ISML 2010: O Sole Mio! Akiyama pips Mikoto Misaka for Aquamarine necklace

ISML 2010: O Sole Mio! 

Akiyama pips Mikoto Misaka for Aquamarine necklace

By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
April 6, 2010

Mikoto Misaka's victory over Taiga Aisaka wasn't good enough for her to hold off Mio Akiyama, who earns the first necklace of the 2010 International Saimoe League.

It all boiled down to the numbers. Misaka scored a 3507-3173 over Aisaka, the 2009 2chan Anime Saimoe and Anizone Best Moe winner. Yuki Nagato also put up a good fight, losing 3147-3520.

The superior vote margin for Akiyama-373 to 334-combine with a superior votes cast by 13, gave Akiyama the advantage heading into the Topaz.

"The important thing to take here is that I didn't lose," Misaka said after the match, sitting next to a disconsolate Kuroko Shirai. "So I'm still unbeaten. I think it's going to be a great contest between me and Akiyama-san."

"Onee-sama," Shirai said, sobbing, "can I lie on your lap?" She was wearing a maid outfit.

Sighing, Misaka said, "Oh Kuroko, you are such a pitiful person to be with. Fine." The tears continued to fall as Misaka petted her head before Shirai fell into a deep sleep. Turning back to the press, she said, "But once again, I think this campaign is going in the right direction."

At Sakuragaoka High, it was a party in the auditorium. The moment the news flashed, the whole crowd jumped and cheered as one. Many were waving flags of Hokago Tea Time's insignia, and signs such as "Moe Moe Kyun!", "The Dangerous Queen Does It Again!", "One More Banzai for Mai Waifu!", "Mio, you are so amazing!" and the simple yet disturbing "I came" were raised in the air.

Akiyama, surrounded by her friends that included current ISML competitors Yui Hirasawa, Ui Hirasawa and Azusa Nakano as well as Ritsu Tainaka and Tsumugi Kotobuki played "Heart Goes Boom!", an original piece written by Akiyama and composed by the band as a whole.

After the performance, she addressed the sellout crowd. "Everyone, this is just the beginning of a long journey for me, Yui, Ui, Azusa, and for you. Tonight, the first crucial step has been taken.

"I want to thank everyone on this stage for their support. Even though some of us will be facing each other, we all have the same goal in mind. But if we should fall, one will rise to carry our school's name. Sakuragaoka High has been great to us, and to me. And I especially want to thank you, my fans, for your support."

The crowd roared in approval.

"But this is just the beginning. We all have a long road ahead of us. So me, Yui, Ui and Azusa hope that you continue to vote for us in the coming months ahead. Thank you everyone!"

"I knew that my time was up in terms of defending the necklace," said a disappointed Shana, who defeated Saber 3883-2842. "I just didn't have the chance I wanted because I wasn't facing the opponents Mio and Mikoto had. But I didn't lose, either, and when I face either of them, the plans for full payback are going to be in full effect." Shana was eating her fifth loaf of melon bread at the press conference.

Defending champion Hinagiku Katsura didn't care much about the necklace contention, but rather the clean sheet seven matches into the contest.

"As the current Tiara holder, I want to win as many matches as I can," Katsura said at a Hakuoh Academy press conference after pummeling Kyou Fujibayashi 3768-2667. "With that being said, I believe I am in a good position to give the Mio, Mikoto and Shana a great fight. Especially Shana, since I had to defeat her in order to win the Tiara last season.

"I now know what Mio and Mikoto are capable of. Mikoto has improved a lot since last year's tournament. Taiga was right in her prognostications. She only finished second because Mio had a better advantage, based on the numbers, against Yuki Nagato, whose stock I think is starting to fall a bit.

"I would love to see both of them duel it out in another Match Day 7. It will be pivotal. But only if I take care of them first," she said with a wink and a smile.

"Oy, Hina, you got quite an analytical mind for such a loud mouth," Nagi Sanzen'in said, seated next to her.
"Was that supposed to be an insult or a compliment?" she asked.
"I don't know; perhaps I should leave it to you to figure it out."
"Based on your remarks, I suspect it's the former, isn't it?"
"I wonder," Sanzen'in said with a naughty face. The two stared at each other for the longest time.
"Ladies, ladies, let's be professional just congratulate Ms. Akiyama on her victory," Maria said.
"Absoultely," said Hayate Ayasaki, who came out of nowhere to embrace all three.
"Hayate..." they moaned in unison.
"And thank you to our fans your support of our candidates." The three of them continued to blush.

Mikuru Asahina was all business against Maria in a 3339-3062 victory, while Sanzen'in took care of business against Kurimu Sakurano 3638-2602.

In other ISML action that saw massive turnouts for the over on Easter Sunday...Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere pounded Mihoko Fukuji 4285-1729, Ui Hirasawa rolled past Hanyuu Furude 3481-2771, Hitagi Senjougahara wrapped up her Aquamarine run with a 3401-3139 win over Yui Hirasawa, C.C. tore past Rika Furude 3498-2604, Fate Testarossa scored a close 3172-3097 and Tomoya Sakagami had the advantage over Rin Tosaka 3473-2951.

Mei Sunohara  cruised to a 3047-2838 win over Nymph, Ruiko Saten secured a sweep for the Railgun participants with an easy 4110-1708 annihilation of Nodoka Haramura, Azusa Nakano prevailed over Mafuyu Shiina 3339-3069, Chizuru Akaba took out Minori Kushieda 3332-2775, Haruhi Suzumiya trampled down Konata Izumi 3668-2685, Nanoha Takamachi secured a TSAB-Lyrical sweep with a 3049-2955 thriller over Fuuko Ibuki and Golden Darkness (Konjiki no Yami) took out Ikaros 2890-2704.

Wrapping up the Aquamarine phase...Tsukasa Hiiragi scored a 3129-2672 win over Ryou Fujibayashi, the closest match of the day saw Chiaki Minami get on the win column with a 2952-2930 thriller over Ushio Okazaki, Minatsu Shiina finished her maiden necklace campaign on a winning note  by pounding Ami Kawashima 3434-2685, Illyasviel von Einzbern delivered a 3323-2883 blow to Kotomi Ichinose, and Nadeko Sengoku ensured a clean sweep for Bakemonogatari with a 3311-3071 victory over Kagami Hiiragi.

In a special match for this day, Final Fantasy's Yuffie Kisaragi was never troubled the least bit with a 3250-1454 whipping of KOS-MOS from Xenosaga.


So now we turn from the tides...to the sun. The 2010 International Saimoe League Topaz Phase begins on April 14, 2010 on InternationalSaimoe.com. Be sure to catch up on the Bedlam's exclusive coverage of the action on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue at bedlamba.blogspot.com and on deviantART at bongaboi.deviantart.com.