Original subtitles

PREVIOUSLY

I didn't get it.

Why cry that much when you went out in the first round?

If I could beat her at just one thing,

then maybe I would cry

like the girls from the karuta club.

Yes!

Umezono

has three wins!

I can't believe Umezono beat Hokuoh.

Mizusawa, Umezono, and Adore.

They're all still in the game.

Oh, hold on, everyone.

Your sashes are loose.

Let's win.

Win and go to the All Japan.

We'll take everything we've learned

and throw it at Mizusawa.

Now, please deal the cards.

Let's have a good game.

Your reader is Kanade Oe, an A-class official reader.

Now commencing the first round…

A FEW HOURS EARLIER

…Adore Girls' Academy versus Umezono High School

and Hokuoh High School versus Mizusawa High School.

READERS' WAITING ROOM

Coming in.

You don't need to hide just because you're going to be the reader.

No, I'm quite happy in here.

This way, they're able to focus.

I don't want to be a distraction.

I'll sit down, if you don't mind.

Me? The reader for the final qualifier?!

Yes.

I had planned to read, but now I'd like you to do it instead.

But that would mean I'd be reading for my own students'…

Or is that the point?

Miss Oe.

I'm thinking of retiring from reading in the near future.

What? Seriously?

As such, I have a strong desire to cultivate a professional reader

to succeed me.

You remain the top candidate to do so.

Your recital of "O leaves of crimson" at the readers' screening, however…

When I heard your personal feelings creep in,

my confidence in you was a little shaken, quite frankly.

Errors like that

are completely unacceptable in games where the title of Meijin

or Queen of Karuta is at stake.

I am truly sorry about that.

A reader is to remain impartial in any situation and to all players.

Professional readers must be the epitome of that.

Let me put you to the test to see if you are fit

to take up my baton.

Yes, ma'am.

I understand.

CHIHAYAFURU: FULL CIRCLE

We will now begin the third round.

POEM TEN: IN NANIWA BAY

Let's have a good game.

Let's have a good game.

In Naniwa Bay Behold how the flower blooms

After winter's sleep

Let's go, Umezono!

Right!

And now, with spring's arrival…

She's taken it up yet another level.

That's our Kana.

Mi-zu-sa-wa!

Let's go!

Right!

Mizusawa's yelling too.

And now, with spring's arrival

It reveals its full glory

Here it comes!

Snatched it!

Nice!

So quick. Is Umezono gonna be okay?

Meguru…

-Three in a row! -Me too!

Stole it!

Let's all take the next one too.

Right!

They're as tough as ever.

Yes, they are.

The hearts of others May change without my knowing…

If the meaning of

Mount Osaka's kadsura

Is "to share a bed"

And there I thought we could be friends.

Telling lies, though…

That's unforgivable.

I do not lament From a moonstruck reverie…

Looking at the moon…

What's this? I remember you being better.

It's all Mizusawa.

We need to get the momentum back with us somehow.

"The shallows run swift."

Nagi.

I… was always so scared of sitting opposite you.

Because it reminds me that I'm one of the losers.

Bright the moon still shone As that night turned into dawn

Upon our parting

So

why is it

that I'm not scared at all now?

Everyone's names are in these cards.

MEGURU, YAKUMO, YONO, SHIRANO, OKUYAMA, OE, MURATA

They're here with me too.

And what's more…

And now the first light of day…

There's that reassuring sound.

It's just like being back at…

Please don't forget.

Forever and wherever,

I'll be cheering you on.

Into Mika's fields…

Snatched it!

All right!

One card at a time, guys, as always.

Right!

As always?

That's right.

Miss Murata.

Look.

Right.

As always.

Haruma's always been by my side.

And the way

he fought like his life depended on it

was so damn cool.

Why does my heart long for you…

And I want Haruma

to see me

in a new light too!

Deep in the mountains Parting red leaves underfoot

Crying, a deer's voice

If your love for me

Will last for long, I know not

And now my feelings

I'm truly sorry for what I did.

Huh? What's this?

