Misaka Mikoto: Sparks of Identity and the Fight to Reclaim Herself

Prompt: Misaka Mikoto (御坂 美琴 Misaka Mikoto?) (born May 2nd[1]) is one of the main heroines in Toaru Majutsu no Index and the main protagonist of Toaru Kagaku no Railgun. Introduced in the first volume of the light novels, her role in the story was later expanded in the third volume as well as the release of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun manga, making her the main female character of the science side and the second main heroine of the entire series as a whole. Age 14[2] Height Lower 150s cm (Around 5') (1st Year)[3] 161 cm (5'3")[4] She is the third ranked Level 5 esper in Academy City, and has been nicknamed Railgun due to her signature move. Kamijou Touma coined the nickname Biri-Biri (ビリビリ?) (a Japanese onomatopoeia imitating the sound of electricity), while in the English dub she is referred to as "Bug Zapper" (or more usually, simply "Zapper"), and whenever the two meet, he usually calls her that, even after his amnesia.[6][7][8] Mikoto has chestnut hair and is often seen wearing a small hair clip (firstly a rather simple one in the early stages of the story. It then was changed to one with two little flowers since the Tree Diagram Remnant Arc, specifically, from Toaru Majutsu no Index II Episode 06 in the anime, or Toaru Majutsu no Index Manga Chapter 058 in the manga). Her eyes are the same color as her hair. She is also shown to have a complex regarding her chest, feeling inferior when compared to girls with bigger bust sizes. She wears the Tokiwadai Middle School school uniform, sporting white loose/slouch socks and brown loafers with a light brown vest sweater over a white blouse and a grey skirt. She is also known to always wear shorts under every skirt and dress she wears, which surprises an amnesiac Kamijou Touma as she is the only girl who wears shorts over her panties. Mikoto is the daughter of Misaka Tabigake and Misaka Misuzu. She entered Academy City in elementary age,[9] and distinguished herself as a child prodigy, initially starting out as a Level 1 and climbing her way up to a Level 5 esper.[10][11][Notes 1] This made her a perfect candidate for the Sisters Project, which held the intent of cloning her for military use. Mikoto willingly gave a DNA sample to the researchers of the project after being told that it would help people who suffer from muscular dystrophy, a fatal disease. One year before the main story,[12] she enrolled in Tokiwadai Middle School at the age of 12,[13] apparently as a Level 3.[14][15] Possessing a high compatibility with Tokiwadai's curriculum, Mikoto quickly grew in power,[15] becoming a Level 5 that same April, albeit the lowest ranked at the time,[13][16][12] and achieved her current third ranking by August.[17] In her first year, she lost a 10,000 yen bill due to A Certain Vending Machine, probably explaining her propensity for kicking it.[18][12] On July 14th, she encountered and had a brief conversation with Ibotanokikouji Kaede, who had been falsely claiming to be the Number Six, with Mikoto not taking much notice of the claim or being bothered by it.[19] In one fateful event, she saved her future friend Shirai Kuroko from a robber by using her 'Railgun' ability.[20][21] Kuroko eventually enrolled at Tokiwadai as well and gained great affection for Mikoto. Mikoto later became roommates with Kuroko in Room 208 - despite Kuroko being her junior - after Kuroko 'legally' removes Mikoto's previous roommate who was supposedly ill-natured towards Mikoto. Being a Level 5 esper as well as a student with consistently high grades, Mikoto is known as Tokiwadai's Ace. Mikoto's role initially was that of a minor character known to Kamijou Touma before his memory loss. In her reappearance after Touma's memory loss, she acts as the main heroine along with her Sisters. Like with the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun side story the Sisters Arc marks a turning point for her character, which is later heavily explored in later appearances, far and few they may be, as a character that has a crush on Kamijou Touma but cannot properly express it. An example of this is her overhearing of Touma promising to Etzali that he will protect her and the world around her. Her role as such remained as is for her earlier appearances, with her getting involved little with Touma's adventures and even then completely unaware of what's truly behind the surface. It is not until her discovery with Touma's memory loss that she tries to become actively involved with Touma. Moreover, in spite of Touma's insistence on not getting her involved, Mikoto only persists. Her crush, furthermore, blossoms even more. Mikoto's character involvement in the plot was not of the more significant story unfolding but with her continual association with Kamijou Touma. This finally goes to head during the climactic ending of Toaru Majutsu no Index with World War III, where she goes out of her way to go to the battlefields of Russia to find Touma and bring him back. She later fails in her goal, as Touma refuses her rescue in order to save the world. Despite being a Level 5, she is powerless to save Touma and bring him back to Academy City, though she has not given up on him as shown in Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index. Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Main article: Misaka Mikoto/Chronology (Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index) As an extension to her role from Toaru Majusu no Index, Mikoto continues her similarly in Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index, with her constantly trying to aid Touma and the battles that he is in, making her an important supporting character. Touma eventually relents to her and brings her along for the invasion of Hawaii. She proves her mettle, and Touma comes to trust her during battle. Much later Touma would allow her to join him if she chooses to, though doesn’t actively seek out for help. It is not until the Gremlin invasion of Tokyo, that she and even Index finally achieve getting Touma to believe in them, with him asking them to help her save Freyja. Much later, similarly to the Will of the Whole Misaka Network, she becomes instrumental in helping Touma get rid of the emotional baggage he had felt towards the Perfect World, forcing him to look at the value of the world that they live in, the world he left behind another world for, and finally achieving bittersweet victory over him. Since most of her focus is on Touma, Mikoto doesn’t actively seek out information or knowledge regarding the magic side, simply taking Touma or the other’s word for the importance of the situation that they are in. uestioning why Shokuhou even wanted to be president since it wasn't her thing.[25] ccording to the interview on Kamachi Kazuma featured in Toaru Majutsu no Index no Subete, the author states Mikoto is the one whom he would want to choose as his friend among all Index characters. According to an interview her birthday is May 2, making her a Taurus ♉.[1] Mikoto (and her clones) have blood type AB.[41] Mikoto shares her birthday with her Japanese voice actress, Satou Rina whose birthday is also May 2. Mikoto's three sizes are B78 W56 H79.[42][43] She was also born in Kanagawa Prefecture, where her mother lives.[42] Tokiwadai Middle School (常盤台中学 Tokiwadai Chūgaku?) is a prestigious girls’ middle school. Of the currently named schools in Academy City, it is the one containing the most characters in the series. It is one of the five most prestigious schools of Academy City and is said to be the most renowned girls’ school in the world. It is also mentioned that it had once sparked an international incident for refusing to admit a girl from a royal family because she wasn’t good enough.