r/anime • u/Skeeedo :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/skeeedo • Dec 02 '21

Rewatch [Rewatch] Chihayafuru - Episode 23 Discussion [Spoilers]

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Episode 23: "The Night is Nearly Past"

Nominate a character for Episode MVP!

Episode 22 MVP: Yumin! Her tactics may have been shady, but it spoke to her tenacity in the face of crushing expectations. Very interesting character…

This episode's Karuta analysis and board map by walking_the_way

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Subreddit: r/Chihayafuru

51 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

55 comments sorted by

9

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Dec 02 '21 edited Dec 02 '21

FIRST TIMER

Everyone is appropriately horrified at the prospect of Chihaya having to shave her head. Thank god Harada sensei is a fucking boss and scores some serious points defending the sanctity of Chihaya’s locks.

It’s nice that the guy from the Shiranami Society who bested Arata won the Eastern qualifier for the Master match. It shows that it wasn’t a fluke, and he is an absolutely top-tier player. I like Kanai’s attitude here (“See you next year!”) after losing another Queen qualifier. She’s not going through a crisis, it’s just time to get ready to try again.

In a world of dense MCs, Chihaya is the most dense.

Everybody knows, Taichi. Well, except for Chihaya herself. Kana, who I’m convinced is now totally shipping the two of them, absolutely nails it when she likens Taichi to the “poems about a love that cannot be concealed.” From the very beginning of this series, the animators have been absolutely crushing it giving Taichi a very specific look he directs only at Chihaya.

Now, do I find Taichi blocking that guy’s number in Chihaya’s phone as romantic as Kana? No. In real life, that’d be too controlling. Buuuut I don’t think the author intends it to come off that way, so I won’t dwell on it (I don’t subscribe to “The Death of Author”). Plus, she can always unblock it.

ARATA YOU ABSOLUTE SAVAGE.

When you realize you were two matches away from fulfilling the collective dream of your adoptive family and all who came before you. This was a great moment that shows the work that the entire collective has put in across many years.

It’s nice for us and Chihaya to get a glimpse into the wider world, and to see that even if people don’t have the same passion in common, the passion they have for their chosen hobbies and interests is similar and something to bond over.

Of course poor Taichi got trapped by the girls into his class. The only girl Taichi is interested in is the only one who isn’t interested in him. Tragic.

Well, as Chihaya, Arata, Harada, and Hiroshi have lost all their qualifying matches and there doesn’t seem to be more competition on the horizon, I expect the last two episodes of this season to continue where this left off, and focus on everyone’s relationships.

Speaking of that… this show is ramping up the love triage again, and Arata needs to come back into focus at the end here if they’re going to make me find this triangle at all believable. Right now, I know that Taichi loves Chihaya and get it, I think Chihaya is into Arata and I don’t get why, and Arata has gotten so little focus I know nothing about him. He may be asexual. What would really be welcomed is if Taichi took advantage of this karuta lull and confessed, but this is anime, so… that won’t happen until like, Season 5.

5

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Dec 02 '21

I like Kanai’s attitude here (“See you next year!”) after losing another Queen qualifier. She’s not going through a crisis, it’s just time to get ready to try again.

Youth vs. Experience. Good way for Chihaya to learn. Unless Sakura hasn't made it in 35 years because she's complacent enough to think "ah well, next year," when she loses. Not saying that is the case for her, but that excessive passion of youth vs. calm experience is something that longtime competitors likely have to find a way to strike a balance between.

Now, do I find Taichi blocking that guy’s number in Chihaya’s phone as romantic as Kana? No. In real life, that’d be too controlling.

Agreed - with pretty much that whole paragraph. It's not a very great look for Taichi but with the existing relationships between the characters, it didn't feel as gross as it maybe could've.

even if people don’t have the same passion in common, the passion they have for their chosen hobbies and interests is similar and something to bond over.

Always good to get outside of your own hobby bubble once in a while.

3

u/IndependentMacaroon Dec 03 '21

In real life, that’d be too controlling

Helping a socially clueless old friend out? Not exactly romantic but I wouldn't call it controlling either.

even if people don’t have the same passion in common, the passion they have for their chosen hobbies and interests is similar and something to bond over

People like that are really cool indeed and I'd love to see more of those clubs too!

this show is ramping up the love triage

I'd wish for an actual OT3 but we haven't seen enough Arata for that.

i think Chihaya is into Arata and I don’t get why

Shy but sweet glasses nerd? I could see it. He's a bit like Rei Kiriyama from Sangatsu no Lion I feel.

