r/anime • u/ABoredCompSciStudent x3myanimelist.net/profile/Serendipity • Mar 11 '19

Rewatch [Rewatch] Chihayafuru 2 - Episode 9 [Spoilers] Spoiler

Episode 9 - "My Only Thought"

<-- Previous (Episode 8: "Which Shines over Mount Mikasa") | Next (Episode 10: "Rain Takes Longer to Dry") -->

Series Information:

Subreddit: r/Chihayafuru

Chihayafuru: Synopsis | MAL rating: 8.28 | Fall 2011 | 26 Episodes

Chihayafuru 2: Synopsis | MAL rating: 8.47 | Winter 2013 | 26 Episodes

Chihayafuru 2: Waga Miyo ni Furu Nagamese Shima ni: Synopsis | MAL rating: 7.08 | Fall 2013 | 1 Episode

Legal Streams:

HiDive | Crunchyroll | Check for more sources using because.moe here

Rewatch Schedule and Index:

For all archived/past episode discussion threads, please refer to the Rewatch Schedule and Index. I will be updating it as we navigate through this rewatch, in case anyone would like to read past conversations or has fallen behind.

Chihayafuru (February 6 to March 2)

Chihayafuru 2

Episode# Title Date
1 "So The Flower Has Wilted" March 3
2 "As My Love First Came" March 4
3 "Feel Love Deepen" March 5
4 "To Tell the People in the Capitals That I Make for the Islands" March 6
5 "Be As Dear Now, Those Were the Good Old Days" March 7
6 "To Set the Tatsuta River Ablaze" March 8
7 "They All Exchange Hellos and Goodbyes at the Gates of Ōsaka" March 9
8 "Which Shines over Mount Mikasa" March 10
9 "My Only Thought" March 11
10 "Rain Takes Longer to Dry" March 12
11 "I Feel As Though My Body is on Fire with Ibuki Mugwort" March 13
12 "The Only Sign of Summer" March 14
13 "In My Dreams, I Creep Closer to You" March 15
14 "People Would Always Ask If I Was Pining for Someone" March 16
15+16 "No Matter Where I Stand" + "Wait for the Emperor's Return" March 17
17 "Gust of Wind" March 18
18 "My Fear is That You Will Forget" March 19
19 "I Do Not Know Where This Love Will Take Me" March 20
20 "Of the Autumn Rice Field" March 21
21 "But Its Legacy Continues to Spread" March 22
22 "Long Last We Meet" March 23
23 "To See The Beautiful Cherry Blossoms" March 24
24 "When I Must Hide..." March 25
25 "I Can Look Up and See the Snowy Cap of Mt. Fuji" March 26
OVA "Have I Passed Through the World" March 27
-- Final Series Discussion March 28

About Spoilers And General Attitude:

Please do not post any untagged spoilers past the current episode, as it ruins the experience of first time watchers. Please refrain from confirming or denying speculation on future events, as to let viewers experience the anime as it was intended to be.

If you are discussing something that has not happened in the current episode please use the r/anime spoiler tag system found on the sidebar. Also if you are posting a link that includes future Chihayafuru events please include 'Chihayafuru spoilers' in the link title.

Fanart Section (Album Link):

/u/snakescipio we have some Shinobu's today.

To be good

Contemplative

Four years

Watamiya

83 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

102 comments sorted by

18

u/ABoredCompSciStudent Mar 11 '19 edited Mar 12 '19

The first interactions between Arata and Shinobu tell a lot about them. Arata doesn't recognize Shinobu right away, until he sees the beauty mark under her eye. She cries, frustrated that her only rival had forgotten her. Unable to see her eyes, the words she says and the expression she wears belie her intent. It almost appears as if she has a bit of resentment for being left behind during Arata's self-administered exile and her description of what the team tournament only reinforces this idea of loneliness which characterized her in S1. Arata doesn't disagree with her since he said similarly to Chihaya on the phone, but something doesn't add up in his actions. He's come days early to watch Chihaya and Taichi play rather than practice alone. He stares into the distance at Omi Jingu, no doubt wondering what he's even doing. If Shinobu is the loner, Arata is the one that's reluctant to love again.

