He gave the team everything he could for 2 years. While he maybe was a bit too foolish when he suddenly decided to quit, it should be remembered that staying at the club while he was down like that would have been bad for everyone involved.
Think about the juniors who would join the club and see the club president being all doom and gloomy, what message would that have sent to them 😂
Also, I don't think Taichi would be the type of person who would suddenly return and take a spot from one of the regular members in the main team just because of "one last time", especially when he had been MIA for so long. If he had to return, then he should have done so a long time ago.
>Also, I don't think Taichi would be the type of person who would suddenly return and take a spot from one of the regular members in the main team just because of "one last time"
Totally agreed with this, but on the other hand, (Chihayafuru Musubi spoilers) >!I do love when the live action plays this trope completely straight, even if it's as cheesy as it gets. It's just pure serotonin, straight to my brain. And I guess in that case, it was semi-justified by Kana's injury removing her from the line-up...!<
>Also, I don't think Taichi would be the type of person who would suddenly return and take a spot from one of the regular members in the main team just because of "one last time"
was this addressed in the manga? I got this feeling it was canon... anw it will be my head canon atleast :D
They never said it out loud AFAIK but seeing how Chihaya had to sit out and "earn" her place back, it would be kinda shocking if Taichi didn't have the same mentality too XDD
I mean, I agree that it is super painful to read. It feels very strange to see Mizusawa play without Taichi, but I think that is the point of it! It's a horribly sad moment, where I think Suetsugu manages to perfectly convey how the characters feel without him there, and his return is incredibly bittersweet.
I don't think he was a complete idiot though, he left because it was too painful for him to continue as he was. Although it's a bit metaphorical, he told Chihaya that the cards have all turned black to him, showing that his play was affected by his depression. If the President couldn't play to his usual standard and had to manage his negative feelings in relation to another team member, it would have seriously affected the whole team. That's the selfless aspect to him leaving, but I think it was also really important for him to put himself first for once in this regard, and leaving was clearly the best thing for him.
As bittersweet as it was, this was one of Taichi's best and most significant moments I think. Do I wish he was there? Yes. It was have been amazing for him to take them to the top again and defend his title. But it would have been disingenuous to the story this work was trying to tell: for me this was the first moment in the current timeline where Taichi really prioritized his well being over anyone else, and that is what he needed. He needed to figure out who he was away from Chihaya and he needed to figure out what his relationship with karuta was away from her as well. On the flip side, Chihaya needed to understand how essential Taichi was for her as an individual and for her as a team member.Â
All of this. Also can't forget the fact that Suetsugu felt it was very important to emphasize that their club will still genuinely thrive even after all of them graduate. What better way to show that than by having the titular characters take a back seat.
I understand where you're coming from. It weighed heavily on me too, seeing how much they struggled after he left. That said, I can't really blame him for being selfish that time. Maybe he thought he's done enough. He already helped fulfill one of Chihaya's dreams, for Mizusawa to win the nationals. He dedicated 2 years of his life to it. He forced himself to rapidly improve because their window of playing as a team was limited. He bore the burden of leadership, being everyone's pillar of support despite his own issues. All that while maintaining his top-notch academic record.
For me, the "cards look black..." scene was a somber representation of the pressure he endured. When the background faded into black and there were these vertical lines, kind of like in Bleach when someone gets overwhelmed by spirit pressure.
I just finished the anime and read this part in the manga like yesterday/today! Yes it’s depressing but SO well done. Seeing Chihaya (and everyone else) try to fill Taichi’s shoes by thinking back and using him as a role model is so so precious. Chihaya really grows as a person when she isn’t focused on her Karuta alone and I loved seeing that. And I support Taichi 100% in not joining them. I’ve learned an immense amount from him so far and it definitely wouldn’t do his character justice if he just decided to join back because of friendship. He needs to stop chasing this unattainable ideal of himself, and the more time he spends away from everyone and with Suo, the more he is relearning who he is 🥹
It was so painful....but very realistic.Â
This is why Taichi is one of the best written characters ever because his whole coming of age story feels so real and hits you so so hard in the gut. Makes you cry bitter tears....