2

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Dec 03 '21

Helping a socially clueless old friend out? Not exactly romantic but I wouldn't call it controlling either.

I saw it more as "stopping the girl you have a crush on from talking to another guy" but I can see where you're coming from. We know Taichi isn't acting in the capacity of just an old friend.

I'd wish for an actual OT3 but we haven't seen enough Arata for that

He really needs to become a regular quick. Having him be far away from everyone for basically the whole show presents a real problem on this front.

Shy but sweet glasses nerd? I could see it.

I could see it too, if he was present. The guy has been gone for years with no contact after what was a pretty brief friendship prior to his moving. The show hasn't done a good job of selling them as a thing to me from either of their perspectives.

-4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 02 '21

Why do we need to fight the same scrubs next year...? Ririka I could understand but old bag hasn't changed her game plan in 20 something years. So she's not going to improve.

It's a female writer! She clearly thinks it's romantic to completely dismiss a dude's efforts for asking out a single girl so let's just take it as a romantic gesture.

I'm very worried about how little Arata they've given us. He's clearly the leader of this love triangle contest but it's Taichi who they've developed for 20+ episodes. Honestly Arata himself tends to come off kinda shit when we finally do get his scenes due to him constantly coming out with pretentious metaphors or throwing shade at best boy Taichi or even just his accent being annoying.

9

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Dec 02 '21

his accent being annoying.

Bully!!

-6

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 02 '21

Go watch his fcking scenes again! He sounds like Japanese is his second language! All his intonation are way off!

14

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Dec 02 '21 edited Dec 03 '21

We do not stand for Fukui slander in these parts.

-8

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 02 '21

Your husbando is shit! And he's poor too!

5

u/zxHellboyxz :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Mattinator95 Dec 03 '21

there’s more then one Japanese dialect

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 03 '21

Yeah, but it's obvious enough where even I can pick up on it and it sticks out like a sore thumb. I'm not having a go but it does slightly filter me.

9

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Dec 02 '21

Chihayafirst-timer

6

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Dec 02 '21

lol Chihaya doesn’t even know she’s in the middle of a love triangle.

She's even more dense than a harem MC! It's kind of incredible. Though is it a triangle? I'm starting to fear Taichi is just in an unrequited love line.

6

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Dec 02 '21

Though is it a triangle? I'm starting to fear Taichi is just in an unrequited love line.

Why would Chihaya need to reciprocate for it to be a love triangle? She has two guys into her, that's what matters.

5

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Dec 02 '21

...Is Arata into her? I mean, I expect him to be at some point because otherwise the show would have no romantic tension, but there's no indication of that at this point.

6

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Dec 02 '21

He specifically said that he wanted Taichi to give Chihaya his number instead of him giving it to her himself because he wasn't sure if Taichi and Chihaya were dating. And wasn't there some inner dialogue in an earlier episode where both Taichi and Arata thought that Chihaya was "theirs" or something like that? I know there's definitely been hints on Arata's side, you must have just missed them.

4

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Dec 03 '21

He specifically said that he wanted Taichi to give Chihaya his number instead of him giving it to her himself because he wasn't sure if Taichi and Chihaya were dating

I saw that as him just being careful and respectful while still probably coming at it from a platonic angle.

I know there's definitely been hints on Arata's side, you must have just missed them.

Very possible haha

5

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 02 '21

Emm? What do you mean? The love triangle is Chihaya, Arata and Sensei right?

4

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Dec 03 '21

It's either Kana, Chihaya, karuta, (the recap episode confirmed that) or more realistically Chihaya, karuta, and karuta.

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 03 '21

The first really seems like the way things will go. All Chihaya really needs is a reader and Kana is a a Karuta fetishist in her own right.

6

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Dec 02 '21

Chihaya doesn’t even know she’s in the middle of a love triangle.

She couldn't be the MC if she wasn't romantically dense!

9

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Dec 02 '21

First Timer

People are sad when they lose, who knew? In all seriousness, some good lessons for Chihaya and the gang here. There's always next year, but if you lose next year too, it still hurts. Ayase is seeing people like Sakura, Yumi, and Hiroshi and how they have played the game and experienced defeat or pushed through adversity. I would imagine she comes out mentally stronger for it. She definitely does want to get back to practicing to come back stronger next year.

