Character: Rie Kiriyama (Sangatsu no Lion)

The story of Sangatsu no Lion revolves mainly on the the main character Rie Kiriyama, his growing up, hardship and coping with reality and society.

Rei Kiriyama lived a lonely childhood. He only like being alone on his own. The children of his age were always playing outside while he himself though wanted to play with everybody else couldn't. He was weak, he couldn't play with anyone else beside himself. He is often bullied because of always be alone. But he always brush it off. He doesn't want conflict, he just let things pass by. He doesn't want to concern others with him. But he was raised to be kind. He did his best to stay isolated because he doesn't want to bother anyone else.

He was content with living away from any friends when he was a child. He has a family, that's what his happiness was all about. It was contrasting that to begin with, he has no passion for shogi and yet it was the only thing that most connect him with his father. And so he played.

It all changed, when one day after his school trip, his family got into an accident. At a young age, he was orphaned. His blood relative wouldn't want to take him in. Instead they wanted to put him into an orphanage.

It was a miracle that during the miracle for his family, a good friend of his father, Masachika Koda came and visited. He was a professional shogi player. Rei had oftenly played with him and without any option, he desperately lied.

Koda asked Rei if he love shogi and if he wanted to continue playing. Rei answered yes. There was nothing else he knew except playing shogi. Something he never liked from the start it is what he only knows. He lied.

-/_ -

So he joins the family of Koda, a shogi family. A family that plays shogi professionally with great sincerity.

They were kind to him but it was all just from the start. Though the Koda parents have loved Rei as their own flesh and blood, the siblings, Kyoka and Ayumu Koda, have somehow hated Rei. They were jealous of him. The parents have more trust and love towards Rei than the two siblings.

And what sealed it all was that Rei were better at shogi than the two. Something the father always loved about him. It was because of this the two had a fallout from shogi. Something that was supposed to bond the family.

Ayumu stopped playing shogi and just became a shut in. Content with playing his video games. As for the elder sister, Kyoka, though she was a close to Rei, her father had denied her. Saying that she should take a different path, career. This moved her to hate her father and Rei even more.

She wanted to leave home but Rei stopped her. He understood what was happening, right from the start. It was his all fault, he knows. Instead, he himself moved away.

-/_ -

Though just a 17 years old, he considered himself an adult and tried his best to be one. It was unfortunate that he was maturity was limited. He may be matured enough and experienced enough to be alone yet he still carries his childhood innocence. Or rather his childhood burden.

He kept to himself isolated and stayed away from everyone. He never changed. He doesn't want to bother anyone else. It was fortunate that he met with the Kawamoto family. Being alone on his own, a stranger family were there to care of him or to be exact, to be there for him when he needed them.

-/_ -

But still he is concerned. He was afraid. He doesn't want to bother anyone. He then contemplated on himself. Perhaps it was just like the first family that took him. He might once more cause trouble to a kind family that is taking care of him. Other than that, he is growing more and more bonded with the Kawamoto family.

He was afraid. And so once more he cut himself from the family.

It was an amazing analogy of what he remembered in his childhood in a television program. A cuckoo bird would lay her egg on a bird's nest of a different species. Once the cuckoo young hatched, it would kill off the rest of the surrogate bird's true children. Becoming the sole surviving family for the parent bird.

He was afraid. He saw himself as that, and so, as much he wanted to stay with them, he didn't.

-/_ -

It was this fear that made him blind of the people's care and love for him. Even though he cut his connection with the Kawamoto family, when Rei was bedridden and sick for day, it was the Kawamoto's that went and took care of him.

Though he saw himself lonely, hated and isolated. People cares for him. They trust him. He was not alone.

Even though there are people that resents him, his step brother and sister, there are more people that cares for him.

-/_ -

There were times when his step sister would come and tell about his next opponent in shogi matches. She was trying to abuse his kindness. She wanted him to lose. And so she would tell him about his next opponent's story, something to dishearten Rei. But none were successful.

He stood ground and won all of it. Though he would often come and have a chat with his opponent afterward. Though he won, he would not want to be a bitter end to his competitors. And so, he consoles and tries to cheer up, or rather make it up for the one who lose. One time it lead him to spend more and the other, his own health.

He's just too kind. Even though there will be winners and losers, he's beyond that.

