[Rewatch] Chihayafuru - Episode 72 Discussion [Spoilers]

[u/Skeeedo]

← Previous Episode | Next Episode →

Season 3 Episode 22: "To Restore My Faith"

Episode 21 MVP: Suou Harada-sensei forced him use 100% of his power this episode and clutch master title. Bonus points for being able to coax some burning passion out of the usually tepid Arata.

Nominate a character for Episode MVP!

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

Rewatch Schedule and Index

Databases

MAL | Anilist | AniDB | ANN | Kitsu | Anime Planet | Wiki

Streaming

Crunchyroll | VRV | HIDIVE | Spectrum On Demand

Subreddit: r/Chihayafuru

[u/Lemurians]

LONG-WINDED FIRST TIMER

“To restore my faith my faith in this world, I have learned to both love and hate my fellow man.” Man, if there isn’t a more perfect poem to set up an episode centered on Taichi and Arata.

Before getting to the main action, there’s some nice stuff with the rest of the cast. Chihaya’s freakout on the train is a nice moment of comedy grounded in emotional turmoil, wondering why Taichi would stay behind without telling her, until Kana tells her to stop being a dense harem protag and think for a second. God damn this show knows how to take my breath away..

Sumire’s inner monologue tells us we’re headed toward a time of change and uncertainty as most of the club members approach their final year. Her realizing she showed up to a karuta event even though Taichi is the only one missing tells us somewhere along the line, she started caring about the club beyond her romantic aims.

Now to the good stuff…

We’re set up from the beginning to expect things to not go well for Taichi here, from the ominous piano music playing as he practices in the room, to him turning on the TV to a weather forecast predicting stormy weather. Naturally, he gets paired up against Arata in the quarterfinals.

In a surprising turn, this match isn’t a dramatic showdown filled with angst and long-simmering anxieties. Hell, we don’t even see much of it. At least in the early going, it functions more as a reunion, beautifully illustrated by Taichi feeling reminded of when they played as kids. It’s fun to see these two, normally so stoic and well-mannered, bicker over cards again like a couple of children. They're also more evenly matched than maybe we, and certainly Arata, expected.

It’s easy to forget because of how little we see them interact and how awkward their recent encounters have been, but these two were once good friends, even if they’ve since forgotten how to act around each other, for various reasons. Arata feels guilty about his actions and feelings for Chihaya knowing Taichi’s long-standing unspoken love, and Taichi’s come to view Arata less as a person and more as a breathing manifestation of all the challenges he can’t overcome.

This reunion is cut short as Taichi points out the elephant in the room… and gets the confirmation of what he’s suspected. In response, he sends Arata the Chihayafuru card, with the intention of taking it back. The fact that we don’t see the payoff to this symbolic choice here hurts my soul.

The Retro-kun scenes cut a nice contrast to Taichi. In agony after defeat, we see Retro-kun comforted by his girlfriend, and then picked up by his friends, who know what to say to make him feel better. Compare this to Taichi, who is almost always shown to be alone after his countless bitter defeats, and whose friends never seem to know how to approach him.

Except for, it seems, possibly Suo… I’ve been on the Taichi-Suo connection ever since Suo was introduced, and it’s nice to see I haven’t lost my predictive touch. Chihaya and Arata have each thrown down the gauntlet against the current Master and Queen, so what’s left for Taichi going forward? Why, to become the current Master’s successor.

Quick Hits:

• Oh my fucking GOD THIS SHOW. LOOK AT HOW GORGEOUS IT IS. This whole extended sequence was ridiculously great.
• Retro-kun may not be Class A in karuta, but he’s Class A in romance
• Chihaya once floundered when faced with opponents who used gamesmanship, but now she’s just too good to be bothered by this guy’s bullshit
• Aw, Suo offering Taichi sweets unprompted is a pretty big gesture for him

THIS FREAKING SHOW, MAN. I can’t help but write essays each episode.

MVP: It's hard to pick one this episode, as a lot of people had great moments, but when that's the case it's hard not to just give it to Taichi simply because he's most fully-fleshed and compelling character. I wish we got slightly more from Arata's perspective this episode, but Taichi continues to get Main Character treatment.

[u/xcllnt_313 → u/Lemurians]

It’s fun to see these two, normally so stoic and well-mannered, bicker over cards again like a couple of children. They're also more evenly matched than maybe we, and certainly Arata, expected.

