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Chihayafuru Season 2: Episode 24 FULL LENGTH Reaction! (Patreon)

Published:
2026-03-05 14:00:11
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

*IMPASSIONATE HEADPHONE WARNINGS*

It's the final of the Individual Tournament with Shinobu vs. Arata -- and it did NOT let down! I was as enthralled as Chihaya for this one, as this show finds ways to deliver on the character work and keeping the tension up between these two powerhouses for this penultimate episode of the season!

LINK TO REACTION: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/ZTZB9wLYuZfuaJUbm1h1B2

Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!

Files

Romania Black - Chihayafuru Season 2: Episode 24 Reaction! WHEN I MUST HIDE....?!

LINK TO REACTION: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/ZTZB9wLYuZfuaJUbm1h1B2 **IMPASSIONATE HEADPHONE WARNINGS** It's the final of the Individual Tournament with Shinobu vs. Arata -- and it did NOT let down! I was as enthralled as Chihaya for this one, as this show finds ways to deliver on the character work and keeping the tension up between these two powerhouses for this penultimate episode of the season! Thank you for watching with me and for all the support! #romaniablack #Chihayafuru #chihaya Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RomaniaBlack My Anime: https://myanimelist.net/profile/RomaniaBlack Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RomaniaBlack You can mail me a letter or anything (except food, please) at this address: Romania Black PO Box 768 Harrisburg, IL 62946 USA

Comments

Alice

What I found really interesting about this episode that I only noticed now that I watched it with you, is that you get to hear everyone's thoughts this episode EXCEPT Arata's. You get into the mind of the spectators, Nishida, the Fujisaki coach, the parents, the Karuta committee, Taichi, Chihaya, and even Shinobu. But not Arata. We don't know what he's thinking the entire match. We know what everyone else is thinking but not him. And I think this really adds to the image that the mangaka portrays him as, like an "impassionate god" like in the Chihayafuru card. He's intentionally kept distant from the entire cast, and we only see his triumph through the eyes of others, making him a deity-like figure. To other characters, he's become more of a goal to achieve than his own person. He's the one Nishida and Shinobu want to beat and surmount. He's the one Chihaya wants to reach but feels like there's too much distance between them (both literally and figuratively). He's the one Taichi wants to be better than to win Chihaya's heart. He's become the goal for so many of our characters, that it really distances him a lot and makes him feel untouchable. Even Shinobu, who is the queen, got really humanized this episode with us really getting into her headspace and seeing her struggle and be on the losing end. We see her flaws in her earlier strategy, we see her taking risks, being aggressive, and straying from her usual style. Meanwhile, Arata is shown as being perfectly composed and unfazed by everything. Everyone comments how he's eerily relaxed and calm. And as you said, he didn't even break a sweat or shown struggling that entire match. Mind you, I don't like what the mangaka is doing with Arata's character by making him feel distant and deity-like, but I think it's very deliberate. We can only hope that the mangaka humanizes him more later in the story.

Clifford

Just as Shinobu dragged Arata to the directors and pushed his head down into a bow, Arata was able to check her temperature by putting his hand or her forehead. It is a mutual familiarity without any disrespect. I would venture that they care about each other as people, not just karuta rivals.

Greice Conta do YTB

Great observation! This comment about Arata is so interesting. It's true that Arata is kept at a distance from us as if to keep us wondering about his thoughts and feelings. This increases his "aura". It's a if we have the same reverence for him as the characters. However this "godlike" aura ends up making him less human. That's why I loved seeing signs of brat Arata as a child or when Romania comments about his creepy or costumers service smile, they're like cracks in the god armor, letting us peak at the human inside.