-/_ - IIIIIIIIIIII -/_ -

At the start of the second season, it seems Rei have grown accustomed being with the Kawamoto family. He has outgrown his cuckoo analogy idea. He is finally happy and content with what was happening. Even his own personal life, shogi and school was going great.

The mood changed, though, when one day, Hinata Kawamoto went home crying. Her cheerful attitude have changed. She was being bullied in class. Rei realized his contradictory to her, she was his direct opposite. When he was a child, he would often ignore or rather not get himself too involve with anyone else. He doesn't care whether people hate him or not. He was content being alone when he was a child.

Hina, on the other hand, is different from him. She was braver and would take on anyone if she see's wrong things. She's cheerful and friendly. And would deeply regret things if she fails or do nothing. She was what Rei wasn't. Or rather, she was what Rei wanted to be when he was still a child.

And so, Rei tried to do everything for little Hina. It was funny how he knelt and told her that she was his savior and he would do everything for her. Sort of a confession but fatherly like.

He would stay with Kawamoto family more all the while doing his own study and business. It was amazing that he was the first or rather the most to understood Hina, even he was her complete opposite.

During her school trip, it seem to have been like what had happened with Rei in his childhood. All her friends isolated her, she was on her own. Rei went and found her, had a little chat with her and amazingly stayed with her for a short while in her trip. He cared for her because he knows she's different from him and he knows that she must be different from what he was.

Sort of like, making up for his past self. It may look selfish to Rei but to Hina, he was trying his best for her.

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When all was resolve and the bullying was no more, Rei apologized to Hina. He told that even though he was glad that things have finally worked out, he couldn't do anything for her.

She responded by biting his finger and telling him he's an idiot. Even though Rei wasn't aware, for Hina, HE DID A LOT FOR HER.

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Even though a part of me want to see a romance to bud between the two, a great part of me don't want that. I want the two to stay as that, an elder brother and a little sister. Or rather a father figure and a daughter. They look more lovely as that.

-/_ -

Other than that cute story, second season also focused on the variation of drama and shogi. Unlike the first second that had lot of shogi. A title match for shogi professional from lower rankings were being held. He and his best friend, Nikkaido, promised each other that they will face off in the end.

Unfortunately, Nikkaido couldn't make it. Later then, Rei found out about his Nikkaido's health condition. He realized that his opponent used it to their advantage. And thus Rei vowed vengeance for Nikkaido by winning the title Newcomer King.

After winning the title, Rei was suddenly plunged to an even more great thing. He was to have a commemorative exhibition match with Meijin Souya. The one with the highest and most title shogi professional.  To which he lose. But it was the first time that he felt joy and had felt having fun playing shogi even though he lost. Something he never felt before.

Somehow, playing with the Meijin made him feel happy. He was without word, connected and bonded with a complete stranger.

-/_ -

What should I say as an afterword.. Sangatsu no Lion is a growing up story of an orphan to adulthood. Various misfortune riddled the story but the many blessings came, he was too unsure of and unaware as he lived a sad childhood. Only when he now and growing does he realize, understand and see the bigger picture.

He is kind, too kind for the world that he lives in. But that is what he chose. He lived up to a lie and stood his ground. He is strong but his kindness was what people can easily abuse. Yet it doesn't matter. Because he has priority, he knows value of things. He may be innocent and at times bit immature but he is never alone.

I wonder how the story will unfold for it's season 3. Should I bother with the manga though?

Also another thing about this anime, the art style and what had made me feel distinct about this series is how the mouths of the characters were drawn. It sort of felt weird when I started watching the anime but then again, I guess I grew accustomed to it. The story was great but I hope more revelations will be shown in the next season.

It's quite a pretty long series as well, 44 episodes. Took me three days or so to finish. It was fun watching it, though I've got few to no clue at all while watching the shogi matches. I wish I know how to read and play it. Perhaps I may have been more enthusiastic with the game rather than the story.

But don't get me wrong, the story is really well made and awesome. I just wish the season 3 would come and be complete sooner. 2022 is quite a long wait.

One final thing, this is the second shogi anime series I watched. The first one was "The Ryuo's Work is Never Done," and I'd say that this series, "Sangatsu no Lion" is a better anime. And the title of ".. work is never done," fits more with Rei.