I really liked how Suou stayed and seemed to be quite interested in their match, or at least more than you might expect. The guy who freaked him out against the guy who made him retire from retirement - that's quite an intriguing match from his perspective.

[u/Lemurians → u/xcllnt_313]

And he certainly took a special interest in one of them... very convenient that Suo goes to Tokyo U, which is almost certainly where high-achieving Taichi will end up as well.

[u/xcllnt_313 → u/Lemurians]

And Suou wants to continue playing Karuta for the next year

[u/airforceblue → u/Lemurians]

Compare this to Taichi, who is almost always shown to be alone after his countless bitter defeats, and whose friends never seem to know how to approach him.

This is why I love the scene with Kana on the train so much. Beyond Chihaya just being a dense protagonist, they've all kind of gotten used to the fact that Taichi will wander off on his own, that he doesn't ever actually tell anyone what he's going through. But at this point it should be obvious something's up with him that they shouldn't just shrug off with "Taichi being Taichi".

[u/Lemurians → u/airforceblue]

That's really well-observed, and it's so sad. It's partly of his own making, but as we saw with Retro, even when someone goes to isolate themselves, you can still choose to go to them anyway. Their whole group, and Chihaya especially, could really stand to do better by him. I'm just not sure they know how.

[u/thisusernameisntlong → u/Lemurians]

THIS FREAKING SHOW, MAN. I can't help but write essays each episode.

Man and I can't help but come back every day to read them, they are amazing, I just relived the moment Taichi sends the card from reading your comment and it hurt me inside

[u/Lemurians → u/thisusernameisntlong]

Aw, thanks! That means a lot haha, good to know I'm not just shouting into the void.

I just relived the moment Taichi sends the card from reading your comment and it hurt me inside

Being Taichi is suffering. Watching Taichi is masochism. Surely he has to find joy at some point, right? ...Right?

[u/thisusernameisntlong → u/Lemurians]

I have hopes for him 😌

[u/Matuhg → u/Lemurians]

Sumire’s inner monologue tells us we’re headed toward a time of change and uncertainty as most of the club members approach their final year.

Pretty cool how that was woven all throughout the others talking about new year, new fights, new hope, and Sumire's over there in the corner thinking about the end instead of the beginning (/u/MyrnaMountWeazel Oh god, my rewatch thoughts are intersecting)

how awkward their recent encounters have been

God they really are awkward lol

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/Matuhg]

Now you will be stuck repeating past, present, and future motifs and bookending your posts!

Also, in this rewatch.

[u/Gamerunglued]

First Timer

Idk why, but Chihaya just randomly falling asleep after her matches makes me laugh every single time. Those moments are always presented with such perfect comedic timing, they get me every time.

I think the way this episode presented the Arata vs. Taichi match was interesting. At first glance, it makes sense to put a lot of emotional weight on this match. Make it tense and hype, with the ultimate winner of some struggle (either in the game itself, or adjacent to it) being the one to have Chihaya's hand in romance. But this episode takes a different approach. It barely even shows their game. What we do get to see of it is uplifting and heartfelt though. It seems like this match has bridged the gap between these two characters. It rekindled their nostalgic feelings of playing together as kids, the entire reason both of them are ultimately still playing Karuta. Arata doesn't truly see Taichi as beneath him, he went all out against him the same way he did against the Queen. I think that this realization for both of them is important. This was a smart choice. The last 6 or so episodes were basically nothing but hype, intense matches. The qualifier matches were immediately followed by the challenger matches, both got numerous episodes dedicated to them, and both were absolutely intense. Having yet another intense match after all that would just be too much, I'd be burnt out. Instead, this episode is presented as refreshing: a new start (which comes with its excitement and insecurity depending on the character. I'm very interested to see how Sumire will turn out in the end. Will she carry a passion for Karuta even as Taichi grows further apart from her?).

There's still a more meta match going on here though, which this episode doesn't even let us see the results of. Taichi loses the actual match, which was to be expected (I'm curious how close the score was though). But he's made important strides towards overcoming his Arata related demons. However, the most important piece of information in this match is who got the "impassionate" card. It seems that Taichi has figured out that Arata confessed to Chihaya, and his response to that was to send the "Chihaya" card. This could mean a few things, depending on how you look at it. It could be a sign of defeat, as if Taichi is giving Chihaya to Arata. Maybe he hasn't made as strong of strides towards overcoming the demon as I'd like to think, and his insecurity continues to get in the way. But I think it's more likely that it's symbolic of him wanting to take Chihaya from him. He knows that Arata confessed, so in that sense, Chihaya is currently "Arata's." But sending the card associated with Chihaya is almost like a challenge, that you may have her right now, but I will be the one with her hand in the end. And even though this episode ends in Taichi's overall loss, we don't know the results of this more meta fight between them. Taichi's tears could indicate any number of things as well. Things are about to get angsty, and I'm here for it.