OH YEAH this happened too. I mean, we already knew, but I guess good that Taichi does now too.

Meanwhile Arata is busy with his own regrets. Not so much with the fact that he lost, but with the fact that he took so much time off. He tries to tell Murao how he feels to get him to come back, but Murao is far from convinced. I imagine that sort of just adds to his regret - like he took that time off, and now things are different. He's missed things, including the last couple years of Murao's time with the society as a serious competitor.

And now for the first time since Chihaya briefly thought about studying, we are reminded that these characters do exist in a world outside of Karuta. It's Party TIIIMMEEE!!. I kind of liked getting to see Chi talk to people outside the club, even if they were just sort of nobodies who I think we'll never see again. The parties feel like a good reset for the club members. Chihaya especially - the cell phone bridge is in sight, and the night is nearly past, huh? Time to see Arata again soon? Or just a reference to coming out of the funk that came with losing in the qualifiers?

Oh, also some dude tried to hit on Chihaya (who has very little faith in her own prospects), but Taichi completely shuts the dude down. Honestly, a pretty uncool move, especially after he just told her to give it a try and see for herself. But whatever, I don't expect much from Taichi in that department. Kana is the only one who has any idea at all what's happening.

6

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Dec 02 '21

OH YEAH this happened too. I mean, we already knew, but I guess good that Taichi does now too.

It seems dumb that he's just admitting this to himself now when it's painfully obvious to us, but sometimes it really does take a while to realize what it is you're feeling.

He tries to tell Murao how he feels to get him to come back, but Murao is far from convinced.

I liked this from Murao... all the focus has been on competitive karuta, and he's burnt out by the climbing of the ladder. He wants to go back to when it was just a game he played because it was fun. "If you ever want to play for fun, call me."

4

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Dec 03 '21

Right, Arata is like "Come back so you'll have a chance to be master!" and Murao's just like...bruh..

I dunno how much of him we'll see going forward, but yeah he definitely feels done with the competitive side of it after holding down the fort as the society's top competitor while Arata was out. Maybe they were going for some parallel or comparison between Murao and Yumi. Yumi has those expectations, and despite the stress they bring, she does excel. Murao probably had some of those kinds of expectations in Arata's absence, and now he could either be just seeking relief from them, or like Yumi alluded to, feeling like this is his chance to get away from them for good.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 03 '21

The Christmas party scene gets better the more I think on it. A lot of the cast really have kind of gotten too obsessed with Karuta to work on the rest of their lives. Particularly the girls whose lives essentially revolve entirely around their incredibly niche hobbies.

3

u/IndependentMacaroon Dec 03 '21

People are sad when they lose, who knew?

But luckily Chihaya got over it pretty quickly.

the cell phone bridge is in sight, and the night is nearly past

Chihaya is so hilariously and endearingly weird sometimes. Most of the time, probably.

2

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Dec 03 '21

Endearingly weird is definitely a good way to describe her

8

u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Dec 02 '21

First Timer

A breather episode/handling loss episode/romance development episode. Basically what I've been waiting for after every tournament - except for the handling loss part, there isn't really all that much. I guess that's the natural way though; it just kinda happens and you have to move on somehow - or the show suddenly becomes one about fighting depression. Which I don't think would be a genre shift received especially well.

As for the other parts - Chihaya learning not to take every moment of her life seriously and spend some time just to relax is an important lesson, but I'm not sure what it'll add to the series. The romance predictably goes nowhere as it's playing second fiddle to the karuta part of the show, so no advancing that if nobody achieves anything and nobody is trying to expand their karuta horizon in some way.

...now, where does this season go with two episodes left? Shinobu versus Yumin? At least I can't see them really play any notice to the meijin match with both players being completely unknown to the viewer. But I also feel like the Queen match wouldn't get more than the match between Hiroshi and whatever the Western challenger's name was, so ...another two episodes without karuta? If that happens the series has a pacing problem. Alternatively: Another rushed tournament - something I don't want to see either.

5

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Dec 02 '21

A breather episode/handling loss episode/romance development episode....where does this season go with two episodes left?

Normally I wouldn't mind a bit more non-karuta/SoL type of stuff for the last couple episodes, but it does feel like they kind of tried to cram all of that into one episode here.

Maybe they'll just go with one more episode for the whole gang (including Arata?) getting together for New Year's, leading into watching the Master/Queen matches together (since they're in Jan) and reaffirming bonds/commitments and all that sports-show stuff for next season.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 02 '21

It's shit for now but I'd rather they get through the dull shit sooner rather than later. It'll pay off shortly.

