Shiina couldn't have asked for a harder start, not only facing a fellow Angel Beats! competitor, but one who has blown away all who have stood in her way through preliminaries and seeding. In stark contrast, Shiina's showing in the seeding placed her at the foot of the 50 girls. Looking beyond a Kanade win seems unthinkable, and even getting close to the soaring angel would appear to be an almighty achievement for the puppy-loving ninja. However, Shiina is most deadly fighting from the shadows and isn't shallow minded enough to give up already. If Kanade fails to show, then the angel may have her wings and momentum clipped by Shiina's sword.

The removal of auto-qualification to the Regular Season this year gave everyone a first look during Prelims as to how the the newcomers could stack up to the veterans. But, nobody expected the kind of performance that Tachibana Kanade gave, especially after she steamrolled some of the long-time veterans of the contest. Now with the ISML 2011 season finally starting, Kanade is already generating talks about achieving the elusive 49-0 record as she enters her first official ISML head-to-head battle. Her first opponent: Shiina, from the same Angel Beats! series. She's had experience against Kanade, but will she finally break through against the Angel Player, or will she be the first casualty?

With thanks to a second season hype, Index L. Prohibitorum returns to ISML after a one-year absence. The nun from Necessarius is ready to regain her lost time to perform her best this year. Her first return match may prove to be a tricky one, as her opponent is none other than Victorique de Blois, a girl who is known for solving any mystery given to her. In the past, Victorique was feared for her powers and locked up inside a tower, unable to view life outside the barred window. Index may not have the same past as Victorique, but she has one just as tragic, for she was tricked into erasing her memory every year to protect her from harm. Only through their newly encountered friends were they able to break the chains of their fates and break forth into the present worlds. As repayment, they will try their best to fight today and claim the victory. Will the one who contains the 103,000 grimoires obtain her first return victory, or will the one who holds the Wellspring of Wisdom crack her mystery and obtain a victory today?

Following a steady opening debut in 2010, Ui has done well to return to race for the 2011 Tiara, which has seen a large number of talented newcomers enter the fray. She faces one such debutant in her opening match: Yuri, the talented, sharp, and courageous brigade leader of the SSS. Neither have had the easiest of upbringings. Yuri had to endure her siblings’ deaths at the hands of robbers, whilst Ui's parents left her largely alone to care for her super dependent older sister. But, both dug deep and showed tremendous inner strength to fight against their troubles. Ui became a model housewife, sister, and pupil; Yuri turned into a strong and capable leader fighting to change things for the better. However, if one looks closely, one can sometimes still just barely catch a glimpse of their troubled pasts in a distant look or lonely smile. Whose resolve is strongest to get her 2011 ISML campaign off to a winning start?

The season kicks off with these two veterans going head to head. After starting the 2010 season 25-10, Fate finished 6-8, marking the first time she has failed to qualify for a playoff berth. In contrast, Saber ended the season with a 41-8 record and, for the first time, entered the playoffs. The girls also had different Preliminary performances. Saber entered the Regular Season after the Phase II matchups, while Fate barely got in, finishing 3rd in her group in Phase III. But this is ISML, and anything can happen here. If Mid-Childa's Enforcer gets the upset over the strongest servant, Fate may be able to gain some momentum at the start of the season.

Round 1 of the Aquamarine period throws up an intriguing clash between two isolated, quiet, and imaginative blondes. However, in their approach to life, they are worlds apart. Tsumugi lets her imagination run riot in real life, from pairing up her friends to exploring the strange world of the middle class; Mafuyu pours hers into the realm of fantasy through gaming, reading manga, and novel writing. Creative, artistic and loved members of their groups, can Mafuyu successfully Level Up? Or, will Tsumugi bring her down to Earth with a bump?

第一回的海藍寶玉賽程就在兩位女孩之中拋出了一個令人感到耐人尋味的衝突，安靜，和富有想像力的金髮女孩在 ISML亮相。然而，他們對於的生活態度其實是天壤之別的：琴吹紬讓她的想像進入現實生活中 ─ 她與朋友的邂逅到探索對她來說陌生的中產階級世界;椎名真冬透過遊戲、看漫畫和小說創作來注入到她的幻想。創意、藝術和呵護屬於她們的團員，真冬是否能成功升級？或者，她會被紬顛簸的擊落回地球上?

The bass-wielding Champion of 2010 returns to defend her Tiara, but the signs in the stars indicate that the chance of her successfully defending her crown will be nothing short of a miracle. Looking to bounce back from successive defeats to her fellow band member, Azusa, in the seeding rounds, Mio has already learned that no one is to be underestimated this season. Facing her in Round 1 of Aquamarine is another raven-haired beauty, Aragaki Ayase. A dedicated student, with a model's look and a strong heart for her friends, Ayase debuts in 2011 on a strong wave of support for Ore no Imōto. Can Ayase use this to provide another jolt to last season's Champion? Or will Mio continue her impervious defense of the Tiara with which she finished in last year's ISML?