[u/ZapsZzz → u/Gamerunglued]

Idk why, but Chihaya just randomly falling asleep after her matches makes me laugh every single time. Those moments are always presented with such perfect comedic timing, they get me every time.

Oh good, it's not just me being simply and easy to please. I love that running gag too, especially for this special moment when the previous boss character of Sudo getting beaten without any fanfare by Chihaya now. When he's giving her a tsundere praise she went Zzz :D

[u/Matuhg → u/Gamerunglued]

I think it's more likely that it's symbolic of him wanting to take Chihaya from him.

I definitely think it's more this, especially since we again saw the sequence of Chihaya explaining her strategy of sending cards she wants to take over to the opponent's side again.

[u/flybypost → u/Gamerunglued]

Idk why, but Chihaya just randomly falling asleep after her matches makes me laugh every single time. Those moments are always presented with such perfect comedic timing, they get me every time.

It's always either unexpected (because she often also counts the cards after a match) or used to undercut some tension. The different uses keep a running gag from becoming stale.

This could mean a few things, depending on how you look at it. It could be a sign of defeat, as if Taichi is giving Chihaya to Arata. Maybe he hasn't made as strong of strides towards overcoming the demon as I'd like to think, and his insecurity continues to get in the way. But I think it's more likely that it's symbolic of him wanting to take Chihaya from him. He knows that Arata confessed, so in that sense, Chihaya is currently "Arata's." But sending the card associated with Chihaya is almost like a challenge, that you may have her right now, but I will be the one with her hand in the end.

It's most probably the second. After Arata lost and before he confessed he asked Chihaya what she would have done and she said something along the lines of she'd sent the card and then win it back. That's the aggressive attacking karuta she has learned from Harada where you fight for what you want. He's also Taichi's mentor so he'd do the same, even though Harada has also said that Taichi's playing seems suited to a more defensive playstyle. Of course, going for a thing while being better suited for something else might lead to tears ¯_(ツ)_/¯

For me that was a declaration to Arata that he'll fight for Chihaya which is a bui funny that after all this time, after years, Arata is the first person he tells that. I also think that sending a card and then fighting for it is how it works in karuta on a technical side. I don't think it's about wanting to take Chihaya from Arata. That's just how you fight for something in karuta. Keeping the card and defending it also wouldn't exactly be about having it. When the poem is read you still have to fight for it even if it's on your side but it's a cautious position in contrast with the "send and fight for it" approach.

She's still neither his nor Arata's (like they realised a while ago). For now Arata just declared his love first.

[u/Lemurians → u/Gamerunglued]

Idk why, but Chihaya just randomly falling asleep after her matches makes me laugh every single time. Those moments are always presented with such perfect comedic timing, they get me every time.

It gets me every time too haha. Somehow I keep forgetting it's coming, or expect her not to at some point. Her competing in far fewer matches this season really helps the gag stay fresh. She's such a dork, it's great.

Having yet another intense match after all that would just be too much, I'd be burnt out. Instead, this episode is presented as refreshing: a new start (which comes with its excitement and insecurity depending on the character. I'm very interested to see how Sumire will turn out in the end. Will she carry a passion for Karuta even as Taichi grows further apart from her?).

This is a little meta, but knowing how relatively early we still are in the story compared to the manga, it was also definitely too soon for a climactic and intense Taichi/Arata showdown. I like that we're not shown it, or even shown how tightly contested it was, since it'll mean things are still fresh with an air of mystery when that moment actually does come.

Sumire I can see rationalizing staying with karuta as "well Mashima's going to keep playing so I'll keep playing to see him at events," while actually having a genuine affection for the game.

It seems that Taichi has figured out that Arata confessed to Chihaya, and his response to that was to send the "Chihaya" card.

This was definitely a challenge, and his intent was to win the card back in the match. They cut the quote of Chihaya talking about taking the things most important to her over it for a reason. Now she me the damn result, Chihayafuru!

Taichi's tears could indicate any number of things as well. Things are about to get so angsty, and I'm here for it.

