Chihayafuru 3

On a Summer Night

The beginning includes events happening at middle school. The rest of the episode is about the practice cramp of Fujiaki school, where Chihaya and Taichi join as well as students from Hokuo high school (Hiro Kinsashi and others(. On a girls' talk, Chihaya she likes Arata. In the meantime, Taichi speaks with the President of Fujiaki's school and asks him for advice in physical training of the headed. As both Hiro and Arata notice them, Hiro says to Chihaya that Taichi may be better than she thinks. The next day, Chihaya has 3 practices with Rion Yamashiro, To Rion's disappointment. Chihaya has a hard time playing against her with her left only, but it's not only this. Later, at lunch, the two talk. Rion says continues to play for her grandmother's rice balls and declares she has no interest in becoming a queen, despite being a class A, but still wants to win as the vice president. At the third match, Midori advises Chihaya to be aware of her posture like Masters and Queens. Rion gets a bit jealous for never getting that advice, as well as anyone in that school. Rion says that you can tell the card not only by the first syllable but also by its pitch. Chihaya should play next with Taichi. As she watches him memorizing the cards, Chihaya recalls Hiro's words. Taichi wins and makes her upset and says he wants to play with her using her right hand. As Rion asks Midori why she let the two play together despite being in the same school (which means they can play anytime), she says that she thought she was the only one who could be his match from the camp, she answers that with some confidence, who would be able to go forward in bigger steps, but for this, he needs Chihaya to bring him that confidence.

The hazed early dawn light comes not from the moon

Seeking to play against Chihaya's team, Arata addresses his school during an assembly in an attempt to join a karuta club, getting some interest from the students. In Chihaya's class, the students are given a future plans questionnaire, which Chihaya doesn't know how to fill out. Horikawa, another student, tells her she went to Kyoto with her family to scout out the best places, as their class field trip will take place there. During club practice, the Karuta team members talk about their wishes to become better karuta players, everyone having become more competitive. They're interrupted by Miyauchi with a schedule that reveals the Master and Queen qualifiers are held at the same time as the school's class trip, which the students aren't allowed to miss, leaving Chihaya depressed. Later, the bandages on Chihaya's right hand are removed. Soon, the club heads to the Yoshino tournament, a "warm-up" for the Meijin and Queen qualifiers in two weeks as only Class A and B players can attend. Chihaya greets Arata, who compliments how she looks in the hakama, and she promises she'll win every match. Sudo taunts Chihaya over the promise and Taichi makes a bet with him (after telling Chihaya not to bet) that whoever loses first won't attend the Meijin qualifiers. Komano, despite boasting earlier to the club he would make Class A by winning Yoshino, is defeated in the first match. While upset at his own arrogance, he is cheered by Kana. Nishida is paired against Sudo and loses but having fought until the end, he tired out Sudo, which will make it easier for one of them to defeat him. (Source: Wikipedia)

But from the crystal white snow of Yoshino

One of the competitors, Inokuma Haruka, is drawing massive attention. She held the title of queen for four consecutive years (defeating Sakurazawa four consecutive times) until giving it up on maternity leave and has just returned. Ayase wins her first two matches, stopping for lunch and sleep. Nishimura notices she isn't as bold in taking cards as she was before. During the break, Arata asks Taichi for advice in starting a karuta club, but Taichi is bothered, as teams are something he has in common with Chihaya Arata does not, and walks away coldly. In the 4th round, Chihaya is paired against the Meijin runner-up, Takemura, while Rion has to deal with Sudo. Takemura's especially aggressive swings give Chihaya trouble until she finally gets her balance with her right hand back, using grace instead of strength to take cards. When the Chihayafuru card is read, Chihaya and Inokuma's cards collide in mid-air, meaning they were taken at the same time. Rion presses Sudo hard despite her exhaustion and nearly defeats him before losing. Arata defeats Yumin, the Queen runner-up. Chihaya and Takashi also win their matches. They make it to the final eight, but Chihaya's next match is against Inokuma. (Source: Wikipedia)

