[ It was just another peaceful day in the small town of Nagai… when suddenly…! ]

Woman at the Street Corner: Wh-What's this…! An earthquake…!

Old Man at the Supermarket: No! It can't be…! The 200 year seal holding back the evil Demon King…! It must have been broken…!

[ Somewhere within the depths of an underground cavern, an ancient evil awakens…! ]

Demon King: BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! FINALLY! THE TIME HAS COME FOR ME TO TAKE OVER THE WOOOOOOOORLD!

[ In a world where chaos and destruction threatens the livelihoods of our children…! ]

Demon King: NOW GO FORTH MY MINIONS DESPAIR!

[ Where evil and villainy are at arms reach of corrupting our youth…! ]

Various Reporters on Television: The recent kidnapping of an eight-year-old have police investigating -static- in the Funabori District. The attacker is confirmed armed and danger -static- causing the bridge to collapse. Rescuers are-

[ Just who do we call for in this dire time of need…! ]

Boy in the Park: Help us!

Girl at School: Essentially, we need help!

[ Just who do we call for to protect the sanctity of peace and justice…! ]

Boy in a Baseball Cap: Someone! Help!

Girl with Beetle Plush: H-... Help...

[ All together now! ]

Everyone: PLEASE HELP US! GEKOTA RANGERS!

[ The spotlight shines down to a group of masked individuals. ]

?: With passion as intense as the burning sun!

Red: Gekota Ranger Red, ready for action!

?: As serene as the eye inside a hurricane!

Blue: Gekota Ranger Blue here. Let's get this over with!

?: Shining brightly like the su- Hey! You stole my line, Red!

Yellow: It's showtime! Gekota Ranger Yellow! Wahoo!

?: Eh? Is that what we're doing now? Um, ah, I can't think of anything pink!

Pink: Gekota Ranger Pink! S'alright, ne? Ne?

[ Title Card: Gekota Ranger S vs the Panda Villain ]

…

Hey… Hold on a second. What happened to the plane? What happened to Academy City? Where the hell are we...?

It's the small town of Nagai. Didn't you hear the super announcer guy say it?

No, no, I heard it clearly. But it still makes no goddamn sense… This scene and the last scene don't even connect remotely… I mean, is this even the Index Movie anymore…? Well, I think I might have seen some familiar faces, but still…!

Hamazura, Hamazura, Hamazura…. Do I really have to tell explain this out to ya?

Don't tell me… This is one of those 'techniques', right? Holding off on getting to the real meat of the story and using throwaway characters to expand the universe? If that's the case, the director is stretching the limits of world building way too much…!

Don't be a super idiot. What does a Super Sentai series have to do with To Aru no Majutsu no Index… The author's just being moody.

...Eh?

When you think about it, it's been a super long time since Rubix posting anything. And when a chapter suddenly springs up, it's about old news. The Endymion Movie was released way back in February. So anyone super interested in it already knows the plot by now. Kind of disheartening. And plus, there are way more interesting things happening. You've seen what happens in NT8 and the newest chapter of Railgun, right? Enthusiasm about the movie just sort of disappears after that.

The curtain… Don't pull it back…

Ah~an! So many plans put on hold because of laziness! And now everything's already irrelevant. If people knew that the next chapter of Super SS was supposed to be a bathhouse chapter with Thor and Mikoto, I bet they'd be super pissed. But at this point, does the audience even want to go back to that time? Why even bother, am I right?

That is… well…

Damn it, I just want to go back to playing D*vil Survivor.

Who is it that's talking right now…! Just who is it…! If you want to say something, don't make other characters say it…!

Hmm? That was super fast. It's already at the climax.

[ The main antagonist of the movie, a boy wearing a panda costume, has his hands raised to the sky as he controls a giant ball of plasma. ]

Panda Villain: PUPAPIPEPOPAPAPIPUPEPIPIPOPAPAPIPUPOPOPUPEPEPEPOPIP UPAPUPIPUPOPUPUPEPUPAPIPUPOPEPUPEPUPIPAPIPOPIPAPAP AH-!

Huh?

Panda Villain: This is great! This power… It's like moving my own arms and legs! Pa pa pa~

[ The Panda Villain cackles in his accomplishment. ]

Panda Villain: This feeling of conquering all of space! It seems it's true that fighting a strong opponent is the fastest way to getting stronger, eh? Lowlife! Pa la la la~

Isn't this… No, it can't be…

[ A short distance from the Panda Villain, Red is bleeding out on the ground. ]

Panda Villain: As a token of my gratitude, I'll remove every last trace-

[ Before the Panda Villain could continue any further, the ball of energy above him disperses. ]

Panda Villain: …!

[ Pink appears crutching Pink 10032. ]

Pink: I… won't let you have your way!

WHHHHYYYYY? WHY IS IT PINK 10032…! THIS IS JUST A SHAMELESS RIP OFF, ISN'T IT…!

Who cares if it's a rip-off, it's still a super good scene.

Aww, geez…! We're gonna get so many complaints, damn it…!

Panda Villain: I don't understand… Pa pa pa~ You and that lowlife over there, just why are the two of you willing to go so far for a bunch of dolls? Pa la la la~

Pink: It is because... these girls are my sisters, that's all there is. And for you, who has no real family, this might be impossible for you to understand!

Panda Villain: You just added something unnecessary.

Pink: I don't really care.

[ From behind, Red slowly struggles up to his feet. ]

Panda Villain: …!

Pink: R-Red!

