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[S03E01](https://kaguyasama-wa-kokurasetai.fandom.com/wiki/Episode_25),
specifically [Chapter 117](https://kaguyasama-wa-
kokurasetai.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_117)

* * *

We see that both Kaguya and Miyuki (Shirogane) appear to be equally matched:

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Dy83w.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Dy83w.jpg)

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/cEbnZ.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/cEbnZ.png)

But they're actually just pulling punches:

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/veOMG.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/veOMG.jpg)

Kaguya of course wins and then is known as 'muscle queen(/monarch)'. But from
what I understand, Kaguya should've already been known as 'muscle
queen(/monarch)' a long time ago. If anything Kaguya should've been excluded
from this tournament because it's obvious Kaguya would win. Here's why I think
so:

  1. Kaguya knows martial arts and has even _easily_ flipped Miyuki in [S02E09 (the routine episode)](https://kaguyasama-wa-kokurasetai.fandom.com/wiki/Episode_21), where it's also said that Kaguya is 1st dan aikido and 2nd dan judo.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/lcnOz.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/lcnOz.jpg)

  2. Kaguya does archery (as even pointed out in the episode [besides of course in the s2 intro]).

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ZS4zI.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ZS4zI.jpg)

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/IhuCg.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/IhuCg.jpg)

  3. Kaguya is even given the left hand/arm 'handicap'. (I'm assuming everyone else here is right-handed or ambidextrous, at least for arm wrestling.)

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/C0huU.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/C0huU.jpg)

# Question 1:

Why is no one wondering why Kaguya does not **immediately** beat Miyuki? Or is
Miyuki actually capable of taking on Kaguya?

* * *

# Question 2:

In particular, why doesn't Chika (Fujiwara) wonder (assuming Miyuki indeed
isn't capable)?

Actually, **Chika knows** that Miyuki, while not unfit, isn't necessarily the
most athletic/coordinated such as in [the volleyball episode
(S01E05)](https://kaguyasama-wa-kokurasetai.fandom.com/wiki/Episode_05) and
[the Sōran Bushi dance episode (S02E10)](https://kaguyasama-wa-
kokurasetai.fandom.com/wiki/Episode_22). From S01E05:

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/MEHT7.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/MEHT7.jpg)

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/sy3Sz.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/sy3Sz.jpg)

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GNrgZ.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GNrgZ.jpg)

Now, we've seen in the pilot/premiere that the narrator has described Chika as
unaware to mutual attraction of Kaguya and Miyuki...

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/cUoTe.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/cUoTe.jpg)

...but we've seen in the post-birthday part of [S02E02](https://kaguyasama-wa-
kokurasetai.fandom.com/wiki/Episode_14) that **Chika is smart enough to make
reasonable conjectures/deductions** about that either could be attracted to
the other.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4ZZlQ.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4ZZlQ.jpg)

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rhCiZ.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rhCiZ.jpg)

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BQwqC.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BQwqC.jpg)

This makes me think Chika of all (the 3 other) people (in the room) would've
thought something's up.


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question
kaguya-sama-love-is-war
Kaguya vs Miyuki (or even Yu) in arm wrestling - How is this even a contest?


# Suspension of Disbelief

First off, it sounds like this episode broke your [suspension of
disbelief](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_of_disbelief). In this
case, characters behaved in a manner so contrary to how you view them, you
couldn't help but view it as some kind of author error. Frankly, there's no
getting your suspension of disbelief back, as it's something that has to be
maintained during viewing of a work. As I have to answer objectively based on
how the characters _did behave_ and not on how you _expected them to behave_ ,
I can only answer this question by being an apologist for the episode, using
the best reasoning I can put forth. However, know that I very much sympathize,
as I too have encountered such situations as my suspension of disbelief has
been shattered.

# Answer

The outcome in a match between Kaguya and Shirogane is not as obvious as you'd
think, particularly to these spectators. It's true that Kaguya has built up a
good deal of strength from archery and martial art, but Shirogane is by no
means unfit, as you've shown. He rides his bike to school each day, and he
_can_ be good at sports, if he puts in the Herculean effort necessary. Arm
wrestling also appears to not be a competition where his lack of coordination
comes into play.

