By Jo-Ryan Salazar
August 8, 2009
HInagiku Katsura knew what she needed to do...and she got it done.
The slashing supperstar from Hayate the Combat Butler won her first International Saimoe League necklace, nullifying enough of Tomoyo Sakagami's kicks to win a thriller in Madrid, 1697-1663.
After the end of the fight, a number of banners that were raised in the air had messages supporting Katsura such as, "Hina all the way!", "It's Giku time!", "Hina is in!", "The pride of Hakuou has arrived!" and "HINA GA DAISUKI!!!".
"Everyone, thank you for coming today," said Katsura at the victory rally, surrounded by Hayate Ayasaki, Nagi Sanzen'in (who defeated Sakura Kinomoto 1965-1293 in nearby Milan), Maria (who completed a Hayate sweep with a 1864-1334 dusting of Illyasviel von Einzbern in Seoul), Isumi Saginomiya (who was prograssing in the 2chan and Anizone Saimoe tournaments), Sakuya Aizawa, Miki Hanabishi (who also progressed at the 2chan Saimoe tournament), her older sister Yukiji, Risa Asakaze, Izumi Segawa, Ayumu Nishizawa, Saki Kijima, Wataru Tachibana, Klaus Seishirou and Tama.
"This victory means a lot to me," she said, with a tear in her eye, and a smile that shined like the sun over the Spanish capital. "I've never won anything major like this in my life. It really means a lot," she continued, crying, holding her necklace.
"Hina-chan, ¡te amo!" exclaimed a fan in the front.
"Te amo tambien. I love you too," she replied with a wink through her tears. The fan fainted, close to dying of moe.
The crowd chanted "HINA! HINA! HINA!' before she continued with her victory speech.
"As always, I want to thank many people. I want to thank the people here on this stage with me. Hayate, Nagi, Maria, Sakuya, Miki, Risa, Yukiji my dear onee-chan, Wataru, Saki, Sakuya, Isumi, Izumi, Ayumu, Klaus, Tama, and everyone else I have met at Hakuou: you are awesome. You rock."
"Yep, we sure do," said Risa with an affirmative nod. Everyone else nodded in approval.
"But most of all, all of you in the audience, all the voters who voted today, you made it possible," Katsura said, "and I thank each and every one of you, here in the wonderful city of Madrid, and around the world."
"Hinagiku-san, would you like to sing your song for us?" asked Hayate.
"Yeah, sing it, sing it!" exclaimed Sakuya.
"Oh dear, here we go," said Nagi.
"Ara ara," replied Maria.
"Ah, mou! All right," she said before belting out a stirring rendition of her songs: "Do my Best!", "I miss You" and "Honjitsu Mankai Watashi iro!". Ayasaki led the cheers in the latter number.
"Give credit to Hinagiku, she deserved the Ruby," said Sakagami at her press conference. "But I already won a necklace, so I guess it was a fair outcome.
"The old saying goes, 'You can't win them all.' So we will press on."
Shana, meanwhile, consolidated her spot at the top of the overall leaderboard with a 1967-1541 victory over Haruhi Suzumiya in Lima, Peru.
"We were facing a no-win situation when it came to Katsura taking down Sakagami," the current holder of the Sapphie necklace said, eating her 27th loaf of melon bread at the tournament (according to her count). "But I knew I could still finish the campaign undefeated. And that was what I did.
"The objective now is to prove Fate's theory that if you finish first in the regular season, you should be able to win the Tiara. We still have one necklace to go, and I look forward to finishing off the regular season on the right foot."
The wheels seems to be falling off a little bit too early for Suzumiya. However, she was unfazed by the latest string of defeats.
"The important thing is I snap out of this dry spell," she said after her loss to Shana. "I want to defend my Diamond necklace, but I am going to have to overcome a challenge from Yuki [Nagato]. It will be an uphill battle, but I am on the lookout for new challenges forthcoming, and this one will be no different."
Nagato herself also finished the Ruby campaign without a loss, defeating Kagami Hiiragi 1896-1357 in Cairo.
"I knew that based on my calculations, I would not receive the necklace," she said at her press conference. "But I am content with going through the Ruby phase without a defeat. I look forward to the Diamond phase with a clear purpose and a sense of resolve."