[1] Tokiwadai teaches its students more than the average middle school and gives lectures on a university level, as they want their students to stand on the front lines of their field when they graduate.[2] Currently, Unabara Mitsuki's grandmother is the director/administrator of the school.[3] Student Demographics The entry requirement is esper ability Level 3 or higher, and the school currently contains a total of around 180 students.[4] Of the 180 students, there are currently 2 Level 5 espers, 47 Level 4 espers, 1 Level 2 esper,[Notes 1] and the rest being Level 3 espers.[5] Uniform The uniforms worn by all Tokiwadai students seen so far have been comprised of a short-sleeved white dress shirt worn under a light brown vest with the school emblem on the left side. For bottoms, the girls wear dark tan pocketed skirts that reach halfway down their thighs. There seems to be no uniform requirement for socks or shoes and other additions in between, such as Mikoto's shorts. In Volume 12, it is mentioned like all other schools in Academy City, Tokiwadai has a separate set of uniform for winter time as opposed to summer. It comprises of a tan buttoned blazer (a shade darker than the summer vest), a checkered blue skirt with black and tan criss-crossing lines, as well as a red ribbon tie. Tokiwadai Middle School's rules state that students are not allowed to wear casual clothes inside the school or in the dormitory as it is still part of the entire school. Even on days off, students are still required to wear their uniforms.[6] However, students at work internships may ignore this rule if they so choose.[7] The marketing department of White Spring Holdings helped design Tokiwadai Middle School's uniform.[8] Tokiwadai is located in the School Garden, an area inside Academy City consisting of Tokiwadai and four other girl's schools, with a shopping area dedicated to the rich young girls. The school's grounds are fairly large, with multiple buildings and outdoor areas.[9] From the front gate, the first building is the school's clocktower, with a plaza in front of it.[9] To the left of the plaza is the school's gym,[9][Notes 2] with a large swimming pool (which is used by staff to measure Misaka Mikoto's power) further onwards left.[9][Notes 2] Behind the clock tower is the school's sports ground (with tracks),[9][Notes 2] with tennis courts to the left behind the gym.[9][Notes 2] The two main buildings encompass the rear and right sides of the sports ground,[9][Notes 2] presumably holding the classrooms and a library, with the left building extending from the left-rear side towards the tennis court,[9][Notes 2] and the L-shaped right building around the right-rear and right sides of the sports ground,[9][Notes 2] with a corridor connecting the two.[9][Notes 2] A courtyard is located to the right of the right main building.[9][Notes 2] The school also contains a showering area. Artificial woods are located behind the school for forestry lessons.[10] Tokiwadai has two dormitories, one of them is outside of the School Garden and where Misaka Mikoto and Shirai Kuroko reside in, and the other one which is in the School Garden where Kongou Mitsuko takes residence. Judgment 003 Branch Office The school building has a room within the campus allocated to its own branch of Judgment, Judgment 003 Branch Office (風紀委員ジャッジメント 第〇〇三支部 Fūki I'in (Jajjimento) Dai Rei Rei San Shibu?).[11] Shirai Kuroko is a member and assists the office.[12][13][14] Returning Bath Facility Returning Bath Facility (帰様の浴院 Kaeri-sama no Yokuin?) is one of the three bathing facilities to be found in Tokiwadai Middle School. It is a subsidiary of the school, and is used exclusively for students to clean themselves up. It is as large as five classrooms, and there are close to 90 showerheads. Each of them is separated by white partition boards and a sliding door. The doors aren't as big as the boards, which only hide the chest down to the thigh of an averaged sized middle school student from Tokiwadai.[15] In the anime adaptations, the shower room seems to be smaller due to perspective restrictions, showing only the shower partitions near to the wall. However, it serves the same purpose as it is in the novels. It has advanced shower controls, lockers, tables for glasses and drinks, cabinets for various bathing implements, as well as ornamental plants, and seats for students to sit on.[16] Activities Other than the usual events the school participates in like the Daihaseisai. Tokiwadai seem to hold a Midsummer Festival which is held in the dormitory that is not in the School Garden, here the students are to wear maid ensembles and have them welcome and serve guests, they give and invite the guests in demonstrations like flower arrangement, sewing, etc., and at the end of the festival someone from the festival is to give a performance. In the current year, Misaka Mikoto was voted to give the performance.[17] The Tokiwadai Midsummer Festival (盛夏祭?) is an annual event that is held by Tokiwadai Middle School during the middle of summer, it is held in the Tokiwadai Dormitory.[2] Normally, Tokiwadai Dormitory is closed off to the public, however, during the middle of summer, the dormitory opens it's doors to the public for one day. On this day the students of the Tokiwadai Dormitory dress up in maid outfits and serve the guests by giving them pamphlets, and showing them around the dormitory where events are being held. The student's are also allowed to invite guests, though the exact number of how many guests one can invite is unknown. The Tokiwadai Dorm Supervisor also has the privilege to invite her own guests as well. Students from the Tokiwadai Dormitory in School Garden, are allowed to take part of the festivities by serving guests or being guests themselves.[2] Tokiwadai Dormitory also employs members of Anti-Skill for security purposes, and are allowed to enjoy the festivities as well. Both Tokiwadai students and guests are provided meals during the events.[2] Throughout the day, guests are provided a variety of events and activities to take part in. Below is a list of known classes and events that are held during the festival.[2] Pastry Decoration Embroidery Class Flower Arrangement Tea Ceremony Item Auction - Tokiwadai students donate their possessions, where other Tokiwadai students as well as guests can bid for them. According to Konori Mii,[2] the proceeds of the auction will go to help Child Errors, all around the country. Student Performance - A student is picked to give a performance on stage for people to view. School Garden (学舎の園まなびやのその Manabiya no Sono?, Yen Press: Garden of Learning) is a gated-access area located on the southern end of School District 7 in Academy City. It is similar to other areas in the district as it is simply an area composed of schools and other establishments like shops and restaurants, however what makes the area different from others is that it is composed of 5 elite schools for girls and the establishments that tend to its population is similarly high-classed.[1] Tokiwadai Middle School is located here along with one of its dormitories. With its reddish sett- and cobble-stoned roads and streets tessellated in strange designs, and showering fountains in their open squares, lit by wrought metal lamps.