I reach out my hands and gathered up...
the scattered music notes in the 88th scene.
I don't know how to put my feelings in words.
I put them in the music score as the days passed by.
When we come across...
at the third time, the feelings will ring out here.
Let me put it straight forwardly like a song.
I write all of them in a song.
This endless crescendo is so strong...
and reaching out to someone.
The melody is heading to the pianist on the stage.
It's the melody of everything about life.
It's the real face.
A whole new world...
has opened up before my eyes.
A new prelude repeats.
I don't care! Just eat!
Come on, open up!
Just eat it, all right? You're too thin!
Just let me play the concerto with the S Orchestra.
- It's impossible for you! - Why?
'Cause you never look at the music!
You play as you like! Invent stuff!
How's the orchestra going to stay with you?
I don't need to look at the music.
I've heard the Rachmaninoff many times. I know it!
Plus... Your sound, your version is still with me.
I want to play it just like that.
All right. If it means that much to you,
you can give it a try... your Rachmaninoff.
Let's go to the school.
It's better if we have two pianos.
Thank you.
- Hurry and get dressed! - Okay! Whoopee!
Don't tell me that strange girl is his new girlfriend?
Yipee!
No, it can't be. It sure didn't look that way.
I'll play the orchestra part. You just play.
Okay whenever you're ready.
She started fortissimo, not pianissimo.
Is this the same piece?
Wow, she's fast!
Can she really play this piece at this tempo?
Rachmaninoff Concerto No.2!?
Is Chiaki playing it?
No, it's not.
Wait a second. Chiaki is playing the accompaniment!
Too much sound! She is inventing after all.
What's more, she's been intense since starting.
Forget it. This isn't a concerto.
Shall I stop this?
Damn, I'd better try to match her.
Listen to the accompaniment, Nodame!
Unbelievable...
What, Chiaki's just accompanying?
Listen to how fast she's going! It's inhuman!
It's not possible.
Let me through!
Who is that girl?
- It's the S Orchestra mongoose. - Say what?
- That's Chiaki's girlfriend, right? - What? No way!
- Well, they're always together. - I saw them walking arm in arm.
I often hear them talking about what to have for dinner.
Is it true that they're living together, then?
No wonder they're so in sync.
Yeah, especially when you hear how wild she's playing.
Enough! Stop!
She played it twice, then passed out.
She'll be sleeping soundly, I guess.
Look at her... what do I do with her?
Poor Dorabella.
Totally rebuffed by the great Chiaki.
- Dorabella? - Saiko Tagaya.
What do you mean "rebuffed"?
Those two broke up a long time ago.
And Saiko's gone out with 3 different men since.
Maybe so but every time "Dorabella" breaks up with one,
she goes running back to him...
crying "Oh, Shinichi, I'm yours!"
Hey, by the way, why is Saiko Dorabella anyway?
Isn't that the role you played?
That's right. SAIKO is Fiordiligi.
They're pretty similar, don't you think?
That's because when I play Dorabella
I do my best impersonation of her.
Cosi Fan Tutte Mozart's opera, "Cosi Fan Tutte"
About an old philosopher, Don Alfonso,
who proselytizes to men boasting of their lovers
about where a woman's fidelity lies.
The chastity of two sisters, Dorabella and Fiordiligi,
is then tested by their lovers.
Are you all right, Ms. Tagaya You look pale.
Yes, I'm fine.
The men put on disguises, changed partners
and attempted to woo the sisters.
Fiordiligi's chastity was unyielding a granite,
and she rebuffed her suitor.
But Dorabella's heart was immediately swayed.
And yes... my heart too was quickly swayed.
And why not?
My relationship with Shinichi had been completely over.
I fell for another man who,
though handsome, was not well versed in music.
But then... I realized that nobody was more attractive than Shinichi.
There wasn't a man who had his gentle nature...
his musical talent...
so I wanted him back.
Is that so bad?
No, damn it! It is not!
- Very beautiful... - What?
Your voice.
Here. Starting today,
I'm making sure you study this concerto.
Gulp. But we already did the concerto.
Huh!?
What do you mean "huh"? You were there.
You played it with me, remember?
Played it?
You said you wanted to play it with an orchestra?
Your piano was like playing with a real orchestra.
It felt incredibly good. I've never felt so satisfied.
Thank you so much. I'm incredibly happy.
Chiaki! Nodame! Long time, no see!
- Hi! - Yo! How've you been?
- Let's all go out somewhere. - I'd love to!
- How about a comic book café? - You're kidding!
