Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Episode 01

Synopsis
Part of Academy City's Morals and Ethics Committee (or more popularly known as Judgment), Tokiwadai student Kuroko Shirai is chasing some thugs which she was to apprehend. She manages to reach them, but she discovers they have all been beaten up by friend and schoolmate Mikoto Misaka, much to Kuroko's disappointment.

On their way to school, Kuroko lectures to Misaka that she must not interfere with Judgment affairs and she shouldn't be picking fights. On the park, Mikoto kicks a vending machine to get a free drink, but Kuroko has to teleport both of them away when the security robots come to investigate. Mikoto and Kuroko then return to Tokiwadai Middle School for a "System Scan", the annual testing of students' Power Levels.

Kuroko's test involves teleporting a package at a specific mark, which she was off by a few centimeters. Her performance was average and so she's still a level 4. Kuroko is made fun of by Mitsuko Kongou, a second year student, who states that she'll become Level 5 before Kuroko. Suddenly a big explosion is heard from the nearby pool and this causes Mitsuko to lose her balance. It turns out that Mikoto is doing her test at the pool by shooting a Railgun using coins into the water.

After the test, Kuroko and Mikoto are taking a shower. Kuroko told Mikoto that everyone was surprise by the loud blast from her railgun. Mikoto complains that they can't even measure her ability properly without using the pool. Kuroko says her ability is something to take pride in as Ace of Tokiwadai. Meanwhile, Kuroko tries to violate Mikoto and receives a beating for her indiscretions.

At Sakugawa Middle School, Uiharu Kazari is waiting for Ruiko Saten after classes end. Ruiko does her regular, routine greeting by lifting Uiharu's skirt and see her underwear. Uiharu, a colleague of Kuroko at Judgment, is invited by Kuroko to meet up with Mikoto. Uiharu is looking forward to meeting a Level 5 and dragged Ruiko along to the meeting. At the restaurant where the meeting is to take place, Kuroko explains that Uiharu is a big fan of Mikoto's. Kuroko then tries to go over the plans for the day, but Mikoto grabs Kuroko's notepad and learns that Kuroko plans to eventually drug her and take her to a love hotel. After pinching Kuroko's cheek as punishment, Mikoto agrees to meet Uiharu. Kuroko jumps into Misaka's lap in celebration just as Uiharu and Ruiko arrive outside the restaurant.

Outside the restaurant, Uiharu and Ruiko introduce themselves to Mikoto. Uiharu and Ruiko are surprised that Mikoto is rather nice and down-to-earth instead of being haughty and arrogant like the rich socialite image they had in mind. The group pick up some flyers about a crepe shop handing out a cute Gekota (a mascot which looks like a frog with a bowtie) merchandise to the first 100 customers. Kuroko points out that Mikoto is interested in the merchandise but Mikoto tries to deny that statement. The other three girls can see that Mikoto is interested and they go to that crepe stand. Mikoto and Ruiko are standing in the line while Uiharu and Kuroko grab seats. It comes to Ruiko's turn at the stand and she happens to get the last gecko merchandise. Mikoto is disappointed, but the disappointment soon turns to happiness as Ruiko gives her the Gekota key-chain.

While the girls are enjoying eating crepes, Uiharu notices that a nearby bank has its security shutters on. An explosion occured at the bank. Kuroko tells Uiharu to contact Anti-Skill and tells Mikoto to let her handle the situation. A group of three robbers escape from the bank but they are confronted by Kuroko. Kuroko quickly trips up one of the robbers and pins the second robber, a Pyrokinesist, to the ground with some spikes, but the third robber manages to run off. Meanwhile, Mikoto and Ruiko are helping a tour guide look for a little boy that has gone missing. Ruiko spots the little boy running into the robber and the robber tries to kidnap the boy. Ruiko runs to the boy's rescue and manages to grab the boy, however, she gets kicked in the face.

Mikoto is angered after witnessing the incident and tells Kuroko she will stop the robber from escaping. The robber gets in his vehicle and charges right at Mikoto. Mikoto sends the car flying using her Railgun. The robbers are eventually taken away by the Anti-Skill. Ruiko gets thanked by the tour guide, the little boy's mother, and Mikoto compliments on her bravery.

Adapted From
To Aru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 8 (Prologue - Chapter 1; Part 1).

Refer-backs
References to previous episodes, possibly from Index (based on timeline).

Trivia
The title of this episode is the general term used by Academy City for Power Users whose abilities are focused on electricity. It is also read as "電撃使い (Dengeki Tsukai)" or "Electric Power User".

New Characters

 * Mikoto Misaka - a Level 5 Power User whose abilities are focused on electricity and magnetism. Despite belonging to the elite students in her school, she develops a more down-to-earth personality.
 * Kuroko Shirai - a Level 4 Power User with the ability to teleport herself or other objects. She is close friends with Mikoto, though she sometimes portrays her "friendship" to her in unusual ways. She also works with Judgment, one Academy City's peace and order groups.
 * Ruiko Saten - a Level 0 student from Sakugawa Middle School. She is cheerful and lively most of the time, and becomes friends with Mikoto quite easily.
 * Uiharu Kazari - Ruiko's friend and classmate and always a victim of her skirt-flipping greeting. She is more quiet than Ruiko. She is a Level 1 Power User and a member of Judgment.
 * Mitsuko Kongou - a transferee to Tokiwadai Middle School. She is proud of herself most of the time and possesses the attitude of an "ojou-sama", much to the annoyance of Kuroko. She is a Level 4 Power User.

New Abilities

 * Railgun - Misaka's signature ability. It fires a coin using electromagnetic force, causing it to travel at blinding speed and destructive capability.
 * Instant Teleportation - Kuroko's ability. It allows her to teleport herself and any object she touches.
 * Pyrokinesis - it is the ability for a person to generate fire by using the mind.

Cultural References
"easter eggs"