Toaru Majutsu no Index Episode 13

"Accelerator" (一方通行(アクセラレータ)) is the 13th episode of the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime series. It was first broadcasted on December 27, 2008, with the script written by Nishizono Satoru, the episode storyboarded by Komino Mashiko, and directed by Takashima Daisuke.

Mikoto wants to help the Sisters at the expense of her own life, but Touma blocks her way. She pours her lightning power mercilessly into Touma's body, but he doesn't even try to use his right hand. Mikoto asks him he would go so far, to which the fallen Touma replies with surprising words. The major premise of the experiment that the Tree Diagram calculated was that Accelerator is the strongest in Academy City. To stop the experiment, Touma concludes that he must beat Accelerator. Mikoto tries to persuade Touma that it is impossible to win against someone who can face a military alone while smiling. But Touma tries to pry out the whereabouts of Accelerator from her. At the same time as this, Misaka Imouto's battle with Accelerator is about to begin in the switchyard.

Synopsis
A young girl wearing the Tokiwadai Middle School uniform is walking the streets of Academy City alone, during a windless evening. The scene cuts to a seemingly empty railway cargo holding area, where we see the girl walking into the area. She stops and starts reciting her current coordinates as well as the time. The girl calls herself test material 10032, Misaka 10032. She then recites on how the purpose of the test is to develop maneuvers for battles where 'reflection' cannot be used, Accelerator's Reflection. The scene suddenly cuts to a flashback of Touma asking who she is and what she is doing, but the scene quickly returns to the present, where Misaka 10032 says she does not know and does not understand Touma. She looks up and asks herself why she is recalling his face at such a time.

Adapted From
Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 03

Major events

 * Misaka 10032 battles Accelerator as part of the Level 6 Shift experiment.
 * Touma interrupts the battle between Misaka 10032 and Accelerator. Touma meets Accelerator for the first time and does battle with him.

Characters
By order of appearance
 * Misaka 10032
 * Tsukuyomi Komoe
 * Index
 * Aisa
 * Kamijou Touma
 * Misaka Mikoto
 * Misaka 10032's cat
 * Accelerator

New Characters
No new character were introduced during this episode.

Abilities

 * Electrical attacks - Misaka 10032, level 3
 * Redirection - Accelerator, level 5
 * Imagine Breaker - Kamijou Touma, level 0

New Abilities
No new abilities were introduced during this episode.

Locations

 * Academy City
 * The bathhouse that Komoe frequents

New Locations

 * School District 17 (not named)

Trivia

 * RSPK Syndrome is mentioned and explained by Komoe during this episode, as well as the Power Curriculum Program.
 * SYSTEM is mentioned during this episode by Komoe as well, and is referred to by Accelerator. In actuality, the experiment for clones to be killed by Accelerator is so he can reach SYSTEM, also known as level 6.
 * Misaka makes a pun on Accelerator's name, One-way road, which is the literal translation of Accelerator's name in kanji.

Referbacks

 * The style on how to drink coffee milk in a bathhouse that Komoe showed Index back in episode 3, is applied during this episode by Komoe, Index and Aisa.
 * The night being windless that was mentioned by Touma back in episode 11, is referenced and used to their advantage by both Misaka 10032 and Accelerator.

Cultural References

 * Ozone is produced naturally in the earth's stratosphere, where the ozone layer resides, which absorbs ultraviolet light that is potentially damaging to life on earth. Ozone can also be produced by electrical discharge, as Misaka 10032.
 * A dust explosion is used by Accelerator by igniting flour in the enclosed location of the railway cargo holding area. Dust explosions are frequent hazards to people who work in enclosed spaces such as coal mines.

Animation Trivia

 * The glass breaking animation that is played before the second half of anime starts, is delayed for a few seconds before finishing. The accompanying sound where the Toaru Majutsu no Index logo is displayed after the animation was removed as well.
 * Accelerator does a midair somersault during his battle with Misaka 10032.

Unanswered Questions

 * What exactly is the true nature of SYSTEM?
 * What occurs when Accelerator achieves SYSTEM?
 * If in theory, anyone who has went through the Power Curriculum Program can gain a personal reality and therefore gain abilities, then why do level 0s exist?

Quotes

 * Komoe: "Well, Kamijou-chan has been a bit of a naught boy since he enrolled. A lot of things happened... A lot." -said to Index, regarding Touma.
 * Mikoto: "That's not possible. I've met Accelerator face-to-face only once. But I could tell. A battle with him wouldn't even be called a match. A battle, to him, is just a one-way road of slaughtering his opponent."-said to Touma, regarding Accelerator.
 * Accelerator: "Strongest, eh? Well, how do you people know that? Because they actually fought me and lost, right? In other words, my strength is only at the level of 'fun' or 'let's try picking a fight with him... I don't like that, got it? Not a single bit. That kind of strongest is completely worthless! I strive for something beyond that, that challenging me would be the most ridiculous thought ever, that fighting me would be a sin. I strive for that 'absolute' nature!"-Accelerator answering Misaka 10032's question on why he participating in the experiment.
 * Mikoto: "I know, okay? I won't be able to do anything even if I go there. But, you think I can just stand here?
 * Misaka 10032: ""Misaka doubts her own mental status. For a clone that has as many replacements as desire, what are you trying to do for Misaka?" asks Misaka once again."-said to Touma.
 * Touma: "Shut up. Like I care about all those little details. I am standing here to save you. There's only one of you in this world, isn't there?! Don't be dying on me like that, okay? I have plenty of things I want to give you an earful on, okay? So I'm going to save you now."-said to Misaka 10032.