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- Thank you, Icchan. For being by my side.
- —Saki in "Let Me Hear That Song" second side story
Ichisaki is the femslash ship between Ichika Hoshino and Saki Tenma from the Project SEKAI fandom.
Canon[]
Saki and Ichika are second-year high school students as well as members of the band Leo/need, with Saki being their keyboardist and Ichika serving as their guitarist, lyricist and vocalist. Saki and Ichika were once childhood friends who played music together. They were close but grew apart after Saki got hospitalized for her chronic illness, and their relationship got strained after that incident as Saki was eventually unable to attend middle school. Ichika was the one to visit Saki most in the hospital outside her immediate family, which Saki appreciated to a certain degree. When Saki returned to school after recovering she wanted to reconcile, but sadly Ichika, Honami and Shiho had drifted apart and chose to run away from that hope, which made Saki sad. When Saki returned, she and Ichika reform the group with the help of the VIRTUAL SINGERs in their School SEKAI.
Ichika enjoys Saki's happy demeanor and persistent smile, while Saki is glad Ichika is always there for her. Ichika sometimes worries that Saki is overworking herself while trying to experience everything she missed as a preteen. They care deeply and often show concerns for one another. Saki and Ichika would often go on "dates" according to the official 4-frame comics to catch up on what she missed out during her time hospitalized. Ichika also doesn't enjoy places with a lot of noise, for example, she doesn't enjoy visiting Phoenix Wonderland unless Saki goes with her.
Main Story[]
Ichika was listless, without much of a passion and was unable to gain the courage to bring her childhood friends back together, often wondering if things would continue this way, of which changed after Saki recovering and returning to school, being introduced as a new classmate. During class and breaks, Saki talked about her wish to reunite with her friends and recreate the precious memories from their childhood to Ichika, who shared the same wish. She and Saki attempted to talk to Shiho and Honami, just for them to reluctantly avoid the conversation and run away from them. During a breaktime in school, Saki discovered and played "Untitled" on Ichika's phone, which triggered them into the Sekai where Miku Hatsune and Luka Megurine appears, with Honami and Shiho soon quickly being teleported into the sekai following, and Miku and Luka asking them to play with them. However, shortly after that Honami and Shiho refused and left the SEKAI. After that event and upon meeting the sekai, Ichika gradually becomes more courageous and determined to reunite her friends with Saki. They even promised a band together despite Honami and Shiho not returning (thus the Kizuna Rank title). In one of their practices, they gazed the stars together.
No Seek No Find[]
In the beginning scene of the first episode, Ichika compliments Saki's composing skills and wants to make songs with Miku like Saki. In a flashback scene in the sixth episode, Saki is distressed until Ichika messages her a cloud that looks like an ice cream swirl. Saki spots multiple clouds that also look like ice cream and she takes picture of them, which sends to Ichika, her mood cheering up. The scene goes back to present day and Saki mentions how at that time Ichika, along with her brother Tsukasa and her parents, saved her. In the seventh episode, Ichika sends her a picture of stars as Saki works on the new song.
Parallel Harmonies[]
Saki, after Ichika goes out to cool down
In the event, Ichika and Saki are tasked by their manager, Shindo, to create their debut song together. When Ichika says it'll be like the usual, with her writing the lyrics and Saki composing their song, Shindo says he rather wants them to collaborate, creating both the lyrics and composition together. While walking home with everyone after their meeting, Ichika mentions being really surprised that Shindo brought up creating their debut song, and the scene flashes back to Shindo explaining his reasoning. He mentions that he wants Leo/need to show that they have managed to take a step forward - and reach even greater heights and create a song that will resonate with a lot of people, and that Ichika and Saki will definitely be able to create a song like that by combining their talents. Back in the present, Ichika is worried and Saki assures they'll be fine. Ichika eventually agrees with a smile, and Saki tells Honami and Shiho to wait for them to create the greatest debut song.
Quotes[]
- “The Star Festival, huh? I always wished for Saki to get better every year, but what should I ask for now?”
- — Ichika's Tanabata Menu Line
- “Icchani, happy birthday! Between school, our band, everything... We're gonna be best friends forever♪”
- — Saki's line for Ichika's Birthday (2021)
- Ichika – “I'm really happy you're back. I missed you.”
- Saki – “Icchan, don't talk like that with a serious face! You're going to make me tear up!”
- Ichika – “Oh, sorry... But I really meant it.”
- Saki – “Hehehe. Thanks.”
- — Leo/need Main Story Episode 1
- “(It may be difficult to bring us all back together. But I want to do this for Saki. If she's not giving up, I'm sticking with her. I'll do everything I can!)”
- — Ichika's monologue in Leo/need Main Story Episode 6
- “...You've always been the first one to take the plunge. Well, that's one of your good points.”
- — Ichika to Saki in Leo/need Main Story Episode 7
- “Hehe... I'm looking up at the same sky as Icchan... It's like we're sitting right next to each other...”
- — Middle school Saki in No seek, No find Episode 6 "Illuminating The Darkness"
- Haruka – “Going above and beyond so that you can all be together again... Tenma-san sure is amazing. But that sounds a lot like her.”
- Ichika – “Yes. She really is a strong person. I know that she had it way harder than me, and yet she was just as cheerful as ever.”
- — One Small Trip Before a Big Journey Episode 7 "No Matter What"
- “As long as I'm with Icchan, I feel like I can do anything!”
- — Saki in Parallel Harmonies Episode 2 "Two Talents"
- Ichika – “If it's not too much for you, could you tell me about what you recalled when you were writing the song? The suffering, the examinations that you hated, what you felt while staying in the hospital, everything.”
- Saki – “Eh? B-But...if you heard about it, it'd just make you feel bad you know? It'll feel dark, and you'd feel that your stomach drop or...”
