Chihayafuru 3

Chihaya practices against Rion and Taichi while discussing her feelings for Arata.

The episode begins with middle school events before shifting to a Fujiaki school practice involving Chihaya, Taichi, and Hokuo high school students like Hiro Kinsashi. During a conversation, Chihaya admits her affection for Arata, while Taichi seeks training advice from the school president. Hiro observes this and suggests Taichi is underestimated. The following day, Chihaya undergoes three practice matches against Rion Yamashiro, struggling to play using only her left hand. During lunch, Rion explains she plays for her grandmother’s rice balls rather than to become a queen, though she aims to win as vice president. In the third match, Midori advises Chihaya on posture, noting Rion’s jealousy over never receiving such guidance. Rion reveals she identifies cards by pitch, not just syllables. Chihaya then plays Taichi, who wins and requests she use her right hand next. When Rion questions Midori about pairing them, Midori explains that Taichi needs Chihaya to help him gain the confidence to advance further.

Early dawn light arrives not from the moon

Arata attempts to join a karuta club during a school assembly to challenge Chihaya’s team, sparking student interest. In class, Chihaya struggles with a future plans questionnaire until Horikawa reminds her of an upcoming field trip to Kyoto. During practice, the team’s growing competitiveness is interrupted by Miyauchi, who reveals the Master and Queen qualifiers conflict with the mandatory trip, causing Chihaya distress. After her hand bandages are removed, the club attends the Yoshino tournament, a warm-up event for Class A and B players. Chihaya promises victory, prompting a bet between Sudo and Taichi regarding the qualifiers. Komano loses his first match despite his boasts, though Kana offers support. Nishida defeats Sudo but exhausts him, setting up future challenges for the team.

Chihaya faces Inokuma in the finals after advancing through the tournament rounds

Inokuma Haruka, a former four-year queen, returns to competition and draws significant attention. Ayase secures her first two victories but appears less aggressive, while Arata seeks karuta club advice from a distant Taichi. In the fourth round, Chihaya struggles against the aggressive Meijin runner-up Takemura until she regains balance using grace. A simultaneous card grab occurs between Chihaya and Inokuma during the Chihayafuru card reading. Rion pushes an exhausted Sudo to the brink before losing, while Arata defeats Queen runner-up Yumin. Chihaya and Takashi also advance, reaching the final eight where Chihaya is set to face Inokuma again.

Taichi faces Sudo in a society clash where Chihaya and Inokuma trade leads.

Taichi competes against Sudo in a match resembling a team contest between the Nagumo and Shiranami Societies. Chihaya initially dominates, suggesting a new star’s emergence, but Inokuma recovers to seize control. Sudo disrupts Taichi’s focus until Harada-sensei’s timely shout helps the Shiranami players regroup. Chihaya secures a multi-syllable card from Inokuma, only for Inokuma to reclaim the Chihayafuru card moments later. Meanwhile, Retro achieves a sudden victory in Class B, prompting Taichi and Sudo to assert their resilience against him. Amidst the intense competition, Chihaya acknowledges her enjoyment of the stress and feels warmth realizing that everyone present shares a deep love for karuta.

Chihaya and Taichi advance to the final match after decisive victories in the tournament.

Inokuma attempts to hinder Chihaya but chooses to enjoy the game after observing her son, prompting a shared smile with Chihaya. Arata suffers a surprising defeat to Hiroshi, while Harada-sensei loses to Murao, resulting in one win per society. Chihaya defeats her opponent by targeting their card, and Taichi secures victory over Sudo by immediately claiming the final card despite his poor luck. Hiroshi yields to Chihaya to allow her rest, setting up a single semi-final between Taichi and Murao. Inokuma requests Sakurazawa's contact details for practice, which she provides. Taichi wins his semi-final match, ensuring the final confrontation will be between Chihaya and Taichi.

Arata watches Chihaya and Taichi's intense match while they face off.

Arata stays to watch Chihaya and Taichi's match with Murao and the society president, knowing he will miss his train. Chihaya has an advantage from resting, but Taichi uses a new placement of fourteen cards in the top row to counter her fear of faults. This strategy separates long cards and groups one-syllable ones, allowing Taichi to easily take cards with thrusts and off-balance Chihaya. The observers note his lack of mistakes, as the drastic change helps him forget previous layouts. Chihaya is pressured into a fault and plays defensively. Remembering Sakurazawa's advice, she fixes her posture to breathe better. Realizing Taichi is still her friend, she overcomes her fear and takes the next card. Both players push each other hard, proving their success is not due to luck or momentum despite their young age.