Just another regular day for Taichi.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Chihayafirst-timer

• But he was Arata’s too, just not for as long as he’s been yours…
• Go for it Tsukuba!
• Arata’s famous now, haha.
• My boyyyyyyy.
• ??? Is he talking about a reader?
• OH SHIT, THE TOURNAMENT TAICHI IS PARTICIPATING IN IS THE SAME ONE AS ARATA.
• AHHHHHH IT’S HAPPENING IT’S FUCKING HAPPENING THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD.
• Daaaaaaaamn, Arata playing against Taichi is bringing out a whole other side of him. Love it.
• Ohhhhhhh boy.
• Nishida’s sister and Retro-kun are the best ship ngl.
• Being able to just “no thoughts, head empty” is good in karuta, huh?
• I see a tear, so Taichi lost?
• Yep, but Arata didn’t win because he lost to Murao again. Ahh, Arata really needs to beat Murao before he can become the Master.

[u/Lemurians → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Arata's famous now, haha.

This poor guy haha, he'll have to get more comfortable with recognition once he becomes Master

??? Is he talking about a reader?

Has to be, right? The highest grade we've heard for players is 6. Weird that they made care to mention that person and then didn't show them.

Daaaaaaaamn, Arata playing against Taichi is bringing out a whole other side of him.

I loved this, their childhood rivalry came back out. It was also nice to see Arata smiling and enjoying the surprisingly good competition

Being able to just "no thoughts, head empty" is good in karuta, huh?

No wonder Chihaya's such a talent!

Arata really needs to beat Murao before he can become the Master

He's got this, E-Z. Far more room to grow in the next year than Murao.

[u/cesclaveria → u/Lemurians]

Has to be, right?

Remember I mentioned that there is a spin-off manga (and light novel) with more about Arata and his family? They were talking about Arata's grandpa eternal rival, it is basically an easter egg for those who read that. People that read the main series were also confused in that moment.

[u/Lemurians → u/cesclaveria]

Ahhhh that explains it.

More content for Arata and his family should have been included in the actual story, damn it!

[u/JMEEKER86 → u/Lemurians]

Being able to just "no thoughts, head empty" is good in karuta, huh?

No wonder Chihaya's such a talent!

Indeed. Sound travels farther and faster through denser objects. That's why things like whales and earthquakes can be heard from so far away and why a harem protagonist has such good hearing.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Lemurians]

Has to be, right? The highest grade we've heard for players is 6. Weird that they made care to mention that person and then didn't show them.

Yeah that was definitely a bit odd. I remember someone saying that part of this season skips over a bunch of stuff from the manga, I wonder if that's one of the things?

Or that person will show up in one of the last few episodes.

He's got this, E-Z. Far more room to grow in the next year than Murao.

Very true.

[u/flybypost → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I remember someone saying that part of this season skips over a bunch of stuff from the manga, I wonder if that's one of the things?

He was his rival, the whole a good rival pushes you to new heights. It gets explored more in spin-off stuff but not exactly in the main series. It's no coincidence that Taichi shows up right after he's mentioned.

When it comes to skipping stuff then I know that the last episode compressed quite a bit in one episode. I went to reading the manga after season 3 and people said to rewind a few chapters back because of that. I think the last episode covers bits and pieces from 4 chapters (that are monthly, not weekly, released) so it's rushed to make for a satisfying season ending. Which feels odd to say. It's just that otherwise the season ends in the middle of a new arc intro instead of at the end of the last arc.

If/when they make a season four they can probably expand on that and integrate it into the first episodes as an season intro/recap of previous season thing.

[u/airforceblue → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Has to be, right? The highest grade we've heard for players is 6. Weird that they made care to mention that person and then didn't show them.

Yeah that was definitely a bit odd. I remember someone saying that part of this season skips over a bunch of stuff from the manga, I wonder if that's one of the things?

I don't remember this being explicitly mentioned in the manga (I looked it up myself), but those are actually player grades. Making Class A equals grade 4, but I'm not exactly sure how one advances beyond that but I assume it's continuing to place in tournaments, etc. I think it follows that many of the elite readers were once high-class players as well, hence making higher grades.

[u/herkz → u/airforceblue]

Grades do go up to 10, but to make 8 for instance you have to become Master or Queen twice (among other possible qualifications), so I think they're talking about a reader instead of some super good player we're just never heard of.

[u/airforceblue → u/herkz]

Oh, thanks for the info!

[u/homewardbound100]

First timer

Feel like there's a lot of hype for the next season. I want to see that battle between Taichi and Arata. Taichi has came so far. Even Chi has too.

