As the old saying goes, there's no rest for the weary. Shana enters this match looking to bounce back from her Amethyst 7 defeat at the hands of Akiyama Mio. It was not only the Flame Haze's first loss of the season, but her first regular season setback since Aquamarine 9 of last year, a run covering 75 matches over 412 days. She'll have an opportunity to start a new streak today, but to do it, she'll have to defeat the girl the girl who handed her her only regular season loss last year. Sakagami Tomoyo enters the day 18-3, but 0-3 on Day 1's. If she can pull out the victory today, not only would she end that streak, but she'd continue two of her own; it would be her seventh win in a row, and her third straight regular season victory over Shana. She would also score a measure of revenge against the Flame Haze, as it was Shana who eliminated her from last year's Double Elimination Tournament. Will Shana get back on track, or will she suffer her first back-to-back losses in her ISML career?

Last Sunday's loss to Akiyama Mio was the first time Shana lost a regular season match since the Aquamarine finale -- of last year. Tonight, she begins her Sapphire defense against a girl she has never defeated in a regular season match, and it seems that Sakagami Tomoyo is having quite a restless season; despite being (18-3) and keeping herself in solid top 8 contention, her early losses have kept her out of the necklace picture entirely. That being said, despite being (2-1) against Shana in her entire career, Tomoyo knows it won't be easy to upend a stoic flame haze, as Mio even had trouble against a longtime veteran of the system before pulling the upset, but she has a plan that might work. Can Tomoyo continue to hold the upperhand against Shana or will the series pull even at (2-2)?

Forget Greek mythology and box office blockbusters; the saimoe has its own 'clash of the titans' today as Fate Testarossa and Katsura Hinagiku square off in a matchup of ISML's 2008 and 2009 champions. Even disregarding her dominant run in last year's Double Elimination tournament, the performance of 2009 champion Hinagiku has been nothing short of Olympian. Undefeated this year, the student council president is 38-1 in the regular season since the beginning of last year's Ruby period, a mark which only Shana has equaled. Fate's performance, however, has been a bit closer to Titanic-like than Titan-like. The Enforcer's six losses through her first 21 matches is four more than she had at the same point last year. If she can't pull out the victory today, the Enforcer will have seven defeats with more than half of the regular season to play, just one fewer than she had all of last year. But Fate does have one thing on her side; even with Hinagiku's win in their opening-round match of last year's Double Elimination Tournament, Fate holds a 2-1 edge in their ISML matchups. Can Hinagiku even the score, or will Fate's fate take a turn for the better?

This is a very interesting way to begin the Sapphire Period. This is a battle between two ISML Champions: the former, winner of the 2008 tiara; the latter, winner of the 2009 tiara. Both characters understand what it is like to be basked in glory when everything is said and done. Today, these two beautiful maidens will test just how glamorous one is compared to the other. Can the 2009 Champion continue her winning streak, or will the 2008 Champion show that she can reign supreme over her?

It seems like history repeats itself whenever Suzumiya Haruhi and Nagato Yuki are around, and that has not been good news for Haruhi. The S.O.S. Brigade leader has been defeated by Yuki in both of her J-Saimoe appearances, been sent to the losers' bracket of the Double Elimination Tournament by Yuki in each of the last two years, and holds just one victory in four ISML matches against the Data Interface. Recent history has also been against her, as Haruhi's 0-3 on Day 1's this year (but 18-0 on all other days). Yuki, meanwhile, is looking for some history of her own. By claiming the Amethyst necklace last week to go along with her Topaz victory of last year, Nagato became just the fourth girl to win two ISML necklaces. The three that preceded her in that feat: Hiiragi Kagami, Shana, and the winner of 2008's Ruby and Diamond periods, Suzumiya Haruhi. If she wins Sapphire, she'll not only join Haruhi as the only winner of consecutive necklaces, but surpass her as the first girl to ever win three. Will Haruhi play spoiler, or will she find herself in an endless recursion of time?

