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Jun 30, 2022 8:54 AM
#1

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Oct 2012
1095
Oh my god. I'm crying so much.

Finally their match is over... And the winners are Chihaya and Arata. Taking the Tachi card!! It could've been the "Se" card of the promised encounter, but they both choose Tachi, believed it would be read, and it was actually read. As Nishida said "This is the Chihayafuru team combination of cards!" this was an trio chapter and I'm 100% all for it. My heartstrings... Nghhhhhhhh.

Last issue next month. The end of an era. Thank you so much, Chihayafuru ♥
Jul 1, 2022 5:41 AM
#2

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Oct 2012
2239
I knew it! She kept Tachi!!!

Tbh I thought Se would be read because of his bad luck.... OMG his face when Tachi is read....I'm crying so much. He was important all along...this was beautiful..some exquisite panels of Chihaya and Shinobu on the lofty peak..😭.I'll come back when the scan is out but Thank you Sensei 🤧😭❤️
Jul 1, 2022 8:20 AM
#3

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May 2015
2599
Chihaya reaching out to hold Shinobu's hand has to be my favorite panel in this entire manga.
Jul 1, 2022 10:30 AM
#4

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Jan 2010
39
Daaaaammnnnn finally!! It happened!
There were so many good panels this chapter. Shinobu trying hold on to being on top alone, not wanting Chihaya to go forward but ending up being "there" along with Chihaya. The three of them together as kids. My feels.
The 'Chihaya team' was said to be separated when Taichi lost, but this was a great way to have all three of them together on the decisive match. Love it, can't wait for the next one! I don't want this to end T_T
Jul 1, 2022 4:35 PM
#5

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Sep 2012
160
Just beautiful, it's all about Team Chihayafuru and their reunion. It's interesting how in the original Japanese, there is no "my" at the moment Chihaya states Taichi has always been near. It's from her point of view, but the Arata panel addition along with the trio flashback tells me the thought belongs to both Chihaya and Arata. I'm interested in seeing how the translators will handle that line. The "Taichi" take was just perfect, despite it being classified as a love poem among the fanbase due to it being Taichi's namesake card, this was actually written for those who saw the poet (Yukihira) off before he left on his journey to Inaba. Just as Yukihira wrote it for his companions, Suetsugu used it for Taichi's return to his. What a chapter. Will post a full review later.
The desire to be loved is the last illusion. Give it up and you will be free.
Jul 1, 2022 8:48 PM
#6

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Feb 2011
385
OMG, YES, ABSULUTELY A BEAUTIFUL CHAPTER!!! Arata finally reach his dream of becoming Meijin and Chihaya being Queen, how beautiful to see the karuta-bakas reach their first dream together, I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE ARATA BEING MEIJIN: THAT'S OUR BOY!!! He won while his hand touched the tasuki Chihaya lend him really brought the best luck of his life: also along with Taichi where the Chihayafuru team has reunited together and brought this miracle to life: it's my most favorite karuta team (the trio hug scene as kids brought me to tears).

@possession1981 Now we have one final chapter left, let's fully enjoy in what's to come: yes I definitely expect a Chiharata moment for sure ( especially Arata holds the tasuki that belongs to Chihaya) where Chihaya will finally give Arata a response in how she feels for him, something we have been waiting for years will finally happen at the next and final chapter ( this is REALLY it, it's all or nothing): Arata deserves a honest answer from her, and now their fate has brought them together where their path are closer to each other, now it is time for their special moment to shine.
Jul 2, 2022 3:35 PM
#7
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May 2018
6
possession1981 said:
The "Taichi" take was just perfect, despite it being classified as a love poem among the fanbase due to it being Taichi's namesake card, this was actually written for those who saw the poet (Yukihira) off before he left on his journey to Inaba.


I think the "love poem" interpretation of Tachi goes beyond the fanbase seeing it as Taichi's namesake card. Critical texts suggest that no one knows whether he was writing to his friends or a lover, and I've read that more modern interpretations think that he may have been writing to his wife.