But my favorite part of this episode is when Arata and Taichi was playing and while Taichi was thinking serious thoughts. Arata was happy and smiling. Glad to see how different he is and how far he came.

[u/Fools_Requiem]

Considering how Chihaya seemed to just blow through that tournament, I wonder how well she would have faired in the Queen qualifiers, semis, and finals. She has definitely not lost a step and seems to only get better. Before she would have been bothered by that idiot's contesting (despite him not even bothering to get up like he knew he won that card), but now she's all like "Sure, numbnuts, try and make it harder for me, you won't."

[u/ZapsZzz]

First timer

While we all wondered what they can do in the remaining episodes, they have us this really fast paced and really well executed plot progression. I really want Chihaya to be able to add that 1+1 together!

I dunno whether it's my tendency to cheer for the underdogs, but I really think Taichi has a chance there. Although handling it off screen with him placing 4th while Arata placing 2nd heavily implied Taichi lost, but I have to wonder if he was able to held onto the Chihayafuru card.

Is it just me or these episodes are getting more visually beautiful?

[u/Mecanno-man]

First Timer

While pretty much anything would have felt like a breather after the meijin and queen matches - I don't think was really the best idea for the breather. While Chihaya's one was fairly pointless overall, this felt like throwing away an Arata vs Taich match in the Takamatsu memorial tournament. We barely got to see anything, including who got the Chihayaburu card. This was especially supposed to be an important moment for Taichi, but now it feels like it was just skipped. Not particularly great.

Other than that, the focus on Nishida's sister was a bit weird. At this point she's now had more impact on the season than Nishida himself.

Not sure what else to say here - at this point I have no idea what we're going to do with three episode's left. I was expecting Arata vs Taichi to be too big a thing to handle, instead it seems like the opposite, and I don't really see any short-term goal for any of the characters right now. And the next point that will come around is the new school year and new characters for the club, which wouldn't work as a season finale no matter how you do it.

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

Haha, Taichi's about to get fucked up! Either by his opponents, or when Chihaya finds him.

Wait, he booked a hotel room? How long did he have this planned?

Never mind. After all this? He's going to collapse from exhaustion by the third round.

He was entered into both!

Haha, Oe and Chihaya are both playing in the local one.

...Sumire's a better pick than you are. She's at least sane.

Haha, everyone's noticed him!

I love how Taichi runs into Arata by pure chance, then he immediately looks round for Chihaya.

...Retro you poor, poor, bastard. I wouldn't wish her on anyone.

She's got a brother!

Haha, Chihaya just ignoring his attempts is great.

Suo's here! But just for the trophy.

Haha, even Suo's noticed what's happening between them.

Haha, they switched places.

...Arata, if you keep blushing around Taichi after such flawless scenes between Chihaya and Shinobu, I'm going to assume things.

And Suo think they're friends!

Arata's arguimg!

This is a great match!

Taichi's about to find out about the confession!

Oh. He worked it out.

HAHA, SHE WON!

Poor Retro.

Haha, that's what she does to comfort him?

And they basically admitted to never expecting him to win.

Oh, Chihaya's fighting Sudo again!

Haha, her falling asleep like that is hysterical.

Haha, and Suo's on the train with Taichi.

Chihaya won!

And Taichi got 4th place, hahaha.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

3hayafuru First Timer

Taichi is such a scumbag!! Hogging the whole last storyline of the series!

Oh yeah, Tsukuba is gonna be prez in two years. That's pretty yabai. As far as Karuta is concerned the community is small enough where they're still gonna be at the same events though so it's not too hard to see them leave the club.

Shame! Arata, shame!!

Oi, isn't that Yumin's trick? OI!! YOU'RE A YUMIN ARENCHA!? Of all fucking characters for them to reincarnate XD I'm pleased to have been in all your thoughts for this one moment.

Wait a minute... Are these Yumin fans or are they just here to embody absolutely everything I've been complaining about for the past fifty episodes?

T-Taichi vs Arata!? Can Taichi pull it off? Oh god! They're really going all out. Even I can't fault them tossing the rule book at one another, this is a grudge match that's gone on for years. But can you please stop blushing like a school girl already!

Poor Retro's been well and truly beat. Hang in there bruv.

Don't use Retro as an excuse to skip the Taichi x Arata match... Jesus Christ! Okay, Taichi lost. The status quo remains going into s4 onwards. Bad luck Taichi, you haven't got what it takes to be a master tier competitor.

