hontou ni Stripey Insists Sisters Cry Oniichan Now

Railgun 02

Summary:

Mikoto chases Touma into an alley where she proceeds to attack him but he manages to get away. Kuroko prepares to give Mikoto a sexy surprise but it's Mikoto who surprises her instead with Kazari and Ruiko in tow. Much fanservice as Ruiko investigates underwear which turns out to be Kuroko's including one of Mikoto's that ended up in Kuroko's collection. Next up is Mikoto and Kuroko's photo albums; the former's photos are cute but ordinary while latter's are a stalker collection of Mikoto photos that rivals Nodame's Shinichi albums in candidness and intimacy. Kuroko throws a jealous crying fit but gets seen through, her timely love potion delivery adding oil to the fire. Their psyshic duel is cut short by the God-Oneesama-level dorm supervisor. [See the animated gif over at Shadows of Eternity]

Cleaning the pool as punishment for using their powers in the dorm, Mikoto smoothly avoids Kuroko's spiked drink. The latter's swim team classmates Wannai Kinuho and Awatsuki Maaya arrive. Kinuho recounts how Mikoto saved her before and their friendliness sends Kuroko into a funk. Even her confidence in her teleportation power is shaken by Kinuho's water flow control ability. When Kinuho and Maaya leave to attend to their club duties, Kuroko has a breakdown. Kazari and Ruiko discuss a present that Mikoto had bought for Kuroko; seems that Mikoto had a different anniversary a month ago when they bonded over the punishment of dining hall cleaning and presents said present. The t-shirt is very Mikoto but Kuroko is over the moon and they toast to being partners and roommates. But Kuroko has been hoist by her own petard and, in her drugged state, tries to get Mikoto to change into her swimsuit. Kinuho and Maaya return just in time to see Mikoto giving Kuroko love shocks and decide that they haven't seen anything.

Reaction:

Ruiko checking out Mikoto/Kuroko's stuff reminded me of Suruga checking for porn in Koyomi's room; some people are really nosey. Reminds me of how the time this girl went through the books on my shelves, commenting on the sections I've highlighted or underlined. And LOL at the calming effect that Kazari's shima shima pantsu has on Ruiko - shouldn't that be an aphrodisiac? Speaking of aphrodisiacs, Kuroko may feel all hurt but her Oneesama's tough love is her way of not leading the girl on too much.

Despite all the alleged fluffiness of this supposedly filler episode, the photos got in the point that Mikoto started at Level 1 and worked her way up. And that's it's a bitter sting for Ruiko who, as a Level 0, cannot advance even to Level 1 regardless of how hard she works. This will set things up for the level upper incident which the OP clearly preordains. As mentioned by many, this section was at the end of the third volume of the manga which consolidates Mikoto and Kuroko's partnership but it seems that the J.C.Staff team wants to establish this early on, before the trials ahead as well as to lay on the fan service after an action-filled first episode - I hope this alternating pattern I saw from Index doesn't take hold here too especially if it's just one cour (contra Omni on this being two cour) with less space for wastin'.

What Others Are Saying:

• FlareKnight writes that "this was definitely an episode all for showing how strongly Kuroko feels about Mikoto." Certainly but also about how Mikoto feels about Kuroko too. Which is what gave it a redeeming charm that the OTT yuri fanservice could have easily over-revved into ick territory.
• Gene opines that "the line is crossed&quot when Kuroko bawled and acted like a victim. Omni puts this down to Arai Satomi's voice acting (he dislikes her rendition of Kuroko). Despite writing in AS's defence in the past, I think he might have a point because I did feel more sympathetic towards Kuroko in the manga. Dav picked up on the anime-manga difference and arguing that the anime's OTT focus on her yuri side has backfired and speaking up for Kuroko as "one of the most diverse and interesting characters in Railgun besides Mikoto." Fingers crossed that we will resume normal programming next week!

P.S. What was the rule that Kuroko and Mikoto broke that caused the dinner hall cleaning punishment? I don't recall that from the manga.

Related posts:

1. Railgun 01
2. Railgun 05
3. Railgun 06