Toaru Majutsu no Index Episode 12

"Level 6" is the 12th episode of the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime series. It was first broadcasted on December 21, 2008, with the script written by Nishizono Satoru, the episode storyboarded by Nishikiori Hiroshi, and directed by.

They are clones of Misaka Mikoto, Misaka Imouto says that they are being killed as part of an "experiment". Girls, which are called Sisters, have been carrying out experiments in the city, and Touma tries to verify this by visiting Mikoto's room. Here, Touma discovers that she has been involved in several "incidents" and have been keep track. The experiment that is being done with the Misaka clones was to achieve the unprecedented Level 6 from Level 5, and the only person who can achieve that is the Accelerator, the strongest esper in Academy City. Mikoto is determined to stop Accelerator from continuing the experiment. Her plan is to offer herself as a sacrifice as penance for providing her DNA map in the past that had resulted in the experiment. However, Touma blocks her path.

Synopsis
The episode begins in the Tsukuyomi Residence. Here, we see Komoe, Aisa and Index enjoying a yakiniku dinner. Komoe wants to confirm from Index if she wants to know what an esper ability is, to which Index confirms. Komoe starts her explanation that it is similar to Schrödinger's Theory, Komoe explains that he was a quantum physicist that made the famous Schrödinger’s cat experiment. To demonstrate his theory to Index, Komoe uses a box, and asks Index what's inside the box. Index answers that the box contains chocolate, as the box she is holding is of course a box for chocolates. Komoe replies that Index is incorrect as candyballs are the contents of the box; this annoys Index, saying that was cheap. Komoe tries again and asks Index to guess what's inside the box. Index answers by saying that since Komoe just said that the contents of the box were candy balls, therefore what's inside the box are definitely candy balls. Komoe agrees to what Index said, but also states that there is also a possibility that she lied about the contents of the box, which upsets Index. Komoe goes on further to say that the box may contain a 50% chance of chocolate as well as a 50% chance of candy balls, until one can confirm it's contents by opening the box. Komoe opens the box which contains a single ball of chocolate. Komoe asks Index again to guess the contents of the box, to which Index replies that she already saw that there was a ball of chocolate inside the box. Komoe agrees, but only because Index saw what's inside, Komoe explains that most people would say that it's 100% chocolate. Komoe asks what if there were people that thought there was a candy ball inside instead, and believed in that possibility and got a candy ball in the end.

Komoe states that the people, who can replace normal reality with their own reality are what they call espers.

In the subconscious of Kamijou Touma, barely conscious, he retells the story on how Mikoto had no choice but to die, though she truly does not want to die and that she should as well. He asks if there is any other choice, where she does need to die. Touma tells himself to think. Touma says that to stop the experiment, he needs to make the researchers realize that nothing good will come out of the experiment. He realizes something, but before he divulges what it is, Touma falls unconscious on the ground.

Adapted From

 * Chapter 2 Part 8 & Chapter 3

Major Events

 * Mikoto uses her electric powers to attack Touma, who eventually succumbs to her, due to not using his ability to defend himself. This marks the first time Mikoto was able to hurt Touma with her powers since their meeting.

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

Abilities

 * Electromaster (Railgun-variant) - Misaka Mikoto, Level 5

Locations

 * Academy City
 * School District 7
 * Tsukuyomi Residence
 * A Certain Iron Railway Bridge

Trivia

 * The song Ame by is used as an insert song during Mikoto's flashback.
 * The concept on how espers gain powers through their personal reality is first mentioned in this episode.
 * The Academy City Board of Directors is mentioned again during this episode.

Referbacks

 * Mikoto references the Tree Diagram being destroyed by an unknown surface attack, which was actually Index and her Dragon's Breath back in episode 6.

Cultural References

 * is once again referred in the anime during this anime, here, his famous is used by Komoe to explain to Index how espers gain their powers.

Animation Trivia

 * The flashback that occurred during the beginning of the episode is reused in the later half of the episode.
 * Several frames of the scene that occurred during the first episode where Mikoto fights Touma on a bridge is reused during this episode.