It’s time for the final match. Chihaya’s team is up against Hakuo once again but things are very different this time round. Retro-kun is upset about his team’s present laid-back mindset and decided to not use his predictions for the order in attempt to make them play seriously. Then to set the tensions higher, their trump card is revealed- as Sudo, their former teammate being their speaker.
Impression:
DAMNIT THE EPISODE ENDED TOO SOON!!!!
WOOOOO!!!! CHIHAYA IS BACK AND SHE’S GOING TO BE A BEAST.
Kudos to Chihaya for keeping her focus throughout the match despite the fact she currently losing by five cards (I think it’s four now since she just got one). I love that she is trying out both Shinobu’s and the current master’s techniques. Put the two together, holy shit- this girl is going to be… wait for it— LEGENDARY!
I knew the minute Chihaya began her “connect” mantra, that she was referring to Shinobu’s extraordinary ability to take the cards as if they were bounded together with the red thread of fate. There’s two ways to ‘connect’ with the cards. The first way is the spiritual connection- which we have seen last season during Shinobu’s flashback of how she got into Karuta. The second is technique that requires the player to be accurate and precise by claiming the card at a specific point with their fingertips. Chihaya knows she needs one more millimeter closer before she can accomplish that. However she putting that on hold since Nishida has lost his game. Now she is pulling her trump card and taking advantage of her twenty one-syllable cards.
With that combo, Nayuta is going to quickly become intimidated by her since he perfers to play ‘relaxing’ games in comparison to playing against beastly players like Dr. Harada, Shinobu, Sudo and Hisashi. Of course this will also be a turning point for him since it’s something that he must overcome if he wishes to continue striving to become stronger.
It wasn’t exactly clear right away what was the ‘Trump Card’ Retro-kun was referring to right away, but it became very clear that Sudo was it since he is their reader. I found it very amusing that Retro and Nishida’s sister appears to be going out (or it might be one-sided love on her part), but unfortunately with how distracted he became and having played five matches in a row made him lose focus and cost him the match.
Speaking of Retro-kun, I am so proud of him. It really sucks right now because I want to cheer for him, I really do. But he’s against Taichi, and even if he was going against any other player on this team, I would still feel conflicted because I love them all! ;w; He and Taichi are so much alike, as they struggle to make it to the A Class like the others. I respected Retro-kun’s choice of not using the prediction of the order Chihaya’s team was going to use because it wasn’t just about pride here, he wanted them to play their hearts out, win on fair grounds and prove reclaim that title of being the strongest school in their region.
SUDOOOOOO BABY! I AM SO HAPPY YOU’RE HERE! GOD, I MISSED HIM AND IT’S ONLY BEEN FIVE EPISODES AHAHA/SOBS. ACTUALLY HONESTLY I FIND IT A BIT SAD THAT HE HAS MORE SCREENTIME THAN ARATA, BUT SOON. SOON THAT WILL ALL CHANGE!!!!
I am glad that because Sudo was there because he delivered that much needed pressure on his former teammates to play seriously and win. I was shocked to see that Sudo was the speaker. He did such an amazing job. If he weren’t a sadist and so terrifying I’m sure Kanade would’ve fallen head over heels for him for that ahaha.
Last few things to mention, it was great to see Sumire’s scouting being useful to fire up the group and set them on the same page as Chihaya to be the number one school in Japan. At this point I think it should be a golden rule that Akihiro should NEVER be the one to submit the order in because for the second time, he scratched out another name and put his own down instead. Be grateful that Tsutomu gave you a chance. Stop being so god damn selfish.
Thanks to that, due to Taichi’s patience wearing thin, he made a rule that the boys are no longer allowed to say “But” – the beginning of all excuses. Funny because it’s a lesson that his mother taught him since he was a boy and so it has been entact into his brain and is now demanding the others to follow it as well. At least the girls aren’t included… for now. Well they don’t particularly make excuses too often, so it isn’t a problem.
Kanade is also playing spectacularly and remains incredibly focused as that twerp who kept on making remarks about her boobs.
Finally last but not least the Empress. It was so touching that she made them Tasuki so that they can move around better and stay cooler. /FEELS
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“If you don’t pull it together, I’ll stab you.” < Best line of the episode, and it wasn't even voiced!! Just like that, my love for Sudo has returned stronger than ever lol
This was a great episode for many reasons, too many to name in fact, but here's a few of my favorite bits- The teacher's growing love for karuta. It was so touching to see she'd made tatsuki for them all (I'd been wondering why they never wore them before), and seeing her come to love the sport more and more is just wonderful. And Kanade!! Oh Kana-chan…I love any and all scenes focusing on her, especially when those scenes are of her kicking karuta ass. I also felt like she would have fallen for Sudo if not for his sadistic tendencies XP I ship Kana X Tsutomu though, so I'm glad it didn't actually happen. On that note, who would have thought Sudo was such a good reader?! I wonder if his seiyuu had to take lessons? Very impressive, in any case. And then there's Chihaya, the star of the show. Her actions were irritating to me at first since I felt like she was sabotaging herself by dwelling on mistakes, but then it was revealed that she was trying to combine the playing styles of the two reigning karuta champions and I was like AW YEAH XD still a little worried about the match though…
This episode did a really excellent job of making me realize that although our main cast have their share of rivals, there are no true antagonists in this series, and as such, I have absolutely no one I dislike. I want everyone to win and feel sad when anybody looses!! It's a wonderfully rare thing.