Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator Episode 04

Third Number (擬似魂喚・禍斗 (サードナンバー) )​​ is the fourth episode of the Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator anime series. It was broadcast on August 2nd 2019, and was directed and storyboarded by Takagi Hiroaki, and the script written by Takagi Noboru.

Adapted From

 * Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator Manga Chapter 004
 * Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator Manga Chapter 005
 * Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator Manga Chapter 006
 * Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator Manga Chapter 007

Major Events

 * As Accelerator and Esther Rosenthal face the two DA members, the Huotou placed into Hitokawa Hasami's body activates and takes action to eliminate the threat to its master, breaking the enemy's weapon. Accelerator takes out one of them but when his wound reopens, the other takes the opportunity to escape. While fleeing, he gets into a fight with Misaka 10046 and captures her.
 * DA backer and board member Nakimoto Rizou decides the group is becoming a liability and dispatches Scavenger to purge them. Previously concealed information on DA also becomes accessible to Anti-Skill.
 * Having secretly advised Nakimoto, Hishigata Mikihiko asks the other DA members for the captured Sister, claiming it is for the sake of their 'justice' and intending to use her for his own purposes.
 * After having his wound fixed by Heaven Canceller, Accelerator learns that a Sister has been abducted and that Esther has gone after them, and receives information from Yoshikawa Kikyou on DA.

Characters
By order of appearance:
 * Hitokawa Hasami (Huotou)
 * Accelerator
 * Esther Rosenthal
 * Mogari Takumi
 * Manabe Ritsuki
 * Itou
 * Takahashi
 * Yomikawa Aiho
 * Heaven Canceller
 * Hishigata Mikihiko
 * Last Order
 * Yoshikawa Kikyou

New Characters

 * Misaka 10046
 * Uiharu Kazari
 * Saten Ruiko
 * Nakimoto Rizou
 * Scavenger Liaison
 * Leader
 * Naru
 * Yakumaru
 * Seike

Abilities

 * Accelerator (ability)  - Accelerator, Level 5
 * Radio Noise - Misaka 10046, Level 2-3

New Abilities

 * Predator - Leader, Level 3

Locations

 * Academy City
 * School District 7
 * Heaven Canceller's Hospital

New Locations

 * Nakimoto Rizou's train (passing through the underground of School District 7)

Referbacks

 * Accelerator trying to use a person's biolectricity and blood flow on the DA member is a callback to the way he killed Misaka 10031.
 * When his wound reopens as a result of his actions, Accelerator again recalls the moment when he was shot in the head by Amai Ao.

Cultural References

 * Huotou calls Esther "", which means "master" or "lord" in Hebrew. Traditionally it is used to refer to God in prayer in place of His name in reverence for the holiness of His name.
 * More codenames derived from breeds of and used by members of DA are shown, specifically, ,  and.

Differences in Adaptation

 * Saten Ruiko and Uiharu Kazari's cameo is expanded, recreating the scene where they are first introduced in episode 1 of Toaru Kagaku no Railgun.
 * Hishigata's conversation with Nakimoto Rizou didn't occur in the manga.
 * When the Scavengers are woken, they are instead wearing a leotard plus thighhigh socks combination instead of straightjackets.

Animation Trivia

 * A new version of the opening theme used in this episode.

Unanswered Questions

 * Why does Hishigata want Misaka 10046?