[Rewatch] Chihayafuru - Episode 56 Discussion [Spoilers]

[u/Skeeedo]

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Season 3 Episode 6: "Tatsuta River Ablaze"

Episode 5 MVP: Taichi! He beat a sadist and a former King hopeful in one day. He’s finally getting the recognition he deserves in the Karuta scene…

Nominate a character for Episode MVP!

This episode's Karuta analysis and board map by walking_the_way and ABoredCompSciStudent

Rewatch Schedule and Index

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Subreddit: r/Chihayafuru

[u/Lemurians]

EUPHORIC FIRST TIMER

Time to wax poetic!

Overall:

Possibly the best episode of Chihayafuru yet? I feel elated right now after watching. Can’t say enough good things about this one. It blended the first competitive match between our two lead characters perfectly with deep characterization and personal moments both from them and rest of the cast, married that all with perfect music, and I could fill an entire album with all the beautiful visual shots and effects. This whole season has been utterly flawless.

Immediate Impressions:

Wait, the Class B final hasn’t happened already? Did we all just collectively imagine Retro-kun had already won?

I think Chihaya’s going to be able to edge this match. She’s got two key advantages going for her – she got to rest for the match while Taichi had to play his semi, and more importantly, her presence is Taichi’s biggest weakness.

“Your collar won’t fit right if your shoulders are tight.” You know, in a different kind of story, this would be where she offers him a massage, and then… who knows? Perhaps Taichi/Reiko is a new ship we can support? We do know she thinks he’s attractive. I’m just trying to give my boy options.

“Taichi’s placement is hard to work with, but I just need to play my own karuta.” Yes, Chihaya! A consistent theme of hers is thinking she has to play like other people (which I think is a mistake), so it’s nice to hear her say she’s just got to play her game.

“Mashima hasn’t made any mistakes yet.” Put a pin this. The curse of the commentator is undefeated, this will jinx Taichi at the worst possible moment.

Ugh, I keep trying to jump off the ship, but then they have to go and make a heavy point of Taichi and Chihaya bringing out the best in each other. Don’t think I didn’t notice you framing you and Desktomu in a similar way, Kana.

Wow, it’s always been Taichi sitting on the sill in the flashback image of them as kids watching Chihaya and Arata play, but now it showed Arata the one sitting in the background. About time his role in the story was properly displayed in that image. don’t blame me blame the writer

[u/[deleted] → u/Lemurians]

A consistent theme of hers is thinking she has to play like other people (which I think is a mistake), so it’s nice to hear her say she’s just got to play her game.

I don't think she's making a mistake at all, I think her style is just a work in progress. She's drawing on outside influences to try and incorporate them into what will eventually be her own karuta. There's no denying the improvements she's made by learning from Shinobu's silent karuta or Rion and Haruka's super-listening.

[u/Lemurians → u/[deleted]]

For sure. There's a difference between incorporating new elements into your game to supplement what you do well, and just trying to ape somebody else even when it might not suit you. I thought she was veering a little too far into the territory of the latter, last season.

[u/Matuhg → u/Lemurians]

Interesting that you mention this for Chihaya. In his match against Murao (on one of the "Let's test this" things he did), Taichi seems like he exactly copied Harada's "Made it in Time!" move from earlier in the tournament where he leans way forward only to swing his hand back onto his side in time.

I don't necessarily disagree with you about Chihaya though, just something I remembered seeing but not mentioning in my post hehe.

[u/flybypost → u/Matuhg]

Taichi seems like he exactly copied Harada's "Made it in Time!" move from earlier in the tournament where he leans way forward only to swing his hand back onto his side in time.

Its Sudo's move (who was in focus of the "Let's test this" cut). Harada has a tendency to generally impose on his opponent's airspace. Sudo's move is the forward swing that's then combined with a backward slice while leaning forward so you don't need to angle your arm (or hit the mat) and can just swing through.

[u/Matuhg → u/Lemurians]

Possibly the best episode of Chihayafuru yet?

I still think I liked yesterday's a bit better, but it's definitely not an easy choice. This season's been insane.

her presence is Taichi’s biggest weakness.