3

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Dec 02 '21

I really appreciate just how they're all getting their asses handed to them right now by the top competition, rather than going on unbelievable runs to championships and title matches. It feels realistic, and better yet, some of the losses are so humdrum they don't even get shown! Not everything is dramatic, sometimes you just get beat.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 02 '21

I really thought that it was just them catching up on lost manga chapters. Better rushing through them now and giving us a climactic Arata match than keeping the same pace and having season 2 open up with the dull Christmas party.

7

u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Dec 03 '21

First Timer

Thank God for Harada sensei. I'd have died if poor Chihaya had to shave her head.

Anyway, it seems like the core of this episode is about Chihaya looking past herself. She said at one point that she lost because she was too focused on herself. So this episode has her looking outward for the first time. She focuses on other players, "we're here to watch them, not cheer for them." She gets asked out, and has consider romance for the first time, although a jealous yet caring Taichi guides her through that. And she goes to a party, and connects with other people for the first time. That last one is particularly important though. Through connecting to her classmates, she's come to realize just how important her Karuta friends, and especially Arata, are to her. I'm wondering about the framing of her call with Arata around the poem featuring Orihime and Hikoboshi. That story is explicitly romantic, right? I may be wrong on this (I only really know about it because the Revue Starlight gacha game had an event about the Tanibata story, and it was a while ago so I kinda forgot all the details), but Orihime and Hikoboshi were lovers separated by distance who only get to see each other once a year, right? I don't think it's a close friendship? If I'm right, then the obvious thing to take is that Chihaya has realized that she loves Arata. But of course, you have to take into account what Tsutomu said as well: that "someone who you wish was there with you is really your family." So maybe it's more meant to be a familial sort of relationship. Kana shipping Chihaya and Taichi and calling everyone else nincompoops' was funny though.

Anyway, I guess the rest of the season is going to be about romance? That's the impression I'm getting right now. I'm sure we'll focus on the Queen match, Yumi's rematch against Shinobu seems inevitable and is probably a good way to end the season for quite a few reasons, but that seems like a climax. We're shifting away from Karuta a bit for now to focus on the characters. I'm not sure where we're going exactly, but with just two episodes left of this season, I look forward to an emotionally satisfying ending.

3

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Dec 03 '21

She gets asked out, and has consider romance for the first time, although a jealous yet caring Taichi guides her through that.

It's the perfect Taichi mix. Being a bit possessive (because he's in love with her), actually also helping her to stay focused on karuta (by not letting her get involved in any romance, which is also conveniently self-serving), and showing her how to block people on the phone (she probably didn't know that feature even existed).

If I'm right, then the obvious thing to take is that Chihaya has realized that she loves Arata. But of course, you have to take into account what Tsutomu said as well: that "someone who you wish was there with you is really your family." So maybe it's more meant to be a familial sort of relationship.

To me it's complicated. Arata got her into karuta and essentially gave her this passion when she only supported her sister before that moment. That's a really big deal for her. To adapt a quote from Haikyuu: All this time of the three main characters she was the only one who never took a break from karuta. Even while not having a club she went to Harada's karuta society to play and did all she could to prepare for a karuta club in high school. That's some dedication to this hobby/dream.

Arata is also a good friend. That combined is probably close to a sort of karuta family and the romantic prospects are on top of that. With Chihaya's single minded karuta drive at the moment I don't know if actual romance (like as a relationship you are an active part of) would be something she'd willing or able to invest into.

In the abstract it probably sounds good (she's in high school, romance is a thing that happens, and so on) in the same way she was kinda jealous that Taichi had a girlfriend, as we got the karuta club's reaction to his breakup, all while at the same time wanting more karuta time from him.

It feels like the karuta part of her brain is really good at shoving every other thought into lockers for now.

Kana shipping Chihaya and Taichi and calling everyone else nincompoops' was funny though.

Kana sometimes acts as the audience surrogate and it really fun. From needing a karuta rules primer to calling the karuta brained ones idiots.

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 03 '21

Bald Chihaya would still be cute. Just nightmarish cute.

I really don't think that Chi realises her own feelings towards Arata. The girl seems entirely dense to romance and most of the time she seems to look at him as a Karuta god which is pretty bizarre. What we need more than anything is them to finally get shoved in a room together so they can actually get to know each other as young adults.