Returning to ISML 2011 as defending champion and bearer of the 2010 Heavenly Tiara, After School Tea Time's bassist Akiyama Mio now finds herself in a vicious playing field that is many times more competitive, unlike previous years. Having experienced the rise of ISML 2010 Miracle Rookie and AST 2010 winner, Nakano Azusa, as well as the numbers advantage of Tachibana Kanade in the recently concluded seeding rounds, it is evident to Mio that the task of defending her crown has just had the difficulty level ramped up by several notches. Standing opposite Mio in the square circle is Aragaki Ayase, who rode into the Regular Season on the wave of Ore no Imōto fandom. Usually soft-spoken and refined, the high school model possesses both aggressive and cunning sides to her that are normally not known to the public. Will these traits help Ayase in delivering the first shocking result of the year? Or will Mio start her defense campaign with a performance deserving of her position as dual-title holder in last year’s saimoe circuit?

The Regular Season kicks off with a clash between two experienced, but seemingly fading veterans, both of who are tsunderes with purple hair and eyes and come from series made by Kyoto Animation. Indeed, Kagami and Kyō share a lot of common traits, including each of them having a younger sister to take care of, but neither Tsukasa nor Ryō could make it to the best 50 despite being contestants last season, so these two older sisters will have to face each other without the extra support. Up until now, the older Fujibayashi sister bested Kagami four out of four times whenever they met in ISML; however, the Lucky☆Star-girl managed to break the winning streak during the last round of the seeding phase, and defeated her fated rival with a mere fourteen votes. Can she do it again, or will Kyō show her dictionary-throwing skills once more and deliver a painful blow to Kagami right at the start of the Aquamarine period?

常規賽揭幕之際，隨之而來的是兩位經驗豐富但似乎弱化的老將衝突，而且兩位都由Kyoto Animation製作。他們其中一位從幸運☆星來的參賽者帶有傲嬌個性、有著紫色的頭髮和眼睛，而另外一個從CLANNAD來的角色同樣也是帶有傲嬌個性、有著紫色頭髮和眼睛。事實上，柊鏡和藤林杏有著很多共同的特點。兩個人都有一個妹妹需要照顧，但柊司和藤林椋都無法前進最強的前50位，儘管他們去年都有參加常規賽。這兩位將要面對的是雙方都沒有他們妹妹的支持。截至目前為止，杏與鏡在ISML期間會晤了四次而且杏擊敗了鏡四次。但是，幸運☆星女孩設法打破連敗紀錄，在最後一輪在種子賽程，她以14票擊敗命中注定的對手。她可能再達到一次，或杏將要施展她投擲字典的絕技而再次在海藍寶玉開始期間給柊鏡一個痛苦的打擊？

Among the new faces to debut in this year's ISML tournament, our two young lasses place among the most competitive personalities in this year's roster. From debating about the appeal of Stardust Witch Meruru to being the winner in a game of Jenga—despite that there can only be one loser and no winners—Kōsaka Kirino and Haruna are clearly two tenacious individuals who will not settle for anything less than scoring a perfect victory. With that said, what better place is there to be than in the opening round of the Aquamarine period for both the young overachieving perfectionist and self-proclaimed genius Masō-Shōjo to measure themselves up for the long battle ahead? We can be assured that both girls will be giving their all from the get go, but who will be the first to cross the finish line?

The characterization and creation of Ayanami Rei could have quite possibly sparked the idea of the “silent moe.” Rei is a calm, cool, and collected high school girl who gets everything done in a quick and orderly fashion. Upon first glance, she can be seen as a remote girl who wishes not to interact with strangers. Despite keeping her feelings to herself and remaining emotionless, Rei truly desires to experience things like a normal person. She wants to know what emotions are and how to portray them. Although she appears to be a reclusive girl, deep down, she just wants to be like everyone else and experience their feelings. Ten years later, a girl who manages to exemplify the silent moe base even more comes in the form of Alice Carroll. Alice is studious and likes to challenge herself everyday, from skipping rocks to stepping only on shadows. Alice makes sure that everything around her goes in an orderly fashion, going as far as raising her voice at her seniors for not doing something correctly. Despite all of this, Alice is a kind, sweet girl who places the well being of others over herself and tries to find answers to anyone's problems. With a decade separating the two kuuderes, will the origin of silence, Ayanami Rei, be able to capture the hearts of the voters today, or will the Orange Princess, Alice Carroll, prove that age does matter?