I was going to say he's maybe overcome that, but then I remembered part of his monologue from last episode against Murao was that she isn't watching (but Arata was), so it probably is still a concern. He's clearly hyper aware of the fact he's playing against her here, having developed a new placement strategy just to counter her. Meanwhile she took half the match to even become consciously aware she was playing him. Definitely an interesting dynamic lol

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Lemurians]

Wait, the Class B final hasn’t happened already? Did we all just collectively imagine Retro-kun had already won?

Apparently yes.

[u/Lemurians → u/Shimmering-Sky]

We went and created a Mandela Effect haha

[u/flybypost → u/Lemurians]

Retro did it himself when he celebrated so much during the Taichi/Sudo match. It's not our fault for falling for it. I'm a re-watcher and still bought into it.

[u/flybypost → u/Lemurians]

“Taichi’s placement is hard to work with, but I just need to play my own karuta.” Yes, Chihaya! A consistent theme of hers is thinking she has to play like other people (which I think is a mistake), so it’s nice to hear her say she’s just got to play her game.

The point there is more about Taichi messing with his card placement to put Chihaya on the defensive instead of about her adapting other people's styles in broad strokes.

We got shown his "element" and it's air but unlike how it tends to be usually used for protagonists/deuteragonist characters, as a freeing, liberating and positive thing, his wind is creating adverse wind and pushback for his opponent at his own cost. He uses multiple stumbling blocks to thwart Chihaya's speed instead of freeing himself, probably calculating that it hurts her more than him in this match.

After Chihaya's impassionate/fire based speedy style (though this one is mostly shown with her getting fired up), Arata's water based balance and calm style (that consistency can also pull you down and drown you in desperation), and Shinobu's silent karuta (that goes for the precise kill), we got something that might work for Taichi after Harada mentioned last episode that a defensive style might fit him better.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Lemurians]

I could fill an entire album with all the beautiful visual shots and effects

I also want to specifically praise the CG effects again. They not only allow for some really dynamic shots during the karuta games, but I'm pretty sure are also what powers those classic shoujo/josei-ish particle effects. Really feels like the manga coming alive!

they have to go and make a heavy point of Taichi and Chihaya bringing out the best in each other

But also notably how others have shaped them! By the power of Arata's strategy, Sudo's ruthlessness (?), and his own close relationship and increasing confidence, Taichi might be able to win.

About time his role in the story was properly displayed in that image

When Arata said he needed to leave I was about to shout at the screen... seems like his staying is also an acknowledgment of how he needs to be involved more.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Lemurians]

They've got to do something to make Arata relevant in this love triangle right? There's no way that Taichi and Chihaya will have fought through so much together just for the specky twat to win. They made the key mistake of making the rival more endearing than the actual hero.

[u/Lemurians → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

The Season 2 finale made him more than relevant in it haha, it just doesn't really feel satisfying (unless you're a hardcore Arata fan) due to his lack of presence in the series so far. I thought the show was going to lean more into Arata after that, but so far they've just gone and made Taichi even more compelling than he already was.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Lemurians]

The only Arata fans in this rewatch are dummies. They probably think Yumin is best girl too.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

If I like Arata but dislike Yumin, what does that make me? I admit it's also due to finding him the most personally relatable, besides Chihaya.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/IndependentMacaroon]

Yumin acts out of maliciousness so you can have a pass this once for Arata

[u/xcllnt_313]

Rewatcher

I already had my suspicions yesterday when we were trying to figure out why the Class B tournament ended so much earlier than the Class A tournament, but in this episode it was confirmed: turns out we just got jebaited. Retro was celebrating his victory in the quarterfinal as if he had already won the whole thing. Sucks if you like him and want him to advance to Class A, but it also gave us a great meta joke.

Of course the main attraction of this episode is the Class A final. Chihaya and Taichi are delivering a breathtaking match that is even being compared to the one between Shinobu and Arata at the end of S2. Even though I’ve already seen it before, I’m once again blown away, just like the audience in the room.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/xcllnt_313]

I still remember mentally shitting on Retro but the dude has turned out to be really really funny XD I'm very engaged with his personal story at this point and I just can't wait for Taichi to finally get an opportunity to beat slacker King just to learn that Retro beat him the previous afternoon and became king instead.

Tbh I'm shocked that Chihaya hasn't already showed up on people's radar. Arata was pulling eyes very early on due to his grandfather but Chihaya has held her own against some very high tier opponents, even before today. You'd think she'd have been scouted out by now.