[2] With its traditional brick and mortar buildings, roofs such as flat types, gables and spires, and their tasteful parapets and the corbels that support them, and of the smokestacks resting upon them. With its balconies upon windows with metal balusters of arabesque designs that surround it, and the awning above them. With its subtle crosswalk and unique traffic lights different from the rest of the city. With its gates that provided the entrance to the area, and its baroque colonnades and entablature. It is depicted to be cramped with buildings, and despite the School Garden's large size, the roads are narrow. This may be due to the area focusing on aesthetics rather than practicality.[1] Principles The School Garden is jointly controlled by five prestigious girls' schools including Tokiwadai Middle School. The area is full of cutting-edge technology that isn't allowed outside the schools and they have facilities and budget needed to protect it all.[3] Maps of the Garden have parts grayed out as it only needs to give the main entrances and service entrances for the five schools. This is because though they jointly control the School Garden, all of them are also rivals.[4] Territory within the School Garden is divided between the five schools, but there are some areas which are claimed by multiple schools and are a subject of tension between them. These are known as the Lost Pieces (ロストピース Rosutopīsu?).[5] Demographics The area is a cluster of elite schools which are obviously frequented by elite students. Since Tokiwadai is located here, there are many students here that are at least Level 3 espers. The population is largely composed of students with wealthy upbringings who can afford the schools here. Students who reside within the city or go to school here have cards that they use in order to pass the entrance of the area. Ordinary students require permission in order to gain access to the area; it is shown the student from the area can invite the students from the outside to be able to enter the area. Barricades are not only used to keep out intruders, but also to separate different areas, such as housing and experimental facilities.[2] The School Garden has a total of eight gates. Items can be brought in through five of them. However, if someone was bringing in a piece of artwork or an antique, it would have received a special inspection. And there would be a record of this. This is because of recent events after someone tried to sneak out a chip loaded with information hidden in an impressionist painting.[4] For security reasons there are 2,458 cameras in total monitoring the streets and establishments of School Garden.[2] According to Tsuchimikado Motoharu, rumors in the School Garden reek of lies, since information there is highly classified, as such, he doubts that rumors formed in School Garden are not made without reason.[6] Finally, males are not allowed inside the Garden, even male members of Anti-Skill,[4] making the Garden more gender-restricted than most public toilets and changing rooms. Kamijou Touma (上条 当麻 Kamijō Tōma?) is the main protagonist of the Toaru Majutsu no Index series and an important character in the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun series. As a Level 0 Academy City first-year high school student, his point-of-view allows the audience to become acquainted to the mysterious world of Toaru Majutsu no Index, and is mostly involved in the events of its Magic Side. He is a typical teenager with the usual angst and laid back attitude common for his age - this is apparent in the way he handles his guardianship of Index. In spite of being her guardian, albeit unofficially, he usually leaves Index to her own devices - often unprotected and often leaves her without an explanation which causes the latter to look for him and end up being in harm's way. He possesses the mysterious "Imagine Breaker" in his right hand, which is capable of negating all forms of magic, esper powers, and other divine abilities. This, according to Index, even includes his own good luck, as they are the blessings of God.[9] Because of his ability, he has been unwillingly dragged into a war between the several factions most notably between the two major churches. He lacks commitment to the role he has been thrust into and often lets his emotions get the best of him. This often results in someone close to him getting hurt first before he takes a decisive action. He has a very strong desire to aid all those who are in need even if it means putting his life on the line and will not hesitate to challenge an opponent who is several times more powerful than himself. In spite of this, and the obvious disadvantage he is at compared to his opponents, he never really bothered on learning any offensive or defensive skills and merely relied on brute strength and the ability contained in his right hand. Because of his willingness to help others unconditionally, he has attracted the affections of many characters in the series, which Himegami Aisa jokes about, stating that his life is like a dating simulation where he is bound to unlock more paths to more girls.[10 On its own, Touma's name spelled in kanji doesn't mean anything special. However, when other characters reference the pronunciation of "Kamijou," it takes on different and seemingly coincidental meanings. When Touma first meets Kanzaki Kaori, she believes his name means (神浄討魔) in kanji as opposed to (上条当麻). Kanzaki's interpretation translates to One who Purifies God and Slays Demons. (Yen Press: The Magic Slayer of God's Cleansing)[1] Later in Volume 14, Touma's family name "Kamijou" (上条) is mentioned to be homophonous to La Persona Superiore a Dio (神上) in Japanese. The author's Afterword section also mentions a tantalizing hint on what the difference is between these two possible alternative translations of Touma's name, though in-universe none of the characters have noted the similarity as it is obviously in a different language. Finally and possibly coincidentally, another interesting case is that Touma's given name is homophonous to 透魔, which can be translated as "Invisible Demon." This is interesting as Touma wields an incredibly powerful and invisible force in his right arm which is temporarily released if that arm is severed, one so powerful that even Fiamma of the Right feared it. Appearance Touma looks like an ordinary high school student except for his most striking feature, his spiky black hair. It's been mentioned that his spiky hair isn't natural, but he made it that way using hair gel after seeing it on a fashion magazine.[11] His father remarks that Touma looks just like his mother when he is worried about something or is thinking deeply.[citation needed] Because he resides in Academy City, Touma often wears his school uniform along with an orange T-shirt underneath.[citation needed] This applies to both the summer and winter versions of his uniform (though when wearing the winter version he doesn't button it).[citation needed] Around the winter season, he wears a white hoodie under his jacket.[citation needed] Because of his tendency to wear his uniform in such a manner and the fact that he seems to attract trouble, many people easily mistake him for a delinquent.[citation needed] On holidays and weekends, Touma generally wears a casual shirt and pants.[citation needed] Following the attack on the Queen Britannia and his temporary loss of Imagine Breaker, Touma briefly had a sky-blue arm in place of his normal right arm, which could unravel and surround his body in the form of a dragon - a sky-blue and lemon-yellow winged lizard with crocodilian jaws, giant bat-like wings and a thick tail.