Nobody wishes to see

Taichi is paired against Sudo. With four of the last eight from the Nagumo Society and the other four from the Shiranami Society, it feels a little like a team match between the societies. Chihaya takes an early lead, leading the audience to think they will be watching the rise of a new star instead of the return of a former Queen, but Inokuma rebounds and takes the lead. Sudo is throwing off Taichi but Harada-sensei shouts "Got there in time!" after he gets a card, which startles the struggling Shiranami players and helps them refocus. Chihaya takes the next card, a multi-syllable, from Inokuma's side and gives her the Chihayafuru card, which she takes from her shortly afterwards. Retro suddenly wins in Class B and Taichi and Sudo declare neither can be bested by him. Chihaya realizes she's having fun despite the stress and warms at the idea that everyone here loves karuta. (Source: Wikipedia)

Mount Amanokagu

Inokuma intends to disrupt Chihaya and prevent her from having fun but after seeing her son mirroring striking cards from the sidelines, decides to play true to herself, which was to have fun, and she smiles. Chihaya returns the smile. Arata loses to Hiroshi, much to the onlookers' shock, leaving him infuriated with himself. Harada-sensei then loses to Murao, leaving each society with one win. Chihaya and Taichi both go for their opponents' cards and Chihaya wins. Sudo and Taichi are left with one card each, the luck of the draw. Knowing how bad his luck with it is, Taichi instantly goes for Sudo's card and gets it first, winning. Chihaya is paired against Hiroshi but he yields rather than face a fellow society member, satisfied with what he did and willing to let Chihaya sleep. There will thus be only one semi-final match: Taichi against Murao. Inokuma approaches Sakurazawa and asks for her contact information, wanting to practice with her, and Sakurazawa gives it. Meanwhile, Taichi, determined not to lose, wins his match. The final match will be Chihaya against Taichi. (Source: Wikipedia)

Tatsuta River Ablaze

Arata decides to stay and watch the match with Murao and his society's president, even though it means he won't get home until morning by train. Chihaya and Taichi sit for their match and Sumire marvels at how this feels different from their matches at school. Chihaya is at the advantage since she got to rest during the last match, but Taichi uses a new placement, placing fourteen cards in the top row and rearranging how he places the rest. Designed to fight Chihaya, it puts one-syllable cards together and long cards separate as he knows she's scared of committing faults. He can also easily take cards from the long top row with thrusts. Doing this off-balances Chihaya. The others marvel at how Taichi hasn't made any mistakes. By changing his placement so drastically, it makes it easier for him to forget the previous layouts. Chihaya is pressured into a fault, forced to play defensively. Remembering Sakurazawa's advice, Chihaya fixes her posture, making it easier to breathe. While he plays like a stranger, she knows he's still Taichi and she doesn't have to be afraid of him. Determined not to lose, she takes the next card. They continue to push each other and the audience recognizes they didn't get here on momentum or luck despite their young age. (Source: Wikipedia)

The storm blasts

Chihaya wins the Yoshino Tournament's Class A by two cards and falls asleep. Taichi remains silent, frustrated. The Queen qualifiers are mentioned and Miyauchi tells Chihaya she can request an authorized absence from the field trip to attend. Chihaya's mother arrives, lamenting that she missed the match. Chihaya tells her she wants to be Queen, but she also wants to be a high school teacher and attend the class trip. What kind of teacher and adviser would she be if she missed her own class trip? Arata walks with Chihaya, seeing he's holding in his disappointment, and Arata is disappointed as well - because he lost he couldn't 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 however, calls in sick and skips the class trip to attend the Meijin qualifiers. Chihaya doesn't 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'll be too busy for the club and he won't 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's so down. If he wins tomorrow, it will attract new members for his club. He tells her he doesn't 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. (Source: Wikipedia)

As friends and strangers

I recall how my own efforts were in vain

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)

Scarlet kadsuras

The final match of the West Meijin qualifiers between Murao and Arata begins. Arata thinks about Taichi and this prevents him from concentrating on the match. Murao reckons that this is his chance to win at first, but then brings Arata to his senses. During the match Arata gets stomach-ache, so he needs to take a break. During this time four cards from the field and several dead cards were read. Arata lags behind with eleven cards difference, but still does not give up. Based on the Murao’s movements, Arata determines which two-syllable cards have become monosyllabic and, therefore, which dead cards he missed. Arata begins to catch up. As a result, Arata wins with two cards difference. Western Japan will be represented by Wataya Arata and Ousoka Megumu for the Meijin and Queen's Challenger match. Chihaya is having fun with classmates at night on a trip. When she left a room to get some tea, she sees Taichi upon his arrival. He says that Arata and Harada-sensei will meet in the Challenger match, and asks who Chihaya will be rooting for. (Source: Wikipedia)

