A Certain Scientific Railgun T

TV-Series

Description

"A Certain Scientific Railgun T" is the third season of the "A Certain Scientific Railgun" anime series, which is part of the larger "Toaru" franchise. The story is set in Academy City, a technologically advanced metropolis where students develop supernatural abilities known as "espers." The protagonist, Mikoto Misaka, is a Level 5 esper with the ability to manipulate electricity, earning her the nickname "Railgun." The narrative explores her involvement in various conflicts and mysteries within the city, often intersecting with the darker aspects of its scientific experiments.

The season begins with Mikoto and her friends—Kuroko Shirai, Kazari Uiharu, and Ruiko Saten—participating in the Daihasei Festival, a large-scale event showcasing esper abilities. During the festival, Mikoto encounters a mysterious girl named Misaki Shokuhou, another Level 5 esper with the power of mental manipulation. Their interactions reveal underlying tensions and a shared history tied to Academy City's secretive projects. Meanwhile, a new threat emerges in the form of a rogue group attempting to exploit the festival for their own agenda, leading to a series of escalating confrontations.

As the story progresses, Mikoto becomes entangled in a deeper conspiracy involving the "Dream Ranker" project, an experiment that manipulates human consciousness. This arc introduces new characters, such as the enigmatic Dolly, who is connected to Mikoto's past and the cloning experiments that produced the "Sisters," a recurring element from earlier seasons. The narrative delves into themes of identity, morality, and the ethical implications of scientific advancement, as Mikoto grapples with her role in the city's experiments and her desire to protect those she cares about.

The season also features significant character development for Mikoto and her friends, particularly Kuroko, whose loyalty and determination are tested as she confronts her own limitations. The action sequences are interspersed with moments of camaraderie and humor, balancing the darker elements of the plot. The final arc focuses on a high-stakes battle against a powerful antagonist, culminating in a resolution that reinforces Mikoto's resolve to challenge the injustices within Academy City.

Overall, "A Certain Scientific Railgun T" continues to expand the world of Academy City while maintaining a focus on Mikoto Misaka's personal journey. The season blends action, mystery, and emotional depth, offering a compelling continuation of the series' exploration of its central themes and characters.

Information

A Certain Scientific Railgun T

とある科学の超電磁砲第3期

A Certain Scientific Railgun

Type: TV-Series

Anime Episodes: 25

Movie/Episode length: 24 min.

Date: 01/10/2020

Official Website:とある科学の超電磁砲第3期アニメ公式サイト

Tags

Ecchi-free AdultYaoiPSI PowersRobots & Androids

Episodes

Staffel 1

1A Certain Scientific Railgun T

The episode opens with Academy City preparing for the Daihasei Festival, a week-long athletic competition between esper schools. The steering committee faces difficulty recruiting two of the city's seven Level 5 espers to take the athlete's oath at the opening ceremony, as Accelerator, Kakine Teitoku, and Mugino Shizuri have all declined. Mikoto Misaka visits her roommate Kuroko Shirai in the hospital, where Kuroko recovers from injuries sustained in a prior incident and laments being unable to compete. During a visit to a cake shop, Mikoto encounters Misaka 10032, one of her clones, who purchases an extra cake for her "big sister" after the shop sells out of Mikoto's desired flavor. Meanwhile, Uiharu Kazari and Saten Ruiko witness a confrontation between rival cheer squads at an outdoor stage. The seventh-ranked Level 5, Gunha Sogita, intervenes dramatically by destroying the stage with his ability, knocking the quarreling students unconscious. As Uiharu and Saten begin pulling cheerleaders from the wreckage, several overhead beams dislodged by the blast begin to fall. Mikoto arrives and destroys the falling beams with a double railgun, impressing a nearby steering committee member who recognizes her as the third-ranked Level 5. The episode reveals that the steering committee has approached multiple Level 5s without success, and a teacher notes that Mikoto's tendency to become involved in dangerous incidents might make her unsuitable for the public role. Later, Misaki Shokuhou receives her own invitation to take the pledge while meeting with Keitz Nokleben, who provides her with information about Mikoto's clones, the Sisters. The steering committee ultimately secures Shokuhou and Gunha for the ceremony, though members express doubts about their choices. The episode establishes the festival setting while introducing the major Level 5 characters and planting narrative threads regarding the Sisters and the impending competition.

2Dragon Strike (Jaw of the Dragon King)

The episode directly continues the climax of the Daihasei Festival arc, focusing on the immediate aftermath of Misaka Mikoto's uncontrolled transformation. Her rampaging form, now identified as a critical threat, creates a chaotic situation that draws in multiple parties. The conflict escalates as the AIM burst emanating from Mikoto causes widespread disruption, forcing other espers in the vicinity to contend with the fallout. Gunha Sogiita, a Level 5 esper like Mikoto, intervenes directly, attempting to physically confront and subdue her to prevent further destruction. Kamijou Touma arrives on the scene, his primary motivation being to reach Mikoto and use his right hand, the Imagine Breaker, to negate the power source causing her rampage. The turning point occurs when Kamijou successfully makes contact, dispelling the massive energy form and restoring Mikoto to her normal state. With the immediate crisis resolved, the episode shifts to the consequences. Mikoto is hospitalized, receiving a clean bill of physical health from Heaven Canceller, though the emotional weight of the events lingers. The narrative also checks in on other characters affected by the festival's conclusion, including Kongou Mitsuko, who is also shown recovering in the hospital. The episode establishes a temporary calm, setting the stage for the next story arc by introducing a new, mysterious phenomenon in Academy City involving "Indian Poker," a game that allows people to share their dreams. This new element is presented as a growing fad, subtly shifting the focus from the large-scale public event to a more personal and enigmatic trend.

