Listen here, four-eyes!
Don't go losing to any of those other clubs, okay?!
A-Actually, um...
Club presentations aren't really about winning or losing...
If we don't have five members, we'll be disbanded, right?!
This is a competition to win over the new first-years!
Let's crush those other clubs!
Let's rake in the club members!
Crush...?
If you mess up, I'll make you pay!
"Koto Club"
"#2 Having What It Takes" To all our new first-year students,
"#2 Having What It Takes" congratulations on entering high school!
Our first club presentation comes from the light music club!
Did Kurata seem okay?
Yup. He was brought to tears by my encouragement.
Are you sure about that?
Anyway, don't these guys sound awful?
You think?
They're terribly out of tune...
I was so preoccupied with Kudo...
...that I just realized this is my first time performing solo...
What should I do if I end up stopping midway...
What if one of my strings breaks like my upperclassman's did...
You always think too much, Takezo!
Just do what you can before the performance.
If you still mess up after that, it can't be helped.
Taking the stage is a reward for all the hard work you've put in up until now.
Enjoy it as much as you can!
Moving on, an introduction from the koto club.
N-Nice to meet-- Ah, no.
C-C-Congratulations on entering high school!
We is the kyo-koto club!
Is he okay...?
In the koto club, we play a traditional Japanese instrument called the koto.
Today, I'd like to perform a piece called "Rokudan no Shirabe"
which includes all the fundamentals of koto playing.
The fundamentals, huh? All right.
If anyone's interested, please come visit the club whenever you'd like.
You'll be fine. You'll be fine.
Hey, you know the next club coming up...
Shut up! I can't hear a damn thing!
I'm so sorry, Kurata.
This guy's an idiot beyond help...
Huh?!
I-It's okay... But I wonder if anyone will join...
H-How was my performance?
Huh, I didn't get it.
Uh, you know... it was unfamiliar to our ears so...
R-Right.
I should have picked a more popular song...
The one you played was fine.
It was a fundamental piece for the koto, right?
I didn't get it, but it wasn't bad.
What does that even mean...?
Whoa, she's pretty!
Uh, um...
Sorry for letting myself in.
Um... I'd like to join this club, if that's all right?
Huh?!
Will you give me permission to join?
P-Permission?! Of course, you're completely welcome!
"Club Application Form Name: 1-F Satowa Hozuki" Great! This is my club application form.
Hey, bastard!
Isn't your attitude a little different from when I joined?!
Well, wasn't your entrance a little unusual?!
Amazing...
I didn't think anyone would come so quickly...
Uh, and your name is...
"Aim for nationals!!" Satowa... H-Hozuki?
"Aim for nationals!!" Yes.
That wouldn't be the same Hozuki as the Hozuki school, would it?
So you know of the Hozuki school?
Wha--?!
"Hozuki School"
What is it? You know this girl?
"Hozuki School" Of course I know her!
She's the daughter of the grand master of a huge koto school.
"A prodigy has appeared in the world of koto music!!" She's a prodigy who has won many competitions with sweeping victories.
"A prodigy has appeared in the world of koto music!!" She has an amazing reputation.
I-It's not that big a deal...
Hmph! So what?!
Besides, you can't rely on someone's reputatio--
But why would someone of your caliber
suddenly want to join a high school koto club?
Not to mention, the club of a weak school like ours...
I've been a part of the world of koto since I was born.
But when I played, it was always solo or with adults...
I almost never got to play with people my age.
But last year,
I heard the koto club from this school play at the high school qualifiers,
and I thought, "Wow, these people look like they're having fun.
I wonder what it'd be like to play with them."
Th-Thank you...
If I remember correctly,
weren't there some female upperclassmen in the club as well?
Oh, well,
all the upperclassman have graduated,
so now it's just me and Kudo, who joined yesterday...
What? It's just two guys?
Huh?
So this friendly act was a waste of time.
Hm?
I did think it was odd that there was only one guy at the presentation.
U-Um, Hozuki?
Your personality is kind of different from earlier...
Huh? Of course, that wasn't my natural self.
If female upperclassmen were here,
they'd all think someone talented like me were conceited.
I was acting. Acting.
Huh?!
Hey, this girl's bad news!
S-So, your reason for joining earlier...
Oh, I'm already planning on becoming a pro, so...
I thought this would be a cool story to tell when I make it big.
S-Story...?
Yup.
"Genius Koto Player Makes Her Debut After Leading a Puny Koto Club
to 1st Place in the Nationals!"
Or something.
Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?
F-First place...?!
Puny...?
No matter how talented I am or how famous my family is,
these days, without something newsworthy, I won't make it big.
So I'll take this club to first place at the nationals
for a more spectacular pro debut.
Wh-Wha...?
But if you already had that goal in mind,
even if the intent has changed, the goal remains the same, right?
We'll be fine.
If I'm here, we'll get to the nationals in no time.
Let's work hard together!
What's with you suddenly acting all high-and-mighty?!
Just because you can play the koto a bit, don't start saying shit--
Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!
I ain't talking to you.
