"Aim for nationals!!"
"#5 Let Our Sound Resound and Reach Them" I really couldn't bear to look at Chika back then.
But I'm glad he was able to pick himself back up again.
Moreover, he's really trying to understand the kotos his grandfather loved
in the koto club his grandfather created.
We can't do much to help,
but we want to at least be there for him, you know?
Anyways, I'm rambling now.
Oh, don't tell Chika about this, okay?
Huh? Wai-- Hozuki?!
No way...
The group he used to hang out with
smashed up his grandfather's house and the instruments he made
and pinned it on Chika.
He was viewed with disdain by everyone,
and around the same time, his grandfather died...
Even so, Chika sees it as something he has to take responsibility for.
Anyone who is willing to damage the instruments
doesn't have what it takes to play the koto.
What should I do?
If we don't get anyone to join and we disband, it'll be your fault!
What should I do?
I couldn't bear it if I let you carry it and it got damaged!
What should I do?
If we're pointing fingers, then it's all because you're here, isn't it?
What the--? Oh, it's you?
A-Are you crying?
No way I am! It's hay fever!
L-Looks rough...
If you're going to be late to the club, I'll let four-eyes know.
He said he wanted to earn "what it takes."
I'll use them well...
If you can't do it, just say so.
If you don't know something, just say you don't know.
Sorry!
I-I heard about your grandfather... and everything...
I said so many horrible things...
...not knowing anything about why you joined the koto club...
I'm so sorry.
You're scary when you're nice.
Wha--?! When someone's seriously--
So, what?
That's what you've been crying about?
So you can be cute sometimes, huh? Satowa?
You're so annoying, stupid Kudo!
Let's go to the clubroom already!
Sounds do not lie.
Sounds reveal a person's true nature.
His sound is...
A presentation from the koto club?
At the school's morning assembly the week after next!
Whether or not those kids are actually serious about the club
must be ascertained.
And we'll drive Kudo out of the school, along with the koto club!
You have no problem with that, right?
Koto club advisor, Takinami?
Yes, please feel free.
"Koto Club"
Stop!
Try playing that with a more focused sound.
What?
Would it sound more focused if my fingers were harder?
That's not what I meant...
Play it like you played that other time.
What other time?
I mean...
Like you played when you were practicing alone at the music store!
You think I remember how I played then?!
You're so useless!
What?!
Hozuki!
I understand what you're trying to say,
but playing a focused sound at will is difficult for beginners, right?
You're right.
I was a fool to expect anything from someone like Kudo.
You've gone and said it now, haven't you?!
H-Hozuki, you went a little too far.
W-We made it to the end without stopping for the first time!
Yay!
If we can play like this for the real thing--
Well, I think we've reached the bare minimum level of playing.
Can't you be honestly happy about something for once?!
We'd be in trouble if we couldn't even play to the end without stopping.
Now, now...
To us, that's a big step.
I've made tea. Take a little break.
So, Granny! How was our performance?
Well, if it were a test, you'd have passed, barely.
What's with that phrasing?
I mean, you lot...
You want to satisfy your whole school with this performance, no?
Moving people's hearts through music is not an easy thing to do.
You all are practicing well.
You have good technique, and a powerful sound, as well.
After this, it's about putting feeling into your playing.
Putting feeling into our playing?
That's right.
Why are you playing? Who do you want your music to reach?
Just being conscious of that a little changes your tone completely.
Try playing as if
you're letting out the words you want to tell your loved ones.
Sound is another language for those that can't communicate well.
It's perfect for clumsy and easily-misunderstood people like you lot.
"Koto Club" Yo, Chika!
"Koto Club" What are you doing standing here all spaced out?
Let's go in already!
That hurt! Anyway, stop being so noisy so early in the morning!
Whoa, you set up all our instruments already?!
Wow! Thanks, Hozuki!
H-Hey!
Kota, you need to stop hugging people without thinking...
Why? I don't see a problem.
She's a friend in the same koto club, after all.
Oh, you guys are early today!
--Yeah! --'Morning, Takezo!
--'Morning! --'Morning, Takezo!
Good morning!
We just got here, too.
Everything's already prepared perfectly!
Hozuki did it for us!
Let's practice already!
Everyone probably joined the koto club
for different reasons...
But the reason we play is surely one and the same.
It's finally time for our performance.
Right, then, let's move the instruments to the gym!
Wait!
It's harder to carry the 17-string, so...
You carry it.
I'll carry that one.
But if I carry it, it could get damaged.
Then you can repay me.
A-All the students are really here.
Is this for real...?
Shit... What is this?
My heart has moved to my ear...
Am I dying?!
Can we really play like this?!
Um, we will begin the morning assembly now.
--Wh-What should I do? --First, a word from the principal...
As the club president, I have to say something...
But what exactly should I say?
We'll be just fine.
No matter how nervous you get, or how blank your head gets,
your hands will remember what to do.
Hozuki...
Well, I'm here, so we have nothing to worry about anyway.
Why do you always--
You got something to say, scaredy-cat?
Sorry, Hozuki. And, thank you.
I should really be the more dependable one...
No, I'm sorry.
I think I was out of line.
No, not at all!
Up until recently, I thought
the mistake of one person in an ensemble meant a mistake for everyone,
that it was something scary.
But now,
I believe we can help each other out
in the areas where one person is not enough or is lacking.
Hozuki...
When it comes to the koto,
I rush ahead and become unable to see the things around me.
So you've helped me out a lot.
Uh, next is a word from the vice-principal.
