ISML 2011: GUNNERS HIGH!

ISML 2011: GUNNERS HIGH!
Misaka wins Aquamarine, Tachibana stays unbeaten


JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
May 11, 2011

Fireworks exploded across Academy City as Mikoto Misaka was named Aquamarine Necklace champion in the 2011 International Saimoe League.

There were handshakes, hugs and high-fives at A Certain High School and Tokiwadai Junior High School as one of the city's most prominent personalities won the Aquamarine, representing the spirit of the oceans.

In spite of Kanade Tachibana winning the Necklace Match over Misaka 2872-2301, Misaka won by way of a superior score calculation: 15.277 to 14.668. A good deal of that came from her victory over Azusa Nakano in Match Day 7.

Mio Akiyama finished third in the match with 1,834 votes and third in the calculation with 9.835 points. Shana was fourth with 1,581 votes and fourth in the calculation with 8.478 points. Yuki Nagato was fifth with 1,439 votes and fifth in the calculation with 7.717 points.

Eucliwood Hellscythe, who was unable to maintain her advantage heading into Match Day 7, finished sixth with 1,259 votes and 7.073 points to finish sixth in the calculation. Yuri Nakamura held the rear with 462 votes and a 2.596 to finish seventh.

"Everyone, thank you very much for your support," Misaka said at the victory rally at Tokiwadai Junior High's quad, surrounded by Touma Kamijou, Index Prohibitorum, Last Order and Kuroko Shirai. "I knew that this season was going to be very good to me. But one necklace is not going to be enough. We have six more to go before the real battle begins.

"To Kanade, Mio, Shana, Yuki, Eu and Yuri, thanks for a wonderful final to this phase. There can be only be one winner, and now I head into the Topaz with a sense of confidence and resolve."

"I don't think I face opponents as quality as Mikoto's," Tachibana admitted at a press conference in Tokyo. "Even if I had won this match, I don't think it would have been enough. But I do come into the Topaz knowing that I have yet to lose a match, whether with one opponent or six others.

"I deserved better than this. And I will prove it come next week."

"Mikoto is the best out there at the moment," admitted Akiyama, the defending ISML Champion, at a press conference in Japan Women's University. "But one necklace does determine a tournament as long as this. We have a long way to go."

"I was going to be in a no-win situation from the start," said a disappointed but unbowed Shana, quietly munching on her seventh loaf of melon bread for the year. "That Misaka girl can fight."

"It was a matter of trying my luck in all of this," Nagato said from the SOS Brigade office in Nishinomiya City. "I congratulate Ms. Misaka in her victory and look forward to facing her later on in the International Saimoe League."

"When the wheels fall off, the wheels fall off," Hellscythe said, sipping green tea as Ayumu Aikawa read her words on her behalf. "When Tachibana defeated me in Match Day 7, I knew I wasn't going to stand a chance. But I see this as a good start for my first year in this tournament."

"I was surprised that I was in the top seven," Nakamura remarked at a press conference in Tokyo, surrounded by her fiancee Noda. "I was just lucky to be here. It didn't matter if I finished last, which I did; the fact that I got this far in the phase is a victory in my book."

A series of special matches also took place. In one match, Kyubey from Puella Magi Madoka Magica ran away with 3,969 votes. Happy from Fairy Tail was second with 2,114 votes and Ton-chan was third with 1,783 votes.

"It's disappointing that the girls I made contracts with were not considered by the voters to be in this tournament," Kyubey said at a press conference in Mitakihara. "But this win shows that we have captured the imagination of fans around the world regardless. Now, is anyone willing to make a contract with me?"
"I will!" roared a morbidly obese fan in the back of the room.
"Sorry, you're too fat," he deadpanned, as the audience broke loose in laughter.

In the second of four exhibitions, Naru Narusegawa Iron Fist Punched the competition with 4,063 votes. Ran Mouri was second with 3,443 votes and Lina Inverse was third with 1,323 votes.

"It feels good to earn the love from voters like these," Narusegawa said, her husband Keitaro Urashima by her side at a press conference at the University of Tokyo. "I'm glad they chose someone that knows how to bring it, plain and simple."

The third of three exhibitions was a close affair, with Lucy finishing first with 2,692 votes. Teletha Testarossa was second with 2,224 votes and Haruka of Pokemon was third with 2,217 votes.

"Nobody can take this victory away from me," said a content Lucy to the press at a conference in Tokyo. "Even though this was an exhibition, I will let you know that I worked hard for this. I thank the voters for realizing that I still matter, even after all these years."

Finally, the fourth of four exhibitions was a runaway victory for Miku Hatsune, who earned 5,870 votes. Rei Ayanami was a distant second with 2,023 votes and Cirno was third with 1,621 votes. Hatsune earned the Aquamarine Necklace for her efforts.

"I wish I could have participated in the International Saimoe League," said Hatsune after the match at a press conference in Akihabara, Tokyo. "But, fate can sometimes be cruel to you.

"Such is life."

The 2011 International Saimoe League will resume on Tuesday, May 17 with Match Day 1 of the Topaz Necklace phase. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the online debate.

And of course, keep it here on bongaboi.deviantart.com and the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue (bedlamba.blogspot.com) for continuing coverage of the world's premier anime character competition, the International Saimoe League!

2011 INTERNATIONAL SAIMOE LEAGUE
Overall Top 16 after 2011 Aquamarine Necklace Phase


1. Mikoto Misaka (AQ)
2. Shana
3. Yuki Nagato
4. Kanade Tachibana
5. Eucliwood Hellscythe
6. Yuri Nakamura
7. Mio Akiyama (C)
8. Ruri Gokou
9. Azusa Nakano
10. Hinagiku Katsura
11. Charlotte Dunois
12. Yui
13. Kirino Kousaka
14. Haruhi Suzumiya
15. Taiga Aisaka
16. Nadeko Sengoku


Key:
(AQ) Aquamarine Necklace Winner
(TOP) Topaz Necklace Winner
(AM) Amethyst Necklace Winner
(SAP) Sapphire Necklace Winner
(EM) Emerald Necklace Winner
(RUB) Ruby Necklace Winner
(DIA) Diamond Necklace Winner
(C) Defending ISML Champion