Urban Legend

are a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true. As with all folklore and mythology, the designation suggests nothing about the story's veracity, but merely that it is in circulation, exhibits variation over time, and carries some significance that motivates the community in preserving and propagating it.
Urban legends are a unique part of the world of Toaru Majutsu no Index, specifically Academy City. The legends and rumors are quite often important to the plot later on, and in Toaru Kagaku no Railgun is a central point in several storylines, having many storylines based on an urban legend.
==Principles==
Despite being the city of science, urban legends are still quite pervasive in Academy City, apparently having entire websites dedicated to following and recording details on urban legends. Because of the fact that they are in Academy City, the rumors and legends take a pseudo-scientific appearance, having basis in the Academy City.
They are first defined by Tsukuyomi Komoe as nothing but rumor talk related to the unknown "Seven Mysteries" that are supposed to be around Academy City. Chapter 2 Part 8 This is of course ironic since Komoe Sensei is herself considered one of the seven wonders.
===Evolution===
Despite the many ridiculous and ludicrous situations that are featured in rumors and urban legends that a person may somehow run into and not escape. Urban legends and rumors are constantly "looked into" or change to accommodate weaknesses in order for the person that may run into one of the situations in urban legends and rumors to escape. And even then, such things continue to evolve to even more complicated rituals or change weaknesses or strengths regarding the contents of the rumors and urban legends. Epilogue
For example, if a rumor was spreading that said no one could escape from a certain woman who could run 100 meters in 3 seconds, a different rumor would be created saying one would be safe as long as one had some hard candy or pomade. Then another rumor would crop up saying the hard candy and pomade only worked on the original woman, but they were completely ineffectual against the second one whose mouth had been split open by the original woman.
The urban legends and rumors of Academy City are apparently a never ending cycle of changing its contents, to weaken or strengthen it. It is unknown if a rumor or urban legend is proved or disproved, though one can assume that actual information regarding the rumor will eventually replace false information of the rumor.
==Chronology==
===Toaru Majutsu no Index===
====Sisters Arc====
A number of urban legends were referenced at several points during the events surrounding Kamijou Touma's encounter with the Sisters (themselves the subject of an urban legend) and his intervention in the Level 6 Shift Project. At one point while these events were occuring, Tsukuyomi Komoe discussed the nature of urban legends in Academy City with Index and Himegami Aisa.
===Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index===
====Ichihanaran Festival Arc====
A number of grisly urban legends were mentioned in the aftermath of events which occurred during the Ichihanaransai, along with new rumors which had cropped up after Beetle 05 usurped Kakine Teitoku (believed by Kihara Yuiitsu to have been in too short a time to be natural), and one concerning the nature and manipulation of the city's urban legends themselves.
===Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index===
====Post-Handcuffs Arc====
During Anna Sprengel and Aradia's conversation on the legends of the Transcendents, when the former was officially joining the Bridge Builders Cabal and touring their base, urban legends were talked of, along with letters, notes, texts from correspondence lessons, and texts coded, analyzed and rearranged. Between the Lines 1
===Toaru Kagaku no Railgun===
====Level Upper Arc====
A number of urban legends were brought up during events concerning the Level Upper and events around the time it was being circulated. The Level Upper itself was the subject of an urban legend, as was its creator Kiyama Harumi due to her stripping tendency.
====Sisters Arc====
Besides the urban legend concerning the existence of Misaka Mikoto's clones, another urban legend involved in the events surrounding Mikoto's initial encounters with the Sisters and the Level 6 Shift Project was that of a cash cards in alleys, the result of Nunotaba Shinobu's actions to draw attention to areas used for the outdoor experiments and hinder the project. Saten Ruiko looking into the urban legend played a part in Mikoto meeting Nunotaba, leading her to learn about, look into and eventually encounter the Sisters.