Who even are you?
Why on earth is someone like you in a koto club?
--K-Kudo is serious about playing the koto--
--And you, too! --K-Kudo is serious about playing the koto--
What happened to this koto? It's severely damaged.
It doesn't look like these strings broke naturally either.
What kind of maintenance are you even doing?
That's--
That's my fault!
What? It's not like you broke them, Kudo.
Hmph, appearances don't lie, it seems.
I don't know why you're in this club, nor do I care,
but anyone who is willing to damage the instruments
doesn't have what it takes to play the koto.
I don't want to understand this stupid thing anyway!
Hozuki!
Let's stop this. This tense atmosphere isn't good.
Let's try and get along, okay?
Kudo?
Just leave him be.
You misunderstand him, Hozuki. Kudo is...
I only care about how that guy plans to face the koto.
About the koto club...
I got permission to join from four-eyes, but...
Like she said, did I not even have what it takes from the start?
How would I know?
Bastard, actually give it some thought!
To think the successor of the Hozuki school
was that kind of person...
We'll get to the nationals in no time.
Don't say that so thoughtlessly...
"Satowa Hozuki"
Wh--
Why are you here?!
This has been my seat ever since the entrance ceremony.
Or should I say, who might you be?
Y-You little...
Anyone who is willing to damage the instruments
doesn't have what it takes to play the koto.
A-About what you said before...
Huh?
That thing you said yesterday.
About not having what it takes...
What of it?
How do I get what it takes?
Huh?
I said, how do I get what it takes?
You're the daughter of a grand master, right?!
Don't you know?!
That question's so stupid. This is the first time I've ever had disdain for anyone.
Quit playing with me!
Like I can sit next to someone like this! I'm outta here!
What?! H-Hey, wait! Kudo!
What an idiot...
You misunderstand him, Hozuki. Kudo is...
What am I misunderstanding?
A guy who makes such crude sounds...
Sounds do not lie.
Sounds reveal a person's true nature.
That's why I...
Damn it!
Whatever!
Who cares about what it takes? If I say I'm doing it, I'm doing it!
I won't let a girl like her complain!
It's settled! Settled!
Hey, Chika! Stop straddling the instruments!
Do you wanna try playing it?
Well? It was perfect, right?!
You're pretty good.
You've got quite the knack for this.
I-It's not like
being told I've got a knack for this would make me happy!
What did you say? Hey, wait!
You caused this to happen, did you not?!
...doesn't have what it takes to play the koto.
Damn it...
"Koto Club"
Good afternoon.
H-Hi...
"Aim for first place at the nationals" H-Hozuki, what is this...?!
Oh, the other one was ripped, so I thought I'd replace it.
Our goal is a little higher now,
so I thought I'd renew the mood as well.
Don't just do as you please!
S-Sorry...
But that goal...
...might just be a newsworthy story to you,
but to an ordinary person like me,
just getting to the nationals would be a dream come true.
I'm not a child that will dream beyond my own abilities.
I just want you to understand that...
Your abilities will grow if you aim higher.
People who don't aim high will never develop the ability to do so.
Do you not want to get to the nationals, Kurata?
Then, why were you crying
when you didn't make it past the qualifiers last year?
You saw--
It's because it was painful, right?
Was it not because you wanted to get higher?
If it were me, I'd want to take this club to the nationals--
The nationals--
That's not a place one person can just take you to single-handedly!
It's somewhere we get to together.
What? The nationals?!
You're kidding, right?
Do you understand the level we're at?
Of course!
But aiming for it is something we're free to do, right?
If we aim bigger, I'm sure we'll improve faster!
Do you not want to get to the nationals, Kurata?
Then why were you crying...?
Shit...
That girl's already here...
Oh? What? You gonna play?
You with your arrogant "I'm a pro from a huge koto school" spiel.
Let's hear just how good you are...
Huh?
She's playing... the koto, right?
Could the same thing four-eyes was playing yesterday...
...really sound this different?
I don't understand it, but...
...each note is resounding so beautifully.
It's so different.
It's so different from the koto music I've heard up until now...
A brat like you wouldn't understand
the profoundness and charm of the koto anyway!
You really don't understand, do you?
This calculated work of art.
Amazing...
"Principal's Office"
I have a request...
It feels even more awkward than it was yesterday.
I wonder if Hozuki and Kudo will come today...
Uh, um. What's going on?
Oh, Kurata.
I heard your instruments were damaged earlier.
So, I've requested a music store come and repair them.
Huh?
Is that okay?
Of course! It wasn't your club's fault they were broken, after all.
However, there's only one instrument left,
so it might cause some trouble for the club, huh?
Well...
It's okay!
I have my own koto.
So while we wait, I can practice at home.
My apologies.
Not at all!
Well, if you run into any problems, please let me know.
Thank you so much!
Friendly-mode activated...
Well, that's the situation,
so let me know when the instruments are back. Bye.
Ah, right.
She's mad, isn't she?
Kudo isn't here either.
"Aim for nationals!!"
Huh? Kudo's not here?
