#Yorii still teasing elliot ^^;

[setagaya-division]

"Well, looks like your team and mine are competing against each other in the first round, Big Bro! Who da thunk it, huh?"

"Y-Yeah..."

"It sucks that one of us will be eliminated from the tournament so early, but regardless of who wins or loses, no hard feelings, right?"

"Y-Yeah, of course!"

"Great, I wish you the best of luck, Big Bro!"

"Y-Yeah, you too, Yorii."

"...Cause goodness knows you'll definitely need it considering who your teammates are."

"H-Huh? Did you say something, Yorii?"

"Nope, nothing at all, Bro!"

Attention!

Last week, the eight teams for the Collab Tournament were revealed. Today, I'll be showing which team is competing against which, as well as the general rules for the tournament. First off, the rules. Yes, they're boring and suck, but they are needed.

Rules:

Schedule: The Collab is scheduled to begin on November 2nd, the first Saturday of the month, and will continue through the rest of the month until the fourth Saturday, which is the 23rd. I'll try to have all of the songs posted by or around noon. If not by then, then definitely before 5 P.M.

Sending in Songs: After the theme has been chosen (and a winner from the previous round has been shown), you will send me a song that you want your OC to sing, either by PM or IM. The song can be whatever you want. If it's animated or by a real person, it's fine. I don't judge; I know how hard it can be to find a song/singer that sounds or feels like your OC. (Don't forget the title of the song!)

IMPORTANT: If possible, try to send your songs in ASAP. I'd like to have all songs by no later than each Thursday night or Friday morning, so I can begin work on the week's songs. If you need help finding a good song or think you won't be able to post a song in time, either let me or one of your teammates know, and we'll do our best to help. If you don't, I'll leave the choice of song in your teammates' hands. If you don't like the song they chose, oh well.

Themes: After discussing it with my friends, it's been decided that I will be choosing the themes for each team to do their songs on. The themes will generally only be one word revolving around a certain feeling (similar to what ParaLive does). I'll try to pick a theme that's easy for people to find songs for. But if you can't find a song that fits the theme or doesn't sound like your OC, then don't worry about it and just pick a song that you like. As stated, I know how hard it can be to find a song that feels/sounds like your OC.

Voting: Voting is scheduled to begin as soon as the songs have been posted (which is why I'll be trying my hardest to make sure they are all out by noon, if possible). I learned from last year, so I won't be using Google Polls this time since it's annoying. I'm not sure which poll system I'll use, but I'll be sure to let everyone know.

As stated, voting is scheduled to begin each Saturday afternoon, and will last until Tuesday evening, which is when the winning teams will then be announced, along with the new theme. As soon as you have listened to the songs, be sure to head to the poll on the website and vote for the team you think won.

IMPORTANT: I know I'm probably wasting my time and breathe by saying this, but please try to be fair and honest when you vote. Don't just vote for the team that has your OC in it, as that takes all of the fun of the contest. This is partially the reason why I'm not using Google Polls this year cause it allows a person to vote more than once, and that ruined the voting last year.

I think that about covers everything. If there's anything else, I'll be sure to let everyone know.

So now, without further ado, allow me to show just which team will be facing which in the tournament for the first round:

1. Dragon's Keep vs. Adrenaline Rush

Theme for Battle: Hustle

Definition: 'the relentless pursuit of goals, and the determination to succeed against all odds. The story of grinding and working hard, pushing through challenges, staying focused, and never giving up.'

2. AKATxSUKI vs. Sireen's Angels

Theme for Battle: Unity

Definition: 'the strength and power that comes from coming together as a team or a community. The idea that when people join forces, they can achieve more than they ever could alone.'

3. Cyber Nexus vs. Darkness Made Flesh

Theme for Battle: Dreams

Definition: 'the aspirations and goals that drive us forward. The hopes and ambitions that fuel our journey, the visions of what we want to achieve, and the relentless pursuit of our passions, turning them into reality.'

4. Future Forward vs. Nerd Roulette

Theme for Battle: Freedom

Definition: 'the state of being free from constraints, limitations, or oppression. It's about the ability to act, speak, and think without hindrance or restraint, breaking free from anything that hinders you.'

So, these are the first-round teams and themes that will take place on the 2nd of November. I look forward to the songs that are sent in, and a good contest. Until next time.

@katsushika-division @oita-division @sapporo-division @kanazawa-division @edogawa-division @akihabara-division03 @aichi-division @shinagawa-division @setagaya-division @kobedivision @naha-division @fukuokanodivision @kagoshima-division @sendaidivision @kumamoto-division @ginza-division @suginami-division @akihabaradivision @okinawa-division @shizuokadivision @minato-division01

[setagaya-division]

Mina's Thoughts on Third Members

Saburo Yamada

"Is it bad to say that I see Saburo-kun as a mix between Yorii and Elliot? Not to say I don't love my younger brothers, because I do. But if you took Elliot's intellect and combined it with Yorii's arrogance, you'd pretty much have Saburo-kun. ...Although I don't know how much of his personality can be attributed to arrogance. When he isn't putting himself on a pedestal, he's putting his oldest brother, Ichiro-san, on one. It's good that he cares much for his older brother. He and I are of the same mind on that. But he should be careful that his love for him doesn't grow into worship."

