Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S Episode 11

"Vending Machine" (自動販売機) is the eleventh episode for the second season of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun series. It was first broadcasted on June 21, 2013. Its screenplay was written by Sunayama Kurasumi, storyboarded by Nagai Tatsuyuki, and directed by Ishii Kazuhiko. The animation of the episode was co-directed by Komatsubara Sei, Ishii Tetsuya, and Taniguchi Motohiro.

The research institutes that have been doing the "experiment" have been shutdown after the efforts of a certain person. After a long and lonely night, Misaka Mikoto finally returns to her everyday life. There, however, a spiky-haired boy appears before her, Kamijou Touma.

But a quarrel is an assurance with the two of them, as Touma seemingly does not remember her leading to Mikoto to become infuriated. Withal, the fuss is made much worse as the yearnful kouhai Shirai Kuroko appears.

Same old same old. Mikoto tries to relieve herself of this every day life of hers, but suddenly, a "Sister" appears before her, who tells her that the experiment is still ongoing, much to Mikoto's shock. Appalled by this revelation, Mikoto is forced to confront this naked truth before her!

Major events

 * Touma is officially reintroduced to Misaka Mikoto after losing his memories.
 * Shirai Kuroko meets Kamijou Touma.
 * Kamijou Touma and Misaka Mikoto meets Misaka 10031. Touma would later meet Misaka 10032.
 * Misaka Mikoto discovers that the experiments persist.
 * Amai Ao angrily complains about the splitting of funds of the project.
 * Mikoto opts to do something that would be fundametally detrimental to Academy City.

Adapted From

 * Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 031
 * Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 032
 * Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 037
 * Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 03

Characters

 * Misaka Mikoto
 * Kamijou Touma
 * Shirai Kuroko
 * Uiharu Kazari
 * Saten Ruiko
 * Keitz Nokleben
 * Accelerator

New Characters

 * Misaka 10031
 * Misaka 10032
 * Amai Ao

Locations

 * Academy City
 * School District 7
 * Vending Machine 7116
 * Tokiwadai Dormitory

New locations

 * Accelerator Residence (flashback)

Abilities

 * Electromaster - Misaka Mikoto, Level 5.
 * Imagine Breaker - Kamijou Touma, Level 0.
 * Teleport - Shirai Kuroko, Level 4.

New Abilities
No new abilities were introduced in this episode

Trivia

 * Despite their meeting in episode 19 of the first season of Railgun, Touma does not remember Mikoto.
 * The song, stand still by Yuka Iguchi, Index's seiyuu, replaces Grow Slowly as the ending theme during this episode.
 * Misaka 10032 arriving to aid Kamijou Touma with the beverage can is taken from the 3rd light novel volume, likewise is Accelerator's chewing a clone's finger, though that one was taken just before his confrontation with Misaka 10032 in the switchyard. For coverage on the confusion between Misaka 10031 and Misaka 10032, please visit Misaka 10031–10032 confusion page.

Referbacks

 * Mikoto and Touma's first meeting is referenced by Mikoto, as well as their fight in episode 04 in the artificial riverbank.
 * Misaka 10031 recalls through the Misaka Network the cat that Mikoto has taken a liking to back in episode 5.

Cultural References
No notable culture references were introduced during this episode.

Animation Trivia

 * Nearly the entire flashback of Touma's first meeting with Mikoto in episode 04 of the first season of Railgun is reused in the beginning of the episode.
 * After Accelerator spits the clone's finger on the ground, it is closed upon but it is censored in the television broadcast.
 * Scenes from episode 5 and 6 are once again reused for this episode.

Unanswered Questions

 * How involved is the board of directors in the Level 6 Shift Experiment?
 * Now that the experiments have started again, how will Misaka attempt to stop them from here on out?
 * What is the reason that Accelerator wasn't satisfied with being the strongest esper in Academy City and instead wanted to be a level 6?
 * Will Misaka Mikoto talk to the clones again, or will they avoid her?

Quotes

 * Touma: "What's with her?"―said to Mikoto.
 * Mikoto: "I told you... My name is Misaka Mikoto, damn it!"―said to Touma as a response to the above question.
 * Mikoto: "Chaser!"
 * Ruiko: "I've tried to avoid this conclusion, but... it has to be a man's doing!"―said to Kuroko and Kazari regarding Mikoto's strange behavior as of late.
 * Ruiko: "Misaka-san's the type who wants to be treated like a normal girl."―said to Kazari on Mikoto's preferred type of man.
 * Kuroko: "My name is Shirai Kuroko; I serve as Onee-sama's herald and lifelong partner. As you seem to be an acquaintance of hers, I must introduce myself."―said to Touma.
 * Mikoto: "What should I do? What can I do?"―regarding on how to stop the still-running Level 6 Shift.
 * Mikoto: "Stop! Stop... The way you speak and the way you look... Don't show yourself like that in front of me!"―to Misaka 10031 after being overwhelmed by despair.
 * Mikoto: "I'm so stupid. How didn't I realize it before? Academy City's constantly under surveillance by cameras and satellites. If there are any inhumane experiments regularly carried out in broad daylight in this city, then the upper echelons of the city leadership must be aware of it. That means... that Academy City as a whole... is my enemy?"
 * Agent: "You're right. You really are the strongest esper. But what has being the strongest done for your life? Not much, has it? But what if you achieved an absolute power, beyond that of the strongest? That'd make some changes in your life."―to Accelerator in a flashback tempting him to join the Level 6 Shift Project.
 * Kuroko: ",I've no idea why you would even ask such a question. However, if someone were to threaten the peace of this city, be it you or anyone else, my duty remains the same."―to Mikoto after she asked a hypothetical question on what she will do if she caused harm to the City.