Chihayafuru 12

*Only for use by Lazy Ass Scans

tl by JinHea

05
- Chihayafuru
- 12th song

- The opponent has 3 cards left,
- I have 6 cards.

- 2 ghost cards left…
- I’m sure this one’ll be read soon.
- This is the

- accumulated experience of 10 years playing Karuta.
- When it comes to reading the flow of the game, I have the upper hand.
- Come! Let’s finish this!

06
- Nagara eba—
- —Correct guess, but I can’t get it fast enough—

Chihaya: phew—
Nishida: Geez, I’m fed up. You go next, Mashima.
Taichi: But Nishida, your ability is more on par with her.
Kana: Chihaya-chan, you’re really good.

Chihaya: I see. I should’ve taken out “Michi” then…
Chihaya: if I’d waited some more before making my move…

Nishida: Instant slumber!! [aside] There it is!

07
Nishida: I rely heavily upon my finely-honed “perception” to specialise in an aggressive game of Karuta— [linked] but if the card I have my eye on is sent flying the moment it’s read out, there’s nothing even I can do.
Kana: “Perception”? What is that, Mashima-san?
Taichi: It’s…

Nishida: Well, Kana-chan, it’s
Nishida: a Karuta term for one’s reaction speed to the readings. [linked] It’s considered the most important ability in the game.

Nishida: It’s something you’re just born with.
Arrow: the whites of her eyes
Nishida: Ayase gets the cards using this ability. [linked] It’s infuriating, but she’s got the makings of a genius.

Kana: Amazing!!
Kana: Then Chihaya-chan wearing my family’s hakama and battling for the title of Queen isn’t just a dream, right? [linked] And ON NATIONAL TELEVISION! [linked] Although I’m just thinking of the business.
Nishida: No… [linked] there’re quite a lot of geniuses at A-level… [linked] from what I see.

08
Taichi: This also goes for Ooe-san, [linked] but I’m really glad you joined, Nishida.
Nishida: Eh?

Taichi: Cos I haven’t won even once against Chihaya. [linked] I’m not aiming to be a celebrity, so it doesn’t matter if I don’t win, but…
Taichi: …she can’t improve playing against me.

Taichi: It was tough with just the two of…

Nishida: Then would you
Nishida: make her stop calling me “meatbun-kun”?
- Meatbun-kun.

Chihaya: Let’s have another match later.
Nishida: Don’t call me Meatbun-kun!
Chihaaya: I’ll just be off doing some scouting.

Kana: Scouting? Our 5th member?
Taichi: Who is it?

09
Chihaya: The scholar ranked 2nd place in our entire year level, right after Mashima Taichi,
Chihaya: Desk-kun from my class!

- That guy’s sickening. [linked] Rather than Tsutomu-kun, more like Desk-kun? [NB. Desk is tsukue in Japanese, which sounds similar to Tsutomu, this character’s actual name]
- He doesn’t leave his desk at all except to go to the toilet.
- [aside] Ahahahahaha [normal text] You know, he looks like a jelly bean.
Tsutomu: I don’t like school.
Tsutomu: Because it’s filled with discriminating idiots.

- scritch

- Good, I solved it!

10
Tsutomu: But I like studying.
Tsutomu: If I work hard, the class average will be better. [linked] I’m doing this for those idiots’ sake too.

- But isn’t it sad? [linked] Even being that attached to his desk, he’s only 2nd place.
- I know right—

- Thinking about it that way, Mashima-kun of group 1 really is amazing. [linked] He’s not nerdy at all, yet he’s first place.
- I wish they’d trade classes, honestly.

- Compared to 2nd place’s Desk-kun, 1st place is a major hottie! [aside] Kyahahahaha

Chihaya: ‘Sup there, I’m Ayase Chihaya!
Package: Jam bread
Arrow: bribe
Chihaya: Komano-kun, I came to scout you! [linked] Let’s play Karuta together in Karuta club!!

11
Package: Jam bread

Chihaya: Komano-kun, you’re 2nd place in our year level, right?

Chihaya: Karuta is (apparently) a sport that really suits smart people.
Chihaya: If Komano-kun joins we’ll have 5 people and get to form a proper club. [linked] Beginners welcome!

Komano: …I don’t understand what you mean…
Chihaya: [aside] ah [normal text] Karuta is centered around Hyakunin Isshu, you know…

Komano: What’s the point?
Komano: Can Karuta get me 1st place?

12
Chihaya: Um…
Komano: There’s no such thing as a Karuto pro, is there?

Komano: It’s just a game.
Komano: What good’s it gonna do?

Komano: Is it gonna help my studies?

Komano: Is there any merit to playing?

Chihaya: I don’t care how many reasons you have for not playing!
Komano: Eh!?
Package: Jam bread
Chihaya: Quit your excuses and just play a round!

13
Nishida: Mashima.
Nishida: “It’s tough with just the two of us”, [linked] I think I get what you mean.

Taichi: What do you get? [aside] He’s eating a meat bun again.
Nishida: Ayase— [linked] she’s really into Karuta, no?

Nishida: We probably don’t have what it takes compared to her. She’s going all out. [linked] I starving.
Nishida: People with goals are different. [linked] She aiming for Queen, right?

- Arata

14
- Someday, with Arata…

Chihaya: Everyone!
Chihaya: Teach this guy!
Chihaya: Teach him the appeal of competitive Karuta!

Taichi: Huh?
Komano: You’ve gotta be kidding! [linked] If there’s time to play Karuta, I’d rather use it to study… [aside] Don’t drag me here against my will!!
Chiahaya: Komano-kun, you want to get smarter don’t you?

15
Chihaya: Playing Karuta requires heavy use of the brain. [linked] To begin with, you must memorise the cards’ positions.
Chihaya: Really fast people can memorise them in 3, 5 minutes.

