Katsura Hinagiku (Hayate no Gotoku!)
vs. Fate Testarossa (Mahō Shōjo Lyrical Nanoha)Despite their reigns in the ISML only being one year apart, time has evidently affected Katsura Hinagiku and Fate Testarossa in different ways. At the end of the 2008 ISML Regular Season, Fate came out on top with an impressive 60-3 record. In addition to this, she managed to dominate in the Postseason, en route to becoming the first girl in ISML history to attain the Heavenly Tiara. Fast-forward to the next year and you have Hinagiku's surprising Postseason victories against girls who finished the Regular Season with better records than her. Against all odds, Hina came out on top and swiped the Tiara away from Fate. A year later, in their meeting in 2010, Hina dominated Fate with a whopping 1148-vote victory. And now, to start off Diamond, these two former Tiara bearers meet again, with Fate looking to even the score. At the end of this battle of champions, which girl will emerge victorious?
Aragaki Ayase (Ore no Imōto) vs. Charlotte Dunois (IS <Infinite Stratos>)After six periods of ISML, the performances and actual strengths of these girls are more apparent. Earlier in the Regular Season, huge hopes were pinned on these two contestants. Ayase was predicted to challenge for a spot in the Postseason, while Charlotte was foreseen to challenge in a Necklace showdown. But the truth, which unfolds after six periods of the Regular Season, is a stark difference towards the early predictions placed upon them. Languishing mid-table with a mere 17 wins out of her 42 matches, Ayase is already out of the running for a spot in the Postseason. And although Charlotte has almost guaranteed her spot in the season-ending fireworks, she has not been able to enter a single necklace round match and her performance has been plummeting rapidly. With everybody starting with clean slates in the Diamond Period, will Aragaki Ayase be able to chalk up her first victory of the period over her opponent, or will Charlotte Dunois reign victorious instead?
Hirasawa Ui (K-ON!) vs. Kōsaka Kirino (Ore no Imōto)This match pits two exemplary imōto against one another. Often acting as the perfect foil for her rather ditzy older sister, Hirasawa Ui is the type of little sister almost everyone prefers to have. She is levelheaded, calm and collected, as well as supportive towards her sibling. Added to that is the fact that she is apparently a talented girl, as shown when she replaced her sick older sister seamlessly. On the other hand, Kōsaka Kirino is the type of imōto who everyone would be proud to have. Beautiful, athletic, as well intelligent, she is what people call the perfect model student, resulting in her older brother being overshadowed by her radiance most of the time. Even though there is tension between the two of them, they in time manage to mend their sibling relationship for the better. Which imōto will be the preferred choice of the voters—Hirasawa Ui or Kōsaka Kirino?
Sanzen'in Nagi (Hayate no Gotoku!) vs. Shana (Shakugan no Shana)The Ruby Period was one to celebrate for both Sanzen'in Nagi and Shana. Having finally amassed 150 wins for her ISML career, Nagi looks to have a strong performance in Diamond. Unfortunately, the rich otaku's first opponent in the Diamond Period is none other than fellow Kugimiya Knight, Shana. Having obtained the fiery Ruby Necklace at long last, Shana now sets her eyes on the grand prize: the 2011 Heavenly Tiara. Despite the fact that her opponent is another Kugimiya Knight, this Flame Haze knows that she must show no mercy in order to reach the top. With a playoff spot and positioning on the leaderboard at stake for Nagi and Shana, respectively, a win here is essential. But, one of them is bound to come out empty handed. Will money and status be able to lift Nagi to victory, or will Shana's Nietono no Shana batter her into submission?
Seraphim (Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?) vs. Saber (Fate/stay night)Round one serves up a couple of bokken clashes, one of which is the meeting between Seraphim and Saber. Sporting long, wavy hair, a pair of emerald-tinted eyes, as well as a curvaceous body, Seraphim doesn’t look like a martial artist, but instead a contestant in a beauty pageant. Yet underneath her dreamy look lies a kyūketsu ninja. Mastering the art of the Tsubamegaeshi sword technique, Seraphim will do everything within her powers to complete her given missions. The golden-haired Saber, on the other hand, does have an aura of authority around her. But, not many know the truth that lies behind her existence. She is in fact one of the seven servants summoned for the fifth Holy Grail War. Empowered by her blade, she will strive hard to ensure her master’s safety. As secret technique clashes with legend, which maiden will emerge victorious?
Shiina (Angel Beats!) vs. Aisaka Taiga (Toradora!)Another match-up pitting two bokken wielders is the fixture between Shiina and Aisaka Taiga. The silent Shiina joins the SSS in the Afterlife as an act of defiance against ‘Angel’ and ‘God’, not wanting her existence to cease. Her uncanny knack of sensing danger, born from her strict training, means that she is seldom caught unprepared when venturing into enemy territory. While she seems like a distant character, she is actually fond of cute things, especially stuffed animals. On the other hand, Taiga expresses her wishes openly in most things, except when it comes to love problems. She is easy to rile, and most people who incur her wrath get their just, physical rewards. Her tough exterior leads many people to fear her, without them knowing about her true inner nature—a lonely girl who needs all the help she can get. Which girl will be able to mask her inner self better, stuffed-animal-enamoured Shiina, or lonely girl Aisaka Taiga?
Nakano Azusa (K-ON!) vs. Kotobuki Tsumugi (K-ON!)To kick off the Diamond Period, another
K-ON! battle will tear at the hearts of those who support its characters. This time, the competitors are guitarist, Nakano Azusa, and keyboardist, Kotobuki Tsumugi. For Azusa, hard work throughout the Regular Season has helped her clinch a Postseason berth, as she currently sits at 4th in the overall standings with an excellent 38-4 record. For Hōkago Tea Time's lovable kōhai, this season is another one to celebrate. However, for Mugi the ojō-sama, her first season in ISML is definitely one to forget. Having only won 14 matches thus far, Mugi has learned there are indeed some things that money can't buy. But with Diamond starting, Mugi prepares to finish off this season with a strong note. She knows that getting past Azusa will be tough and that winning will give her the momentum she needs to succeed. When all is said and done, which musician will have played her way to victory—Nakano Azusa or Kotobuki Tsumugi?
Kanbaru Suruga (Bakemonogatari) vs. Mirajane (FAIRY TAIL)While one may appear to be fun and carefree and the other warm and loving, if you pluck a particular heartstring, you may see someone completely and horrifyingly different. The self-proclaimed lesbian, fujoshi, lolicon, and masochist, Kanbaru Suruga, has always admired her upperclassman since middle school. Upon realizing that her upperclassman was dating someone, Kanbaru unconsciously attacked him at night. It was not until he lifted her curse that she viewed him as a friend rather than a threat. Mirajane used to have a sharp tongue and pick fights. However, after the death of her sister, Mirajane became more restrained and reliant on others. Now, she is always seen with a smile on her face and speaks kind, warm words. In some bad moments she turns a blind eye; others can lead to a fearsome glare and an aura of what she was in the past. Both girls must stay focused and not lose their cool if they wish to win this bout. Will Suruga come out on top with the aid of a devil's part, or will Mirajane resort to her final form to finish her opponent in a blink of an eye?