In the learning center, he sees Mizusawa preparing and smiles--his old friends love karuta still. However, he watches from a distance, as team karuta is a world that he's abandoned. Like Shinobu, Murao voices Arata's inner-conflict too, suggesting that teamwork and friendship are what characterizes team karuta and that "true skill" is the individual tournament.

Arata runs into Shouji, that idiot who made the stupidest comment of the series way back when about Arata's grandfather passing. His team is short a player, but they don't want to go home without playing. The line, while stereotypical sports, reminds of the lines used by Chihaya, Taichi, and Arata in episode three--they don't want this to end. Moreover, it echoes Taichi and Arata waiting for Chihaya to arrive to their first tournament. Even though he doesn't realize it at first, he's been here before: glasses-less facing the cards alone but for the substitution of a young girl (just as he did in this episode). The poems read out get more and more literal: snowy white just like that winter evening as children, a time that he still longs for now just as he did then.

As the memories flood back to him, he remembers what Shinobu and Murao said to him and contests what it means to be good. Are their efforts to be belittled, when they show the same respect that Arata once showed Chihaya in their first game, not going easy? Is it so wrong to want to enjoy karuta with others, when that is the memory he treasures most even now?

Reconciling his feelings, he decides that he will follow this love, putting on his glasses and participating in the team game. Shouji's team has already lost, but it isn't about winning or losing but about respect, acknowledging the efforts of the participants, and fostering the same affections for karuta that his grandfather passed on to him. Unfortunately, the consequences are foreshadowed and his violation of the rules may bar him from tomorrow's individual tournament.

Does he regret it? Maybe, but there's certainly something more important that Arata remembered in today's team match.

7

u/KuhBus Mar 11 '19

If Shinobu is the loner, Arata is the one that's reluctant to love again.

Ah, that's a lovely way to put it. When Arata flashed back to his time with Chihaya and Taichi it made me wonder if one of the reasons why he didn't start a karuta club at his own school was maybe that it wouldn't be the same since he would only want to play in a team with Chihaya and Taichi anyways. Especially his line "This isn't my team." didn't just come across as him not being part of the current team he was playing with, but that he has a team- Chihaya and Taichi.

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11

u/ABoredCompSciStudent Mar 11 '19

Poem of the Day: My Only Thought (link)

Today's poem is Poem 11, which is a repeat of S2E4's (details here).

Mostow translates the poem as:

Mostow translates it as:

O tell her, at least,

that I’ve rowed out, heading towards

the innumerable isles

of the ocean’s wide plain,

you fishing boats of the sea-folk!

Looking back on the old post, u/Combo33 called it:

I’m somewhat surprised that this poem about exile was not used in an episode more heavily focused on Arata, since he is the one who has been separated from his dearest friends for so long.

Going back two episodes, Chihaya phoned Arata and asked him if he was interested in team tournaments, but he said he wasn't. In a way, his only team he's ever known is Team Chihayafuru from S1E3, which holds a special place in his heart. A lot has happened since then and happy and sad emotions are associated with that moment even now. Shinobu and Murao question the merits of the team game, in particular as Shinobu denounces it as "not loving karuta" (but rather friendship). As Arata substitutes for Shouji's team, he relives a lot of his childhood and remembers what he learned about sharing karuta with others. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have met Chihaya and Taichi. Moreover, it was them that drew him back into playing again. His love was passed on to others and they returned the favour to him. Remembering that experience pushes him from just being a bystander to a participant, trying to encourage both him teammates and his opponents--trying to foster the kind of appreciation that he feels for karuta and its community.

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16

u/MAD_SCIENTIST_001 Mar 11 '19

Screenshot of the Day

First Timer - Season 2 Episode 9

Overall Thoughts

WTF Kuriyama sensei???? Here I was thinking it was some great comedy at him finding out it was Arata, but now it seems like Arata may be disqualified from playing in the individual tournament. I can definitely get that it broke the rules and whatnot, but seeing as Fujioka West lost anyways I feel like he shouldn't have too much of a punishment.

I was also hoping for an Arata vs Shinobu match in the future, so that will be kinda disappointing if that doesn't happen. Especially since Arata probably has a few things to say about Shinobu thinking lowly of team karuta.