====Daihasei Festival Arc====
Several urban legends were involved in the events which transpired on the second day of the Daihaseisai. One was the Shadow Metal which was rumored to be created from a clash of many different esper abilities, such as the ones occurring during the festival - supposedly baseless and having developed from the increased security to prevent people from stealing DNA maps during the games. While trouble arose from pursuit of the rumored metal on the first day, the incident on the second day led to a quantity of the material being created. The other main rumor, posted on Auribus oculi fideliores sunt., involved a DNA computer believed to be capable of reproducing esper abilities and housed in a facility in School District 2 (actually Exterior), the website and facility being the subjects of Kihara Gensei and Shokuhou Misaki's respective manipulations surrounding Exterior, Gensei's to uncover and exploit it and Shokuhou's to conceal and safeguard it.
====Dream Ranker Arc====
During the time Indian Poker was in circulation, some of the cards being traded involved urban legends of various kinds, including the infamous Bust Upper. Some time after the events surrounding Indian Poker, Uiharu Kazari took Saten Ruiko on a tour of various urban legend sites in order to cheer her up.
===Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator===
====Necromancer Arc====
Around the same time as events involving DA, Saten Ruiko talked to Uiharu Kazari about some urban legends involving Academy City's subway system, one about how there were so many tracks that the city couldn't track them all and one about a subway train that continued forever without stopping at any stations, the latter actually belonging to board member Nakimoto Rizou.
===Toaru Kagaku no Railgun: Astral Buddy===
====Astral Buddy Arc====
During Hokaze Junko's initial investigation into the ghost girl she encountered, she was introduced to Saten Ruiko and had a discussion which included mention of various urban legends, including Tokiwadai's variant of the 'seven mysteries' and the ones which could be experienced through Indian Poker.
Much later, Houjou Arei spread footage of her fight with Hokaze, along with certain other rumors to give rise to a new urban legend. Circulation of urban legends and Indian Poker was a key part of Mitsuari Ayu's plan for Yuuri Senya and Ideal's legacy, with mention of how urban legends and rumors were said to be spread to guide the flow of people's thoughts and the AIM diffusion fields. Part of Shokuhou Misaki's countermeasure against it involved spreading a new rumor, of the Level 5s becoming Idols, to eclipse it.
===Toaru Kagaku no Mental Out===
====Tokiwadai Election Arc====
During Shokuhou Misaki's involvement in Tokiwadai Middle School's student council presidential election and the Relics, a number of rumors were referenced regarding the two.
Later on during these events, when hearing that the former #1 Level 5 was a born esper from outside the city, a Gemstone, a skeptical Shirai Kuroko questioned it, asking if such espers weren't just urban legends.
==Known Urban Legends and Rumors==
Below are some of the known urban legends and rumors which have been featured or referenced in the series. It should be noted that some of them, while being counted as urban legends, also overlap with aspects of folklore and ghost stories.
===General===
Name 	Description 	Usage in the Toaru series
 	A male spirit in red cloak and a face-concealing mask, said to haunt public or school bathrooms. He asks people using a toilet to choose between red or blue paper, before killing them in a way depending on their choice (laceration or flaying for red, strangulation or blood draining for blue). 	During Uiharu Kazari's scary counter-prank against her, Saten Ruiko considered cases where responding to a voice was wrong move (and may lead to one's soul being stolen away), like Aka Manto.Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (light novel) Chapter 2 Part 3
Hasshaku-sama 	 	During Uiharu Kazari's scary counter-prank against her, Saten Ruiko considered cases where responding to a voice was wrong move (and may lead to one's soul being stolen away), like Hasshaku-sama.
Hisaruki 	A mysterious creature said to be whispered about by children, but of which nothing is known about, with the children not able to divulge anything to adults. 	During Uiharu Kazari's scary counter-prank against her, Saten Ruiko considered Hisaruki with regards to name-related urban legends and her situation (though not one where a name could be said backwards or repeated to make the subject go away).Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (light novel) Chapter 2 Part 1
Hikiko-san 	The vengeful ghost of a girl who was abused by her parents and bullied at school, eventually committing suicide, who targets bullies and similar children. 	
*When Shirai Kuroko was about to participate in Operation Handcuffs, it was noted that she had previously had as much solid evidence for the existence of the dark side as urban legends like Hikiko-san. Prologue
*During Uiharu Kazari's scary counter-prank against her, Saten Ruiko got the feeling she was about to die more gruesomely that Hikiko-san's victims.Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (light novel) Chapter 2 Part 2
Kesaran Pasaran 	A white fluffball creature which according to its story brings happiness to its finder. 	The Kesaran Pasaran was mentioned as an example of a non-creepy urban legend, with regards to the urban legends Saten Ruiko gathers.