[12] Touma is the son of Kamijou Touya and Kamijou Shiina, who live outside of Academy City. During his childhood, he was often seen as a jinx because of the misfortune that his right hand creates and he was called "god of pestilence" by people around him. Once, a bankrupt and superstitious person blamed Touma for his own misfortunes and tried to stab him. A TV station heard about the incident and tried to make a supernatural show based on Touma, as well as releasing images of him without his family's consent. Because of this, Touma's father sent him to Academy City when Touma graduated from kindergarten, as it was a place where many unique and gifted people lived free from superstition and Touma could be free from the kind of things he had experienced back home.[2] This, however, was somehow a deliberate plot by Aleister Crowley to bring Touma into the City, and one of the most obvious effects of this is the birth of Kazakiri Hyouka out of fear of the Imagine Breaker.[13] Life in Academy City However, during his time in Academy City as a child, Touma wrote letters to his father; from there, he determined that even in the city of science, people still treated Touma differently due to his terrible luck.[2] According to Tsukuyomi Komoe, Touma used to be a "naughty boy" in the past.[14] It is also during this time that Touma discovered that his right hand can somehow dispel supernatural powers, specifically the psychic powers used by the students of Academy City. This power, named Imagine Breaker, was only known by a few of Academy city's high-ups, especially by Aleister Crowley and Heaven Canceller. Since then, Imagine Breaker was secretly held as a power of great importance, despite Touma himself being officially classified as a Level 0. Touma is treated as a precious person by his current high school classmates due to all their bad luck being attracted to him, as shown when they rejoiced upon hearing that Touma forgot his homework.[15] Because of him, they get off lightly from things such as the teachers being annoyed at them for not submitting homework. This is unlike how Touma's life was before he entered Academy City, raising the question of whether Imagine Breaker's power was sealed away sometime between him entering Academy City and the present day, seeing how the bad luck affects Touma alone instead of before when it also influenced the people around him. However, Touma's classmates, mainly the male students, do resent Touma for one thing – his impossibly good luck at getting girls' attention. This is due to many girls sympathizing with Touma's bad luck, and has gotten to the point where Fukiyose Seiri, the only one who is critical of Touma's lazy attitude to life, is called the 'Girl of Steel Walls' and 'the Girl who is completely wary of Touma'. Many of Touma's classmates say, "Though Touma keeps saying he's unlucky, he has the best position," and joke about if nobody can stop Touma, humanity will end due to him taking all the girls.[16] Surprisingly, Touma still hasn't gotten into a serious romantic relationship even with this kind of female attention. This is possibly due to his friendship with Tsuchimikado Motoharu and Aogami Pierce, the latter often joking of supporting Touma to build a harem that covers every type of fetish imaginable.[17] Touma said he'd break Aogami and Motoharu's fantasies on this topic using his Imagine Breaker. Motoharu has named Touma's 'ability' to get girls chasing after him without much effort as the Kami-yan disease, and applied this to Stiyl Magnus after hearing about how Stiyl got chased by Tsukuyomi Komoe and couldn't even throw her off easily using the 'Opila' runes. Komoe also once half-seriously said he might have an esper ability (AIM diffusion field) that causes girls to trickle down to him.[18] Most people around him, such as Index and Misaka Mikoto, consider it "normal" for him to have girls around him and are usually quick to jump to conclusions about what he's doing (or done). Due to Touma being a Level 0, he has to take even more make-up lessons than usual as he does not have the required academic achievements. This does not mean that Touma is unintelligent, as in many occasions he has shown quick thinking in combat. Lessar even outright stated that Touma is extremely smart in some aspects but not others.[19] It is also shown that Touma at least has a good grasp of physics, being able to calculate the flight path of an HsB-02. Even before the start of the series, Touma could not ignore someone in trouble and would help people regardless of who they are. Indeed, this is how his life is intertwined with Mitsuari Ayu and Shokuhou Misaki. Mitsuari is a girl who was at an impasse in her development as an esper and attempted to commit suicide in Ground Geo on the same day as Touma met Misaki.[20] He would've been able to save her if not for him dropping his cellphone when he ran into Misaki.[20][21] Touma would later visit Ground Geo as it was the sight of Mitsuari's suicide attempt and there he met Misaki again, inadvertently preventing her from erasing her own memories out of depression.[22] They would meet up several more times during the summer, with Touma giving her a cheap whistle.[23] Their relationship could be compared to that which later developed between Touma and Mikoto — acquaintances that often run into each other in the city.[24] Touma later protected Misaki from Deadlock by using his own body as a shield. The result of this encounter is also quite similar to that of Touma and Index, ending with Touma losing his memories of Misaki, though this case is different in that Touma also received anterograde amnesia specific to her (any new memories he forms of Misaki are soon forgotten).[25] As for Mikoto, Touma first meets her when she was being harassed by thugs. At first, she was impressed that he was the only one who was willing to come to her aid (even though she could have handled the thugs all by herself). She then became annoyed by him after he accidentally insulted her, resulting in her discharging a powerful amount of electricity at the thugs as well as Touma, though he was unaffected because he used his right hand.[26][27] This became the catalyst that made her consider him someone she must beat. For some time, Mikoto continually stalked Touma demanding him to fight her, even though she was still unaware of the power of his right hand. Touma lives on the seventh floor of his apartment building.[10] Shirai Kuroko (白井 黒子 Shirai Kuroko?) is a Level 4 esper and a student of Tokiwadai Middle School, as well as a member of Judgment. She can usually be found accompanying the third-ranked Level 5 esper Misaka Mikoto — her best friend, partner, and roommate. Though a minor character in Toaru Majutsu no Index, she gets a starring role alongside Mikoto in the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun sidestory. The name Shirai Kuroko is quite interesting because it contains both the meanings of "white" and "black". The family name "Shirai“ (kanji: 白井) can be literally interpreted as "white" plus "(water) well"; while the given name "Kuroko" (kanji: 黒子) is more interesting: as a name, it can be interpreted as the stem "Kuro-" (meaning "black") plus the suffix "-ko" - which is commonly seen in Japanese female names (other examples include Saten Ruiko and Kongou Mitsuko); while not used as a name, the term "kuroko" means stagehands in traditional Japanese theater, who dress all in black. These literal meanings of Kuroko's name have been referenced several times in the franchise: In Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Episode 02, when Misaka Mikoto gets angered at Kuroko about the "computer parts", she says, "I'm going to char you as black as your name." In one clip in Toaru Majutsu no Index-tan Episode 02, a shadowy figure, who dresses all in black, carries Index-tan into the scene. This figure is an apparent reference to "kuroko" (the stagehands). Also, the two tawny ponytails extruding from the two sides of the top of this "kuroko" reminds us of Shirai Kuroko - another apparent pun on her name. Kuroko's character song is titled Desu no! White & Black. Appearance Kuroko is a girl with tawny hair tied into two wavy pigtails; the rest of her hair is left to hang as two rows of fringes divided in the middle. Her pigtails are tied in place by a red bow each. Her hair is naturally wavy and as such needs to get a straight perm for it.