Our next two challengers have already faced each other in the Preliminaries earlier this year. This time, they will face each other without having to worry about a third challenger’s interference. On the outside, Kōsaka Kirino is determined to keep her otaku hobbies, even if no one else will accept them. On the inside, she wants to make friends just as much and will put in the effort to find those who can accept her and her hobby. Her opponent, Fujibayashi Kyō, is intent on helping her sister, Ryō, and uses violence to get her point across. However, she also looks for acceptance, either as a friend, or as more than just friends. The newcomer won the first battle against her opponent with little trouble. Now, the veteran is looking to even the score in an attempt to reach the Postseason for the fourth time. Which challenger has the fortitude to win today's match?

我們的下一對挑戰者早已在今年年初預賽時碰面了。這一次，他們將單獨面對對方，而不必擔心第三位挑戰者的干擾。在賽外，高坂桐乃決心維持自己的宅男興趣，即便沒有人會接受。在賽內，她要廣交朋友，並會努力找到那些可以接受她和她興趣的人。她的對手，藤林杏，熱衷於幫助她的妹妹椋，並使用暴力將她的觀點使別人清晰明瞭。然而，她也期待驗收成果，無論是作為一個朋友，或甚至友達以上。新番角色首戰告捷對她來說手毫不費力。現在，這位老將正企圖嘗試第四度進入季後賽。哪位挑戰者有​​毅力贏得今天的比賽？

Could it be that these two blond veterans, who finally obtained spots in the Postseason last year for the first time in their ISML careers, will be the underdogs throughout the current cast this year as a whole? That cannot be so, and both of them need to prove that they will not be taken down so easily by the many newcomers of ISML. Before they can do that, they first have to prepare for the opponents in front of them: each other. With her trusted sword in hand, Saber is willing to do anything to get back on top, even if it means cutting down an old friend. Sanzen'in Nagi is equally willing to not go down without a fight. Who knows how many tricks and traps she has to prepare before engaging a fight against the strongest Servant? When these two maidens engage in battle, only one of them is going to walk away with her head held high after this dangerous match. Who will it be?

Although these two girls are not human, they try their best to become and act like everyone else around them. Botan is a grim reaper who guides souls to the underworld. Kind and well mannered, she is the one who trained Yūsuke to become an underworld detective. Despite her bubbly personality and optimistic mindset, she is quite ditzy and forgetful. She is also easily frightened, which is ironic because of her job position. Even with these traits, she cares for others and will do anything to help someone in trouble. Ren is an alien who came to Earth to serve humans. Her full name is Ren Ren Ren Nagusaran Rensia Ruroonren Nakora, with the first part of her name, in the alien language, meaning "Zero". Ren can be compared to a newborn child: highly curious and wanting to get as much attention from her master as possible while serving him. Even so, Ren tries her best to become accustomed to Japanese life and culture, ignoring her status as an alien. Can Botan secure a win today with her "never-say-die" attitude, or will Ren overcome her with her inhuman strength?

The 2008 titleholder and the defending champion go head-to-head today. Current champ, Akiyama Mio, started strong this season by defeating Ayase with almost 2,500 votes. A far cry from her once dominant performance, Fate began poorly, losing to Saber by almost 1,100 counts. During the 2010 season, Mio trounced Fate with a 1,140-vote margin. While the bassist appears much stronger, Fate's fans are much more vocal and enough support may put undecided voters into the enforcer's corner.

Today's match-up features a replay of a 2008 Double Elimination match. That battle foreshadowed Shana's future playoff misfortune and was the first of much heartbreak for her fans. Today, Shana will try to extend her current regular winning streak, which continued from her victory over the upstart, Huang Lingyin. Konata struggled to start the season, losing to Sengoku Nadeko. Since that match, Shana stands 2-0 against her opponent, and Konata has yet to make the Postseason playoffs again. Will Konata get her first win against Shana, or will the Flame Haze continue her success?

Despite having yet to chalk up a single victory in her ISML debut, Kotobuki Tsumugi continues to maintain a positive attitude towards all her matches: past, present and future. However, in order to avoid a third consecutive loss, this sweet lady clearly needs to aggressively go on the offense as her next opponent is none other than her good friend and fellow band member, Hirasawa Yui. In terms of history, Yui has done everything: she was a finalist in AST 2009, a semi-finalist in KBM 2010, and a Postseason contender in last year's ISML. Tsumugi has a long way to go before placing her name in the Saimoe history books. As much as Yui may want to hand over a win to Tsumugi, she cannot; because, like everyone else, she aspires to obtain her first necklace as soon as possible. Then again, maybe our cake-loving guitarist should hand over this match to Tsumugi. After all, what can be more threatening than not receiving any more cakes and other sweets in the event that Tsumugi loses?

