Ep 21. The Haze Middle School Go Club

Hikaru No Go season 1 episode 21 is titled "The Haze Middle School Go Club." The episode revolves around Hikaru attending a Go tournament at Haze Middle School. When Hikaru arrives at the tournament, he is immediately approached by a member of the Haze Middle School Go Club named Tsutsui. Tsutsui invites Hikaru to join their club and play with them during the tournament. Hikaru initially declines the offer, saying that he is already playing with his own club, but Tsutsui persists, saying that they need one more player to compete.

As Hikaru watches the other teams play, he notices that the Haze Middle School Go Club is struggling. Their team has been losing every match, and they only have one more chance to redeem themselves. Hikaru begins to feel sorry for the team and eventually agrees to play with them in the upcoming match.

The match begins and Hikaru quickly takes the lead. His opponents are bewildered by his tactics and are unable to keep up with his pace. However, things take a turn for the worse when Hikaru makes a mistake and accidentally advances a stone too quickly. This allows his opponents to take the lead and puts the Haze Middle School Go Club in danger of losing yet again. Hikaru begins to panic and is unsure of his next move.

Just when all seems lost, one of Hikaru's opponents suddenly becomes nervous and begins to make careless mistakes. Hikaru realizes that his opponent is a beginner and decides to take advantage of this by playing a bold move that catches his opponents off guard. The move ends up sealing Hikaru's win, and the Haze Middle School Go Club finally has their first victory.

After the match, Hikaru is congratulated by the members of the Haze Middle School Go Club, and they thank him for helping them finally win a match. Tsutsui is especially grateful and tells Hikaru that he hopes they can play together again in the future.

Overall, "The Haze Middle School Go Club" is a heartwarming episode that emphasizes the importance of teamwork and perseverance. Hikaru's decision to join the struggling team and help them achieve their first victory is a testament to his character and his love for the game of Go. The episode also showcases how even beginner players can surprise their opponents with unexpected moves and highlights the importance of not underestimating one's opponents.