Trying to trick me--

However…

I can't let you win this match.

After all…

Everyone's waiting for you to come back, Yaku Moku.

See our determination with your own eyes.

I am Umezono's captain.

Niwano.

We did our research on you.

You're easily baited by your opponent.

That's why…

I'll reach out first!

Streak!

Nice!

Yono!

KOTA NIWANO USUAL ARRANGEMENT

You worked so hard.

The waterfall's sound…

Blown just a little See how the plants of autumn…

Kenshin Orie's as good as his reputation.

Is he still too much for Shirano?

Ordinarily, he couldn't win.

But he's not ordinary.

His left-handed training is beginning to bear fruit.

What is this?

Orie looks wide open compared to before.

It's easy for a left hand to exploit a right hand's openings.

It can get in like this.

I see.

He had a taste of that,

so he's changed how he reaches his hand out.

Mr. Shirano has excellent dynamic visual acuity as well.

Sneaking a punch through your foe's guard is boxing's bread and butter.

Is known as devastation

Thick patches of weeds

Grow everywhere around

This lonesome dwelling

Snatched it!

Incredible, Mr. Shirano!

He's a natural-born karuta player.

On a streak!

Nice!

The momentum's with Umezono!

Very good!

Now I'm getting excited.

I was excited from the get-go.

Kept it!

I've never seen Fuki having so much fun before.

These two sleeves of mine…

-Took it! -Kept it!

Nice!

I can't believe we're the ones being pressed!

-Let's all get the next one too! -Right!

The momentum's against us.

What was it Miss Aya said?

At times like these…

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Remember it.

The most fun you ever had playing karuta.

Sorry about that.

It's as if

time has stood still since that moment.

I feel like

I've always been waiting for this day.

Waiting to be face-to-face

with Meguru again.

The most fun I've had playing karuta?

That would be

right now!

Let's go, Mizusawa!

To Omi Shrine!

Right!

Never did I pray for you

To grow so distant from me

After the shower…

Snatched it!

Kept it!

Stole it!

Yes!

Why are you smiling, Miss Ayase?

What?

Don't you think it's amazing, Sumire?

What is?

Every single person here loves karuta.

You're karuta crazy.

One card left.

If he takes the next one, it's over.

But we're gonna go.

To the All Japan!

That's what we promised each other!

Sleeves never grow faint

One win for Mizusawa!

Nice!

Two wins for Mizusawa!

Nice!

Not Yakumo too.

We're on the ropes now.

I guess it's to be expected when facing Mizusawa.

It's not over yet.

We still have plenty.

Well played, Yaku Moku.

You too, Chieri.

Just you watch. We'll get those three wins.

Plenty of people who don't know when to give up.

We're just getting started, Umezono!

Right!

They aren't just good at karuta.

They make their whole team stronger too.

Let's go, Mizusawa!

Huh?

Did I get the timing wrong?

No.

Right!

Right!

Kenshin's rallying his team!

Kenshin…

46TH ALL JAPAN HIGH SCHOOL KARUTA CHAMPIONSHIP

I know not my place But as I look out upon…

Three wins for Hokuoh!

-Nice, Hokuoh! -Way to go!

The Hokuoh versus Adore game is over.

Hokuoh won 3-2.

What does that mean?

If Umezono can score a comeback against Mizusawa,

it'll be them going to the All Japan!

Sho gave us a chance!

Three wins from this situation?

Fuki!

Oh man.

To be honest, I can't feel my right hand anymore…

-Lab? -Yeah.

I want to do some research into regenerative medicine.

To give someone who helped me his sight back.

They say there's no way to cure it.

But nothing's impossible, right?

As long as there's one person who won't quit.

At the time, I didn't understand what "the true meaning of youth" meant.

That word was never about describing a period of time.

"Youth"

doesn't describe a period of time.

It's about how you live your life.

Right, Dr. Mashima?

Parted we may be…

Stole it!

-Kept it! -Me too!

That I might please you…

Kept it!

All the cards being read are on our side.

