[night_sentinel]

Originally Posted by Sol Falling

Hot damn. Look at that Shindouji score. Achiga and Senriyama's performances are impressive, but if we keep in mind that Mairu's performance will have at least double the han in the Captain's round they're looking seriously dangerous.

Hey your right, considering that Shindouji has 25,000 points gain as their score. Their looking for a 50,000 payback at least in the captain round. Which coincidentally will put them back into the running for second place. This is not even taking account the fact that the 50,000 points must come from somewhere so depending on who they hit they will be really in the running.

Originally Posted by Myssa Rei

Despite the massive point debit that they've experienced, Shiraitodai really isn't that concerned about it huh? Some people are saying that it doesn't do them any favors, but I don't know, for me it's actually worrisome, ESPECIALLY after Awai's off-hand comment.

Yeah, I'm also concerned about how Shiraitodai is behaving. I know that they're suppose to be taking it easy but how confident can they be? From the looks of it, the answer is Very confident. We already know that Shiraitodai knows about Shindouji's pattern of winning yet even if they know judging from the score that Shindouji will be getting 50k in the next round, I can't even see a hint of worry on their faces and as I've said before Awai looks really happy.

Which begs the question if Shiraitodai is that confident against their semi-final opponents, why are they even bothering with the data collection that they're doing it right in the middle of the match even if its putting them in a disadvantage? I can only assume that they're preparing for the opponents in the finals that will arise from Side-B. But, I do wonder who is it that got them bothered?

Rinkai = they have a ridiculous all star international line-up after all
Uzusan = Hayari-pro is wary of them
Himematsu= ok this is unlikely but they're leveling up right now and they have a number of good pros looking after their progress.
Kiyosumi = our protagonists? Well, they're being really eye-catching right now. Beating Ryuumonbuuchi in the prefecturals, finishing their first match in the nationals on the lieutenant match without having Saki and Nodoka to play and ousting Eisui out of the competition. Come to think of it, Awai and Takami watched their quarterfinal match so they might have felt Saki's LOL! demon aura.

Originally Posted by darkchez11

Hello, I'm new here, well not totally new I been a lurker for quite a while, although I don't even know how to play mahjong I really like this series

Hello to you, too. Its nice to know more fellow Saki fans!

Originally Posted by darkchez11

I think saki's weakness is being so weak will, whenever she get scared her defense mechanism is to release this strong monster aura, she's like an animal saying to her aggressor she's a dangerous prey so don't you dare try to approach me, it’s like a form of intimidation to scare off potential danger, so I think a person who got a lot of determination or the very persistent people will give her a lot of trouble because even if you warn them not to go and hunt you, like a persistent hunter they won't stop until they finally get what they wanted or until they themselves get killed, she's the total opposite of shizu, although their goal is somewhat similar it is to finally meet someone important to them thru mahjong.

You know this theory is perfectly plausible. It does have an interesting irony that Saki's demon aura, the one that induces fear in everyone that feel it, flares up when Saki herself is scared. Its like as you've said the demonic aura is more of a defense mechanism so that people won't attack her. After watching the series some more, I find its interesting that Saki's demon aura of doom flares up when Saki is in highly stressful situation like when she is lost ala Ryuumonbuchi and Achiga encounter or in the last match wherein Saki was feeling scared. Its also doubly amusing that the there is a possibility that if Saki is in complete control and not scared, you would probably not find a peep of her aura at all.

Though, the fact that it is a defense mechanism doesn't in my eyes detract from the perceived danger by her opponents. For me, the danger is very real. If we consider that while Saki is spewing demonic aura of doom on her opponents she is in +/- zero mode, then attacking her is inherently a bad idea. Because the harder Saki loses points in that mode, the harder she needs to hit someone so that she would reach her sweet spot.

Originally Posted by darkchez11

teru was right “saki, if you bloom with all your might, just like those flower…” although she never finish that line I think saki need to bloom (to grow) in order to go further and like a flower that need its sunlight to finally bloom, saki is here now because of teru.

I'm glad that someone else caught this. "Teru" and "Saki" beside symbolic representation of their special moves can also be a representation of their bonds or relationship with one another.

In Saki's case, Teru is the sun that she needs. Beside that, flowers and plants in general grow in the direction of the sun, and this is emulated by the fact that Saki move in the direction of her personal sun. Good or bad as many have noted Saki is primarily here because Teru is here.

Btw, welcome darkchez11 and good job to your first post on Saki thread!