Kokkuri-san 	A divination game using a mechanism, such as a coin over paper with answer options or letters, where participants invoke a spirit known as a Kokkuri and ask questions, which the Kokkuri then answers by moving the mechanism. 	
*When talking about how spells that catch on as rookie-killers tend to be easy to set up, Isabella Theism gave Kokkuri-san and the Ushi no Koku Mairi as examples.Toaru Majutsu no Index SS: Agnese's Magic Side Work Experience Chapter 3 Part 8
*During Uiharu Kazari's scary counter-prank against her, Saten Ruiko thought of Kokkuri-san while panicking.
*Elza, a magician of the Kamisato Faction, is described as utilizing 'something like a' Kokkuri to possess people and objects, usually the coins she carries around. Chapter 3 Part 2
 	 	During Uiharu Kazari's scary counter-prank against her, Saten Ruiko got the feeling she was about to die more gruesomely that the Kuchisake Onna's victims.
 	A slender, white humanoid being, said to be like paper or fabric, whose name is derived from its alleged tendency to wiggle its limbs. Glimpsed from a distance, stories dissuade people from prolonged viewing or close approach, said to risk one's sanity or life. 	When Shirai Kuroko was about to participate in Operation Handcuffs, it was noted that she had previously had as much solid evidence for the existence of the dark side as urban legends like Kunekune.
Names 	In certain ghost stories and urban legends, the story's monster might be invoked or banished by chanting their name repeatedly (or spoken in some other variation). 	During Uiharu Kazari's scary counter-prank against her, Saten Ruiko considered that this was not a case where a name could be said backwards or repeated to make the subject go away.
Purple Mirror 	A story involving the cursed phrase "Purple Mirror", which will kill a person if they remember it until they reach 20 years old. 	
*When Stiyl Magnus was torturing Kamijou Touma in the Tower of London, Purple Mirror was referenced in comparison to the method of torture (burning a doll to send the sensation of burning to the victim) in it does not matter whether or not the victim understands how it works - the more they attempt to reject it, the more they focus on it, and the more they fall into the trap. Chapter 2 Part 4
*Aleister's use of Spiritual Tripping is compared to Purple Mirror - in that just like how someone may try to forget the phrase and end up only focusing on it more, the target may try picturing another image to avoid picturing the implanted one but end up narrowing it down and being unable to escape. Chapter 4 Part 9
*During the hospital overflow caused by espers using magic distributed by R&C Occultics (a curse taking advantage of Christmas's date or a charm meant to confirm one's own happiness over that of others), Purple Mirror was referenced with regards to how human psychology tends to spread stories of misfortune more than ones of fortune - in this case, it is said a story that still remembering 'silver mirror' on turning twenty would bring happiness would be quickly forgotten by everyone, while no one could bring themselves to forget that remembering 'purple mirror' would mean death. Chapter 4 Part 5
Roshtein's Corridor	 	A Western demon worship spell bears the name Roshtein's Corridor. Chapter 4 Part 13スクエア (都市伝説) (Japanese Wikipedia article)
Satoru-kun 	 	During Uiharu Kazari's scary counter-prank against her, Saten Ruiko thought of Satoru-kun while panicking.
Seven Mysteries 	A set of seven 'mysteries' (such as ghost stories, strange happenings and other mysterious subjects) surrounding a location, such as a school. 	
*Tsukuyomi Komoe is said to be one of the 'seven mysteries', of her school or Academy City.
*Tokiwadai Middle School is said to have its own 'seven mysteries', including a tree that would ensure two lovers who confess under it stay together, spooky noises in an empty classroom, a moving scultpure in the art room, a wandering will-o'-the-wisp on the rooftop, a landing which gives someone a chill and anemia when stood on, and a courtyard that makes one sneeze until they are hospitalized.
 	A type of urban legend dating back to the late 1920s and early 1930s, based on reports of alligator sightings in unusual locations, about , some versions of which have albino alligators. 	