[4] With 152 cm she isn't very big and with a flat chest her appearance is the usual appearance of an average girl at her age. As per ruling of both Academy City and Judgment, she wears the uniform of Tokiwadai Middle School and the Judgment armband though the latter only during on duty. On her thighs, she secures a pair of black straps where she stores the metal spikes used to secure criminals. Personality Kuroko can be described as a "girl living in the future". She is used to the world 30 years from now portrayed by Academy City and is ignorant to the customs that present-day Japan still practices, like the "love umbrella", which students usually use to link their names to the name of their crush, and the conventional technology outside Academy City. Aside from being a girl with a modernistic outlook, she can also be blunt when giving her opinions, and this has caused her to be at odds with Uiharu once. Another distinguishing characteristic of Kuroko is her one-sided feelings of romantic love towards Mikoto. In the ongoing Railgun manga her affections appear to be genuine, and that she is truly in love with Mikoto to the point of obsession. She even allows herself to get severely hurt in order to do what she can to help Mikoto.[5] She is regarded as Mikoto's best friend. Although usually laid-back and friendly, Kuroko portrays determination and confidence in her own abilities when she encounters enemies, even to those whom she knows is more powerful than herself.[5] To her credit, she is an honorable girl who keeps her word, is kind to children, and shares with Mikoto and Touma the same ironclad sense of justice that makes neither of them ever back down in the face of adversity. According to a particular rumor concerning her and Mikoto: "There's this horrifying teleporter in Judgment who'll tear apart your body and soul if she catches you...and there's another that rules over even that teleporter's body and soul - the strongest Electromaster," although Kuroko had no knowledge of this rumor until a robber she took down told her about it.[6] Kuroko can be close-minded at times refusing to believe in urban legends without any concrete evidence and even then it will still take some time for Kuroko to accept it. Examples include the boy with the power to make other powers stop working, despite knowing him personally and it was not until when she saw the effects of the Level Upper that she began to suspect it and even than it was only after seeing it a considerable amount of times. Kuroko doesn't seem to like the idea of Gemstones, believing that such a phenomenon couldn't be possible without the Power Curriculum Program.[4] In her Japanese conversations, Kuroko has the habit of ending the determinative sentences with the auxiliary word "ですの" (desu-no), instead of "です" (desu) in standard Japanese language. This can be seen as her unique label in Toaru franchise. For example, Kuroko's catchphrase: " ジャッジメントですの！" (pronunciation: Jajjimento desu-no! meaning: I am Judgement! or This is Judgement!). This is also shown in her character song Desu no! White & Black. A year before she entered the prestigious Tokiwadai Middle School, Kuroko joined Judgment, a special public committee group whose duty is to maintain peace and order in Academy City. The first major case she handled (along with Uiharu Kazari and Konori Mii) was the arrest of a bank robber who can use the esper ability Equal Speed. Despite her young age, she stood up to the much older esper and was beaten up in the process, although a particular bolt of lightning saved her from imminent danger. At another point in the first half of that year, having achieved Level 3 at the time and obtained the qualifications necessary to enter Tokiwadai (which she had discussed with her father about), Kuroko encountered Sha Danshan, the leader of the school's then-top clique, while on duty.[2] During the encounter, under the guise of doing Kuroko's hair, Sha stole one of Kuroko's hair pins, in order to reproduce Kuroko's ability through her own ability later.[2][9] In the April of the story's first year, Kuroko enrolls into Tokiwadai Middle School.[10] She later falls in love with Misaka Mikoto, calling her "Onee-sama" (big sister), and then forces her way into her dorm, evicting Mikoto's roommate. The both of them later get punished for this act, but Kuroko stays as her roommate regardless.[11] Sisters (妹達シスターズ Imōto-tachi (Shisutāzu)?, lit. "Little Sisters") is the collective term used to refer to the Misaka Mikoto clones produced from the Radio Noise Project. It is also used however to refer to the Mikoto clones from other projects, such as Misaka Worst. Each clone is considered a "sibling" of Mikoto, hence the use of the term "sisters" in reference to them. Mikoto provided a sample of her DNA to researchers at the 7th Medical Research Center of the Higuchi Pharmacies,[1] under the assumption that it would be used to assist children who were unable to use their muscles. Using her power to replicate bio-signs, she was led to believe that they could control the bio-electrical signal of the body and reroute it to a nerve signal network, meaning the children would be able to gain control of said muscles, thus allowing movement.[2][3][4] This was a complete fabrication, as the true purpose of using Mikoto's DNA was to create a clone of Misaka Mikoto—the 'Railgun'.[1] Before mass production of the clones could begin, the simulation that Tree Diagram produced showed that it was impossible to create a Level 5 clone of Mikoto despite genetic manipulation and use of the Testament. It showed that the clones' specifications reached less than 1% of that of the real Mikoto's, which was equal to that of a Level 2.[1] However, the Level 6 Shift program – an experiment designed to make Accelerator, the strongest Level 5 in Academy City, reach Level 6 reused the project. For the experiment, 20,000 clones were produced after Tree Diagram calculated that Accelerator killing Mikoto 128 times in battle would allow him to achieve Level 6; however, since 128 Level 5 Mikoto clones could not be prepared, it was calculated by Tree Diagram that Accelerator killing 20,000 clones at Level 2-3 would achieve the same results.[3] Shortly before the termination of the Level 6 Shift and the Sisters project, Misaka 20001, also known Last Order, was created as a fail-safe if the clones ever went out of control. This makes Last Order the administrator of the Misaka Network and the superior of every other clone.[5][6][7] After being released from its cultivation chamber, a clone will look exactly like Mikoto though with longer hair and with the mentality of a newborn infant. They are later sent to a Testament machine, where information and emotions are installed into their brains. Their hair is later cut short into a style similar to that of Mikoto, and they are possibly given missions and orders.[8] Will of the Misaka Network It has been revealed that a presence that Accelerator refers to as the "Will of the Misaka Network" exists within it. He speculates that it was superior to even Last Order, as she states that she left Last Order and Misaka Worst with him.