We're almost done with the repairs.
We can finally get back to doing normal club stuff!
"Nishina Instruments" Even with the instruments back,
"Nishina Instruments" if we don't get two more members within the month, we'll be disbanded.
"Nishina Instruments" Because of a certain someone, we haven't even had any visitors yet.
"Nishina Instruments" What did you say?!
I heard you're a pretty infamous delinquent around here.
When the rumor that he joined the club spread,
people probably got too scared to even approach us.
Says you! Why don't you bring one or two of your girl friends?!
Oh, is that no good!? You got no friends?!
Unfortunately!
I've been surrounded by adults my whole life so no one's on my level.
Anyway!
If we don't get anyone to join and we disband, it'll be your fault!
"#3 The Koto Club Reborn" Jeez.
"#3 The Koto Club Reborn" If some baby's hesitating 'cause I'm there, we don't need 'em.
Chika! It's been so long!
Kota, stop!
Yo, Tetsuki. Chika.
Sane, Mittsu!
By the way, Chika.
I heard you actually joined the koto club.
Following in your late granddad's footsteps...
Wah, you're making me cry, damn it!
Ugh, you guys are annoying!
Crap.
Whoa, cute! Who is she?!
Hello, Kudo.
Are these people your friends, perhaps?
Yes, we're Kudo's friends!
Nice to meet you. I'm Satowa Hozuki, also from the koto club.
Nice to meet you, too!
Hey, don't be deceived guys!
This girl has a split personality that's unthinkably mean--
How dare you say such things about a frail young girl!
I envy you, being in a club with a cute girl.
Maybe I should join the koto club, too.
Oh, please do!
Huh?
We're actually short on members.
If nothing changes soon, we'll be disbanded.
And plus...
...if delightful people like you were to join,
I'd be so happy.
We'll join!
Hold it right there!
We'll become the koto club's saviors!
What the hell are you thinking?
They're all actually thinking of doing this! What are we gonna do?
We don't really need them to play the koto, right?
All we need is their names.
As long as they put their names down for the club, we won't be disbanded.
E-Evil...
I-If you keep doing stuff like this, you'll never have friends.
I don't need any.
I'm used to being alone anyway.
"Koto Club" And with that,
we are the koto club's saviors: Saneyasu Adachi...
...Michitaka Sakai...
...and Kota Mizuhara!
S-Saviors? Wh-What's going on...?
Don't worry about it.
They'll get bored and leave soon anyway.
"Club Application Form"
Those damn delinquents...
"Nishina Instruments" Whoa, awesome! There's so many!
Looks like the noisy one has multiplied.
Here, plectrums and their bands.
Choose some that fit.
Hozuki!
Could you pick out plectrums for Kudo?
What?!
Why me...?
I'm... gonna go help out over there, so...
I'll leave it to you.
Let me see your hand.
I don't... know much about koto schools,
but it means your parents play the koto too, right?
What of it?
Nothing really...
So did you learn from your parents?
That's none of your business.
Wha--
What's with this girl's fingertips?
They're so hard.
"For woodworking glue"
Whoa, my own plectrums!
Is three plectrums enough?
Yup, since you use your fingers for the rest.
Is everyone finished?
Uh, yes!
Right then.
That'll be 5,000 yen per person.
F-Five thousand yen?!
What? We have to pay for this?!
--Of course you do. --Damn it... I forgot about money...
I'll definitely bring more tomorrow!
For the time being, this is all I have.
Do you have a way of getting money?
I-I'll figure something out.
Money doesn't just come out of nowhere.
Once I save up some money, I'll come back...
S-Sorry, Kudo. I wasn't thinking.
That's right, idiot four-eyes!
Huh?
You did help us repair the kotos, after all.
I'll consider that payment.
Ah, then... what about ours...?
I'm not so kind as to give freebies to idiots who aren't really interested.
"Should've known..." Should've known...
I'll use them well...
That's why I'm giving them to you.
How was it yesterday? With Sane and everyone.
It was useless. They just made a fuss and went home.
Ah, as expected?
I mean, they're not gonna come back, anyway.
Joining the club was just them getting carried... away...
Yo, Chika! You're late!
Why are you guys here again?!
You don't even wanna play the koto, right?!
Yeah, we won't be playing,
but you guys can enter competitions without us, right?
We don't mind lending our names to the koto club.
Yay, we're geniuses!
You guys...
This is exactly as she planned!
Idiot! You fell for it, didn't you?!
--Shuddup, idiot! --Hey, guys!
If you're gonna get violent, do it somewhere else!
Hmph, as I thought.
I thought it'd be like this.
V-Vice-principal?!
Crap...
What a joke of a club.
I'll report this to the principal, and he'll deal--
Who would join a club just to fool around!
Hmph. If that's the case,
why don't you let me hear you play right now?
We can't!
We were just about to start practicing.
Then I give you a week.
If in a week's time you can perform in a way that satisfies me,
then I'll approve of the club.
B-But...
