"#6 An Invisible Boundary"
Whoa!
Awesome! What was that?!
What? That was the koto?!
So cool! I even got goosebumps!
So intense!
I-Is this for real?
Kudo really played the koto...
It seems we have a verdict, huh? Vice-principal?
Huh? N-No, but--
We still don't know if all the students were satisfied or not...
Vice-principal,
thank you so much for today.
Because you chose to give us this test,
we were encouraged to practice more
and were able to strive to do our best.
And thank you so much for teaching the frivolous and lazy me
the magnificence of "effort" and "friends."
Me?!
Amazing! Kudo thanked him!
It's like a TV drama!
It's the first time I've ever seen a teacher reform a delinquent.
Way to go, Vice-principal!
Uh, well...
We've seen the light!
We are reborn!
It's all thanks to you, Vice-principal!
The koto club can't thank you enough for your passionate leadership!
We really, truly thank you!
As long as you understand.
From now on, continue to work hard to the best of your ability.
Cheers!
--The club is safe now, huh?! --It was a huge success!
Yeah.
I was really worried there for a while.
Guys, thank you so much for trying so hard!
You know what?
That was the first time I've ever felt something like that.
Working hard continuously at one thing for a whole month,
then giving it my all for a performance
and being recognized by someone.
That thrill you get after playing, feeling like your whole body is numb.
You know? It felt really awesome.
Or something like that...
"Aim for nationals!!" --Sane looks so radiant right now! --Shuddup!
Um, hey!
If everyone's okay with it...
W-Would
you like to aim for nationals with me?
Ooh, "nationals" sounds good!
Sounds kinda cool!
Let's use this momentum to get there!
If we're doing this, we better get to the top.
That was our intention from the start.
It's not that easy to get to nationals...
Nationals?
--Well, I guess this is fine for now... --Let's do it!
"Nishina Instruments"
Granny! What'd you think of our performance?
When school is over today, come to the shop alone.
Was our performance bad? Is she angry with me?
There's something of your grandfather's I've been holding onto.
If you were a good-for-nothing grandson, I wasn't going to give it to you, but...
It's the last koto your grandfather ever made.
When your grandfather's house was broken into,
I took over the repairs and care of his kotos.
This koto was the only one that miraculously survived.
It's beautiful, isn't it?
It's a straight-grained koto made from well-aged wood.
It's made of high-quality wood by the best koto-maker I've ever known.
It has a gentle, deep sound with long-lingering tones.
The koto is unfortunately a consumable good.
Its sound changes the more it's played,
and when it passes its peak, it eventually withers.
But there's nothing sadder than an instrument
withering before it is even played.
I'm glad I could give it to you before it withered.
Play it to your heart's content.
If it's such an awesome koto,
it should go to a more reliable guy than me...
What kind of guy would that be?
Like, someone who really knows the koto!
Who'd treasure it! Someone who's good--
Your sound is still immature, and I wouldn't call it good,
but it was a gentler sound than anyone else's.
It surely reached Gen, as well.
Dragons can travel between this world and that world, after all.
Besides, from the outset,
I never planned on giving it to anyone else but you.
I didn't notice it at first either, but...
Look here. On the ryuuzetsu, or dragon's tongue.
"Chika"
Chika.
This is your koto.
Thank you, Granny.
Thank you.
Hey, hey, Kudo?
Why did you decide to play the koto?
Is the koto fun?
Do you have a girlfriend?
What kinds of food do you like?
Your performance was so cool, Hozuki!
Th-Thank you very much.
We're the same age, so you don't have to be so polite!
Huh? Oh, uh, o-okay...
Oh, right!
We're going to the next class, so you wanna walk together?
It's boring with you, Satowa.
I-I'm fine on my own...
"Koto Club"
S'up!
"Koto Club" Hi guys.
Man, the response to our performance was amazing!
It's the first time I've had so many girls come talk to me.
Huh? This is...
"Aim for nationals!!" Huh? This is...
Oh, yeah.
I put up a new one earlier.
Wasn't the one before precious to you?
It was.
But that was a goal between me and the upperclassmen who graduated.
"Aim for nationals!!" This is our goal!
Let's aim for nationals with the members we have now!
Takezo...
Hey, hey. Wait a minute.
Nationals? Are you guys serious?
Give me a break. For real.
Who's that?
Mr. Takinami...
Takinami?
He's kind of the koto club's advisor...
Advisor?!
The best part of this club
was that it was always unclear whether it existed or not,
so I could take it easy.
But the vice-principal's all pumped now. What a bother.
A bother...
Quit dreaming about nationals and be sensible, honestly.
Bastard, you pickin' a fight?!
Yeah, yeah. This suits you better, Kudo.
Huh?!
And you over there.
Why is someone like you here?
You're the only one whose level is completely different.
If you stay in this puny club, you'll only get worse.
That's enough!
Well, for the time being, I'll be showing my face here now and then.
Don't cause me any trouble.
What's with that guy?!
