4th pull in, this mysterious card shows up:
*GASP* "Don't tell me I managed to pull her!"
The reveal:
It's her! It's Katshushika Hokusai!!!
Some context why this was such an amazing pull for me:
There really wasn't a single servant I was interested in pulling in 2019: that was a major part of the reason why I ended up becoming quite inactive in FGO throughout that year (along with life just being quite busy in general). 2020 is a different story, as it as several servants that I WANT to pull.
Katshushika Hokusai is one of those servants. I really like her character from what I learned about her (she's also apparently really good from what the JP players say), so I've been wanting to pull her. Of course, since she is the first in line and comes before Achilles (one of my top 2 servants that are on my priority list for pulling this year), I knew going into the banner that I can't spend too many SQz for her. Just all my tickets and a few SQz, and hope for the best. If I pull her, amazing! If not, well, gotta save those SQz for Achilles.
So I used all of 16 of Tickets I currently own and didn't get her, but then in the first batch of the 30 SQz I have, she shows up! I honestly think this is the game's way of enticing me to come back to playing FGO more frequently by giving me one of my most wanted servants from this year from the literal get-go! Congratulations game, I think you may have just made me want to play FGO again!
Of course, leveling up Hokusai is going to take a while. I still haven't maxed out the levels on my normal Tamamo yet, who is my current 5-star priority for grinding. If materials pop up for Hokusai to help with the grind, then I will make use of her too.
Man, talk about an amazing start to the New Year/Decade! It sure is a good thing I still have 276 SQz in stock, because that'll keep my SQ-count decently high when Achilles comes around. Now I hope I can pull him when the Apocrypha banner drops!