Yuuko and I met at an orphanage of the church when we were little kids.
In the orphanage were a lot of children who had lost their parents,
and Yuuko and I were one of them.
One day, Yuuko left.
After that, I still remained in the orphanage.
There was nothing else to our relationship.
Brother!
I remembered, again...
Come!
Stop by! Take a look!
This might not be right for the season, but,
this sweater is different from the cheap ones you get elsewhere!
How is it different?
Yo, Himura. Want to buy this sweater?
I don't want your hand-me-downs.
Completely cold, aren't you?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't have to come to school anymore, right?
There's a lot of things I need to clean up.
Is it a woman?
I took care of that first.
That kind of decision is just like you.
How much is this?
Oh, what great taste!
A present for your boyfriend?
Maybe. Right, Himura-senpai?
Himura-senpai.
What do you want?
Am I not allowed to call out to you, unless there's something I want?
Did you forget? I thought I told you not to get close to me.
I remember. Completely.
Then, why?
Well, you can chose to tell me that.
But, I can choose to do whatever I want.
Will you accompany me for a bit?
Yuuko, didn't you say you were in the Astronomy club?
Yes.
Why do you have a key to the roof?
You're not allowed to borrow the key anymore.
It's plain, but it was a club with a history.
A long time ago, there was a bad upperclassman.
He duplicated the key without permission?
The key has been passed down through the generations.
He gave it to me, as a sign of friendship.
Isn't school life more fun with a little bit of thrill?
Sorry, but I intend to have a peaceful school life.
Oh? Quite the adult, aren't we?
I just think it's wrong to cause problems.
Himura-senpai.
What?
Will you listen to what happened to me after I left the orphanage?
Even if I listen to something like that, what will it do?
I lived in that orphanage since forever.
When I was accepted here into Otowa, I was set free.
That's all there is to it.
You were at the orphanage the entire time?
There was no one who would take me and teach me.
That's why I made efforts to become just a bit more independent faster.
But, Otowa isn't a cheap school.
I'm on a scholarship.
My entrance fee and tuition were exempt.
I don't want any extra trouble.
I've done a lot to try and get by in this world.
Hey, Yuuko.
I'll say it one more time.
Don't get close to me.
Don't make me remember those times.
You should just forget.
You should just forget about that red watch!
Why do you know about that?
As I thought, you really are seeing that dream.
Nice timing.
Good morning, Kuze-san.
Morning, Mizuki-chan.
Is it really all right? For not going anywhere...
You've traveled all the way here from abroad. Isn't it a waste if you don't go somewhere special?
I am overseas, but isn't this the exact same Otowa as the one in Japan?
Well, that's true.
And doing laundry with Kuze-san is a very special occasion.
Even though you're finally on your summer vacation?
Every one of my days is special. No matter if it's a vacation or not.
You're quite positive.
After all, isn't it more fun to think that way?
Kuze-san, good morning.
Morning, Renji.
How's the test prep going?
It's bad. No progress.
I see. Well, endure a lot of hardship, young boy.
Anyway, Renji. We're going to do laundry, so give us what you need to be washed.
It's okay. I'll wash it myself.
We're doing it anyway, so hand them over.
I said "It's okay"!
Since I've been studying, my head's filled with things, so leave me alone!
I see. If that's what you want, then I'll just take them, even by force!
Wait, Mizuki!
Enough already, so hand them over! Take everything off!
Jeez, don't do such crazy things!
What's with that bath towel? What're you going to do if your laundry increases?
Hand that over too.
Give me a break!
Really, he isn't an innocent young woman. There's nothing he should be embarrassed about.
He's at a delicate age.
So, what can I help with?
Sort the colors for me.
Which of those underwear is Sumire-san's?
I've already separated those earlier.
Then, why did I come?
Tsk tsk. The real fun in doing the laundry is drying everything!
When you stretch out the sheets with a fwoosh,
the smell of the moisture escaping into the air is great!
Oh?
Kuze-san, why did you begin playing the violin?
Let's see...
I think it was when I met Johann Mälzel's daughter in the music room.
Johann Mälzel's daughter?
She had a plain personality and was overly serious, but she was fair to everyone.
She was my first love.
She taught me a lot of things.
Justice. Order. The harshness of the world.
Before long, I found out she was born in 1815.
1815? Isn't that around two hundred years in the past?
She wasn't a music teacher or anything?
Even now, to me, she's a teacher.
Her name was Metronome.
Really! Jeez...
Are you mad?
Do you want me to be?
Mizuki-chan, you look cuter when you're just a bit angry.
T-The washing machine stopped. I-If you want to, please help.
Kuze-san? Kuze-san?
What's wrong?
An ambulance! An ambulance!
Jeez, why won't it connect?
Sumire-san...
I guess I really can't leave him here like this...
Well, it's not like I meant to hurt him.