--I'm gonna punch him! --Whoa! Calm down, Chika!
How long are you guys gonna cry for?
You didn't really think your performance would get you to nationals, did you?
Y-You didn't have to say it like that...!
It wasn't the sound of people truly aiming for nationals.
That's why you failed. That's it.
We were finally all on the same page, and the club was going well...
What? You're serious about this, Hiro?
Yup, serious.
I've gotten kinda excited about the idea of "friends" and "a place to belong."
Playing at youth, right? I wanted to give it a go.
I've been really bored recently anyway.
Ah, so that's it...
Hiro's bad habit has reared its head again.
The worst way to kill time.
Kurata!
Oh, Kurusu? What is it?
Actually, I was moved by the koto club's performance.
Here.
"Club Application Form Full Name: Hiro Kurusu Club You Wish to Join: Koto Club Reason(s) for Joining: Sounds fun"
So...
Let me join the koto club, too.
"Koto boys are cute." "Peak Popularity with Girls"
"Koto Club" Uh, so with that,
this is our new member: Hiro Kurusu!
She's a second year, like me.
Please take care of me!
Whoa! A female member has come!
Moreover, she's our upperclassman! Upperclassman Hiro!
Teach me lots, okay?!
Of course, whatever you'd like!
You're Hozuki, right?!
Huh?!
Your performance was so cool!
You're the daughter of a grand master, right?!
I can't help but admire you!
Uh, no, it's not...
Hiro, Hiro! I'm Sane!
I'm Kota!
You can call me Mittsu!
Okay, okay!
And that's Chika.
Huh?
Hey, act a little more sociable!
That hurts!
You guys get along so well.
I haven't talked to Kurusu much,
but if she's like this, it should be fine...
So? What are we doing now?
Practicing for nationals?
The qualifying round for nationals is in December.
But, before that,
I thought it would be good for us to play at as many places as possible...
"High School Students' Kanto Region Traditional Japanese Music Festival Important points for Applicants"
I wanted to try participating in this...
"High School Students' Kanto Region Traditional Japanese Music Festival"?
Yeah.
It's an event held in August.
They pick the best schools from the seven prefectures,
and from there, they choose the grand prize winner.
Whoa! That means a fight with other schools, right?!
All right! I'm fired up!
Kudo-- They're fired up...
Um... Well then, let's pick a song and start practicing...
Oh, no. If possible, I...
I think it would be best if we did a classical piece before that.
A classical piece?
There's something different about it.
A difference in sound between people who've played classical pieces
and those who have only played current ones...
As if there's more depth to their sound, or something...
Depth... to their sound...
It might be difficult for beginners like Kurusu to start with that, though.
I'll be okay.
I'm not a beginner!
Huh?!
You're an experienced koto player, Hiro?!
I wouldn't say "experienced," but my grandmother played it.
I'm not that opposed to learning a classical piece, either.
Plus, if it's a simple song, I can probably play it.
Whoa, awesome!
Oh, well, if that's the case, let's do a classical piece.
What would be a good choice?
Let's see. Maybe something like "Rokudan."
You played it at the club presentation.
Oh, that song I didn't get at all?
"Rokudan no Shirabe."
It's a piece that is representative of the classical pieces of the Edo period.
Oh? From the looks of it, it seems easier than "Ryuuseigun" was.
It might seem that way, but classical pieces are incredibly hard.
The notations are completely different from current pieces.
I wonder if you'll be able to play it.
What did you just say?!
F-For the time being, let's give it a shot! Okay?
Hey, but...
Aren't we short two kotos?
Oh, you're right. What should we do...?
The school won't buy them for us?
Hm, that might be difficult...
I'll bring my own koto!
What?! You had a koto, Kudo?!
I got it from Granny.
Huh?! A koto?!
Unfair! Why just you?!
My granddad... before the end, he made me a koto...
So, she gave it to me.
Are you serious?
Kudo...
Why are you all crying?!
--Shuddup. --I'm happy for you!
Wh-What?
Hey, why is everyone so happy--
I'm happy for you, Kudo.
Takezo, I'll bring the other one.
Huh? But you already brought in the 17-string for us.
It's okay.
Sorry. And thank you.
Oh, this time I'll definitely come and pick it up from your house.
N-No, that's fine.
Stop being hesitant and rely on Takezo!
Oh, in that case, we should help--
I-I said, it's fine!
Oh?
Man, it's really great what happened to Chika!
He rarely talks about himself, too.
He must've been so happy!
Really? Well then, that must mean
he trusts you all and has opened his heart to you, right?
I guess so.
Oh, but it seems Hozuki still has a wall up.
Hm? You mean earlier?
Yeah, yeah.
In reality, the world Hozuki lives in is so different.
Huh?
I mean, she's the daughter of a grand master!
This is just a rumor,
but it seems she's a prodigy that had a sweeping victory at nationals!
I-Is that so?
We didn't really pay any mind to it...
Hozuki acted like it was nothing so you guys wouldn't notice it.
