By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
September 28, 2010
In spite of another low turnout of voters, Mikoto Misaka gets one more shot at defeating Mio Akiyama in the Championship Match of the 2010 International Saimoe League.
The Railgun, as she is known in the Academy City (or Gakuento-shi in Japanese), defeated Shana once more in a scintilatting 3522-3478 victory.
At Sakuragaoka Girls' High School, young men and women were monitoring the returns as they came in throughout the morning and afternoon inside the campus auditorium and at Class 3-2's room. The collective mood was one of optimism, but cautious optimism at that.
"Misaka-san isn't someone [Mio] hasn't defeated," said Sakuragaoka student Eri Taki. "This crown is Akiyama's to lose."
"I think we have a better chance of beating Mikoto rather than Shana," said senior Himeko Tachibana. "Unless some random act of God comes to pass amongst the voters, you're going to see the Dangerous Queen coronated on Friday."
"None of us should keep our hopes too high," student Akane Satou said. "Misaka is a very admirable opponent, and she has been known to surprise even her harshest critics. While I have no doubt in my mind who the champion will be, this will be a close contest, and we as voters deserve this."
"We have been quite busy, doing phone calls to various people, agencies, friends, neighbors, friends of neighbors, government leaders...you name it, we called it," Shizuka Kinoshita said as phones continued to ring in Class 3-1's classroom, which turned into a switchboard where students made calls. "Every one of them threw their support for Mio Akiyama. We got groups of students and volunteers of all ages going all over town to stump for her. It's taken a lot of slack off of Hokago Tea Time and the franchise herself."
"I've been seeing blue and white-striped flags and rice bowls selling out by the chockloads," student Chika Nojima commented. "It's resulted in one of the fundraisers this campus has ever seen. That's what we want: no matter what happens, they will take a little piece of Mio with them."
"Definitely," Ichigo Wakaouji said, helping with sales of the goods in front of a long queue outside the auditorium with Nojima. "We have plushies, keychains, signs, flags, rice bowls, inflatable bass replicas, cards and other sundries with Akiyama's face on it. The last five days we sold out all our merchandise and had to call five straight times to restock, and we're getting close to a sixth straight."
"If Akiyama wins," Nodoka Manabe said, "we already have the athletic field reserved for a special concert that will go long into the night. All tickets have been sold out for this one. There's been talk of possible mosh-pitting going on, but the school has chosen to provide extra security at no charge. we also plan to have live results of the returns come in, for the earlybirds. The field will be open seven hours before the concert so that fans will get to see the live count of votes. We also have the gield reserved for Sunday, in the event that this will go to a second match on Saturday."
Back at Tokiwadai Junior Girls' High School, cheers, applause, and students hugging other students was the highlight of the afternoon. Signs like "Vote for Railgun! Yes We Can!", "Only My Railgun", "A Real Force", and "Do You Believe?" were posted all over campus.
"I think onee-sama can do it," a gleeful Kuroko Shirai said. "She may not have been able to stop that crybaby b***h before, but she can do it this time. Onee-sama will do it twice. I have no doubts."
"I still don't get this ISML idea or the rational behind it," said Toma Kamijo with a bored expression. "But I am happy for Biribiri and what she has accomplished."
Japan was deadlocked at 50-50 in the championship match of the Losers' Bracket. Africa voted a perfect 100% for Misaka and also scored key victories in North America, Oceania, Europe, Russia (which voted 64.1% in favor of Misaka), Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea, which voted 60.2% for Misaka.
Shana, who finishes the 2010 tournament in 3rd place, performed the strongest in Latin America, garnering 58% of the vote.
In the fifth place match between Hinagiku Katsura and Taiga Aisaka, Katsura ended her ISML run with a 3551-3421 victory. While Africa was deadlocked at 50-50, Katsura's win came from strong outings in Southeast Asia, led Thailand, which voted 62.5% in favor of the Hakuoh Academy's esteemed student council president.
Aisaka's strongest performance came in Russia, where she won 59.15 of the vote. She also earned victories in the Americas, Europe, China and South Korea in the defeat.
There were a series of special exhibitions on the feats on Sunday.
It was a good day to be a Katsura. In a battle of School Days rivals, Kotonoha Katsura slashed Sekai Saionji 3816-2707. And it was not a close match, with Africa the only region Saionji could win, voting 100% in favor of her. Katsura's strongest performance came in the Phili[ppines, where she won 69.9% of the vote.
Yui from Angel Beats! is a character that will more than likely qualify for next year's edition one way or another. Her statement win came against Misaki Ayuzawa, in a 4397-2646 blowout. Africa was deadlocked at 50-50, and the only region Ayuzawa could manage was the Philippines, who voted 53.85 in favor of her. Indonesia might as well be renamed Yuindonesia, since the country voted 72.2% in favor of the star from the band Girls Dead Monster.
Ryoko Okami from Okami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi may be a name you will see at next year's International Saimoe League. Okami routed Tsurara Oikawa 4872-2040. Every region voted in favor of Okami, the strongest being Thailand, who voted 79.4% in favor of her.
A battle of Nintendo's famous princesses saw Zelda best Peach Toadstool 3483-1795. Every region voted in favor of Princess Zelda with the exception of South Korea, which voted 50-50. Zelda's strongest performance came in Canada, where 76.4% voted for Link's main love interest.
In a clash of former ISML opponents, Mai Kawasumi took care of Shiki Ryogi to the tune of 4206-2798. Ryogi was able to carry just three regions: Eastern Europe, South Korea and Russia, which voted 64.3% in favor of her. Africa voted 75% in favor of Kawasumi, making this her strongest region in the contest.
In a Battle of the Bulge, Charlotte E. Yeager outracked Gertrud Barkhorn 3491-3216. As expected, Yeager carried her home region of the USA (also known as the United States of Liberion) with 55.1% of the vote. Africa was deadlocked 50-50, and Barkhorn was able to carry just four regions: Eastern Europe, Russia, Hong Kong and Japan, which voted 56.4% in favor of the dog-eared assassin from Karlsland.
Ichigo Momomiya rolled past Cleao Everlasting 4442-1599. Also known as Mew Ichigo, Momomiya won every region, with Africa voting 100% in favor of her. Finally, in a battle of the old school, Sayla Mass of Mobile Suit Gundam prevailed over GinRei from Giant Robo 4249-1082. Amidst the region sweep, Mass amassed another 100% vote in Africa.
The 2010 International Saimoe League is drawing to a close, and the Championship Match is at hand on September 30. Will Mikoto Misaka pull out a miracle and rally back to force a decider on October 3? Or will Mio Akiyama be crowned as ISML Champion?
Vote for your favorite candidate on InternationalSaimoe.com, beginning at 0300 GMT and join the ongoing debate!
2010 INTERNATIONAL SAIMOE LEAGUE
3RD THROUGH 16TH PLACE
AS OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2010
3. Shana
4. Azusa Nakano
5. Hinagiku Katsura
6. Taiga Aisaka
7. Yuki Nagato
8. Haruhi Suzumiya
9. Yui Hirasawa
10. Nagi Sanzen'in
11. Tomoyo Sakagami
12. Saber
13. Kyou Fujibayashi
14. Kagami Hiiragi
15. Hitagi Senjougahara
16. Nadeko Sengoku
Time Graph
Voting Pattern Analysis Graph
Worldwide Vote Distribution Map
