Buckle up – we’re gonna be here for a while.
As is so often the case with Chihayafuru, this chapter represents a kind of “good news, bad news” scenario. It’s nice that we get a break from all the ultra-heavy character drama the last few chapters have delivered, but there’s a price. We’re headed for another endless string of competition chapters, it seems – in this series there’s always another tournament. And that means the larger issues are likely to be put on the back burner yet again.
This time around it’s the individual tournament, of course. Taichi is long gone, but there’s still plenty of fodder for Suetsugu to work with here. We have Arata deciding to bail on the individual tournament over the guilt he feels over losing in the team event – or so he says. To be honest it’s kind of a classic drama king Arata move, and no doubt fueled in part by his sulking over losing to Chihaya. Fortunately for Arata his sensei pounds some sense into him, reminding him of just how disrespectful to his teammates and opponents such a move would be – not to mention costing his school a chance at a huge publicity coup that could be invaluable to the survival of the Karuta Club.
Then we have Shinobu, who even in a cast of self-obsessed teens stands out for her self-obsession. She’s decided to wear a kimono for the tournament (one of her sponsors is a traditional clothing maker), which of course prompts Kana-chan to beg Chihaya to wear one of her family’s (Chihaya demurs). Wakamiya is horrified that Arata has lost to Chihaya, and sets it upon herself to extract revenge in his name. And she’ll get the chance, too, as the two draw each other in the quarter-finals, after the Queen has made mincemeat out of Tamaru by 21 cards. This earns her a stern lecture from Nishida (who wins his first match), who chides her for giving up even when her own match was hopeless rather than try and at least make Wakamiya work a little harder before she has to play a teammate. As for Chihaya, I found it intriguing she muses that Arata is “like a God” to her – which for me just supports the notion that what she’s in love with is the fantasy, and not the real person.
The other Mizusawas are out there too, of course – Tsukuba (ignored as usual) has sneaked unseen into Class B along with Tsutomu, and Kana takes it upon herself to try and uphold the family business’ honor in the Class C tournament. But you know, for me what would provide the real drama here would be seeing Retro-kun finally bust through and make it to Class A – on the karuta side of things, he’s actually stepped up and provided the most emotional highs at this tournament.
elianthos
June 21, 2016 at 7:16 amThat’s the nature of the beast Enzo, either we accept the trio love train is a tertiary track (if not further down the line) or we don’t ^_^” . I’m devoting my emotional investment and cheering to any bestowed glimpse of Kana-chan’s heroic suffering in her beautiful garb. That’s some love sacrifice there *_* . Talking of which Shinobu’s is no slouch too. *this reader is being saved by textile beauty* .
Any insight gain on Chihaya’s part throgh the upcoming caruta matches would be a bonus ofc ( because as long as she is not making progress within herself nothing can really happen – or happen in a satisfactory manner – on the non-karuta route )XD. If we get also some [many] Taichi sprinkles as a break from the tournament I’m making sangria XD. In the meantime I can bring the lard (slices not cubes). You got any of that beer left to share?
Guardian Enzo
June 21, 2016 at 7:35 amI’m just burned out on Karuta tournaments, to be honest. At least high school ones. I can’t roust myself up to care about another Chihaya-Wakamiya or Arata-Wakamiya match. The only thing that would really emotionally invest me, here, would be if Retro-kun is playing (maybe against Tsutomu) to advance to Class A. Or possibly if Nishida were playing to win the tournament, though of course we know there’s not a chance in hell of that happening.
elianthos
June 21, 2016 at 8:30 amA boy has a boy’s dream.
Silver lining on high school karuta fatigue: this is supposedly their last high school turnament if I got that right. For now we can merrily foam at the mouth *insert beer ‘stache here*
Eers
June 22, 2016 at 1:51 amwhat bout a taichi comeback? i kinda feel his karuta developement is the most interesting atm
Guardian Enzo
June 22, 2016 at 8:13 amLove it, but it’s not going to happen in a high school tournament.
Tatara
June 22, 2016 at 1:04 pmi think the wakamiya-ayase match is fairly intriguing. shinobu’s ambition will crash and burn if she loses to chihaya now. i wonder where this is going. this entire “future of karuta” plotline of hers is interesting, and wonder if chihaya will eventually be a part of it.