Two ice-based, magical girls clash in today’s match. Coming from Tōhō Project is Cirno, one of the strongest ice fairies in her world. Despite her strength and high capability of using her powers efficiently, Cirno is actually quite childish and not a very bright girl. She spends most of her free time freezing frogs and either watches them thaw out and revive, or shatters them accidentally. Nonetheless, she does possess some knowledge that most of her peers do not, which has helped them get though many troubles. Reinforce was originally known as the "Book of Darkness," which kills its master and clears the memories of his or her servants. Her original form was that of a sorrowful woman who only existed to destroy. Through the help of her master and her friends, Reinforce was able to defeat the true cause of her destructive nature, but sacrificed herself in the process. Reinforce II, the child model for Reinforce, is now an optimistic girl who tries to help out in any way she can, from office work to fighting against crime. Her main weapon is a book that deals with ice magic. Although these two girls are literally “cool,” one can already feel the heat and intensity coming off from this match. The time has come to prove once and for all who truly is the ultimate Ice Maiden.

Our next two challengers share similar accomplishments in Saimoe and everyday life, yet they started the Regular Season off very differently. Hiiragi Kagami is very serious when it comes to daily activities: she studies to get good grades in school, works in the family business, and takes care of her younger sister. During her free time, she reads, plays games, and chats with her friends, even if they are in a different classroom. Her experience in ISML has led to three consecutive Postseason appearances, but she has found more success by winning the AST in 2008. Nakano Azusa is also very serious when it concerns the Light Music club. She is devoted to the point of practicing even when her group members are either having fun or away on a trip. Despite the other band members including her, she can't help but feel distanced for not being one of the founding four. Her Saimoe experience, although limited, has left an impression on the rest of the competition; she finished the Postseason of ISML in fourth place and also won the AST last year. Azusa won her first match against Hiiragi Kagami during Amethyst last year by a margin of 900 votes. Will Azusa outshine her opponent again and continue her climb to the top, or will Kagami even the score and prove that she is still a force to be reckoned with?

These hardworking girls have had very difficult starts this season. Kagami has put forth more effort and concentration to achieve her first victory, but all her efforts so far have been in vain. Even harder to stomach, for Kagami, is that her erstwhile friend and rival, Konata, has already gained a victory before her. In contrast, Azusa has gotten stronger this season, building on her strong finish in ISML 2010 with three comprehensive victories to mount a challenge for this year’s Aquamarine Necklace. In a battle between two girls who struggle to be honest with their feelings, will it be Azusa's plea for continued success, or Kagami's desperation for a first win on the board that comes across clearest?

Adept at rapid-fire teasing and not short on psychological intimidation know-how, Senjōgahara Hitagi marches into the fourth round of the Aquamarine period with a 3-0 record. Compared to last year when she had one loss out of three matches, courtesy of Nagato Yuki in Aquamarine Round 1, improving her performance by one match is a big morale boost for the self-declared tsundere. As for her opponent, while not as flashy nor diverse in her choice of words, Seraphim is not one to let go of any opportunity to throw out insults at those whom she dislikes, specifically the main male protagonist of the Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? series. Although still without a single win to her name and the current match against her favor, the vampire ninja's pride and dedication to the Tsubamegaeshi Sword Style will not allow her to back out from a fight, regardless of the odds. In the battle of swords, stationery, and verbal harassment that define the match between our two ladies today, may the sharper tongue win!

Holo, the wise wolf, really needs to step up her game. With her last match against lead vocalist and guitarist Iwasawa Asami being relatively close, she cannot afford to have any more matches like this if she wishes to have a chance to get the Aquamarine necklace. Standing in her road to the necklace is another wildcard contender who should not be taken lightly. While Ui may not be as strong as some of the girls representing her series, her kind attitude and motherly aura is enough to have people smile for her. With K-ON! continuing its popularity, Ui may be able to take advantage of that energy and use it to win this match. If last year's surprise victory over Fate is seen again here, it may stop Holo's chances of becoming a running contender for something that she has never obtained before. Can Holo overcome the odds against her, or will Ui shatter that image?

Two lesser-known members of the SSS face off against each other in a crucial match near the bottom of the table. Winning this match gives the winner an opportunity to improve on her table placing, but the loser will be subjected to Yuri's whimsical punishment. Shiina is able to overcome the toughest challenges before her through the skills of silent ninjutsu. Asami, in contrast, advocates empowerment through music. Sword against guitar and slashing sweeps against musical melody: who will emerge ahead to forge a path to a brighter future?

