Toaru Majutsu no Index Episode 13

"Accelerator" is the 13th episode of the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime series. It was first broadcasted on December 28, 2008, with the script written by Nishizono Satoru, the episode storyboarded by Komino Mashiko, and directed by Takashima Daisuke.

Mikoto wants to help the Sisters at the expense of her own life, but Touma blocks her way. She pours her lightning power mercilessly into Touma's body, but he doesn't even try to use his right hand. Mikoto asks him why he would go so far, to which the fallen Touma replies with surprising words. The major premise of the experiment that the Tree Diagram calculated was that Accelerator is the strongest in Academy City. To stop the experiment, Touma concludes that he must beat Accelerator. Mikoto tries to persuade Touma that it is impossible to win against someone who can face a military alone while smiling. But Touma tries to pry out the whereabouts of Accelerator from her. At the same time as this, Misaka Imouto's battle with Accelerator is about to begin in the switchyard.

Synopsis
A young girl wearing the Tokiwadai Middle uniform is walking the streets of Academy City alone, during a windless evening. The scene cuts to a seemingly empty railway cargo holding area, where we see the girl walking into the area. She stops and starts reciting her current coordinates as well as the time. The girl calls herself test material 10032, Misaka 10032. She then recites on how the purpose of the test is to develop maneuvers for battles where 'reflection' cannot be used, Accelerator's Reflection. The scene suddenly cuts to a flashback of Touma asking who she is and what she is doing, but the scene quickly returns to the present, where Misaka 10032 says she does not know and does not understand Touma. She looks up and asks herself why she is recalling his face at such a time.

Adapted From

 * Chapter 2 Part 8 & Chapter 4 Parts 1-6

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.

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

Abilities

 * Electromaster (Radio Noise-variant) - Misaka 10032, Level 3
 * Accelerator (Ability) - Accelerator, Level 5
 * Imagine Breaker - Kamijou Touma

Locations

 * Academy City
 * District 7
 * A Certain Iron Railway Bridge

New Locations

 * District 17
 * Switchyard

Trivia

 * RSPK Syndrome is mentioned and explained by Komoe during this episode, as well as the Power Curriculum Program.
 * SYSTEM is mentioned during this episode by Komoe as well, and is referred to by Accelerator. In actuality, the experiment for clones to be killed by Accelerator is so he can reach SYSTEM, also known as level 6.
 * Misaka makes a pun on Accelerator's name, One-way road, which is the literal translation of Accelerator's name in kanji.

Referbacks

 * The style on how to drink coffee milk in a bathhouse that Komoe showed Index back in episode 3, is applied during this episode by Komoe, Index and Aisa.
 * The night being windless that was mentioned by Touma back in episode 11, is referenced and used to their advantage by both Misaka 10032 and Accelerator.

Cultural References

 * is produced naturally in the earth's stratosphere, where the resides, which absorbs ultraviolet light that is potentially damaging to life on earth. Ozone can also be produced by electrical discharge, as what Misaka 10032 did.
 * A 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

 * The glass breaking animation that is played before the second half of anime starts, is delayed for a few seconds before finishing. The accompanying sound where the Toaru Majutsu no Index logo is displayed after the animation was removed as well.
 * Accelerator does a midair somersault during his battle with Misaka 10032.