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Impressions:

Many people are saying Zero no Tsukaima is just like Harry Potter, using the same costumes and sets. I agree – with the robes, large castle, dining hall, old headmaster with long white hair and a beard etc. – but what else can they use? There aren’t exactly many variations in design when you’re dealing with a magic school. They are usually made to look grand and classical. I wonder how it would turn out if a show places magic upon a futuristic setting, which sleek, shiny buildings and flashy uniforms. Anyway, I think people should stop looking at this show’s resemblance to Harry Potter. Take a look at the storyline, the characters and mood, and if you still don’t like it, then don’t watch it. I think that the storyline is quite interesting and the characters are drawn well, but the way they act is slightly abnormal. Saito accepts the fact that he is in another world full of magic far too quickly. Louise really does see Saito as a ‘thing’, as she doesn’t mind getting naked in front of him – that’s just not right. Any normal person, regardless of whether they had magic or not, would still consider something who looks, speaks and acts like a human, a human. But since one of the genres of this show is romance, the fact that Louise does not think of Saito as a human will be an indicator of relational developments later on. When Louise starts to think of her Familiar as human and starts to show some more dignity (like in Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu) then we’ll know she’s fallen for Saito. I believe that this has already begun to develop when Saito fights Guiche.

Summary:

Before being summoned by Louise, Saito had been a normal boy on Earth. That is, until he saw a glowing egg-shaped object in the middle of the street. No one else seems to see it so he rubs his eyes, thinking he might be seeing things. When the object does not disappear, Saito approaches it and cautiously touches it with one finger. A ripple emanates from the place he touched it. Saito decides to investigate further, but as he touches it again, his finger goes through the object and opens up a hole. He is then sucked into oblivion. With Louise’s commands in the background, Saito falls from the sky and lands in from of her.

On the same night as when the last episode left off, Saito has been chained up in Louise’s room. He explains he has come from Earth, but Louise does not believe there is another world. Saito demands he is returned back to Japan, but Louise gives a quick refusal, saying it’s impossible while undressing. She says to a blushing Saito that once the contract is made, nothing can be done to break it. Louise clicks her fingers and the lamp goes out. She proceeds to change, taking off her bra. Saito covers his eyes in desperation and asks her why she can’t do it when he isn’t there. Louise replies with a ‘why?’ Saito asks her is she is fine with a man seeing her naked. Bemused, she states that Saito is just a Familiar. She takes off her panties and tosses it onto Saito’s face. However, he can’t see her properly as the room is dark and the open window behind her is creating a silhouette. Louise quickly puts on her night gown and crawls into bed. She tells Saito to wash her clothes. He refuses but when Louise tells him she won’t feed him, he complies in the end.

In the morning, Saito pulls off Louise’s blanket and tosses her a clean change of clothes. She asks about her underwear and Saito tells her to get them herself. Using the same threat, she forces him to get her underwear as well. Once again she changes in front of him, but this time Saito has gained enough control of his body to turn around and not look. He asks Louise to take off his chains. She tells him that he must dress her if he wants the chains off. He does so reluctantly, and as she is unchaining him, Saito notices that she’s quite cute as long as she keeps quiet. The two then head down for breakfast. Saito believes he is able to eat the feast with everyone else, but he learns that he has to sit on the floor and eat a single piece of bread.

After breakfast, the two head outside. Saito notices that the 2nd years are sitting around outside with their Familiars. Louise explains that they don’t have classes today as the time is meant to be used for communicating with their newly summoned Familiars. He notices that many of the Familiars are being held and stroked by their masters, and says he doesn’t want to do such a thing (meaning he doesn’t want to be held and stroked by Louise).

Kirche comes, startling Saito with her salamander. He tells her to put it on a leash but she assures him that all Familiars are completely obedient to their masters (probably with one exception – Saito). Kirche then accuses Louise of not summoning a real Familiar, but randomly selecting a ‘commoner’ (meaning someone with no magical powers) and transporting him to her side, masking it with the explosion. Louise defends herself by saying that she did the proper procedure and Saito just happened to come out. Kirche leaves a final comment as she leaves, saying that Saito is perfectly suited for ‘Zero’ Louise. Louise vents her anger out at Saito, demanding he bring her a cup of tea.