Let's get ready.
Uh, today we will have a special performance from the koto club.
About a month ago, they made a certain promise to me.
If they can't do a performance that satisfies the whole school,
the koto club will disband. That was the promise.
The fate of the koto club is riding on you.
That is all from me.
I wish the koto club good luck.
Huh? What does that mean? I don't get it.
--I don't even care what happens to the koto club anyway.
--What a pain. So annoying. --I don't even care what happens to the koto club anyway.
I feel like we're kinda unwelcome here...
So the usual then, right?
Ah, I feel kinda relieved now.
This way might actually be easier.
You have a point.
In any case, it seems no one's gonna listen anyway,
so let's just give it our all!
We have no shame or pride anyway.
--Right! --Yeah.
Plus, we're not alone.
All right! Let's go!
Whoa, they're actually gonna play.
I mean, don't get us involved in this, too!
Honestly, I don't really care what happens.
Thanks for letting me come even though I'm an outsider.
What are you saying?
You've always looked after this school's koto club.
Also, the other day...
Someone you want to invite to the performance?
Who might that be?
The granny from the music store.
I promised her I'd let her hear an amazing performance, so...
Is that all right? It's all right, right?
That's what he said. You must be loved, huh?
Hmph... As the principal, if you had said you'd let the club continue,
it would have been settled right then and there.
I wanted to hear it, too.
I wondered just what kind of sound these kids could make.
Huh? Wai--
Kudo?! He's seriously going to play the koto?!
--Oh shit, this cracks me up! --You've gotta be kidding.
Ladies and gentlemen, we, the koto club--
Who cares! Get on with it!
You're just wasting our precious time with this dumb performance anyway!
Yeah! Get on with it!
So you've helped me out a lot.
You're wrong.
I was the one being helped.
Whenever I'd want to run away,
or turn my back...
It's always me that's gotten help.
If this is funny to you, then go ahead and laugh.
If this is boring to you, then go ahead and complain.
Regardless,
I don't want to lose my precious friends or the place I belong,
so we are going to play this piece till the very end.
So embarrassing! So lame!
Hey, Chika?
You always have such a dull look on your face.
You don't do anything fun at school, or have someone you like?
No. Nothing.
I mean, this is way too lame.
Right?
Wha--?!
--What is this? --I didn't realize the koto was so...
As expected from Chika.
There's no one left now.
Don't touch me.
Scary... What was that just now?
He's always like this. Just leave him.
He doesn't trust anyone, anyway.
We can just use him when fights get bad.
We're now at Hozuki's solo!
We've been perfect up until now!
The cry of a dragon...
Huh?
Nothing, it's just what it sounded like.
The cry of a lonely dragon
with no friends.
Hey, look, you!
Why'd you barge into my house again without asking?
Jeez, aren't you living with your grandfather now?
Go home.
Shut up.
How long are you planning on being like this?
I can't look out for you forever.
I see...
Hey, Chika!
Brat...
A friend came to pick you up this morning.
Huh?
Tetsuki... Takaoka, I think he said.
He's a good kid.
At this rate,
I was worried that you'd quit school and just get into fights.
So what if I did.
Hey, Chika. Don't give up on yourself.
Don't forsake yourself
before anyone else has even given up on you.
If you do, you really will be alone someday.
How is that different from now?
You don't get this either? What an idiot.
I don't get it.
A brat like you isn't my son.
Don't ever show your face in front of me again!
Hey, did you know?
That guy was abandoned by his parents.
And his name is written with the character for "love." It's hilarious!
Oh, no! I was out of sync!
That sounded weird.
Is it supposed to sound like that?
Crap, I started playing out of sync because of Kota.
Shit, they're distracting me.
Hey! Where are you going, you idiots?!
This is bad. We're becoming less and less together.
What should I do--
Stop this already!
Do you want to die?!
Your grandfather was worried sick!
Come on, I'm taking you home.
You're so annoying. Let me go!
I'm taking you home.
Come on!
Come on, walk!
Those guys hang out with Tetsuki a lot...
Don't underestimate me, middle-schooler!
K-Kudo?!
Hozuki...
She's making the first beat of the bar louder so it's easier for everyone to stay together!
I get it!
To Hozuki...
To that girl...
We'll match her.
All right! We're back on it!
All right, we made it this far somehow.
Next is Kudo's solo.
Chika, that fight you were in the other day...
I heard it was to help Takaoka's friends.
I'm sorry. I called you a brat without knowing the situation.
But that was so manly of you! I'm surprised!
Stop it!
Here's a reward!
For today's lunch, I made some cute rice balls for you.
They're popular amongst youngsters, right?
I made them as little characters.
They're little bear rice balls!
They don't look like it.
You... You laughed just now... You laughed, didn't you?
Is that bad?
So that's the way you laugh...
Hey, Chika.
Find more people you can smile like that with.
It's okay if there aren't that many.
And your hands, as well--
Don't use them to hit or hurt anyone...
But use them to protect something important
and seize your happiness.
Kotos connect the hearts of the players and the audience.
I believe they embody this wish.
Try playing as if
you're letting out the words you want to tell your loved ones.
Hey, Granddad. You can hear this...
...right?
The climax!
The final push!
Reach them.
Reach.
Reach out to them!
"Aim for nationals!!"
"High School Students' Kanto Region Traditional Japanese Music Festival Important points for Applicants"
Next time, "An Invisible Boundary."
"#6 An Invisible Boundary" Next time, "An Invisible Boundary."