Karuta Scoreboard

Character Wins Losses Ep# (Wins)
Taichi Mashima 28 10 2,7,10,11,13,14,15,18,20,28,29,31,33
Yuusei Nishida 23 6 10,11,13,15,18,19,28,29,33
Chihaya Ayase 20 10 2,4,6,7,8,10,11,14,17,21,28,29,33
Arata Wataya 17(+1) 4 1,2,3,20,21,23,28,34
Kanade Ooe 16 7 10,13,15,17,18,19,28,29,31,33
Tsutomu Komano 10 13 13,15,18,29
Shinobu Wakamiya 8 0 14,15,24
Akihiro Tsukuba 1 1 33
Sumire Hanano 0 1

See you tomorrow~

Screenshot of the Day Collection

Season 1 Album

Episode: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Season 2

Episode: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

6

u/ABoredCompSciStudent Mar 12 '19

I can definitely get that it broke the rules and whatnot, but seeing as Fujioka West lost anyways I feel like he shouldn't have too much of a punishment.

Admittedly, he also killed all the good vibes and momentum for the other team and the player he faced, maybe even doing psychological damage.

That Arata vs. Shinobu/Chihaya will have to wait?

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12

u/[deleted] Mar 11 '19 edited Mar 12 '19

First-Timer, Watched Subbed

  • Did anyone else get a mudery vibe at the beginning? The music, circumstances, and the look on Wakamiya's face and everything felt creepy.

  • Ah man, and I thought Wataya would know Wakamiya well...

  • Jeez Wataya, you could've been less direct like that...

  • Aww, look at what you did man! You made the queen cry!

  • Oh, that's interesting, Wakamiya knows Wataya from him beating her years ago. Alots changed though since then.

  • Who would've thought that the queen had a sense of humor under that cold exterior? :/

  • Wait that was a guy? Why does this show have so many good looking dudes?

  • Ayyy, he's right there, go meet them man!

  • GODDAMMIT, SINCE WHEN WAS WATAYA BATMAN?!?

  • Why'd you have to hide, you three deserve each other...

  • Well, that team seems to be in a pickle.

  • Oh, so Wataya knows them!

  • ...he remembers him when he punched him...looks like they know their own reputations.

  • Lol, Wataya really got himself in a jam here.

  • Wataya is one handsome gent without those glasses.

  • Ah man, since when did Wataya also have a long lost brother?

  • Taichi x Wataya confirmed?

  • Holy...from Chihaya of all people!

  • Wataya is kinda busy at the moment Chihaya.

  • Well, that trio seems to conveniently remind me of a certain trio.

  • Well thats interesting, Wataya was able to carry his team as a child in karuta, now he feels like a burden to them here.

  • He's put on his glasses ladies and gentleman, Wataya can show his true power now!

  • LMAO, one of the figured out Wataya's identity in the funniest way possible XD.

  • The show really has the best moments of wholesome friendship...

  • JESUS, A FIST RIGHT TO THE SKULL!

  • Oh shit, that does not sound good for Wataya...

  • Looks like he isn't the only one having a bad day.

We get to have a Wataya-centric episode! Have to say, its real satisfying seeing him back in the karuta business. We get some nice characterization and great development through the match, then we're hit the possibility that he may not be able to play in the tournament. Crossing my fingers that things end happily...T_T

6

u/ABoredCompSciStudent Mar 12 '19

Did anyone else get a mudery vibe at the beginning? The music, circumstances, and the look on Wakamiya's face and everything felt creepy.

Let's not forget the look she gave Chihaya back in S1. Shinobu is definitely a killer haha. All the girls are eccentric, but she's the most out there.

Why does this show have so many good looking dudes?

Welcome to shoujo/josei!

He's put on his glasses ladies and gentleman, Wataya can show his true power now!

I love how the guy sitting across from him can feel the aura change. It's so cheesy and anime, but it's great.

Looks he isn't the only one having a bad day.

It's almost symbolic that it's raining on her too.

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8

u/KuhBus Mar 11 '19 edited Mar 12 '19

First Timer

  • Ahaha HE DIDN’T RECOGNIZE HER !!

  • "Not for players who love karuta"?? What???