[ At the sight of this, the Panda Villain trembles and unconsciously takes a step back. ]

Panda Villain: …

[ Red stares directly at the Panda Villain. This is a signal for him to come. ]

Panda Villain: You…! You're funny, you…! Pa pa pa~

[ Hitting a breaking point, the Panda Villain charges at Red! ]

Panda Villain: YOU'RE REALLY FUNNY! Pa la la la~

[ As the Panda Villain attempts dealing the finishing blow, Red counters him as if brushing aside an annoyance. ]

Red: Clench your teeth, panda. My Gekota punch… just might shake you up a bit.

[ And in a blow that would invert the Panda Villain's mask permanently, Red thrusted his fist into his face without restraint. ]

[ And the echoing sound of silence announces the end of battle. ]

Soooo cooooooooooool…! That was way too damn cool…! Even if it was plagiarism, it's such a good scene…!

Of course it was.

[ Scuffling noises are heard during the credit roll. Kamijou Touma and Index are seen exiting the theater. ]

Index: Touma, Touma! That last scene was sure amazing!

Touma: It sure was.

[ After watching a movie within the movie, the two quickly picked up pace to get right on track. ]

Thank god... It's already like halfway into the chapter!

Hamazura, could you please stop super yelling? I'm trying to enjoy the movie.

Err, uh… I'll hold back then...

Index: Ah? Touma! The second part of Gekota Rangers S is already out! Don't you want to watch that too?

Touma: You can largely ignore it. Hey Index! What can you tell me about towers?

Index: E-Eh…? Towers…? What about towers…?

Touma: When you think of Japan, you definitely think of towers, right?

Index: Not really…

[ Kamijou raises a finger. ]

Touma: Surely you've heard of T*kyo Tower before, right?

Index: I'm not sure why you're bringing this up all of sudden…

Touma: Here's some advice. If anyone offers you the chance to go to T*kyo Tower…

[ Kamijou's expression changes to something resembling a surreal painting. ]

Touma: Don't go.

Index: Eh…?

Touma: Well enough about towers. Let's talk about something more interesting.

Index: You were the one who brought it up, Touma…! And I totally thought you were going to mention that huge thing over there…! Are you just going to ignore it…! It's a major plot point, isn't it…!

Touma: That... thing? Huh...?

[ Index points off into the distance. ]

Index: That thing! That thing over there! That ridiculously tall building! The one that suddenly appeared out of nowhere!

Touma: …

[ Kamijou stares blankly. ]

Touma: Hey Index! Do you know what's even more interesting than towers?

Index: Changing the subject…!

Touma: Idols!

[ Kamijou raises both his arms. ]

Touma: Idols in concert! Idols on CDs! Idols on TV! On the internet! In games! Mousepads! Keychains! Hugging pillows! Right now, we're in the middle of an idol craze! This is the golden age of idols!

Index: Is it?

Touma: Have you been living under a rock? Of course it is!

[ Kamijou's expression changes once more. ]

Touma: Or at least that's what J.C. St*ff is betting on…

[ His face reverts back to normal. ]

Touma: Well, even if the budget for the next season of Railgun and Index is riding on this, we should just take it easy! Relax! We're on the silver screen now! Ha ha ha ha!

Index: Touma, I'm worried…

We all are...

?: Ah… Ah… Mic check… Mic check…

[ The pair hear a voice in the distance. They spot a girl setting up a keyboard and microphone. ]

Index: Touma… That's… An idol, isn't it?

?: Hello everyone! It's a good day to be outside, isn't it?

[ The scene changes to Misaka Mikoto, Saten Ruiko, and Uiharu Kazari sitting in a restaurant. ]

Mikoto: Internet… Idol?

Ruiko: Ah! Yeah! Internet Idol Arisa-chan~! She's gotten pretty famous lately! In just a short amount of time, she's been gaining a ton of fans due to her covers of Vocaloid and Touhou remixes! She's almost like a real idol!

Kazari: Saten-san, if you that impressed by real idols, there's one pretty close by.

Ruiko: In all her videos, she sings and dances! It's really all well put together with special effects!

Kazari: Saten-san, that idol I'm mentioning also sings and dances. And she does it because she's a real idol. Surely, you've heard of Sph*re, haven't you?

[ Saten opens her laptop. ]

Ruiko: Let me pull up one of her videos and show you! She's really amazing! It's like she was taken straight out of Idolm*ster!

Kazari: Saten-san, we're putting out a new single next month. And I myself just released a solo album recently too. Are you listening? Saten-san?

[ Misaka Mikoto and Saten Ruiko scooted close to each other. A video starts playing on her laptop. ]

Computer: L-L-L-Love and Joy kaete yuku~

Mikoto: Whoa! Nostalgia bomb!

Ruiko: Oh, yeah. She also does things like that too.

Mikoto: But… I think I might have seen her face before. Wait! We've met before!

Ruiko: Wha-What! Really! How! When!

[ Misaka Mikoto scratches the back of her head. ]

Mikoto: I, uh… You know what, I don't really remember. It… It wasn't really explained that well…

Kuroko: As expected.

[ There's an audible sigh. ]

Kuroko: Onee-sama has become popular even with Internet famous idols. At this rate, I might become just another fan...

Mikoto: Eh…! Kuroko…! How did you get here all of a sudden!

[ Shirai Kuroko rolls up to the group in her wheelchair. ]

Kuroko: I came through the doors. Obviously.

Ruiko: Is that so…

[ Shirai takes a look around and notices Uiharu sulking by herself. ]

Kuroko: Ah. It may be a bit late for me to say this, but… keep up the good work.

Kazari: It's tough… It really is…

A/N: And so an abrupt end to a chapter that hardly got anything done. This seems like a good place to stop. The next chapter should probably cover Arisa's introduction to the end of the first action sequence which roughly covers the first 20 minutes of the film.

You know, despite its problems, I actually liked the movie. It felt rushed, but it wasn't bad. That is to say, I've seen worse.