ISML 2014: GUNNERS HIGH AGAIN!

ISML 2014: GUNNERS HIGH AGAIN!
Mikoto Misaka takes Aquamarine Necklace, Yukina Himeragi wins Bracelet

By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
May 2, 2014

Mikoto Misaka is no stranger to winning International Saimoe League hardware. The eponymous Railgun added yet another prize to her collection, winning 2857 votes to win the 2014 ISML Aquamarine Necklace. Misaka, listed as a respectable 15-1 longshot, earned a score calculation of 155.248.

"What a day to be part of the Academy City, let me tell you, this never gets old," Misaka said at a rally at downtown Academy City. "It's an honor to add this to my collections and prove once again that I am still relevant in the minds of the voters in this competition. However, the objective for me is to make history and be the first to win the ISML Heavenly Tiara twice. It won't be easy, but I know it can be done."

Kanade Tachibana was second, with 2074 votes and a score calculation of 149.038.

"This isn't a big deal to me, especially with the next necklace being the Amethyst, and I think I can win that one because Ruri [Gokou] already won this necklace before," said Tachibana at a press conference in Tokyo. "I do expect to secure some form of redemption when I do face her later this season."

Gokou, on the other hand, was hammered. She earned a paltry 732 votes and only secured a score calculation of 113.204.

"I knew that I had a massive target on my back because I'm the defending champion but I am not going to let this take me down," Gokou said. "Mikoto has yet to face me one-on-one, and I am confident I can get back at him. Also, I am the current Amethyst necklace holder, so the next period is where you can see me really do work. Just watch me."

Rikka Takanashi earned 654 votes to finish fourth in the necklace score calculation with a tally of 107.886.

"I know that I am taking on the best that the league has to offer in the Stella Division," Takanashi said at a rally in Tokyo. "The important thing to know is that next year, I will be in the Stella Division and I'll really know where I stand. So this is a good barometer for where I will be going in the future."

Kotori Itsuka finished fifth in the necklace score calculation with a tally of 107.734. Itsuka was third in the voting, earning just 761 votes.

"I will say this: the Stella girls are pretty tough material," Itsuka said at a press conference in Tokyo, next to Yoshino, who earned a calculation of 97.733 after winning 598 votes. "So it's not going to be easy to win necklaces against the likes of Mikoto, Kanade, and Ruri. If you were to ask us who is likely to win the Tiara, put your yen or euros or dollars on either of those three. Take your pick."

"This wasn't going to be an easy match," Yoshino said through her interpreter, Yoshinon, "and even if Kanade and Ruri get their necklaces, it's going to be a free-for-all as to who will get the next one. This period does not define a season, but you'd be crazy if I didn't think the Railgun is in the driver's seat right now."

Kuroyukihime was last, with 551 votes and a necklace score calculation of 86.422.

"I don't think I will win a necklace this year, and even if I do get promoted to Stella, I may be as good as Inori [Yuzuriha] at this point, so I won't keep my hopes up," Kuroyukihime said at a press conference in Osaka. "I'll just have to keep the faith."

Meanwhile, Yukina Himeragi pulled off the Upset of the Round, winning 1329 votes to take the Aquamarine Bracelet. Noumi Kudryavka earned 1184 votes to finish second, Nadeko Sengoku got 1152 votes to finish third, Erio Touwa was fourth with 1074 votes to finish fourth, Laura Bodewig managed 1003 votes to finish fifth, Yozora Mikazuki was sixth with 965 votes and Furano Yukihira was last with 868 votes.

"I think this might be the only prize that I will get from this competition," Himeragi said at a press conference in Kyoto. "I am not going to expect anything else after this."

Two other exhibitions took place. Mana Ryougi, the sister of Shiki, beat Inari Rushimi in the first exhibition, 1976-1168. Rounding out the order were Nui Harime (1068 votes), Ayaka Kagari (968 votes), Jeanne Kaguya d'Arc (638 votes), Ame (456 votes) and Cecil Sudo (359 votes). Finally, in the second exhibition, C.C. defeated Nagisa Furukawa in the closest race of the night, 1617-1507. Rounding out the order were Natsume Tsuchimikado (1111 votes), Nymph (1001 votes), Ouka Yuuouji (999 votes), Mashiro Mitsumine (739 votes) and Funabori (670 votes).

Match Day 1 of the 2014 International Saimoe League Amethyst Period is scheduled for May 11, 2014. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate. And keep it right here on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for continuing coverage of the world's premier anime character competetion...the International Saimoe League!

TOP 16, Nova Division

1. Rikka Takanashi

2. Kotori Itsuka

3. Yoshino

4. Kuroyukihime

5. Tohka Yatogami

6. Kurumi Tokisaki

7. Nanami Aoyama

8. Asuna Yuuki

9. Tsukiko Tsutsukakushi

10. Shinka Nibutani

11. Kurousagi

12. Azusa Azuki

13. Eru Chitanda

14. Yukino Yukinoshita

15. Yaya

16. Mikan Yuuki

TOP 16, Stella Division

1. Ruri Gokou (C)

2. Kanade Tachibana

3. Mikoto Misaka (AQ)

4. Ayase Aragaki

5. Mashiro Shiina

6. Taiga Aisaka

7. Azusa Nakano

8. Eucliwood Hellscythe

9. Yui-nyan

10. Mio Akiyama

11. Shana

12. Kobato Hasegawa

13. Yuri Nakamura

14. Inori Yuzuriha

15. Sena Kashiwazaki

16. Kirino Kousaka