Toaru Majutsu no Index II Episode 18

"Serial Number" is the eighteenth episode of the second season of the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime adaption, and the forty-second episode overall. It was first aired on February 11, 2011.

Synopsis
Meanwhile, Accelerator arrives at the underground mall, and stumbles upon a nun sprawled across the sidewalk, pleading for food. Accelerator takes her to a nearby fastfood chain and there, the nun introduces herself as Index after satisfying her hunger. He takes the time to ask about Last Order, but Index admits to not having seen her, although she is certain she will remember her face.

Touma, back at the underground mall, talks to Last Order, who appears to be unimpressed at how puzzled he is to her role in the SISTERS Network. Touma also struggles to please Last Order, who unlike Index is not easily contented by food. Accelerator also seems to struggle as well, as Index's incessant talking easily wears through Accelerator's already short patience.

6:00 soon arrives, and Last Order declares that she should go home soon, much to her disappointment. She admits to have enjoyed on her time with Touma, though she also admits that she does not want a certain person to be worried for her. Touma thinks that Last Order has a nice companion, but the little MISAKA Clone tells him that he is weak, to the point that his own hands get worn out when trying to help others.

As Index and Accelerator arrive inside the underground mall, Touma and Accelerator wait as they swap companions. As Last Order is scolded at by Accelerator, Touma listens to Index as she tells him who rescued her...

...but as if Fate is teasing Index, she failed to thank the one who helped her through the crowd.

Adapted From

 * Between the Lines 1-2, Chapter 3 (including Between the Lines 3), & Chapter 4

Major Events

 * Kamijou Touma buys Misaka 10032 a necklace.
 * Kazakiri Hyouka manifests herself.
 * Touma meets Last Order for the first time.
 * Mikoto, Misaka 10032 and Last Order meet together, with Mikoto and Last Order meeting for the first time.
 * Accelerator meets Index for the first time.

Characters
By order of appearance
 * Laura Stuart
 * Stiyl Magnus
 * Kanzaki Kaori
 * Orsola Aquinas
 * Angelene
 * Lucia
 * Agnese Sanctis
 * Sherry Cromwell
 * Kamijou Touma
 * Misaka Mikoto
 * Misaka 10032
 * Misaka clones
 * Misaka 13577 (flashback only)
 * Misaka 10039 (flashback only)
 * Misaka 19090
 * Last Order
 * Accelerator
 * Yomikawa Aiho
 * Yoshikawa Kikyou
 * Kazakiri Hyouka

New Characters
No new characters were introduced during this episode.

Abilities

 * Fire magic - Stiyl Magnus
 * Electromaster (Radio Noise-variant) - Misaka 10032, Level 2
 * Electromaster (Railgun-variant) - Misaka Mikoto, Level 5
 * Imagine Breaker - Kamijou Touma

Locations

 * Anglican Church Women's Dormitory
 * Academy City
 * School District 7 Underground Shopping Center
 * Yomikawa Residence
 * Macronall Hamburger

New Locations

 * Lambeth Palace
 * Special Ability Institute (referenced only}

Trivia

 * A certain washing machine makes its first appearance.
 * Despite appearing in this episode, Lucia and Agnese Sanctis did not have any speaking roles during their appearance.
 * This episode marks the first time Last Order calls Accelerator by his name, as well as Accelerator calling Last Order by her name.
 * Last Order refers to herself in the first person during this episode.
 * The part where Touma and Last Order meet Tsuchimikado and Aogami is not included in this episode.

Referbacks

 * Misaka 10032 flashbacks to the previous episode where the clones talk about Misaka 19090's secrets, especially that of a ring being given by a loved one.
 * Mikoto references Touma losing to their bet during the Daihasei Festival from episode 13.
 * Last Order references Touma stopping the experiments, which was featured in episode 14 of the first season.
 * Several episodes from the previous season are used as flashbacks by Accelerator, most notably episode 19 and 20.

Cultural References

 * Last Order references the Grateful Crane.

Animation Trivia

 * Near the end of the episode, several background characters featured before and after Index and Last Order's exchange, change positions a few times, particularly a group of background characters that were in front of Accelerator are later seen behind him.

Quotes

 * Touma:"I don't get it.I don't get it,but...Such misfortune."
 * Last Order:"He's weak...He's been hurt so much that not only was he unable to protect what he held in his hands,but he even wore them out in the process.That's why I don't want to strain him anymore.This time MISAKA will be the one who protects him!say MISAKA as MISAKA tries an honest declaration."