2012 Round 2 CD

9/23
The first day of blocks C and D features a showdown between Saki and Idolm@ster. The odds favor Chihaya: Miki stayed very close to Koromo, and Chihaya is at least as strong if not stronger, while Hajime is no match for Koromo. The Saki fans haven't been very vicious so far this round, combos didn't accomplish much in round 1, and the anti-Saki forces should be mustering after the slew of victories in A and B. Knocking Hajime out would guarantee a non-Saki winner in D (the same group in which Kurisu upset Kyaputen). Meanwhile, Cthuuko, while pretty cute, shouldn't force Shizuno to get as fiery as she did against Toshinou Kyouko.

About 8 hours into the match, we have a strange chart. It's sure to be riddled with fakes, and the numbers are in the same ballpark as yesterday's chart. Hajime is accelerating faster than Koromo (counting fakes for both), so I'm starting to wish I hadn't changed my fantasy lineup to bet directly on Chi-chan, but I still expect her to pull though. The other surprise so far is Eila, who just hasn't showed up at all.

The final results are in: Cthuuko beat Shizu and Chihaya blew away Hajime. The Saki girls had incredible numbers of fake votes. Shockingly, the real voters fell for them and didn't turn out, apparently believing their victory was safe. Losing Hajime to Chihaya was understandable, but the loss of Shizuno is a major embarrassment to the usually disciplined Saki faction (even though Cthuuko is pretty moe). There is now blood in the water, and I'm not talking about Cthuuko nosebleeding when she sees Nyarlko in a swimsuit.

I was certainly off on this one. I briefly considered making a joke about cardboard if the result was neither Shizu>Hajime nor Shizu>Chihaya in fantasy, but didn't because it seemed too unrealistic. That's Saimoe for you.

9/24

Kurisu lost with 197 votes, a measly 44.8% of what she got in round 1, with fake voting happening on both sides. This confirms that her victory was nothing but an assassination perpetrated by someone who didn't want Mihoko going anywhere. Suspects include the Rie fans, who have both Nagi and Louise in the same group. Rie and Hayate had some nasty history with Saki in previous tournaments.

9/25

9/26

Prediction Record: R2: 14-2, R1: 70-26