Komano and Tsukuba: two unnoticed winners.
Fujisaki’s coach, Sakurazawa, is initiating contact with Chihaya.
Enchondromatosis.
After surgery.
Chihaya’s new “coach”.
We already knew last week that the winner of Class A is Arata, and the winner of Class B is Taichi. But we have two other winners went unnoticed: Komano wins Class C and Tsukuba wins Class D. It’s a shame that their matches didn’t get even few seconds of spotlight.
Fujisaki’s coack, Sakurazawa-sensei, is offering Chihaya to get the video of Arata vs Shinobu match. This is an unexpected move from her. Especially the fact that Chihaya is the ace of a team who ended her team’s four years streak of winning. But I guess she saw something in Chihaya, or simply taking interest of her extraordinary character. Nonetheless, this is good for Chihaya. She’s seriously lacking of a coach figure who actively help her analyzing opponents and making strategic decision. Sure she has Miyauchi-sensei as the “official” coach of her karuta club, but by all means, she knows very little about karuta. Chihaya also has Harada-sensei, but he’s more a teacher rather than a coach. He taught Chihaya about karuta, giving bits and pieces of advice, but he’s not there guiding Chihaya every step of the way. A role supposedly taken by a coach.
Now back to Chihaya’s injury. When she got injured after the group tournament, I actually thought it was a minor thing, but since the individual tournament was on the following day, she didn’t get the time she needed for recovery. Apparently, her injury is not something minor. Now that the tournament is over, her mom takes her to bigger hospital and found out she has a rare disease called Enchondromatosis. A situation where one of her finger bone is softening. It’s not a major issue for most people, but it’s something big for athletes who use their hand for something serious. Naturally, playing karuta is indeed included as using her hand intensively.
So Chihaya decides to get a surgery, putting something to strengthen her finger bone. And for that she needs to stay a week in hospital?
I really like how Sakurazawa-sensei shares her observation to Chihaya. Inviting Chihaya and her team to join Fujisaki’s karuta camp should also play a good impact in Chihaya’s playing style. This is something Chihaya really really need for a long time. I look forward to see how Sakurazawa-sensei will get involved in Chihaya’s future improvements in season 3.
And so our season 2 ends with Mizusawa finally achieved their dream to win group tournament, plus their members winning Class B, C and D of individual tournament. Chihaya gets a new “coach” she really needs. Arata is back in the game. Taichi is still gathering his courage to confess to Chihaya. See you again in season 3 !
