Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S Episode 15

Tōma Kamijō (最弱 (かみじょうとうま)) is the fifteenth episode for the second season of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun anime adaption and the 39th episode of the series overall. It was first broadcasted on July 19, 2013. The screenplay was written by Sunayama Kurasumi, storyboarded by Iwataki Satoshi, and directed by Sakurabi Katsushi. The animation was co-directed by Ishii Tetsuya, Sakai Satoshi, Motomura Kouichi, and Kabashima Yousuke.

All things that begins must come to an end, as must the experiment. To do so, one must not hesitate to choose death―. Mikoto, who was determined to do so, is stopped by Touma who ends up being hurt. And, in order to achieve his dream of "a happy ending where everyone is laughing," he runs to where the experiment is and where Misaka Imouto lies.

Waiting there is the strongest Level 5 in Academy City, the Accelerator. Disregarding the limits of his body, Kamijou Touma, the "weakest," confronts Accelerator, the "strongest." Charging towards him with only his bare fist to attack...

A little while later, Mikoto finally arrives at the field of battle where Touma is, and finds a surprising sight to behold―!

Synopsis
Kamijou Touma is on the run, and he is slowly feeling the effects of being knocked around by Mikoto during their encounter on A Certain Iron Railway Bridge. However, Touma suspects that his clattering knees are actually the fear of facing Accelerator by himself. Rejecting this notion, Touma toughens up his knees and plans to push on.

Then, as he checks the time on a nearby digital display, to his shock, he realizes that his phone had stalled due to the electric attacks Touma received earlier. It is now 8:34 in the evening, four minutes into the 10,032nd experiment.

Meanwhile, Touma recognizes a voice nearby, the voice of a girl who often bickers when he is around... who keeps her problems to herself... and is ready to die for her "sisters".

As that girl's pleas for help resound in his head, Touma clenches his right hand once more.

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.
 * The switchyard is destroyed, and a noticeable sudden storm appears over Academy City due to the ensuing battle.

Adapted from

 * Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 035
 * Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 036
 * Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 037
 * Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 03

Characters

 * Kamijou Touma
 * Accelerator
 * Misaka 10032
 * Misaka Mikoto
 * Misaka 10032's cat
 * Misaka 9982 (flashback only)
 * Misaka 10031 (flashback only)
 * Other Misaka clones

New Characters
No new characters were introduced during this episode.

Locations

 * Academy City
 * School District 7
 * A Certain Iron Railway Bridge
 * Accelerator Residence (flashback only)

New Locations

 * School District 17

Abilities

 * Accelerator (ability) - Accelerator, Level 5.
 * Wind control and plasma creation (new application of ability)
 * Imagine Breaker - Kamijou Touma, Level 0
 * Railgun - Misaka Mikoto, Level 5 (not applied)
 * Radio Noise - Sisters, Level 2-3

New Abilities
No new abilities were introduced during this episode.

Trivia

 * Despite being the protagonist of Toaru Majutsu no Index, this marks the first time Touma's name is used as a title for an episode.
 * Touma's phone is changed back to the regular fliphone he uses.
 * The Imagine Breaker sound effect adds a new "glass breaking" sound after the initial high-pitch sound indicative of Touma negating something is played.

Referbacks

 * Although the fliphone survives Mikoto's onslaught from the previous episode, it is still affected by its electricity, as shown when Touma is surprised by the fact that time has not moved since he first checked the phone.
 * Mikoto references her meeting the black cat back in episode 5.
 * Wind turbines moving on its own due to electromagnetism is a reference to episodes 13 and 14, where Mikoto's electromagnetic field inadvertently turn the wind turbines.

Cultural References

 * 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

 * Scenes from episode episode 5, episode 6, episode 12, episode 13, and episode 14 are reused for flashback sequences during this episode.
 * After the dust explosion that Accelerator initiated during the fight, fires begin erupting in the switchyard. After regaining consciousness after being knocked out briefly by Touma's punch, the fires are completely gone. This may indicate that the fire has snuffed itself out after quickly consuming all the oxygen it could in the windless night.
 * The second time Touma punches Accelerator resembles his Finishing Move animation sequence featured in Toaru Majutsu no Index (PSP game) barring the dragon.

Unanswered Questions
There are no questions regarding this episode.

Quotes

 * Accelerator: "Does that mean I have to silence whoever knows that secret? Like in every movie ever?"—Accelerator's censuring message to Misaka 10032 upon discovering someone unrelated in the experiments appear in the battlefield
 * Touma: "I said, get away from Misaka Imouto this instant! Did ya hear me, you friggin wimp?!"—Touma's urging remark to Accelerator upon seeing his foot pressed on Misaka 10032's head
 * Touma: "I don't give a damn about you having an artificial body or an artificial mind. I'm here to save you, the only you in this world. I have a lot to complain about to you too, so don't die on me."—The message Touma left to Misaka 10032 before confronting Accelerator again
 * Accelerator: "I don't like him. I've met plenty of retards who thought they could take my title of the strongest. They all knew how retarded they were after I'd blown off one of their arms or legs. Their faces full of regret and fear. But this guy..."—regarding Touma.
 * Accelerator: "Choose whichever hand you'd like. The hand you choose will be the one I use to reverse your blood flow and bioelectric current, thus killing you. So, which side do you want? Right? Left? Both?!"—to Touma.
 * Touma: "You got involved with something you shouldn't have. The Sisters are doing the best they can to live. They're doing everything they possibly can to live! Why the hell do they have to be fodder for someone like you?"—to Accelerator.
 * Accelerator: "I need power. Power to shut him up. No. Power to control all rules and reason. Absolute power!"—Said by Accelerator as he takes control of the winds of Academy City.
 * Mikoto: "I know I'm asking for the impossible, ,and I know how cruel it is to even ask. But... there's something I want you to do. No, it's something only you can do! (Why? Why am I so weak?! I... can't protect everyone... I'm Tokiwadai's ace. One of the only seven Level 5's on Earth. Yet I can't do a thing... I can't heal this girl's wounds. I can't defeat Accelerator. I can't even make his dream come true!) So please! I beg you! Protect his dream!"—Said to Misaka 10032. Parenthesis refers to her internal monologue.
 * Misaka 10032: "I... do not... understand. I don't understand what you're saying, but... for some reason... those words... rang in my heart."—10032's words as she regains consciousness and holds the Original's hands for the first time