Although I agree that it's likely that Suetsugu had the interpretation of Narihira's friends as his audience in mind in this chapter, I don't think that a romantic interpretation is invalid, or just down to an association with Taichi and romance.
Jul 2, 2022 6:25 PM
#8

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Sep 2012
160
sweetangie said:

@possession1981 Now we have one final chapter left, let's fully enjoy in what's to come: yes I definitely expect a Chiharata moment for sure ( especially Arata holds the tasuki that belongs to Chihaya) where Chihaya will finally give Arata a response in how she feels for him, something we have been waiting for years will finally happen at the next and final chapter ( this is REALLY it, it's all or nothing): Arata deserves a honest answer from her, and now their fate has brought them together where their path are closer to each other, now it is time for their special moment to shine.

Oh yes, definitely! Now that they're the Queen and Meijin of karuta, I'm expecting the proper answer to his confession. The next chapter is going to be crazy in the best way possible, especially since its over 80 pages long.

accordionheart said:
I think the "love poem" interpretation of Tachi goes beyond the fanbase seeing it as Taichi's namesake card. Critical texts suggest that no one knows whether he was writing to his friends or a lover, and I've read that more modern interpretations think that he may have been writing to his wife.

Although I agree that it's likely that Suetsugu had the interpretation of Narihira's friends as his audience in mind in this chapter, I don't think that a romantic interpretation is invalid, or just down to an association with Taichi and romance.

I'm well aware of the lover's interpretation-it's mentioned in a 100 poets book I own. But I also own Suetsugu's 100 poets guidebook that was released this year and had the "Tachi" page translated. If you don't know, this guidebook contains her own personal notes and doodles on almost all the poems. Suetsugu mentioned the usual "A poem composed for those who gathered to see off Yukihira before he left for his journey to Inaba", but she also mentioned a different theory-that the poem was actually given to the people of Inaba after his job was done/he set off to return home. With the knowledge of these personal notes and how the "Taichi" take went down this chapter, I believe that Suetsugu wrote this moment with the friendship interpretation in mind. I actually learnt something very cute from her notes-that if you write this poem on a piece of paper and stick it to a plate, it's said to be a charm/spell that will return your missing cat.
possession1981Jul 2, 2022 6:32 PM
The desire to be loved is the last illusion. Give it up and you will be free.
Jul 2, 2022 7:31 PM
#9

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Feb 2011
385
possession1981 said:
sweetangie said:

@possession1981 Now we have one final chapter left, let's fully enjoy in what's to come: yes I definitely expect a Chiharata moment for sure ( especially Arata holds the tasuki that belongs to Chihaya) where Chihaya will finally give Arata a response in how she feels for him, something we have been waiting for years will finally happen at the next and final chapter ( this is REALLY it, it's all or nothing): Arata deserves a honest answer from her, and now their fate has brought them together where their path are closer to each other, now it is time for their special moment to shine.

Oh yes, definitely! Now that they're the Queen and Meijin of karuta, I'm expecting the proper answer to his confession. The next chapter is going to be crazy in the best way possible, especially since its over 80 pages long.


Oh yes, now that their first dream together has accomplished, we expect to see where ch 173 left off by giving Arata her answer towards his love confession this time "how she feels about him": it's going to be so crazy for us where our excitement won't stop, OMG I CAN'T WAIT!!! XD: let's get ready to see our favorite ship getting sailed, I'M SO READY, YES!!!!! GO CHIHAYA X ARATA <3
Jul 3, 2022 12:16 AM

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Oct 2012
2239
This was a beautiful trio chapter, very predictable but ...I am happy because I never thought Taichi would get such a prominent role in this. I thought the trio moment would happen after the match but Taichi was fully included in the last moments of the decisive winning moment. So is was alllll benefit...it was just wonderful. It was really a high moment for all 3.

In a way their dreams all 3 came true.

Chihaya and Arata won the title and Taichi was closest as he could get to Chihaya, which she again confirmed with her thoughts and Suetsugu symbolically through Shinobu's vision of the pair of poems on the screen. This is something she decided from the start....Taichi could have had any other name but it was set in the numbering of the Hyankunin isshu who would be by her side from the start. It's wonderful to see this poetic pair...with the little image of how the clubroom started making me think back to her thoughts in Yoshino, "futari", a pair, a couple, two people working hard together.....

Romantic or not... let's see what Sensei thinks about this.