*White Alligator likely derives its name from these urban legends.Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS: Dasoku, Mata wa Toaru Jiken no Shumaku
*Saten Ruiko referred to the story of white alligators living in sewers while describing urban legends associated with manhole covers (and why she knew so much about them).Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (light novel) Chapter 4 Part 5
Sukima Onna 	 	During Uiharu Kazari's scary counter-prank against her, Saten Ruiko considered that, unable to escape the room, her situation was more like attempting to fool an axe murderer under the bed than like the Sukima Onna.
 	The vengeful ghost of a schoolgirl lurking around train stations or urban areas at night, who is said to have fallen onto a railway line and been cut in half by a train. Lacking a lower body, she drags her upper body along with her hands or elbows, with her name coming from the sound she makes while moving.	
During Uiharu Kazari's scary counter-prank against her, Saten Ruiko compared her situation to being on the railroad track, with careless action putting her at risk and doing nothing getting her run over when the train arrives, needing to act to avoid become the legend of a frozen rail crossing crawling around with only the top half of her body.
*
Temple Born T-san 	A figure who is said to have been born in a temple and possesses some form of amazing capability. Stories involving him usually involve him suddenly appearing near the end of the story to resolve the predicament that the characters have been facing. 	When Shirai Kuroko approached in the middle of scary counter-prank Uiharu Kazari was subjecting Saten Ruiko to, Saten wondered if Kuroko had always been like Temple Born T-san.
===Academy City Urban Legends===
This section covers urban legends found primarily in Academy City and its cooperative institutions, rather than the wider world.
Name 	Description 	First mention 	Veracity
 	Misaka Mikoto's DNA map is being analyzed and used as the basis for the development of military sisters. Prologue 	Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 01 	True
 	Himegami Aisa references it to compare it to Misaka 10032's demeanor. Chapter 1 Part 3 	Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 03 	Undetermined
Tree Diagram rumors 	The Tree Diagram's one month's worth of weather forecasting is due to the fact that it used for research simulations most of the time. Chapter 2 Part 2 	Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 03 	True
 	A program which is meant to stop the aging of cells and thus increases the life span of the subject. Accelerator mentioned having heard about this during his time on the experiment, but refused to believe it until he meet in person and misunderstood the nature of Tsukuyomi Komoe. Chapter 1 Part 7 It is also cite Komoe as part of the rumors regarding the Imaginary Number District. There is also the possibility that Yakumi Hisako is part of the experiment as she is taking anti-aging drugs that causes her to have the body 20+ year old while being 70 in reality. 	Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 03 	Undetermined
An unknown Level 0 who defeated Academy City's mightiest esper 	According to Komoe this rumor was associated to the name Kamijou Touma, causing him to be hunted by those who wanted the title of "the mightiest Esper" to themselves. Supposedly, this rumor died down quickly due to Academy City higher up's influence. Prologue 	Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04 	True
Windowless Building rumors 	Rumor on how the highest leader of Academy City is living in a special building that can even absorb and remove a nuclear bomb attack. There are no windows or even entrances to the building, and they can only teleport in through the help of a guide. Chapter 3 Part 1 It was first mentioned as fact in volume 2, but is later referred to as a rumor in volume 8 of the Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novels. Most details have appeared true, and was shown to withstand an attack that used 5 minutes of the Earth's rotational energy. Chapter 8 Part 8 It has not been shown that it could withstand a nuclear attack, but that is highly probable. 	Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02 	Mostly True
Misaka Mikoto and Shirai Kuroko rumors 	Rumors of teleporter who is unbelievably merciless and wicked, who would rip up someone's mind and body and leave them incapacitated. The teleporter has a partner whom she is crazy about, the strongest Electromaster, the Railgun. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 001 	Mostly False
 	Urban legend on how a woman randomly strips for no apparent reason in public. Further information states that the stripping is contagious or is a curse, and that those who come across her become stripping women as well. The ritual to remove the curse is to wear a panty on top of one's head and force the "contaminated" one to wear a panty on her head as well. Confirmed to be Kiyama Harumi, but most details are false. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Episode 04 	Mostly False
Wind Turbine Reversal urban legend 	Urban legend on how when the wind turbine propellers begin turning the other way, something strange happens in the city. It is shown that when it occurs, a powerful gust of wind is created. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Episode 04 	True
 	An item that increases your level just by using it: The Level Upper! 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 006 	True
