A Certain Magical Index #12

Volume 12 of Kazuma Kamachi and Chuya Kogino's *A Certain Magical Index* takes a refreshingly relaxed turn on its cover, showing two students — a spiky-haired boy and a dark-haired girl — sharing juice cartons side by side against a bright, cloud-filled sky. The easygoing, almost domestic mood of the scene offers a nice counterpoint to the series' usual supernatural intensity, hinting at quieter moments woven into the ongoing saga of Academy City. Published by Ki-oon's shonen imprint in 2014, this French edition is a fine addition to one of manga's most richly built science-fantasy worlds.