He seems okay now.
Kuze-san?
Kuze-san, are you all right?
If an angel would smile for me.
You seem fine.
A dream?
Well, I wonder...
Can't sleep...
If I'm alone, I'll see a scary dream.
Don't worry. I'm here.
Good night.
Why am I...
Kuze-san, you woke up?
Mizuki-chan, did I fall asleep?
Yes, you did!
I'm sorry, Mizuki-chan! I wasted the entire day away.
It's okay.
Days like this when you lay back are good too!
I'll make it up tomorrow.
I'll be expecting it!
What are those?
They're nothing.
What are you doing?
Saying farewell to my sweet memories.
The girl you were dating?
There's no return address.
Probably changed addresses.
Is it all right?
Even if there are other options?
I wanted to straighten everything out. Why do they keep on coming back?
I'll end up remembering those times.
And now, of all times, they've come at a time like this.
A time like this?
No, nevermind.
It doesn't mean that the only things that have returned are their letters.
I took care of all the troublesome human relationships, but why now?
How rare! Hirono Nagi. I wonder if she's doing well?
What did she say?
Well, who knows?
So, what do you intend to do from here on out?
Isn't it obvious?
I'll throw them all away. That's all.
Akane...
Brother!
Brother.
Akane!
Let's play!
Brother, what's wrong?
Brother?
Brother!
Wow! You're really good, Yuu onii-chan!
Don't call me "brother!"
Why?
No reason! I'm not your brother!
Then what should I call you?
Like I'd know!
Then... Yuu-kun?
Yuu-kun, do you like drawings?
I guess.
Yuu-kun, you're good!
I guess.
What do you want?
Yuu-kun!
Like I said, what do you want?
Nothing!
Yuu-kun, draw me this time!
Eh?
Draw me!
I guess it can't be helped...
What're wrong, Yuu-kun?
I think I need to stop.
Why?
It's a waste of paper.
How mean! You're so stingy!
I really don't have any more paper!
I see...
Then, forget about it!
What? You gave up so quickly.
In exchange you have to show me all of the drawings you sketched!
I want to see everything that you drew!
Yuu-kun!
What?
Yuu-kun!
You don't need a younger sister?
You don't want a younger sister anymore?
Why are you asking me that?
That's because...
Yuu-kun.
Yuu-kun?
I don't need one.
I don't need a younger sister anymore.
I can't stand it anymore.
Yuu onii-chan!
Don't call me your older brother!
My younger sister is already dead.
Okay. I got it.
A few days after, Yuuko was taken away by a distant relative, and left the orphanage.
People will... Everyone will be left alone in the end.
No matter if they're a blood relative or not,
Someday, without a doubt, they'll be separated from you.
That's why I won't expect things of others.
That's why I won't interfere with others.
That's why I'll obtain a way to live without depending on others.
Even so, why do you always follow me around?
Who knows why?
Senpai, I'm glad I met you.
Do you know why?
No idea.
You sure are thick-headed.
Really, you're the same as usual.
Are you trying to start a fight?
There's no helping it. I'll tell you why.
Himura-senpai, you're my first love.
My first love isn't over yet.
Yuu-kun.
I'll make you forget.
I'll erase your sad memories.
Heart rate 60. Functioning normally.
MM 60. Largo.
Normal. No abnormalities with the matching rates.
Slow and steady.
Kuze-kun, you are becoming slower.
Pity.
Is your metronome really the heart of a musician?
Is your heart really the metronome of a musician?
Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The spring is about to come unraveled.
Before it becomes unraveled, who must leave?
Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The embedded rhythm is the time remaining.
Kuze-san!
Mizuki-chan!
What happened? It's the middle of the night.
I couldn't sleep for some reason, so I came out for some fresh air.
I see.
Kuze-san! That's...
Could it possibilty be that it's been repaired?
Repairs?
It's still no good.
Is that so?
So depressing.
Yeah. It's no good anymore.
I listened to the CD you gave me, Kuze-san.
Up until now, I've only occasionally listened to classical music. It was amazing!
The soft songs felt really nice, and there are songs that "boom!", and get loud suddenly, aren't there?
It was so cool, that my whole body was shivering!
"Boom!"?
But, what I was most surprised about, was that classical music could be so sensual.
Sensual?
There's no lyrics, but it feels like someone's whispering closely into your ear.
"I love you," is what it felt like someone was saying.
My heart was beating so hard!
There's a lot of famous songs that were born from times of love and broken hearts.
If you think of it that way...
I'm interested in what Kuze-san's like when he performs while thinking of that.
Kuze-san, this is sudden, but...
What?
I think I've fallen in love with you, Kuze-san!
Well then, see you tomorrow!
Well, damn.
Anticipation is dissolution.
Hiding is darkness.
Ef - a tale of melodies. Union.
Can you hear it? The real melody.