Maho's secret home activity: dressing her brother as a girl then stripping him

In any case, this episode started dealing with Yoshino and Shuichi’s anxiety about going through puberty, with Yoshino anxious about her boobs getting bigger and not wanting to wear a bra, and Shuichi anxious about when his voice will start to change.

Saorin having to work with Shuichi on the play, though, seems to be making Saorin more anxious since the obvious person to play Romeo in their play is Yoshino, but that just reminds Saorin of the fact that Shuichi is interested in Yoshino instead of her.  I did have to laugh at the scene where Maho’s boyfriend comes in only to see Maho stripping Shuichi.  Probably the only reason Maho didn’t let Shuichi have it (again) was because she was sick.

Just what the #%$@ is going on?

Not everything “older brother” says necessarily make sense (mainly the thing about 1000 years) but it’s clear that the people in the village have rejected the Fractale system, going as far as to remove the Fractale implants.  All of this doesn’t make sense to Clain until they bring him along to disrupt a Star Festival, which is believed by the people to be a religious ceremony that is meant to give you the grace of God – and also has the side effect of allowing people’s doppels to continue to work.  However, as Lost Millennium explains, it’s simply a brainwashing program to keep people from questioning the Fractale system.

So things brings up an interesting point – if it’s a brainwashing system by the government to prevent people from questioning Fractale, then this seems like a means to an end.  The question is what is the end?  Simply to keep people docile, or is there something even more sinister that is the goal?  And the “real” Nessa seemed to be the one in the center of the ceremony – and she appeared to have no connection to the Nessa doppel.  And to top it all off, Phyrne shows up and is revealed to be Nessa’s older sister.

So while Clain didn’t really partake in the Fractale system, he didn’t see anything particularly wrong with it, though present events evidently have started to shake that belief, though we’ll have to see if he is very happy with LM with them attacking the festival as well.

Many people probably wish to punch their local Bishop like this as well

So, anyway, Touma’s right hand saves the world (or at least Academy City) once again, though the Catholic Church is now going so far as the Pope himself signing an order of inquisition against Touma.  While the Roman Catholic Church was kinda seen as a villain before, they’ve come to be the front and center bad guy here in the second season.  I’m also liking this second season a bit more, if for no other reason than they’re actually using Index.  Her using her powers to help out Touma have occurred quite a bit more frequently recently.

One would expect maybe one or two lighter episodes after two straight near apocalyptic arcs have finished.  A good first step would be Touma having to play his “penalty game” for Mikoto.  After all, more Mikoto is definitely better.

This is about how I feel about Kento too

Kazehaya says he’s selfish, and yet seems to be surrendering Sawako to Kento so easily.  I can understand why he’s confused, with Sawako being confused and not knowing how to react either, but really, he can at least try approaching her and saying something.

Speaking of Kento, I’m not sure what he’s up to, whether he’s just being friendly, or is trying to get Sawako, or what is going on there.  As for Sawako, it’s great that she’s become friends and accepted by so many people now, though in this case it was as much think to Kento as it was Kazehaya.  I have a feeling that Ayane and Chizuru are going to lose their patience and are going to go on the warpath soon regarding Kazehaya and Sawako.