Toaru Majutsu no Index

Volume 11, Prologue: The trip of Northern Italy. Un_Viaggio_in_Italia.

Volume 11, Prologue: The trip of Northern Italy. Un_Viaggio_in_Italia.

Kamijou Touma was an unfortunate guy.

One could tell just by looking back at the 7 days of Daihaseisai festival. The Daihaseisai festival should be something like an all-out sporting event, but for some reason, Kamijou Touma had gotten involved in a battle between magicians, one that involved the control over Academy City, and then all sorts of things happened.

Now, two days after that battle, the unfortunate situation still hadn’t changed. Unintentionally, he had witnessed Komoe-sensei changing clothes again, was knocked hard by the Daihaseisai committee member Fukiyose Seiri, had got bitten by Index, was hit by Himegami Aisa’s rubber ball as she was sitting on a wheelchair, and when he was pulled off by Misaka Mikoto to go for a ball dance, he was kicked in the back of the head by Shirai Kuroko who teleported behind him, and so on. Anyway, he felt that he was just getting into trouble all the time.

However, he was not the type to get discouraged no matter what misfortune came his way, so he might as well smile as he faced it. Besides, it was not like this ‘misfortune’, an especially unique feature of his, would change.

Repeated once again; Kamijou Touma was an unfortunate guy.

He missed out on extremely cheap sales at the supermarket by a few minutes, the manga that he bought from the convenience store had a few pages stuck together, he didn’t win in any of the scratchcards, and the crystal display on the ice pops and fruit juice vending machine wouldn’t even show.

Once again, Kamijou Touma was an unfortunate guy.

“Ah—the results of the customer number is out; your number got the top prize. The prize is ‘a seven days, five nights, two people trip to northern Italy’. Congratulations!!”

What was that!? The shoulders of ordinary high school student Kamijou Touma dropped as he listened to that ringing voice, his black messy hair swaying around in the wind.

This was Academy City, located in West Tokyo; it was now the final day of the sporting festival—Daihaseisai. Touma was standing on a street that was linked to the major roads, and in front of him was a completely hand-made stall of plywood and nails. The stall attendant was a high school student from Kirigaoka Girls’ Academy, the ‘ojou’ academy. This was the ‘attendance’ venue set up by the student committee.

The method was simple.

One just needed to buy a card, write the estimated number of people that would be attending Daihaseisai and hand it over to them. Finally, the number closest to the actual target would get the largest prize, and so on and so forth.

Of course, there was a rough report ‘we’ve finally passed the ten million mark!’ on the television. Those who came later would have an easier chance of guessing it correctly, but for those people who guessed the same number, the earlier ones would get priority.

Wearing a short-sleeved sports shirt and red tights, the athletic female attendant pulled out something from under the counter —some weird envelope— with a crackling sound in the process, and said,

“This is meant for use during the block leave after the Daihaseisai festival, though it’s not meant for students.”

The girl gave a business like smile,

“All the related schedules in the trip, sightseeing reservations, and related books are inside here, so please read them later. If there are any problems, please don’t look for our school, but look for the travel agent over there. Alright? Next.”

While looking at this large envelope, Kamijou Touma felt that he might end up in a trap.

He folded his arms, tilted his head, and asked,

“Then, can I ask something?”

“I can’t answer anything related to the trip, but if it’s anything else, shoot.”

“First prize, it’s the first prize?”

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to ask.”

“This prize that the luckiest guy would get, right!?”

“Erm, can I go now?”

“No, wait, wait! This is a trip to northern Italy, right?”

“About that, it’s exactly whatever is written on it.”

“Will the plane fly towards some unknown science or religious organization's airport, or some weird exhibition?”

“...Oh, I got it. It’s your first time traveling overseas, no?”

Not only was that girl not stunned, she gave Touma a gentle look. Seemed like in the eyes of this Kirigaoka Girls’ Academy ojou, Kamijou was fearful and puzzled about going overseas to sight-see.

“Anyway, we gave out all the prizes, second and below, so if there’re any inquiries, please look for the travel agent.”

“AH! Wait, wait!! I understand, it’s impossible for something like this to happen!! Won’t there be any other things happening, though? Like the plane will get hijacked, and then find that I’m in Antarctica upon waking up! I got it, although I feel that this might be a trap, but this is really a trip to northern Italy, right!? OI!!”

To get the first prize or something, this was really weird.

So there must be a trap, Kamijou thought.