This rivalry started in Saimoe 2006 with Yuki as the victor. Ever since that match, the battle between Yuki and Haruhi became one of the most historic and highly anticipated matchups ever created. This match continued on with Haruhi winning in Korea Best 2006 and Korea Super Best 06-07 and with Yuki as the winner in ISML 2008, Korean Best 2009, and ISML 2009. Although Yuki has proven that she can be more charming that Haruhi, it does not mean that Haruhi would go down without a fight. If there is one thing that is interesting about this match, it is the fact that Haruhi has never beaten Yuki in ISML. Maybe it is about time that "the God" is more superior that "the Alien."

If the ISML handed out awards besides the Tiara at the end of the season, these two competitors would be strong candidates. While a 'rookie of the year' award would almost assuredly go to Akiyama Mio, Bakemonogatari's Senjōgahara Hitagi has made her mark on the young season as well. While her 16-5 mark isn't the most impressive, she already holds three victories over last year's Double Elimination qualifiers, and her five losses have come against girls who enter the day at a combined 95-10. Her opponent today, Misaka Mikoto, would certainly be the front-runner for the 'most improved' award if one existed. Her 2009 saimoe season was nothing to write home about, losing in the second round of J-Saimoe to eventual semi-finalist Fukuji Mihoko and taking 42nd place in the ISML with a 23-40 record. Her response this year has been nothing short of 'shocking' as a 180-vote loss to defending champion Katsura Hinagiku is the only blemish on her season to date. Hitagi would love nothing more than to float into the sunset with a victory, but does Misaka have her in her railgun's sights?

Even good friends can become enemies in certain situations, and this is no exception. These two student council members from Hekiyou Academy are fighting for a chance to obtain her first necklace. Kurimu has the small and cute archetype with a liking of sweets and a cheerful personality. Chizuru has the cool and mature archetype with a model-like physique and has her cute sides as well. Although there is a one-sided love between these two characters (Chizuru "wants" Kurimu, but Kurimu mostly takes it as Chizuru teasing her), there is no doubt that these two are very good friends. Can the President show that it is her time to shine, or will the Secretary have things going her way?

At this point, our next two challengers are performing at such a rate you would think they are veterans rather than newcomers. So far only the top level challengers have been able to stop these two. In Azusa's case she came within 14 votes of beating a previous top 5 competitor in Tomoyo who is currently still in the top 10. Although she has yet to beat a major challenger, she made perhaps her biggest statement yet by coming within less than 200 votes of beating a current top 5 competitor in Misaka Mikoto during Amethyst. Her challenger Nadeko may have had less exposure during her time in Bakemonogatari, but she has managed to come up with the same amount of support and power. However, Nadeko is facing the same troubles as Azusa, also losing to top level challengers like Taiga during Amethyst. One is looking to continue her campaign to the top while another may not have shown her true potential just yet and is waiting for her moment to strike. Who has the advantage in today's match?

Sengoku Nadeko has a reputation of being shy, but her actions have spoken loudly thus far. An 18-4 mark with victories over Hirasawa Yui and Tōsaka Rin will do that for you. Nadeko has slithered into a Top 10 spot, but to stay there, she'll have to fend off someone whose resume has been every bit as impressive as her own to date. Nakano Azusa has taken the ISML as seriously as she takes her music, as tiebreakers are the only thing currently keeping her out of the Top 10. She may have been the last girl to join "Hōkago Tea Time," but she starts the day in second among K-On!'s entrants, trailing only the undefeated Akiyama Mio. Azu-nyan's 18-4 record includes victories over four of last year's Double Elimination Qualifiers (Holo, Fujibayashi Kyō, Takamachi Nanoha and Hiiragi Kagami). Which one of these girls will pad their already-impressive resumes today?

These two have something to be angry about. The former one had an over-800-vote score against her opponent's sister while the latter one had an over-500-vote score against her opponent's best friend. Now, these two get to square off against each other. We may even see a cat-fight here. The guitar prodigy would like nothing more that to show Kyō her reason for staying in the hunt for the Sapphire necklace with her song and music. Kyō, on the other hand, is still showing the competitors of this period why she was the 2008 Sapphire necklace holder. Can Kyō continue to prosper in her area, or can the Light Music Club member tell her that the past is the past?