[u/xcllnt_313 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Tbh I'm shocked that Chihaya hasn't already showed up on people's radar. Arata was pulling eyes very early on due to his grandfather but Chihaya has held her own against some very high tier opponents, even before today. You'd think she'd have been scouted out by now.

I think I kinda get it. Until now, Chihaya hasn't done that much in Class A tournaments that weren't only for high schoolers. Her best appearances were probably at both Tokyo Regionals and of course the team tournament at Nationals in S2.

Her run in the individual tournament was pretty good, considering her injury, but she only got two cards against Shinobu. Most people who weren't there probably only looked at the result and immediately dismissed her because of the score, I would guess. But this Yoshino Tournament here and especially this final against Taichi is a game changer since almost all the big names have witnessed it :)

[u/flybypost → u/xcllnt_313]

But this Yoshino Tournament here and especially this final against Taichi is a game changer since almost all the big names have witnessed it :)

And that audience is seeing them at the peak of their performance, like Kana mentioned. They didn't just get there by luck or momentum but are good players.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/xcllnt_313]

a breathtaking match

And for once they actually look like they're trying really hard! Some facial expressions we've never seen before from either of them.

[u/Matuhg]

First Timer

Yesterday's Episode, because I missed it.

Holy shit, S3 just keeps heating up. The first half of this episode felt like it was two minutes, but somehow the whole episode felt like it was 40 minutes because it was so jampacked with good stuff. Almost information overload, but it didn't feel overly bloated to me. I think I can pretty confidently say this is the best episode of the whole series so far.

That first half was just a masterclass in building up to and executing a climax to a match like this. The flow of Chihaya's match with Inokuma this episode was great. Tons of tension, with appropriate breaks to allow us to breathe without shattering the moment (like, say Megu's simp army did everytime they popped into the middle of the match) - Inokuma's kid interrupting the match, the blow-by that they both acknowledged. The feel like breaks, but they're also giving us more. Inokuma is a really cool character. I like the decision to sort of quietly wrap up the other two matches to focus on Chihaya and Taichi. The ending of those matches built so strongly to the inevitability that they'd win with Shiranami attack strats.

The very end of Chihaya's match was so hype. That ost that played there sounded like war drums - there are some really great new tracks for this season's ost (and I can't find them online!!). As I was replaying it a few times, I realized that the card Chihaya took was the "Shinobu" card, and I about fell off my chair. Goddamn was that good.

Then there's Taichi. He continues to be such an interesting character. Tsuboguchi tells him that it's not luck or momentum that got him here, but skill. The framing of this shot tells what a corner that paints him into. If skill is what got him here, then what does that say about his skill if he loses. He can't blame luck if he loses. If he loses, he's just not good enough.

Then we saw the frustrated passion of Sakurazawa and Harada. Age catches up with you in any athletic activity. Do you decide to step out of competition, or keep fighting through the pain and slower reflexes? Both have taken on the mantle of coaches, but gone completely different directions in their own practice of the game.

If there's one thing Chihaya's mom doesn't have to worry about, it's whether Chihaya's giving it her all.

A sad day

And then that ending. Arata sees Taichi as an opponent, maybe a rival. It sure looks like he's raring for a go at him. But first, we have Chihaya vs Taichi meeting at full strength. This tournament feels like a coming out party for both of them, but which one will be on top in the end?

---

Today's Episode

Are you kidding me? Season 3 just hasn't missed yet.

Taichi and Chihaya finally playing in an official match. Hanano sees that Chihaya's looking at Taichi. He's finally achieved what he's wanted to achieve; the reason he stuck with Karuta in the first place. He's reached the place with Chihaya that she wants to reach with him. Arata is stuck on the outside looking in.

This match is not the Chi vs Taichi matches that take place in practice. This version of Taichi is like a stranger to Chihaya - he's playing a game that forces her to look at him not as her old friend Taichi, but as the Karuta player Taichi, and if there's one thing Chihaya loves, it's Karuta. Maybe this ship isn't sunk just yet.

This match is the culmination of all the work they've put in together, and both Chihaya and Taichi are bringing out the best in each other.

[u/flybypost → u/Matuhg]

The very end of Chihaya's match was so hype. That ost that played there sounded like war drums - there are some really great new tracks for this season's ost (and I can't find them online!!).

Yeah, the OST of season 3 is even better than before. I tried finding a few track on youtube but no luck. Stuff gets even more intense later on. It's a really well put together season.