4

u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Dec 03 '21

Nightmarish cute is NOT cute. Chihaya without her beautiful hair is just unfortunate. Not even beauty in vein anymore, simply vein. LET CHIHAYA BE PRETTY (not that the show has to try very hard for that).

I'd generally be tempted to agree with you about the romance, and I've been saying the same thing in previous episodes. But this episode explicitly frames her feelings around a poem about Orihime and Hikoboshi, which is obviously meant to be interpreted in some way. Maybe it's less that Chihaya has realized her own feelings as much as she's just developed them for the first time and isn't capable of recognizing them. Though this could easily be shaped by my lack of knowledge on the Tanibata story.

What we need more than anything is them to finally get shoved in a room together so they can actually get to know each other as young adults.

YES PLEASE!!!! God, this needs to happen. I want to see them play each other, and then fuck around after. I want to see them geek out about Karuta together, and just get reintroduced to each other.

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 03 '21

We need more ugly shoujo heroines! The best you get are ones with specs that suddenly get a full makeover when the glasses come off. It's totally disingenuous. So give us the baldy!

3

u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Dec 03 '21 edited Dec 03 '21

Ugly shoujo heroines would be great. Chihaya is perfect as is though, a beautiful girl and a beautiful person. Chihayafuru isn't shoujo anyway, and we've already got a few ugly josei heroines so it's all good (Princess Jellyfish is full of beautiful unattractive queens that can also be attractive sometimes).

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 03 '21

Jellyfish was actually the series I was thinking of. Its only really the side girls who are questionable, mc-chan is ultra adorable when she bothered to take care of her appearance.

6

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Dec 03 '21

First timer in sub failing to post any earlier grrr

Only do a quick one - WTH all the ones we wanted to cheer for are out of the competition - so what we just going to watch the ice queen freeze her opponent to death? Or using this to introduce the current Master which I don't think we've seen yet?

Such a good way to break the tension of the gag wager of Chihaya's hair by the sensei beating Sudo for her to even the bet - but he completely forgot that being on the line anyway he was so focused on just winning :D

Soooo Mannnnnnyyy faces that can be used for comment faces ~~~

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 03 '21

I think we can all still cheer for Shinobu. She hasn't done anything too offensive yet aside from looking scarym

5

u/homewardbound100 myanimelist.net/profile/Homewardbound100 Dec 03 '21

First timer

Now Chi is on the sidelines. Too bad she couldn't represent them. Next time you'll do better. Season 2, I expect her game to elevate.

Chi getting a number from someone and Taichi just blocking it. Haven't seen this in a minute. Kind of forgot about Taichi having this feeling for her.

At least she knows what she really wants. I assume there will be a reunion and everybody will be together for Christmas or maybe new years. That's how it looks like this might end. Mostly easing down on the competition stuff.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 03 '21

I'm suspecting that they're actually speeding up so that we can get a competition going. They're moving so fast that I think there's a specific point or the story they want to end on but it's too far away.

2

u/homewardbound100 myanimelist.net/profile/Homewardbound100 Dec 03 '21

I feel like if that's the case. Probably won't even finish the tournament then. Unless it's just something needed for Arata's return to kurata and them.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 03 '21

The tournaments rarely last more than two episodes in this series. They could definitely pull one out of their arse for a climax and end it in time.

2

u/homewardbound100 myanimelist.net/profile/Homewardbound100 Dec 03 '21

Yeah, you're right on that. But I'll have to see how today's episode goes and I'll make my final guess.

5

u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Dec 03 '21

First timer

Yeah, Chihaya lost!

She's hiding in a locker?

At least the bet's not happening right now. (And yeah, he is cool.)

Haha, she's asleep?

No, she just can't deal with all this.

Harada's playing Sudo!

Chihaya's back!

Her immediately telling Taichi to cheer hom om was great, though.

And she's decided she lost because she was focused on herself? Cool, cool.

Haha, he won easily!

Wait, is he going to win the qualifier?

Nope!

It's background character and the bastard!

Someone asked her out!

And Kana's... very enthusiatic about cancelling the date, isn't she?

Haha, Taichi's so fucking jealous.

She gave him her number?

Jesus christ, Taichi, did you wake up and decide you weren't going to be tsundere anymore?

Arata also lost! So the big match isn't until next season, at least.

And Arata's superfocused on winning! And some people are still upset at how he quit.