Both ISML members are having a hard time stepping up to the plate. Already, both characters have dropped off from the hunt of the Sapphire necklace due to each other's anime representatives. To even this score out, however, they must face each other and prove just which anime is more dominant. Nagisa has been known for her ability to try new things and her never-say-die attitude. Ui is known as the caretaker type, for she is able to greatly help out those around her. Can the CLANNAD protagonist shine in this match or will the sister prove just how great she really is?

Talk about a challenge between the past and the future. On one side, you have Holo, an ancient wolf deity with an intelligent mindset and a playful personality. On the other side, you have Kurimu, a bright and cheerful high school girl with a sweet tooth. Both of them show off their differences in looks, beauty, and mind. Can the veteran tell Kurimu that there is no room for children like her, or can the newcomer prove to Holo that this is the age where the newcomers prove just how dominant they are over the veterans?

Hiiragi Kagami enters this match in a position that she's not too familiar with: outside the Top 16. Kagamin has qualified for the Double Elimination Tournament in each of the last two years, but a 4-3 record in Amethyst and yesterday's loss to Saber has the elder Hiiragi twin on the ropes, and a loss today would result in her first ever 0-2 start to a period. Like Kagami, Illyasviel von Einzbern is on the outside looking in to start the day. But unlike Kagami, Illy is in much better position than she was last year. Her 15-7 mark through the first day of Sapphire is a big improvement over 2009's 17-11 mark at the same point. More importantly, she starts the day just one win out of the Top 16... but also just one win ahead of Kagami. Both of these girls need a win today to keep pace, but which one will get it?

Our next two challengers are known more for their individuality than the series they are representing. In their own way, both work alot to help themselves and others around them. Although not the strongest on the Kendo team, as a veteran, Kirino must still lead the new members of the team and bring them up to speed while working alot herself to help her team become the best. Mikan on the other hand takes a more behind the scenes approach. In her parents abscence, she does most of the chores and other work around the house for herself, her brother and her other guests. While both have managed to reach the preliminaries, only Kirino has managed to reach the regular season in 2009. However, they might be known more for their match in the block finals to see who would reach the final 8 in Saimoe 2008. Kirino managed to win the match that day. Now Mikan is looking to make the most of her time in ISML by evening the score. Does Kirino still have it in her to overpower her opponent, or does Mikan have more than enough experience to outsmart the other.

We are seeing interesting people that are still up and running in this competition. Holo is among one of those people who are still capable of obtaining the Sapphire necklace. Her opponent, however, may be a tricky person to deal with. Although Mikuru has not shown her dominance in the competitions, she has been known as a major stepping stone for people to step or hurdle over on. With her physique and cute charm and clumsiness, she is a hard person to topple over and defeat easily. This does not mean that Holo will not stand up to the challenge. With her wisdom and beauty, she can be just as fearsome as any of the major competitors in this competition. Will Holo continue her winning streak, or will Mikuru put a stop in her hunt for the Sapphire necklace?

This is an interesting match-up in which both of the characters are quite similar. Both of these newcomers are actually making a decent statement for herself. On one side, we have Chizuru. So far, she has won all of her matches in the Sapphire period and is looking to remain dominant throughout the competition. On the other side, we have Hitagi. Hitagi is one of the rising newcomers who is still holding a spot in the top sixteen overall. Both of these characters wish to continue and show their dominance in this period and this season. Can Chizuru overcome Hitagi and continue her hot streak, or will Hitagi be too much for Chizuru to handle?

At least three members will be eliminated from the hunt to obtain the Sapphire Necklace, and this match is no exception. Holo has actually come quite far and has improved herself over the past periods. With her win against the SOS Brigade member Asahina Mikuru, Holo has gained a big momentum in continuing her hunt to become the Sapphire Necklace holder. However, she has to pass through another SOS Brigade member: Nagato Yuki. Unlike Holo's last opponent, Yuki is more quieter and calmer than Mikuru, and Yuki's ISML career is not a laughing matter; she is the 2009 Topaz necklace winner and, the most recent information, the 2010 Amethyst necklace winner. There is no doubt that Yuki would like nothing more than to obtain another necklace for herself by defeating her opponent tonight. Nevertheless, if there is something that Yuki has not achieved yet, it is becoming a champion, which is something Holo achieved in Korea Best Moe 2008. Can Holo overcome another SOS Brigade member and continue forward, or will Yuki end her winning streak and push her away from the competition?