As Saito is wandering around, he comes across someone’s Familiar, which is in the form of a small sphere with one eye. Startled, he staggers backward and accidentally bumps into the maid, making her drop the piece of cake she had. He picks it up and places it back on the plate. The girl, called Siesta, notices the mark on his hand and realises he is Louise’s Familiar. She says that a commoner being summoned as a Familiar has become gossip overnight. This brings Saito to ask her about ‘commoners’ and ‘nobles’. The girl explains that those who can use magic are nobles and those who can’t are commoners. He asks her if she’s a noble too, but she says that she’s just a commoner like him.

As the two are still conversing, Guiche cuts in and asks if the cake is ready yet. Saito tells Siesta to let him take the dirty piece of cake to him, as he wants to exact revenge on him for levitating him yesterday. Guiche is talking to Montmorency, saying he had spent the whole of last night talking with his Familiar, Belldandy. Montmorency does not completely believe him and asks about the rumour that he’s been dating a first year student. As he is denying this, Saito comes with the cake, remarking that he’s figured that second years wear black, so the girl wearing brown from last night must have been a 1st year. Panicking, Guiche tells Saito to go back to his serving duties. Saito says he isn’t a server, which makes Guiche realise he is Louise’s Familiar. As he leaves, Guiche sees Katie, the 1st year from last night, and starts dragging Montmorency away. Saito points out where Guiche is and Katie rushes over to him. After some distressed talk (with Saito’s help), it becomes obvious Guiche had been two-timing the two girls. He gets slapped by Montmorency in front of everyone.

Embarrassed and angry, Guiche challenges Saito to a duel. He agrees and is told to meet in front of the vestry. Louise comes and scolds Saito, telling him that they are going to apologise to Guiche and hope he forgives them. He refuses and asks someone where the vestry is.

In the headmaster’s office, one of the teachers informs him of Saito’s rune. Its design was not something the teacher recognised, but after some research he found that it matches one in a book, and appears to be very important.

Outside, a crowd has gathered around Guiche and Saito, who are now facing each other, prepared to fight. Louise comes running and tells Guiche that it’s forbidden to duel. He says that it’s only forbidden for two nobles to duel. It’s not a problem for a noble to duel a commoner. Louise says this is only the case because something like this has never happened before. She says this with pleading eyes, which makes Giuche think she has developed feelings for Saito. Embarrassed, she makes a face and immediately denies it. She is only worried because she doesn’t want to lose her Familiar. Ignoring her pleads, Guiche begins the duel. He swings around his rose, which appears to be some sort of wand, as a petal falls down, which opens a rip in the ground. Out comes – a very blue looking warrior – who Guiche calls the Bronze Golem, Valkyrie. It attacks with lightning speed, striking Saito in the guts before he can react. Louise rushes to his side as he falls onto his knees, clutching his stomach. She tries again to stop him, but he ignores her and continues to fight.

The headmaster, who is now examining the book with the picture of Saito’s rune, says that something like that only exists in legends. He is amazed that the Louise had been able to summon it. He says it will surely affect one of the Lost Penta’s corners. He tells the teacher that he must never allow this information to be leaked.

Back at the fight, Saito is being thrashed by Guiche’s Valkyrie. With each punch he receives, Louise utters a gasp (how cute!) When he gets thrown onto the ground, Louise stands between him and Guiche, once again asking him to stop. Louise is on the verge of tears and Saito asks her if she’s crying. She denies it and shoves him back. Amused, Guiche offers Saito one last chance. He summons a sword from another rose petal, which Saito goes to take. Louise tells him that she’s giving him an order as a master to stop fighting. Saito in turn explains his resolve. He has already accepted the world he will be living in, but he won’t now his head down to anyone. With renewed determination, he takes the sword in two hands. His rune begins to glow, just as Valkyrie charges at him. Saito swings the sword and cuts the opponent in two, as if it was made of paper. An commotion starts amongst the onlookers. Undeterred, Guiche summons six more warriors (his rose petals never seem to run out, do they?) Saito easily defeats all six with three attacks, then charges up to Guiche, brining the sword close to his face. Shocked at his demise, Guiche says he gives up and collapses onto the ground (and the crowd goes wild!)

At first, Saito seems fine, but then his rune ceases to glow and he falls down, bringing Louise down with him. Apparently, he has fallen asleep. When he wakes up again, he finds himself in Louise’s bed, his head and chest bandaged. Siesta arrives with food and tells him he has been asleep for three days. He asks her why she’s here and she says that it was an order from Louise to bring him food. Saito notices that Louise is asleep on a chair, her head resting on the table. Siesta tells him that Louise had been taking care of him the whole time. He mutters to himself that she’s pretty cute when she’s asleep.

Preview:

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