Leaving a hovering mist above the trees and grass

Chihaya talks to her homeroom teacher on the subjects she could teach in the future. An emergency meeting is held at the Shiranami Society to help Harada-sensei prepare for the upcoming Challenger match. Taichi is tasked with memorizing Arata's placement, which he tries to refuse. Harada-sensei reminded Taichi that Sudo had conceded at the Master Qualifiers partly due to the bet with Taichi at the Yoshino Tournament. Chihaya proposes to memorize Suou's placement, in which she starts to realize about a possible weakness that Suou might have. Meanwhile, Inokuma practices with Sakurazawa at Fujisaki in preparation for her Challenger match, but she is forced to question whether Karuta is more important than her children when she finds out her son is sick while she was away. At the Challenger Finals, Inokuma vows to win the Queen title one more time for her children, after receiving help from Kana's mother and support from her own hakama. (Source: Wikipedia)

So the flower petals are scattered like the snow by the passing storm

The first round of the Challenger playoffs begins. Harada-sensei takes control of the match early on, with a consecutive take. Arata counters with his flexible style and speedy takes. Tsuboguchi remarks that Harada-sensei had been studying the old Arata too well, as the new Arata slowly puts the pressure on Harada-sensei. Meanwhile, Megumu also takes the lead against Inokuma. Inokuma wonders if her time really has passed, when Megumu sends the Chiha card, apparently unaware that Inokuma's maiden name was Chihara. Harada-sensei uses his vast experience, both as a teacher and a veteran player, to level the score and eventually win the first round. Inspired by Harada-sensei's win, Inokuma turns the table on Megumu and wins the first round by 2 cards. Harada-sensei then withdraws from the second round, giving Arata a win by default, which visibly upsets Arata. Chihaya then whispers something important to Arata. (Source: Wikipedia)

Yet it is I who withers and wilts

Arata wanders off to prepare for the third round while the second round of the Queen Challenger begins. Both players bring a keepsake to their match, signifying the blessing and support they received from those closest to them. Inokuma manages to win the second round by overcoming her fear of committing faults, becoming the Queen's Challenger. Chihaya catches a glipmse of Suou outside the karuta hall and joins him for a snack, hoping that she can uncover the reason behind his strength. The third match begins after Arata returns, wearing his grandfather's hakama. He recalls Chihaya telling him Harada-sensei will always be a mentor to them, and that he will not be able to win by being just Arata. Arata controls the flow of the game with his grandfather's style of play, an awful style of karuta that goes against ordinary conventions. Though struggling and falling behind, Harada-sensei is happy at the fact that he gets to play against the Eternal Meijin once more. His knees start to hurt again, before he sees the current Meijin Suou returning with Chihaya. Suou voices his excitement of possibly playing against Harada-sensei at the Meijin match. (Source: Wikipedia)

The emotions experienced

Kitano-sensei and Harada-sensei both think back to Harada's younger days. With a good playing sense and unstoppable momentum, he became a Meijin runner-up at the age of 26. But his job as a doctor combined with the lack of players to practice, made him lose his good playing sense. Instead, he started focusing on karuta plays that are suitable for those without good playing sense. Harada-sensei starts to close the gap between him and Arata, falling over and messing up the cards each time. In the end, Arata loses the match by committing a fault, touching a dead card which Harada-sensei manages to avoid. Arata recalls he had been placing too much emphasis on the remaining cards, because those remind him of Chihaya. He confesses his feelings to Chihaya, stating his plans to go to college in Tokyo and playing karuta with her again. Taichi asks Suou not to get close to Chihaya, lying that he is her boyfriend. Suou calls Shinobu to update her on the match results and warn her of her opponent's strength. (Source: Wikipedia)

As helpless autumn leaves are caught against the flow

Mizusawa Karuta Club is preparing for the finals exam, but Chihaya cannot focus and keeps thinking about Arata's confession. Sumire tries to prevent Kana from telling Taichi about Arata's confession. Chihaya receives a call from Sudo, inviting her to play karuta at his university karuta club (at Suou's request, to help him practice for the Meijin match, and to fulfill Chihaya's request from before to play with him). Taichi joins her for the practice, and they see Koishikawa at the venue as well. He and Sudo are the only ones willing (and strong enough) to play against Suou. Taichi plays against Sudo, and Chihaya goes against Suou. Chihaya notices the way Suou looks at the card formation. She tries her best, but Suou lures her into committing faults again and again. He beats Chihaya by a huge margin, then ridicules her dream of becoming Queen. (Source: Wikipedia)