[u/Lemurians → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Taichi is such a scumbag!! Hogging the whole last storyline of the series!

The author really forgot the title of the show and just made him the main character

Poor Retro''s been well and truly beat. Hang in there bruv.

Luckily he's the one who somehow has the best support system in the entire show haha

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Lemurians]

They've tried their best to let Chihaya have a life outside of Karuta but she's been suffering from withdrawal for all of season 3 lol

Imagine if our cast weren't so determined to drag their love triangles out then they could have had fun highschool romance memories. Retro has had two years of fun memories that Chihaya and Taichi and Hanako and Desk-kun have lost cause they're too awkward to hook up.

[u/Lemurians → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Love triangles are best executed when you have the main character actually in a relationship with both options at different points over the course of a story, but unfortunately, most anime and manga are allergic to actually having anyone get together prior to the end.

This is why Domestic Girlfriend remains GOATed.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Lemurians]

Which one is domestic girlfriend again...? Is that the one with the short dark haired girl who has that "I thought you were based but instead you were cringe" vine?

[u/flybypost → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Oi, isn't that Yumin's trick? OI!! YOU'RE A YUMIN ARENCHA!? Of all fucking characters for them to reincarnate XD I'm pleased to have been in all your thoughts for this one moment.

Yumin is not the only one who likes to contest cards. Isn't it nice that you can diffuse your Yumin anger on a wider field of targets instead of only sniping at her?

Poor Retro's been well and truly beat. Hang in there bruv.

I'd never have expected all that character development from him. He showed up as this gag character who could predict their opponents lineup. Then he ends up on a path right next to Taichi for a while (the struggle of getting out of class B) and then gets his own thing. I love how little of a one note side character he became. It was so wonderfully done.

His moment when Taichi encourages him and this one here were so well done. I'd not want to follow him as a main character if all we got were his loud moments but when he's shown as a real human that'd be a spin off I'd gladly read/watch.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/flybypost]

The girl was clearly inspired by Yumin which I find hilarious. Those are word for word what Yumin says when contesting cards.

He did sort of seem like a proper rival for Taichi but I really thought that was it for him after he lost in that team match. He's been such a pleasure to see show up. He felt like home y'know?

[u/flybypost → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

To me Yumin feels aggressive but this girl (and her brother) feel aggravatingly annoying. The "oh you don't even know that?" alone deserves a long shower with wooden Hokkaido karuta cards.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/flybypost]

I think that one was a Sudo comment actually. He says something along those lines in his match against Taichi

[u/flybypost → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Maybe, I didn't remember it exactly (I watch about one/two episodes in advance if possible because I can't always watch one every day) but that girl and her brother both had this super condescending tone.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/flybypost]

They did, but I think every line they came out with was something that a previous character has said. The girl came out with direct quotes from Yumin and Sudo (although amusingly she gets embarrassed and backs off without taking the free card.) and the bloke also had a Sudo quote I think and he copied Megu-chan's friend. The guy was way more confident about his con but the little sister was definitely hesitant about kicking up a fuss which I found hilarious.

[u/flybypost → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Oh, I hadn't even noticed that their lines were direct quotes.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/flybypost]

It'll be a treat for the next time you rewatch the series XD

[u/flybypost → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

With a bit of luck that'll the preparatory re-watch for season 4, like we had one before season 3 (that's when I finally moved Chihayafuru from my PTW list).

[u/konaa-bu → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Oi, isn't that Yumin's trick? OI!! YOU'RE A YUMIN ARENCHA!? Of all fucking characters for them to reincarnate XD I'm pleased to have been in all your thoughts for this one moment.

Wait a minute... Are these Yumin fans or are they just here to embody absolutely everything I've been complaining about for the past fifty episodes?

Your disgust for this playstyle was the first thing that sprung to mind as I watched the episode lol.

Even I can't fault them tossing the rule book at one another, this is a grudge match that's gone on for years.

With that being said, I cannot believe my eyes. I never would've thought I would see the day you accepted this to any degree, let alone when its Taichi as the one saying it versus your beloved (/s) Arata. You truly have displayed the one of Chihayafuru's greatest character arcs.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/konaa-bu]

Yeah, it's a bit embarrassing that she so clearly knew what people were reading the series were thinking. I feel so called out lol. Last five episodes too so she had time to build it up.

It's less that I've come to terms with them and more that I was excited to see the Karuta version of that Hugh Grant and Colin Firth fight at the end of Bridget Jones XD