About this season
Chihaya Ayase has spent most of her life supporting her sister’s model career. When she meets a boy named Arata Wataya, he thinks Chihaya has potential to become a great karuta player. As Chihaya dreams of becoming Japan's best karuta player, she is soon separated from her karuta playing friends. Now in high school, Chihaya still plays karuta in the hope that she will one day meet her friends again.
Episodes (25)
1. So The Flower Has Wilted
7.5Aired 12 January 2013 • 23 min
A new school year has started and the Karuta club must get new members or face penalties. Discussing the goals of the club, Chihaya discovers the team is not as unified as she thought.
2. As My First Love Came
Aired 19 January 2013 • 23 min
At the Shiranami Society, Taichi plays Tsuboguchi, who has graduated from college and is now a high school teacher.
3. Feel Love Deepen
Aired 26 January 2013 • 23 min
It is time for the High School Karuta Championship; the first years are amazed by the skill level of their upperclassman. Wataya continues his goal to the National High School Championships.
4. To tell the people in the capital that I make for the islands
Aired 2 February 2013 • 23 min
Be it luck or skill, Tai seems to falter under pressure. The team needs three wins to proceed and their upcoming opponents are new and trained by an old friend.
5. Be as dear now, those were the good old days
Aired 9 February 2013 • 23 min
The final two teams in the competition is a repeat of Mizusawa vs. Hokuo. Chihaya wants to challenge them straight up, no tricks. A player on the Hokuo team will make sure it happens.
6. To set the Tatsuta River ablaze
Aired 16 February 2013 • 23 min
Individually, Mizusawa players have grown, but Hokuo will try to use Mizusawa's lack of team playing experience to take back the Tokyo regional trophy.
7. They all exchange hellos and goodbyes at the famous gates of Afusaka
Aired 23 February 2013 • 23 min
The deal was to get 5 new members for the Karuta club. Chihaya has to figure out a way to keep the room and deal with the band club.
8. Which shines over Mount Mikasa
Aired 2 March 2013 • 23 min
The national championship has begun. Mizusawa High School's first opponent is a tam of foreigners from the Chiba International School of Information Studies. Chihaya is elated that karuta has become an international sport, but the other members are thrown off by the unfamiliar situation. Will Mizusawa High School be able to secure their first victory on their way to becoming number one in Japan? At the same time, Arata arrives at Omi Jingu alone.
9. My Only Thought
Aired 9 March 2013 • 23 min
One wrong decision can ruin Arata's chance this season to make his comeback…
10. Rain takes longer to dry
Aired 16 March 2013 • 23 min
Mizusawa's next opponent is a group of geniuses that has been sweeping the Karuta scene.
11. I feel as though my body is on fire with Ibuki mugwort
Aired 23 March 2013 • 23 min
Mizusawa has finally made it to the first round of the High School Championship playoffs. However, Porky says that they should play without Desk-kun. After looking at Desk-kun's notebook, she agrees that they should leave him out of the lineup. Their opponent is Shoyo High school, representing Kyoto. Will Porky and Desk-kun be able to make peace?
12. The only sign of summer
Aired 30 March 2013 • 23 min
In the second round of the playoffs, Mizusawa faces off against Akashi Girls First, led by Ousaka Megumu, the West representative in the previous Queen match qualifier. Chihaya falls behind off the bat as Megumu displays speed that she didn't have before. Will Chihaya be able to use all of her hard work to change the momentum?
13. In my dreams, I creep closer to you
Aired 6 April 2013 • 23 min
Chihaya appears to have recovered from her bad start, but Megumu will not let her take consecutive cards. As the players spur on their aces, both sides begin to pull together as teams. Which team will prove to be stronger?
14. People would always ask if I was pining for someone
Aired 13 April 2013 • 23 min
Mizusawa and Akashi's match has reached the tipping point and each side starts winning games; the pressure between Chihaya and Megumu have captivated the crowd.
15. No matter where I stand
2.0Aired 20 April 2013 • 23 min
Tsukuba finally gets his chance to play due to Kana's injury, but will he be able to keep his composure in such an important match? Meanwhile, the team members of Fujisaki are waiting to see what player Coach Sakurazawa will switch for the final match.
16. Wait for the Emperor's Return
Aired 27 April 2013 • 23 min
A look back on season 2.
17. Gust of wind
Aired 4 May 2013 • 23 min
Fujisaka's training has proven to be a major hurdle to Mizusawa thanks to the training regimen demanded by their coach, Sakurazawa. Rion continues her lead over Chihaya thanks to her familiarity of the reader's voice. Doubts and injury plague Chihaya and her team as they fight to stay in the game.
18. My fear is that you will forget
Aired 11 May 2013 • 23 min
A new found passion has brought Misuzawa back into the fight, as Chihaya herself tries to fight through the pain of her injury.
19. I do not know where this love will take me
Aired 18 May 2013 • 23 min
Three wins for the victory. Taichi's declaration provides encouragement to the remaining players. The Mizusawa karuta club uses all of their experience and practice to fight to the end.
20. The fall paddy shacks
Aired 25 May 2013 • 23 min
The Mizusawa karuta club has won the team championship, becoming the number one team in Japan. The players reflect upon the path they took to the championship. After Chihaya remembers the pain in her finger, she is taken to the hospital.
21. But its legacy continues to spread
Aired 1 June 2013 • 23 min
Chihaya has injured her right hand, so she's forced to play with her left. Her first opponent is Yuube, from Akashi First Girls. Chihaya struggles to take cards with her left hand. Will she be able to make it past the first round?
22. Long Last We Meet
Aired 8 June 2013 • 23 min
Chihaya has advanced to the quarterfinals. Her opponent is the Queen, Wakamiya Shinobu. Chihaya decides to go all in and use her injured right hand. How will Shinobu respond? How will Chihaya fare?
23. To see the beautiful cherry blossoms
Aired 15 June 2013 • 23 min
The Class A Finals pit Arata vs Shinobu, Class B is between Taichi and Rion in the same area where Komano is participating in the Class C Final. Chihaya is stuck between supporting Taichi and Komano or experiencing the match between Arata and Shinobu.
24. When I must hide...
Aired 22 June 2013 • 23 min
With a packed house watching who could be the new King and Queen, Chihaya and Taichi are ushered in by Sakurazawa. The atmosphere is tense; who will win?
25. I can look up and see the snowy cap of Mt. Fuji
Aired 29 June 2013 • 23 min
With winners and losers riding emotional waves, Chihaya is sent a video of the Class A final, and while watching, it stirs of memories of playing Karuta with Arata.