3Balloon Hunter

The episode centers on the Balloon Hunter event during the Daihasei Festival, where teams compete to pop each other's balloons. The opposing school gains an early advantage through intelligence provided by MEMBER operative Yoshio Baba, who has analyzed the abilities of Tokiwadai's espers. Due to a case of mistaken identity, a Misaka Sister (Misaka 10032) participates in the event while wearing Mikoto's uniform. The Sister demonstrates formidable combat skills derived from the military experiments, allowing her to efficiently eliminate opponents despite the tactical disadvantage. Believing her to be Mikoto, Baba deploys a strategy specifically designed to counter an electromaster's abilities, culminating in the use of a robotic mosquito to inject a nanodevice. Following Tokiwadai's defeat in the event, Mikoto meets with her mother Misuzu for lunch, where she has an awkward encounter with Tōma Kamijō and Misaki Shokuhō. The Sister later succumbs to the nanodevice and collapses, with Misaki discovering her unconscious body. Concurrently, Ruiko Saten convinces Kazari Uiharu to assist in investigating rumors of a mysterious substance called Shadow Metal, introducing a secondary plot thread. The episode establishes the immediate consequence of the Sister's vulnerability, positioning her as a target for further exploitation by those operating within Academy City's dark side. Misaki's discovery of the incapacitated Sister sets the stage for her subsequent involvement in the developing conflict.

4Tampering

Following the Night Parade, the first day of the Daihasei Festival concludes. Saten continues her investigation into the Shadow Metal rumor, prompting Uiharu to analyze related online data. Uiharu discovers the original source website has been removed and, using dummy data, manages to reconstruct its contents without informing the others. Saten's search at the Kirigaoka Grounds leads to a confrontation with figures in protective gear, who are revealed to be a cleaning crew securing the area after an event. Misaka and Shirai intervene, and the situation is resolved as a misunderstanding. Meanwhile, Misaka grows increasingly concerned about the Misaka clone's disappearance. She tracks the ambulance that transported the clone to a location different from the reported hospital, uncovering discrepancies in the paramedics' accounts. Her direct questioning is interrupted by a teacher, and she is subsequently escorted to a park where she is discreetly watched by members of Shokuhō's clique. A brief opportunity to interact with Shirai, Saten, and Uiharu reveals they no longer recognize her, confirming that their memories of her have been altered. The episode establishes Shokuhō's direct intervention to isolate Misaka by removing her support network. Uiharu's secret reconstruction of the website, titled 'Auribus oculi fideliores sunt.', introduces a new element whose significance is not yet revealed but is observed by an unknown party. The central conflict shifts from the search for the clone to a confrontation between the two Level 5s, with Misaka now isolated and aware of the power wielded against her.

5Trust

Mitsuko Kongou approaches Mikoto Misaka after deducing that the individual competing in the Balloon Hunter event was not the real Mikoto but her clone, Misaka 10032. Learning from Mikoto that Misaki Shokuhou has erased her friends' memories and is involved in the clone's disappearance, Mitsuko volunteers to search for clues. Her investigation leads her to a cat that belonged to Misaka 10032, which she entrusts to her friends Kinuho Wannai and Maaya Awatsuki. The operative responsible for the initial attack on the clone, Yoshio Baba, surveils Mitsuko and lures her into a trap. Baba deploys a squad of robotic dogs to attack her, utilizing his ability to control machines remotely. Despite being a Level 4 esper with the Aero Hand ability, Mitsuko is overwhelmed by the coordinated assault and the unfamiliar combat scenario. Baba successfully strikes her with a nanodevice-loaded mosquito, which paralyzes her motor functions, leaving her helpless on the ground. He proceeds to berate her and disparage Mikoto, but Mitsuko defiantly refuses to let him speak ill of her chosen rival. At this turning point, Wannai and Awatsuki arrive at the scene, having followed the trail. They ask a passing Ruiko Saten to escort the injured Mitsuko and the cat to safety while they confront Baba. The episode concludes with Saten bringing Mitsuko to a hospital, where an anguished Mikoto discovers her ally's grievous condition. This event directly catalyzes Mikoto's decision to forcefully break free from the Shokuhou clique members detaining her, setting the stage for a direct confrontation.

