Ep. 9: Suou parte mientras Chihaya se enfoca en su viaje y Taichi enfrenta la eliminación

Suou and Shinobu speak before Suō leaves. Suou says nothing keeps him going, which angers Shinbou, as if "nothing" makes him that good. Chihaya is depressed on the school trip, even when her friend Michiru takes their group to a museum on the Hundred Poets. Chihaya is checking her phone for updates on Taichi and Arata's progress in the tournament. Annoyed, Michiru takes the battery. She said she wanted to come on the class trip but she's not here at all. Chihaya apologizes and focuses on having fun with her classmates. Taichi meanwhile, struggles against Shusaku Koshikawa, a rising Karuta player. Though he commits two double faults, earning his nickname "goofsaku" Koshikawa mostly stays in the lead. Taichi sends him the Chihayafuru card but loses it soon afterwards, something he knows Chihaya wouldn't have done. It comes down to luck of the draw, which Taichi loses, ending his hopes of Master. Upset, he leaves the building to cool off. After learning Harada-sensei's next opponent is Koshikawa he returns. Harada-sensei's knees are so bad his students run onto the field to pick up his cards for him. Taichi remembers when Harada-sensei told him there were some cards that statistically weren't called as often and those "old maid" cards were the ones he should send to his opponents side to increase the chance of the card on his side being read if it came to luck of the draw. Harada-sensei's match comes down to luck of the draw and his card is read. He wins. The East Master qualifiers come down to Harada-sensei against Sudo. In the West, Arata defeats his opponent and Shinobu leaves early, sure he'll win, as her stomach is growling. She's met by Ise, her old Karuta coach, but leaves coldly after he offers she come to his society to practice (as her grandmother is upset she has no friends). Shinobu thinks it's none of their business. Arata's opponent for the West Meijin qualifier is Murao from his society. (Source: Wikipedia)
Episodios
- Ep. 5 · Chihaya y Taichi avanzan a la final tras victorias decisivas en el torneo.
- Ep. 6 · Arata observa el intenso partido entre Chihaya y Taichi mientras se enfrentan.
- Ep. 7 · Chihaya elige el viaje de estudios sobre las clasificatorias de la Reina mientras Taichi las salta por las clasificatorias del Meijin.
- Ep. 8 · La narrativa explora la dinámica entre amigos y desconocidos
- Ep. 9 · Suou parte mientras Chihaya se enfoca en su viaje y Taichi enfrenta la eliminación
- Ep. 10 · Arata supera la distracción para derrotar a Murao en la final de las clasificatorias del Oeste de Meijin
- Ep. 11 · Chihaya e Inokuma se preparan para los desafíos mientras Taichi memoriza los puestos
- Ep. 12 · Comienzan los playoffs de los retadores mientras Harada derrota a Arata, lo que impulsa a Inokuma a superar a Megumu y a Arata para recibir una victoria por defecto.
- Ep. 13 · Arata se prepara para la tercera ronda mientras Inokuma se convierte en el Retador de la Reina