In the first of our veteran vs. rookie match of Sapphire 4, we see a matchup between a girl who's proven her ability to win big and another girl who has the potential to win it all. Hinagiku has proven she's one difficult opponent to defeat, and despite facing a 66.67% win rating during this time in Sapphire last year, she was able to improve on her performance and claim not only the Ruby Necklace, but become the Bearer of the Heavenly Tiara as well. The 2010 match schedules may have not been so nice to her, however, with the SDO tiebreaker edging her out of claiming the necklace in all the last 3 periods despite going undefeated. That being said, Sapphire may prove to be a good period for her to claim her first 2010 necklace - but she'll need to get over one of the hot newcomers first. Nadeko, although falling out of the race for the Sapphire necklace early with a loss against Azusa in Sapphire 2, has demonstrated her ability to defeat most of the other girls - but has struggled to take out any of the Top 10. If Nadeko wishes to set herself up in the ranks of her other rookie peers like Mio and Azusa and claim a necklace, a win today against the reigning champion might give the shy girl some confidence to shine and deliver. So will our reigning champion prove too much for Nadeko, or can she gather enough confidence to pull through with her first Top 10 victory?

The battle for the Sapphire Necklace continues and while one challenger has a good chance to be in the running at the end, another challenger has run into stiff competition which knocks her out of the race early. Rin Tōsaka has managed to reach round four unbeaten in Topaz before falling to a major contender. Sapphire would be only the second time this year where she is still unbeaten as of round four. However, just like Topaz, she has to beat a major contender to have a chance at a necklace. She will surely make a name for herself by beating a top contender in Misaka Mikoto who is still looking for her first necklace. A tiebreaker stood in the way of Mikoto winning the Aquamarine necklace. She also had the Topaz necklace right in front of her, but she was unable to stand up to the defending tiara holder Katsura Hinagiku. One thing she doesn't have to worry about right now is her chances at reaching the end of season tournament. Rin on the other hand is barely holding on to her top 16 ranking. For her to lose now will not only knock her out of the necklace race, it could impact her chances at reaching the top. Will Rin have enough magic in her to overpower her opponent, or will Mikoto leave her opponent with a shocking reminder that she will not be denied victory today.

Defending Sapphire necklace holder Shana is now back on track with her winning streak after a surprising lost from Akiyama Mio from the Amethyst period. It seems as if during that point, Shana has vowed never to lose again and prove to the ISML contenders that that match just motivated her to continue bulldozing through the competition. Surprisingly, it is almost as if there is a sense of déjà vu in the air. Shana has to go though another major character in the K-ON! legion: the main character, Hirasawa Yui. Although she is not as dominant as her friend, Mio, Yui has proven that she can be just as strong and defying as her. The music prodigy wishes nothing more than to blast her competitors away with the sound of her voice and guitar. Following Mio's footsteps, Yui would also want to be one of the major characters who is able to defeat Shana during the regular season. Of course, Shana would be ready for her and willing to fight her head on. If Shana were to win her watch today and the following matches after that, not only would she be the first person to win three necklaces from the ISML tournament, she would be the first girl to win the same necklace twice and in back-to-back years. Can Shana obtain that title and that feat, or will Yui prevent that title from coming true?

If there's anything to be said about Saber is that, her performance has been relatively consistent with how she did last during this time in ISML. Despite possessing the strength to surpass most of her competition, Saber has fallen at final round of each period and thus been eliminated from the contention of receiving the necklace. Today, however, Saber might face an even greater obstacle than her previous opponents that could see her out of the race for the necklace before she even reaches the final round, that being Nakano Azusa. Veterans like Hinagiku, Tomoyo, Taiga and Mikoto would be quite relieved that they had defeated this hot newcomer in previous periods, as Azusa has shown that a strong performance from the get-go of Sapphire has put her in a very likely position to earn the Sapphire necklace should she outs Saber today. So, will it be the one who wields the sword that slays all or the one who plays the guitar that pleases all that will remain in the running for the coveted necklace of the lustrous Earth today?

