Awww the karuta club peeps' tears for Chihaya 😌
Poor Arata, most people around him really don't see past "the eternal meijin Wataya's grandson", he has so much pressure, and noone helped him realize there was something weird with the way he play - aka playing his granddad's way rather than his own, playing as his life was just the continuation of his grandfather - except Suou actually.
I'm repeating myself but, I really still think the best situation would be that Shinobu and Suou win, and it ends with Chihaya and Arata still wanting to challenge them, even more fired to win next time rather than brocken (like everyone says about the current queen and meijin's adversaries), and the ending implying that yes they will. For the naysayers to shut up, and Shinobu and Suou to have more reasons to keep playing, and never be lonely anymore.
But also for Chihaya and Arata to win something out of it, like the recognition for female players and serious talks of a professional karuta federation for the heroine, and Arata finally finding his own style showing more potential to be an even scarier monster than his grandfather haha. Contrary to the other two, they don't need to win as long as it ends in a very close match and in a positive way for their future imo. Also they need to hug man. They all need a hug, I'm gonna need a hug when this ends 〒▽〒