[9] Seemingly incorporeal, the existence "fills" the network but leaves the means of external interference to the individual units. She can seemingly possess Last Order's body or that of any Sister clone with the exception of Misaka Worst.[10] Unlike the rest of the clones in the network, she does not refer herself in the third person or describe her own speech, but instead uses escape commands like "/return". She also displays a wider range of emotions than the normal series, even making jokes like Last Order and Misaka Worst. She is also highly interested in Touma, and comments that she is concerned about him.[9] Advertisement Appearance In physical appearance, the clones all look almost identical to Mikoto, even down to their clothing – with the exception of panties – and as such, people like Touma have a hard time telling them apart from one another or even from Mikoto. In all drawn appearances, the clones' eyes are distinctly different from that of Mikoto or Last Order, seeming lifeless, though none of the characters seem to acknowledge or notice this, so it can be assumed that they might be just guidelines for the audience so they can differentiate the clones from Mikoto. All known sister clones, except Last Order, have a special set of goggles that they use to track electrons because unlike Mikoto they do not have that ability. The goggles are their most prominent feature and are again used to differentiate them from Mikoto. Personality The clones’ personalities are different from their original, Mikoto. Due to the clones' emotions being suppressed, as they are unnecessary to the experiment,[8] one would deduce that they are emotionless, as their expressions often remain the same, though they are in fact not emotionless and can still feel emotions even if they do not understand them.[11] Because of their suppressed emotions, the clones talk in the third person narrative, describing themselves after finishing a sentence. Initially thinking little of themselves as individuals, and not even identifying themselves as human, the clones later begin developing a sense of self and individuality after the termination of the project. For example, due to sharing the same memories, every single clone falls in love with Touma after he saves a single one of them from Accelerator. They also try to gain the upper hand in regards to him, such as dieting, and giving him gifts.[7] The Sisters' ability is known as Radio Noise (欠陥電気レディオノイズ Kekkan Denki (Redio Noizu)?, lit. "Flawed Electricity"), a derivative or type of the Electromaster ability unique to the Sisters, ranging from Level 2-3. As they are Electromasters, they can generate at least 50,000 volts of electricity, though they are unable to track electrons like Mikoto can, and require goggles in order see them.[12] All sister clones except Last Order are trained in the use of military standard weapons such as machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles and land mines. Their power has been described as possessing 1/20,000 of the 1,000,000,000 volts of Mikoto's Railgun: 50,000 volts of electric potential. As such, although its strength is low, it is not a power that can be made light of.[7] Additionally, because of their Electromaster status, the clones emit electromagnetic waves from their bodies, though as a consequence, animals such as cats which are more sensitive to such things avoid the sisters. Advertisement Misaka Network Main article: Misaka Network Unique to the clones with their Radio Noise ability is the faculty to connect to the Misaka Network (ミサカネットワーク Misaka Nettowaku?), a brainwave network formed out of their similar brainwave frequency patterns, which is similar to the Level Upper Network, in fact Kiyama Harumi used the idea of espers with the same brainwave frequency patterns from the clones to create the Level Upper, due to its great processing potential. With the Misaka Network, the clones can talk in a quasi-telepathic manner, experience and share the same memories of all the other clones. This shared experience, as well having the same powers, allows them to boost their abilities and have their faculties used more efficiently.[13] Each clone can willingly withhold information from being passed into the network,[7] though this is seen only after the end of the experiments, when they have already established a sort of self-identity that is separate from each other. As it is similar to the Level Upper Network, using the Misaka Network, each individual clone mind connected to the network can be used for calculating purposes. This ability was used by Heaven Canceller to help Accelerator regain half of his calculating ability after being shot in the head and suffering brain damage.[14] Similarly, like the Level Upper Network, the Misaka Network can be used to summon an Artificial Angel. Here, Last Order can be installed, a program that would force her to use the brainwave network of the Misaka clones (which renders them immobile) to help her manifest and control the Fuse KAZAKIRI form of Kazakiri Hyouka, the manifestation of all of the AIM diffusion of espers in Academy City.[15] It is also revealed that the network also functioned as a single brain that held a single will that intervened with the individuals, apparently foreshadowing the Will of the Whole Misaka Network. This will intervenes with the many physical bodies, so they don’t need to narrow their thoughts down to only one opinion.[16] Will of the Whole Misaka Network Main article: Will of the Whole Misaka Network Existing within the Misaka Network is the collection of all 20,001 consciousnesses and egos of the Sisters in the network.[17] She is a unique existence apparently different from Hyouka and Aiwass, something that Accelerator refers to as a "third existence".[9] Equipment With the exception of Last Order and Misaka Worst, each Sister is equipped with a special set of goggles that enables her to see electron beams and magnetic field lines, a F2000R Toy Soldier, and a Metal Eater MX. Furthermore, due to their ability to share experiences via their brainwave network, each Sister is capable of using any weapon that any other Sister has used. In the movie the Sisters used a Railgun Prototype.[18] The arc chronologically begins in the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun sidestory. Before Mikoto's discovery of the clones, rumors around Academy City began to spread about her having clones. This suspicion grew after Mikoto met Nunotoba Shinobu, and it was confirmed by Mikoto herself that there were plans to create clones from her DNA, though much to her relief the project seemed to have stopped before mass production after discovering that it was impossible for the clones to reach Mikoto's current level. However, things started to turn for the worse when Mikoto discovered the existence of her clones were in fact true, and were being used for the growth of Accelerator into Level 6. After the slaying of Misaka 9982 at the hands of Accelerator and him sparing her life due to the intervention of the clones themselves, Mikoto took it upon herself to stop the experiments, initially sabotaging the research facilities with the use of her hacking and electric abilities. She was later forced to destroy facilities personally after the management of the project blocked her. However, because of this she was forced to fight the underground group, team Item, who were hired to stop her. Even after emerging victorious and successfully sabotaging another facility involved in the experiment, her efforts were in vain as the project had been distributed to various facilities. Mikoto later planned to manipulate the information being given by Tree Diagram, as the researchers relied on its computation