Rio Mason Busujima

"I don't venture to Yokohama much, unless it's to get something to eat. After seeing how that city is run and much less the team running it, I don't really care much for that place. Rio-san would have to be the main exception. Elliot's told me that he helped when he ventured into Yokohama (I wish he would have told me he was going there, by the way). He seems... okay. A stark contrast to his teammates. ...Still, I have to wonder how Elliot can eat this man's food. I got on Yorii for throwing it out when it was for Elliot, but... perhaps next time, I can get Elliot to put it somewhere else..."

Dice Arisugawa

"I don't mind the Shibuya team all that much, but this guy has to be the one member of the team that I dislike. He spends so much time begging for money, only to go and waste it in a casino with hopes that he'll somehow "strike it rich". I'm holding out hope that he matures with age and grows out of this mindset, but... well, if he winds up dead someday, I'm not going to be surprised."

Doppo Kannonzaka

"I love Yorii, but I really wish he'd stop teasing Elliot so much. He says its his way of 'toughing him up', but I don't think so. Lately, he's been comparing Elliot to Doppo-san from Shinjuku. He says that if Elliot doesn't start fighting back against the idiots at school who bother him, then Doppo-san is who he will eventually turn into. ...While I won't say Yorii-kun is wrong, he could have phrased it a different way. But I suppose that's Yorii for you..."

Rei Ayamado

"...This man feels me with bad spirits, which is ironic since I already have a malevolent being inside of me. Both Elliot and Yorii think they've seen him before, and... I don't know why, but I get the feeling I've seen him, as well. I don't know what it is about him that makes me feel ill at ease, but... I don't like it. Fair warning to him, if he tries anything here in Setagaya, to me or my siblings, I'm bleeding him dry..."

Hitoya Amaguni

"I've heard of this lawyer, though I don't know him. He apparently will do any case for the right price, but when it comes to cases involving bullying, he'll do it for free. Elliot has thought of going to him, but I've told him not to. Not because I trust this lawyer, but because he doesn't need anyone else to worry about bullies. If they're bothering him, he just needs to come to me, and I'll set those idiots straight. ...I know I can't be for Elliot all the time, but I want him to know he can depend on me when he needs too."

[setagaya-division]

Elliot's Thoughts on Suginami Division

Ryuko Umemoto

"I know absolutely nothing about this guy. And forgive me for saying so, but I'm not at all sorry about that. No offense or anything, but this guy seems like the type of person you'd want to avoid meeting under any sort of circumstances. I mean, I'm still shocked that he and Yorii were able to work together, but... Yorii has always had a way of getting people to like him, regardless of what they're like. It's one of the things I envy about him..." Elliot sighs as he looks away, a bit downcast.

Maki Umemoto

"Umemoto-sensei?! You... you mean, he's part of the D.R.B. as well?! ...That... that is very shocking, to say the least. I've always found Umemoto-sensei to be a bit nervous when speaking in front of crowds. But when he speaks about the government or about how people in power abuse their power, it seems like his fear mysteriously disappears. It's like, he wants more people to listen to him. Honestly, I find him a bit intimidating when he's like that."

"Aside from that, Umemoto-sensei is one of my favorite teachers. He's one of the few that doesn't judge me for hanging out with Mina. And when he notices that I'm being teased, he almost always steps in. Honestly, I see a lot of myself in him. I guess that's why I admire and respect him. He's someone I hope I can emulate someday."

Shuu Edogawa

"...Is it bad that both of my siblings have met this young man, and I haven't? I hear he works as an investigator, but his work deals more with cheating couples and spouses, and that sort of thing. If so, I can kinda understand why he knows Yorii-kun." Elliot says, rolling his eyes with a sigh. "He'd really get somewhere in his life if he started thinking more with his brain, and less with his pe... I mean, his reproductive area..."

山茶花 Zombeez

"'Sazanka' Zombeez? ...If I recall correctly, sazankas are camellia flowers that are native to both Japan and China. They're widely used more practical sense than decorative; mainly because their leaves are used to make tea while their seeds are used to make seed oil. I think Morimoto-sensei was using them once in his lab. I don't really understand how, but I didn't question him."

"But anyway, I have to wonder why they chose to name themselves after a flower and then an undead creature. ...I wonder if its meant to show beauty and ugliness in one sentence. Or perhaps, I'm simply looking to deeply into things. But one thing's for sure: if we face this team, that means I'll have to go up against Umemoto-sensei. If I do, I hope he doesn't take anything I do or say to heart. As I stated, he has my utmost respect. I'd hate to do anything that might cause him to lose it."