This article is about the Season 3 Episode 5 Anime. For the Light Novel Volume 13 article, see Steeplechase Chapter.
Steeplechase I is the fifth episode of the third season of the Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei anime and the first episode for the Steeplechase Arc of the Anime.
Summary[]
A notice has been sent to the Magic High Schools across Japan that almost half of the events will be changed for the Nine Schools Competition. In order to respond to the sudden change in events, the First High School Student Council scramble on understand the rules, re-assigning participants, and re-adjusting the CADs. While everyone is complaining on the Nine Schools Competition Committee's decision to the sudden change that is one month before the start of the competition, Tatsuya is suspicious of the strong focus on military training of all the newly added events.[2]
Plot[]
June 25, 2096. At the Ninth Laboratory, Kudou Retsu and his son Kudou Makoto are overseeing the installation of Paranormal Parasite to gynoids that are 60% of the 16 gynoids and the parasites are in hibernation due to the Loyalty Programming's effect on them. With the Steeplechase Cross Country added to this year's Nine Schools Competition, Retsu plans to test the Parasite Dolls in combat on the students of the said event.
At the Kudou Main House, Retsu visits his grandson Kudou Minoru's room where the latter tries to get up and welcome him but suddenly he begins coughing, and follows Retsu's advise to lie down once again. Retsu further encourages Minoru that despite he missed a lot of classes, his Magic Power is top among his peers even among the students who took part in the Nine Schools Competition. Although Minoru laments that he is unable to participate but there are still other ways to show his talents to which Retsu agrees and to get some rest. As Retsu leaves the room he resolves to fulfill his wish to stop Magicians from being turned to weapons and to stop having modified children like Minoru anymore.
July 2, 2096. At First High School, Tatsuya and Miyuki are heading to the Student Council Room discussing how Nakajou Azusa is more motivated this year for the Nine Schools Competition but when they arrive, Azusa is gloomy due to the sudden announcement of the changes for this year's competition such as Speed Shooting, Crowd Ball and Battle Board events are removed. In its place are Rower and Gunner, Shield Down and finally, the Steeplechase Cross Country events which is open to all students and causing Tatsuya's concern that they may lose a lot of students on becoming Magicians unless they devise a sound strategy.
At Café Einebrise, Tatsuya confirms with his group of friends that there are indeed changes on the upcoming Nine Schools Competition and gives a brief description on each of them which Erika shows interest in Shield Down while the rest are concerned that the changes are concern with the new event's direct confrontation of the participants while Miyuki and Yoshida Mikihiko points out that Steeplechase Event is dangerous since running through an unfamiliar mountain needs an experienced guide. Saijou Leonhard then mentions that the new events seems to be more like military training to which Tatsuya believes that the Yokohama Disturbance that shows the usefulness of Magicians to the National Defense Force might be a reason which is the motive of Congressman Kanda's visit recently.
At the 101 Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion Headquarters, Major General Saeki Hiromi and Major Kazama Harunobu also discusses the changes in the Nine Schools Competition that is more like a lineup for military training and the response of the Magic Association is strange especially Retsu who did not oppose the changes at all but even pushed for the changes especially towards the Steeplechase Event where Retsu ordered all players to take part. Which the two seems to have abandoned his stand on ending the use of magicians as weapons. As such, Saeki orders Kazama and the 101 Battalion to be on standby during the Nine Schools Competition but also mentions Fujibayashi Kyouko by name to her movements since the Fujibayashi Family is part of the Kudou Clan.
At Zhou Gongjin's restaurant, Zhou Gongjin is once again communing with his master where the latter informs him of the Parasite Dolls, referred to as "P-Weapons" that uses parasites to operate them that Zhou refers to as the recreation of the Yellow Turban Warriors. Zhou is then instructed to apply a spell that will cause the parasites to go berserk that will injure but not kill the students and in turn weaken the Japanese Military's magic ability. Zhou then meets with Nakura Saburou who represents Saegusa Kouichi in fostering a friendship with Zhou.
July 8, 2096. At the Four Leaves Technology Headquarters, Tatsuya, Miyuki and Ushiyama are overseeing the test of the new Thought Controlled CAD that is composed of a Pendant and a Bracelet Shaped CAD which was completed earlier than expected giving Tatsuya free time for the rest of the day.
