With such a wide variety of colourful personalities and interesting people out there, finding the right person for you might not seem so hard anymore. Case in point: take a look at our three contestants here today. Up first is one who lives by the phrase, "A picture is worth a thousand words." As a genius painter with a passion for manga, the quiet Shiina Mashiro is someone who prefers to let her creations do the talking, and with that same intent in mind, looks to impress the voters here today. Jumping from reserved to spontaneous brings us to Neko, the boisterous catgirl whose behaviour suggests she's someone who seeks to live life to the fullest. Beware, though, as her mysterious but powerful ability to induce hallucinations is a force to be reckoned with. Rounding up the group is Nibutani Shinka, a seemingly normal high school girl who can arguably be placed in between her two fellow contestants on a scale measuring one's level of social energy. On the surface, her physical beauty and lovable personality have garnered her many friends and admirers. However, only a select few are aware of her true self—an evidently manipulative and dark person. Equipped with these two "masks," she will undoubtedly be a formidable foe in this match. As these three girls with contrasting personalities return to the ISML stage for the second time, who will manage to appeal to the voters the most?

Friendly and intimidating, humble and arrogant, shadow and light—these are words that describe Kuroko Tetsuya and Gilgamesh. No other match-up has featured two contestants whose personalities are as different as this pair's; even their physical appearances are like day and night. As a skilled basketball player who barely has any presence both on and off the court, Kuroko is someone who seeks to be a shadow that emphasizes the light, rather than be the light itself. With humility being one of his prominent traits, it's not hard to look at him and say that he is a good human being who, although he doesn't show much emotion, cares about those around him. On the flip side, Gilgamesh enjoys looking down on the individuals he meets. And while his arrogance might be unpleasant, his status as the King of Heroes makes it hard to challenge his boastful attitude. On paper, it's easy to give Gilgamesh the victory because of his power, but knowing Kuroko, there's bound to be a trick or two up his sleeve. And so, as the Phantom is set to take on the King, which will triumph over the other—the shadow or the light?

It is only when you take the time to truly have a meaningful conversation with someone that you begin to find out things about them that you might not expect. The more time you spend with people, the more you'll get to know them. The most boring of people can suddenly become interesting; the most naïve can turn out to be knowledgeable. Take Oreki Hōtarō and Katsuragi Keima as prime examples of the two aforementioned cases. On the surface, Hōtarō appears to be your average high school student who's a little more on the conservative side. However, what lies behind his solemn mask is someone whose attention to detail and analytic ability far exceeds those of his peers. Similarly, Keima, who spends his days immersed in video games and prefers isolation, is someone who might be labelled as socially awkward by society. But despite this, he has shown time and time again that judging one solely on his behaviour can be surprisingly erroneous. So now, as these two contestants prepare for their battle, why not take some time to learn more about them before casting your vote? You might be surprised by the things you'll learn.

The loving relationship between a parent and child is a sight to behold. It is a depiction of one of life's most wonderful treasures: family. No matter the difficulties one might face, being blessed with such a bond is something to be thankful for—a thought that both Yui and Yūki Asuna share. Although their mother-daughter relationship is only of a virtual nature, their love for one another is by no means the same. And so, being pitted against each other in this match today will ultimately yield a bittersweet result for the two. As much as they would both hate to lose here after making it this far, there's also a part of them that wishes for the other to win and move on. Regardless, when it comes down to it, being the admirable young ladies that they are, both Yui and Asuna will undoubtedly give it their all—both for their own sakes and to show their respect for the other. In the end, will it be the mother or daughter who walks away with the victory?

Last year, Lelouch Lamperouge had the honour of claiming the Lapis Scepter in ISML's first Male Exhibition Tournament. This year, he looks to defend his crown, and is one win away from being able to do so. However, the one standing in his way is by far the favourite to win it all and will most likely be his toughest opponent yet. With humour, wits, and bravery, Kirigaya Kazuto has many of the traits befitting an admirable human being. Similarly, Lelouch boasts intelligence and power, two crucial attributes which are essentially what allowed him to stand here today. These men have been through many significant life events—both blissful and painful—and have been shaped by them. With the valiant warrior in each one of them raring to fight, and the expectations of the voters high, this match will undoubtedly be one of the tournament's highlights. When all is said and done, will the chance of a repeat champion remain alive, or will the crown be passed on this year?

Even though the previous champion has fallen, the battle is far from over as he faces a new opponent on the battlefield. Oreki Hōtarō might look like an ordinary student in the eyes of others, but in truth he is one smart kid. He solved mysteries that his club encountered without many difficulties and using as little effort—or using his word, "energy"—as possible. Lelouch Lamperouge is also an intelligent student, and lacks physical strength. In fact, he can multi-task while also solving complex equations. He is also the leader of a rebel group fighting for the freedom of a country. As these two wise people step up to the battlefield, who will win this "Battle of the Brains": the "Detective", or the "Rebel"?