Why? Does he have a cold?
He's an idiot, so he wouldn't catch a cold.
He's probably just playing hooky.
I see...
Got it. Thank you.
Such a bother, that guy...
Am I that bothered by what Hozuki said...?
Or is it...?
You think I'd stay after she said all those things?!
I quit! I quit!
No, no. No way he'd do that...
It's not like I even know Kudo that well yet...
"Koto Club"
It'll be fine!
Tomorrow, I'm sure he'll come, too...
Huh? He already left?! Why?!
As I thought, he must be feeling sick...
Well, I don't know the details...
I'm sorry.
Ah! Kudo!
What?! This is the third floor!
Hm, as I thought. He's just a mere delinquent.
And then, a whole week went by...
S-Sorry.
He said he had something to do today, so he left pretty quick...
Takaoka...
Yes...?
You're hiding something, aren't you?
I'm sorry, Kurata.
Chika swore me to secrecy...
He's actually...
Hozuki!
Ow...
"Hozuki" Ow...
"Hozuki"
That hurt! Don't go bumping into people!
These guys are from the light music club...
S-Sorry.
Huh? Isn't he that Nadeshiko?
Nadeshiko?
Yeah, from that koto club!
Oh, the guy that gave that pathetic performance?!
You can't gather club members with a performance like that.
Shall I join?
Idiot, let's go.
Well, good luck to you.
It's you guys that are gonna need some luck.
Huh?
What?
What are you doing belittling someone else's performance
when you can't even tune properly yourselves?
If you have that much time on your hands, then you should use it to practice.
Wha--
Hozuki...
Uh, um!
Can you come with me for a sec?!
"Nishina Instruments"
So this is it...
What?
Is this the music store we got to repair the instruments?
Are you guys perhaps Kudo's friends?
Huh?
Is Kudo here?!
--Yeah, he's inside. Go on in.
--Ow! --Yeah, he's inside. Go on in.
Idiot!
That's why I said do it carefully!
Ugh, I get it!
Where are your manners?!
It's because you're so annoyingly persistent
that I'm letting you help out, right?!
Good grief!
Youngsters these days...
For an old hag, that was some punch.
Who's an old hag?!
--Ow!
--Wh-What... --Ow!
Um...
One week ago,
right after we got the request to repair the instruments,
Kudo suddenly showed up here.
Um...
It's my fault the koto are broken...
...so please let me help you fix them.
He said.
Huh?
He took me by surprise.
Well, you see how my granny is, so...
What aren't you telling me?!
You think I'd let someone who did this to the koto touch them again?!
Get lost!
But Kudo came back every day.
He sat outside the store for hours without even eating,
so I kinda gave in.
Then, Granny finally gave in, too,
saying she would let him help if he told her how they broke.
So then, you know about Kudo...
I heard. About his past, everything.
I'm sure it's something Kudo doesn't like to talk about,
but he told her everything.
Why would he go this far...?
He said he wanted to earn "what it takes."
He said, "I'm an idiot,
so I don't know if it's okay for someone who's damaged one to play.
But if I'm acknowledged by someone who makes kotos...
If I earn what it takes...
...I think I'd be able to proudly face the koto."
Hozuki?
He's an idiot.
How simple-minded can you be?
I'm honestly amazed.
The sound he produces is probably just as stupidly straightforward.
Hozuki...
Uh, um. I'm sorry about before...
And thanks... for what you did back then...
Just like you said, deep in my heart...
I probably did dream of going to the nationals.
But realizing I had failed miserably last year,
I didn't have the courage to say I wanted to aim higher.
No, I said too many arrogant things myself.
It's my first time being in a club,
so I didn't really know what attitude to have.
Well, I still don't.
But I'll try my best to learn, so...
Again, will you please give me permission to join the koto club?
Of course!
Great!
Now we're officially aiming for first place at nationals, right?
Huh?! So, that's not changing...
But, you know...
Though I'm aiming for first place, I didn't just pick any old school.
Huh? You mean...
Wh-Wh-Wh-Why are you guys here...?
Hey! Don't just drop the tools!
Goodness, what are you up to--
Oh? These your friends from school?
Oh, we're members of the koto club.
Oh, you guys must have it hard too, huh?
Having this idiot as a club member.
What have we here? Aren't you...?
Um... If it's all right, is there anything we can help with, too?
Huh, wha--
We're members of the same club, after all.
Is there anything we can help with?
D-Don't joke with me!
I can do this by myself!
Don't just come barging in!
Do you even realize what it took for me to be able to help--
Well, guess I'll take you up on that offer.
Thank you so much.
Hold on a sec, old hag!
This is way too different from when I asked!
What is it with everyone?!
And, that Tetsuki! Telling my secret to them like that.
--You're so annoying, you know that? --I'm gonna kick your ass!
--Now, now... --Huh?!
"Club Application Form"
"Dragon Asterism"
"one" "two "three" "four"
Next time, "The Koto Club Reborn."
"#3 The Koto Club Reborn" Next time, "The Koto Club Reborn."