Episode 21 starts off with Chihaya and her friends finishing their exams and preparing for the big qualification tournament that weekend. Chihaya is relieved to have her exams behind her, but she also seems a bit concerned as to whether she'll be held back or not. During practice, she puts her all into it - especially against Nishima since he's now Class A - but still seems to be making sure she isn't using her speed. Instead, she's concentrating on the placement of the cards and her opponent's strengths and weaknesses. Either way, she's improving her game little by little. However, our attention is diverted to Taichi - who is reading the cards - because he's completely memorized the cards and is reading them at random from memory! Everyone but Chihaya notices, but once the match is over everyone is completely stunned that he was able to read 100 poems at random without messing up a single time. Nishida tells him to quit being so perfect, which confuses Taichi since he thinks he made a mistake. Kanade points out that instead of feeling the cards, like herself, Chihaya and Nishida do, Taichi's weakness is that he can only see the cards as cards. Taichi considers this and inwardly seems to scold himself for having a weakness in the first place. As the group leave school grounds after their practice, they're startled by their teacher hollering out of the second story window. She's calling out to Chihaya and is elated to tell her that she managed to pass all of her exams. Chihaya is ecstatic to hear that, but she's really touched when her teacher wishes her luck in the upcoming tournament. Despite the strange looks from the other students in the surrounding area, Chihaya seems even more determined to do her best and not let her teacher down.
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