Therefore, he mustn’t go for this trip full of traps, Kamijou thought.

“That’s right, I don’t have a passport!”

Kamijou shouted as he was inside his room.

On hearing this, Index just stared blankly at Kamijou. This fourteen to fifteen-year-old girl with waist-length silver hair and green eyes had been under the sun throughout all of Daihaseisai, and now she had a bit of a heatstroke. However, there was not one bit wheat colour on her skin, just a bit of red. On a side note, there were many safety pins on the gold embroidery on the white nun’s habit that looked like a Western teacup, which didn’t make it look decent at all.

“Touma, Touma. What’s a passport?”

The reason Index was using such a slow tone as compared to usual was because she was full. At the class victory party during the closing ceremony, Index, who was accepted by everyone in the class, had downed the food at an astonishing speed while others suspected her identity.

Kamijou pulled out all sorts of books and pamphlets as he stared at Index, saying,

“A passport is an item required to go overseas. I suppose it’ll take a month if I request one now, no?”

Come to think of it, how come Index didn’t know what a passport was when she had come all the way from England? Though Kamijou had this thought, Index was someone from the magic side who didn’t even know about the Japanese Constitution and International laws. Sitting on a flying carpet (Aladdin and the Magic Lamp...) at low altitude, radar probably wouldn’t even know how to detect it.

Was the air-defense of the country’s defenses alright? Kamijou wondered as he placed all sorts of information on the glass table.

On looking at it closely, it seemed to be some sort of group tour; all the travelers were to gather at the airport in northern Italy before going out. In other words, the schedule was preplanned.

The date of the gathering there was the 27th of September.

There were still two days.

After Daihaseisai, the workers had been in alert mode as they continued to remove the equipment, and during these days, the students got a break. Maybe it was because they tried to force the planning of the trip that resulted in this being so urgent — to ask for a passport in this situation, if something was to happen, he didn’t know how to explain it.

“...Alright. Since this is like that, so it’s really like that, huh? I won’t feel depressed about it!! I knew that would happen right from the start, so I’m prepared!!”

Kamijou opened the envelope and lay on the floor, rolling out, obviously to shake away the feeling of regret. Kamijou’s right foot hit the edge of the glass table, making him roll about in pain, shouting out like a fighter. The calico cat curled up nearby was shocked and jumped off the bed, grabbed the clothes hanging on the wall and leapt into the closet.

At this moment, the calico cat kicked a dusty tangled item out of the closet, which landed onto Kamijou’s face that was facing up.

“WA! I’m being belittled by a cat!! Come to think of it, what’s this?”

Kamijou used his right hand to pick the thing off his forehead tiredly. It was larger than a police identification card, a booklet made of red artificial leather. The words written on it were ‘Japanese Passport’.

It was a passport.

Kamijou Touma suddenly stood up.

“Wh- WHY!? WHY’S MY PASSPORT HERE!!?”

Because he couldn’t even pass his English class, Kamijou knew that he had no chemistry with foreign cultures.

Somewhat mindful of this, Kamijou quickly flipped through the contents. The stamps seemed to certify that Kamijou had been to Saipan and Guam before. Had he gone overseas with his parents before?

“Anyway, I have a passport...so why doesn’t this feel good?”

Because Kamijou had lost his memories, he didn’t know the specifics of his past. Also, in order to hide this from everyone, he couldn’t discuss it with anyone. Kamijou glanced at Index, who didn’t seem to be mindful that Kamijou had found his passport. Besides, she probably didn’t even know what a passport was, so he couldn’t tell what her situation was now.

“Ah, Index, you don’t have a passport, do you?”

“Is the ‘passport’ you're talking about in your hand? Then I probably don’t have one.”

“In other words, we still can’t go for the trip because I can’t leave you unattended for three days.”

“Uuu, what are you implying? However, I don’t have it means I don’t have it.”

“...Come to think of it, Index. Why were you so calm about this? We’re going overseas!? Wouldn’t being excited be the normal reaction!!?”

“Touma, Touma.”

Now what are you saying? — Index was giving Touma this look.

“Wouldn’t Academy City be a foreign country to me?”

“Uuu!! I’VE BEEN REJECTED AS IF NOTHING HAS HAPPENED!!”

Kamijou looked startled as he stared at the white nun.

“...Eh? In other words, it’s like you’re living with me overseas?”

BAM!! Index slammed tiredly onto the floor.