Btw: the Chihaya-Shinobu moment was exquisite, the art and the symbolism of being together on that Lofty peak. No wasteland but a beautiful view. Haha I already said this I guess I'm just impressed by the art. And the way they are holding hands
chiakimagotoJul 3, 2022 12:36 AM
Jul 3, 2022 12:28 AM
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May 2018
6
possession1981 said:

I'm well aware of the lover's interpretation-it's mentioned in a 100 poets book I own. But I also own Suetsugu's 100 poets guidebook that was released this year and had the "Tachi" page translated. If you don't know, this guidebook contains her own personal notes and doodles on almost all the poems. Suetsugu mentioned the usual "A poem composed for those who gathered to see off Yukihira before he left for his journey to Inaba", but she also mentioned a different theory-that the poem was actually given to the people of Inaba after his job was done/he set off to return home. With the knowledge of these personal notes and how the "Taichi" take went down this chapter, I believe that Suetsugu wrote this moment with the friendship interpretation in mind. I actually learnt something very cute from her notes-that if you write this poem on a piece of paper and stick it to a plate, it's said to be a charm/spell that will return your missing cat.


That's interesting information, thank you. The cat thing is sweet!

Again, I don't disagree that that was probably the interpretation that Suetsugu had in mind. It's just that I think a romantic interpretation of the poem itself is legitimate beyond the wishes of fans.
Jul 3, 2022 4:26 PM

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Sep 2012
160
sweetangie said:
Oh yes, now that their first dream together has accomplished, we expect to see where ch 173 left off by giving Arata her answer towards his love confession this time "how she feels about him": it's going to be so crazy for us where our excitement won't stop, OMG I CAN'T WAIT!!! XD: let's get ready to see our favorite ship getting sailed, I'M SO READY, YES!!!!! GO CHIHAYA X ARATA <3

There's so much I want to see! Hopefully, we get the Arata x Chihaya hug. And perhaps another mention of the lofty peak since Chihaya wanted to reach it alongside him and they just won the titles. Slowly, but surely getting closer to each other, moving towards each other, passion meeting passion. They've gotten so many wonderful moments, now it's time for Arata to move to Tokyo and for Chihaya to give him an answer. I'm still so giddy that they both won, and achieved their first childhood dream.

accordionheart said:
Again, I don't disagree that that was probably the interpretation that Suetsugu had in mind. It's just that I think a romantic interpretation of the poem itself is legitimate beyond the wishes of fans.

I never argued otherwise. I stated some of the poem's backstory in my original post because I feel it played into how the take went down and loved the possible connection-it was written for companions being left behind (the most popular theory) and it was ultimately used for when Taichi returned to his. The "Taichi" take could have been a solo moment between Chihaya and Taichi, but Suetsugu decided to add Arata into everything and made sure to include a trio flashback alongside the one of Chihaya and Taichi first forming the club which tells me that the companion interpretation > romantic interpretation during this specific moment.
The desire to be loved is the last illusion. Give it up and you will be free.
Jul 8, 2022 11:58 AM
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Maybe this is key to the romance issue. Shinobu wonders what card was next to "Chiha". What card was paired with it. And then she thinks on the sliding doors of the mansion of Mount Ogura the other poem was... and the Tachi and Chiha poems appear together.
RoaldderJul 8, 2022 1:49 PM
Jul 8, 2022 3:57 PM

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Roaldder said:
Maybe this is key to the romance issue. Shinobu wonders what card was next to "Chiha". What card was paired with it. And then she thinks on the sliding doors of the mansion of Mount Ogura the other poem was... and the Tachi and Chiha poems appear together.

Do you know the history behind the cards? Poems 16 and 17 were written by half-brothers. It could possibly be a sign of the romance issue, but I don't think so, especially since Shinobu knows nothing about the relationship between Chihaya/Taichi. I think this scene is supposed to show the moment Shinobu realizes she's going to lose the title-she's someone who's in harmony with the 100 cards, she even makes sure not to put certain cards next to each other because of the poets/history (for example court ladies Sei Shonagon and Murasaki Shikibu hated each other) so when she thinks about what is going to be read next, she comes to the realization that it will be poem 16 due to being a pair with poem 17. I'm glad the Brazilian translation included the little history note for those that don't know the poets were related!
The desire to be loved is the last illusion. Give it up and you will be free.
Jul 9, 2022 1:35 AM
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possession1981 said:
so when she thinks about what is going to be read next, she comes to the realization that it will be poem 16 due to being a pair with poem 17.