6The Battle Begins

Kinuho Wannai and Maaya Awatsuki engage Yoshio Baba in combat to allow Ruiko Saten to carry the injured Mitsuko Kongou to a hospital. Baba deploys a series of robotic Great Dane drones to pursue the group, demonstrating a calculated strategy of dividing his opponents by using the promise of a nanodevice antidote as a lure. Wannai pursues Baba while Awatsuki follows a drone carrying one of the two decoy cases, showcasing their individual abilities in a tactical split. At the hospital, Mikoto Misaka spots Kongou on a stretcher and, upon discovering a homing mosquito drone in her hair, becomes determined to intervene directly, shedding the restraint shown towards Misaki Shokuhou's subordinates. The battle highlights the analytical and adaptive nature of the conflict, as Baba attempts to assess Wannai's Hydro Hand ability, noting its reliance on a limited water supply. Wannai turns the tide by revealing a concealed fourth stream of water drawn through an underground sewer, countering Baba's analysis and disabling his remaining units. Awatsuki returns and neutralizes Baba's final mosquito drone with her Float Dial ability, leading to the scientist's panicked retreat after a harsh reprimand from the two Tokiwadai students. Seeking revenge from his mobile command van, Baba deploys a large mantis-type robot, only to be tracked and confronted by a fully enraged Misaka, who effortlessly dismantles the machine. Misaka allows Baba to flee with a stern warning, citing the possibility that he might be under another's control, which preserves the immediate threat but removes him from the current conflict. The episode concludes with a scene shift to a new antagonist, a girl in purple attire, who acknowledges Baba's failure and decides to take direct action herself, setting the stage for the next phase of the arc.

7Auribus Oculi Fideliores Sunt.

The episode opens with intelligence gathered by Kinuho, Ma'aya, and Ruiko regarding the circumstances of Misaka 10032's disappearance, information relayed to Mikoto. This information is immediately contextualized by a direct confrontation with Mitori Kouzaku, who has taken Kazari Uiharu and Misuzu Misaka hostage to leverage against Mikoto. Kuroko Shirai arrives to support Mikoto, and together they face Mitori's partner, a construct of liquid metal controlled by her ability. The primary conflict is the rescue operation, which requires Mikoto to creatively use her powers to extract the hostages from Mitori's grasp. With Kazari and Misuzu safely out of immediate danger, a crucial turning point occurs when Ruiko connects a detail from Misaki Shokuhou's memories in the cat to an urban legend website she had previously investigated. Realizing Kazari must have accessed this same site before her capture, Mikoto successfully reconstructs the site's data. This investigation reveals information pointing towards Misaki Shokuhou, shifting the focus of the search for the missing Sister. Concurrently, the episode provides insight into character dynamics, showing Kuroko's renewed but initially denied interest in Mikoto following her memory loss, as well as Saten's growing suspicions about the inconsistencies in her own memories regarding Mikoto. The successful rescue of Uiharu and Misuzu, achieved through a combination of Mikoto's power and Kuroko's teleportation, serves as an immediate consequence, removing them as leverage and providing Mikoto with a vital new lead to pursue.

8Episode 8

Misaka confirms that Shokuhou is connected to the recent incidents and goes to confront her, leaving her mother in the care of Kuroko and Saten, whose memories of Misaka have been altered. Shokuhou awaits Misaka's arrival, recalling how she and her associate, Keitz Nokleben, rescued the Misaka Imouto from the laboratory where she had been infected with a nano-device. Shokuhou assures Misaka that the Imouto is safe. At the Judgement office, Kuroko informs a recovering Uiharu about the truth of her recent possession and expresses her confidence in Uiharu to continue the research she had started. Misaka deduces that Shokuhou is not working with the individuals who attacked her mother and friends. Shokuhou then briefs Misaka on the situation, revealing its connection to the Level 6 Shift project and identifying Kihara Gensei as the individual ultimately responsible. Despite her reluctance to ally with Misaka because Misaka's powers render her own Mental Out ability useless, Shokuhou agrees to let her accompany her. Upon arriving at their destination, Misaka rushes ahead but finds herself alone, briefly suspecting a trap before an out-of-breath Shokuhou catches up. The two decide to split up and search separately. Meanwhile, Kihara Gensei receives a call from Mitori KOUZAKU, the girl responsible for the attacks on Misaka's mother and friends.

9Kozaku Mitori

Mikoto Misaka and Misaki Shokuho each employ their own methods to infiltrate the headquarters of Gensei Kihara. Meanwhile, Kuroko Shirai and Kazari Uiharu investigate the girl who abducted Uiharu and Misuzu Misaka, learning her name is Mitori Kozaku and that official records list her as deceased. Ruiko Saten, unable to assist with the records search, explores an abandoned factory linked to the case, a site that once produced the liquid metal Mitori controls. Inside, Saten is captured by one of Mitori's liquid metal clones but is subsequently freed by Xochitl, a MEMBER affiliate who confronts Mitori about her unauthorized actions, forcing Mitori to retreat. Mikoto, disguised in a security uniform, rendezvouses with Misaki inside Kihara's building, where they apparently capture him. However, Misaki quickly determines the captured man is a decoy implanted with a false memory from the real Gensei Kihara. The decoy's memory reveals Kihara's true objective: an assault on the facility where Misaka 10032 is recovering. The episode concludes with an attack commencing on that very building, overseen by the scientist Keitz. The narrative advances multiple concurrent plotlines, establishing Mitori Kozaku as a central figure whose motives remain unclear, while positioning Gensei Kihara's forces for a direct strike against Misaki's base of operations.