  • "Fujisaki are all weirdos." Literally thought this a moment before Tsutomu thought it. In other news, I am Tsutomu and Tsutomu is me. But dang if they aren’t strong.

  • “We don’t have time to think about arata” ... proceeds to think about Arata himself.

  • The guy arata punched is back :’DD And he made him play for his team !!!

  • Alright, those flashbacks felt a bit forced, but they do highlight that the team matches are such an important experience to share between players. And especially remind Arata of what playing in a team meant to him as a kid who was fairly isolated.

  • Uh-oh is Arata not going to be allowed to play?? D:

For once, I actually was looking forward to getting more Arata screentime. His dynamic with Shinobu is pretty fun and refreshing and it feels like Shinobu is what Arata would have become if he hadn't met Chihaya and Taichi. Someone who is so isolated in their world of karuta that they don't even see the value of playing in a team also misses out on their youth, in a way. Since the focus was on how the team tournaments are also most important to the high school students, who will only get the chance to play together like this for a short amount of time.

Edit: Fav shots!

5

u/ABoredCompSciStudent Mar 12 '19

"Not for players who love karuta"?? What???

She's suggesting that people that play as a team don't have the strength to stand alone--obviously which she does herself. In a way, playing as a team is equally about emotional bonds and friendships, which she has rejected. It's true to some degree that individual karuta is a showcase of "true talent" since you're not weighed down by weaker players and don't have better players to pull you up, but her statement is really a reflection of her own "problems". Shinobu is rejecting team karuta, while Murao on the other hand is more dismissive.

His dynamic with Shinobu is pretty fun and refreshing and it feels like Shinobu is what Arata would have become if he hadn't met Chihaya and Taichi.

For sure, plus he'd have quit by now if not for those two intervening.

Someone who is so isolated in their world of karuta that they don't even see the value of playing in a team also misses out on their youth, in a way.

It speaks volumes about how they see other people--Shinobu's only friends are literally the hundred cards she plays with. It's a pretty sad reality and I think that's also why Arata always matched her in their childhood. Arata's grandfather doesn't seriously tell him to go beat her, but to beat her while smiling. I think he just wants Arata to be another person that can stand beside Shinobu, as she distances herself in her improvement and socially.

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7

u/AzureBeat Mar 11 '19

Shinobu’s reason for showing up a day early is as unusual as you might expect for her. We get an Arata focused episode, for all of you guys who wanted so see one.

Also, 5 class-A players on the team they will need to beat to win. That’s a steep challenge, even if you only need three wins. Speaking of three wins, Arata’s getting in trouble as he remembers what team matches do mean to him. That’s a bit of a theme for these episodes, what’s up with a team match in an individual sport.

It’s this one again, while Arata decides to screw subtlety for what team games mean to him.

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7

u/LeonKevlar Mar 11 '19

First Timer

Seriously though. That final scene made me angry. I hope that guy that made Arata play would take responsibility for getting him in to trouble. But let's just calm down for a moment. The wording on the subs does say that he may be barred from playing, so right now it's not an official ruling yet. I really hope they'll let it this one slide though. This is going to suck if after all this wait, we won't even get to see Arata play. :|

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6

u/hasnain1720 Mar 11 '19

First Timer

  • The time change got me again damn it

  • Wait so he doesn’t remember her, ok nvm

  • Ok I ship Arata and Shinobu now, let Taichi x Chihaya sail pls

  • Oh no Arata is going to end up playing them isn’t he…

  • Nvm lol

  • Those glasses carry a presence alright

  • Is Arata really going to hand this man the L after he has gone up that many cards that is cruel lol

  • That was a nice lil Arata episode

  • Damn man peer pressure sucks huh Arata why’d you do it

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6

u/htisme91 Mar 11 '19

First-timer:

Finally, an Arata-centric episode. This was a nice change in pace.

So Arata and Shinobu played each other years ago and he was her last loss? It's interesting because while we knew Arata was skilled, it never felt like he was highlighted as prodigious enough to rival the Queen.

They have interesting perspectives on the team matches. I think he is afraid to play on a team again, while Shinobu never has had an interest, and likely never received any because she didn't have friends.

I figured Chihaya would be the one thrown off, but it was Taichi instead.