to determine various things about the experiment. However, Mikoto's plans were completely destroyed after she discovered that Tree Diagram was already destroyed, and that the experiments continued on even without it. The Toaru Majutsu no Index storyline begins after Mikoto assumed that the experiments had been halted due to her attacks. Here, Touma meets Misaka 10031 and from whom Mikoto confirms that the experiments are still ongoing despite her efforts. Touma later met Misaka 10032 and bonded with her, and later through her, discovered the existence of the clones and the experiment with Accelerator. Touma later met with an anguished Mikoto who had just discovered that the Tree Diagram had been destroyed. She planned to sacrifice herself by being killed by Accelerator at the first move, proving Tree Diagram wrong that she would be killed in a set number of moves. Though Touma was against this, after being electrocuted by Mikoto decided to fight Accelerator himself to prove that he was weak, destroying the assumption that Accelerator was the strongest esper. With the help of Mikoto and the clones whom she convinced to protect Touma's dream, Accelerator was defeated and the experiment was stopped. The clones were sent to various facilities for readjustment, as their bodies were deteriorating and their lifespans shortening due to their accelerated growth through drugs and hormones. The sisters were again touched upon after the defeat of Accelerator. Last Order was introduced as the 20001st clone, designed to control the Misaka Network, and asked Accelerator to help her find a research facility so her body could become stable, as she had prematurely escaped her incubation tank. Last Order was later kidnapped by Amai Ao, who installed a virus into her – the reason she escaped her tank – which would make the sister clones go haywire and out-of-control. Using his vector abilities, Accelerator erased the virus from Last Order's mind. However, due to him being busy erasing the virus using his powers, Accelerator was unable to use it to defend himself and was shot by Amai Ao. After the arc, Accelerator lost his calculation abilities, as well as the ability to speak properly and his ability to move. Heaven Canceller later used the Misaka Network to compensate for half of his computational abilities, as well as the ability to speak and move. The clones quickly gained information regarding the recovery of the Remnant of the Tree Diagram. Because of this, they suspected that the Tree Diagram would be rebuilt and the Level 6 Shift would restart. Apparently their System Administrator, Last Order, was keeping her association with The Accelerator a secret from the Clones. Despite their concerns with Misaka 10032's well-being, the clones as well as Last order, agreed to have Misaka 10032 ask for help. Misaka 10032 moved out during the night to seek Kamijou Touma to help them again. Misaka 10032 was able to ask Touma for help, and he gladly agreed to her request. The clones remained helpless as Academy City was consumed by the chaos of Vento of the Front's attack. They were completely frozen, and were only able to telepathically speak to each other through their power after Aleister Crowley activated Fuse KAZAKIRI. They were forced to rely on Accelerator to aid the city, knowing full well that he was using the processing ability of their Network for his calculations. Following the severing of ties from Academy City by the 27 Cooperative Institutions of Academy City after the events at Hawaii, the Sister clones escaped from the housing units that the Institutions provided (as it was tasked after the clones were sent to their institutions after the end of the Level 6 Shift), and erased all known traces of their DNA map in their records using their powers. It was hinted that "someone" gave battle tactics to them in their network, though it is unknown who it was. After the events of the arc, Last Order returned to Accelerator only for him to discover that she had been possessed by a presence referred to as the "will of the whole of the Misaka Network". The presence berated Accelerator for thinking that he could take the easy way out, destroying the his peaceful life, and then going to hell once everything is put in order by throwing himself into a fight to approach the secrets of Academy City. The presence told him that his anxiety regarding forgetting what he needed to do by growing relaxed in his new life was unfounded. As he was a monster, the presence told him that it was most comfortable for him to have an easy conflict; violence and victory are only natural for him. However, the presence stated that his calculation power was not given to him just so he could take the easy way out.[9] The presence stated that he must struggle for someone's sake, struggle in the way that is most difficult, and threatened that if he took the easy road and became a monster, then the presence would throw him into a hell several sizes larger than his imagining. The presence concluded that despite leaving Last Order and Misaka Worst, the presence was very interested in Touma and was concerned for his well-being.[9] In the final recreation of the world by Othinus created specifically to break Touma's spirit, known as the Version_Omega world in-text, where several characters from the original world had been "saved" or had not experienced great tragedy, it was Accelerator instead who saved all 20,000 Sisters, along with Last Order and Misaka Worst after stopping the Level 6 Shift Project.[19] The clones and Last Order were first seen in the park where Othinus left Touma after recreating the world. Here, as Othinus continued to speak to Touma to break his crumbling resolve, Last Order and a few of the clones appeared, chasing after a paper airplane. Mikoto and Accelerator soon followed them as well. Seeing this, Touma admitted that he couldn't save over 10,000 clones, and wished that he had realized the events surrounding them sooner, so that there might have been a different option. He began blaming himself for accepting that the incident with the Sisters had been resolved. His self-deprecation allowed Othinus to continue to break Touma, with him eventually realizing that his very existence and choices may have caused great tragedy to befall people.[20] Later, after Touma's spirit had been finally broken and he was deciding how he should have himself killed, Last Order, several of the Sisters, and Misaka Worst were in the festival in the Academy City accompanied by Accelerator, Yoshikawa Kikyou, and Amai Ao. Last Order was enjoying the festival, commenting on how she had given up on trying to process all the information in front of her. A Sister then said that if she abandoned any attempt to understand, they would suffer as well, and asked Last Order to try harder. The clones later became enamored by the foodstands, prompting Misaka Worst to egg them on.[19] Using Misaka 10031's body, the Will of the Whole Misaka Network waves to Touma after stopping him from committing suicide. Using Misaka 10031's body, the Will of the Whole Misaka Network waves to Touma after stopping him from committing suicide. However, the Will of the Whole Misaka Network was affected by this change as she was neither alive nor dead, just existing, twisting her form into something different.[10] She later took over Misaka 10031's body and stopped Touma from committing suicide after falling into utter despair in the perfect world. She then took him to Touma's student dormitory where she explained to him that Othinus had free control over life and death, but because of her origins she was free from her control.