10Clone Dolly

Approximately half of the episode is structured as an extended flashback detailing Shokuhou Misaki's childhood involvement with a cloning project at a research facility. There, she was tasked by scientists to use her Mental Out ability on a clone designated 'Dolly,' implanting false memories so that the girl would recognize Misaki as her friend, 'Mi'. The narrative implies that Dolly was a prototype Misaka clone, and the individual Dolly refers to as her friend is suggested to be a young Mitori Kozaku. The flashback concludes with Dolly's sudden and unexplained death, an event that profoundly affects Misaki. Upon returning to the present timeline, the episode reveals the true nature of 'Exterior,' which was previously described as a power booster for Misaki's abilities. Exterior is revealed to be a massive, artificially grown brain, cultivated from a piece of Misaki's own brain tissue. Its purpose was to allow any registered individual, even a non-esper, to utilize the Mental Out power. Horrified by this violation and its potential for misuse, a younger Misaki used her powers to brainwash the entire facility's staff, effectively sealing Exterior and keeping it under her sole control. As Misaki and Misaka converge on the facility housing the incapacitated Misaka 10032, Gensei Kihara executes the final stage of his plan. Having attuned himself to Exterior's wavelengths, he bypasses Misaki's mental protections and implants a virus into the Misaka Network through the comatose clone. The energy generated by this viral attack is then redirected, not to target the Misaka Network, but to forcibly induce a Level 6 shift in Misaka herself. The episode concludes with Gensei's experiment commencing as Misaka is overwhelmed by the influx of power, her body becoming the focal point of his true objective.

11Joining the Battle

Following the previous episode's cliffhanger, Kihara Gensei's takeover of the Misaka Network causes Mikoto's powers to go on a devastating rampage, launching a massive lightning strike against the Windowless Building. Kouzaku Mitori, using the power of the Exterior, manipulates this失控状态 to goad the attack, though the structure remains completely unscathed. Shokuhou Misaki intervenes to prevent Anti-Skill from engaging Mikoto directly, using her Mental Out to redirect their efforts toward a city-wide evacuation of the Daihaseisai grounds. She encounters Kamijou Touma by chance and telepathically requests his assistance in using Imagine Breaker to disconnect Mikoto from the infected Network. Kuroko, now fully aware of Kouzaku's crimes after Uiharu's investigation, resolves to pursue her personally to avenge the attack on Mikoto. Shokuhou's own pursuit of Gensei is momentarily hindered when Kouzaku's liquid metal puppet restrains her, but Kuroko arrives in time to teleport her, Keitz, and the clone to safety. Meanwhile, the seventh-ranked Level 5 Sogiita Gunha joins the confrontation with the rampaging Mikoto, teaming up with Touma to counter her uncontrolled electrical and debris-based attacks. Touma formulates a plan to reach Mikoto, with Gunha using his "Super Amazing Punch" to clear a path through the iron sand barrier. Touma discovers, however, that his right hand can only negate a small portion of the barrier momentarily, complicating the rescue effort. As these battles unfold on multiple fronts, Shokuhou finally locates and confronts Kihara Gensei directly, setting the stage for a confrontation between the two masterminds behind the current crisis.

12Exterior

This episode advances three concurrent fronts in the Daihasei Festival conflict. Kihara Gensei confronts Misaki Shokuhou directly within her school, aiming to extract the unlock code for the Exterior, a brain-mass communication device he requires to fully control Mikoto's rampage. Misaki attempts to trap Gensei using her Mental Out abilities, but he demonstrates possession of the Multiskill, a capability allowing him to employ multiple esper powers simultaneously, which neutralizes her attacks. Gensei systematically evades a multi-layered series of traps Misaki had prepared, exploiting her physical limitations and reading her mental cues to ultimately breach her defenses and obtain the limiter removal code. In a parallel narrative, Kuroko Shirai continues her pursuit of Mitori Kozaku, the individual directly manipulating Mikoto's actions. Kuroko utilizes her teleportation ability resourcefully to navigate the city and close in on her target, while receiving support from her friends Uiharu and Saten, who provide crucial backup. The episode clarifies stakes of the Level 6 Shift project, revealing that Mikoto, unlike Accelerator, is not expected to survive the evolution process stably but would instead lose her sense of self and potentially unleash destructive energy. Touma Kamijou and Sogiita Gunha manage to contain the out-of-control Mikoto temporarily by cutting off the external power feeding her meltdown, buying time for the others. The episode concludes with Misaki in a dire situation after Gensei successfully retrieves the code, establishing a cliffhanger for the next installment. Production delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic affected the broadcast schedule, though the visual quality of the episode remained consistent.

13SYSTEM (Those Who Arrive at Heaven's Will in an Only Human Body)

Kuroko Shirai's pursuit of Mitori Kōzaku leads her to the sewers beneath Academy City, where she discovers Mitori operating from a hidden base. Mitori utilizes a puppet and a hijacked broadcast drone to engage Kuroko in combat, exploiting the confined space to her advantage. A turning point occurs when Kuroko allows a thrown knife to pierce her hand, using the embedded puppet string to locate and directly assault Mitori. The ensuing physical confrontation reveals Mitori's motivation: the protection of the facility containing the remains of Dolly, the prototype for the Misaka clones and a figure of significance to both Mitori and Misaki Shokuhō. Concurrently, within the Exterior facility, Gensei Kihara believes he has outmaneuvered Shokuhō, preparing to unlock the limiter on the Misaka brain network as Mikoto Misaka's transformation reaches a critical threshold. However, Shokuhō's apparent defeat is revealed as a calculated ploy; she had previously used Mental Out on herself to swap the activation and self-destruct codes for Exterior and then erased her own memory of the act. As Gensei initiates the unlock command, he inadvertently triggers the facility's self-destruct, crippling his operation. With the external mental interference ended, Mikoto begins to regain a degree of self-awareness, but her power has escalated beyond her capacity to control it without external intervention, leaving her in a perilous state.