Chihaya chooses the class trip over the Queen qualifiers while Taichi skips it for the Meijin qualifiers.

Chihaya wins the Yoshino Tournament Class A by two cards and falls asleep. Taichi remains silent and frustrated. Miyauchi informs Chihaya she can request an authorized absence from the field trip to attend the Queen qualifiers. Chihaya’s mother arrives, lamenting that she missed the match. Chihaya states she wants to be Queen but also wants to be a high school teacher and attend the class trip. She questions what kind of teacher she would be if she missed her own class trip. Arata walks with Chihaya, seeing he is holding in his disappointment. Arata is disappointed because he lost and could not play against Chihaya. Chihaya attends the class trip instead of the Queen Qualifiers to make memories with her friends. She will compete next year. Taichi calls in sick and skips the class trip to attend the Meijin qualifiers. Chihaya does not understand why Taichi would do this as she never heard him say he wanted to be Meijin. Komano reminds her he plans to go to medical school, so by this time next year, he will be too busy for the club and he will not have any time in medical school. This is his only chance to go as far as he can in karuta. Arata loses a practice match, his game off. His friend Yuu is waiting with a hot meal when he returns home and asks why he is so down. If he wins tomorrow, it will attract new members for his club. He tells her he does not need a reward for realizing his dream of being a Master, making him remember his time with his grandfather. Suou Hisashi, the current Meijin, visits Shinobu’s house.

The narrative explores the dynamics between friends and strangers

Suou departs while Chihaya focuses on her trip and Taichi faces elimination

Suou and Shinobu converse before Suou leaves, with Shinobu annoyed by his lack of motivation. During a school trip, a depressed Chihaya checks her phone for tournament updates until Michiru confiscates the battery, prompting Chihaya to apologize and engage with classmates. In the tournament, Taichi struggles against Shusaku Koshikawa, losing due to a luck of the draw despite using a strategy Harada-sensei taught him. Harada-sensei subsequently wins his match against Koshikawa via the same mechanic. Meanwhile, Arata advances in the West, while Shinobu departs early due to hunger and coldly rejects her former coach Ise’s invitation to practice, dismissing his concerns about her social life.

Arata Overcomes Distraction to Defeat Murao in West Meijin Qualifiers Final

The West Meijin qualifiers final between Murao and Arata commences, though Arata struggles to focus due to thoughts of Taichi. Murao initially capitalizes on this distraction but helps Arata regain his composure. Mid-match, Arata suffers from stomach pain, requiring a break during which four field cards and several dead cards are revealed. Although Arata trails by eleven cards, he deduces that certain two-syllable cards have become monosyllabic, allowing him to identify missed dead cards. He steadily closes the gap and ultimately wins by a margin of two cards. Consequently, Wataya Arata and Ousoka Megumu are selected to represent Western Japan in the Meijin and Queen's Challenger match. Later, Chihaya enjoys a night trip with classmates and encounters Taichi upon his arrival. He informs her that Arata will face Harada-sensei in the Challenger match and asks whom she supports.

Chihaya and Inokuma prepare for challenges while Taichi memorizes placements

Chihaya discusses potential teaching subjects with her homeroom teacher before an emergency Shiranami Society meeting aids Harada-sensei for the Challenger match. Taichi attempts to refuse memorizing Arata's placement, but Harada-sensei reminds him that Sudo lost at the Master Qualifiers partly due to a bet with Taichi at the Yoshino Tournament. Chihaya volunteers to memorize Suou's placement, suspecting a potential weakness. Meanwhile, Inokuma trains with Sakurazawa at Fujisaki for her Challenger match but questions if Karuta outweighs her children when she learns her son is sick. With assistance from Kana's mother and support from her hakama, Inokuma vows to win the Queen title again for her family at the Challenger Finals.

Challenger playoffs commence as Harada defeats Arata, prompting Inokuma to overcome Megumu and Arata to receive a default win.

The Challenger playoffs begin with Harada taking an early lead against Arata through consecutive takes. Arata adapts with a flexible style, causing Tsuboguchi to note that Harada had studied his previous version too closely. Simultaneously, Megumu leads against Inokuma, who questions her relevance until Megumu plays the Chiha card, mistakenly forgetting Inokuma’s maiden name was Chihara. Harada leverages his experience as a teacher and veteran to tie the score and win the first round. Inspired by this victory, Inokuma reverses her match against Megumu, winning by two cards. Harada then withdraws from the second round, awarding Arata a default win, which visibly frustrates him. Following this outcome, Chihaya whispers something significant to Arata.

