Man, I'm beat!
After a short break, we'll get changed and then it's back to training.
For the final stage, Kohinata will be first violin.
Wait at the final stage. I will be there to crush you.
Kanade? Is something wrong?
Oh, no.
I'm fine. Fine.
What?
You finally got here.
I was getting tired of waiting.
Welcome back, everyone.
What the heck are you guys doing here?
And you even moved the furniture without asking...
Because this place was pretty much falling apart.
We did what we could to make the place more livable.
L-Livable?
You can't just do anything you want.
You're so uptight. You men from the east have no refinement.
As long as you have permission from the chairman, it's fine by me.
That's our Kisaragi. You learn fast.
Come here, have a seat.
How are you doing, Kohinata-chan?
U-Um...
By the look your face, I can tell you're worried about something.
Huh? N-No...
I can't wait to see your big flower blossom.
Get me intoxicated with its attractive fragrance.
B-Both of you... your faces are too close.
Hey! Stop!
Let's go, Kanade.
You're like a watchdog.
What?
Leave them be. Get changed, and we'll meet up in ten minutes.
Yeah.
Her flower's only just started to bloom, and it's already about to shrivel.
Now it's a test of her endurance.
He dropped out of the competition?
What do you mean?
He had achieved his goal.
Da Capo of Memories
Continuing the competition any further would be meaningless.
But...
Well, even if he wants to compete, he no longer can.
And why is that?
Sei will be leaving the day after tomorrow to study overseas,
under Mr. Steindorf of Herschel Records.
The day after tomorrow? That's the day of the final.
Is this true, Amamiya-san?
Amamiya-san?
I will take care of the paperwork for his exit.
There's no need of that.
What? But...
The competition will go on. I won't allow any other plans.
What shall we do?
Well, let them be.
Sei.
Are you prepared?
Yes.
Please bring the car around.
Where will you be going?
I have to be strong. I'm the first violin!
Are you Kohinata Kanade-san?
Yes. I am.
I am the director of Amane High School. My name is Mikage.
Amane High School?
She is here.
Kohinata Kanade-san, I finally get to meet you.
I am Alexei Zhukov.
Are you the permanent conductor of the Russian Opera House Philharmonic?
Yes. I am also the chairman of Amane High School,
and the father of Myoga Leiji.
What? Myoga-san's...
Kohinata-san... wait. Would it be all right if I call you Kanade-san?
Sure... um...
Why did you want to see me?
Kanade-san, I want you to quit Seiso Academy and the competition,
and come to my place.
Huh?
I want you to entrust everything about yourself to me.
Then the blossoming of your talent will exceed your current ability.
This is all so sudden...
I want to use you as a violinist in all the orchestras I conduct, in Russia,
Europe, America, and Asia.
W-Wait a second...
Kohinata.
Nia.
What do you intend to do with Kohinata?
Oh, Nia.
Huh?
You know each other?
Yeah. We're related.
How cold of you.
Is that how you greet your uncle that you haven't seen in so long?
Don't get involved with this guy, Kohinata.
What do you mean?
Come on, let's go.
Nia?
U-Um... I'm sorry.
I appreciate the offer, but we have only just met.
We have not just met.
Huh?
I want you to remember, Kanade-san.
The only one who can defeat all your challengers,
and rejoice in your victory... is you.
The only one who can defeat all your challengers,
and rejoice in your victory...
is you.
I won't...
...forgive you!
Kohinata, are you all right?
Yeah...
Come on, let's go.
Yeah.
What's the matter? You're acting strange.
I've met him before?
Kohinata.
Are you all right? Kohinata...
I'm coming in.
Looks like you're getting some color back.
Yeah, it was just anemia. Sorry I made you worry.
I see... Are you hungry? It's rare that anyone gets to eat food that I've made.
Thanks.
Nia... u-um...
What happened back there?
He's the kind of guy that will do anything to actualize his musical ideals.
But... if he's dissatisfied with someone, he will cruelly cut them off.
I've seen him throw out and ruin many performers on a whim.
You should not get involved with him.
Okay.
I'm in the next room. Call me if you need me.
There is only one person who can save Brother...
Stop.
Once again, from the beginning.
If we play at this tempo, it sounds pretty, and the most unified.
Stop.
What the hell? What was wrong with that?
Yes. Technically speaking, it didn't seem like there was a problem.
