2chan Anime Saimoe 2009: It's a double for Taiga Aisaka

2chan Anime Saimoe 2009:
It's a double for Taiga Aisaka!

By JR Salazar, Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
October 18, 2009

Up until mid-October, Suiseiseki was the only one able to win both the Japan 2chan Anime Saimoe and Anizone Best Moe Tournaments.

Now she has company. Tiger-sized company.

Meet Taiga Aisaka, the 2009 2chan Anime Saimoe Tournament champion, who prevailed over Yui Hirasawa in a hotly-contested final, 1332-1278.

A final surge of support at the 11:00 PM hour, along with comfortable leads at the midway points, were the deciding factors in what has been another successful Anime Saimoe Tournament.

At Ohaji High School, a large banner read: "We Made History!" in Japanese, Korean and English. Other banners read, "We Did It!," "You're the greatest, Taiga!," "Roar to victory!," "Taiga earns her stripes!," "Move over Desu! Make room for the Tiger desu!" and "The Tigress of Asia, Taiga you are a goddess!" and even, "The next Prime Minister of Japan wields a wooden sword!" hung from the rafters.

Signs of Taiga's image were raised, free plush Tenori (Palmtop) Tigers were handed out, and flags of the school and the Toradora! logo waved into the crisp Tokyo night.

"Once again, three simple words: We Made History!" exclaimed a smiling Aisaka, surrounded by Ryuji Takasu, Minori Kushieda, Ami Kawashima and Yuusaku Kitamura. "And you all made it possible. Thank you everyone.

"To Yui, you fought a good race. I commend you for your efforts. I look forward to facing you at the ISML.

"To Ami and Minori. You are the best friends I could ever have. Thanks for the memories we had, and the memories we will now have.

"To Yuusaku. Even though you were someone I looked up to, I am glad you are someone I can depend on, even though you aren't the one I would give my life to. Thank you.

"And to Ryuji. We've been through so much, and I had to put up with you for sooooo long..." The crowd laughed. "No seriously, I have! But anyway, you've put a smile on my face for so many times that I can remember. I love you so much, if I was a cheesecake, I'm melting in your mouth right now. Thank you for giving me my strength, and believing in me."

"You're welcome, Taiga," he said, as they exchanged a deep kiss of affection. The crowd cheered, and some even cried.

"How about we thank them with a song?" asked Ami.

"Your choice, champ," Minori said, winking.

She thought about it, then said, "All right everyone. Pre-Parade and Orange. Everybody sing along!" And the crowd sang along, jumping to the beat and chanting to the music.

At Sakuragaoka High, the mood was surprisingly positive. When the results came out, there was applause. A few people held back tears, but everyone knew that they would accept the result, no matter where it went.

"I learned something important today," Hirasawa said, surrounded by the members of her band, their advisor Sawako Yamanaka and her sister Ui. "I lost to someone who wanted this more. And I'm fine with that. Even though I could not avenge Azunyan's defeat, I am glad that I lost to someone who wanted to make her own history.

"This journey was one of the best I ever had, and I know that bigger and brighter days will be waiting for me. If I had let anyone of you down," Yui said, "I'm sorry." And suddenly, the tears came out. "I'm really sorry that I couldn't win this for you. I really am."

Ui consoled her on stage.

"Keep you head up, Yui!" one supporter in the crowd said.
"You didn't let us down at all!' another said.
"You're better than the other 382 that competed this year!" said another.
"And you're always Number One with us!" exclaimed yet another. "Always! Forever!"
"You made us proud, Yui, never forget that!" shouted a fifth from the top of his lungs! "You are this school's heroine!"
And the crowd chanted her name. Yui, through her tears, radiated a large wide smile, and said, "Everybody, thank you very much for your support!" The whole crowd game a standing ovation. And her smile brought a sense of energy that drove her to scream, "FUWA FUWA TIME!"
The band played, and the crowd cheered as if they had won it all.

In the end, everybody won this tournament. Though Aisaka made her own set of history, Hirasawa held her head high for a strong campaign, and one that will be remembered in the annals of the history of the 2chan Anime Saimoe Tournament.