If asked how they view their lives, they would each most likely answer, "Everything revolves around me!" This makes sense coming from Huang Lingyin, a hyperactive and strong-willed girl who would do anything to get the attention of the man she loves. Lingyin is usually the first person to strike when it comes to getting what she wants. She constantly monitors and listens to her surroundings, from small gossips to affairs. The same holds true for Aragaki Ayase, a model and good friend of Kirino. A smart, talented, and refined girl, Ayase tends to make sure that everything goes according to her point of view. The slightest bit of distortion to her vision leads to an immediate confrontation with her; she only wishes the best for people. While these girls hope for things to go according to their plans, the battlefield they are on is ISML, and anything can happen. As the saying goes, "She who laughs last, laughs the loudest."

Someone call the zookeeper, because these two felines may start to go out of control! Aisaka Taiga may be small, but she can definitely pack a punch. With her trusty bokken in hand, she literally dominates any opponent with her sheer power. Although she acts tough on the outside, she has moments of kindness, sweetness, and consideration towards her friends. Although she may not show it, she keeps people's feelings in mind and will do anything for them to smile once more. Gokō Ruri would rather taunt her opponents to the point of mental exhaustion than to raise her paws. Shrewd and clever, Ruri can make her opponents suffer and have them show her their embarrassing sides. In truth, Ruri is actually a quiet and lonely girl who just wishes for some friends with whom she can talk and relate. Ironically, the Black Cat and the Palmtop Tiger may not be the best of friends after this match. Which girl can walk out of here with a perfect score, while her opponent laments on her first loss of the season?

Gokō Ruri and Aisaka Taiga have quite a few similarities. Both have feline nicknames: Ruri is best known as "Kuroneko" (Black Cat), while Taiga's stature led to the nickname of "Tenori Taiga" (Palmtop Tiger). Both are voiced by seiyuu who are considered to be among the hottest stars of the season: Hanazawa Kana for Ruri and Kugimiya Rie for Taiga. Each of their characters were equally among the hottest rookies entering in their debut ISML seasons, with Taiga placing second in nominations in 2009, and Kuroneko attaining first this year. The biggest difference between them is that Taiga has back-to-back, Top 7 finishes in ISML and claimed both the Korea Best Moe and Anime Saimoe championships in 2009; and, she's looking for more. Kuroneko has had no such successes... yet. A win today will prove her to be a force with which to be reckoned.

While both of these girls are also voiced by the same voice actor, their personalities cannot be any more different. Kōsaka Kirino is an intelligent student who works as a model. Unlike most stereotypical sister archetypes, this one plays perverted dating sims that ironically include little sisters and does not mind shouting or even hitting her older bother whenever she is in a bad mood or is found in an awkward position. Deep down, she wishes for someone who can truly understand who she is, despite her tough, outer personality, and still accept her and her hobbies. Nakano Azusa is a diligent and hardworking student. She is mostly seen inside the clubroom and practicing all day, even though her seniors are often away or on a trip. Even with her personality, she can be relaxed and personable, making her a good companion for anyone. So, between a cute little sister and a cute little junior, which one will our voters prefer?

Last year, Senjōgahara debuted in ISML with a loss at the hands of the Integrated Data Entity humanoid interface. This time, both of these girls started the Aquamarine period with the right foot, but now that they face each other, one will have to endure the first loss. Without any doubt, Hitagi has consistently done well in her ISML matches, but Yuki has a longer history to speak for her as she was able to mark her presence in every single Postseason since 2008 and, throughout the Preliminaries and Seeding Phases, she has proven she's still a force to be reckoned with this year. Senjōgahara has arguably mastered the skills of verbal abuse, but the stoic Yuki is not one to be disturbed by words so easily. Will the teaser get her way this year, or will the humanoid interface once again prevail?

This is a re-match for what happened last year in Ruby Round 3, when Furukawa Nagisa did the impossible and defeated the 2008 Tiara Champion, Fate Testarossa, by a mere 28 votes. Nagisa, who was ranked under the Top 16 at that time, was able to overcome the odds and defeat someone who would have been impossible for her to defeat two or three years ago. Now, the two find themselves together in a match once more. Both of them still have not chalked up a win yet, so a victory from either of them today will be a major morality boost for either of these girls. With both of their series’ prides on the line, can Nagisa repeat what happened last year and even the score between the two, or will Fate prove that she will not be caught off guard this time and conquer?

The last time we saw these two together was in the finals of the Preliminary Period. Rising star, Eucliwoon Hellscythe, managed to defeat the veteran, Sakagami Tomoyo, and immediately advanced to the Regular Season. Now, these two competitors quickly find themselves fighting each other once again. This time, however, they are all alone with no one else’s interference. This will clearly put our newcomer to the test. Sakagami Tomoyo already knows what it feels like to have the power of the ocean in her hands, and she will be delighted if she can obtain that same feeling once more. With the two of them currently having perfect scores, one of them must go down, and neither one of them wishes to be in that position. With so much at stake this early on, can Eucliwood defeat her opponent once more and continue her quest of obtaining her first necklace, or will Tomoyo return hit for hit and continue on alone?