The more cards you have, the likelier that one of yours is read.

That's what makes karuta so interesting.

Huge comebacks are part of the game.

-Kept it! -Got it!

Four cards between them!

Night fades into dawn…

Kept it!

Three cards between them!

At this present time…

Streak!

You're kidding! A two-card gap?

One card between them!

-Kept it! -Me too!

Nice!

They caught up!

-Stole it! -Nice!

Moving my card.

Umezono has two cards left.

Mizusawa has one.

If we don't get the next one,

we… lose.

I shall not moisten my sleeves

With tears for one unfaithful

Fleeing solitude I step outside of my home…

Kept it!

Nice!

A three-way battle of fate.

What a turn of events!

Mizusawa saw this coming?

Huh?

What? What is it?

They've got us.

Mizusawa's split their cards.

A card split.

Card split?

Mizusawa already has two wins, so they just need one more.

It's far better to guard your own card in a battle of fate.

YO WO, ME, ME ME, YO WO, YO WO

So Mizusawa split their cards so that they can win no matter which is read.

So we're in dire straits?

Yes.

We're done for!

I am met with the same sight

The lonely dusk of autumn

In Yura's channel A boatman's rudder is lost…

A dead card!

We're saved!

I can hardly breathe!

Is there nothing they can do?

At this point…

Nothing.

Just as floundered as one is

Who has lost their true love

How cruel you are, world Providing us no refuge…

Another dead card.

Thank you.

Thank you.

One win

for Umezono!

Nice!

-Huh? -For real?

Mr. Yono pulled it off!

-He baited him into fouling? -A miracle.

What an incredible miracle.

They've turned a terrible position

into a fifty-fifty showdown!

Now it's a true battle of fate.

Five practice sweeps.

This is…

A code.

Code?

We all agreed on it together.

That's the code to attack the enemy territory.

They're going on the attack?

How many cards are left?

Three more to be read.

"Yo mo" is the dead one.

Miss Aizawa knows that.

Seriously?

Why did you reach over here just now?

After considering what cards have been read and what cards are left,

something in me felt that it was slightly more likely

that it'd be one of these.

Knowing what cards are left in a game? That's hard even for an A-class player.

This is where her skill comes into play.

Guarding my own territory is the safer option.

But,

if I'm going to go for "Going round the path," it's now or never.

Would that be crazy?

Maybe.

Excuse me.

Fate.

It must be fate.

Pardon me.

If it's "Deep into the night," Umezono wins.

If it's "Going round the path," Mizusawa wins.

Who knew a single card could feel so heavy?

It's the weight of destiny.

Murasaki Shikibu

and Sei Shonagon.

Though they lived in the same age a millennium ago, they never met.

But, Miss Aizawa,

it's my belief

that if they could transcend time to meet now,

the two of them

would be the best of friends.

For even in mountains deep

The deer cry out in sorrow

-One moment, please. -An outage?

-Please wait where you are. -A blackout?

Are you trembling, Miss Oe?

Our apologies.

We will now resume the match.

Miss Oe.

Are you celebrating?

Or are you despairing?

Don't worry, Miss Oe.

Whatever the outcome,

I'll be all right.

Because now I can believe.

For even in mountains deep

The deer cry out in sorrow

Failure.

Success.

Hope.

Regret.

I am who I am today because they've all built up inside me!

Going round the path

If it is you whom I met

I cannot be sure

Who is it?

Who won?

It's Mizusawa. It's…

Mizusawa that won.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mizusawa…

has three wins.

Mizusawa has… four wins!

For behind a single cloud

The moon that night did vanish

Kenshin!

Kenshin! Thank you!

I wanted to go.

I really…

wanted to go with you all.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry

we only got one lousy win.

Our combined strength wasn't enough.

That's all.

But…

we had a damn good time.

Man.

What a bummer, huh?

We'll make up for it

in the singles games!

Right!

Those really were good matches.

You kept fighting till the very last card,

and I'm proud of you for that.

Hey, you'll have to give me your contact info.

As if you're going to contact me.