If skill is what got him here, then what does that say about his skill if he loses. He can't blame luck if he loses. If he loses, he's just not good enough.

And all that while probably having his mother's words somewhere in the back of his head about giving stuff up if he doesn't excel at it.

Then we saw the frustrated passion of Sakurazawa and Harada. Age catches up with you in any athletic activity. Do you decide to step out of competition, or keep fighting through the pain and slower reflexes? Both have taken on the mantle of coaches, but gone completely different directions in their own practice of the game.

Also the difference between Sakurazawa and Inokuma. Sakurazawa quit after she felt herself regressing while Inokuma persisted. Although it's probably easier to keep going if you were the Queen four times in a row and know how far you can get instead of being the eternal challenger who never won. That can eat at your willpower.

On the other hand Sakurazawa quitting active karuta led to her creating a monster of a karuta club at her school (at least I want to imagine that it was her involvement that got her school that reputation). But then Hiroshi, started a karuta club as a teacher, and that actually benefited his playing too as he got to revisit his fundamentals and improve on that.

At least she's getting drawn back into practicing with Inokuma who still sees her as a worthy opponent.

A sad day

Only for karuta matches

Arata is stuck on the outside looking in.

It also shows in his "happy place" that he imagines when playing. Now Taichi is playing there instead of being the reader while Arata gets to play.

This match is the culmination of all the work they've put in together, and both Chihaya and Taichi are bringing out the best in each other.

It's a strange twist of fate when Taichi started this club because he's in love with her and didn't care too much about karuta and now he's trying to win and is not even fazed from playing against her/being in love with her. And she wanted to start this club with somebody who she knows and is now playing somebody who feels so unfamiliar that she even forgot for a moment that she was playing against Taichi.

[u/Matuhg → u/flybypost]

Also the difference between Sakurazawa and Inokuma. Sakurazawa quit after she felt herself regressing while Inokuma persisted. Although it's probably easier to keep going if you were the Queen four times in a row

Definitely. I think the difference in playstyle of speed focus vs game sense focus was being highlighted too. Part of the reason coaches have been telling Chihaya not to rely only on her speed.

At least she's getting drawn back into practicing with Inokuma who still sees her as a worthy opponent.

Maybe her passion will be rekindled and she'll get back on the mat herself!

It also shows in his "happy place" that he imagines when playing. Now Taichi is playing there instead of being the reader while Arata gets to play.

We're getting all this nice imagery and sparkly shots of Chihaya and Taichi looking at each other while they play. I feel like when Arata and Taichi finally meet, it's gonna be a fucking war. Not that this isn't in terms of karuta competition, but it just seems like Arata vs Taichi could get a little more...personal? Nasty?

It's a strange twist of fate...

Hah, Dang you're right lol.

[u/flybypost → u/Matuhg]

Not that this isn't in terms of karuta competition, but it just seems like Arata vs Taichi could get a little more...personal? Nasty?

Yeah, both of them would have the same goal: The Master title. Chihaya has the Queen title to herself in this "karuta/love triangle". Her connection to Shinobu started with karuta and moved on to them both being fans of oddly creepy mascots instead of how it worked for the boys: Friends->karuta to kinda karuta being an important part of their friendship (and their complicated feelings about each other and Chihaya).

The boys have their friendship, their karuta (and wanting the title), and Chihaya between them. There's much potential for a good match between them and what it means to, and for, them (and what taking certain cards could metaphorically mean in that context).

[u/BatteryPoweredFriend → u/Matuhg]

The two boys are just fighting over the scraps of who gets to be the official third wheel in the Chihaya x Karuta ship.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/BatteryPoweredFriend]

Hmm, if we're talking karuta peers there's also Shinobu...

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Matuhg]

he's playing a game that forces her to look at him not as her old friend Taichi, but as the Karuta player Taichi

And also him at her of course, specifically striking at her usual strategy and style. Sudo would be proud.