Tatsuya and Miyuki goes to the Shibuya Subcenter where Miyuki goes shopping for clothes. While Miyuki is trying out the clothes in a fitting room, Tatsuya runs into Kasumi who questions him why he is there and Izumi who realizes that Miyuki is with him. Just as Tatsuya realizes they are not alone, Mayumi steps out of the fitting room in a two piece swim suit to question the the racket caused by his sisters and is surprised to see Tatsuya who is immediately look away and tries to calm Mayumi down but her scream is already heard.
At a cafe, Tatsuya, Miyuki and Mayumi talks about the earlier incident while Izumi admiringly watches Miyuki and Kasumi stares at Tatsuya. Izumi then expresses her intent to join Miyuki in her shopping but Mayumi tells her not to get in their way. After Izumi apologizes, Kasumi points out that they should not disrupt Tatsuya and Miyuki's "date" which shocks Mayumi but Tatsuya denies this since they are siblings while Miyuki is pleased on hearing this. Despite Izumi trying to ease the situation, Kasumi presses that competent magicians have a duty to leave behind the next generation to which Tatsuya retorts that the Saegusa sisters are also unproductive by spending their day off together which leaves Kasumi speechless. Tatsuya then gets up and pay for the bill and despite Mayumi wanting to pay for it instead, Tatsuya sees this an apology for his attitude towards his junior and Miyuki follows. While Tatsuya and Miyuki are walking outside, Miyuki defends Kasumi's behavior to which Kasumi agrees and it pleases Miyuki how Tatsuya treats other women but Tatsuya mentions that Miyuki has a makings of a wicked woman as well.
At the Ninth Laboratory, Makoto meets Zhou Gonjin who request assistance in giving asylum to 3 Taoists who fled the Great Asian Union. Makoto expresses his concerns that the Taoists are part of the Traditionalists who are not in good terms with the Magicians of the Nine but Zhou assures him that providing asylum is more important and give Makoto the data for the Toaists. Makoto takes it and tells Zhou he will make his decision in a couple of days. After Zhou leaves, Makoto scans the data of the Taoists who turns out to specialize in the Yellow Turban Warriors causing Makoto to suspect that this is too convenient but decides to accept the Taoists and will kill Zhou if he is a traitor. Makoto then instructs the Security Chief to erase the record of Zhou's visit and to keep his visit a secret even to Retsu.
At the Saegusa Main House, Nakura reports to Saegusa Kouichi of Zhou's activities with Makoto and the use of the Parasite Dolls. Kouichi decides not to take action since the first year students are exempted, his children are not going to take part in the Steeplechase Event as he has faith in Retsu to do something if their plan failed.
Locations[]
- Tokyo
- First High School
- Café Einebrise
- Four Leaves Technology Headquarters
- Shibuya Subcenter
- Saegusa Main House
- Ibaraki
- 101 Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion Headquarters
- Yokohama
- Zhou Gongjin's Restaurant
Differences from the Light Novel[]
- The event where Azusa instructs Tatsuya to leave early for being too efficient has been cut
- The event detailing Tatsuya's activities with the Mountain Club with Leo and Minami has been cut
- The event where Ichijou Masaki and Kichijouji Shinkurou are discussing the changes of the Nine Schools Competition and Ichijou Akane barging in Masaki's room has been cut
- The event detailing Kazama and Saeki's activities during the Great Indochina War leading to the establishment of the 101 Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion has been cut
- The event of Tatsuya and Miyuki meeting Kokonoe Yakumo leading to investigate the Ninth Laboratory has been cut
- The event where Tatsuya requests Erika's assistance in the Shields Down practice has been cut
- The event where Tatsuya oversees the practice of Miyuki against Kitayama Shizuku and Chiyoda Kanon has been cut
- The event where Tatsuya personally tests the Silver Torus has been cut
- New event where Zhou Gongjin meets Nakura occurs after the announcement on the changes of the in the Nine Schools Competition while in the Light Novel, it occurs before
Trailer[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
References[]
- ↑ Information from the ending credits of the episode.
- ↑ https://mahouka.jp/3rd/story/?id=05