True, that makes perfect sense. I miss being able to know Chihaya's thoughts like Shinobu's.

RoaldderJul 9, 2022 2:29 AM
Jul 14, 2022 2:12 PM
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Jul 2020
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MaahHeim said:
Oh my god. I'm crying so much.

Finally their match is over... And the winners are Chihaya and Arata. Taking the Tachi card!! It could've been the "Se" card of the promised encounter, but they both choose Tachi, believed it would be read, and it was actually read. As Nishida said "This is the Chihayafuru team combination of cards!" this was an trio chapter and I'm 100% all for it. My heartstrings... Nghhhhhhhh.

Last issue next month. The end of an era. Thank you so much, Chihayafuru ♥

Thank goodness, but noooo the last issue is next month 😭 I will miss this series very much
Jul 14, 2022 3:01 PM

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Jul 2013
47
As a long long reader of this series I find it that Suetsugu's a complete genius. Having both #16 and #77 as luck of the draw is a beautiful way of displaying that she didnt forgot about Taichi, more than that, is a way of showing what happened in the beginning of the series. The promise is now fulfilled.

Now for a fitting ending... Let it be finished in the next chapter!
Gotta update this soon™
Jul 14, 2022 3:57 PM

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Oct 2020
706
Wow, this chapter was poetic in every sense imaginable. So many iconic panels and peaks!
Jul 14, 2022 9:11 PM
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14123
Team Chihayafuru syched their cards Glad Chihaya and Shinobu got to go to Mt Fuji togetherThe brothers got to be side by side in the end
Jul 14, 2022 9:26 PM

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Apr 2019
823
YOOOO LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

That entire match was really well played. I mean, you know that Chihaya and Arata were gonna win it but the overall tension of both matches was just insane. And to top it off they not only win by luck of the draw, but by taking the "Tachi" card? That was just too perfect.

Man, I can't wait till this gets animated. It's gonna be so good!!

arcticmontysJul 14, 2022 9:34 PM
Jul 15, 2022 1:16 AM
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Apr 2020
2
Wow. That was so amazing, was at the edge of my seat for the whole chapter. So many emotions.... I'm so happy Taichi's card was read, because he is the cornerstone of the story just as much as Chihaya and Arata. This way it kinda feels like all three of them won :)
One of, if not the best chapter of Chihayafuru imo.

Now onto the last chapter next month... Kinda sad about that :_)
Jul 15, 2022 3:24 AM

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Oct 2017
29021
Beautiful chapter, I knew this was gonna happen yet I still hoped for Shinobu and Suo to win and even though they didn't I'm not disappointed at all. Gratz to Chihaya and Arata. Can't believe next chapter is the last.
Jul 15, 2022 3:57 AM

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6831
A really good chapter and conclusion to 2 grueling matches, nice to see the 'trio' come together to succeed, especially with Taichi being a part of this given his card being the decider here. We finally have a new Queen and Meijin and Suetsugu did a great job in building the struggles up to get to this point in a gritty, well-deserved and non-rushed manner. It paid off well. Hope the final chapter can wrap up the series well once and for all and cement this as a classic.
Jul 15, 2022 9:53 AM

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Sep 2012
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kakeguruitwinxx said:
Along the way it became Taichi's card— explicitly said in 246.

Where though? I'm legitimately confused because we had one "Se" scene and the card is connected to both boys in the double spread.


kakeguruitwinxx said:
Chihaya isn't Shinobu, she aligns cards with her friends and not the creator.

Exactly, that's what I'm saying! Chihaya! As you said, she connects the cards to her friends instead of the poets and courtiers. For Shinobu, the history of poems is important. For Chihaya? Not so much. So in the 16/17 pair scene, I thought it was meant to show the moment Shinobu knew she would lose because historically 16 is paired with 17 due to the poems being written by step-brothers. Chihaya had no idea if "Taichi" would be read, but Shinobu figured it out first because of her special connection to the cards. And that scene carried over to the actual "Taichi" take!

kakeguruitwinxx said:
And why wouldn't Shinobu knows about Taichi/Chihaya relationship?