Today's exhibition match features two girls representing some of the most popular series of today. From VOCALOID comes the most popular and well-recognized female singing synthesizer, Hatsune Miku. While Miku was not the first Vocaloid to be created, her debut in the Voaloid2 engine sparked the widespread popularity of all other Vocaloids alike, from past, present, and future. Her newest release, Hatsune Miku Append, introduces more features for Miku in order for her to become an even better singer. Miki Sayaka is a kind and compassionate magical girl. She cares deeply about her friends and sacrifices her normal life to have her love play the violin once more. Sayaka can be easily swayed by her emotions and quickly judges others based on her first impressions of them. Nevertheless, once she makes a friend, she will do anything in her power to make them feel happy and at ease. With each of their individual series riding on their shoulders, will Sayaka let her sword do the talking and win with full force, or will Miku sing Sayaka a farewell song that doubles as her own victory chant?

Had these two met under different circumstances, maybe they could have been friends. Together, they could have eaten mapo tofu, worked at the underground, hydro-powered garden, or undertaken Yuri’s unimaginative operations. They could have laughed together, cried together, and fought for the same cause together. However, reality is never friendly, and these two had to literally tear each other apart, limb from limb, in order to truly understand how the other felt. Just when they were beginning to become the best of friends and fight together in ISML, Nakamura Yuri and Tachibana Kanade must square off against each other for the right to be a contender for the Aquamarine necklace. Neither of these girls wanted this match to occur, but it was going to happen sooner or later. Right now, they must put their friendship aside and prepare for the toughest match, emotionally, that they will have to take. Yuri loads her trusted handgun and places her finger on the trigger. Kanade gives her program system one last look. One of them will go down, and it will not look pretty. After all the blood, sweat, and tears, which girl will come out of this match the winner?

Charlotte Dunois seems to be having some tough matches this period, from a hyperactive guitarist, to the unpredictable otaku of 2008, and to her best friend. Now, she has to face the defending Aquamarine and Tiara champion, Akiyama Mio. Charlotte is now stepping into the big league and needs to edit her game plan if she wishes to continue to push forth onto the final round. The French maiden must physically and mentally prepare herself for the match that can change her road to the Aquamarine necklace. As for Mio, she is passing her matches with flying colors, but it seems as though that she has weakened over the course of the year. It is up to Charlotte if whether or not she will be able to defeat the champion at her weakened state. Of course, Mio has never backed down from a challenge, and this match just may prove to be a tricky one for her. With so much at stake near the end of the Aquamarine period, can Charlotte give Mio her first loss for this season, or will Mio block her chance at the necklace she once called hers?

ISML must really love their cat-themed girls this year, especially a certain cute junior who plays a guitar and is usually forced into wearing cat ears and a certain Gothic Lolita who wears cat ears and a tail for experimental reasons. Today, these two cats will be placed in the same cage together with the Aquamarine necklace at the center; however, only one of them can play with it. This is where these two seemingly cute cats get to show their teeth and fight to obtain the first necklace of this season. Gokō Ruri is willing to do whatever it takes to get the necklace. Shrewd and clever, she will try to override her opponent with her sharp tongue and get what she deserves, but Nakano Azusa will not fall into her mental submission so easily. Dedicated and caring, Azusa is willing to go the distance and try her hardest to obtain what she desires. Will there be anything left after these two girls clash?

One of the oldest and longest rivalries in Saimoe history, Nagato Yuki and Suzumiya Haruhi will square off once more to claim the name of best competitor. The rivalry between Yuki and Haruhi is nothing more than an epic battle between two great veterans. The score between these two girls is 6-2, with Haruhi defeating Yuki in Korean Best 2006 and Korean Super Best 06-07 and Yuki defeating Haruhi in Saimoe 2006, Korean Best 2009, and every year in ISML, including one Postseason match. No matter how many times she tries, God cannot seem to get pass the alien when it comes to ISML. However, light seem to be shining brightly in Haruhi's corner. With an impressive score against the 2009 Tiara champion, Katsura Hinagiku, this year could be the year in which Haruhi actually obtains a small, but significant, chance at defeating her long-time opponent for the first time in ISML. Yuki will not be intimidated by the leader of the S.O.S. Brigade and is ready to take on the challenge against her good friend. Will Haruhi finally be able to defeat Yuki this year, or will Yuki continue her undefeated streak against her leader?