The two titans of Kyoto Animation are squaring off to see who is the more dominant female character. Kyō has proven time and time again that she would do whatever it takes to get what she deserves. Being the 2008 sapphire necklace winner, she has a major advantage over some of the members of the ISML. If she can win this match along with her future matches, she may become the first person to have the same necklace twice in the ISML world. This does not mean that her opponent would let things go her way. Although she is out of the competition, Haruhi can still act as a road black for the many maidens who wish to obtain the necklace. As president and leader of the SOS Brigade, she will only allow things to go her way, whether it is a small gathering to chat about future events or stopping girls from obtaining a necklace for a period. Can the 2008 sapphire necklace winner overcome Haruhi and move on to the next round, or will Haruhi trample on her and make sure that things do not go her way?

Sapphire has proven to be a period of interesting relevations. One of them being, that for the first time, one of the "Elite 7" girls from 2008, those who completely dominated the rankings back in ISML 2008, has fallen out of the Top 16 - that girl being Hiiragi Kagami. Kagami has found herself in this rather difficult position of sitting just outside the Top 16, but she desperately needs a win today to reprise her position there. However, her challenger today may prove to be a bit more difficult than she would have wanted with Hitagi, a true wildcard, who despite having a lower Votes For and Votes Differential than Kagami, has been able to accumulate more wins than her. So can Kagami teach the newbie a lesson or will Hitagi show that age has gotten the better of her rival?

Fate has found herself in a rather frustrating pattern in performance this year. Despite trying her best, the ISML 2008 champion has been denied an opportunity to earn a necklace in her opening round and 4th rounds of each period. She's looking to break that trend today and hopefully return to her former strength against her opponent, Mafuyu, who on paper appears to a weaker opponent than those she has previously faced in the 4th round. However, Mafuyu does have the statistics to support her; with a higher Votes Differential and Votes For total, and a lower Votes Against total than Fate and she may see this as an opportunity for her to break into the Top 16. So can Mafuyu be the catalyst that sends the 2nd member of the former "Elite 7" out of the Top 16 or will Fate prove that the girls from Seitokai no Ichizon are no longer viable in ISML?

Urusei Yatsura is one of the more important anime series in history, being the first anime to openly use the word 'harem' and also provide templates for many character types in the future. Some of the types that became greatly important in the 90's was the cool-dere and silent-moe type, which are very similar but have key differences. Oyuki, who is considered to be the #1 girl by the main protagonist, should be recognized as the progenitor of those types, given that she controls ice and snow at will, is always soft-spoken, and is aware of almost everything around her. If Oyuki is ice, Minky Momo can be considered to be fire, especially with her red hair. Before her, the Mahou Shoujo genre was mainly for females, but Minky Momo changed that, winning fans among boys and grown men for a variety of reasons, while maintaining a strong female base. Her transformation scene became the prototype to follow for almost all subsequent transforming characters. Minky Momo also is more cheerful, emotionally expressive, and prone to jump into action for others before thinking about the consequences. The contrast alone is capable of making this match interesting, but it also may be a battle between two royal families of the Moe world. Oyuki can claim Ayanami Rei, Hoshino Ruri, Sakagami Tomoyo, Tachibana Kanade, Nagato Yuki, and perhaps even Saber as her descendants while Minky Momo can claim, Fate Testarossa, Takamachi Nanoha, Kinomoto Sakura, and Hinamori Amu -- all large pillars of moe. The result of this match may tell us something about how our voters lean in terms of the moe mode they prefer.