She quickly looked up and said,

“Wh, wh, why, why, why are you suddenly saying such profound words, Touma!? I, I am a devout nun!! If I’m to get that kind of misunderstanding, it’ll be disturbing for me even if I explain it!!”

“Ah, but.”

“An, anyway, I don’t have anything like that ‘passport’ in Touma’s hand! Though I do have something similar...”

“Something similar?”

“Mn, this.”

Said Index as she pulled out an English passport from the sleeve of her nun's habit. Kamijou felt that other countries only had some minor differences in terms of the pictures.

“An, anyway, you could have just ridden a plane as long as you’re with ‘Necessarius’. Good good, at least you didn’t ride on a camel and take the Silk Road here. This Kamijou won’t have to imagine all those weird ideas.”

“...I’m feeling that you’ve been treating me as an idiot all the way till now. But Touma, what’s the passport used for?”

“Oi, wait wait, Index. Let me look at your passport—what’s this!!? Why is your passport so new!? At least it should have a stamp that originates from England!!”

And the name given was ‘Index Librorum Prohibitorum’.

Such a terrifying religious country, Kamijou thought. In contrast, the girl just yawned in a bored manner, and said,

“Touma, Touma, this may be the effect of the automatic library.”

“You, to think that you would belittle this extremely rare ‘Necessarius’ passport? You came here through the Silk Road, didn’t you!?”

“Touma, although you have been acting excited for no reason at all, the result is still that Touma and I can go for a holiday trip... so there’s no problem, right?”

Index asked in an unsettled tone.

...Eh? Kamijou’s eyes widened in surprise.

Now, it seemed that there was no problem.

He felt that he might as well go for this 7 day 5 nights northern Italy trip.

Kamijou Touma was supposed to be an unfortunate guy.

He should have had no chance of going for this.

And just like that, on the second day:

After Kamijou and Index had gotten signal senders for traveling installed into their bodies, they arrived at the 23rd district of Academy City—a special school district meant for the development of aeronautical research. They were now at the international airport that had been built for the tourists from outside Academy City.

The waiting hall was maybe too spacious; the walls were all made of glass, and sunlight shimmered through them. Although the news was reporting that the halls were extremely busy, there were just a few people wanting to go home. The most likely thing was that they wanted to make full use of the time as they stay back at home. However, in this hall that was gradually becoming noisy, Kamijou was attracted to the noise made by the wheels of the luggage bag.

Kamijou was still wearing that half-sleeved shirt and trousers, and his wallet was attached to his waist through a chain, and he had prepared some extra money by tying it on the inside of his thigh, so it was not hard to see that it was unsafe to go overseas. Also, the small chain told him where his wallet was, and it was not easy to break it. The money placed in the inside by his thighs was slightly high, hard to take out, and he wouldn’t be afraid of the money dropping as he walked. He was guarding his wallet to such an extent, but on the other hand, it would look like he was not used to traveling overseas if he was to put his wallet there anyhow.

On a side note, Kamijou was holding the luggage bag, whereas Index was empty handed. She didn’t have a lot of undergarments or pajamas, and besides the one set of white nun's habit, she didn’t have anything else, as she had put everything into Kamijou’s luggage bag. Also, before they left, Index had blushed as she pulled out a small rattan suitcase, saying ‘This is also luggage’. When Kamijou had asked her what was inside, he had gotten bitten.

Speaking of luggage, the calico cat that she was often holding onto was at Komoe-sensei’s apartment. Komoe had even said “Ka-Kamijou’s going overseas? Is there really no problem? In, in a lot of context!! Sensei, won’t be around, you know!?”

From the hall, Kamijou stared at the Immigration and Emigration Department inside.

“Eh?...I haven’t forgotten anything, did I? Wallet, passports, tickets, tour guidebooks, clothes, dryer, handphone, got them, money for emergency purposes...mm, no problem, right? At least I don’t have to shout ‘such misfortune~’ now.”

“Touma, Touma, why were you so worried up till now?”

Index asked worriedly, but otherwise, she was feeling excited. On seeing her like this, Kamijou’s worries disappeared.

“...Mm, yeah, I’m rather happy! I normally shout that I’m unlucky, and my thoughts have gotten weird; I should think that I’m lucky once in a while! It’s hard to get such a vacation! Alright, a 7 day 5 night trip, I’m bursting with happiness!!”

Finally, Kamijou managed to get rid of his troubles and smile. Seeing him like this, Index also smiled.

