THANK YOU for this accurate overview. It really annoys me how people think just because someone likes you, you are supposedly obligated to like them back or to return the feelings out of responsibility. Whatever she decides should be respected and there is a possibility that there won’t be an endgame and the focus will be on karuta which is what this manga is about initially and that is completely fine too.
Yes , you're correct. There's a possibility of chihaya not ending up with anyone and the manga ending on a cliffhanger to let the reader's imagine what happens further. And honestly, I prefer that.
I agree with you 100% !!
Ok, so, romance is not what you should be concerned about the most. This manga mainly focuses on the underrated and traditional Japanese card game, karuta. It focuses on her will to get better and win, to gain the top position. NOT her wanting to get in a relationship with one of her two childhood friends.
Let me just give you some insight on their relationship.
With arata, she respects him as someone who introduced her to karuta, which she now adores more than anything and as someone who she thinks is invincible. She admires him a lot to a point one would think she loves him.
With taichi, she thinks of him as a precious friend she doesn't want to lose anytime soon. She doesn't look up to him but instead, at her level.
This is it.
I am unaware of who chihaya is going to end up with since, chihaya has shown no sign of romantic affection to any one of them.
This comment of mine wasn't required but seeing many hate chihaya because of her rejecting taichi just angered me, I guess. It's not her fault if she doesn't love him in that way. She can reject someone who she is not in love with. Stop calling chihaya stupid, she might be dense and bit self centered but she has still got the right to not reciprocate someone's feelings if she can't return them.
Period! Bye.