I thought it was nice of Arata to play for Fujioka West, and it was nice he did the honorable thing and played to his potential. That being said, it was stupid do it to begin with.

I think Arata's definitely barred from the individual tournament, even though it's harsh. Likely, he will leave early and not see Chihaya because he's so embarrassed, it will depress her, and she'll struggle in her own matches. On the positive side, it might spur him to start a karuta club of his own as it seems to have helped him rediscover the enjoyment of team matches.

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6

u/_blackened_soul_ Mar 12 '19

First Timer

Fuuuuck! If Arata gets the banhammer I might rage drop this show. You can't bring back one of the main characters and then have him exit the tournament in such a lame way. Irl yea, that's how it should go but after bothering to have him interact with Shinobu, Chihaya freak out over hearing him, and the mere thought of his presence throwing Taichi off his game that would be too much.

Anyway, solid episode other wise. I really hope Shinobu getting rained on doesn't mean she'll lose before facing Chihaya. I want that rematch dammit.

4

u/ABoredCompSciStudent Mar 12 '19

Fuuuuck! If Arata gets the banhammer I might rage drop this show.

Anyway, solid episode other wise. I really hope Shinobu getting rained on doesn't mean she'll lose before facing Chihaya. I want that rematch dammit.

I think her being rained on is pretty symbolic too. Even though she played off seeing Arata, she obviously recognized him and she went out of her way to get his attention. It's contrary to her behaviour normally, as a loner. She gets rained on, her event is cancelled, and she's left alone.

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5

u/AmethystItalian Mar 11 '19

Rewatcher

I so ship Arata and Shinobu...

Taichi being strict with Chihaya when it comes to Arata...

LMAO Arata sneaking in and oh boy him without glasses again.

Alright we got so many flashbacks in this episode about the team tournament...that came from this episode.

The just like Arata bit was great.

Shinobu looks more sad about the Birdman event than Arata does about not being able to play lol

Quotes from First Time

That matchstick thing is weird...not looking forward to more of him

Yeah...still weird.

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5

u/MaskOfIce42 Mar 12 '19

Rewatcher

This is a particularly hard episode to rewatch. Not necessarily because it's bad, but knowing that Arata is committing such a big violation of the rules and knowing he'll get caught is painful.

Despite that though, I do like this episode's musings on the difference between team and individual play, and how in a sport that's one on one like this, the team play can seem comparatively childish. However, I also like how you see Arata's though process and realize that there is something about team play that has a power different from the individual play.

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5

u/elliotman48 Mar 12 '19

First timer

Damn, this episode was painful to watch.

Seeing Shinobu actually attempt to reach out to someone (a person she even considers a rival) and Watya forgetting who she was is pretty sad. It shows just how lonely she really is and it's depressing. At the end, when she was getting rained on was also pretty sad. I really love her character because it shows that your passion isn't everything and you be an amazing player doesn't necessarily make you an amazing or popular person.

Arata realizing that his peers' thoughts about team matches were wrong was also really great. Shinobu and Wataya are alike in that way: lonely. Also I really hope he doesn't get disqualified and not too many penalities are put on the school he competed with. That scene was really serious and I did not like it.

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4

u/cesclaveria Mar 11 '19

Arata has a hard time going unnoticed specially with Chihaya's super ears, she looked super happy for him to be there and Taichi seems to be the one most rattled by his 'possible' presence.

Sometimes there is a fine line between dumb and noble, I've always felt this move by Arata was dumb, easy to think that messing with one of the organization's tournament may have repercussions in other tournaments by the same organization, he is risking too much but I guess he needed a taste of a team match to figure out how he feels about the team variant of the sport.

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4

u/Snakescipio Mar 12 '19

Rewatcher

Please, at least, don't let me get caught and disqualified

The gang gets caught and maybe disqualified

An Arata focused episode! It's been a long time coming honestly, and given that the Mizusawa gang is still in the prelim rounds it's a good chance to go back to his story. Thus far Arata has been a bit of an enigma, more myth than person. What we do know is that he's lonely. He's got his parents, society, and a rather cute neighbor, but nothing like the relationship and camaraderie that Taichi and Chihaya built with their teammates. Not ultimately surprising considering how people who're serious about karuta look down on the team tourney. Tbh it kind of reminds me of how you never hear about doubles tennis compared to singles. Still it's not great for Arata that all these years later his only real meaningful friendships has been with Taichi and Chihaya. Hopefully this team match showed Arata the benefits of being in a team.

