ISML 2014: Tenshi To The Top

ISML 2014: Tenshi To The Top
Kanade Tachibana wins Amethyst Necklace, Victorique de Blois takes Brooch

By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
May 30, 2014

Kanade Tachibana has won International Saimoe League necklaces before, but the Amethyst is a necklace she had yet to win...until now. With 2,667 votes, Tachibana earned a score of 157.578 to win the 2014 ISML Amethyst Necklace. Tachibana defeated Kurumi Tokisaki, who earned 2323 votes to earn a calculation of 150.333.

"I think this was a great way to end the month of May, what do you think?" asked Tachibana to the press, surrounded by her husband, Yuzuru Otonashi; Yui-nyan, Yuri Nakamura and Masami Iwasawa. "I want to thank everyone on my team for keeping faith alive. While I have won the Tiara before, it's nice to win things I had yet to win. It gives me a good feeling."

"It's going to take us time for us to break past some of the stronger forces in the Stella," Tokisaki said at her press conference in Osaka, surrounded by Yoshino, Origami Tobiiichi, Tohka Yatogami and Kotori Itsuka. "I did all I could to challenge her, but Kanade's bastion of voters is very consistent and loyal. Two or three years will pass, and they will still vote for her, unless the rules change. I do think I will win one of the other necklaces up for grabs."

Ruri Gokou was third, earning 1182 votes for a score of 106.710. "I was hoping to defend my Amethyst, but if I were to lose this necklace, it would be at the hands of an equal. Kanade is just that, and so I congratulate her for adding another to her resume, I guess."

With 881 votes, Kotori Itsuka was fourth with a score of 105.982. "Either Kurumi or myself will win the next necklace," Itsuka said at the press conference with Tokisaki. "That's all I'm going to say. The next necklace belongs to Team Date A Live."

Eucliwood Hellscythe had 824 votes to finish fifth with a score of 92.254. "This was going to be an uphill battle, with Kanade in the field," Hellscythe said via her interpreter, Ayumu Aikawa. "I don't think Kurumi was going to stand a chance and obviously, I was out of this one. This was Kanande's to lose."

Yoshino was sixth with 617 votes and a calculation of 86.197. "I don't see myself gaining any necklaces among those still in contention," said Yoshino through her puppet, Yoshinon. "But I will get my wins and I will be among the last 32 still standing. It should be pretty straightforward."

Tsukiko Tsutsukakushi was last, with 650 votes and a calculation of 85.008. "I consider myself an outsider compared to those contending for a necklace," Tsutsukakushi said at her press conference in Tokyo. "It was a decent effort, by my standards. I didn't stand a chance, but at least there were people who supported me in this part of the regular season."

Victorique de Blois takes the Amethyst Brooch after winning 1780 votes. Chocolat was second with 1656 votes, Masami Iwasawa had 1367 votes, Karuta Roromiya has 1283 votes, Rin Natsume had 1265 votes, Charlotte Belew had 1229 votes and Shouko Kirishima, to the disappointment of the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue, had 1200 votes.

"This was an even match and people were divided on who deserves to win," de Blois said at her press conference. "Personally, I would like thank the people in Western Europe, the USA and Latin America for giving me their support, but I have a feeling this is all I'm going to win. In fact, I will be surprised if these same voters place me in the postseason. Winning this brooch allows me to take a more realistic approach to the rest of the season."

Sayaka Kirsaka won the first of two other exhibitions, winning 2283 votes. Mui Aiba won 1813 votes, Claire Cruz won 1186 votes, Hajime won 689 votes, Hime Shirayuki won 592 votes, Peach Maki had 475 votes and Adelie was last with 449 votes. Finally, Renge Miyauchi flew the flag for Non Non Biyori, winning 1705 vortes. Frenda Seivelun earned 1649 votes, Subaru Konoe won 1661 votes, Kyouko Sakura won 1496 votes, Yuiko Kurugaya won 1489 votes, Ukanomitama-no-kami earned 710 votres and Minori was last with 661 votes.

Match Day 1 of the 2014 International Saimoe League Ruby Period is scheduled for June 8, 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 competition, the International Saimoe League!

TOP 16, Nova Division

1. Kotori Itsuka

2. Yoshino

3. Kurumi Tokisaki

4. Rikka Takanashi

5. Kuroyukihime

6. Asuna Yuuki

7. Tsukiko Tsutsukakushi

8. Nanami Aoyama

9. Tohka Yatogami

10. Eru Chitanda

11. Shinka Nibutani

12. Kurousagi

13. Azusa Azuki

14. Yaya

15. Yukino Yukinoshita

16. Touka Takanashi

TOP 16, Stella Division

1. Kanade Tachibana (AM)

2. Mikoto Misaka (AQ)

3. Ruri Gokou (C)

4. Mashiro Shiina

5. Taiga Aisaka

6. Azusa Nakano

7. Ayase Aragaki

8. Eucliwood Hellscythe

9. Shana

10. Mio Akiyama

11. Yuri Nakamura

12. Yui-nyan

13. Kobato Hasegawa

14. Shinobu Oshino

15. Saber

16. Inori Yuzuriha