Ability negating person 	A guy that has an ability that prevents other abilities being used on him. As the main premise of the Toaru Majutsu no Index series, it is clear to the reader that this rumor is true since the start. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Episode 04 	True
Level 0 that can match against the Railgun 	Reports and rumors regarding an unknown Level 0 that can match against the Railgun using only his right hand that Accelerator recalled while Kamijou Touma was repelling his 1000 wings attack. Chapter 4 Part 5 	Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 01 	True
Someone's Watching You 	According to Saten Ruiko, the famous Urban Legend at the time after the Level Upper Incidents, the legend consist about those being "the victim" feel a gaze piercing through their backs, but when they turn around no one was behind; even though "no one was there" one can feel how the gaze keeps closing in and closing in, and the gaze itself can be felt even at strange places. It has been shown that nobody is watching the esper, specifically, Electromasters, as it only uses abrasive electromagnetic wavelengths to make the esper feel that they are being gaze, which was caused by Jounan Asako. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun OVA 	False
Destruction of Academy City via a supernatural phenomenon known as Poltergeist	Rumors spread on how a big Poltergeist event that causes powerful earthquakes, will destroy Academy City. The Poltergeist is referred to as waves from another dimension, some type of plasma, or some experiment done underground by the Board of Directors. Shown to be false, as the Poltergeist are caused by overloaded espers who are resonating with each other. Furthermore, the destruction of Academy City by Therestina Kihara Lifeline via Poltergeist was staved off by the efforts of Misaka Mikoto and branch 177 of Judgment. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Episode 20 	Mostly False
If one passes by abandoned alleyways, one can find cash cards 	Rumors spread on how cash cards with varying amounts of money can be found in abandoned and narrow alleyways. Discovered to be a ploy by Nunotaba Shinobu in order to hinder the Level 6 Shift experiments. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 018 	True
 	 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 042 	Undetermined
 	According to Saten Ruiko, when hundreds of esper abilities clash, there's a metal created that doesn't exist naturally in the world. Daihaseisai is apparently the only opportune time for multitudes of esper powers to clash, and for that metal to be purportedly created. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 044 	True
 	There was a skilled hacker among Academy City’s keepers of the peace. He or she apparently created a security system that was in with the top 10 strongest systems in Academy City, with the use of his full knowledge and excellent skills. However, the Board of Directors did not believe in this person’s ability and he wasn’t put in charge of a public system. This had created an odd situation where the small office that hacker was a part of had stronger defenses than the databanks that held all of Academy City’s data.Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume SS2 Chapter 9 Whilst Uiharu Kazari is indeed the Goalkeeper, it is unknown if any of the attributed details towards her are true.	Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume SS2 Chapter 9 	Undetermined
 	According to Saten Ruiko, she is searching for rumors of the Bust Upper that can easily make a girl's breasts grow.Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS: Liberal Arts City Chapter 1 An Indian Poker card dealer has claimed to have a card containing the secret of the Bust Upper, and it is later shown to work as rumored. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS: Liberal Arts City Chapter 1 	True
 	The Black Garbage Truck that would take away bad children that did not do what their teacher said.There are Black Garbage Trucks that are utilized by 's cleanup division to remove dead bodies from the area where a mission was conducted, though it is unknown if they are the ones being referred,Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume SS Chapter 2 Part 2 though it is unlikely they would be used for something as ridiculous as the claim. 	Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 06 Epilogue 	Mostly False
 	Specimen #502 is the source of the strange groans heard coming from within manholes but should never be investigated. 	Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 06 Epilogue 	Undetermined
 	A forbidden name whose owner would kill anyone who entered the name into a search engine. 	Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 06 Epilogue 	Undetermined
 	The human bone colored tiles that were said to increase in number around Academy City’s roads after people inconvenient to the city disappeared. 	Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 06 Epilogue 	Undetermined
 	An urban legend that states that many urban legends and rumors were set rules and controlled by the AIM diffusion fields throughout the city and that they were a means of manipulating information. 	Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 06 Epilogue 	Undetermined
Kakine Teitoku (Beetle 05) the Rhinoceros Beetle 	
Urban legend that states that if one runs into a scary people that is spoken of in the rumors, one need only to shout, "Help me, rhinoceros beetle!", for a person named Kakine Teitoku, the 2nd ranked level 5 to come and aid those who are in distress.
