Karuta Geometry
Chihayafuru is one of the few examples of an actually good love-triangle, and this is because it’s genuinely mutual, with all three points(Chihaya, Arata, Taichi) in love with each other, caring for each other, and pursuing each other in their own ways(mostly without realizing that’s what they’re doing or feeling), and thus a genuine triangle. Most “love triangles” would be more accurately described as “love angles”[1]; two competitors, entirely disinterested in one another(sometimes to the point of, a boringly entirely platonic, hostility), vying for the affections of a solitary Beloved.
So far I’ve only watched the first season(I never watched the 2nd&its followups when they first aired) so idk if this(and Taichi’s wonderful blushing at the idea of talking to Arata, so reminiscent of Chihaya’s) holds true throughout, but so far it’s something I really appreciate about this series on a second viewing.
[1]These “Love angles” are mostly boring and stupid, beyond being far overplayed and typically used to reinforce rather noxious social concepts(compulsive heteromonogamy for one). Love angles CAN be interesting, but usually their potential is sadly wasted. I particularly love the “inverted love angle”, wherein the two lovers/pursuers are ACTUALLY the beloved/pursued of a single, Overmighty, polyamorous Lover, as is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels or Lupin III, where it would be more accurately described as an “inverted love vertex”, due to having more than 2 rays(though I acknowledge others would argue, not without cause, that Lupin III is really more of a Love Polygon of so sort; at the very least a Love Pyramid).