[10] The Will consoles the broken-hearted Touma. The Will consoles the broken-hearted Touma. She then began trying to convince him to discard the "perfect world" and return to his original world. After pressing him he admitted that it bothered him and revealed all his thoughts and feelings to her about the "perfect world" Othinus so casually created. That she might have been wrong in how she created it and saved everyone, but to return things to normal would be just as wrong.[21] The Will however slowly convinced him that there was nothing wrong with deciding to prioritize himself just this one time and not to hide what happened, saying that she'd be by his side no matter what ever happened with his friends, even if it was just the two of them.[22] After Touma left, her form "peeled away" from Misaka 10031 as the "perfect world" continued crushing and twisting her. Though she could have easily asked Touma to save her to get him out of his despair, she knew that he will crumble eventually if she did so.[17] Last Order (打ち止めラストオーダー Uchidome (Rasuto Ōdā)?, lit. "The End") is the 20001st Sister, a clone of Misaka Mikoto, that was produced as part of the Sisters Project for the Level 6 Shift Project. She becomes an integral part of the Toaru Majutsu no Index storyline after meeting with Accelerator who later dedicates himself to protecting her. Last Order is depicted as a 10-year old version of Mikoto[1] with one unusual strand of hair (known as an ahoge) that acts up in humorous moments in the manga. In her debut appearance, she's seen wearing a ragged piece of blanket as makeshift clothes. She is later given proper attire after being released from the hospital, wearing a blue spotted dress with a white coat and sandals. Unlike the other clones, her eyes are the same color as the original. Like Mikoto, Last Order has a complex in regards to her chest size and is easily upset about it. Unlike her clone sisters, she is capable of actually showing emotions and has a close relationship with Misaka 10032, Accelerator and her adult guardians, Yomikawa Aiho and Yoshikawa Kikyou. Like her older clone sisters, she speaks in third person, except she says "Misaka" twice. She has all of the memories of the Misaka clones and has observed Accelerator through this method during the experiment, posing a theory that Accelerator did not actually want to take part in the Level 6 Shift Project and therefore doesn't blame him for his actions. She also has an apparent admiration of Touma due to him stopping the experiments and also protecting her during the events of volume 13.[2][3] Her appearance matches her childish nature, being playful and curious, such as taking Misaka 10032's goggles to play with as well as playing tag with her.[2] She is also very caring as seen in New Testament, when she puts her life on the line to save Fräulein Kreutune, despite the latter wanting to devour her brain. Though only being a child, she is shown to be very perceptive, as demonstrated when she theorizes that Accelerator did not want to take part in the Level 6 Shift Project. She was the final clone produced for the Level 6 Shift Project, though not as a part of the 20,000 clones selected to be killed by Accelerator so he could achieve Level 6. She functions as the command center of the Misaka clones and the administrator of the Misaka Network, making her their superior.[2] According to Yoshikawa Kikyou, Last Order was created as a fail-safe mechanism in case the clones go out of control; by sending a set amount of brainwave signals to her, the researchers can control the Misaka Network from the outside.[4] She was kept into the form of a child, and not like her sister so as she can be easily controlled.[5] Her name, Last Order, was derived from the scenario of Last Order commanding the clones to shutdown.[4] Uiharu Kazari (初春 飾利 Uiharu Kazari?) is a minor character debuted in Toaru Majutsu no Index before being expanded as a main character in Toaru Kagaku no Railgun. She is a Level 1 Academy City student,[2] and along with her colleague and friend Shirai Kuroko, is a member of the student composed law enforcement organization, Judgment.[2] Etymology Her name, "Uiharu" in Kanji (初春) literally means "Early Spring", and "Kazari" in Kanji (飾利) literally means "decorations" and "benefit". It is most likely referring to her flower headband, considering that flowers are a symbol of spring. Appearance Uiharu Kazari is a small girl who sports short black hair and has golden-brown eyes. She has thick eyebrows but her most striking feature is her headband made out of artificial flowers. In the manga she often wears a facemask because she is easily afflicted by colds and flu. Personality Uiharu is usually shy and humble but always friendly. She is also shown to be equally high-spirited as her friend Saten Ruiko. She admits that she is composed most of the time because of a so-called "limit" she places on herself. Without that limit, she is very energetic and can be airheaded at times as well, as shown during Tokiwadai Dormitory's Festival.[3] Moreover, she is intrigued and interested in the Ojou-sama lifestyle, as shown with her trying to impress Kuroko with her tea making abilities, as well the above mentioned excitability of her person during the Tokiwadai Midsummer Festival.[3] Although she is incapable of normal combat like Kuroko, she still has a strong sense of justice, being a member of Judgment, and will do her utmost to do her duty. Apparently, she is an animal lover, as she was the only one of her friends that wasn't scared of Ekatrina, Kongou Mitsuko's pet python, and even played with it.[4] Her vulnerability to flu is not shown in the anime version of Railgun, though this later disappeared in later chapters of the manga. The running gag on her not managing to eat her sweets ended in the Railgun anime as well. Uiharu uses polite Japanese almost exclusively, regardless of mood or standing; she addresses everyone by their family name accompanied with the honorific -san, even Saten and Haruue, and she always uses desu and the polite forms of verbs. Uiharu is a 1st year student attending Sakugawa Middle School in class 1-D along with her friend Saten Ruiko who often teases her by flipping her skirt (which she does to Uiharu only).[2] She is also known for wearing a headband of flowers (and in the Railgun manga, a surgical mask, as she constantly suffers from flu). She has a sweet tooth but is always called for Judgment duties before she can enjoy her sweets. She displays various advanced skills with computers, such as repelling hackers and gathering information.[2] She joined Judgment when she was still in elementary school along with Shirai Kuroko. They were caught in a bank robbery attempt when their senpai, Konori Mii, had been injured and Uiharu was taken hostage. After being teleported out of harm's way and subduing the culprits (with the secret help of Misaka Mikoto) by Kuroko, she and Kuroko vowed to mature and become better members of Judgment.[5] She later holds true to this, and joins Kuroko as a member of Judgment 177 Branch Office. dark side researchers being tied of Misaka Mikoto getting in the way of use her sisters mange to kidnapped her and put her into a clone body of her friend Uiharu around last order age and put someone else in her body who will listen to them and fallow there orders who was also a boy before the swap and put the old Mikoto in a orphanage for Child Error and one of the stuff make sure she stay puts there she mange to get out for a bit and got to her old body but could not fight her old body why the former boy touch his breast and told her who he was before and how he like the new life the researchers gave him.