Although indeed Kakine Teitoku that was reformed from Beetle 05 will most likely have the propensity to act when called upon, it is unknown yet if he actually does it. 	Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 06 Epilogue 	Undetermined
School District 22 is protected from earthquakes due to its design 	Due to the spiraling design of the underground complex of School District 22, it acts like a spring that absorbs the impact of the earthquake. 	Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 16 	Undetermined
Tokiwadai Middle School buses are both bulletproof and explosion proof 	According to Tsuchimikado Motoharu, rumors in the School Garden reek of lies, and that since information there is highly classified, he doubts that leaks like that are not made without reason. It is implied that it is simply a rumor that is made as a means to protect the students from attacks. 	Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume SS 	Mostly False
School District 19 was purposely abandoned 	
Due to School District 19 being the center of old technology not seen in Academy City, there is a rumor that the district was purposely abandoned as so it could be used as a testing ground for old technology, despite the fact that there is still apparently a school there as evidenced by Haruue Erii who came from the district before moving to School District 7. 	Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 01 	Undetermined
The Spider Queen is an AI with no real form 	The Spider Queen is an intermediary between the bosses and the thugs who do the dirty work. Has a large network or "web" of people under her to control the battlefield. 	Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 07 	False
Listening to Meigo Arisa's song brings good luck 	Meigo Arisa is a being born through a miracle in the emergency landing of the Spaceplane Orion, and though she likes to sing, and can make miracles through her voice. Her presence alone can create miracles without even singing. 	Toaru Majutsu no Index Movie: Miracle of Endymion 	Mostly True
The president of the Orbit Portal Company is a hologram or a robot 	There is a rumor that the president of the Orbit Portal Company is in fact a hologram or a robot used for propaganda, most likely due to her doll-like appearance and her age allegedly being 10. 	Toaru Majutsu no Index Movie: Miracle of Endymion 	False
Sandal Granny 	Saten Ruiko mentioned it before the Cursed Maid Outfit urban legend. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Archives 1 Audio Drama 	Undetermined
 	According to Saten Ruiko, somewhere in Academy City there is a cursed maid outfit that cannot be removed once someone puts it on. The girl that fits it perfectly will become very popular among some men. The maid outfit, however, cannot be taken off for a bath, so its smell will get worse and worse. In the end, nobody will come near her and she will be completely alone.Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Archives 1 Audio Drama 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Archives 1 Audio Drama 	Mostly False
A machine which can reproduce abilities 	This rumour, posted on Auribus oculi fideliores sunt., concerns a DNA computer, believed to be a machine which can produce esper abilities and housed in a facility in School District 2. The facility in question actually houses Exterior. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 045 	Mostly False
Untrackable subways underneath Academy Ciy 	An urban legend that states that there are so many subways underneath Academy City that the city can't track them all. 	Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator Manga Chapter 006 	Undetermined
 	There is a subway train that is said to continue on forever without stopping at any stations. It is later shown to be the battle train of Nakimoto Rizou, one of the Board of Directors. 	Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator Manga Chapter 006 	True
Kamijou Touma 	
Rumor regarding Kamijou Touma according to Kanou Shinka that states that he "runs around the city at night knocking out even the most mighty warrior with his clenched fist and snatching up every girl in his path no matter how young or old." Chapter 1 Part 12
It is an extremely simplified reference to Touma's adventures in Academy City, but overall has some truth to it. 	Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 12 	Mostly True
Level 0 who has met more than half the Level 5s 	Another urban legend about Kamijou Touma and his escapades. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 089 	True
 	Rumors tell of a golden retriever who speaks in a dandy voice and its successful effort to stop an attempted suicide. The physical characteristics, including the mechanical arms on its back and its preference to smoke cigars, suggest that it is Kihara Noukan. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 097 	True
Child Errors abducted by a mad scientist 	Uiharu Kazari told of three Child Errors who were abducted and experimented by a mad scientist and are currently working to burn Academy City to the ground. The names of the Child Errors are , , and . 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 097 	Undetermined
Arch of Jilted Lovers 	Saten Ruiko tells of a small arched passageway in Academy City that causes those who walk under it in the afternoon to break up with their lover in the future. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 097 	Undetermined
Guardian spirit of the reservoir 	
There are rumors of a white python which mutated into a giant serpent after exposure to toxic waste and took refuge in a reservoir in the area. This serpent was then considered the guardian spirit of the reservoir, but no such sightings of the snake can be found, even as the reservoir has started to dry up due to the warm weather.