Arata prepares for the third round while Inokuma becomes Queen's Challenger

Arata leaves to prepare for the third round as the second round of the Queen Challenger begins. Both competitors bring keepsakes representing support from loved ones. Inokuma wins by overcoming her fear of faults, becoming the Queen's Challenger. Chihaya spots Suou outside the karuta hall and joins him for a snack, hoping to understand his strength. The third match starts after Arata returns, wearing his grandfather's hakama. He remembers Chihaya saying Harada-sensei will always be a mentor and that he cannot win as just Arata. Arata controls the game using his grandfather's unconventional style. Harada-sensei struggles but is happy to play the Eternal Meijin again. His knees hurt until he sees Suou return with Chihaya. Suou expresses excitement about potentially playing against Harada-sensei in the Meijin match.

Kitano and Harada reflect on Harada's past while Arata loses to Harada and confesses to Chihaya.

Kitano-sensei and Harada-sensei recall Harada becoming Meijin runner-up at age 26, though his medical career and lack of practice partners diminished his skills. Harada adapts by using strategies for weaker players, closing the gap against Arata. During their match, Harada falls and mishandles cards, but Arata ultimately loses by touching a dead card, a fault Harada avoids. Arata realizes he focused too much on remaining cards because they remind him of Chihaya. He confesses his feelings to Chihaya, announcing plans to attend college in Tokyo and play karuta with her again. Meanwhile, Taichi tells Suou not to approach Chihaya, falsely claiming to be her boyfriend. Suou contacts Shinobu to report the match results and warn her about her opponent's strength.

Chihaya struggles with Arata's confession while facing Suou's dominant karuta skills

The Mizusawa Karuta Club prepares for finals, but Chihaya remains distracted by Arata's confession. Sumire attempts to stop Kana from revealing this to Taichi. Chihaya receives an invitation from Sudo to practice at his university club, a request made by Suou to prepare for the Meijin match and to honor a prior promise to Chihaya. Taichi accompanies her, and they encounter Koishikawa, who is identified as one of the few players capable of challenging Suou. During the session, Taichi faces Sudo while Chihaya competes against Suou. Suou exploits Chihaya's attention to his gaze at the card formation, repeatedly drawing her into errors. He defeats her by a significant margin and mocks her ambition to become Queen.

Taichi plays Suou without faults, Chihaya reveals weakness, and Arata watches the Meijin match online.

Taichi challenges Suou to a karuta match, losing without committing any faults while criticizing Suou for mocking Chihaya. He apologizes for falsely claiming to be Chihaya's boyfriend and requests a review of his performance, showing interest in Suou's style. Chihaya visits Harada-sensei to discuss Suou's weakness. On Christmas Eve, the Mizusawa Karuta Club gathers at Tsukuba's home, attempting to convince his brothers that Santa Claus is real rather than their father. The day of the Meijin and Queen match arrives, but Chihaya notices Arata is absent. Arata has a fever and intends to watch the match via an online broadcast.

Dew-Wet Sleeves and the Meijin Queen Match Start

The Meijin and Queen match first round begins. Suou appears distracted by a phone call during memorization, upsetting Chihaya. For the Meijin match, Hiroshi and Sudo represent the team, while Sakurazawa and Momo Yuikawa, recommended by Ise-sensei, compete for the Queen title. Shinobu defeats Inokuma in a back-and-forth game, winning via luck of the draw. Suou attempts to mimic the Queen match outcome, but Harada-sensei wins the round. Taichi claims Suou intentionally lost to control the match duration. During the break before the second round, Chihaya visits Shinobu and reveals why she missed the Queen's Eastern Qualifiers, breaking their promise to play together and visibly upsetting Shinobu.

Shinobu reconciles with Chihaya while Suou faces Harada's tactical challenges

During the Queen match second round, Shinobu loses to Inokuma and departs Oumi Jinguu after removing her kimono. Chihaya follows her to a shrine for prayer. In the Meijin match, Harada-sensei secures a second victory against Suou, then allows Suou to win the third match by a large margin to recover for the fourth. Inokuma reveals she is pregnant with her third child, likely a girl. Shinobu returns and wears a tasuki provided by Chihaya to improve her movement. The two reconcile as Shinobu regains her connection to the karuta cards. Harada-sensei employs a risky strategy by constantly changing his formation to confuse Suou. It is revealed that Suou suffers from a visual weakness where he cannot see things at the edge of his vision, a condition also affecting a relative who can only perceive a small portion of a screen.