Takes me away in haste

Taichi plays against Suou and berates him for ridiculing Chihaya. He loses, but without committing a single fault. He then apologies to Suou for lying about being Chihaya's boyfriend, and asks for a match review. Taichi expresses interest in Suou's playing style. Chihaya goes to see Harada-sensei and tells him about Suou's weakness. The entire Mizusawa Karuta Club spends Christmas Eve at Tsukuba's home, and try to convince his brothers that Santa Claus is real (and not played by their father). The day of the Meijin and Queen match arrives, but Chihaya notices Arata is absent at the venue. It turns out Arata has a fever and he plans to watch the match via online broadcast. (Source: Wikipedia)

As my sleeves are wet with dew

The first round of the Meijin and Queen match begins. Suou seems preoccupied with a phone call during the memorization time, which upsets Chihaya. She meets the Card Boys and Card Girls for the match: Hiroshi and Sudo for the Meijin match, Sakurazawa and Shinobu's fellow Myojo Society member, Momo Yuikawa (recommended to Shinobu by Ise-sensei the night before) for the Queen match. The first round between Inokuma and Shinobu went back-and-forth, but Shinobu manages to win in a luck-of-the-draw. Meanwhile, Suou tries to mimic the outcome of the Queen match, but Harada-sensei takes the last card and wins the first round. Taichi states that Suou intentionally lost, so that he can drag the match longer and control the number of wins. Chihaya visits Shinobu during the break before the second round. She accidentally reveals the reason for missing the Queen's Eastern Qualifiers (thus breaking their promise of playing at the Queen match), visibly upsetting Shinobu. (Source: Wikipedia)

The storm will soon carry me

In the second round of the Queen match, Shinobu is unable to focus and Inokuma manages to win. Out of frustration, she removes her kimono and leaves Oumi Jinguu. Chihaya spots her and follows her to the shrine where they pray. In the Meijin match, Harada-sensei manages to take a second win, putting Suou in a tough spot. He then lets Suou win the third match by a huge margin, while he recovers and prepares for the forth match. Meanwhile, Inokuma reveals she is suffering from morning sickness (she is pregnant with her third child, most likely a girl). Shinobu returns and prepares for the third round. Chihaya manages to get Shinobu to wear tasuki to help her move more freely. They reconcile, and she start to regain her strong connection to the karuta cards in the match. At the same time, Harada-sensei takes a risky bet, changing his own formation constantly and sending cards meant to confuse Suou. It turns out that Suou's weakness is his eyes, more specifically, he cannot see things at the edge of his vision. It was revealed that Suou's relative also has the same affliction, albeit a much severe version where she can only perceive around thirty square centimeters of a television screen. (Source: Wikipedia)

Bring a life of everlasting love

In the Queen match, Inokuma commits a double fault at the end, giving Shinobu the win and a third consecutive Queen title. Suou's past is explained. He lives with his extended family at a young age and grew particularly close to his aunt Yukiko. It was explained that Suou came into contact with karuta in university, and subsequently learned that he has the same affliction as Yukiko. As the affliction worsens, it will end with blindness. Motivated by Yukiko to make something of himself, Suou became the Meijin using his gift. Back in the forth round, Harada-sensei takes the lead, but Suou catches up as the round progresses and the unique syllables change. Harada-sensei notes that Suou stopped paying attention to the Queen's match. Harada-sensei later sends the Naniwae card, which he believes will not be read. Suou notices this as well, but he cannot find the opportunity to send it back. The forth round comes down to a luck-of-the-draw. (Source: Wikipedia)

May the scarlet kadsuras

In the luck-of-the-draw, Suou uses his usual playing style and goads Harada-sensei into committing a fault, forcing a fifth round. Shinobu states that she is looking forward to the next year's Queen match, after learning that Chihaya used her prized Daddy Bear autographed handkerchief to make the tasuki she wore. In the fifth round, Suou faces Harada-sensei with respect, winning by a twelve card margin, and becoming an Eternal Meijin. He maintains his intention to retire, but Arata barges into the winner's interview and convinces Suou to extend his reign by one more year. Chihaya and the gang return to Tokyo by bullet train, but they notice Taichi is not with them. It turns out he is staying back to play at the Takamatsu Memorial Cup being held the very next day. (Source: Wikipedia)