- Ichika – “I'm fine with that. In fact, I want to feel the same way you felt. Just like how you were comforting your own loneliness. I also want to be able to...further comfort that loneliness and pain that you have felt and now put into this song.”
- Saki – “Ah...”
- Ichika – “So, I'd like to share in all the emotions that you've been holding on to.”
- — "Let Me Hear That Song" second side story
- “Saki, I'll make lyrics that won't disappoint this song, lyrics that will comfort you and resonate with your heart.”
- — Ichika in "Let Me Hear That Song" second side story
- Saki – “I don't think you need to try so hard to be cool.”
- Ichika – “Huh?”
- Saki – “Because you've always been cool just the way you are. Ever since we were little♪ [...] Anyway, that's why I think you should just write what you feel. You're already the most amazing person ever as it is, Icchan!”
- Ichika – “Q-Quit exaggerating, Saki, please...”
- — "The Starry Sky I Saw" first side story
- “Um... H-Huh? I had so much I wanted to say, but I forgot it all! Things about school, studying, clubs and part-time work, and the band as well, I had so much I wanted to say too! But, what they all have in common is gratitude! It's because you were there for me, that I'm able to be here right now! Ehehe, even when we've become wrinkly old ladies, we'll be friends forever and ever, Icchan~!”
- — Saki in Ichika 2022 birthday card second side story
- “You have always inspired me, in the past and even now in the present. When I was still in the hospital, you came to visit me a lot, and that had made me think that "everyone is still waiting for me". Even now, whenever I feel lost or worried about something, you think about what we could do about it together. When I feel uneasy, you stay by my side and support me- See, you have given me a lot of courage.”
- — Saki's letter of gratitude for Ichika in Saki 2022 birthday card second side story
- Ichika – “Um... I have these limited-edition potato chips that I'd like to share with everyone.”
- Saki – “Limited edition?! As in special flavors?!”
- Ichika – “I have 'Super-Scrumptious Salt' and "Bona Fide Broth" flavored chips. Have you seen either of them before?”
- Saki – “Yeah, I have! I've always wanted to try them too, but every place is always sold out of them! You actually managed to get some, Icchan?”
- Ichika – “Yes. I was sure that you... I mean, I've been wanting to try them and managed to get a hold of them after searching around a little.”
- Saki – “You're so lucky! Hehe. I've been aching to try them, so I can't believe I'm getting a chance to now! Wait a second... Have you always liked these kinds of chips, Icchan? I'm actually pretty surprised that you knew about these.”
- Ichika – “Huh? Um... I'm kind of just getting into it now.”
- Saki – “Really now...?”
- — Saki 2022 Birthday Virtual Live
Fanon[]
Ichisaki is one of the more popular pairings on both sides, for their canonical interactions in the main storyline, their contrasting personalities, and how close they are to each other as the "childhood friends" trope. However, Ichisaki is rivaled by other Leo/need ships for they have very the approximately the same closeness to one another. Many fans also tend to ship Ichika, Saki with Honami and Shiho in a poly relationship (Polyneed), otherwise Ichisaki would be shipped along with Shihonami. In the Japanese fandom, they are arguably the most popular ship in both sides, receiving a great amount of fanarts on Twitter and Pixiv.
Ichisaki fans would sometimes consider the ship as potential for angst and slow burn due to Saki's previous illness. Aside from that, they also would commonly joke about Ichika being distracted from Saki by her idolization for Hatsune Miku.
Due to how dramatic the card illustrations for the "Parallel Harmonies" event were in contrast to what actually happened in the event, many like to joke that the cards are showing "Ichika and Saki's breakup/divorce."
Ship Weeks[]
The first Ichisaki Week was held from November 7-14, 2022, under the ichisakiweek2022 hashtag on Twitter. The prompts for the first day were "first date or boba date", "duo practice or writing songs with us both" for the second day, "starry sky panorama or hairstyle/clothes swap" for the third day, "snowball fight or slumber party" for the fourth day, "harrowing memories" for the fifth day, "alternate universe" for the sixth day, and the seventh and final day was free choice.
The second Ichisaki Week was held on November 7-14, 2023, under the ichisakiweek2023 hashtag on Twitter. The prompts for the first day were "our first kiss?!", "Ikanaide or Teratera" for the second day, "sleepover or childhood memories" for the third day, "instrument or clothes switch" for the fourth day, "stargazing" for the fifth day, "alternate universe" for the sixth day, and the seventh and final day was free choice again.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Ichika/Saki tag on AO3
- Ichika & Saki tag on AO3
Trivia[]
- Their ship name is referred to with the "🎸🎹" and "💙💛" emojis.
- They have a 2 cm height difference, with Ichika being 161 cm and Saki being 159 cm tall.
- They have covered four songs together (Time Machine, Ikanaide, Summertime Record and Ringo Uri no Utakata Shoujo). They also have solo alt versions for Teo and Ichika's second focus song Order Made
- Their Kizuna Rank titles are: "Leo/need's Beginning", "Smiley Friends" and "Melody & Lyrics".
- One of their Cheerful Carnival Team names is "Looking Up At The Same Sky".
Gallery[]
- Main article: Ichisaki/Gallery
Variations[]
- Aoharu Friends — the ship between Ichika, Saki, Airi Momoi and Ena Shinonome
- Class 1-C — the ship between Ichika, Saki and Haruka Kiritani
- Ichisakihona — the ship between Ichika, Saki and Honami Mochizuki
- Ichishihosaki — the ship between Ichika, Saki and Shiho Hinomori
- Ichitenma — the ship between Ichika, Saki and Tsukasa Tenma
- Polyneed — the ship between Ichika, Saki, Honami and Shiho
