2channel Anime Saimoe 2013: Job almost done for Mitakihara's best

2channel Anime Saimoe 2013: Job almost done for Mitakihara's best
Sakura, Kaname, Tomoe, Miki to 2channel AST quarters

By Jo-Ryan Salazar
November 13, 2013

The scenes at Mitakihara Middle School were that of jubilation and relief. On the P.A., AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" was playing loud and clear and at the school auditorium, students, parents and local residents were looking at returns all week of the Round of 16 in the 2013 2channel Anime Saimoe Tournament. Despite allegations of improprieties by the event organizers, the finest moe from Mitakihara Town were on their way to the quarterfinals.

Kyouko Sakura, Madoka Kaname, Mami Tomoe and Sayaka Miki scored decisive victories over Sawa Okita, Ayase Aragaki, Miho Nishizumi and Yoshino, respectively. The victory for Kaname was significant for two reasons: she is widely tipped by many people in the city as the next Saimoe Prime Minister, and she had avenged her defeat to Aragaki in the second round proper of voting.

The scenes of jubilation weren't restricted to the school. Buildings and congregation halls were awash in red, blue, gold and pink. Tall banners of the four remaining Puella Magi were unveiled, and fans were quickly picking sides. Sales of Puella Magi Madoka Magica merchandise were through the roof, and the names of the four representatives of the city were trending nationwide on Twitter.

"I have a feeling that this will be Madoka's year," said Homura Akemi, a longtime partner, confidante and lover of Madoka Kaname. "I can sense that she has what it takes to lead the country next year and be an example for every young woman to follow. She gives me the energy I need to keep living the life I love, even if it may hurt. The reason I love everything in this world is because of her. I want Madoka to win it all. I know she will. I hope she will."

"My vote has to go to Sayaka because she has that certain sense of morals that we can all relate to," said violinist prodigy Kyousuke Kamijou. "I've composed a few opus pieces in her name, and I support her dedication to the happiness of me, Hitomi (Shizuki), her friends, and others that she is close to. She is a battle-hardened warrior and she has my vote."

"I wouldn't mind going back to the final this November," said Kyouko Sakura, eating a massive hamburger that was as big as her face. "No, I think I'm facing the odds if I get to the semis. Tsukiko [Tsutsukakushi], however, is not a pushover. I do have something planned for her, especially since she put up an impressive total this round. I'll be fine just making the semis this year."

"I would love to be a winner again, but to be honest with you, I'm only playing for fun," said 2011 Saimoe Prime Minister Mami Tomoe. "Being reelected is not going to leave much of an impact. I really want someone else to represent the interests of us magical girls. But if the voters want to give me another crack at the office, I have no choice but to take it."

"I don't know about this race," said 10-year old Nagisa Momoe. "This is really Madoka Magica against the world. I would like Mami-san to win, but I think someone else will win the crown. Kuroneko [Ruri Gokou], for example, is still alive in this competition and could win a double, which hasn't happened for three years. But I don't think she's going to win, either."

As for Gokou, she was confident that a "shock-the-world" result would happen on Saturday in Japan.

"I've already won the ISML crown, but I would like to add to it this year," Gokou said at a press conference in Akihabara. "Everyone is telling me that Saimoe is dead this, Saimoe is dead that, especially with the increased vote restrictions. I'm still alive in this tournament. A lot of people I know are talking about me getting run over by Madoka.

"Listen, we all know she is the favorite. She is a goddess for a reason, and her level of purity is unmatched, that is a fact. However, if you look at how I performed in the ISML, Japan has also been behind me through everyone that has happened. I believe that I am the best option that Japan has if they don't want to bring in another of the Puella Magi.

"I bring a winning spirit, I bring results, and I will not disappoint you. However, I come into this match as the underdog, and I like that. That said, I am ready to shock the nation and move one step closer to immortality."

As for Madoka Kaname herself, she chose to downplay the importance of the occasion. Kaname had the most votes of all the round winners, with 272 votes.

"I'm not going to kick myself or feel sorry for myself if I don't fulfill the expectations of all the pundits out there," Kaname said at Mitakihara Middle School via phone interview. "At the end of the day, I'm just a girl enjoying my second chance at living a life I always wanted to value but never did. But if you look at how everything turned out for me and my friends in this round, I think this is a trend that will continue to keep going.

"I may not be the person watching over everything in this world, but I want to be the one that listens to what my country needs. I want to make a difference in people's lives because I believe in the future of Japan. I have never been more hopeful, more confident, more excited for the future of what I feel is the greatest nation on the face of the earth."