14Dragon Strike

Following her release from Gensei Kihara's control, Mikoto Misaka remains surrounded by dark energy and on the verge of a rampage. Tōma Kamijō, with assistance from Gunha Sogiita, confronts her to stop the destruction. Tōma uses his Imagine Breaker to negate the dark energy, but the process results in his right arm being seemingly destroyed. From the remnants of his arm, massive dragon-like serpents emerge and consume the remaining dark energy before vanishing, which finally frees Mikoto from her失控 state. In the aftermath, Mikoto visits her sister in the hospital and later apologizes to Mitsuko Kongō for involving her in the incident, though Mitsuko reassures her that she acted of her own free will. Meanwhile, in the sewers, Mitori Kōzaku is found by Misaki Shokuhō after being subdued by Kuroko Shirai. The Daihasei Festival resumes and concludes without further incident, and it is revealed that Misaki used her powers to alter the memories of those involved to protect the secret of the Exterior. The episode concludes on the final night of the festival, where Mikoto's friends Saten and Uiharu orchestrate a situation that leads to her sharing a dance with Tōma. This sequence provides a moment of relative calm and personal connection for the characters after the intense conflict.

15Promise

The episode is primarily a flashback detailing the origins of Kouzaku Mitori's deep-seated hatred for Academy City. It reveals her time as a young girl in a research facility where she was subjected to ability development. During this period, she was tasked with looking after another girl named Dolly, a clumsy and cheerful individual who was actually a clone created for experimentation. Initially apprehensive, Kouzaku developed a genuine and close friendship with Dolly, learning about her interest in the outside world, such as the sea. This bond was shattered when Kouzaku accidentally discovered the true nature of Dolly's "treatment." She found that Dolly's body was implanted with life-support systems and was being systematically poisoned with toxic chemicals to measure her endurance as an artificial being. Upon confronting a scientist and demanding the experiments stop, Kouzaku was informed that the project was authorized by the Board of Directors. She was subsequently subdued and imprisoned in solitary confinement for months. After being released from an abandoned facility, her rage against the city's ruling body solidified, driving her to launch a series of failed assassination attempts on the Board of Directors. Her path of revenge eventually led to her recruitment by Kihara Gensei, who admired the purity of her hatred and used her in his plot involving Misaka Mikoto. In the present timeline, following her defeat, a restrained Kouzaku is approached by Shokuhou Misaki. Misaki, having accessed Gensei's memories, reveals she knows Kouzaku was Dolly's friend "Mi-chan" and discloses that Dolly's memories were transferred to a sister clone who remains alive in stasis. Shokuhou frees Kouzaku, and they travel together to a secret facility. There, they are reunited with the surviving Dolly, leading to an emotional reconciliation between the three. Concurrently, the episode shows the Judgment office celebrating Kuroko's full recovery, with Mikoto noting that her friends' memories of recent dangerous events have been altered. The episode concludes with Mikoto visiting a recovering Misaka 10032 at the hospital, who expresses a strange desire to visit the seaside.

16Dream Ranker

Following a production delay, the series resumes with the start of the Dream Ranker arc, which adapts material from the original manga. The episode introduces two distinct phenomena circulating within Academy City. The first is a dream-sharing game known as "Indian Poker," where participants can experience the dreams of others by placing a card on their forehead while sleeping. The second is a mobile application that allows users to view annotated accident sites through their phone cameras and, more significantly, predicts where accidents are about to occur. Ruiko Saten is the one who comes across this app, leading her to investigate its origins. The narrative also brings Misaki Shokuhou into a direct encounter with Mikoto Misaka, as both become targets of a man claiming to be the "Dream Ranker," who implies he has created and distributed lewd dreams featuring the two Level 5s. Their shared irritation leads to a temporary, unspoken alliance to confront him, with Shokuhou's subordinate, Junko, noting their effective, if reluctant, partnership. Meanwhile, Kuroko Shirai and Kazari Uiharu encounter a disruption in their duties when an accident Kuroko attempts to prevent does not unfold as the app predicted. This discrepancy is revealed to be the work of a young elementary school boy named Shaei, who appears to be the one behind the accident prediction app and intentionally drew them into the situation. The episode focuses on establishing the initial mysteries of the arc, contrasting the potentially frivolous nature of the dream game with the more ominous implications of the accident app. It lays the groundwork for the convergence of these separate plot threads involving the main characters and various factions within the city.

17Episode 17

The episode shifts focus to Shirai Kuroko and her work with Judgment, centering on a boy named Shaei Miyama who possesses a Precognition ability. Shaei approaches Kuroko and Uiharu Kazari, explaining that his power allows him to foresee accidents, though he has been unable to prevent them from occurring. Kuroko discovers that her Teleportation ability, which operates in eleven dimensions, can interfere with the causal effects of his predictions, allowing them to work together to avert various misfortunes throughout the city. Their partnership successfully prevents several incidents, including a drowning and a series of accidents in a park. The park incident, which involves a fire caused by a vending machine malfunction and explosive plant fertilizer ampules, directly connects to the ongoing Dream Ranker narrative. The episode reveals that the ampules, injected into a sakura tree based on information obtained through Indian Poker, made the tree explosively combustible. This indicates that the dream-sharing service is being used for malicious purposes. Concurrently, Shaei overexerts his ability and collapses, leading to a hospital stay where the frog-faced doctor explains the dangers of his power usage. A flashback reveals Shaei's past inability to help others, motivating his current determination. After recovering, he rushes to the park to save a stray dog, Pero, which Kuroko and Konori Mii successfully rescue. The episode concludes with Kuroko encouraging Shaei to develop his power so they can collaborate again in the future. The timeline of this episode is concurrent with events from A Certain Magical Index II, specifically the September 30th Incident involving Vento of the Front, though only a brief television broadcast mentioning a "mass unconsciousness" references that major event.