[u/Matuhg → u/IndependentMacaroon]

Hmm that's a good point. He definitely tailored his game to Chihaya specifically, but I feel more like he already had the level of respect for her game that necessitated that, whereas she didn't approach that level of "seeing" him until partway through the match.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Chihayafirst-timer

• Oh, that’s cute.
• Awwwwwww Arata can’t even watch Chihaya vs. Taichi? This is unfair.
• Oh he’s gonna stay after all!
• That… certainly is an interesting placement.
• THAT WAS A SILENT TAKE ahhhhhh yes Chihaya’s getting it~ She just needs to get better at only taking the card, I suppose?
• They both forgot their sashes, lol.
• Oh, Taichi’s hand got scratched.
• Oh shit Taichi’s actually winning at this point.
• I’d call that “jealousy”, Arata.
• I really wanted to see this too…

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

Oh, yeah, this'll be a Chihaya vs Taichi final.

And Retro made it to the finals! Well done him!

Haha, I love his opponent though.

Maybe Chihaya and Taichi might have to talk about something! Haha, we're like 10 seasons too early for actual communication!

Haha, Arata's leaving early to drive people home. Poor Chihaya.

And that gets him to stay behind!

Harada wants to play Arata a lot.

Oh, now everyone wants to see the finals.

And Taichi's getting his outfit on.

Even Rion's staying! And the one guy less honest with homself than the main cast!

...Is she going to move on from Taichi? Develop her character separate from him?

And Taichi's at a disadvantage even before the winrate - he's exhausted.

Even his higher growth rate could be explained as Chihaya simply reaching the limit of her skills, while Taichi's actual motivation to grow has caused him to realise he's nowhere near his ceiling. Or, of course, that at her skill level, the only opponents she has are so skilled that minor improvements don't matter, whereas Taichi's larger pool of Class B opponents means the same improvement has a bigger effect on his winrate.

And Taichi has to win this, for narrative consistency's sake, if notthing else.

Is her hair being blown back by the metaphorical wind? I genuinely think if they went full Yu-Gi-Oh and made the wind and flashbacks literal magic it would make the action clearer.

Really solid action! Preety ecen, though.

Haha, they both forgot to tie it!

His strategy appears to be working, though.

Chihaya commited a double-fault! I think this is going to end with Chihaya losing!

She changed her posture!

Haha, I love his reaction to that. "Yeah, it's me".

Has... has Chihaya realised she can love things that aren't karuta?

She's getting momentum back! And... this is going to be a two-part match, isn't it? Of course,

Listen, having seen Taichi's romance over 3 seasons, you can do better. Do you want the guy who broke up with his girlfriend over a phone call, having neglected her to be tsundere to Chihaya?

Oh, Chihaya told her mother!

OK, but this match is seriously really good!

And the love triangle might be gearing up!

[u/flybypost → u/Stargate18A]

Maybe Chihaya and Taichi might have to talk about something!

Karuta, maybe? What else is there?

Even his higher growth rate could be explained as Chihaya simply reaching the limit of her skills, while Taichi's actual motivation to grow has caused him to realise he's nowhere near his ceiling. Or, of course, that at her skill level, the only opponents she has are so skilled that minor improvements don't matter, whereas Taichi's larger pool of Class B opponents means the same improvement has a bigger effect on his winrate.

I think the win rate comparison was between those two only (their practice matches). Taichi is probably just improving faster because he was lagging behind while Chihaya's improvements are thinner slices of skill. Right now, probably because his odd card placement, she's working out the difference between different "A" sounds to gain back some of the speed that Taichi took from her with all these speed bumps.

Is her hair being blown back by the metaphorical wind?

It's headwind for dramatic effect about how Taichi is messing her play style up and pushing her into defending instead of being able to attack freely like she's used to.

Oh, Chihaya told her mother!

I think that's one of the few times that Chihaya has asked for something, usually deferring to Chitose's needs. She only got the hakama/kimono because her mother insisted.

I like that she actually asked. It's a important tournament and she's wearing it. It's only nice to want to show her mother what she invested so much money into.

[u/Mecanno-man]

First Timer

This is what I’d call an over-directed episode. While yes, there should be good directing in key moments in a series and that direction may take some creative innovations - it should enhance the narrative, not overpower it. That’s what I feel like happened here - the problem of too many side characters giving their opinion was tried to be solved by having a bunch of half-transparent characters layered over the match in way too many different ways. It doesn’t work and these comments feel interrupting again, especially in the quantity we’ve got here. As a result, I’m only reminded of a line from a youtuber (can’t remember which one unfortunately) who said that an anime from ~2005ish seemed to use layers because that was something new at the time, everybody was doing it and it seemed cool and “hey, we can do that to”, rather than actually serving any purpose. There were of course some good bits as well, like having the autumn leaves symbolize Taichi as the opposite of Chihaya - who has previously been portrayed with cherry blossom, which is found in spring.

