Ep 8. Find Out My Mind

Infinite Stratos is a Japanese anime series that follows the life of a young man named Ichika Orimura who is the only male capable of piloting an Infinite Stratos, a powerful exoskeleton suit that is used in combat. In season 1 episode 8, titled Find Out My Mind, the story continues with Ichika getting closer to the girls at the academy as he continues to hone his skills as a pilot.

The episode starts with all the girls in the academy trying to measure their Bust, Waist and Hips for the swimsuit designing competition. As Ichika walks in, he is immediately pounced on by Charlotte Dunois, one of the girls in his class who is also a fellow pilot of the Infinite Stratos. Charlotte wants to measure Ichika's body but is interrupted by the arrival of the student council president, Chiyo Shirai. Chiyo has come to announce that she will be acting as a judge in the upcoming swimwear competition. This news excites all the girls, who are eager to impress her.

Later, during the swimming lesson, Ichika is approached by Houki Shinonono, another classmate and pilot. She asks him to join her in training for the upcoming competition. Ichika agrees, and the two head to the pool. As they swim, Ichika notices that Houki seems to be distracted and not herself. He asks if everything is okay, and Houki tells him about how her sister, Tabane Shinonono, was the one who created the Infinite Stratos in the first place. Houki reveals that she has a strained relationship with her sister and how that affects her performance as a pilot.

As they train, Ichika offers Houki some advice and encouragement, which helps her regain her confidence. The two continue swimming, and Ichika sees that he is starting to catch up to Houki in speed. This motivates him to push himself harder and try to beat her. They both swim at their best, and Houki ends up winning the race by a narrow margin. Ichika is impressed with her progress and tells her that she deserved to win.

The next day, Ichika and the other girls are getting ready for the swimwear competition. They have all designed their own swimsuits, and they are eager to show them off to Chiyo. Ichika is initially reluctant to participate, but he is eventually convinced by Charlotte, who offers to help him design his swimsuit. However, during the competition, Ichika realizes that he has accidentally mixed up his swimsuit with another contestant's, leaving him embarrassed and exposed.

The competition comes to an end, and the winners are announced. They include Charlotte, Cecilia Alcott, and Laura Bodewig, who won first, second, and third prize, respectively. As the girls celebrate their victory, Ichika is left feeling embarrassed, and he retreats to his room. As he thinks about what happened, he is approached by Laura, who reveals that she knows he has been trying to figure out her true intentions. She tells him that she will reveal everything soon and leaves, leaving Ichika confused.

Overall, Find Out My Mind is an exciting and engaging episode of Infinite Stratos that focuses on the relationships between the characters and their development as pilots. It also provides some hints about the secrets that some of the characters are keeping, which adds a layer of intrigue to the series. The episode is well-animated, with bright and colorful visuals that bring the characters and their world to life. Fans of the series will not be disappointed by this episode, which is a great continuation of the story.