I'll go ask Meguru instead, then.

I never said no.

Why are you smiling?

I just never thought I'd see the day that you wanted a photo with me.

Who doesn't take photos with their big bro?

I'm so happy!

You did great, Nagi.

Okay!

You guys get all the okonomiyaki you can eat today!

I'm gonna stuff my face!

Thank you, truly.

Thank you.

Oh? Thank you.

Cut it out.

Everyone.

You were absolutely wonderful.

Thank you.

Your reading was absolutely wonderful too.

Thank you.

I owe that to all of you.

What are we doing for the after-party?

Okay! Who's down for karaoke?

I think I'll react to the karuta lines faster this time.

Kind of an odd reason to go.

I want to hear your lovely voice this time.

Huh? Me too! You didn't sing at all last time.

No, I'll pass, thanks.

I think I'd like to hear it too.

-All right! Let's go! -Nope. No.

Off we go!

Actually, I did hear him humming once before.

Oh? What was he humming?

Kana!

Don't mind us. Go.

Thank you.

Kana!

You were so good!

-Thank you! -I'm going to work hard too.

If you'll read for it, Kana, I'll have that Queen game

with Shinobu.

All right.

Just hold tight.

-Oh, and I really-- -No. Not at the Yugiri-kai.

I didn't say anything.

-You wanted to play karuta right now. -Busted.

You only just landed back in Japan.

You're a machine.

The paper screens'll get full of holes if you come to the Yugiri-kai!

I get it.

Even now,

Miss Oe is still playing a team game.

In this game of survival we call life,

everyone forms their own huddle

and calls out to one another.

Could Miss Oe's "treasure" be…?

Meguru.

What's up?

That's what she meant?

You mean it was here all along?

What was?

The thing I was looking for.

Hold on a second.

-Huh? -What is it?

My bangs are messed up.

-Now? -What's wrong with Meat Bun?

You never change.

ONO SHRINE

COMPETITIVE KARUTA EXPERIENCE

Nagi.

I had a really great time.

Me too.

SPRING 2026

10TH OGURA HYAKUNIN ISSHU COMPETITIVE KARUTA SPRING CUP

"BEHOLD HOW THE FLOWER BLOOMS"

So how's your college?

-The food's on a whole other level. -The food?!

The classes are interesting, too, but the food's the best.

Enough with the food already.

Hey! Huh? Guys!

Look at you! You're, like, real college students!

-You've grown up. -It's been a while.

The 10th Ogura Hyakunin Isshu Competitive Karuta Spring Cup

"Behold How the Flower Blooms" Tournament is about to begin.

Joining me for today's coverage is Lifetime Queen and YouTuber,

Ms. Shinobu Wakamiya.

Good morning, YouTube. Wakamiya here.

What do you make of today's tournament, Ms. Wakamiya?

I'm always so impressed by how good everyone's karuta is.

One of the players competing today could well be a future challenger of yours.

Now, that's a scary thought!

I'm quaking in my boots.

Now, for competitive karuta analysis by Ms. Wakamiya

as well as fan activities and more,

please check out the link for Shinobu Channel in the description.

Hope to see you there.

Now, there are a lot of fresh faces straight out of high-school karuta here.

Let's have a good game.

All right! Here we go, Fukenso!

What?

I don't know about that name, "Fukenso."

I get it's our three names, but…

What? It's a good name. Fukenso!

The old team's back together.

-Let's show 'em what we're made of today. -Yeah.

Brotherly love makes your karuta stronger.

Let's give it our all, you two!

Right!

We can't lose now we're repping Hokuoh as alumni.

-Huh? Did you change your towel's color? -You noticed, huh?

Yeah. It suits you.

All three wins, yeah?

Let's enjoy this.

In Naniwa Bay Behold how the flower blooms

After winter's sleep

And now, with spring's arrival

It reveals its full glory

And now, with spring's arrival

It reveals its full glory

MURASAKI SHIKIBU

Going round the path

If it is you whom I met

I cannot be sure

Subtitle translation by: Lewis Williams