아직도 우리 나라에는 밍키가 누군지 기억하는 사람들이 많다고 생각합니다. 망키는 많은 마법소녀물중 처음으로 남녀에게 고른 인기를 얻은 소녀로 지금까지의 여러 마법소녀들의 표본이 되는 존재이지요. 키노모토 사쿠라, 히나모리 아무, 페이트 테스타롯사, 타치바나 나노하 같은 마법소녀나 심지어 피규오 17의 시이나 츠바사와 히카루조차 밍키 모모의 후손이라고 할 수 있으니 과연 모에계의 큰 산맥을 이루는 큰 뿌리라 할 수 있습니다. 그런데 오유키는 누구일까요? 우선 작품 '우루세이 야츠라'는 소위 '하렘'이라는 명사를 유행시킨 만화로서, 수많은 독특한 여성 유형을 선보였으며 70년대 남성 중심의 성우계를 여성 중심으로 바꾼 장본인이기도 합니다. 이 시리즈에서 등장하는 여성 인물 중 이름을 갖고 있고 주인공과 대화해 본 사람이 가히 수백명이라 할 수 있는데, 이 중 주인공이 최고로 꼽았던 여성이 바로 오유키입니다. 오유키가 왜 중요한가는 그녀의 특징을 보면 드러납니다. 오유키는 눈의 나라의 여왕으로, 창백한 피부와 푸른빛이 도는 은빛 얼음같은 머리칼을 가지고 있으며, 말수는 적지만 다른 사람들은 모르는 사실들을 알고 있어서 주변 인물들이 문제를 해결해 달라고 도움을 청하러 오곤 합니다. 이 오유키와 닮은 꼴의 인물들로 아야나미 레이, 호시노 루리, 나가토 유키, 사카가미 토모요 등, 츤데레와 더불어 커다란 모에계 산맥을 이룬 소위 쿨데레 과묵형 소녀들의 원조가 바로 오유키라 할 수 있습니다. 실제로 80년대 애니팬들은 오유키를 '표절시비문제를 피하기 위해서 쿨데레들에게 긴 머리를 뺐은 인물'이라는 평까지 할 정도였습니다. 그 밖에 오유키와 비슷한 성질의 인물들이 여러 조연들로, 특히 여자 전대물 성격이 포함된 작품에서의 조연으로 자주 등장합니다. 오유키의 또 다른 면인 평상시에는 얌전하고 타인의 일에 간섭하지 않지만 아주 드물게 화가 나면 모든 이들이 무서워하는 대상으로 둔갑하는 특징도, 이후에 만들어진 애니에서 독립적 인물의 성격으로 자리잡으며 발전했다는 것 역시 주목할 필요가 있습니다. 이 둘 중 여러분들이 누구를 고르는가가, 요즘 애니 팬들의 취향에 대한 좋은 참고 자료가 되리라 생각합니다.

The anime series of 2001 bring forth two girls with similar stories and personalities. The first girl, Kyōyama Anna, is proud and arrogant, but caring about those who are dear to her. In her past, she has been rejected by her parents and most of society because of her ability to read a person's mind and feelings and turning them into virtual demons, some of which she sometimes loses control. When she heard that she would be the future wife for Yoh, she refused to love him, believing that those who are kind to her would eventually become hurt and leave her. When Yoh saves her from a powerful demon that Anna created but could not control, she becomes more open to Yoh and, eventually, other people. Although she is still cold and harsh to her friends and even strangers, she cares about them and thinks about what is best for them, whether it is good or bad. The second girl, Makino Ruki, has a similar situation like Anna. The only difference is that it is happening in the present. Like Anna, Ruki is cold and unsocial in the beginning, but opens up as time progresses. At first, Ruki believed that Digimon were computer data that were used solely to obey their masters and fight other Digimon to become stronger. After meeting Takato and Li and being around them for several days, Ruki starts to realize that Digimon can also be considered as friends or partners rather than just fighters. Although she is still rash and blunt, she tries to be as sociable as possible and caring about others more than she did in the beginning of the series. Both characters experience character development of increasing kindness, whether it is from past to present, or present and progressing. These small changes have allowed them to become more understanding and stronger than they were in the past. At the same time, these two hate to lose and would do anything to win any fight. In this match against two queens, who has the potential to draw up enough glamor to overpower her opponent: a traditional Japanese Shaman or a Digimon Tamer?