I meant in the sense of it being some meta-commentary on their bond. Shinobu knows their teammates, but she doesn't know the depth of their bond.

kakeguruitwinxx said:
If "Tachi" was send because Chihaya was aware Arata would feel and do the same regarding Taichi and his card, she would've said something like "Taichi and Arata have always been by my side" since there was a trio flashback.

I disagree with this because I think that scene is supposed to represent the sentiments of both Chihaya and Arata. They both feel he's always been by their side-even if not physically, he's spiritually on the tatami with them. She doesn't need to include Arata in this because Arata isn't returning, the one returning to his companions is Taichi. Hence why "Taichi" a poem written for companions is used for their reunion. He heard them waiting for him (Arata even has a line that goes "Come Taichi" which can be used for both the card and actual character), entered the room, and "Taichi" was read. It all came together beautifully.

kakeguruitwinxx said:
It's almost "Chihaya finally becomes the queen so she feels worthy to answer Arata". Her journey to being queen is more than just Arata.

Of course, I never argued differently. I even stated in other chapter threads that this is simply her first dream from childhood, she has a lot more to accomplish-including becoming the strongest in the world (possible hint at a queen vs meijin match?). But as someone who ships Chihaya with Arata, I believe that those two accomplishing their first childhood dream is tied to their relationship and where it could possibly head. To me, this is a ship that consists of two people holding mutual feelings towards one another but aren't in a rush to start a relationship. I was told by another reader that this relationship reminded them of the one in the manga called "Bakuman" where the main character and heroine agree to not interact with each other until their individual dreams are fulfilled. That relationship is more extreme, but I see the connection lol! Chihaya and Arata have their own dreams/desires that come first, and winning the titles will set things in motion. Now they can get recommendations for university, and they can do more for karuta as a sport on a much larger spectrum. Arata is coming to Tokyo (and this was recently reconfirmed by Suetsugu herself a day or two ago) and as the new Queen/Meijin, they'll be able to spend more time together spreading the love/joy of karuta! Slowly, but surely the two paths are moving towards each other. And this is simply how I view their bond, I don't speak for any other shipper!

kakeguruitwinxx said:
and along the way she found new friends and mentors.

Yup, but we see that despite making new friends and mentors, she still cherishes her childhood ones just as much. Arata, Taichi, team Chihayafuru as a whole, and her very first mentor Harada. It was so sweet how she remembers the breathing technique when she spots him in this chapter! I hope we get see him interact with her in the final one, same with Arata since we know he still considers him a student.

kakeguruitwinxx said:
But it in no ways missed out the romance.

Interesting! Whenever that series is mentioned, it's just full of people complaining about how awful the story got and how he didn't do the best with Soma/Erina. I know a ton of people who weren't satisfied with the conclusion the ship got.
possession1981Jul 15, 2022 10:24 AM
The desire to be loved is the last illusion. Give it up and you will be free.
Jul 15, 2022 10:51 AM

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kakeguruitwinxx said:
The double spread just confirmed it, at least for me. The first part of the spread is her connecting the "Se" card with Arata, then the Taichi panel came, then it's just Taichi's "Se".

Funny because the double-spread confirmed that "Se" doesn't belong solely to either boy. To me, that spread showed us that "Se" is actually a card that belongs to the trio. Ultimately "Se" was more important for Shinobu's character as we saw later in the chapter.

kakeguruitwinxx said:
Shinobu doesn't know the depth of Chihaya/Taichi bond, but she doesn't know about Arata/Chihaya either, save from overhearing her postponing her answer to his confession. I don't think Shinobu has to know that Taichi likes Chihaya just to understand that Taichi is very much important to her, and by extension, his card.

I never argued anything you're stating here. I just don't think the 16/17 pair scene is meta-commentary on their bond. To me, that scene is more about Shinobu. She realizes that "Taichi" will be read since it's a pair with "Chiha" and then we see it actually happen. That's just my own reading.

kakeguruitwinxx said:
Chihaya and Taichi has been way closer and understood each other better than each of them with Arata.

