Quote:*shrug* I'd placed 'him' as a XVII on the basis of shape and cross section, since, as far as I could read it, the description doesn't specify a size beyond just 'large'... If I'm misreading, or that example was incomplete, then, yeah, probably XXa.
I'd think it be more of a type XX, myself. Even given Mikoto's slight stature, she has a LOT of grip left.
I picked the photo I did rather than that one for two reasons, namely that the angle is better - she's holding it practically perpendicular to our viewing angle rather than angled away - and that the one I grabbed is official art rather than fan. ^_^ My estimate of its length comes from an eyeball guesstimate that it's just about exactly as long as Mai is tall, which's solidly in the middle of the greatsword range. Spot checks from the series look like a hexagonal cross section with a full fuller starting at the top of those bracing bars.
I'm just saying that it's realistically big rather than something you'd see Sagara Sanosuke or Cloud frickin' Strife carry, is all.
Incidentally, I'm fairly certain that her 'spin and drag' routine is a form of spellcasting rather than her actually trying to use it as a sword. Given that her entire life up until just before the start of the series was apparently devoted to becoming the most asskickingest HiME possible, I'd be very surprised if she didn't know how, though...
Ja, -n
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"V, did you do something foolish?"
"Yes, and it was glorious."