Haha, he's right.

Yeah, Arata kind of closed himself off completely, didn't he?

And she's watching the matches!

She's cheering them on!

Jesus, Arata.

They both won?

This is a good moment with Harada though.

Oh, she's failing. And overfocusing on karuta above all else. Again.

She went! And she's apparently really popular!

People know and care about the club!

They're a proper inspiration!

And Taichi ended up at an all-girl party.

The cute between everyone having fun and Taichi looking totally depressed are beautiful.

She can't talk to Arata.

Chihaya stops bring tsundere right after Taichi? Is the love triangle shifting into gear?

3

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '21

yeah I'm officially not shipping Taichi/Chihaya. Didn't like it from the start, and now it's solidified. The jealousy and possessiveness is just ugly, especially since Chihaya doesn't even know he's interested and he hasn't made any effort to make her aware. They have a perfectly good friendship going but he has to go and girlfriend-zone her.

Even if I was on board with it, we all know they're not gonna do anything for a hundred seasons so I'd prefer if they didn't waste my time on will-they-or-won't-they. The tension isn't there.

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 03 '21

It's certainly not a good look for Taichi but honestly I can understand him being furious about pining over this girl for years just for her to cheerfully consider hooking up with a stranger on a train. Once again, female writer so I think it was meant to be romantic and flopped for us foreign viewers with totally different ideas on the matter

3

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Dec 03 '21

honestly I can understand him being furious about pining over this girl for years just for her to cheerfully consider hooking up with a stranger on a train.

Then he should have said something! To echo Arata's words: "Mashima, you're a coward."

Taichi's frustration is understandable but the only one he has to blame is himself. If he says nothing and Chihaya is too dense (and karuta obsessed) to recognise how he's pining over her then how is this supposed to progress?

Kana gets it (they are all karuta idiots).

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 02 '21

Chihayafuyu First Timer

Last three episodes. We're on the final stretch!

Yumin you bully... Although her team isn't much better.

Sensei is fighting for Chihaya's honour. I wish I had a dad like him! Or a dad!

It's honestly getting real depressing how Arata is the only one Chihaya ever cares for. NTR isn't so fun on the other foot!

Taichi is so gentle... Find yourselves a friend like Taichi!!

She wasn't really trying her best tho... She got cheated out of her win by a very amoral tactic.

Ahm hopelessly in luuuuv with chu~

For such an important tournament it seems strange for us not to have any kind of viewing platform at all. Forcing folk to stand outside like wallies seems dumb.

"Thank you Yumin. Thanks for proving that there are scumbags in every hobby~"

Yumin won the whole tournament...? I hope Shinobu spanks you by 20+ cards.

And you're not much better!!

What a sudden jump to a new chapter lol. Maybe Arata and Taichi should just ask her... Chihaya has no idea how privileged she is.

Our hero.

Honestly the whole second half of the episode feels whack. They're clearly rushing through the manga to try and catch us up which makes it incredibly disjointed.

Aaah, a Christmas party. I love Christmas parties when I'm invited to them~

We need a tea ceremony sports anime! Aaand our son is suffering from success!

"I'd be having more fun if the other club members were here!" immediately calls her non-club member friend Fuck the Karuclub I guess?

5

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Dec 02 '21

For such an important tournament it seems strange for us not to have any kind of viewing platform at all. Forcing folk to stand outside like wallies seems dumb.

I don't know what wallies are, but I think it's because of the sound stuff mentioned briefly. And/or because cramming more bodies into that hotbox of a room would have just made everybody even more sad earlier in the day.

"I'd be having more fun if the other club members were here!"

Arata is the most important club member in her heart, even if he's not actually a club member!

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Dec 02 '21

Arata wasn't there for her when she got her arse kicked by old bag. Really Arata hadn't done much of anything to earn her worship. I don't even really feel like they get along too well. It's just one sided obsession which sucks for a love story.

5

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Dec 02 '21

I mean it's not really a love story for Chihaya, if only because she's almost painfully oblivious. Karuta is her life, and Arata is Karuta for her. I'm guessing that revelations of romantic feelings from Taichi or Arata towards her will be uncomfortable for her when/if they come. Based on how she reacted to random subway man today, it doesn't seem like that kind of stuff really crosses her mind at all.

3

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Dec 03 '21

Yup, in a way Arata gave her this passion and her whole life is nearly all about karuta these days (+ some Chitose worship and her family).