Definitely don't agree with this since we saw earlier in the series that despite spending more time together, Chihaya still didn't understand things about Taichi that Sumire (as an example) quickly picked up on. Like how he was trying to become his own person.

kakeguruitwinxx said:
It's a Chihaya monologue— she and Arata are two different people, she doesn't represent his sentiment. Implicitly yes, Arata might feel the same: Taichi is important. But not exactly the same as Chihaya's monologue. Taichi has never "always been there" for Arata, not has Arata for Taichi. This monologue doesn't apply to Arata perfectly, the idea does, but not completely.

Sometimes characters speak for other characters, it's happened before in the story so I definitely believe Chihaya was talking for both herself and Arata at this moment especially since I believe both Arata/Chihaya trusted each other to keep "Taichi" instead of sending it out. One of the translation teams used "by our side" for this scene so it's simply up to which wording the translators prefer to work with. Plus Nishida even comments about team Chihayafuru after they decide to keep Taichi.

kakeguruitwinxx said:
her becoming queen is no longer "because Wataya-kun wants to be Meijin" or the likes. She shouldn't feel "worthy" to answer his confession, just because she became the best in the world finally. If her answer to his confession should happen, I want her to answer it because it's long overdue and because she shouldn't leave him hanging, not because she thinks she wasn't worthy of answering before she became the queen.

Definitely, but I thought this was obvious from one of the earliest chapters. At first, it was just about wanting to become the Queen alongside Arata, but her dream became so much more when she played her fist match against Shinobu! She wants to leave Mizusawa a powerhouse with a strong foundation, wants to teach karuta, and wants to save Shinobu/become her true friend. But the dream of winning the title from childhood is still important to her. As for her answer to Arata, I think we have a strong chance of getting it in this final chapter because she just accomplished three of her four known goals.

kakeguruitwinxx said:
And about Soma! Yeah. I did think the last arc was a bit messy with the Noirs. But in the end it was kind of a redemption. Growth isn't something you get just by graduating high school or winning a competition. They were so focused on their goals, they might have a crush but there was no development. It takes time to change all that. While Chihayafuru has that childhood trope, I think this still applies to both Arata/Chihaya or Chihaya/Taichi or Arata/Taichi. Arata/Taichi got closure already, so that leaves Arata/Chihaya and Chihaya/Taichi. At least for now, I don't think any of the boys is fit for her. Or her for the boys. Arata and her almost never talked beyond karuta— to be honest, his confession, too, made sense in a way she liked her in grade school, but her high school self? What did he like about her high school self? What did he even know beyond karuta about her? Taichi and her need to sort things up. If she chooses him now it would most likely look like it's out of pity— "you've always been here and you're important to me, so rather than having you leave me completely, I'll just go out with you". So yeah, I'm more of wanting an open ending, or at least, an epilogue if romance has to happen.

I think that the mental image of small Chihaya during confession was supposed to show us that Arata fell for her back during childhood, at least that's my impression of it. I don't have any comment on how you view her relationship with the boys. I don't agree with your sentiments, but you're entitled to your opinion! Chihaya and Arata sharing a great love for karuta (their life passion) is already a good sign. I don't think someone "normal" could date Chihaya, she needs someone just as invested in the sport because karuta is how she connects and interacts with others.

I feel bad for taking over the chapter thread with all this non-chapter talk. Maybe we should move this to messages if you want to continue.
possession1981Jul 15, 2022 11:23 AM
The desire to be loved is the last illusion. Give it up and you will be free.
Jul 15, 2022 11:21 AM

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kakeguruitwinxx said:
In more slice of life chapters you'd see Taichi and Chihaya just talking about detergents they use at home, or the song Chihaya sings when walking home, or just him able to read her with just her gestures. Those things you can't get just by playing karuta.

I'm currently doing one final re-read, and I haven't seen these moments between Taichi/Chihaya. Maybe I haven't gotten to them. The majority of the interactions between Taichi and Chihaya revolve around karuta in some way. We don't have many SoL moments between the characters.

kakeguruitwinxx said:
but there's just no way Taichi "has always been on Arata's side". At one point Taichi and Arata both considered each other obstacles and source of inferiority. At another point they didn't even talk to each other. Chihaya might have tried to send Arata messages every time she thought of him, but Taichi didn't. Chihaya has always been the glue in the trio.