Bring it on!
We can satisfy you in a week--
One month...
Can you please at least give us a month?
Hozuki!
Please excuse me for cutting in.
I'm also of the koto club.
You are?
We could probably manage a simple piece in a week.
However, that would surely not satisfy you, correct?
So, one month.
If given that,
we can do a performance that'll make the whole school approve.
Wait-- Hozuki?!
Are you serious?
Of course.
All right, all right!
I'm looking forward to hearing you in a month.
H-Hozuki, why did you say that?!
Whatever we play in front of that vice-principal,
in the end he'll just say, "I'm not satisfied."
But if we do a huge performance in front of everyone,
he'll have no choice but to approve.
Y-You make it sound easy, but...
With these members, can we really do a huge performance...
Sorry!
Without those three,
we'll be short members, and, either way, we'll be disbanded.
Chika's mad, isn't he?
But it's not like we can play the koto.
--We'd just hold them back.
--Vice-principal. --We'd just hold them back.
What are we gonna do about them?
Kudo and his friends don't really want to play the koto.
In one month's time, the koto club will be disbanded.
Can't rely on the police to do their job, huh?
Rotten delinquents like Kudo should be taken to reform school.
Sane!
Hey, Tetsuki?
How come you hang out with that Kudo kid from class C?
Huh? I've known him since we were kids.
But I never hear anything good about him.
Shouldn't you stop getting involved with him?
Probably...
Man, what is that Tetsuki thinking?
Hey!
What?
Don't underestimate me, middle schooler!
Sto--
K-Kudo?!
What do you think you're doing?!
Bastard!
Why?
We aren't even friends!
You guys hang out with Tetsuki a lot, right?
Risking his life and spilling blood for a friend of a friend...
I thought I'd be all cool and return the favor
the next time he got in a big fight, but...
Jeez, were we all thinking the same thing, huh?
You guys...
I mean, we have nothing better to do anyway.
We know each other so well.
I can return the favor like this, too, huh?
Hey, Granny! Give us those things!
Three sets of those things you put on your fingers, please!
Hey!
Why the hell are you guys back again?!
Hmph... You think we'd just run away like that?
You really don't get us, huh?
We wouldn't dare upset a girl!
In that case,
you've all become official members of the club now, yes?
Yes, that's right!
Hm, I see...
I'm glad you turned out more simple-minded than I thought.
Huh?
Now that you're official members that are gonna play,
prepare yourselves, because I won't be going easy on you.
H-Hozuki?
--This can't be!
--I told you, didn't I?! --This can't be!
"Michitaka (Mittsu) Sakai" "Kota (Kota) Mizuhara" "Saneyasu (Sane) Adachi"
For now, to give a basic explanation of the koto...
A typical koto has thirteen strings.
When played, there are moveable bridges under the strings.
These can be tuned to the sounds needed for each piece.
Music is written in traditional koto notation,
or in staff notation, like that used with the piano and such.
Done!
Now, let's start with the simple piece, "Sakura, Sakura."
Here, play.
So fast!
You little-- Don't teach so half-heartedly!
Half-heartedly?
Playing will make you learn faster than me explaining everything!
What? Is it actually that you have no self-confidence?
Bring it on! I'll play this in no time!
"Sakura, Sakura"
Huh, a spell?
Where's my "please, teach me"?
Crap!
Um, if I remember right...
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven...
Oh, it's this one!
Seven, seven again, then eight...
Take that! I can do this after all!
Then next is...
An eyeball?
"...20 minutes later." I don't get the koto!
"...20 minutes later." My knee, my legs!
"...20 minutes later." The sakura should just fall already!
"...20 minutes later." Takezo...
In one month's time, this club will probably disband.
Not you, too, H-Hozuki.
I didn't expect these people to be this unable to play.
Quiet, you little--!
I can still keep going!
Kudo...
There is one thing we could do.
We could completely skip over the basics
and start learning the piece we're going to play one month from now.
B-But we haven't decided on the piece we're going to play.
There is one piece I was considering...
Huh?
Ah, but it might be impossible for these guys.
I can play it!
I don't care how difficult it is! I'll definitely play it!
In that case...
"Spring Traditional Japanese Music Festival Experience the world of traditional Japanese music."
Will you go watch this?
They'll be performing the piece there.
They're playing here?
Hozuki, you seem like you're in disguise.
Well, yes...
My face is well-known in the field of traditional Japanese music, so...
I-I see...
By the way, what kind of piece is the one you were considering?
"Ryuuseigun"
It's called "Ryuuseigun."
"Ryuuseigun"?
"Spring Traditional Japanese Music Festival"
Hey, isn't that one in the middle really big?
It has 17 strings.
It's a low-toned koto. Like a bass guitar.
It is the core of this piece.
Next is "Ryuuseigun" composed by Taki Ayase.
It will be performed by students of the Hozuki koto school.
B-By Hozuki, he means...
Yes.
Today's performers are the Hozuki school's elite.
They're just kids!