18Bust Upper

Mikoto Misaka pursues a lead on the urban legend known as the 'Bust Upper,' a device rumored to enhance physical development, motivated by her personal insecurities. Her search brings her into an unlikely alliance with Saiai Kinuhata, a member of the ITEM squad, who misinterprets a comment about milk consumption as a similar growth method. The episode explores the function of Indian Poker cards, which are revealed to be capable of implanting skills and knowledge directly into a user's subconscious through dreams. Saten Ruiko demonstrates this phenomenon by using a card to learn trivial party tricks, highlighting both the potential and the trivial applications of the technology. Mikoto and Kinuhata's investigation leads them to a Trader possessing the specific card they seek, creating a temporary point of conflict as both aim to acquire it. During their use of Indian Poker cards, the pair experience a series of dreams that feature cameos from various characters across the science side of the franchise, including Kikyou Yoshikawa, Maika Tsuchimikado, and Megumi Kirifu. Some of these dream sequences were altered from the original manga, such as the inclusion of Rakko Yumiya and Megumi Kirifu at the request of the manga artist and series composer. A parallel storyline shows a crow dropping an Indian Poker card, which is later found by another girl, who is then seen in the final scene with a noticeably changed figure, confirming the Bust Upper's tangible effect. The episode establishes the Indian Poker cards as a significant plot device with potentially wide-ranging implications for Academy City. The convergence of Mikoto and Kinuhata's goals sets the stage for continued interaction between the two as the investigation into the cards deepens.

19Strange Coincidence

The episode follows Saten Ruiko as she goes grocery shopping, where she encounters Frenda Seivelun, a girl desperate to purchase the last cans of mackerel. After Frenda accidentally destroys one can with her explosive abilities, Saten invites her home for a meal of mackerel curry. The two develop an unlikely friendship, communicating regularly through instant messaging. During one exchange, Saten sends a message about acquiring an Indian Poker card from a chopsticks expert, boasting about her new purchase. This message is intercepted by Banka Yobou, a member of the dark-side organization SCHOOL, who is searching for information about an experimental nanoparticle manipulator codenamed "Tweezers". Yobou identifies Saten's message as a potential lead and dispatches operatives to abduct her. Frenda witnesses the kidnapping and, recognizing the abductors as professional operatives, contacts her associate Hamazura Shiage for assistance. She tracks the van using a device planted on one of the captors and intercepts the vehicle with explosives. After subduing the kidnappers, Frenda rescues Saten and they flee into a shopping district. Meanwhile, Yobou successfully infiltrates a research facility and uses his psychometry ability to duplicate the contents of a secured Indian Poker card containing the Tweezers data. SCHOOL dispatches Rakko Yumiya, a sniper introduced in a previous episode, to pursue Frenda and recapture Saten. Yumiya tracks the pair through a crowded area by following the scent of blood on Frenda's clothing. From a concealed position, she fires a silent shot that strikes Frenda in the shoulder, concluding the episode on a cliffhanger. The events of this episode occur concurrently with the narrative focus on other characters in episodes 17 and 18.

20Ha Det Bra

Rakko Yumiya of SCHOOL continues her pursuit of a wounded Frenda and Saten, chasing them into a department store to toy with her prey. Frenda realizes the sniper is deliberately prolonging the hunt for enjoyment, a sadistic impulse that Frenda herself can recognize. Despite setting traps and using her usual explosives, none of Frenda's tactics work against the skilled pursuer, who shoots off part of her ear. Saten proposes acting as a decoy, and Frenda reluctantly agrees, using her as bait by having her carry a load of dolls packed with explosives. The tactic forces Yumiya to take cover, allowing Frenda to launch a counterattack and engage the sniper directly. The battle culminates when Frenda detonates a series of bombs, creating a thermobaric wave that disorients Yumiya. Seizing the moment, Frenda shoves miniature bombs into Yumiya's mouth and kicks her through a window before detonating them, seemingly defeating her. Later, a heavily injured and now cyborg-like Yumiya reports to her superior, the Level 5 esper Teitoku Kakine, who dismisses her desire for revenge and suggests finding a replacement sniper. Following the battle, Saten is placed under Anti-Skill protection, and Frenda severs contact with her, unable to keep a promise to share a meal together.

