Things heat up for Touma and Index when an assassin from the Church arrives to dispose of Index!
Creative Staff
Comic: Chuya Kogino
Original Story: Kazuma Kamachi
Character Design: Kiyotaka Haimura
Translation/Adaptation: Brndn Blakeslee and Lys Blakeslee
What They Say
Summer vacation is over, and it’s time to go back to school! The new school year brings a new friend for Index–the lovely, thoughtful Hyouka Kazakiri. But there’s a new problem too, and it’s tall, blond, and ready to ruin Touma’s day–the terrifying magician Sherry Cromwell!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
With the adventures of the last volume finished, Touma attempts to just chill and get back into school. Even though he can’t remember any of his classmates, he thinks he can wing it. That is at least until Index shows up at school searching for him!
Typical shonan shenanigans and misunderstandings ensue. But the interesting part is the sudden appearance of two girl transfer students. One girl is legit, but the other is befriended by Index and seems to be just trying to fit into school just like Touma. This mysterious girl, Hyouka, seems normal enough, but something just isn’t right. Any time another student or teacher tries to interact with Index and Hyouka, Hyouka magically disappears. Only to reappear later to talk to Index like nothing out of the ordinary happened. It has me wondering if Hyouka is a ghost or spirit.
It is all fun and games at the video arcade until an assassin mage from the Church of England shows up to end Index’s existence! Luckily for Index, the assassin runs into Kuroko first. As an agent of Judgement, Kuroko takes it upon herself to lay down the law on this intruder to the city. But, Sherry Cromwell isn’t someone to be trifled with. Busting out her Earth magic in the form of a powerful Golem, Sherry quickly makes her escape.
It is only a matter of time until Sherry tracks down Index. But can Touma protect both Index and Hyouka, or will there be collateral damage?
In Summary:
This volume feels a little like filler. While it introduces Hyouka as a new and wildly odd character, much of this volume follows the standard shonan genre jokes. Panty flashes, cosplaying for fun, playing at a video arcade, that sort of stuff. However, there are numerous hints dropped along the way about the greater mystery behind this series. Specifically, about the Ith District and the Five Elements Society. The question is, will Index, Touma, and Hyouka all survive a face-off with the assassin from the Church?
Content Grade: C+
Art Grade: B
Packaging Grade: A
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: Teen
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: October 25, 2016
MSRP: $13.00