Nodame... I worry about you.
"A new year arrives..."
"Final exams are nearing!!"
Wow, this is amazing!
"Ryutaro Mine, 3rd year violin student"
I can't believe this!
What's going on with Classic Life?
Yo! What's going on?
Chiaki is in this month's issue of Classic Life!
What!?
Who knew the big music critic, Manabu Sakuma,
attended our school festival?
"Like a soft sliver of light"
reaching down into the black depths of a deep mountain ravine...
the piano began...
As I peered over to catch a glimpse of that light...
I was suddenly thrust over the edge,
and sent hurtling to the ravine floor!
Then in came the orchestra, at first like a thin fog...
seeping over the valley.
But then undulating and issuing forth like a fountain,
entangling itself with the piano notes,
until finding equilibrium in a vibrant, surging pulse.
I was swept away to a world of gold.
Ah, how indescribably beautiful Rachmaninoff is.
Earth to Mr. Sakuma! This way.
Chiaki, look!
A year's supply of Puri Gorota chocolate lollipops!
I won it in a lottery in my neighborhood!
- Hey, I'm practicing here. - I mean, it's Puri Gorota!
Here you are!
It's a little early yet but Happy Valentine's! Love you!
So this is the extent of if, huh?
Huh? What do you mean?
- Hey! What's this? - Kazuo?
Liszt, huh? Is this for your graduation exam?
Mephisto Waltz No.1, The Dance in the Village Inn.
What? The Dance in the Village Inn?
You? Chiaki? A village tavern? A dance in a village tavern?
It's based on an episode from Nikolaus Lenau's "Faust",
adapted from the Goethe...
Hey, listen to me!
It suits you! It does! Chiaki as a drunk!
It suits me?
What are you doing, then? For your final!
Oh... I'm playing Mozart.
Why are you looking away. Aren't you practicing!?
- Yeah... - Then show me.
Oh! I just remembered. I've got to pass these chocolates out to everybody!
- Hey! Get back here! - See you at dinner!
Hey!
I should've never played that piece with her.
Here I thought she had become serious about playing.
"Satisfied"? "Very Happy"? After just that?
Give me a break! Silly girl.
Chiaki?
Good! I'm glad we found you so quickly.
What? You found a job with an orchestra after graduation?
That's right! The New Metropolitan Philharmonic.
They had a sudden vacancy and sent out a call for a replacement.
I answered it.
Wow! That's a real famous orchestra!
I never dreamed they'd take me but...
maybe I'm brilliant after all.
Must've been your hair.
Hey! What's that supposed to mean?
Congratulations, Masumi. Here's a celebratory gift.
What are you doing? Graah!
You! Just because I'm leaving doesn't make you Scott free!
What do you mean by that?
I mean Chiaki! What else?
He'll be going to graduate school here next year, right?
Yes, that's right. Tee_hee.
Chiaki took the test in November for graduate school.
Wipe that stupid smile off your face!
I was sure that Chiaki would go study abroad next year!
Why isn't he?
Of course, I'm happy that he's staying here in Japan but...
At any rate, he's staying
so I can look forward to more "rendezvous of love" with him.
I'll kill you! This year, I'll kill you!
Graaah!
What?
So this is the place you frequent, huh?
Not quite the image of him I had, but...
Clubhouse sandwich and an espresso.
Gotcha!
What? A sandwich in a Chinese restaurant?
At least that fits the image.
- I'll take fried rice. - Gotcha.
So what does a music magazine editor...
and a music critic want with me?
Well, Manabu here has a regular serial feature in Classic Life...
"Keiko and Manabu", huh?
And this month he's writing about you.
What?
"Classical Dreams" with a special New Year's pin up poster!
Sorry for taking liberties.
But we got permission to photograph from Stresemann.
And he said, "Don't forget my protege." So...
- Why that old man! - And please read my article.
"Like a soft sliver of light..."
Did you lift this from Goethe?
What? You know Goethe?
I'm practicing the Mephisto Waltz right now.
Liszt? That's your final exam piece?
Can I come listen to it?
You know, at the graduation performance.
Sorry, but ever since your concerto,
Sakuma's become a rabid fan of yours.
Not another weirdo.
Me, too.
I've had my eye on you since the Nina Lutz Music Festival.
Say, Chiaki, after graduation,
you're of course going abroad, right?
As Stresemann's protege?
Are you going to take part in competitions,
either on the piano or as conductor?
Um... wait a second.
I have no plans to go abroad nor enter any competitions.
What? That's can't be!