Yeah.
Kohinata.
Y-Yes?
What do you want to do with this ensemble?
Huh?
Are you sure this is the performance you want?
Ritsu-kun...
Ritsu-kun... I know he wishes he were the one playing.
That sound...
It's the same as last time...
Just like that time...
Such a pretty sound.
No, not just pretty.
It jolts my emotions.
I know him
from somewhere...
Tsukimori Len-san?!
Excuse me!
But what's a famous violinist like you doing in a place like this?
Are you a music student?
Yes.
This is the grave of a professional violinist.
He was good to me, even when I was a child.
He was precious to me. A supporter of my performances.
Um...
What must I do to be able to perform like that?
I'm sorry, that was rather sudden of me.
It's just that I've been entrusted to be first violin for the first time...
But... I feel like I'm missing something important.
Even if the sounds are unified, sounding pretty isn't good enough.
There was someone who once said this song was "pretty."
It took me a long time to understand the depth of meaning of
that one word and how much thought that goes into it.
Even the word "pretty" has profundity beyond imagination.
The sounds you find pretty, and the sounds the other members find pretty...
Are they really the same?
Where's Kohinata?
She's not back yet.
I see...
I'm sure she has times where she wants to be alone to think.
All I can do is support her as second violin.
Isn't that why you invited both Kanade and me here?
Because it's something only you can do.
You say good things every now and then.
"Every now and then" was unnecessary.
That was intended as high praise, coming from me.
Well, even if it's just us, let's do our final check.
Hey, we were looking for you.
Care to go for a little drive?
Um... where are we going?
I can't be out too late...
Don't worry about it. We told Nia-chan before we left.
Just sit tight and take the ride.
Um...
Wow!
Amazing!
Isn't this pretty?
Yes!
"More than the scorch of love of the chirping cicada...
...is the scorch of the silent firefly's body."
Fireflies emit light to fall in love.
Love?
They freely fall in love in the one summer of their life span.
They emit light, and they die.
Each of them lives its own unique life.
Each has a strong will to outshine the others.
It is because of the gathering of every unique will
that we get to see such an amazing sight.
The sounds you find pretty, and the sounds the other members find pretty...
Are they really the same?
Each unique pretty sound, each unique radiance of the firefly...
It's my job as first to unify them all into one big radiance.
That's right. The most important thing in being first
is to possess a singular image of collective radiance.
A singular image?
What do you want to do with this ensemble?
I...
I need to hear everyone's sounds again, and find out for myself.
You have a good demeanor. It befits Seiso's first.
Thank you, Tohgane-san, Toki-san.
I'll give you a congratulatory kiss if you win.
Welcome back.
You're late.
It must be hard being the watchdog.
What?!
Just kidding. Don't get so hot under the collar.
Goodnight, Kohinata-chan.
Don't forget my promise for when you win.
Those guys...
I'm sorry I made you worry, Kyoya.
But I'm all right now.
Let's practice now!
Now?
Yeah! I want to join sounds with everyone, once more.
I'm in.
Haru-kun.
Let's do it, Kohinata-senpai.
We must make our final adjustments. Let's play together one last time.
To be honest,
I was afraid first violin would be too burdensome for Hina-chan.
But now I'm witnessing the birth of Seiso's new ensemble.
You're right.
Hurry!
Don't be so eager.
Osu!
We want to convey something to all of you.
Right!
We, the wind-orchestral club of Shiseikan High School,
wish victory for Seiso Academy!
Though we admit to our excessiveness,
we nonetheless cheer loudly for your assured victory!
Right!
Who will bask in the glory of victory?
Who will raise the banner of victory?
Our friendly enemy... Seiso Academy!
Go! Go! Seiso! All together!
Go! Go! Seiso! Go! Go! Seiso!
Osu!
Thank you very much!
If you lose after all that, I won't forgive you.
Sorry, Hozumi-senpai's face is unnecessarily scary.
Hey.
But he sincerely cheers for Seiso Academy. Right, Senpai?
Good grief...
Victory Amulet
These are victory charms from our local shrine.
Victory Amulet
We pray for good fortune in your battle.
Right!
Yes!
Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
Kohinata-san!
Please save my brother.
Huh?
I don't know... Just what happened between Myoga-san and me?
Next episode: "Elegy of Love and Hate."
Elegy of Love and Hate
Our story is finally heading to a climax!