“Just like that, Touma. Hm, if you are to use this attitude to interact, you’ll know the meaning even if you don’t know what they are saying.”

“GAAAHHH!! FOREIGN LANGUAGES!? I FORGOT ABOUT THAT!!”

Receiving this sudden shock, Kamijou fell to the ground. He was in a situation where he had only gotten 22 marks in an English mini-test. Thinking of this, Kamijou stared gingerly at Index.

“That, Index.”

“What, Touma?”

“Can you speak Italian?”

“I can, though it’s like Orsola’s accent. What now, Touma?”

“Italian, as in the Italian used in Italy?”

“Touma, what are you saying? If you’re uncomfortable with conversations, you can talk to me.”

“...Then teach me, starting from ‘yes’ and ‘no’ in Italian.”

“Touma, Touma. If I may ask, what can you do in Italy?”

Kamijou gave a ‘Of course I don’t know anything at all!!’ look at Index as he sprawled onto the floor. On seeing this, Index sighed.

“Touma, if you want to establish yourself in this international society, you have to know at least three languages.”

“AND NOW I’M TOLD OFF BY YOU, AN INEXPLICABLE NUN OF ALL PEOPLE!! ANYWAY, I SWEAR I’LL RELY ON YOU WHEN WE GET THERE!! I DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SAY ‘YES’ AND ‘NO’ THERE!!”

“Never mind, there’s no need to explain it. But Touma, it’s best that you use this chance to learn how to interact...”

“This is only useful for those who are talented in languages. A hastily made gun like me can’t make it!!”

“You’re still struggling...”

“This is the first time I've met someone who looks so dazed yet can speak N number of languages! Come to think of it, since Index can speak Japanese so fluently, is Italian also like that...”

“Well, I have to memorise the 103,000 books all over the world, no? Italian is simple, the hard ones are languages without a system, like say, a song, which I have to distort the tones. There are many lyrics carved on stone, and I have to learn them. However, these are only available for those island inhabitants or jungle inhabitants.”

“...Anyway, I don’t understand anything at all, so can I hand it over to you?”

“Mn, Touma has been fighting all this time. It’s my turn now. There’s no problem here, so Touma doesn’t have to worry. Just go and play all you want.”

This nun patting on her flat chest looked like Virgin Mary on Earth. Such a great help. Since Index had said this, there should be no problem, so he might as well go enjoy this trip to Northern Italy! Kamijou thought as he moved towards the Emigration area.

“I’ll hand it over to you, Miss tour guide!!”

“Leave it to me, Touma. I’ll talk with the shop attendants over there first.”

“Miss tour guide, isn’t that buying them over?”

“Normally, it’s something like ‘what the shop attendants and the customers need’, there isn’t too much of a difference. Even for someone who doesn’t know how to live overseas—”

Wah!!

At this moment, the metal detector made a weird sound. Index was suddenly caught by burly guards from both sides,

Hm? Index revealed a weird expression.

She eyed Mr. Guard suspiciously.

“Ah...what the, why are there so many safety pins on you?” On one side, the guard who caught his suspect rubs his temples, asking in a low voice.

“WAH! It’s really a pile of weapons!! But if we take them off, the nun's habit will fall apart!!”

Before they left, it was better for Kamijou to handle the problems that Index created.

On the other side, Index was wondering why safety pins couldn’t be brought though. She probably didn’t know the significance of that weird sound from the checkpoint.

Must I feel unsafe when I’m following her? Kamijou wondered as the guard standing down there gave him a chilly feeling down the spine.

“I understand the hassle of this clothing! But now what? There’re less than 30 minutes before the plane leaves...”

“Oh ya... there’s some shopping area in the airport; let’s buy some clothes.”

"WHERE? WHERE!?" Kamijou popped his head out of the inspecting area, and suddenly saw a sign,

“Shopping area—1.5km from here.”

“THAT’S TOO FAR!! The land for the 23rd district shouldn’t be used anyhow! However, besides the plane, we can only ride the camels down the Silk Road!! Damn it, Index, we’re going!! We can’t board the plane if you can’t get proper clothes!!”

“Ah, what, Touma... are we going to buy clothes?”

“Damn it, those sparkling eyes are making me angry! To waste money like this, SUCH MISFORTUNE!!”

Sighing, Kamijou grabbed the girl’s hand and ran down the long corridor.

There were 28 minutes remaining before the plane left.

It was almost time for the plane engines to start.