"A Certain Magical Index" refers to the light novel series written by Kamachi Kazuma, as well as the anime and manga adaptations based on it. The original light novel series was published by Dengeki Bunko in 2004, and as of 2018, the total number of copies of the original work has exceeded 16.35 million, with the total number of copies of the series exceeding 30 million. Boasting numerous media mixes such as a TV anime, comic book adaptation, games, and theatrical films, it is a popular work that represents the light novel world. We will introduce one of the characters, the mysterious "Kazagiri Hyoka."
Kazari Hyouka's Profile
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
A high school girl who apparently transferred to a certain high school on September 1st. In fact, Himegami Akisa was the only other transfer student. She's taller than Index (148cm) and shorter than Kamijo (168cm). She has long, straight black hair with a hint of brown, with a single strand tied up. She also wears intellectual glasses, which tend to slip down slightly. She has very large breasts. She's shy, but has a kind personality, being considerate of others and willing to put herself out there for her friends.
Index's First Friend
Hyouka Kazegiri is a girl who arrives at the high school where our protagonist, Touma Kamijou, and his friends attend. She's wearing the Kirigaoka Girls' Academy uniform, and initially appears to be a transfer student, but it's later revealed that this isn't the case. She meets Index on campus, becoming her first friend in Academy City.
The Mystery of Hyouka Kazegiri!?
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
Kazakiri Hyouka appears at Touma's school. Kamijou and Index become friends, and decide to take her out to hang out. Then, Himegami Akisa, who transferred to Kamijou's school from Kirigaoka Girls' Academy, calls out to him. According to Himegami, Kazegiri Hyouka's name was always posted as one of the top test rankers, but no one had actually seen her inside the academy. No one even knew what class she was in.
Unknown Identity (Counter Stop)
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
Intrigued, Himegami researched Kazekiri and discovered that he was known as "Unknown Identity (Counter Stop)" and was rumored to be the key to learning about the "Imaginary Mathematical Region Five Elements Organization." Apparently, Kazegiri had a special class to examine her individual abilities, and that class turned out to be a research lab for investigating the "Imaginary Mathematical Region Five Elements Agency." Himegami tells Kamijo that she's the only transfer student at his school, urging him to be careful. Who exactly is Kazegiri Hyoka? Mysteries are emerging one after another, making us curious.
Imaginary Mathematical Region Five Elements Agency
Before delving into Kazegiri Hyoka's true identity, let's take a look at the "Imaginary Mathematical Region Five Elements Agency," a topic of much-talked-about among students. The "Imaginary Mathematical Region Five Elements Agency" is one of Academy City's urban legends. Students have described it as "Academy City's first research institute," "an organization that controls Academy City from the shadows," and "a secret organization that controls Academy City's operations," but its true nature remains a mystery. Its surprising connection to Kazegiri Hyoka is later revealed.
What is the mystery gradually being revealed?!
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
At the opening ceremony on September 1st, he met and became friends with Index and Kamijou Touma, and enjoyed playing games at the arcade. However, after being attacked by Sherry Cromwell, who wanted to start a war, he became aware of his true identity as a "monster." In order to stop Sherry from targeting Index, he, as a fellow "monster," is inspired to save his friend. While realizing his true identity as a "monster," he recalls his true identity and the "City of Heat Flames" and unleashes his true power.
Monster Power and Friends
Possessing an earth-shaking weight beyond human reach and the strength to move it, he displays superhuman strength, easily blowing away the massive body of Golem Eris and instantly regenerating a leg that had been blown off by the recoil of the attack. Unwilling to abandon her friend, she used her powers to save him, only to cry when her friend discovered she was a "monster" and left her. However, when Index followed her, she reconciled with her and promised to play with her again as friends.
What is the true identity of Kazegiri Hyoka?!
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
Her true identity is part of the Imaginary Mathematical District, an AIM diffusion field taking on a human form. With the body heat coming from a fire user and the bioelectricity coming from a lightning user... this convergence of power has created a girl. At Kirigaoka Girls' Academy at the time, her form was incomplete and unstable, unable to move independently. Therefore, her appearance was kept secret. Only her body surface was recreated; her interior was hollow. Her head possessed a triangular prism, similar to that of the Mythical Beasts. She herself was unaware that she was not human.
Hughes Kazakiri
Her ability is "Unknown Identity." She gained consciousness as a result of Aleister's artificial teaching of "Death," the illusion-breaker, in order to discover how to control the Imaginary Mathematical Region. When she walks through the city, noise fills the air, and her presence is so faint that viewers mistake her for a "three-dimensional image created by someone." During Academy City's invasion by Forward Vento, one of God's Right Seats, Aleister's strategy involved overwriting her with an additional module as a countermeasure, transforming her into the artificial angel "Hughes Kazakiri." When she manifests, magicians suffer a significant loss of power. He also wields tremendous power, causing immense damage to those around him.
The Power of Hughes Kazakiri
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
At first, Kazakiri was forced to activate regardless of his will, but during World War III, after a conversation with Aiwass, he unleashed his power to save his friend. It appears that Kazegiri can now transform into an angel of his own volition while maintaining a certain degree of freedom in his ego. When forced to transform into an angel, he appears with an angel halo around his head and sharp, lightning-like wings on his back. When transformed of his own volition, his hair turns blonde, and his halo and eyes become rainbow-colored.
Manifestation Conditions
With the cooperation of his sisters scattered around the world, he appears capable of traveling outside of Japan. He can maintain his appearance as long as the AIM diffusion field's interference reaches him, but as the interference weakens, he is unable to maintain his appearance. If the interference is completely interrupted, he disappears from the scene. However, this does not mean he dies; he simply moves to a place within the interference's reach. If he disappears after traveling abroad, his appearance is reconstructed in Academy City.
The Power of Angelic Formation
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
He is able to harness the vast powers of an angel. He can create lightning-fast wings and a sword, fly at speeds of over 7,000 km/h, and even fight on equal terms with an archangel in close combat. The source of these swords and wings is, of course, an AIM diffusion field.
What is Hughes Kazakiri's role?
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
Its role is essentially that of an AIWASS production line. If the AIM diffusion field is likened to a "highly concentrated salt water," then AIWASS can be likened to a "crystal." When creating crystals, impurities or rod-like "nuclei" are added to salt water, but it seems that Hughes-Kazakiri is the special "nuclei" that is tailored to create the "desired crystals" known as Aiwass.
What is Aiwass?
Academy City's most highly secret secret, known as the "Dragon," manifests by converging an AIM diffusion field around Hughes-Kazakiri. It theoretically possesses the power to rival demons, using its platinum-like wings with an incomprehensible pale blue glow to attack, overpowering one-way reflections and even overwhelming the power of the Black Wings. Furthermore, there is a theory that it originates from an "extraterrestrial intelligent life form," allowing it to exert its powers in outer space, where there are no earth veins, just as it does on Earth.
The voice of Kazegiri is provided by a popular voice actor
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kazuma Kamachi/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
The voice of Kazegiri Hyouka in the anime "A Certain Magical Index" is provided by voice actress, singer, and stage actress Kana Asumi. Her major appearances include "PERSONA -trinity soul-" (Megumi Kayano), "The World God Only Knows" (Chihiro Kosaka), "Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream" (Aira Harune), and "Nisekoi" (Marika Tachibana).
Summary
I was surprised to learn that Kazegiri Hyoka's true identity is a collection of powers. It was heartbreaking to see her sadly call herself a "monster" and worry about ruining her friendship with Index. I'm so glad that Index accepted her. That's all for today's introduction to Kazegiri Hyoka from "A Certain Magical Index"!
