Noo but there's hints of ayase feeling about taichi from the beginning
But it was brushed off easily
you are right, Taichi's character is way better without Chihaya, and the confession he got is just meh, I think he deserved better. Also I heard that Suetsugu said that Chihaya never really loved him romantically, not even when she confessed. but the sequel might probably do something about it, in short, he really deserved better.
I actually thought it was going to be the other way where Taichi gets the Meijin and Arata and Chihaya end up together. It would have been a great twist to have Arata who always ran after the title bc it was kind of his thing from the beginning and everyone expected him to be. Meanwhile Taichi was kind of half-hearted and then chose to work on it and forget Chihaya. It would have shown character growth atleast. Bc I absolutely loved that portion of Taichi's growth after Taichi confessed and Chihaya didn't reciprocate. I feel both Taichi and Chihaya got some room to grow as character after that failed confession bc Taichi chose to get serious and Chihaya learnt she got into a comfort zone with Taichi and friendzoning him but when he wasn't really there, she truly missed him. Arata however keeps getting sidelined bc he isn't with Chihaya the MC most of the time and we have to wait to get his pov time and again. Initially around the time of Taichi's confession, I found the story to be very unfair to Taichi but overall I feel it is a bit unfair to Arata if the trio is meant to be center stage until the end.
I so so so love Taichi but hate that he ended up with Chihaya. He was better off without her. He plays better without her and he carry himself better without her.
He just ended up with Chihaya probably so that he won't be left out of the trio.
Arata becoming the Meijin and also becoming Chihaya's end game would make Taichi too much of an afterthought.
That must be why the author chooses Taichi as the end game when most chapters it was Arata-Arata in her head.
That's also kinda unfair to Arata and now Taichi is going far away. I wonder if their relationship will lasts.