Toaru Kagaku no Railgun

[Archangel]

One thing I disliked about the episode was that the purpose of the last scene was changed because of Kuroko. The original scene didn't had her crying over a cursed Mikoto, but rather Kuroko cringed upon seeing Mikoto sleeping happily, while hugging her pillow, implying that whatever may have happened to her had her in a great mood.

It was more subtle but you could still make a valid point that the whole fight was what made her smile too

[Yukimura]

I loved the stripping researcher chick, I hope she comes back and continues to be herself. Her detached attitude seems right up my alley. Kuroko's reactions were also quite entertaining especially that last scene with her trying to shove panties on Misaka's head. Also I can't really explain it but I just like looking at Saten's character design do random things, I guess I think she's cute or something idk.

And just to light a different colored candle for the hell of it Mikoto's cowering and tsundere behavior didn't really do anything for me, at least anything positive. Her reason for fighting Touma seemed so silly and childish. She didn't seem to know him beyond his legend and his penchant for trying to insert himself into her business and from what I recall he never actually attacked her in any way. That said, Touma was the one who chose to engage with her (thanks plot) and he clearly didn't mind her behavior enough to knock her on her prissy Level 5 ass for it. I know my reservations are pointless as the rabu rabu sub plot is inevitable and probably a big part of why this show is being aired at all but I'm not going to pretend I don't get bored at best, annoyed at worst, with the elements of the story that boil down to Misaka being incapable of expressing herself around Touma. I wish she'd 'man up' for lack of a better phrase, but then she probably wouldn't be as popular would she...

[shinta|hikari]

I believe he did think he would have a chance. To be precise, he thought Mikoto would give up at some point and that would be his victory (I doubt Touma really is that keen on beating somebody for no concrete reason). But of course she wouldn't. She has worked too hard to become level 5 and a tsundere can't give up like that in front of her love interest.

I think Touma never intended to beat Mikoto this time. He asked her before the fight what it would take for her to stop chasing him around. She answered that she would only stop if she won. That is probably the reason why Touma accepted this fight in the first place. He planned to lose on purpose the whole time. His acting in the end ruined the plan though.

[Kraco]

There were a couple of times during the fight it looked like Touma was actually interested in ending up as the winner. But you are probably right about his initial thoughts, yes.

[Archangel]

I think Touma just wanted the matter to be resolved, no matter who won

[Buffalobiian]

My take on it is that he didn't really want to fight, but after seeing Mikoto's determination, he concluded that having a proper match was the only way to settle the matter.

When he lifted his arm for the punch, he realised he could never hit her, so opted to lose instead.

That is the smart choice. Had he hit her, his arm would not have protected him against Zell's wrath.

-edit: and Archie..

[Archangel]

That is the smart choice. Had he hit her, his arm would not have protected him against Zell's wrath.

Cough cough cough... i feel somewhat ignored here

And you have laugh at how unlucky Misaka is, grabbing the one part of him where the current wouldn't pass

[RyougaZell]

That is the smart choice. Had he hit her, his arm would not have protected him against Zell's wrath.

Cough cough cough... i feel somewhat ignored here

You can be my second in comand I was the very first Mikoto-tard here after all. And supporter of the Mikoto x Touma too...

And you have laugh at how unlucky Misaka is, grabbing the one part of him where the current wouldn't pass

And Touma says he's the unlucky one. Lol.

Another Shana sightening this episode btw. She was on the cover of one of the magazines Mikoto was browsing at the store.

[Buffalobiian]

Cough cough cough... i feel somewhat ignored here

So you're official now? Fine, you're added to the list.

-Any analytical fighter would have noticed Touma's characteristic pose of putting his hands out in front, as well as observing exactly how Touma nullifed her iron sand.

Guess analysing enemy weaknesses isn't second nature for the 3rd strongest lvl 5 whose "fry or blow shit up" until recently has been anything but one-shot, one-kill.

[Kraco]

-Any analytical fighter would have noticed Touma's characteristic pose of putting his hands out in front, as well as observing exactly how Touma nullifed her iron sand.

It doesn't really mean anything concrete. Misaka herself points her hand at any individual she wants to electrocute or railgun and I assume great many people with similarly offensive powers would as well. When she sees Touma raising his hand to nullify the attack, it must seem analogous to her. That's more probable than thinking it must be only Touma's right hand that has any power, because she is doing it just for the sake of convenience and control herself. So, when she attacked, she grabbed any part of Touma readily available for grabbing.