On May 16th, 2010, a young debutant came face to face for the very first time with one of the most domineering personalities in the ISML scene, Shana. Riding on the wave of popularity among anime fandom, this girl shocked the stage by handing Shana her one and only loss for the Regular Season in Amethyst Round 7 with a 158-vote advantage. Now one week short of a full year since their last meeting, the debutant who now holds the title of ISML 2010 Tiara Bearer, Akiyama Mio, crosses paths once again with the Flame-haired Blazing-eyed Hunter in Aquamarine Round 7. While Mio and Shana have shown good form in their past six matches, both sides know from experience that with fame comes young new blood seeking to take on the big players and carve reputations for themselves. In an increasingly challenging and unpredictable battlefield unlike years past, this rematch has gone beyond settling old scores; it is a match where staying ahead of the pack precedes all other priorities.

2010年5月16日，一個年輕的新番角色第一次與一位盛氣凌人的老將面對面。在ISML現場，夏娜，在動畫迷中引領著浪潮，新番女孩在常規賽七一紫水晶 階段以158票優勢給了夏娜唯一的一場敗戰。自一整年來，在短暫開始的一個星期就碰頭，在海藍寶玉最終戰，擁有ISML2010后冠萌主頭銜的秋山澪再次 槓上擁有絢麗火焰頭髮的火霧戰士。雖然澪與夏娜從雙方經歷中都了解他們過去六場比賽皆已取得很好的形勢，有著知名度和名譽，年輕的新血為了自己尋求名字刻 在大牌角色之中。在一個越來越具挑戰性和不可預知的戰場，不像過去的幾年中，這已經超越舊帳：勝利，將會是一個保持領先群雌的優勢。

Today's match brings together some really interesting similarities as Eucliwood Hellscythe and Tachibana Kanade go head to head in Aquamarine Round 6. Both of our long, silver-haired girls are poker-faced individuals of few words, have tendencies toward socially ineptness, and have regrets in one form or another that define who they are: qualities that makes it hard for anyone to resist lending a helping hand. Looking beyond that, Eucliwood and Kanade have ties to the afterlife and possess fearsome skills and abilities that would make any sane person think twice before taking them on. Eucliwood's powers stem from the strong magic flowing in her blood, allowing for the performing of supernatural feats such as resurrection, healing, and, deadliest among all, turning words to reality. Unlike the necromancer, Kanade's skills and abilities, aside from hand-to-hand combat knowledge, are artificial in nature: products of software programming limited only by one's imagination that are capable of granting superhuman strength, cloning capabilities, arms creation, and much more. While not exactly a magic vs. science battle, may the better fighter win!

The next match determines who advances to the Aquamarine necklace round, but our next two challengers already have their eyes set on a much bigger prize. Both opponents faced each other at least once in all three saimoe tournaments last year. Misaka Mikoto, current owner of the Ruby Necklace, won the first encounter against her opponent during the Amethyst Period with a score of 2359-2175, a narrow margin of 184 votes. Her second encounter during K-Moe was a little easier; she won 1141-897, a margin of 244 votes. In both cases, she was able to finish ahead of her opponent, but was unable to win either tournament. She finished ISML in second place behind current tiara winner, Akiyama Mio, and lost to Hitagi in the quarterfinals of K-Moe. Her opponent, Nakano Azusa, was able to win the third encounter during the block finals of AST, overcoming a split vote from her Light Music Club partner, Akiyama Mio, to win the match 1052-1026, with a narrow margin of 26 votes between the two opponents. Her victory over Mikoto was important because she was able to continue on to win AST. Azusa already has a moe title, but she wouldn't mind embarrassing her opponent again while looking ahead to winning her first necklace. Mikoto, on the other hand, wouldn't mind a second necklace, but all she is thinking about is shocking her opponent and winning a title as well. Is this just another match, or an early indication of who has the best chance at winning the tiara?

下一場比賽可能會決定誰拿到海藍寶石項鍊，但我們接下來的兩個挑戰者已經把目光設置在一個更大的獎品上。這兩個對手去年至少在三個不同萌賽面對一次。御坂 美琴，目前紅寶石項鍊擁有者，在紫水晶賽事期間以票數2359-2175贏得了第一次遇到對她的新番對手，以184票險勝。她的第二次遇到這位新番對手是 在韓國萌賽而且贏的比較輕鬆，以1141-897的票數，244票勝利。在這兩種情況下，雖然未能完成兩場比賽，但她能夠維持她之前的戰績，使她排在 ISML當前萌主秋山澪之後，而在韓國萌賽中準決賽輸給戰場原黑儀而排在韓國萌主秋山澪和戰場原黑儀之後。她的對手，中野梓，克服分裂投票，與她輕音部的 合作夥伴秋山澪贏得了比賽以1052-1026票數，以26票險勝兩個夥伴之間的另一位對手。她戰勝了美琴是一場很重要的里程碑，因為她能夠繼續贏得 AST。梓已經有一個日本萌王的頭銜，但她不介意羞辱她的對手而贏得她的第一個項鍊。另一方面，美琴也不介意獲得第二項鍊，但她想的是震驚她的對手以及獲 得萌王冠軍。這只會是一場比賽?或者是一個早期預言誰在贏得萌主后冠有最大的機會？