Chihaya: This memorisation ability is, without a doubt, incredibly useful for your studies!!
Komano: Memorise? All the positions? [linked] You lie!!
Kana: Another uncouth person…
Chihaya: I’m not lying! It’s the basics! [linked] That’s why I’m telling you to watch!

Komano: Besides, why do I have to…
SFX: Ah!

- Mashima Taichi!?
- He’s the one who takes 1st place on every single monthly test—

16
Chihaya: It’s memorisation time, so just wait a bit, okay? [linked] The match begins in 15 minutes. [aside] I’m playing Meatbun-kun.
Nishida aside: Eh— meeee?
Komano: H… hold on.

Komano: Memorisation is the basics, right?
Komano: If Karuta players really do have amazing memorisation abilities,

Komano: I’d like to see you play with all the cards face down.

- Eh!?

17
Chihaya: Eh—!? [linked] We’re not trying to get neurasthenia here! [NB. Neurasthenia is extreme fatigue of the nerves. Chihaya sure knows some big words!]
Chihaya: With the cards being moved on top of that, there’s no way…

Komano: You went on and on about “memorisation time”, yet you can’t do it.
Komano: In that case, it’s nothing amazing. [linked] Good-bye.

Chihaya: Uwaah! Wait! Don’t go!
Taichi: Chihaya… What’s the deal with that irritating shortie?
Chihaya: But Taichi, you said I should get smart people…

Aside: smart…

Nishida: No way. I don’t wanna do something like that.
Chihaya: I don’t wanna either! [linked] But that’s what he said, and we can’t back down, right?

Kana: I understand. [linked] That being the case, allow me to…
Nishida aside: She’s bold at the oddest of times!!
Chihaya: Kana-chan can sit out.

18
Nishida: Mashima, you go!

Taichi: Chihaya, let’s try it. [aside] We don’t have a choice.
Chihaya: You sure, Taichi?
Taichi: It’ll get confusing if we send the cards flying, so just press them.

- Face down Karuta…

- It can’t be done. [linked] To accurately memorise that many cards within the 15 minutes of memorisation time they have…
- It can’t possibly be done.

- Nani wazu ni sakuya kono hana fuyu gomori
- Ima wo haru beto sakuya kono hana
- Ima wo haru beto sakuya kono hana—

19
- Ukari keru—

- Oto ni kiku—

Kana: Wow, amazing! [linked] That’s correct.

- Once you’ve undergone Karuta training, up to a certain point it’s possible to get even face down cards.
- But in the latter half when most of the cards have been read, how much concentration can they muster to do so?

20
- Waga iho wa—

Taichi: Huh?

Chihaya aside: I did remember, but…
- Chihaya isn’t as aggressive as usual.

- She isn’t self-assured.
- Since she’s always used a vague method of memorisation…

- I…

- I might be able to win…
- against Chihaya—

21
Chihaya: I’m still okay. [linked] Over there, it goes “Harusu”, [linked] “Taki”, “Kore”,
Chihaya: “Ooe”, “Koi”, [linked] “Tare”…
Taichi: I’m moving the cards.

Chihaya: Eeh!?
Chihaya: Hold on! Hold on! [linked] What’s with that?

22
- Yamaza

- Se

- This isn’t…

23
- the Taichi I’m always practicing with.

SFX: haa haa

SFX: phew—

24
Nishida: He unerringly aims for the correct cards. [linked] He even follows the words closely as they arrive at the decisive syllables…
- Naniwa gata

- “It doesn’t matter if I don’t win”

- How can it not matter?

- Chihaya

25
- The one in front of you is me!

Kana: They did it!

- Thank you very much.
- Thank you very much.

Chihaya: I can’t believe it…

26
Taichi: Wait up!

Taichi: After making us go through that grueling match, you’re just gonna leave without a word?
Taichi: Um—

Taichi: What was your name again?

27
- Why does someone like him exist?
- He has good friends,
- he’s talented…

- Who’s notes are these? Desk-kun’s?
- It’s so perfect!
- Lemme see! Lemme see!
- Me too—

- Thanks, Desk-kun!
- Place 1st on the next test too, ‘kay?

- 1st place…
- I’ll get 1st place.
- I’ll win.

- But, I know.

28
- Even if I get 1st place,
- I still won’t be able to enter that circle.

Taichi: Hey,
Taichi: if you’re even the slightest bit interested, the Karuta Club—

Komano: No way I can play Karuta! [linked] I don’t have the talent!
Komano: I’m not like you!

Komano: Apart from studying…
Komano: apart from a desk…

Komano: there’s nowhere else for me to belong!

29
Komano: Aah!?

Taichi: I don’t have any talent for Karuta!

30
Taichi: It’s tough, but I keep playing.
Taichi: I lose, but I keep playing.

Taichi: Cuz when I win,

Taichi: the thrill is indescribable…!

31
Taichi: What’s wrong with me?
Taichi: How crude…

Taichi: …but the way I see it,
Taichi: when seeking fellow players,

Taichi: rather than a Karuta “genius”,
Taichi: I’d prefer someone who can continue to work hard on the tatami.

32
Komano: Wh…

Komano: What’re you going on about? [linked] Stuff like on the tatami, Karuta…
Komano: I dunno what you’re trying to say…

Komano: Yeesh, look at my desk…

Taichi: I see… [linked] Sorry ‘bout that.

33
- It’s tough, but I keep playing.
- I lose, but I keep playing.

- When seeking fellow players,
- I’d prefer someone who can continue to work hard on the tatami.

34
- Later, Chihaya’s…
- attempts at revenge in face down Karuta only landed her five consecutive losses.