Another version involves a sighting of a serpentine creature towering over the cityscape near the same reservoir during a fireworks display. The supposed witness attempted to take a picture of the "serpent", but captured a poor image, weakening the witness claim. The "serpent" was actually one of the dragons residing in Kamijou Touma's hand which were unleashed during the battle against Misaka Mikoto, who was forcibly transformed in an attempt to produce a Level 6.	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 097 	Mostly false
District 7 Southern Station's Turtle Statue 	There are a number of legends associated with the turtle statue in front of School District 7's Southern Station, a place originally considered a good meet-up point but had its image decline due to people using it to hand off sketchy items. The legends concerning the eerie statue are oddly justice-oriented, such as it shooting beams from its eyes at night, leaning on girls who had run away from home to drive them away from whoever they were meeting there, or being able to combine with the top of District 18's domed stadium to transform into the Ultimate Galactic Turtle Robot. Chapter 1 Part 2 Chapter 1 Part 7 	Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 19 	Undetermined
 	A mysterious person from an urban legend spreading amongst elementary school children. Carrying a huge tank on its back, it carries off children who are alone in the vacant lot and brings them to the trash collection area. When you encounter the snail, if you hand over severed hair, the snail will become unable to move.Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 1 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 1 	Undetermined
 	Somewhere in Academy City is a narrow tunnel, and it seems some bizarre people have made their hang out there. The last one to enter, they didn't come out alive so it's become a very very scary place. It is ordinarily safe and only concern at certain times. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 1 	Undetermined
 	The mysterious person is an urban legend being gossiped about among elementary school children. She cuts the hair of children she discovers sleeping in the vacant lot using giant scissors. It’s said that in the worst case, should the child wake up, she’ll kill them. The Longicorn is weak against perfume named Omega Flower #43. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 1 	Mostly False
 	If one asks for a portrait in one of them, one could get scouted as a model. The veracity of the rumor is unconfirmed. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 1 	Undetermined
 	In a room in a multi-tenant building somewhere, you can get your hands on a beverage called the Kuruha Drink. It strengthens your ability power when you drink it apparently. The ingredient used in Kuruha Drink is said to be the blood of espers. Therefore the old man who sells the drink remembers the face of whoever buys it, and after they drink it he comes to collect their blood.Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 2 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 2 	Undetermined
 	According to Saten Ruiko, there's a company that produces a cat toy called Nekomichi, and it places curses and such on people who speak with contempt towards cats. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 2 	Undetermined
 	According to Misaka Mikoto, there is a red-colored security robot. This security robot, whose affiliation and appearance are unknown, suddenly appears in the middle of the night and attacks people. Even if it's running wild due to a bug, that says that the development company is secretly running test on a new robot. As for the red body, the rumor is that it's from basking in the blood of its victims. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 2 	Undetermined
 	Z-Point Crystallization was mentioned by Misaka Mikoto while investigating the Disciplinary Guides. Yamashina of class 1-B at Kashiizaka Middle School disseminated the urban legend on internet and received a threatening letter from the group as a result. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 2 	Undetermined
 	
*According to Saten, it was posted during the middle of the night. It's been spreading with considerable influence.