It does seem like Chihaya is the glue, but not really. In doing my final re-read, you see how much love and care the boys held for each other since the beginning of their friendship. Despite the ugly feelings, their love always shone through. Taichi has monologues about how he wants to reach Arata while Arata has monologues on how happy he is to play with Taichi again. Everything that needed to be said between the two was settled in 205. Suetsugu even said that Taichi was saved during this scene.



kakeguruitwinxx said:
I understand his mental image of Chihaya was to convey the time he fell in love. That was 6 years ago. Now, in high school, the only part he's seen from her is karuta-related. Back in elementary school he knew she didn't place well in class etc, but now those things aren't shared with him. At least to me, the Chihaya that Arata loves the most is the girl who played karuta together with him when he didn't have any friends, and the Arata that Chihaya loves the most is the boy who introduced her to the most important sport in her life.

I don't agree with this at all, but my response would be too long. I really think we just take it over the private messages so we don't continue to clog up the chapter thread!
The desire to be loved is the last illusion. Give it up and you will be free.
Jul 15, 2022 1:23 PM
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4314
Wow, finally the match ended. So both of them won. I was thinking maybe only one of them would win but I'm happy that they both won.
Jul 16, 2022 1:02 AM
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... finally, they've reached it. absolutely beautiful chapter on this one. I loved it.
Jul 16, 2022 3:27 AM

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2239
Finally the scan....this was really a great set up for the climax. I never thought she would do the trio connection this prominently, at least that Taichi would take in this big of a role. It made me really happy.

This whole chapter is full of trio for most of the narrative except when we come to the paired cards part. Shinobu's vision of the cards and how she learned them, featured on the fusuma. She suddenly realized which card was paired up with Chiha.... metaphorically by her side, was always Tachi/Taichi.

One thing should be clear: Shinobu has her own arena and Chihaya was the only person to study hard enough to understand the connections Shinobu makes in her imagenary arena. Actually no one knows about Chihaya's arena...no one knows her strength for winning comes from the Mizusawa clubroom.....

As Shinobu starts her inner speech to Sutoku, that she will stay lonely if he chooses her, she innerly asks Chihaya if she is used to being on her own like her? We get the sequence where Shinobu realizes Chiha was paired with Tachi(this probably realising Tachi would be read) and in parallel Chihaya answers her question: Taichi has always been by my side from the start. So Chihaya never was on her own like Shinobu. The whole sequence is such a clever parallel and metaphor. It's so Sensei...it throws back to so many other hints in the previous chapters!

Taichi and Chihaya were always together even after he left the club she carried him with her and when they met again in the club room and after the karaoké Taichi helped her convince her mother to let her go for the Queen's title...and keeps supporting her how he can through the qualifiers and Challengers and even after he "let her go" by saying he was moving on, he still wanted to support her...

It was his dream to be as close as possible when she became Queen. I think that happened. She realised he had always been there by her side from the start. With that winning card being Tachi, the cure trio hug after was very sweet.

Romantic? friendship? Who knows but quite an endearing big time realisation that was build up with the most wonderful slow burn on Chihaya's side. Step by step she was lead to this moment for him, which I think he totally deserved. The thing is, he still hasn't heard it out loud.....

I also loved the part where Chihaya turns around after winning and takes Shinobu's hand to the top of mount Fuji. Such a wonderful gesture....she definitely "saved" Shinobu from loneliness. The art is breathtaking.

As for Suou...that sure pinched my heart...I always knew Arata would win...his whole development and purpose is based on carrying on the legacy his grandfather left him, becoming Meijin. So I would have been very surprised if he had lost. I think Sensei will make things right though for Suou, cause even if he is a bit an outcast of the ksruta society, many have come to respect and love him. His family is also there to support him, so I'll be very glad to see the happy ending Sensei has surely planned for him.