To restore my faith

Taichi plays at the Takamatsu Memorial Cup, while Chihaya and the gang play at the New Year's Karuta Tournament in Tokyo. Tsukuba states that he intends to win the C class tournament and be the next Mizusawa Karuta Club president. Retro and the other Hokuo members are also at the same venue, but he loses the Class B final to Midori Tamaru. Meanwhile, Chihaya competes against Sudo in the Class A final. At Oumi Jinguu, Taichi runs into Arata, but he states that Chihaya is not there. Both players face each other in the top eight, and they made clear to each other their feelings to Chihaya through the Chihayafuru card. Suou returns to collect the winner's trophy and spots both players, wondering who would be the one to face him in one year's time. In the end, Chihaya wins against Sudo, while Arata is the runner up (he lost to Murao in the final). Suou and Taichi return to Tokyo together by bullet train. (Source: Wikipedia)

Just as my beauty has faded

Taichi is in a slump after the Takamatsu Memorial Cup. Chihaya notices this and tries to cheer him up. Kana suggests making chocolate treats for the boys in time for Valentine's Day. Sumire confesses her feelings to Taichi, but she also tells him to convey his feelings to Chihaya. The Valentine's Day party doesn't go well, after they discover that Chihaya's father ate all the treats, thinking that the treats were meant for him. Undeterred, Chihaya starts making plans to celebrate Taichi's birthday in April. She gets Hiroshi to talk to Taichi about his loss to Arata. Taichi wants to confess to Chihaya, but Sumire tells him to wait for two more weeks. Two weeks later, the Taichi cup is held, organized completely by Misuzawa Karuta Club and featuring karuta players that want to celebrate Taichi's birthday. (Source: Wikipedia)

Like a boatsman adrift

The Taichi cup is an unofficial karuta tournament, attended by thirty six players who want to celebrate Taichi's birthday. The tournament is played in a Genpei style, a three on three game where all hundred cards are in play. Each player competes against the opposite team and his own teammates to collect the most cards. Retro and Taichi reminisces about the time they played with Arata and Chihaya. In the end, Chihaya and Taichi tie with the highest points in the tournament. Meanwhile, Arata thinks back to the Takamatsu Memorial Cup, where he won against Taichi but couldn't refocus afterwards. The Chihayafuru card was never read, but he wonders if he could have protected the card against Taichi. Taichi and Chihaya spend time at the karuta club room. Taichi tells Chihaya that he took Arata's glasses back during the sixth grade karuta tournament. He decides to stop being a coward and confess his feelings to Chihaya. Chihaya apologies and leaves. The karuta club members prepare for the new term's club demo, but Miyauchi-sensei tells them that Taichi quits the club. Chihaya tries to convince Taichi to stay, but Taichi kisses her and refuses, asking her whether she thinks he is made of stone. He tells her that ever since she rejected him, the karuta cards all appear black in colour to him. (Source: Wikipedia)

When winds send waves crashing

Chihaya discusses with her new homeroom teacher on her future prospects as a high school teacher/club advisor. Taichi's mother discovered Taichi is no longer the number one in studies, but she is equally shocked when she hears Taichi has quit the karuta club. Worried about the state of Mizusawa Karuta Club, Miyauchi-sensei checks up on them and finds Sumire leading the club introductions, to her surprise. Tamaru, and three other students, have become new members. Chihaya finds it to play karuta, as she also sees the karuta only in black colour. She tells Fukasaku-sensei that she is the rock in the Kazewoitami poem, crushing Taichi's feelings. Fukasaku-sensei recommends she learn something, anything that can help her to grow. Taichi starts attending cram school, and he sees Suou at the venue (as a teacher). Meanwhile, Arata tries to recruit new members to create a karuta club at his high school. His juniors at Nagumo Society, Shun and Hiro Matsubayashi, are first to join, but they need two more members to become an official club. He manages to recruit three more, and with the help of Kuriyama-sensei, they are able to hold a joint practice session with Fujisaki Karuta Club. Arata learns from Sakurazawa that both Taichi and Chihaya have quit the Mizusawa Karuta Club. He sends them a photo of his karuta club, with a message to meet at Oumi Jinguu (for the high school championship). (Source: Wikipedia)