Episode 9

"Distant Thunder" is episode 9 of the anime adaptation of Sangatsu No Lion.

Synopsis
Rei can't shake off what Kyouko said to him. His entire morning dwells over how his opponent could be feeling right now. Rei discovers his opponent praying at the shrine and learns that his opponent just wants to go home, but wants to win still. The curt desire nearly relieves all pensive tension Rei had built up and he heads to the shogi hall to prepare for their match.

Rei finds his match to be incredibly difficult to sort out a strategy that his opponent is using. He begins to catch on that his opponent is trying to lure him into a poorly made trap. Matsunaga, his opponent, takes a humiliating defeat. Rei decides to use the stairs to leave to avoid being with Matsunaga in the elevator. There, he finds Mr.Matsunaga already trying to leave by the stairs and trips. Matsunaga makes Rei treat him to an expensive meal.

Over dinner, Matsunaga does most of the talking, bringing up the Koudas due to how similar Rei is to his foster father and how growing up with Kyouko must have been tough. Matsunaga goes on a tangent of the history of his hometown. Matsunaga is a chatty drunk and Rei is unable to leave him alone. Abruptly while walking near the river, Matsunaga confesses to feeling there was no way to win. He was scared of Rei, viewing Rei as a grim reaper to end his shogi career. When he saw Rei in the shogi hall, Matsunaga determined if anyone were to be his grim reaper, it ought to be Rei, but mid-match found that he doesn't want to lose.

Rei asks Matsunaga if he likes shogi, to which Matsunaga replies that he doesn't know and begins to weep as he is unable to convey how he feels. Rei calls Kyouko to tell her Matsunaga isn't quitting shogi. Rei walks Matsunaga home, learning Matsunaga wants to continue playing shogi because he doesn't want to help in his family with chores.