Saki S2 – “There’s Only Room For One Nopan”

Saki episode of side A’s latest is simply an extension of the previous episode’s point of concerns – a certain bishoujo in the nopan mahjong tournament is still seemingly invincible, resulting in everyone else losing heavily.

Ridiculous defeat was being faced for all except the reigning champion of nopan mahjong, Miyanaga Teru – and this episode is simply more of the same. Of the four players at the table, those three unfortunate enough to not have the name “Miyanaga Teru” are being trampled to the point of a minimum 100,000 point difference, if not more, between themselves and the raging bishoujo warrior of nopan.

Since Miyanaga came into the spotlight, emphasis has shifted from Achiga and onto the believed second top player, the sickly girl of Senriyama, as she continually assesses the situation presented by Miyanaga – constantly considering how she can overcome this seemingly unstoppable bishoujo, yet failing horribly each time as Miyanaga still somehow secures a victory regardless of whatever variables or dynamics may change.

The series is showing that if Senriyama cannot even dent the winning streak of Miyanaga, then Achiga definitely hasn’t much a chance at all either – and indeed, it certainly doesn’t appear that they do. The games are continuing along – and Kuro-chan is only losing her sanity slowly alongside each beating.

Utterly hopeless does it seem to even attempt any effort at winning – once the mid-game break arrives, Kuro-chan has managed to figure by then that Miyanaga Teru may be similar in playing style to herself, and this could mean that an opening in her capabilities surely must exist somewhere, yet that’s all she accomplishes. Kuro came to conclude that bit of information – although when she gets back to the table as the rounds continue, she’s simply steamrolled over by Miyanaga Teru, as is everyone else at the table.

It’s as if the previous episode’s purpose was to show everyone sliding into an inescapable depression – and this one is merely to show them suffering within this torturous stage of nopan mahjong, reason being that this spectacle merely repeatedly stresses that no matter what is done, Miyanaga Teru remains untouchable. And similarly, as Miyanaga Teru triumphs in a fashion ever more grand progressing through the game, the remaining players experience a slaughter that much more brutal with each passing.

Each of the females who aren’t Miyanaga Teru are essentially broken mentally and spiritually by the end of the episode, Kuro-chan in particular – yet the Senriyama shoujo still has a sort of final attack which she’s gathering the courage and strength to execute. It’s been emphasized to no end for the last two episodes that she’s capable of “seeing one turn ahead” – yet apparently, she can do two if she tries, though it seems to have some sort of impact on her health, enough to make her lose consciousness.

One should note that while Saki’s first run was indeed highly over the top, this is truly something else – the amount of supernatural intervention has gotten humorously blatant, and reminiscent of some kind of fantasy RPG. Now, not a single turn goes by without Senriyama’s girl turning her eye green and seeing into the future – which serves as one of the more prominent examples of the increasing otherworldly facets, not that there’s any complaints.

Superhuman or not, Miyanga Teru has to be stopped eventually – otherwise the series wouldn’t develop any further. And further, the spotlight has been on Senriyama enough that perhaps, they too will hold a substantial role till the end of the anime alongside Achiga – it’s practically been made clear at this point.

And thus, all which remains is to see how Miyanga Teru is either countered or defend against as necessary to keep in the tournament – and then what this will subsequently hold for Achiga as more rounds unfold with other players.

• 
  Saki S2 – Another Victory For Nopan
• 
  Saki S2 – The Scariest Of Nopan Mahjong
• 
  Saki S2 – Practicing With Nopan
• 
  A Third Season Of “Saki” Nopan Mahjong?