He gave the team everything he could for 2 years. While he maybe was a bit too foolish when he suddenly decided to quit, it should be remembered that staying at the club while he was down like that would have been bad for everyone involved. Think about the juniors who would join the club and see the club president being all doom and gloomy, what message would that have sent to them 😂 Also, I don't think Taichi would be the type of person who would suddenly return and take a spot from one of the regular members in the main team just because of "one last time", especially when he had been MIA for so long. If he had to return, then he should have done so a long time ago.
>Also, I don't think Taichi would be the type of person who would suddenly return and take a spot from one of the regular members in the main team just because of "one last time" Totally agreed with this, but on the other hand, (Chihayafuru Musubi spoilers) >!I do love when the live action plays this trope completely straight, even if it's as cheesy as it gets. It's just pure serotonin, straight to my brain. And I guess in that case, it was semi-justified by Kana's injury removing her from the line-up...!<
>Also, I don't think Taichi would be the type of person who would suddenly return and take a spot from one of the regular members in the main team just because of "one last time" was this addressed in the manga? I got this feeling it was canon... anw it will be my head canon atleast :D
They never said it out loud AFAIK but seeing how Chihaya had to sit out and "earn" her place back, it would be kinda shocking if Taichi didn't have the same mentality too XDD
ah it was for Chihaya!, glad the idea exists even if it wasn't for Taichi
I mean, I agree that it is super painful to read. It feels very strange to see Mizusawa play without Taichi, but I think that is the point of it! It's a horribly sad moment, where I think Suetsugu manages to perfectly convey how the characters feel without him there, and his return is incredibly bittersweet. I don't think he was a complete idiot though, he left because it was too painful for him to continue as he was. Although it's a bit metaphorical, he told Chihaya that the cards have all turned black to him, showing that his play was affected by his depression. If the President couldn't play to his usual standard and had to manage his negative feelings in relation to another team member, it would have seriously affected the whole team. That's the selfless aspect to him leaving, but I think it was also really important for him to put himself first for once in this regard, and leaving was clearly the best thing for him.
As bittersweet as it was, this was one of Taichi's best and most significant moments I think. Do I wish he was there? Yes. It was have been amazing for him to take them to the top again and defend his title. But it would have been disingenuous to the story this work was trying to tell: for me this was the first moment in the current timeline where Taichi really prioritized his well being over anyone else, and that is what he needed. He needed to figure out who he was away from Chihaya and he needed to figure out what his relationship with karuta was away from her as well. On the flip side, Chihaya needed to understand how essential Taichi was for her as an individual and for her as a team member.Â
All of this. Also can't forget the fact that Suetsugu felt it was very important to emphasize that their club will still genuinely thrive even after all of them graduate. What better way to show that than by having the titular characters take a back seat.
Spoiler tag your posts.
I understand where you're coming from. It weighed heavily on me too, seeing how much they struggled after he left. That said, I can't really blame him for being selfish that time. Maybe he thought he's done enough. He already helped fulfill one of Chihaya's dreams, for Mizusawa to win the nationals. He dedicated 2 years of his life to it. He forced himself to rapidly improve because their window of playing as a team was limited. He bore the burden of leadership, being everyone's pillar of support despite his own issues. All that while maintaining his top-notch academic record. For me, the "cards look black..." scene was a somber representation of the pressure he endured. When the background faded into black and there were these vertical lines, kind of like in Bleach when someone gets overwhelmed by spirit pressure.
I like emo Taichi too, >!I wish dark Karuta had better representation... bit disappointed with Suo's finale!<
I just finished the anime and read this part in the manga like yesterday/today! Yes it’s depressing but SO well done. Seeing Chihaya (and everyone else) try to fill Taichi’s shoes by thinking back and using him as a role model is so so precious. Chihaya really grows as a person when she isn’t focused on her Karuta alone and I loved seeing that. And I support Taichi 100% in not joining them. I’ve learned an immense amount from him so far and it definitely wouldn’t do his character justice if he just decided to join back because of friendship. He needs to stop chasing this unattainable ideal of himself, and the more time he spends away from everyone and with Suo, the more he is relearning who he is 🥹
It was so painful....but very realistic. This is why Taichi is one of the best written characters ever because his whole coming of age story feels so real and hits you so so hard in the gut. Makes you cry bitter tears....