Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Episode 12

"AIM Burst" (AIM バースト) is the twelfth episode of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun anime series. It was first broadcasted on December 18, 2009.

Synopsis
In that marvellous sunset city of steel and glass, four friends reunite.

Adapted From

 * Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 015
 * Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 016

Major Events

 * The AIM Burst is destroyed and all the unconscious Level Upper users regain consciousness.
 * Harumi is arrested on several charges by Anti-Skill, including assault and destruction of public property.

Characters

 * Kiyama Harumi
 * Uiharu Kazari
 * Misaka Mikoto
 * Konori Mii
 * Shirai Kuroko
 * Kaitabi Hatsuya
 * Koujun Kikuhiko
 * Saten Ruiko
 * Yomikawa Aiho
 * Tessou Tsuzuri
 * Okahara Ryouta

New Characters

 * Mugino Shizuri (unnamed)
 * Frenda Seivelun (unnamed)
 * Kinuhata Saiai (unnamed)
 * Takitsubo Rikou (unnamed)
 * Therestina Kihara Lifeline (unnamed)

Abilities

 * Electromaster - Misaka Mikoto, Level 5.
 * Iron sand attack
 * Railgun

New Abilities

 * Metamorphose - (referenced)
 * AIM Burst

Locations

 * Academy City
 * Judgment 177 Branch Office
 * Mizuho Medical Institute
 * Joseph's Coffee and Restaurant (other branch)
 * Heaven Canceller's Hospital

New Locations
No new locations were introduced during this episode.

Trivia

 * All references of Harumi attempting suicide from the original manga are removed.
 * The scene where ITEM is shown, removes their conversation about wanting find a pool from the original manga.
 * The soundtrack, Gensou Koroshi, Kamijou Touma's theme song, is played during Uiharu's attempts to get up the stairwell.
 * The opening theme only my railgun is used as an insert song during Mikoto's final attack against the AIM Burst.
 * This marks the first actual appearance of HsPS-15 (Large Weapon) in the anime series, as well as MAR.
 * All references of Harumi getting the idea of the Brainwave network from Radio Noise are removed.
 * The song SMILE -You & Me- plays as the ending theme for this episode.
 * Therestina is named in the credits alongside her seiyuu, despite being unnamed in the episode itself.

Cultural References

 * Mikoto references "", literally meaning "Strange beast movie," a type of film featuring giant monsters or a single monster.

Referbacks
No notable references were introduced during this episode.

Animation Trivia

 * At least 30 seconds of footage from the final moments of the previous episode are used as the recap sequence during this episode.
 * Stills from episode 1, 9, 7, and 10 of music players are used during Harumi's explanation on how the AIM Burst works.
 * The scene from the previous episode where Banri says she trusts in Harumi is used briefly as a flashback.

Unanswered Questions

 * Is it possible for something like the AIM Burst to appear again?
 * Who is the red-haired woman in glasses?
 * How is Kiyama Harumi able to save those kids if she is in prison?

Quotes

 * Mii: "Have some faith in Misaka-san. She'll definitely..."―To Kuroko.
 * Ryouta: "I was supposed to fulfill my dream in this city... My dream of becoming an esper... But... My dream was nothing but a dream."
 * Hatsuya: "No matter how hard I work in this city, a wall called "ability" keeps getting in the way. That miserable life, being stepped on... Everyone just pretending they didn't see it... That's why..."
 * Kikuhiko: "That's why... All I can do is obtain one. All I can do is obtain one, no matter what it takes!"
 * Uiharu: "I believe in you!"―To Harumi.
 * Harumi: "Seriously... It's bothers me when people are so trusting without evidence."
 * Uiharu: "Thank goodness it didn't break. I have to hurry... or it'll be too late... I'm part of Judgment too, after all! For everyone... For Saten-san..."
 * Mikoto: "You might not care, but what about those kids of yours? When they wake up, isn't it your face they'll be looking for? If you don't throw your life away, I'll help you. Don't give up so easily. Also... I didn't get dragged into this. I decided to get involved... myself!"―To Harumi.
 * Mikoto: "I'm sorry... I didn't notice. You just wanted to do your best. Yeah... But you know... why not just try hard again? Quit moping around here. Stop lying to yourself... and once more!"―To AIM Burst.
 * Harumi: "I'm not giving up on them, of course. I'll start over once more, whether I'm in prison or at the ends of the earth... I'll always have my brain, after all. However... I'll still do anything it takes. If you don't like that, you can come stop me again."―To Mikoto.
 * Saten: "I'm sorry... I got you involved in something dumb... I kept secrets from you... and made you go through all this... Only a little bit more, and I might have lost something far more important than powers..."―To Uiharu.
 * Saten: "Oh yeah... I almost forgot. I'm back!"―To Uiharu.
 * Kuroko: "That kindness is just like you."―To Mikoto.