This is and was probably one of my favorite cycles winner wise because they were hella consistent and brought versatile and different styles to the table weekly. And this may be one of the few times I’ve seen the same user in the portfolio battle since All-Stars (Shiro) and while this cycle had a pause at the beginning, the end was worth it and the winner deserves it so much for their performance and dedication to the cycle. Can’t wait to watch Cycle 34.

Well done ace im looking forward for cycle 34!! Hopefully i can appy for it x

- insert spoiler line here because I guess it's mandatory for finales - Not gonna lie, it feels like a fever dream. Stepping into the season with the former number of the one and only Verstappen himself, I expected to have a very bumpy ride knowing my past runs with other models, and even found myself in doubt at first as I saw great potential for slayers in models this cycle like Kento and Yae, even some surprises like Jyuto or even Nessa! However, it seems that from the first theme, I somehow found the formula, to my surprise. Not only that, but keep it throughout the season, and after like two or three years of trying to find someone to join Björk in my little hall of fame, eventually win it all. And not just that, but with a 1-2 lockout. WHAT?! Remembering a sentence I said before, I had a fear that someone would sneak in on an important theme and take the spotlight out of my guys (not that it is a bad thing, in fact seeing a different model get FCO makes the game tighter and more competitive, which I love), as was the case with some of the stronger models I had like Gojo and Louis, but with every photoshoot a guy of mine gets FCO, I was like "am I actually gonna strike gold?" With that said, success came with a price, and Wrio especially had to run through long piles of lava rocks and run into Cookie Run just to find good photos, and the moment Seduction came with a surprising amount of difficulty for someone like him, I knew this wasn't the season for him to win. Second place for him is still a smashing job for him. As for Ace, I actually expected nothing from him, but it seems he knew what's up. Taking the first FCO, I started to trust him, but seeing him low for the next two themes, I had a feeling he would be like James. But then came Hairwhip, and that expectation shattered, surprising even myself! I would continue finding stellar photos of him when I either felt out of reach or when I never saw it coming at all, and honestly, quite impressed at myself for looking over his 6k+ photo gallery in Pixiv and beyond. That said, thank you Douglas for this amazing cycle, and especially sticking out to me even when the criticism gets real harsh, because it's that roughness that encouraged me to keep going and find the photos that fit the theme the most. Shoutout to the rest of the cast too for being great competition, and I honestly wanted to see success for all of you, because there were gems hidden amongst all of us here. Now with this, Ace gets to go back to his world and tell Jade that he's not alone swimming around the arcade at the Hall of Fame. Quite pleased being my second win in this community after Björk.