*According to Kongou, she heard a urban legend about a mysterious quartet that was being talked about. With the story becoming so embellished, the investigation about Disciplinary Guides ended in failure. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 2 	False
 	According to Saten, Camouflage Guidance is something like a considerably terrifying looking figure in camouflage body painting appearing on the road. The person who sees it can receive guidance in the use of camouflage. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 2 	Undetermined
 	It is a supercomputer-class server that can be easily accessed anywhere in the Academy City. Any security can be easily broken through the server. It is located in Nagatenjouki Academy. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun PSP Chapter 4 	True
 	According to the urban legend Saten picked up on, a refrigerated storage facility that already used massive amounts of electricity is being used to hide the power usage of the life support device that is controlled by a special amperage. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS: Dasoku, Mata wa Toaru Jiken no Shumaku Part 2 	True
 	After destruction of the higher-ups and White Alligator, Aizono Mio and Misaka Mikoto set out to locate the Saitou Souta's whereabout. Then urban legend about The Whereabouts of Saitou Souta changed to What Happened to Saitou-sensei Afterwards. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS: Dasoku, Mata wa Toaru Jiken no Shumaku Part 17	True
 	Saten mentioned it when searching for urban legend. The veracity of the urban legend is unconfirmed. 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS: Dasoku, Mata wa Toaru Jiken no Shumaku Part 17	Undetermined
 	 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS2: Ability Demonstration Trip Chapter 1 	
 	 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS2: Ability Demonstration Trip 	
 	 	Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS2: Ability Demonstration Trip 	
 	In a back alley deep among School District 8's buildings, there is an unnamed shrine with unknown target of worship. If you steal the offerings left there, you apparently get possessed by an evil spirit. The evil spirit whispers awful things in your year and if you listen to it, your body will end up doing what it says. 	Astral Buddy Manga Chapter 004 	Undetermined
 	Saten Ruiko mentioned it after the whispering evil spirit urban legend. 	Astral Buddy Manga Chapter 004 	Undetermined
 	Saten Ruiko mentioned it after the whispering evil spirit urban legend. 	Astral Buddy Manga Chapter 004 	Undetermined
 	Saten Ruiko mentioned it after the whispering evil spirit urban legend. 	Astral Buddy Manga Chapter 004 	Undetermined
 	
*According to Saten Ruiko, a shoe-wearing cat lives on a certain tree at Tokiwadai Middle School. The cat apparently still lives in the tree as a spirit and telepaths can supposedly speak with the tree if they call out to it.
*According to Hokaze Junko, the tree where shoe-wearing cat lives is the blessing tree, so if you tie an anonymous love letter to its branch, the two of them will be blessed by the spirit and bound together forever. Some couples were apparently really brought together like that. 	Astral Buddy Manga Chapter 004 	Undetermined
 	An urban legend related Indian Poker that the Indian Poker Trader obtained following Saten's request. 	Astral Buddy Manga Chapter 004 	False
 	An urban legend related Indian Poker that the Indian Poker Trader obtained following Saten's request. 	Astral Buddy Manga Chapter 004 	False
Tokiwadai's Student Council Election 	There are rumored to be a number of hidden win conditions in Tokiwadai's student council presidential election, outside the main election itself. The Relic is said to be one of them. People relying on the rumors are called . 	Toaru Kagaku no Mental Out Manga Chapter 007 	
Relic 	There are various rumors surrounding the Relic. Said to have leaked from a now-defunct lab, it has been rumored to be a malignant tumor that consumes esper powers, a precious stone which gathers life force, or a secret technique to rearrange the 'braid of time'. There is also said to be one in Tokiwadai with a close connection to it. 	Toaru Kagaku no Mental Out Manga Chapter 005 	
School District 6 Rumors 	There are a number of suspicious rumors about School District 6, including one about the presence of an unfamiliar mascot indicating a lurking kidnapper and one about a secret casino hidden below the district. Chapter 2 Part 4 	Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 03 	Undetermined
Gemstones 	The idea/existence of the natural espers known as Gemstones, whose abilities were not acquired through the Power Curriculum Program, are considered mere rumors or urban legends by various individuals. Chapter 6 Chapter 18 	Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume SS2 	True
===Imaginary Number District Rumors===
Rumors about the Imaginary Number District are pervasive in Academy City, with several rumors popping up declaring that it is the first First Research Organization, it has Imaginary Technology, and that it secretly controls Academy City behind the shadows.
==See Also==
*0th Investigation Department
*Auribus oculi fideliores sunt.
*Gossip Specialization – Zarathustra
==References==
Category:Terminology
Category:Academy City