As the day of the national comes, Akihiro is chosen as a starter for the first round against Chiba International High School, whose team supposedly consists entirely of foreigners. Meanwhile, Sumire is tasked by Tsutomu to observe a player named Megumu Osaka, whilst he observes last year's champions. Taichi manages to calm down the pressure on his team by exposing their opponents lack of English skills. As the match goes on, the players start to learn about their opponents' freeform styles and soon Misuzawa manage to show the efforts of their training and win their match. Although lamenting their loss, the Chiba students find they had much enjoyment from the match, vowing to become stronger for next year's tournament. Meanwhile, as Arata arrives in Omi Jingu to give Chihaya his support, he is approached by Shinobu.
Le jour du tournoi nationale, Akihiro est choisi pour le premier tour contre Chiba International High School, dont l'équipe est censée être entièrement composée d'étrangers.
ついに始まった全国大会。瑞沢高校かるた部の1回戦の相手はなんと全員が外国人の千葉情報国際高校。世界に進出したかるたに感動する千早だが、慣れない配置と威圧感に力が出しきれない部員達。日本一を目指す瑞沢高校かるた部は初戦を勝つことができるのか―そんな中、新は一人近江神宮にやってきていた。
全國大會開幕。瑞澤高中花牌社第一戰的對手，竟然是全部都是外國人的千葉資訊國際高中。千早因花牌推廣到全世界感到十分感動，但社員們卻因為不習慣對手的花牌位置，使得他們無法發揮全部的實力。以日本第一為目標的瑞澤高中花牌社，他們的第一戰能贏得勝利嗎？在此同時，新也獨自來到了近江神宮。