Congrats to Chihaya and Arata for reaching their dream and Taichi having his dream fullfilled as well even if he has no idea about it yet.
Jul 16, 2022 4:59 AM
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Aug 2020
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Chihaya and Arata won because they are the main characters

TAICHI'S card just to appease his fans.
Jul 16, 2022 3:44 PM

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May 2016
3349
Oh, both of them won I am happy for them c:
I like to post in manga forum when I feel it is worth it, so people will think. "Shit, is her again" or something.

People asked me where I read certain thing but the rules say no telling where did you read so maybe I am too boring for not saying? Or salty because you didn't check my profile that says don't ask because I hate people to ghost me after that. I love learning languages so maybe I did not read the manga in English.
Jul 16, 2022 11:24 PM
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13
— TAICHI'S card just to appease his fans

So rude.
Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.
Jul 17, 2022 4:55 AM

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2239
We'll see about that in 15 days..... anything could happen

Being overconfident is careless....I would not let myself be tricked into that by Sensei.

You never know with her.
chiakimagotoJul 17, 2022 4:58 AM
Jul 17, 2022 9:50 AM

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1781
Interesting how they both sent over the same "se" card. Their strategies being different, with Chihaya's playing offense, and Arata playing defense, they still had the same idea (Taichi) in mind when they sent that card over. Although only two people could play as a challenger in the meijin/queen matches, I liked all the little hints of symbolism where "Team Chihayafuru" is playing as a trio together again in both of their matches, right up until their win in the end.

...And then you see all three of them in a flashback as kids again with "Ima kaeri"...I'm just tearing up at the wholesomeness of it all, coming full circle. I am so happy that this series didn't end at volume 49, otherwise, we wouldn't have seen the conclusion to this scene. Forget romance, I want the friendship route! Now I want to see the three of them, actually playing karuta again, for real this time.

How many chapters is left? I'm already really hoping they decide to continue this with a volume 51, after high school; a "daigaku-hen" (university arc), as they had for the novel/manga spinoff of their middle school arc. Would be nice to see an epilogue where Taichi is working towards becoming a doctor or something, Chihaya as a teacher, and Arata as (?...they never really hinted at his aspirations beyond being meijin, at least not that I can remember, lol). But I'm just counting my chickens before they hatch.

I'm looking forward to the next chapter to tie things up.
Jul 21, 2022 9:38 AM

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Sep 2012
160
kakeguruitwinxx said:
at least considering Arata was absent in most of the first 100 chapters

As someone who's doing a final re-read to prepare for the final chapter in 10 days, he's not absent for the first 100 chapters.

kakeguruitwinxx said:
Edit: just noticed the page where the monologue was "He's always been in [my] side" has the card floating. Chihaya is the only one having this thing. Arata does not see the cards floating. Also it's an explicit callback to the whole "Taichi is here" thing. Chihaya said the same when she played in nationals (he's not here but I feel his presence"), in ch 164, and also in the previous match. It doesn't suddenly become Arata's monologue when it's been called back several times.

I'm not sure if it's a callback. When Suetsugu makes a callback, she tends to include the callback scene on the actual page. At least that's what I've noticed, but you could be right! As for the monologue, the literal translation would just be "he's always been beside" since there is no "my" or "our". It all depends on which wording the translators want to work with, and I personally prefer "our" since I believe this is a team chihayafuru chapter though you could also say that "my" is coming from Arata as well. Suetsugu liked a thread on chapter 246 written by a reader who points out just how much this chapter revolves around the trio and their bond-it's a really great read.

I'll write my full review later.
possession1981Jul 21, 2022 10:30 AM
The desire to be loved is the last illusion. Give it up and you will be free.
Jul 31, 2022 5:40 AM
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Jul 2018
562029
Very happy that they became Queen and Meijin. Eagerly waiting for the final chapter tomorrow
Jul 13, 2024 4:07 AM

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Nov 2018
2179
Another hot garbage chapter.
Just wtf author is doing to this manga?
Used to be one of my favourites but now it's just mess.
"When they're alive, you can enjoy watching them struggle. When they're dead, you can enjoy tearing out their guts. Tales are things you get to enjoy twice."
Aug 30, 2024 7:51 AM

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Jul 2015
9999
They finally did it, even though the outcome was obvious it was beautiful to see both Arata and Chihaya keeping the Taichi card winning with it

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It’s time to ditch the text file.
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