Alexandra Q

Well, how come we're already pretty much done with this season? Look, I was looking forward a lot to seeing Arata and Shinobu playing against each other, and it was fun to see the little bits we got to see, but as it so often happens with this show, we don't get to truly appreciate the tension of the match because it's mostly skipped over. I will, however, be fair that there's a reason for it, that being that Taichi and Chihaya weren't there to witness it and this way the audience knows just slightly more - thanks to the little bit of Nishida's commentary - than the characters do. Am I suprised that Arata won, though? Not really; and I do appreciate that he is living to all the expectations that have been building around him. Seeing how Arata wasn't, exactly a prodigy from the beginning, but rather had to put many hours of practice to grow as good as he has was a really nice surprise. I often took him for the natural-born prodigy, honestly; what with his grandpa being the Eternal Master an all, and the way Chihaya saw him when they were kids. It makes perfect sense, too, that Chihaya, inexperienced and young, would be so incredibly impress by skill that was, by all rights, well on its way to becoming legendary, but that was still at the time a little too raw and untrained for more professional eyes. Honestly, all the players that we have seen, even if they have some physical predispositon - really good hearing, or good memory - have had to work really hard to hone those skills adn sharpen them into something that becomes worth talking about. I love it. Every time the Fujisaki team's coach appears she steals my heart a little bit more. She was so gentel with Chihaya at the same time that she gave her the push that she needed to get over her fears and go make the most of the opportunity to see two incredible players battle each other. The way that Arata pretty much always says Taichi's name first when he sees or thinks about his childhood friends gets me, not gonna lie xD Yes! I adore that Chihaya is so happy for Taichi, yeah, but immediately clocks that now he is a proper rival for her to defeat. I 100% agree that people underestimate Chihaya so much. It happened with the first years as well, with the rest of Misuzawa thinking that it was a waste of time for her to train them, but she had the right instincts about it and actually did a pretty good job at helping them along. Yeah, she's not the most academically inclined person out there, so what? She is really dedicated and hard-working, and even though she loves Karuta more than anything she is starting to make plans for the future; just as you said, she is thinking of coaching a team after she graduates, and I think she would be an amazing coach for highschoolers. Just had the most face-hitting realization while writing this comment that Fujisaki's coach is exactly how I picture Chihaya being as a coach, with incredible instincts for it and great insights for her players, even if she is not as stoic as Fujisaki's coach is. And doctor Harada is who I can imagine Taichi becoming, someone that keeps Karuta in his life, and is really good at it, but that Karuta is not the center of his life... and Taichi opening a Karuta association - or whatever the place Dr. Harada coaches is called, I forgot xD - and training people like that would work so well for his character... Those parallels are so much fun. Arata, of course, would follow the steps of his grandfather... though I do love the idea of Taichi becoming the Master as you have mentioned in previous reactions. Shinobu realizing that she didn't play to the full of her abilities because she went on the defensive from the beginning is a really nice moment. I want to see a rematch now, where she plays her heart out against Arata from the beginning now. I think Taichi was telling Chihaya that she couldn't lean forward or practice her swings in the middle of the match because that would be distracting for the players, and not to try to stop her drive. I seem to remember someone else getting scolded for leaning forward in a previous episode this season, was it Shinobu while seeing Chihaya play in the team matches finals? I think that was it. So, I guess it's just bad form, since they all try to be almost invisible as spectators in the matches to not distrupt the flow or sound of the poems. Now, after seeing all of this I don't quite know where the next episode will take us; heck, even less for the next season, but I am quite curious. I can't wait to see what becomes of all of them.

Greice Conta do YTB

I truly love your comments! Answering your question, yes it was Shonobu who got scolded for leaning foward. Karuta is a lot about etiquette and acting properly to the point that sometimes it becomes a problem. I think it was on season one when it was said that Suo didn't act as a "proper meijin" and that's likely why he's so hated. Talking about Arata, he was definitely a natural-born prodigy. His grandpa said kids his age had no chance against him. He was losing to a grown and way more experienced Murao for "foolish mistakes". That's a prodigy alright lol I think the commentary about Arata is that although he was born with talent, he really worked very hard to get as good as he's today. Then there's time and genetics helping him grow to have a similar body as his late grandpa, so he can finally play the karuta he had always visualized.

Alexandra Q

Oh! Thank you! It's good to know that it was Shinobu getting a little too excited in the past. Well, that definitely explains a little the way all the coordinators and such feel about Suo xD Ohhh, that's a really good point about Arata. No, yeah, I can totally see him been a proper prodigy, just rough around the edges at the beginning. It doesn't take away from all the effort and practice he put into the sport, and I do love that. The fact that he grew into his grandpa's build thaks to genetics is a really good point.

romaniablack

Oohhh, you’re so right, we don’t get into Arata’s head in this; I’m so used to the author not giving us anything with Arata, hahaha!! But I agree, that adds to the image of him as like a deity! Come on, mangaka! XD It honestly makes me feel sad about him – and you’re right, as Shinobu gets humanized in this episode with her losing to Arata. I agree, I’m not a fan of what the mangaka does with him, but I agree it’s deliberate! Thank you for the comment!

romaniablack

I agree with you, totally, that they're more than just rivals but are also friends at this point (whether Shinobu wants to admit it or not). Thank you for the comment!

romaniablack

It’s wild that we’re getting close to the end of the season, isn’t it?! I really enjoyed this episode and the match between Arata and Shinobu! It was a lot of fun to see! Look, I can see Arata as a prodigy, but I think it’s important that he has to work really hard to maintain that status, though! I really like the Fujisaki coach as well! She was great in this, especially in helping Chihaya to feel empowered to go and watch the match. UGH, Arata putting Taichi on a first-name basis is really so sweet! Taichi, be this man’s friend! We’re creating a “rival triangle” now that Taichi is Class A, hahahaha!! I really love Chihaya and I will stan her so hard throughout this! I really like the idea of Taichi being like Harada – though Harada’s personality I liken more to Chihaya - I love that concept, though! I agree, though, I would love a rematch where Shinobu is 100% against Arata! Ahhh, that’s a good point about Shinobu getting scolded for leading forward as well! Thanks for noting that! I’m so curious to see what will happen in the last episode and our OVA to come! I’m not quite ready to go on a break, now, haha! Thank you for the comment!