I mean, when we were alone together, she said so.
"It's hard because I have to work with people at a lower level."
Oh, sorry. I just...
W-Well, it's true it must be difficult with us at the level we're at...
We caused her a lot of hardship, huh?
I probably caused her the most trouble...
"Koto Club"
Whoa!
Amazing! It's so cool!
This is your koto, Kudo?!
It seems kinda special!
K-Kudo... that's a straight-grained koto, right?
Yeah!
I-I can't believe it!
What are you doing bringing such an expensive koto to school?!
This is worth over one million yen!
Huh?!
I'll bring in another koto, so take this one home!
Wh-- But it'd be a waste not to play it, right?
Just play it at home or at a performance!
What would you do if it were stolen or broken?!
Come on, Hozuki.
Chika only brought it for the club's sake,
so you shouldn't say it like that.
Not everyone has an amazing home like yours.
Some places don't even let you make any noise.
Plus, is there even anyone who would bother stealing or breaking a koto?
Fine, I'll take it home.
Oh, no, he's angry...
Um, so then. For today, we'll be learning "Rokudan."
But first, I think it'd be easier if we listened to an example.
I think so, too.
Well then, Hozuki--
You play the example please, Takezo.
Huh? You want me to do it?
Well then, I'll play it once through,
so just relax and listen.
Well...
I thought this would happen...
Well, let's get to practicing...
Um, not that...
Like this?
Uh, no...
How should I explain this...?
Sorry, it must be hard to match my low level, huh?
Huh?
You're not really the type to be playing the koto with people like us.
I'm really sorry...
You're different from us, Satowa.
Why not play it by yourself?
Hozuki!
How do you play this again?
Oh, yes.
That's right.
Why did you have Kurata play the example earlier, Hozuki?
Huh?
I mean, you're way better than him.
Were you being considerate because he's the club president?
But I wonder how Kurata would feel about that.
Don't you think he'd feel ineffectual?
That's not what I meant to--
Why are you in a club to begin with?
Your playing level, and the world you live in,
are completely different from everyone else's.
Why are you here?
Huh?
Is Hozuki absent today?
Oh, Kudo.
Sorry, but can you deliver this handout?
Huh? Why me?
I've never seen Hozuki talk to anyone but you.
You're in the same club, too, so it should be fine, right?
Ah, this is her address and the printout, okay? Well, I'm counting on you.
Wh-- Wait!
What the hell? Ugh...
No, but that's great, isn't it?
The teacher entrusted you with something like this.
Aren't a lot of things moving in a better direction?
A better direction...
Huh? Hozuki's absent?
I wonder if she caught a cold.
Or maybe with everything, the exhaustion hit her.
We were so bad she had to take off because of the stress!
What? Are you stupid?
I mean, that's what Hiro said!
What? Kurusu did?
Yeah! Because we're so useless!
What should we do?!
Wai-- Calm down!
I don't think that's the cause--
Huh? But...
It probably is.
Kurusu?
She said the fatigue from club activities had been piling up.
So it was because of us!
Uh, I mean, I'm a girl, and I have experience playing the koto,
so I was probably easy to confide in.
And also, she said this about Chika...
"It's tiresome playing with someone with a different sense of the koto's worth."
Well, I wouldn't worry about it.
After all, Hozuki lives in a different world--
I don't believe anything unless it comes from the person's mouth.
Plus...
I don't understand this stuff about living in different worlds.
We play the koto in the same club room every day.
Chika!
I might have hurt Hozuki!
What? Then go apologize.
Even she'd understand if you didn't mean anything bad by it.
Chika...
How stupid.
Huh?
K-Kurusu?
What is it, Kurata?
Uh, it's just...
Your bonds in the koto club are so strong.
I'm so jealous.
Well, let's get practicing!
"Kurusu" What's this? What's wrong, Hiro?
I came to return the plectrums I borrowed.
Huh? You're done with them already?
Didn't you join the koto club?
I did, but I lost interest right away.
It wasn't even much of a time killer.
Now that I think about it,
isn't the daughter of the Hozuki school in that club, too?
It seems that girl is going through a lot right now.
Huh?
I mean, from what I heard...
What? Is that true?
I don't believe anything unless it comes from the person's mouth.
Saying all that...
What would you do if that person was a lying girl in sheep's clothing...?
Huh? Did you say something?
Nope!
On second thought, can I borrow those plectrums for a little longer?
Big sis'll teach you just how worthless
things like "believing" and "friends" really are.
I don't see a house that looks like it could be hers...
I'm not on the wrong street, am I?
And, "201 Tsukimotosou"?
Is this really the right address?
Since she's the daughter of a rich family, I thought it'd be a detached house...
"Tsukimotosou"
Oh, there it is. Is this it?
Huh?
This is her house?
This has to be someone else's address...
No nameplate, huh...
Yes...?
Next time, "Unknown Sounds."
"#7 Unknown Sounds" Next time, "Unknown Sounds."