If bringing Shinobu into the mix is so everyone can have a fluffy ending and nobody will be left with a bleeding heart. Hell, it could flip-flop for all I knows, but all I get is a god vibe for what Chihaya feels about Arata and nothing more. I can understand Taichi's tension, but I think Chihaya being dense is a plus for him...

I cannot read Japanese but ..... does it means Shinobu will join the team tournament next year?

So we will see the shodown between Arata+Shinobu vs Taichi+Chihaya. That would be awesome but I bet Chihaya and Taichi will lost. They need to fight again (the final showdown) on Individual tournament for maijin/queen title. My prediction: Taichi will definitely lost a very close game but will get Chihaya instead (as a reward).

Anyway, I really like vol.15 because we see the character development of Shinobu. Even at the end she will lost the title to Chihaya but at least she won't play karuta alone anymore and can have fun playing it. She is my most favorite character though.

The problem is that it was not Arata's team. Arata only entered single tournament the next day and was only there a day earlier to cheer and watch Chihaya. The Fukui West team Arata was in was actually from a different school. They won the Fukai representation despite have only 3 members.

The problem they had was that one of the member can't make it in time due to traffic and the team leader was Arata's middle school friend who appeared in one of the Arata's flashback. (the one who tell Arata that he is now a A-Rank player)

They know they can't win with only 2 people and will be force to forfeit, but they don't want to forfeit without even playing a match so they ask Arata to stand in and act as dummy. This way the two of them can play even though the team will still lose. Arata reluctantly agrees and stayed put until one of the other member lost which guaranteeing Fukai team's elimination. At that point, seeing how they really like Kurata but wan't able to play to their potential due to missing teammate, Arata hope to lift their spirit and start to play with everything he got eventually coming back from -15 disadvantage and during that span, lifted the spirit of the remaining Fukai West member and end the match with 2 wins to prevent the shutout.

However Arata's play stood out too much and the leader of the local club he join in Fukai (who was there as a organizing committee member) recognizes him despite the mask and the issue was brought to the committee. One member of organizing committee initially wanted to ban Arata form the singles competition the next day but other argued that Fukai West didn't win and that Arata waited until his play was of no consequence. Others also argues that Arata was a special player and perhaps the only realistic hope to take down the current Meijin Suo, who was hated in the Kurata community due to his antics. In the end the committee decided to allow him to participate albeit with some disciplinary action, but before they can tell him that, Arata took himself out of Singles due to his guilt and sense of responsibility

As Arata was leaving he met Shinobu who comes back due to postponed Birdman Competition. (one of her hobbies) After hearing what happened she tells Arata to stop being cool and drag him to the committee to apologize and tell committee that if Arata doesn't play then she'll withdrew as well and force Arata to apologizes and ask committee to allow him to play the next day. Arata was still reluctant but Shinobu asks him that doesn't he want to play her, and that she already disappointed once by today (Birdman Competition) and she doesn't planned on being disappointed twice.

Since the committee wasn't plan on pulling Arata anyway, they agree on the condition Arata and Fukai West team each needs to write an apology letter and that Arata is forbid from entering the competition hall that day to watch and cheer his friends.

As for Shinobu's obsession with Arata, it's simple. She is the same age as Arata, Chiaya, Nishida and has being playing since elementary years like Nishida and Arata. Since Arata has won the national all 6 years he was in elementary that means that not once had Shinobu won any national title in her younger days despite being an A-Rank player since 4th grade. Which is why when Suo asked Shinobu for a match and asked her doesn't she want to play him, it was young Arata's face that showed up.

If I don't misunderstand both Mizusawa and Hokuo go the national tournament. How can it be ? ..... or is it a different tournament?

From all the hints in manga, it can be safely assumed that the only reason she enters these tournament was hoping that she can match up with Arata and get her revenge for all the time she lost to Arata during elementary school. Inter-school National is the surest way for them to meet because of it mixed-gender nature and lack of high level players.

My question about the timeline is that we know Arata hadn't entered any tournement for roughly 2 years (9th and 10th grade) but what about 7th and 8th? We know that that Arata was still playing at time and entering tournement but then why hadn't Shinobu able to paly against him in those years? (based on her quote that she hadn't lost for 4 years (since 6th grade) and was just waiting to play him)

Arata and Shinobu's playing style are similar, both emphasize in skill and precision of their technique. On the other hand, Chihaya and Suo are both gifted in having extraordinary hearing and based more on their pure talent and instinct.

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Not many people have Shinobu's phone number. Even Chihaya wants to call Shinobu, she doesn't have the number.
While they are both eating, he called her home. It means he may receive the information from her. Maybe she is interested in him. :heh:

I don't think it'll be that hard. Suo is meijin after all, he could very well get her contact info from the Karuta Association.

But Karuta Association thinks he's a jerk, his chance of getting the information is slim. Besides, his delayed college graduation earns him the bad reputation.


In my not so humble opinion, be a jerk in manga has the condition. As an adult, it's too late for him to be a jerk. He should learn from a certain player. When playing karuta, the player shows no mercy. His style is like nearly like bullying. The girl who suffered from his cruel treatment growing up with seek vengeance. The moral of the story is: He want a cute girl not forgetting him, so he mistreated her. :) Just kidding.

Suo seem to more interested in old woman then Shinobu. On the other hand, I can feel Shinobu's obsession with Arata might have some romantic element to it.

mudamudamudamuda

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In the last scene where the bald club leader was talking to Arata. The guy with glass that the anime focused on for a second is the player Murao that they are talking about who ends up getting 3rd in the tournament for the past 2 episodes.

What they didn't show was that Murao was getting up from the match where he just lost to Arata to the amazement of the club leader and other club members. During the match The bald club leader also mention that there is a different atmosphere and aura in Arata's game and that he won't be surprised if Arata ends up challenging the Meijin very soon.

The manga also noted that Arata wasn't sure if he is entering the Western Meijin Preliminary at time (considering he has yet to enter any Class A tournament) before seeing the tournament result.

Shinobu states, "I really hope I can luckily win this round again(sarcastic)".

Arata responses with friendly smile

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Taichi's performance is at the peak. I kind feel sorry for Rio-chan.

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