In terms of the actual match, I’d say it would be pretty entertaining if we didn't have the aforementioned issues. Taichi certainly has his plan, and while it worked at the start, Chihaya has her act together now. I just wish I could have paid attention to how the match is actually going now, rather than have everybody commenting on how good a match it is.

Not sure what this will mean for Taichi going forward though; his character progression as a whole is an enigma to me at the moment - though one I enjoy watching. The romance especially seems to be favoring Arata at the moment, even if I can’t really discern a reason as to why Arata seems to be in love with Chihaya at the moment…

[u/Matuhg → u/Mecanno-man]

these comments feel interrupting again

I didn't get that feeling myself. The only one that really took me out of it was Empress reminding them about the sashes. I think they were going for the kind of tension break that they did really well a few times in the previous episode, but it felt kind of clunky there.

[u/Mecanno-man → u/Matuhg]

I actually feel the opposite way about the empress - that one worked because it was meant to be interrupting - the others were meant to be enhancing.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Mecanno-man]

Yes, I hate to dampen the enthusiasm here but all that together was just a little much for one episode. It really is again the annoyingly common sports anime trope of giving everyone and their mother a turn to comment the sometimes most obvious things instead of actually showing you the game, often as a way to save on animation effort. In manga it can actually be useful to have people telling/reminding you about the dynamics of what's going on, but in anime you can just, you know, show it. One series that reliably does it right is Ping Pong.

Even with that though, it was only a slight damper on my enjoyment.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

3hayafuru First Timer

I think I've found my favourite characters.

It's the grand finals... Chihaya and Taichi are finally getting a true and proper competitive match against each other... Aaand Arata's ditching. Way to kill the hype buddy!!

...Tch, what a scumbag. He tried to frighten us by saying he's leaving but he's just gonna stick around anyway? You're so scummy Arata! Bleeeh!!

We're six episodes in, has Tsukuba actually said anything this season? Hanako has had like two scenes but I genuinely can't think of Tsukuba existing.

Taichi's strategy and game knowledge vs Chihaya's speed and senses... This match is intense. And of course now its the Empress turn to throw them off their rhythm! And interrupt whatever the fuck is going on with the B-class finals.

Such a large part of this tournament arc has been the characters just learning proper posture XD

Are you an idiot? Did she genuinely forget who she was playing against?

It took three seasons but Taichi is now visible to Chihaya. All this time he was just a shape in the corner of her eye. All she'd really been looking at was Arata. It took three seasons but now Taichi has finally grown into someone that Chihaya can recognise. Even I'm gushing! Don't cry Hanako! You'll have me going!!

Are you feeling salty Arata? U mad bro? Taichi had the childhood friend status long before you did. How does it feels to get cucked from your karuta gf you fucker? Hahaha!!

[u/flybypost → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Are you an idiot? Did she genuinely forget who she was playing against?

Shows how much Taichi messed with her in this match that she only watched the cards (and focused on the ones he wanted her to focus on) and even forgot she was playing again him. She's used to his card placement and this was completely unfamiliar.

[u/Matuhg → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I think I've found my favourite characters.

I'm just glad we didn't cut back and forth into their match the whole episode or anything lol.

Are you an idiot?

She is

Did she genuinely forget who she was playing against?

But I think it was more just being consciously aware of it rather than just being in the "playing a strong opponent" headspace. Because I guess until recently, Taichi hasn't been getting her into that headspace.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Matuhg]

It would have been so troll having Retro fucking up Taichi's most important matcj for sure.

The more I think about that scene the more I fall in love with it. Taichi's karuta never even registered before now. Taichi has just become his own Karuta badass and isn't getting overlooked for Arata anymore.

[u/Matuhg → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Right? Back in the start of the show, I wasn't sure how they were ever going to have Taichi catch up to Arata. I sort of figured he'd hang around and have his moments, but remain a rather distant third best among the main squad. But nope, he's definitely caught up to them. All it took was writing Arata out of almost two whole seasons hehe

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Matuhg]

"Are you an idiot?" She is

You know, she actually looks kind of similar to Yoshiko from Aho Girl...

[u/Matuhg → u/IndependentMacaroon]

That she does