag doll. Kuroko, of course, is perfectly fine in the next scene.
- Breather Episode: This episode has nothing to do with the Level Upper story arc and is mainly just an excuse for some slapstick comedy. However, it does introduce some supporting characters note who will be showing up throughout the series.
- Continuity Nod: The opening scene is one to volume 1 of A Certain Magical Index, which notes that Touma and Mikoto have been running into each other (and fighting, or trying to) repeatedly for several weeks before that story starts. It also foreshadows episode 4.
- The Dreaded: Mikoto and Kuroko's respective expressions when they see the Dormitory Supervisor convey more than words ever could.
- Early-Bird Cameo: Touma, at least with respect to this series. He appears, unspeaking and with his face not clearly visible, in the first scene, two episodes before he's properly introduced.
- Goofy Print Underwear: Mikoto's provide the page image for the anime sub-trope.
- Let Us Never Speak of This Again: Kinoho and Maaya's prudent response to seeing Kuroko enjoying Mikoto's shock attacks way too much.
- Oh, Crap!: Misaka, when she sees the Dormitory Supervisor; Kuroko as well a moment later. Kuroko has another one later on when she realizes she's just chugged the 'special' drink...
- Power Perversion Potential: Kuroko's ability can teleport objects by touch... which she uses to steal Mikoto's underwear right off her.
- Shout-Out: To Casablanca, courtesy of one of Kuroko's imagine spots.
- Too Kinky to Torture: Kuroko has this reaction to Mikoto's shocks, presumably as a result of the aphrodisiac she just drank.