Add into this that human males are naturally stronger than females, and the
spectators would have trouble guessing who'd win. A belief in this is
displayed by Fujiwara, Ishigami,and Shirogane in this episode. First when
Fujiwara asks Ishigami what kind of man he is when he's struggling to carry a
bunch of stuff, and second when Ishigami and Shirogane separately state they
wouldn't lose to girls in bouts of strength. Fujiwara's belief that males are
stronger is only shown implicitly, but Ishigami and Shirogane's proclamations
are fairly explicit. We can infer then, that these three will use this belief
when calculating who will win a match. Fujiwara will, of course, also take
other things into consideration, while Shirogane and Ishigami probably won't
since they're fairly confident in this belief.

Next to consider, is when Kaguya and Shirogane are battling it out, they
appear to be evenly matched. Of course, we know they were both simply stalling
so they could hold each other's hands longer, but the spectators don't know
this and are awed by their apparently epic match. Thus, whatever their
preconceived notions, Ishigami and Fujiwara truly do believe Kaguya and
Shirogane are evenly matched here, because that's what they're seeing.

With all that being said, Kaguya easily defeats Shirogane when she panics
about her hands being sweaty. Whether this is from a burst of adrenaline
helping her or because she truly did have vastly superior strength all along
is unclear.

Also consider that arm wrestling is not entirely about strength. The show even
acknowledges this by how Fujiwara tries to cheat by changing her hand position
when battling Shirogane. Strategy can come into play, which is something
Shirogane and Kaguya are both good at, and thus the outcome is not obvious.
See for example: <https://www.coachmag.co.uk/exercises/sport-
workouts/1552/win-armwrestling>

# Addendum

To address what you said in the comments about whether Kaguya should even be
included:

This battle is very much framed as boys versus girls, thus Fujiwara would have
no problem whatsoever including Kaguya despite her apparent edge, because
that's advantageous to her side. And Shirogane and Ishigami have overestimated
themselves because their opponents are girls, so they wouldn't object either.
In fact, it would be rather shameful for them to object. Due to their
masculine pride (that might be a strong phrase for these two, but you get the
point), they could never say Kaguya is stronger than them and thus shouldn't
be allowed to participate.

# Manga Version

The manga version does not offer much differences in terms of what happens,
but it does offer something helpful at the end: a list of the character's
power levels in MP (muscle points).

> Men's Average: 60 MP
>
> Women's Average : 40 MP
>
> Shirogane : 64 MP
>
> Kaguya: 62 MP
>
> Ishigami: 55 MP
>
> Fujiwara: 54 MP
>
> Iino: 21 MP

As we can see, the manga actually states that Shirogane is stronger than
Kaguya. Thus, while Kaguya did overcome the average male strength level, the
work Shirogane put in and his natural strength put him over her by two MP.
This means their match actually would be pretty evenly matched.

Some other parts in the manga also support my points.

  1. Adrenaline may have been involved. While Shirogane and Kaguya are struggling, Fujiwara states, "They're oversecreting adrenaline... their muscle powers have surpassed human limitations!" Note that this does not prove Kaguya won because she got a burst of adrenaline, because that's not what Fujiwara is referring to here. I only point it out because it shows the author was thinking about adrenaline, so it could be the case then. Kaguya's final push does get an additional detail in the manga though: A note stating "A surprise attack!" is there. This might suggest the reason Shirogane lost was because he wasn't expecting Kaguya to get serious so suddenly.
  2. The spectators truly believe the two are evenly matched. In the manga, it seems to me their reactions to the incredible bout are even more exaggerated. In addition to her above comment, Fujiwara also states all of this:

> This is bad... Look at their cheeks! They're so flushed! They're
> oversecreting adrenaline... their muscle powers have surpassed human
> limitations! If they continue to wrestle, they might **seriously do
> permanent damage to their arms!** Their careers will be cut short... the
> longer they arm wrestle!

Miko Iino believes Fujiwara, asking the competitors,

> There's so much work left to do for the culture festival! Why are you
> competing so hard?!

Even Ishigami says,

> Neither of them is budging an inch. This is a battle of pride!

None of them seems to suspect anything is up with Kaguya and Shirogane, and
they don't get anywhere close to suspecting the two are deliberately stalling.
Instead, they're all taking this battle with deadly seriousness, to comical
effect.


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