1. I really liked how they flesh out the training with Tsuruga and Captain here. Everything's perfectly logical and consistent with what we know.
For example, Yumi keeps a record of all the winning schools participating in the nationals. It's safe to say that includes Achiga and Senriyama as well. Yumi pointing out Toki's name was a surprise but at least nothing is wrong here.
And with the fleshing out, it makes our Achiga girls rather weak. Even Kana had her day.
A thought struck me and that is, Achiga were lucky they met Bansei in the first round. Otherwise, I have a feeling if they met Bansei in the finals instead, they might not have went to the nationals.
Basically, they lost to Kuro because they didn't know much about her. Kuro is really one of the biggest targetboards out there. (And we shall await in the next few episodes as well.
)
2. Akado Harue. Is she really their coach? Or just a sparring partner? We dun really see her giving good advice and improving the games of the girls here. Also, after basically thrashing them after getting 2nd, she did nothing at all. It's one of my peeves when going through the manga as well.
3. I like Arakawa Kei. Really, I do. The nurse uniform helps as well.
(I can't remember the last time I saw a nurse in an anime.)
Though her seiyuu is an unknown, I did some checks and the good thing about Marie Miyake is that she's from Osaka herself. Basically, the studio got someone with an authentic Kansai accent here. Though I didn't get my wish of VA, this will do. I especially like her genki attitude and of course, she's nationals No. 2.
Looking forward to more of her, if there's a national individuals arc.
(P.S: Read a comment about this second training. Basically, the Achiga girls went to a mental ward, and the patients are both mahjong-crazy and cosplay-crazy.
4. Another pet peeve of mine here, when I went through the manga. "How's Nodoka's results?" "Nah, we dun wanna know." What is this? They devoted much time and energy trying to reunite with their friend in the nationals and at the same time, they dun really go and find out more about her. That also includes whether they should look for her at the opening ceremony and stuff.
I really doubt their friendship levels in any case.
5. Kuroko?!?! What are you doing here? How nice if someone else in Shindouji is voice by Biribiri.
Oh yeah, include Wiiharu and Saten as well.
6. You can say I waited 3 years for this. And it's just one week away. Teru sitting at a mahjong table. Bring it on!
Note: A bit disappointed here. The full length of Teru in the manga:
Compare this with the episode. Not intimidating enough in the anime. Can't blame the studio much. I guessed the budget was limited and throughout the series, the amount of detail is rather sparse.