Uh_oh, here it comes.
You must reach beyond this vast canopy above you
to those western skies awash with radiant light.
You must spread those pure wings
which nestle and cradle your lofty and noble musical soul
and take flight! The time is now!
"Just say go study abroad."
Huh?
I can't "take flight"! That's the problem!
Somewhere far beyond this vast field of sea,
on a golden island uled by Poseidon himself,
a hidden treasure of artistry of singular majesty
and smiles upon you, awaiting you arrival.
Ah, why won't you sail forth on this sacred musical journey
already ordained by God?
"Translation: You can do well in any international competition!"
I can't "sail forth", either!
Why aren't you going abroad?
You have so much talent and an incredible mentor, too!
You're not even going to enter a competition?
Why not?
What do you possibly plan to do here in Japan?
What I do and where is for me to decide!
I don't need you guys to worry about my future for me!
Now leave me alone!
Oh, Chiaki! What about your sandwich?
Wrap it up. I'll come for it later.
All righty.
Now what?
I finally get to meet him, and we tick him off!
But why?
Even God who once castigated Icarus
for his vain folly is enchanted by your music.
He would lavish you with love and riches.
It's your prose that turned him off.
I mean Icarus...
Wow! Thanks, Nodame!
Chocolate, the perfect thing for when you're tired.
Look, it's Puri Gorota!
You two are sure working hard, practicing for your final.
Well that's because we are still in the running
for the "secondary exam."
Can you believe it?
"Secondary exam"?
Yes. Haven't you heard of it?
Four year student finals also get considered
for a graduation concert. So it's also an audition.
I see.
The best scores on the secondary exam
get to perform in the concert in March.
And we made it past the first round.
Thanks to the S Orchestra effect, I'd say.
"S Orchestra effect"?
Yeah, I mean, the whole time...
Chiaki really put us through our paces.
He was devilishly strict.
But ever since then, we've practiced real hard.
To the point of forgetting our skin care.
We'd never experienced that before.
But it sure was fun... Chiaki's orchestra.
He was tough, but the music we made was beautiful.
I wish we could continue the S Orchestra.
After graduation, we'll probably just join companies.
Music related companies but even so...
The chance to play in an orchestra won't come again.
I'm taking over my parents' bakery shop.
Come visit me and buy some bread. You and Chiaki.
It's way out in Chiba, though.
You're getting married!?
To your 45 year old boyfriend?
Everybody is parting ways after this, aren't they?
How nice of Shizuka... marriage.
I want to graduate and get married at the same time, too!
Then do it with someone from your planet.
But I'm happy you're staying to attend graduate school.
A lot of people are going to study abroad, or going back home.
Not many can land a job in an orchestra like Masumi.
- But Chiaki... - Nodame!
Finish your dinner and go home.
- Huh? - I have to practice.
You're being a pest.
Chiaki... why are you so irritable?
You're acting strange today.
Dinner's weird, too.
If you don't like it, don't eat it!
Hurry home and practice!
You're in finals prep period, you know!
You've no time to be worrying about others.
Next year, you'll be graduating, too.
What will you do then?
What will I do?
I plan on becoming a kindergarten teacher.
What? A kindergarten teacher?
Yeah. That's why I'll be busy next year
with educator's training and stuff like that.
At first, I planned on returning home to Fukuoka
and becoming a teacher there.
But now I want to be in Tokyo where you are,
and try to land a job on my own.
Nodame... is that really your dream?
Yup.
You don't want to work harder on your piano,
and enter a competition or anything?
Me? In a competition?
That's like fuel on a fire... pearls to a swine!
Don't be an idiot!
Okay, you may be uncontrolled. But with the skill you have!
Why won't you aim higher!?
Why won't you go abroad?
Here you have all this talent and...
If those people are thinking about me
in the same way I worry about Nodame...
Chiaki? You all right?
But...
You are feeling a little sick, aren't you?
Let's see...
The problem isn't about being able to go abroad anymore.
Just what do you plan to do here in Japan?
He's right. That's it.
Love is painful.
I realised it when I was with you that night.
Because I know you...
more than everyone in the world.
Your casual attitude and tenderness...
make my chest feels constricted.
I am here. I am here. I am here right next to you.
Tell me why. Tell me why. Why are we merely "normal friends?"
I love you. I love you. No matter how much I love you,
you still don't get it.
You don't understand. I'm so in love with you.
My heart breaks day after day.
I can't sleep night after night.
The day when I first met you...
I wish if time can go back to that day.
I'm so in love with you.