Personally, what I have really come to adore about him is that his love for people is incredibly apparent. That's a strange thing to say considering the kind of character he is on the surface, but I'm absolutely enthralled by the way he engages with people to bring out the best in themselves. It makes the revelation that he wants to chair the national association make so much sense because you can tell his investment is not just in karuta as a sport but also as a medium that brings out certain qualities in people. He is a sadist allegedly, but he cares to see people grow when he recognizes their passion and desire for doing so, regardless of wherever they're at personally in terms of skill. That tendency and brand of leadership is what builds the foundation for the veneration he receives from his teammates at Hokuo. It's what allows him to be one of the first people outside of Taichi and Arata to recognize that there is something latent but genuine that rests inside of Suou, and it's what makes him the perfect person to succeed leadership in the association because unlike so many of the old-time players who have embroiled themselves in genuine condescension, Sudo's brand of condescension is nothing but a façade. He teases, he pushes, he manipulates (and I hate to use this word, the connotation is way too negative for what I'm implying), but with the best of intentions and with a desire to see the people he's challenging grow and succeed. That deal he makes with Taichi, for example, is an enormous gamble to take on, but in the grand scheme of things it's a move made by someone who wants to see his rivals grow and continue to challenge themselves rather than giving into easy outs and excuses—the mark of a good leader.

Really? I'd love then to talk to you more I have tons of questions I want to ask, you seem to know:

Will Chihaya and/or Arata send Tachi or SE? This is huge and I wonder if sensei will not draw an interesting inner debate on which to send, it's really not easy and very important!

What are the remaining dead cards? I wonder if another TA card is still unread? so TACHI is a 2 syllables card, will sensei use this? how will Arata defeat Suo's good hearing if it gets read? Suo can hear a sound 0.5 tone before anyone else, Chihaya might take it but what about Arata?

No wait, it's even a bigger problem if it's not 2 syllables card!!

Also why TACHI vs SE despite all the importance placed on SE all this time, how is TACHI qualified to be used in a meaningful comparison with SE? Could it be that TACHI was given to Taichi by both Arata & Chihaya the same way Arata gave CHIHA to Chihaya and Taichi gave WATA-YA to Arata that's why they'll take it both and Taichi will feel some kind of inclusion and be reminded of team Chihayafuru? how emotional would that be!!

You seem to know, you can predict, can you tell me? because It's not good to send a card you want to take in the luck-of-the-draw, you are always to keep it instead because you'll have a bigger chance to get it by defending but Chihaya is an offensive player a real one, to the core too! what will she do? both cards are important and she said that she lets go of what she wants to take the most to go on the offensive and take it, will she do something like that? So it's TACHI in this case right? because Chihaya can also hear it 0.5 tone before Shinobu and Shinobu was always better when it comes to SE, oh wait! but what about Suo still SENDING SE to Arata despite knowing that Arata is cooking something? Some strategy? Wait, Arata! Arata saying the 99th card!! could it be that he predicted all the cards that will be read? I feel amusingly curious i did some math and I could only guess that HOTOTOGISU is one of the dead cards (and I could be totally wrong lol), what does Arata know? also the fate of the luck-of-the-draw is practically in his hands because he has to send the card that won't be read and keep the one that'll be read with him, if he is qualified to become a meijin he should be able to tell this right? like Harada sensei and Suo, Suo can't do anything but receive a card and try to find a way to take the one on Arata's side first.

but wait no, Arata could also use his acceleration? he can accelerate even on his own side but attacking?! how could I forget this possibility? but wait, his injured hand, won't it be in the way?

Everything is predictable you say? then pray tell me, how are we gonna arrive to that result (Chihaya & Arata winning)?

What will Taichi learn during this? Sudo has been drawn as a very loyal friend to Suo and Sudo wants to become a chairman of the all-karuta association and this needs him to become a meijin at least once so how will Suo's involvement with him be drawn from now on and will Taichi be replaced then? or will sensei make Suo maybe tell us something about the TACHI card that Suo might get or attack for? And Chitose? you can predict you say, will Chitose -come back for her pillow- then arrive to Omi Jingu again to see Chihaya accomplish what she stopped worshiping her for? and how will Chihaya start telling us about PASSION and how six years ago, she was rather fully consumed by her sister's success?

I also think that Chihaya & Arata will win, but this is the last thing i'm concerned about, I want to know the process of winning and everyone's role is what i'm reading in every new chapter and I'm surprised with every choice sensei makes be it one of the so many "what ifs" I thought of or a totally different one which she pulled quite a lot throughout the manga.

I don't know about you but I personally enjoy every chapter VERY MUCH!

I meant to write a Sudo x Chihaya one-shot, but it ended up being a two-shot instead xD. The second (and final!) chapter is now up.

Summary: Chihaya is baffled by Sudo’s recent wager with her at a tournament. He said, “Ayase, if you lose this match, you have to treat me at your most hated restaurant in Tokyo.”

OR

Chihaya tries to figure out how dating works. Mishaps and misunderstandings ensue.

Things I do when I can’t sleep: write a Sudo x Chihaya one-shot. It was so much fun writing Sudo!

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It all started at a Class A Tournament where they were matched together.

Sudo said, “Ayase, if you lose this match, you have to treat me at your most hated restaurant in Tokyo.”

Chihaya merely blinked in confusion. “What, why do I have to do that?”

“Why, so I can relish you suffering of course.”

“No! I mean, why do we have to place a bet on our match anyway?”

Sudo looked at her as if she was asking the most obvious question in the world, “What’s the fun in having a regular match?”

Chihaya’s eyes took on a competitive glint. “You’re assuming you’re going to be able to win in the first place. Last time I checked, I still have a large advantage in our head-to-head count.”

Sudo smirked. “If you’re so confident, what’s the harm in placing a wager? If you win, you can watch me eat my least favorite food.”

Chihaya fell for it hook, line and sinker. Even though she had promised herself the last time she had a wager with Sudo that she would never fall for his tricks again. Last time, she was rescued from the sad fate of having to shave her head by her knight-in-shining-armor and favorite person in the world Harada-sensei. But Harada-sensei was not even at this tournament.

Of course, a bet of this nature made Sudo ten times more motivated than usual. He won.

...

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