Also finishing the phase unbeaten was Suigintou, who was too good for Suiseiseki in a 1825-1480 victory in Buenos Aires.
"I was disappointed that I was facing heavy odds to win this necklace, but no losses is better that nothing. Bring on the Diamond stage."
Defending ISML champion Fate Testarossa Harlaown scored an impressive 1725-1465 victory over Kyou Fujibayashi in Sydney.
In addition to the Hayate crew, the girls of Toradora! also claimed a sweep.
Taiga Aisaka kept her win streak going, roaring pase Marisa Kirisame 2114-895 in Katowice. Minori Kushieda stayed alive for returning to the tournament next year with a 1774-1416 victory over Misuzu Kamio in Mumbai and Ami Kawashima was all business in a 1765-1351 win over Sayuri Kurata in Istanbul.
In other action...Tsukasa Hiiragi prevailed over Rena Ryuuguu 1777-1595 in Tokyo, Nayuki Minase was too much for Kallen Kozuki (Stadtfeld) in a 1783-1093 rout in Mexico City, Mei Sunohara claked up a 1892-1016 victory over Amu Hinamori in Sao Paulo, New York City saw Evangeline A.K. MCDowell take down Nagi 1385-1177 and Mikuru Asahina was all business in a 2359-922 beatdown in Shanghai.
In a battle of Touhou Project characters, Reimu Hakurei rolled past Aya Shameimaru 1378-742 in Lagos, Tamaki Kawazoe scored a rare win-a 1359-1090 decision over Remilia Scarlet in LOs Angeles, Shinku whipped Kirino Chiba 2016-870 in Karachi, Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere knocked down Hayate Yagami 1693-1213 in Dhaka, Anya Earlsteim defeated Patchouli Knowledge 1400-997 in Manila and Chii tore down Makoto Sawatari 1449-1125 in Jakarta.
Fuuko Ibuki left Index L. Prohibitorum seeing stars 2014-901 in Paris, Hanyuu Furude easily crushed Shiori Misaka 1764-1042 in Moscow, London saw Konjiki no Yami (Golden Darkness) chalk up a 1753-909 victory in London, Rika Furude scored a 1788-1466 upset over Kotomi Ichinose in Tehran, Saber slashed Vita 1989-968 in Bangkok and Ayu Tsukimiya easily pummeled Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga 1938-743 in Bogota.
Wrapping up Ruby action...Nanoha Takamachi busted Konata Izumi 1682-1411, C.C. prevailed over Nagisa Furukawa 1825-1550 in Toronto, Rin Tosaka slienced Horo 1664-1561 in Algiers and Mai Kawasumi slashed past Shiki Ryogi 1694-1056 in Santo Domingo.
The final necklace that will be contested prior to the 2009 ISML Tiara postseason tournament will be the Diamond necklace. Suzumiya is the defending necklace champion. Voting begins MOnday, August 10, 2009.
CURRENT STANDINGS AFTER ISML 2009 RUBY:
1. Shana 53-1 (159 pts) (SAP)
2. Tomoyo Sakagami 51-3 (153 pts) (AQ)
3. Haruhi Suzumiya 51-3 (153 pts)
4. Kyou Fujibayashi 49-5 (147 pts)
5. Yuki Nagato 49-5 (147 pts) (TOP)
6. Suigintou 48-6 (144 pts) (AME)
7. Fate Testarossa Harlaown 48-6 (144 pts) (C)
8. Rin Tosaka 45-9 (135 pts)
9. Kagami Hiiragi 44-10 (132 pts)
10. Taiga Aisaka 44-10 (132 pts)
11. Hinagiku Katsura 43-11 (129 pts) (RUB)
12. Suiseiseki 42-12 (126 pts) (EM)
13. Nanoha Takamachi 42-12 (126 pts)
14. Mikuru Asahina 41-13 (123 pts)
15. Horo 40-14 (120 pts)
16. Kotomi Ichinose 40-14 (120 pts)
(C) Defending ISML Champion
(AQ) Aquamarine necklace holder
(TOP) Topaz necklace holder
(AME) Amethyst necklace holder
(SAP) Sapphire necklace holder
(EM) Emerald necklace holder
(RUB) Ruby necklace holder
(DIA) Diamond necklace holder