Suou's Past Revealed as He Faces Harada in the Fourth Round

Shinobu wins the Queen match after Inokuma faults, securing her third consecutive title. Suou’s backstory is revealed, showing he lives with his extended family and bonds with his aunt Yukiko. He discovers in university that he shares her affliction, which causes blindness if it worsens. Driven by Yukiko, he becomes Meijin. In the fourth round, Harada-sensei leads initially, but Suou catches up as syllables change. Harada notes Suou distractedly watched the Queen match. Harada sends the Naniwae card, expecting it to go unread. Suou notices but cannot return it. The round concludes based on luck.

Suou becomes Eternal Meijin after defeating Harada in the fifth round

Suou forces a fifth round against Harada-sensei by exploiting a fault, securing victory by twelve cards to earn the Eternal Meijin title. Shinobu anticipates next year's Queen match, having learned Chihaya used her cherished autographed handkerchief to create her tasuki. Although Suou plans to retire, Arata interrupts the winner's interview to persuade him to extend his reign for one additional year. The group returns to Tokyo via bullet train, but Taichi remains behind to compete in the Takamatsu Memorial Cup scheduled for the following day.

Taichi and Chihaya compete in separate tournaments while Arata faces Suou

Taichi participates in the Takamatsu Memorial Cup, whereas Chihaya and her friends attend the New Year's Karuta Tournament in Tokyo. Tsukuba declares his ambition to win the C class tournament and succeed as the next Mizusawa Karuta Club president. At the same venue, Retro and other Hokuo members compete, but Retro loses the Class B final to Midori Tamaru. Chihaya advances to the Class A final against Sudo. Meanwhile, Taichi encounters Arata at Oumi Jinguu, who claims Chihaya is absent. The two rivals meet in the top eight, expressing their feelings for Chihaya through the Chihayafuru card. Suou returns to claim the winner's trophy and observes the competitors, pondering who will challenge him in one year. Ultimately, Chihaya defeats Sudo, while Arata becomes the runner-up after losing to Murao in the final. Suou and Taichi then return to Tokyo together by bullet train.

Taichi’s slump and Valentine’s mishap lead to a birthday celebration

Taichi struggles with a slump following the Takamatsu Memorial Cup, prompting Chihaya to offer support. Kana proposes preparing chocolate treats for Valentine’s Day, while Sumire confesses her feelings to Taichi and encourages him to express his own emotions toward Chihaya. The Valentine’s gathering fails when Chihaya’s father consumes all the treats, believing they were intended for him. Despite this setback, Chihaya begins organizing plans for Taichi’s April birthday. She enlists Hiroshi to discuss Taichi’s loss to Arata with him. Although Taichi wishes to confess to Chihaya, Sumire advises waiting two weeks. Consequently, the Taichi Cup is held, organized entirely by the Misuzawa Karuta Club, featuring players who wish to celebrate Taichi’s birthday.

Taichi Cup Karuta Tournament and Taichi's Confession to Chihaya

The Taichi cup is an unofficial karuta tournament attended by thirty six players celebrating Taichi's birthday. Played in a Genpei style with all hundred cards in play, each player competes against the opposite team and his own teammates to collect the most cards. Retro and Taichi reminisce about playing with Arata and Chihaya. Chihaya and Taichi tie with the highest points in the tournament. Arata recalls the Takamatsu Memorial Cup, where he won against Taichi but could not refocus afterwards. He wonders if he could have protected the Chihayafuru card against Taichi, though it was never read. Later, Taichi and Chihaya spend time at the karuta club room. Taichi reveals he took Arata's glasses back during the sixth grade karuta tournament. He decides to stop being a coward and confesses his feelings to Chihaya. Chihaya apologizes and leaves. The karuta club members prepare for the new term's club demo, but Miyauchi-sensei informs them that Taichi quits the club. Chihaya tries to convince Taichi to stay, but he kisses her and refuses, asking if she thinks he is made of stone. He states that ever since she rejected him, the karuta cards all appear black in colour to him.

Chihaya and Taichi face personal challenges while Arata builds a new club

Chihaya consults her homeroom teacher about her career path, while Taichi’s mother reacts to his academic decline and departure from the karuta club. Miyauchi-sensei observes Sumire leading introductions for new members, including Tamaru, as Chihaya struggles with her identity in the Kazewoitami poem. Fukasaku-sensei advises her to pursue personal growth. Taichi begins attending cram school, where he encounters Suou working as a teacher. Concurrently, Arata recruits Shun and Hiro Matsubayashi from the Nagumo Society to form a high school karuta club. After securing additional members and receiving guidance from Kuriyama-sensei, they host a joint practice with the Fujisaki Karuta Club. Upon learning of Taichi and Chihaya’s exits from Mizusawa, Arata sends them a photo of his team and invites them to meet at Oumi Jinguu for the upcoming high school championship.