Chihaya is a girl in the sixth grade, still not old enough to even know the meaning of the word zeal. But one day, she meets Arata, a transfer student from rural Fukui prefecture. Though docile and quiet, he has an unexpected skill: his ability to play competitive karuta, a traditional Japanese card game.Chihaya is struck by his obsession with the game, along with his ability to pick out the right card and swipe it away before any of his opponents. However, Arata is transfixed by her as well, all because of her unbelievable natural talent for the game. Don't miss this story of adolescent lives and emotions playing out in the most dramatic of ways!
The first-ever fourth game of the Queen Match ends, and with it comes a change in the condition of Shinobu’s leg… Arata also falls to Master Suou’s fierce attack, bringing his match to two wins a piece as well. What is the nature of the “curse” bearing down on these two as they’re unable to pull away from Chihaya and Suou, who have now closed the gap? It’s time for game five at last! The final game begins as the players head into it having staked their entire youth!