The long-awaited third season of the anime "Kaguya-sama: Love is War" is set to air in April of this year, but which episode from the original manga are you most looking forward to being adapted into the third season? Everyone will have their own opinion, but I would definitely say it's the episode from Shuchiin Academy's cultural festival, "Houshinsai." As the title suggests, the story centers around the love game between Kaguya and Shirogane. With this concept in mind, the "Houshinsai" is the episode that sees the biggest change in the relationship between Kaguya and Shirogane. Here, I would like to introduce the Houshinsai, which is likely to be the most important episode in the third season of the anime.
Could it be the main focus of season three!?
In the original manga, the Houshin Festival episode was carefully depicted over many episodes. Therefore, it's likely that the third season of the anime will also devote a fair number of episodes to the festival. The Houshin Festival features numerous episodes that influence the story's progression, so it's unlikely that it will be completely omitted.
Various love stories intersect
Because the story is set during the school festival, the love lives of many characters are depicted. Not only Shirogane and Kaguya, but even characters who have had little romantic portrayal up until now are given the spotlight.
The conflict between Kaguya and Shirogane is finally resolved!?
This episode not only explores the romantic relationships of other characters, but also answers the questions about the relationship between the protagonist and heroine, Shirogane and Kaguya. Important events that form the theme of the series unfold all at once during the Houshin Festival.
A shocking revelation at the end!?
Furthermore, at the end of the original story, Shiragane makes a shocking confession. This plot twist is so clever, it truly feels like "Kaguya-sama: Love is War," so be sure to check it out.
The main character is Ishigami!?
It may be surprising, but the Houshin Festival primarily focuses on Ishigami's love life. While Ishigami was treated as a minor character in seasons 1 and 2, in season 3, starting with the Houshin Festival, Ishigami will be in the spotlight in many episodes.
Falling in love with a senior at the sports festival
The trigger for this was the sports festival episode. At the festival, Ishigami unexpectedly joined the cheerleading squad, and as he gained experience on the cheerleading squad, he fell in love at first sight with his senior, Tsubane Koyasu.
Growing as a Person
It seems that Ishigami's mindset changed as he gained experience like this. I don't dislike Ishigami's personality in seasons 1 and 2, but the sports festival triggered a drastic, yet gentle, transformation in his personality.
What will become of Ishigami's love?
As such, Ishigami, who has previously been a minor character, will likely be given a much stronger role in Season 3. Perhaps the greatest appeal of Season 3 is that we can follow not only the romantic machinations between Kaguya and Shirogane, but also Ishigami's pure love life at the same time.
Settings to look out for at the Houshin Festival!!
Now, let's take a closer look at the Houshin Festival, the most anticipated event in Season 3. The Houshin Festival is depicted as a particularly important event in the original manga, and many details are discussed throughout the story. Not only Kaguya and Shirogane, but Ishigami's romantic relationship is also depicted, so let's take a closer look.
The Origin of the Houshinsai
First, the story explores the origin of the Houshinsai. Shuchiin Academy, where the festival is held, boasts some of the highest academic achievements in Japan and a long history. Therefore, the origin of the cultural festival, the Houshinsai, is quite historic. The origin of the festival appears to be derived from an event found in the Fudoki, a collection of historical records compiled during the Nara period. The Fudoki is a collection of legends from various regions of Japan compiled during the Nara period. The origin of the Houshin Festival lies in an episode found in a prestigious historical document among the books still existing in Japan (although only a few Fudoki remain).
Heart Accessories
As such, the Houshin Festival appears to have originated from an episode recorded in the Fudoki, which describes the love affair of a princess from the past. Therefore, in reference to this episode, an urban legend has circulated that if you give a heart-shaped gift to your beloved at the Houshin Festival, you will be bound together forever. Heart-shaped gifts appear frequently in the series, so be sure to remember them.
The Relationship Between Shirogane and Kaguya
From here on, I'd like to focus on how the relationship between the protagonist and heroine, Shirogane and Kaguya, changes in this episode.
The Usual Battle of Wits
Until the school festival begins, the usual battle of wits for love unfolds, as depicted in seasons 1 and 2. This is a standard part of the series, so you might as well just gloss over it.
No Progress Until the Climax
And what's most interesting is that until the middle of the school festival, there's almost no interaction between Shirogane and Kaguya. In this work, the relationship between Kaguya and Shirogane forms the core of the story, so it's refreshing to see an episode where their interaction is so minimal.
Shiragane Challenges the Challenge
The school festival, which Kaguya and Shirogane find a little boring, is drawing to a close. At the final event of the festival, Shirogane challenges Kaguya to a challenge. It's only at the very end that the story finally takes a turn that's typical of Kaguya-sama, creating a sense of excitement that continues to build for the reader.
Climax
Shiragane's challenge to Kaguya leads to a shocking ending. The theme of this work is "a battle of wits between a man and a woman who can't confess their feelings to each other." In other words, if one of them were to confess, the battle would be decided and the story as a whole could potentially come to an end. However, the end of the school festival will involve stepping into the rules that form the basis of this work's story progression.
The Phantom Thief's True Identity Was Shirogane
The phantom thief who suddenly appeared and excited the school festival was actually Shirogane. It was Shirogane's costume, which he had carefully thought out from the beginning, in order to seriously challenge Kaguya. After Shirogane calmed down a while later, he regretted wearing this outfit due to the embarrassment.
A truly powerful situation
Anyway, at the very end of the cultural festival, Shiragane succeeds in summoning Kaguya to the school roof. This is perhaps the most exciting moment in this series' long-running storyline.
Finally Confesses to Kaguya
In this, the most powerful situation in the series, Shirogane confesses his feelings to Kaguya. As if to evoke a plot twist from a scene in a previous psychological test in which Shirogane declared, "I'll bring so many bouquets I can't carry them all" (the number of flowers was a metaphor for the amount of affection expressed when giving a gift to a lover), Shirogane spreads a large number of heart-shaped balloons into the sky for Kaguya.
An Unexpected Coming Out
The end of the school festival, the most interesting part of the series, reveals even more impactful information than Shirogane's confession. It turns out that he's going to study abroad in the United States. This sudden coming out probably came as a surprise to many readers. Naturally, studying abroad at an American university means he doesn't have much time left with Kaguya. Perhaps Shirogane realized this when he decided to study abroad in the United States, and decided to confess at the school festival?
Check out the original work!
This concludes our introduction to the Houshin Festival, the biggest episode in the anime's third season. Since it's the anime's biggest episode, fans who are already excited about it should definitely enjoy the Houshin Festival in the manga first.
Summary
What did you think? This time, we've introduced the Houshin Festival. The third season of the anime features not only the Houshin Festival, but many other episodes as well. Each episode is even more powerful than the second season, so we're sure to have high hopes for the third season! Anime Mill has other articles introducing the third season of Kaguya-sama, so be sure to check them out too!
