hontou ni Stripey Insists Sisters Cry Oniichan Now

Saki 22

Summary:

Yuuki's reign at the top of the individual tournament is abruptly and spectacularly ended, on the second day, by Nanpo Kazue, a Southern round specialist, overwhelms her. Nodoka realizes that Saki has reverted to being (Plus Minus) Zero and uses the power of yuri love love promises to not hold back anymore. She also makes Saki realize that her attempt at charity towards President Hisa would diminish any victory.

Hisa gets a tough draw and proceeds to neutralize Saki's kans with quick wins and cooperating with Momoko and Tomoki to create a straight zone. But in the third go-around, Momoko abandons the alliance, engages her stealth mode to blindside Tomoki (like she did against Touka) and reaches for her swimming date with Yumi-chin.

Reaction:

The Saki x Nodoka pairing seems to have plateaued somewhat; Saki is reverting to past type and Nodoka is having to kick her ass once in a while again. Her attempt at taking it easy for the sake of Hisa to be patronising and over-confident of Hisa at the same time; on the one hand, she was absolutely confident at beating Hisa and also assumed that she was the only serious obstacle to Hisa's qualification for the national individuals. While she might very well be right, I agreed completely that it would diminish a Hisa victory and go against the (Nanoha FULL POWER) spirit of the competition.

Momo x Yumi has clearly ensconced itself as the favourite coupling of this series for me. The beach scene was so typical of the role reversal in courtship that I find both intriguing and fun to watch. Yumi-chin (seme) was the one to make the big out-reach to win Momo's heart (uke); after her big successful strike, though, it's been Momo who has been growing ever more desirous of her senpai and taking the initiative, reversing the uke-seme placings (I'm sure there must a term for this). Which is just as well since Yumi-chin doesn't seem to know what to do with Momo or their relationship - after Getting The Girl, comes Keeping It Together.

Related posts:

1. Saki 23
2. Saki 14-16
3. Saki 19-20