ISML 2015: Yukino Yukinoshita, Hachiman Hikigaya Prevail!

ISML 2015: Yukino Yukinoshita, Hachiman Hikigaya Prevail!
Yukinoshita takes Necklace, Hikigaya earns Pendant, Yui-nyan wins Qualifier

By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
June 29, 2015

OreGaIru is making moves as the series to beat this year with Yukino Yukinoshita and Hachiman Hikigaya winning the Aquamarine Necklace and Pendant, respectively. Yukinoshita won 2805 votes (18.08%) for a score calculation of 50.259. Kosaki Onodera is tipped by the Bedlam to win the next Necklace, the Amethyst, after winning 3525 votes (22.73%) for a calculation of 50.183. Mashiro Shiina, however, will be Onodera's primary challenger for that prize, after winning 3006 votes (19.38%) for a calculation of 48.692.

Rounding out the top seven include Shiro (1636 votes, 10.55%, 39.934), Rin Tosaka (1734 votes, 11.18%, 39.372), Chiyo Sakura (1430 votes, 9.22%, 37.284) and Asuna Yuuki (1375 votes, 8.86%, 36.411).

"Good win for me, and I think this is the first necklace I have won in this competition, ever, if I am not mistaken," Yukinoshita said at a press conference at Tokyo Big Sight. "I thank my partner, Hachiman, for believing in me, to my good friend Yui, Hachiman's sister Komachi, and all of you who have supported us this season. We are going to dedicate our victory to you all and we hope you support us the rest of the way."

As for Hachiman Hikigaya, he won the Aquamarine Pendant in a landslide victory with 4824 votes (29.29%) for a calculation of 58.661. Sora, who was the first choice by the Bedlam, will go into the Amethyst Period as the favorite to win the pendant there with 2537 votes (15.40%) for a calculation of 45.956. His main challenger in the Amethyst will be Archer, who had 2307 votes (14.01 votes), for a calculation of 47.969.

Others in the pool included Gintoki Sakata (1648 votes, 10.01%, 37.784), Kiritsugu Emiya (1901 votes, 11.54%, 37.769), Accelerator (1835 votes, 11.14%, 37.616) and Touma Kamijou (1419 votes, 8.62%, 36.302).

"Earlier today, I had breakfast with Yukino at home with my sister and with Yui and we were talking about the Obergefell ruling," Hachiman explained at the press conference. "So Yukino was telling me, based on the decision by the Americans to allow gay marriage, I think we have a chance. Me, Yukino and Yui...we're all straight allies. You should never be riduculed because of who you want to love and we decided that if America chose to legalize it, we have a great chance of winning.

"At the same time, this isn't what we're looking for. Yukino wants the Tiara and I want the Scepter, if I am not mistaken that this is what the winner of the Male Division earns. I will have to ask the organizers what the Male Division winner wins but anyway. I have every reason to believe that Yukino and I will finish on top at the end of the year. I thank everyone that has supported us up to this point and we're not going to let you down the rest of the way, we promise."

Yui-nyan has won the Aquamarine Qualifier with 3122 votes. Mikan Yuuki was second with 2768 votes and Marika Tachibana was third with 2467 votes, Rounding out the field were Azusa Azuki (2168 votes), Yuuki Konno (2145 votes), Sena Kashiwazaki (2030 votes) and Tina Sprout (1985 votes).

In other exhibition action, Ryuunosuki Akasaka and Rita Ainsworth won the Upset of the Round: a 5319-3116 blowout of Caster and Souichirou Kuzuki, Latifa Fleuranza and Kaori Fujimiya rolled past Tensai Ikkyuu and Yuuko Shionji 4389-3648, Li Syaoran and Sakura Kinomoto blew apart Mamoru Chiba and Usagi Tsukino 5400-2189, Horizon Ariadust and Chii drilled Yumemi Hoshino and Flower 3949-3269 and Haruka Takayama and Yuu Sonoda prevailed over Ryuuka Shimizudani and Toki Onjouji in the closest race of the round, a 3760-3598 thriller.

TOP 16, Nova Division
1. Yukino Yukinoshita (AQ)
2. Shiro
3. Kosaki Onodera
4. Chiyo Sakura
5. Yui Yuigahama
6. Kurumi Tokisaki
7. Jibril
8. Tsukiko Tsutsukakushi
9. Isuzu Sento
10. Yoshino
11. Marika Tachibana
12. Tohka Yatogami
13. Kurousagi
14. Chitoge Kirisaki
15. Stephanie Dola
16. Shino Asada

TOP 16, Stella Division
1. Mashiro Shiina
2. Rin Tohsaka
3. Asuna Yuuki
4. Ayase Aragaki
5. Saber
6. Eru Chitanda
7. Kotori Itsuka (C)
8. Nanami Aoyama
9. Yuri Nakamura
10. Taiga Aisaka
11. Kurisu Makise
12. Illyasviel von Einzbern
13. Kuroyukihime
14. Rikka Takanashi
15. Azusa Nakano
16. Eucliwood Hellscythe

TOP 16, Male Division
1. Archer
2. Sora
3. Hachiman Hikigaya (AQ)
4. Gintoki Sakata
5. Touma Kamijou
6. Accelerator
7. Kiritsugu Emiya
8. Izayoi Sakamaki
9. Yuzuru Otonashi
10. Koyomi Araragi
11. Seiya Kanie
12. Edward Elric
13. Kyon
14. Keima Katsuragi
15. Gilgamesh
16. Ryuuji Takasu

Match Day 1 of the 2015 International Saimoe League Amethyst Period is scheduled for Sunday, July 5, 2015. Vote for your favorites at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate. ANd keep it right here on The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for continuing coverage of the International Saimoe League, the world's premier anime character competition!