More concerned with investing in her future than enjoying her youth, student Meguru encounters her high school's karuta club advisor, Kanade Oe.

As Meguru chooses to quit the karuta club, her classmate Fuki, an aspiring boxer, decides to join. Later, she learns the reason for his decision.

Meguru and her clubmates take a test to join a karuta organization run by a Mizusawa alum. Later, Chieri reveals why she quit baseball.

The Umezono karuta clubmates attend a joint training camp with Hokuoh High School’s powerhouse club, led by Haruma's talented twin brother, Sho.

After Meguru's parents drag her back home from the karuta training camp, she makes the decision to quit the club after the next tournament.

At the start of the next school year, an odd new student joins the Umezono karuta club. Professional reader Nakanishi invites Kanade to come to Kyoto.

Yakumo sneaks into Mizusawa High School to spy on its karuta club, but soon runs into trouble. Later, Nagi gives a heartfelt interview for television.

In the first round of the Tokyo qualifiers, the Umezono students go up against the reigning champions of Mizusawa but soon find themselves struggling.