21Doppelganger

Misaki Shokuhou approaches Mikoto Misaka through a controlled intermediary to propose a cooperative investigation into the creator of the Indian Poker dream cards, Ryoko Kuriba. Shokuhou reveals that Kuriba was the subject of a fringe cyborg experiment in which her body was divided into two separate, conscious entities—one organic and one primarily cybernetic—before being reintegrated back into a single organic form. The research institute's underlying objective was to test the possibility of generating a human soul; the leftover cybernetic components were assembled into a second, autonomous being, now referred to as the Doppelganger. In exchange for Mikoto's assistance in infiltrating the facility to verify these events, Shokuhou offers to use her influence to facilitate a normal life for the Misaka Sisters. Before Mikoto can enter the building, an explosion occurs and she witnesses the metallic Doppelganger escape, briefly attempting to slow its descent with her powers. The real Ryoko Kuriba, visibly marked by patchwork skin from her procedures, confirms to Mikoto and Shokuhou that she has long feared the consequences of the Doppelganger becoming self-aware. The Doppelganger, having undergone an identity crisis upon realizing its artificial nature, covers itself with synthetic skin from an abandoned lab and begins to act on its own objectives. Meanwhile, a four-girl dark-side team known as Scavenger, previously introduced in A Certain Scientific Accelerator, is dispatched to recapture the escaped entity. The episode establishes the central conflict of the arc: the Doppelganger's pursuit of personhood and the multiple factions now racing to intercept it.

22Scavenger

The episode follows the dark-side organization Scavenger as they track down the Doppelganger, which has left the abandoned DNA lab and is moving through the city. Ryouko Kuriba explains to Mikoto and Shokuhou that the Doppelganger's true threat lies in the possibility that it possesses a soul, which could become untethered if its artificial body is destroyed and potentially cause widespread damage by possessing inanimate objects. Kuriba reveals that she started the Indian Poker craze as a method to crowdsource ideas for neutralizing such a threat, and she thanks the two Level 5s before attempting to handle the situation alone. After retrieving supplies from a coin locker, Kuriba is confronted and attacked by the Doppelganger, managing to escape temporarily using an electronic stun grenade. Scavenger then intervenes, immobilizing the Doppelganger through a combination of their abilities: Seike's friction control, Yakumaru's chemicals, Naru's paper manipulation, and Leader's tactics. The tables turn when the Doppelganger breaks free, breaks Leader's arm, and withstands a full-power attack from Naru that damages part of its body. Meanwhile, Seike pursues Kuriba and confirms she is human, but before releasing her, Mikoto arrives after learning from Shokuhou about Kuriba's motivation to save her terminally ill mother through cybernetics research. Mikoto helps Kuriba to safety and faces Seike, who attacks despite Mikoto's attempt to avoid conflict, only to be swiftly defeated upon realizing her opponent is Railgun. The damaged Doppelganger demonstrates its ability to absorb surrounding materials like Naru's paper armor to repair and strengthen itself, forcing the remaining Scavenger members to retreat. The episode concludes with the three Scavenger girls regrouping and realizing Mikoto has found them, now facing a Level 5 opponent on top of the rampaging Doppelganger.

23Possession

Scavenger finds itself in a precarious position following the previous episode's confrontation with Mikoto. Facing the choice between battling a Level 5 or their original target, Leader Ryoko Kuriba resorts to deception, claiming her team are members of Judgment dispatched to handle the Doppelganger threat. Mikoto, despite initial skepticism, accepts this explanation, and the two parties agree to a temporary alliance. The agreement allows Scavenger to guide the pursuit while technically fulfilling their contract to deliver the Doppelganger to a specific location. The Doppelganger, meanwhile, continues its rampage, targeting an airborne ship containing data related to its origins and demonstrating the catastrophic potential of its ability to absorb and manipulate surrounding matter. Mikoto engages the entity directly, though the fight serves primarily to steer the conflict according to Scavenger's plan. Throughout the pursuit, Scavenger's Leader operates under the assumption that a Level 5 like Mikoto would be inherently ruthless, a miscalculation that ironically allows her improvisations to succeed. A subplot involves Yakumaru, another Scavenger member, using a deceptive ploy to clear the area of Skill-Out gangs, further facilitating the team's objectives. The episode focuses heavily on the uneasy dynamics and strategic maneuvering between Mikoto and Scavenger as they close in on the Doppelganger. It also establishes the scale of the threat posed by the rogue entity, setting the stage for the final confrontation in the series' concluding episode.

24Diffusion

The confrontation between Mikoto Misaka and the Doppelganger escalates into a large-scale battle. Trapped within the rubble of a collapsed building, the Doppelganger constructs a massive monster form from the debris to attack Mikoto. In response, Mikoto uses her electromagnetic powers to assemble her own giant construct from metallic dust and electricity, leading to a clash between the two kaiju-like beings. While the Doppelganger's monster possesses superior close-combat capabilities, Mikoto utilizes her construct to perform long-range Railgun attacks. She also infiltrates the Doppelganger's monster with fine metal particles to inflict internal damage, a tactic that ultimately unmasks a hidden airship rather than defeating the enemy. The Doppelganger's primary objective is revealed to be reaching this airship, not merely engaging in combat. Upon the airship, the Doppelgancer creates an army of copies of itself, which begin sending threads into the sky. Kuriba Ryouko attempts to propose something to the Doppelganger but is rejected and deliberately falls from the vessel. She is rescued by the Scavenger group, who have returned to assist Mikoto out of a sense of honor. Meanwhile, Misaki Shokuhou provides Mikoto with critical intelligence, revealing that the Doppelganger's artificial muscles function similarly to a zombie-ant fungus, confirming it is not a spiritual entity but a physical one. Armed with this information, Mikoto confronts the Doppelganger on the airship, perceiving its fear of not having a soul. Throughout the aerial battle, Scavenger's leader, Rita, supplies tactical data to help Mikoto aim her Railgun, though a last-second warning from her is issued as the episode concludes. The conflict underscores the Doppelganger's anguish over its existence and its stated plan to destroy Academy City, setting the stage for the final resolution.