This match may reveal surprising revelations for our voters today. In the 2008 Postseason round, all eyes were on Nagato Yuki, as she was able to overcome Konata Izumi and Hiiragi Kagami from the loser round to challenge Fate Testarossa for the tiara, eventually losing to her. In the 2009 Postseason round, series hype helped Hinagiku Kataura to overcome high tier girls, eventually allowing her to capture the tiara from the Bottom 8. A match-up like this should have an obvious victor, but the contestants today seem to be a bit concerned. Hinagiku barely managed to defeat Suzumiya Haruhi in Round 5, but Yuki proved that she has once again been able to overcome her leader with an impressive margin. Has the strength of the 2009 Tiara champion lowered enough for the sun and moon wielder to overcome her with her movie hype? As of now, the score between these two is 2-3, with Yuki defeating Hinagiku in ISML 2008 and 2009 in the Regular Season and Hinagiku defeating Yuki in the 2010 ISML Regular Season and ISML 2009 and 2010 Postseasons. Can the alien overcome Hinagiku once more, as she did in the past to even the score, or will the student council president continue to show her dominance over girls such as Yuki?

Looking back at the past six matches, it is interesting to take note that Nagato Yuki and Katsura Hinagiku have both gone up against the same opponents: C.C., Kasugano Sora, Louise Vallière, Senjōgahara Hitagi, Seraphim, and Suzumiya Haruhi. Thus, it is disheartening for the student council president to know that her opponent for today has outperformed her in every statistical aspect, be it average votes received or win percentages. At present, the current record between our two players stands at 2-3, with Nagato Yuki emerging triumphant in the 2008 and 2009 Regular Seasons and Katsura Hinagiku being the victor for the Postseason of 2009 and 2010, as well as in the 2010 Regular Season. Whether the current state of affairs is attributed to the lack of new material outside of the Hayate no Gotoku! manga, or that the recent The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya movie is still fresh within the minds of many viewers, the humanoid interface of the Integrated Sentient Data Entity knows that the opportunity draws nigh for her to even out the score. So will Katsura Hinagiku continue to hold onto the record that she has maintained over the past 2 years, or will Nagato Yuki finally turn the tide of history?

The Aquamarine Necklace is said to possess the powers of the ocean. Girls who have held onto it once, such as the 2008 Necklace winner, Shana, and the current defending recipient, Akiyama Mio, already know how it feels to have the strength of the ocean in the palms of their hands. Both wish to wield that power once more, but several girls this year are seeking to understand for the first time what it means to become "Aquamarine." Nagato Yuki, who has possessed the light and the darkness, looks to add the ocean to her collection of powers. After all, it is the sun and moon that govern the ocean currents and tides. Misaka Mikoto, whose Ruby Necklace has taught her fire, wants to obtain Aquamarine to balance her electricity and flames with water. High-rising newcomers including Tachibana Kanade, Eucliwood Hellscythe, and Nakamura Yuri, hope to further their influence using the ocean's vastness. All of our competitors will do whatever it takes to make use of this opportunity that they may not obtain ever again. The final match along the seashore commences!

Die Kette des Aquamarins soll die Stärke der Ozean bedeuten. Die Mädchen, die die Kette jemals angezogen haben, wie Shana, der Sieger 2008, und Akiyama Mio, der aktuelle Titelverteidiger, wissen die Gefühl der Stärke, wenn sie die Kette in ihren Handflächen haben. Sie möchten an der Stärke der Kette noch einmal festhalten. Aber gibt es mehrere Mädchen, die wünschen die Bedeutung des Aquamarins zu verstehen. Nagato Yuki, die schon über den Glanz und die Dunkelheit verfügt hat, will die Stärke des Aquamarins zu ihrer Sammlung hinzufügen. Schließlich werden der Sonne und der Monat die Bewegung der Ozean unter Kontrolle stehen. Misaka Mikoto, die steht die Stärke des Feuers, will ihre feurige Stärke durch Wasser ausgleichen. Die hohe steigende Neuankömmlinge, wie Tachibana Kanade, Eucliwood Hellscythe und Nakamura Yuri, die nichts über Kette wissen, hoffen die Gefühl vom Besitz der Kette zu verstehen. Sie wollen in jedem Fall die Kette nehmen, weil die Gelegenheit vielleicht nicht wieder entstehen. Die letzte Spiel entlang der Seeküste fängt an.