Grade schoolers?!
What? I feel so relieved.
Right?
If grade schoolers can play it,
a month should be enough for even us to learn it.
So that's it.
Let's try and learn that piece before the month is up.
Are you insane?!
Me aside...
Do you really think these guys can learn something that awesome?!
You can't play it either!
H-Hozuki, I think it'd be best if we find another piece...
We'll be fine.
Aside from the 17-stringed koto, the piece isn't that hard.
I'll play the 17-stringed koto.
With this many people, we can make enough of an impact.
If all goes well, in one month's time,
the vice-principal and the whole school will be just as amazed as you are now.
Probably.
Well, I mean...
If you really think it's impossible then we can find another piece.
Which would mean this, correct?
"Grade Schoolers"
"Below"
Who said they couldn't do it?
This'll be child's play!
Right, guys!?
Yeah!
I'm so glad you guys are idiots.
Um, but our club doesn't have a 17-stringed koto...
I have my own, so I'll bring it in from home.
That would be great, but it'll be heavy.
Uh, I can come pick it up from your house--
I-It's okay!
Huh? But it's bigger than an ordinary koto...
I can bring it myself!
Just leave her.
She's rich, so she probably has an assistant who can drive it over for her.
You be quiet.
Oh, it's those kids from earlier...
I wonder if that's their teacher...
Which means... it's Hozuki's mother?
Hozuki, you don't want to go talk to her?
I'm fine.
What should we do now?
Let's all go eat somewhere!
Okay, how about a family restaurant or--
I'll pass.
See you later...
Oh, is this the 17-stringed koto?
Y-You!
Looks rough. Shall I help you out?
Are you kidding me?!
I couldn't bear it if I let you carry it and it got damaged!
I see...
"Ryuuseigun" is a five-part piece for the 17-string and koto.
In other words, each person will be playing their own part,
"Ryuuseigun" In other words, each person will be playing their own part,
"Ryuuseigun" and everyone is playing something different.
So that means...
We can't look at someone else and play...
Or pretend to play...
That's right.
Plus, you're each responsible for a part, so there's no running away either.
Ever.
There's no way I can play this!
Kudo, are you all right?
No problem, no problem! Let's get started already!
No! You play string six here!
How many times do I have to say it before you understand?!
Wah! Having to look so quickly I don't know which is which!
You just have to make your body learn them!
Hey... can we stop here for today?
Y-You're right.
If we do too much at the start, we won't last.
This doesn't even count as practicing.
Starting tomorrow, we'll also be having morning practice, so be ready.
Morning practice?!
Huh?!
Hey, you. Don't rush ahead on your own.
They're trying their best as it is.
You shut your mouth.
You don't know anything.
I may not know much about the koto yet,
but I'm trying my best, too!
This is your best?
Just how easy can you be on yourself?
At this rate, there's no doubt we'll be disbanded.
Even though we have to perform in front of the whole school in a month,
you guys don't even know which string is which!
But it was you that said we had to do this performance--
If we're pointing fingers, then it's all because you're here, isn't it?
I-It's getting late, so let's stop here for today. Okay?
Come on everyone, let's tidy up!
Huh? She's that strict?
Then, I wonder if she was taught in that same Spartan style.
Huh?
You know?
People teach based on the way they were taught themselves, no?
Moreover, you say she's the daughter of a grand master, right?
Must have been tough, in a lot of ways.
Hey, you. Don't rush ahead on your own.
Hozuki.
Takezo, I'm sorry about yesterday.
Ah, no.
I didn't really act like a club president, either, so...
If everyone quits the club, it'll be my fault.
Huh? Hold on!
No one's going to quit the club so suddenly!
Ah, well, I don't know about those three, but...
But I'm sure whatever happens, Kudo'll never quit.
Anyone would want to quit after someone went that far.
Why are you trying so hard by yourself, Satowa?
All we wanna do is have fun...
But you're so serious it's scary.
I can't keep up with you. Just play by yourself.
What's up, Chika? Calling us out all this way.
I have something to give you.
Here. I made them myself. Use 'em!
Don't laugh!
You... made these? Why would you do that?
Huh?! To make that girl speechless, of course!
What? He can't possibly be planning to get revenge or something?
This is why delinquents are...
I see, I see. Then, I'll take it.
All right! Let's all make her speechless!
See ya!
After all, this guy's "best" is...
"one" "two "three" "four"
Huh? What was that just now?
A koto made of cardboard?!
Um, five... five and...
I'm sure whatever happens, Kudo'll never quit.
Next is, six... six...
Hey.
It'd be best to stop writing the names of the strings on the side.
Yo--
If you have them there, you'll get into the habit of relying on them.
Well, in your case,
it'll probably take you a month alone to remember the strings.
Huh?!
But well...
...considering all that,
at least, your form on the hand you play with is perfect.
I'm sure you had a good teacher.
Next time, "The First Resounding Note."
"#4 The First Resounding Note" Next time, "The First Resounding Note."