Chapter 216 reactions and thoughts on Taichi’s recent cameo appearances: Part I
I just finished reading the latest chapter of Chihayafuru and my heart can’t take it! Ever since the qualifiers for the Meijin match, Suetsugu-sensei has been teasing us with just these short cameos of Taichi. She’s also been doing it in a deliberate manner as well. I’ll probably make several posts to address each of these instances, but for now I’ll just talk about his recent cameo’s in the latest chapters.
I don’t think it’s a mere coincidence that Chihaya does not know what she should ask Taichi to help her with in regards to the Queen’s match (chapter 213). In Chihaya’s mind, she knows exactly how Kana-chan, Tsukue-kun, and Nikuman-kun can support her in her endeavors to become Queen. For Kana-chan, she knows to turn to her whenever she needs help with something regarding kimonos or traditional Japanese clothes. For Tsukue-kun, it’s what she should do to make sure she is the most efficient with her time and energy, as well as what she should do so she can sleep. For Nikuman-kun, it’s what she should eat on the day of the Queen’s match to help her keep her body at it’s peak condition so she can perform to the best of her abilities. Yet, when it comes to Taichi, Chihaya is not sure what she wants from him/how she wants him to help her in her endeavors to become Queen. Interestingly enough, Arata never comes to mind when she thinks of all the people who are supporting her. It’s only after she has this train of thought, that Suetsugu-sensei has Arata call her to wish her happy new year.
In chapter 216, Taichi also makes a short cameo, but the way Suetsugu-sensei has chosen to have him appear also isn’t a mere coincidence. Chihaya has been scrambling around the night before and the day of the Queen’s match trying to figure out what she is going to do about her kimono and her hakama. Unfortunately for Chihaya, her father has made a mistake and has sent the wrong suitcases to his daughters. Luckily for Chihaya, Chitose is free the day of the Queen’s match and is attempting to deliver Chihaya’s suitcase to Chihaya. In the end though, there is so much snow that trains are delayed due to the weather and Chitose is unable to make it in time. In fact Harada-sensei, Tsuboguchi-san, and Chihaya’s father also seem like they won’t make it due to the snow. In the end, Chihaya is forced to use one of the kimonos and one of the hakamas Kana-chan has prepared for Tamaru-san and Sumire-chan. Despite the height difference between Chihaya, Tamaru-san, and Sumire-chan, Chihaya somehow manages to make things work, even with the slightly short hakama. It is only after Chihaya has finally managed to resolve the issue of not having her own kimono and hakama, that Taichi makes an appearance. In fact, I’m not even sure if he’s there since Chihaya only sees a glimpse of him as she makes her way to the shrine to pray. Since he’s so far away, it seems as if Chihaya may have imagined that he was even there.
It’s almost as if Taichi being there would make everything better for Chihaya after having to endure everything up to that point. The way Suetsugu-sensei makes Taichi have a cameo here reminds me of the feeling you have when you’re desperately searching for that one special person to appear. It’s to the point where you’re imagining they’re there, despite the fact there’s no way they could be.
Even when it seems like the memory of all the members of Mizusawa’s karuta club praying together a year ago will cause Chihaya to have an emotional meltdown, she somehow manages to turn that memory into true strength. Despite the fact that none of the people who have supported her on this long journey are present at the actual Queen’s match, she can still feel their presence supporting her. Once again Taichi is mentioned in this list of people who have supported her up to this point, but there is no mention of Arata. Coincidence? I think not.
I’ve also included my own translations for the following pages below, so enjoy! Disclaimer: Something will always get lost in translation and differences arise due to each translator’s interpretation of the text. If you feel like my translations are not quite right, please comment below and I would love to hear your thoughts!
“Chitose*1, Dad, Harada-sensei, and Tsuboguchi-san won’t be able to make it.
Kana-chan, Tsukue-kun, and Taichi aren’t here.
But
‘We’ll support you in any way we can.*2 ’”
*1 t/n: she actually says Onee-chan, which means older sister, but using Chitose makes more sense in English
*2t/n: “Orera no zenbu de kimi wo mamoruyo” is what is written, but there’s no actual way to say this in proper English. If we were to literally translate this into English, you would get something like “We will protect you with everything we’ve got.” I’ve chosen to translate mamoru as “support” instead of “protect,” since this makes more sense in proper English and it carries the actual meaning that I feel the Japanese text intended to convey.
The text here is just the onomatopoeia for the cracking sound that comes from putting your hands together before one prays.
“Even if they’re not here, I can still feel them besides me *1
Watching over me today.”
*1 t/n: “Minna no zenbu wo watashi ni tsumetayo” is what is actually written, but like the last few lines, there’s no good way to translate this into proper English. If we were to literally translate this to English, it would be “I’m filled to the brim with everyone.” In this case, I feel like Chihaya is trying to say that even if they’re not by her side, she can still feel their presence.
Anyways, I wonder if Chihaya will finally realize what Taichi means to her during the Queen’s match. It’ll be really interesting if she realizes it once he makes an appearance during or after the match. >:3
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