#sudo akito

"Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts."

Many won't like my opinion but I truly don't think Shinobu's grandmother's thinking that Shinobu will create an era where Karuta players flourish is correct.

Yes, it's true that like Plum Blossoms Shinobu blooms before everyone else but she isn't much of a team player. She told Arata during 2and year that exceptional players are those who play alone and was furious at him for creating a team during 3rd year. In fact at the beginning of Queen match against Chihaya despite how much both Koishikawa and Yuikawa have helped her for months kept insisting that she needs no one.

While it's true that the condition to be allowed to stay at her grandmother's house was that Shinobu needs to excel at something and her mother was no help it just highlights the fact that whenever Shinobu looses she unravels so she doesn't get the chance to grow properly.

And if it's the matter of Shinobu not being accepted by peers then neither is Chihaya but the latter does her best to make them understand her passion and she listens to them as well.

Plus Chihaya is the one who knows most players better because she doesn't mind opening herself in front of others and they too confide their feelings, thoughts with Chihaya.