[Archangel]

It doesn't really mean anything concrete. Misaka herself points her hand at any individual she wants to electrocute or railgun and I assume great many people with similarly offensive powers would as well. When she sees Touma raising his hand to nullify the attack, it must seem analogous to her. That's more probable than thinking it must be only Touma's right hand that has any power, because she is doing it just for the sake of convenience and control herself. So, when she attacked, she grabbed any part of Touma readily available for grabbing.

Lol...

I agree with what you say , it's not as obvious as it was accelerator where every combo was made using solely the right hand but she has fought him a couple of times before and by seeing him use that pose time and time again i wouldn't be surprised if she deducted it eventually. By the time of the second fight in the bridge she seems to already know about it at least

[November 11]

Lol...

I agree with what you say , it's not as obvious as it was accelerator where every combo was made using solely the right hand but she has fought him a couple of times before and by seeing him use that pose time and time again i wouldn't be surprised if she deducted it eventually. By the time of the second fight in the bridge she seems to already know about it at least

Kuroko should be able to teleport the rest of Touma's body except his right hand :P

From what I have observed, it seems that his right hand is the source of the nullifying ability, extending throughout his body. So while attached, his whole body should be immune to abilities so I do not see why he only can use his right hand in fights.

[shinta|hikari]

Touma's power does not work that way. He can be affected by magic or abilities, excluding his right hand which nullifies them. What is the point of him extending his hand in front of him in the first place if his whole body is invulnerable?

If his nullification did indeed extend throughout his entire body, they would not intentionally make Mikoto grasp the right hand when she could have just as easily (or more easily for that matter) grabbed his shoulder.

I think the reason why Kuroko cannot teleport Touma is because she was trying to teleport him entirely, including his right hand. Since the power does not work on his right hand, the entire calculation and execution of the teleportation will be off, and as we saw, simply did not activate. Either that, or the mere fact that the right hand is included as a subject of teleportation allows the hand to absorb all the energy/power/whatever directed towards it, causing the execution of the teleportation to never reach completion.

[Kraco]

If somebody cut off Touma's right arm and replaced his own with it, would the magic nullifying power be transferred to that person? According to the theory only his right hand has any power, it should, shouldn't it? If it didn't work, it would indicate Touma is like any esper but has lousy control over his own power and with little practice he would eventually be able to extend the nullifying power all over his body.

Although I doubt he would willingly accept such an experiment...

[Buffalobiian]

If somebody cut off Touma's right arm and replaced his own with it, would the magic nullifying power be transferred to that person?

Hmm..I wonder.

What I do remember is when Touma's arm was chopped off by the Alchemist in Index, the doctor reattached it form him with do dramas.

If the arm's powers are transferable, strongly suggesting the arm itself contains esper-nullifying properties, then any esper techniques involved in the reattachment would have also been ineffective.

You could argue that science had advanced enough for doctors to attach nerves, muscle, bone and all perfectly. With the renowned alias of "Heaven's Canceler" though, his methods should be all but normal.

[Shadow Skill]

When the Alchemist chopped his hand/arm off, there was a dragon in it's place...

I don't believe the nullifying powers are transferrable.

I'm liking this prequel story, even though there's less Touma.

[Buffalobiian]

When the Alchemist chopped his hand/arm off, there was a dragon in it's place...

The dragon was a manifestation of the Alchemist's own fear, not a feature of Touma's right arm.

[Ryllharu]

The dragon was a manifestation of Alchemist's imagination, literally his worst nightmare. His powers were the creation of twisted self-delusion, and when Touma nullified those with his powers, Alchemist started to freak out, just like any esper or magician both series have ever shown. Once he was able to use a physical blade to sever Touma's arm, Alchemist imagined the blood spewing from Touma's arm to be a dragon.

Touma really didn't do a whole lot other than nullify a few objects that Alchemist created. The difference is that Alchemist kept imagining Touma being more and more powerful.

[Shadow Skill]

So.. how'd he nullify stuff without his Right hand then?

After rewatching episode 9 of the Index story, none of them had an explanation as to why there was a dragon in his arm. :/ You could be right though, sounds a little odd though for an explanation considering the circumstances. I'm just being picky though, forgive me.

Back on topic. Judging from the story, this takes place before Index, but leads up to the point of Touma meeting Index or is this Story Arc centered on Misaka only?

[Archangel]

Ryllharu didn't just pull that explanation out of his ass, it makes perfect sense if you just calmly analyze the situation.

All of this is centered about, you guessed it, Railgun but being a spinoff in the same time span as the original you'll find certain repetitions of already seen events although under the perspective of other characters. That said, the story itself also has many exclusive arcs itself that any Misaka fan is sure to enjoy