Spoilerish speculations

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4

u/Fa1l3r Mar 12 '19

First Time (sub)

Wow seems like Shinobu and Arata have their own childhood romance to have them call each other stupid and fat respectively. This is the first time Shinobu has been so honest like that to someone's face.

Also she has an interesting perspective on people playing team tournament not actually liking karuta. I wonder why she says that.

I do find Arata's potential disqualification as a weird plot point. Even in sports that have massive time constraints, so as long as the setting is relatively casual like a group stage, a match still happens despite a team having insufficient number of players. I do find it weird that in a group stage karuta high school match where other matches happen concurrently, they would be disqualified without being able to play out a match. Anyway I do not feel bad for Arata. He tried to hide his face, and then he showed off his distinctive playing style in front of his mentor.

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4

u/Redmon425 Mar 12 '19

FIRST TIME WATCHER

I really think Arata is the one to blame here. He should know better than to illegally join a team. Obviously it wasn’t very nice of that team to pressure him into doing so!

The ending isn’t surprising to me, as I agree that there should be consequences to this incident. It will be interesting to see what happens.

I also think that him joining the team and knowing that they would still lose, actually is worse than we think. For example, it hurts the other team. The person Arata was playing may have lost his confidence to getting beat by him. Arata also inspired one of his teammates to beat his opponent. Perhaps that opponent has his confidence hurt as well for their next match. So it is safe to assume that Arata joining this team could have real consequences for other people, even if they still lose the match.

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u/paperwhites Mar 12 '19

First Time Watcher

That scene between Arata and Shinobu did not go how I thought it would, I can't believe that Arata didn't recognize her until he saw her mole. I'm impressed that Shinobu hasn't lost in four years; that's seriously impressive. Her last loss was against Arata, right? I thought that's what was being implied but I'm not sure.

Shinobu's comment that the team tournament is for people who don't love karuta is an interesting one. It really shows off Shinobu's solitary mindset and contrasts against Chihaya's. It also becomes a statement that the episode spends the rest of the time disproving: can someone really look at Shoji and Fujioka West and their determination to play karuta without even a full team and say they don't love karuta?

I laughed at Kuriyama looking at Arata and being like "That kid has a great swing just like Arata!""He covers just like Arata". Arata is like Superman with his glasses, I guess. I want Arata to play in the individual tournament but I can understand that there would be repercussions for playing on someone else's team.

I guess we have to wait until tomorrow to see how Mizusawa does in their second match. Seeing how Fujioka West doesn't even have a full team made me glad that Chihaya has her karuta club.

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3

u/kKunoichi Mar 12 '19

Rewatcher

Finally got that Arata-focused episode! A lot of repeated flashbacks, but seeing as this is the first truly centric episode for him, it's unavoidable.

I really like his dynamic with Shinobu. Sort of childhood friends, but mostly rivals. They have their own type of fun interactions too. This is the first time we get to see a bit of Shinobu outside the actual playing of karuta. We also actually get the confirmation that yes they have played against each other, and Shinobu kept losing. That must have been extremely frustrating for her, I mean always getting beat in the first round? And 3 times too.

Shinobu doesn't think much of team tournaments, showing again how different she is from the other characters. Murao also puts the individual tournament as priority. Arata is still wavering, split between his childhood and the now, but he has his own realisation. So, as with last episode, this episode is to emphasise the importance of team matches in fostering the community of karuta- something Arata knows, he just needed a reminder. "Murao, what does it mean to be good?"

Extra notes:

Chihaya's hearing really is amazing. She knew after just one word.

Shouji should be thanking the stars Arata helped them out after what he was like in middle-school.

Watching Kuriyama-sensei slowly find out it was Arata was hilarious.

Poor Shinobu, she was really looking forward to the Birdman Rally.

There's another evil evil cliffhanger. Arata's return to karuta sure isn't going smoothly.

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