From the hit past-time games Kingdom Hearts and Fire Emblem comes two beautiful heroines. Kairi is one of the Princesses of Heart, possessing a heart containing no darkness. After tragedy befalls her hometown, Kairi's heart was separated from her body. Her friends Sora and Riku set out on a journey to rescue her, but it takes the strength and emotions of all three in order to find themselves home at Destiny Island once again. Lyndis is a female swordsman who discovers one day that she is royalty, despite living as a simple plains-woman her entire life. While traveling to discover the truth, she soon recalls her early years as a princess and the betrayal of a once trusted family member that led to her exile. Believing that it was the right thing to do as a warrior and as a princess, she overthrew the corrupted leader and rightfully claimed her place at the throne. During both of these characters' difficult times, they were able to endure and help those around them even further. With both of their feelings and kindness, they were able to save people dear to them and defeat those who were darkening innocent lives. Now, these two characters are battling with the honor and pride of their represented games. Can the Princess of Heart outshine her opponent with her love and care, or can the Princess of Caelin win this match with her beauty and pride?

The Sapphire necklace is on the line in this match. So far, both challengers have managed to dominate their matches and as a result they each hold a top 5 ranking. However, they both lost a match to a challenger that was stronger than them. Mikoto had her first defeat at the hands of the defending champion Hinagiku while Shana's first defeat came at the hands of an opponent who could be perhaps the strongest of this tournament, Akiyama Mio. Shana has managed to win herself a necklace last year and is in position to win the same necklace again this year. However, she is still looking to win that elusive tiara, and she came within one challenger of pulling it off last year. Mikoto on the other hand is still looking for her first necklace. Twice she reached the final round with a chance to win but was either unable to beat her opponent or was unable to come up with a lucky break. Even if she is unable to win a necklace, she still has her sights set much higher by aiming for the tiara. Until then, she would surely enjoy spoiling her opponent's opportunity to win a necklace. Will the Railgun make sure that lightning doesn't strike twice, or will the Flame Haze burn her opponent and continue her dominance by adding another Sapphire Necklace.

There is an intense air flowing in the ending of the Sapphire period, and it is not about the Sapphire Necklace itself. The heat of the Sapphire period has turned on to its maximum level as the main characters of their respective series collide in a hot-boiled match. Although both characters are out of the race for the Sapphire Necklace, there is still no doubt that this is still a very important match for both of these characters. Haruhi would definitely like nothing more than to crush her K-ON! competition and prove that the Suzumiya Haruhi no Yūutsu fanbase is still large and strong. After all, she is a god, and the world is practically being played around with the tips of her fingers. If she wanted to, she can make Yui bow down to her and make her accept her as a character who is more beautiful than her. Of course, Yui would not want to do that and prove to Haruhi that the K-ON! faction is the dominant group in the Kyoto Animation industry. Yui would rather create more music with her Light Music Club members, play with animals, eat sweets, perform in school and outside events, and sleep than listen to Haruhi's voice. Her silliness and overreactions also add on to her charm. Of course, Haruhi would just have to show her what a genuine maiden truly looks like. Who is the most dominant main character in the Kyoto Animation studios: the President of the SOS Brigade or an important member of the Light Music Club?

This is not even about gaining the Sapphire Necklace anymore. What is at stake is just as important as gaining a necklace: being a part of the Top 16. Along with Hiiragi Kagami and Fate Testarossa, all four of these girls are struggling to get the final remaining spots of the Top 16 and remain there for the remainder of the season. In this match, only one of them has a chance to get those remaining spots and make it theirs. Nagi seems to he hanging on to those remaining spots for a good amount the time. The rich otaku who cares about numbers and statistics would not want to be sent down. Instead, she would collectively figure out ways to continue her stay in the Top 16 and remain there for the rest of the season. This is not what Rin wants. After being sent down, Rin seems to be having a hard time getting back up. She is usually always one or two more numbers away from the Top 16. This could be one of her final moments to break out of the bottom area and regain her place as one of the top 16 members just like it was in the beginning of the series. Can the rich otaku remain in the Top 16 while making sure that no one else would come up, or will Rin plot a sneak attack using her magical abilities?