Episode 1

"Rei Kiriyama" (Kiriyama Rei) is the 1st episode of the anime adaptation of Sangatsu No Lion.

Synopsis
The episode opens with a lady speaking condescendingly to Rei. Afterwards, Rei is seen travelling to a Shōgi hall, where he sits in silence until an older man arrives and sits down. There is clear tension between the two, as the match continues in awkward silence, with Rei ending up the victor. On his way home, Rei receives a text from Akari Kawamoto, inviting him to dinner. As Rei begins to text back saying that he won't be able to come due to sickness (an obvious lie), he quickly receives another text asking him to pick up groceries. Now feeling obligated to go to the Kawamoto's for dinner, Rei picks up the groceries and is warmly greeted by the Kawamoto sisters at their home. While eating at the dinner table with the sisters, Rei sees a report on TV about a man who was murdered by his son, which reminds him of the Shōgi match he had played with the older man (his adopted father), and the guilt he felt for winning. Rei stays over at the Kawamoto's for the night, and when Hina goes to take his glasses off, she notices tears coming from his eyes. The next day, Rei goes to check his mailbox for his shōgi match schedule, only to see a strange, eager boy holding it.

Characters
Rei Kiriyama

Akari Kawamoto

Momo Kawamoto

Hina Kawamoto

Harunobu Nikaidou