25My Dear Friends

The episode opens with the resolution of the kaiju-like battle between Mikoto Misaka and the Doppelganger, where the latter's true, nihilistic intention is confirmed: to be destroyed in order to prevent the recreation of her existence and to eliminate all data related to the project. The Doppelganger, unable to reconcile her artificial nature and lack of a perceived soul, baits Mikoto into unleashing her full power to destroy the airship and herself. However, the appearance of the original Ryoko Kuriba and a scientist from the project interrupts this final moment; the scientist accidentally shoots Ryoko, wounding her critically. In a final act that raises questions about the existence of a soul within her, the mortally wounded Doppelganger offers her own body as a source of replacement organs to save Ryoko's life. Following the battle, Misaki Shokuhou uses her Mental Out ability to deal with the project director, effectively ending the Doppelganger project for good. The narrative then shifts to address lingering plot threads from earlier in the season. Misaka 10032, now fully recovered, is formally introduced and acknowledged by Mikoto as her sister, a significant moment for the protagonist. This reunion also allows Mitsuko Kongou, also recovered, to meet the clone she previously fought to protect. In another thread, Misaki, Dolly, and Mitori Kozaku are shown reuniting at an aquarium, providing a degree of closure for the events of the first half of the season. The mercenary group Scavenger successfully negotiates for a better standing within the city's dark side as a reward for their assistance. The episode concludes with a peaceful scene as Mikoto and her friends—Kuroko, Uiharu, and Saten—gather together, signifying a return to normalcy after the arc's conflicts.

Cast

Comment(s)

Staff

Director
Tatsuyuki Nagai
Storyboard
Tetsuya Yanagisawa
Naoyuki Konno
Kiyoko Sayama
Hideki Tachibana
Yoshiki Yamakawa
Kazuo Takigawa
Tatsuyuki Nagai
Takashi Iida
Toshikazu Hashimoto
Yoshiki Kawasaki
Kazuki Horiguchi
Shingo Yuki
Yoshimitsu Ōhashi
Tōru Yoshida
Kōichi Takada
Yūichi Nihei
Kōichirō Sohtome
Shūji Miyazaki
Ryūta Kawahara
Music
Maiko Iuchi
Character Design
Yūichi Tanaka
Chief Animation Director
Hiroshi Tomioka
Yukie Hiyamizu
Hiroshi Yakou
Yuuko Yoshida
Haruka Sano
Sound Director
Jin Aketagawa
Director of Photography
Shingo Fukuyo
Series Composition
Shōgo Yasukawa

Script
Shinichi Inotsume
Atsuo Ishino
Hiroki Uchida
Shōgo Yasukawa
Episode Director
Naoyuki Konno
Makoto Sokuza
Kiyoko Sayama
Hideki Tachibana
Katsushi Sakurabi
Tatsuyuki Nagai
Toshikazu Hashimoto
Yoshihiro Mori
Yūsuke Onoda
Yōsuke Yamamoto
Tetsuro Tanaka
Yoshiki Kawasaki
Takayuki Kuriyama
Kōsaku Taniguchi
Kazuki Horiguchi
Sho Kitamura
Yuuki Nagasawa
Akari Ranzaki
Daizou Yase
Shūji Miyazaki
Ryūta Kawahara
Original creator
Kazuma Kamachi
Motoi Fuyukawa
Art Director
Kentaro Izumi
Animation Director
Noriyasu Yamauchi
Yumi Nakayama
Mineko Ueda
Shinya Hasegawa
Kazuo Takigawa
Teruhiko Yamazaki
Hiroyuki Shimizu
Hiromitsu Hagiwara
Hiroshi Tomioka
Shigeki Kimoto
Yukie Hiyamizu
Asuka Shimizu
Eri Sano
Yuuko Yoshida
Akio Kitahara
Yu Murakami
Jun-Oh Kim
Ikuma Fujibe
Sawako Shigematsu
Tetsuya Sakamoto
Haruka Sano
Nagisa Takahashi
Kwan Woo Lee
Bong Duk Kim
Sayaka Ueno
Yūki Kitajima
Yoshiko Minamihara
Yūki Tamori
Tomomi Itō
Saori Hosoda
Zhi Peng Wu
Hiroyuki Sugawara
Teppei Okuda
Kotaro Okazaki
Taiki Etō
Ippeita Watanabe
Jong Min Jun
Takeshi Maenami
Fu Zi Cheng
Nobuhide Hayashi
Kenta Hashimoto
Ayana Togashi
Hibiki Yamaguchi
Yōichi Ōnishi
Kōji Ogawa
Hayato Tejima
Yōsuke Kobuchi
Shinya Kōno
Hyeon Suk Min
Shunya Kikuchi
Keum Young Woo
Cgi Director
Yuki Murakami
Tetsuro Tanaka
Daigo Fujiaki
Producer
Michihisa Abe
Kozue Kananiwa
Kentarō Hattori
Kazuma Miki
Noritomo Isogai
Yūichirō Shiji
Takehiro Nakakura
Seihiro Asada