March Comes In Like a Lion 2nd Season Episode 12

GREAT

90%

of 4 scoutsrecommend

Animation & Style

Character Writing & Lore

Pacing

World Building & Setting

👀 SPOILER-FREE SUMMARY

A dual-chapter episode that lives up to its contrasting title. The first half leans into the quiet devastation of Rei's isolation — the cold apartment, the silence after leaving the Kawamoto household — rendered with Shaft's characteristic visual poetry. Loneliness isn't just a feeling here; it's an atmosphere that saturates every frame. The second half pivots toward the shogi board, introducing tension through Rei's Lion King Tournament match against Tsujii, whose aggressive playstyle and disarming humor provide unexpected tonal relief. The episode balances contemplative stillness with competitive intensity, weaving in Rei's complicated feelings about Gotō along the way. Pacing is measured and deliberate, rewarding patience with moments of genuine emotional clarity. This is 3-gatsu at its most introspective — moving from black mist toward something resembling light.

🔥 KEY MOMENTS

⚠️ Spoiler Alert!

Warmth and Emptiness

Rei leaves the Kawamoto household and returns to his bare apartment, the contrast hitting him like a wall. The silence of his solitary space underscores just how much their warmth has come to mean to him.

Rei vs. Tsujii

Rei faces Takeshi Tsujii in the Lion King Tournament — a relentless, aggressive player who punctuates his crushing moves with terrible puns. The match pushes Rei's strategic thinking to its limits as he tries to navigate Tsujii's suffocating playstyle.

Smith's Quiet Triumph

While Rei battles on his board, Smith pulls off a sharp, tactical victory in his own match. It's a satisfying moment that highlights Smith's growth and reinforces the camaraderie between the two players.

Gotou's Shadow Falls

After the matches, Rei and Smith cross paths with Masamune Gotou, and the encounter turns tense immediately. Gotou's presence dredges up Rei's unresolved anger and fear, exposing wounds that shogi victories alone can't heal.

Returning to the Light

Rei visits the Kawamoto sisters again, and the episode closes on his deepening bond with the family. Their home is no longer just a refuge — it's becoming the emotional anchor Rei never had.

📍 ARC CONTEXT

Sitting at the midpoint of the second season, this episode marks a transitional beat as Rei shifts from the emotional shelter of the Kawamoto household back into the demanding solitude of competitive shogi. The previous episode's warmth makes the return to isolation hit harder, and the Lion King Tournament matches introduced here set up escalating professional stakes for the season's back half. Rei's encounters with figures like Tsujii and Gotō deepen the web of relationships that will define his growth through the remaining ten episodes.

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