Hozuki!
Are you two hurt?!
I-I'm sorry, Hozy... Chika.
No, it's all right.
What should I do? What am I doing?
I almost hurt them both and damaged the kotos.
I can't believe I could make such a mistake before the performance.
What should I do?
Kurusu.
It's okay.
Huh?
You know?
This is something my upperclassman once said,
but the stage is a reward for all the hard work you've put in up until now.
So enjoy it as much as you can.
We've done all we can now.
All that's left for us to do now is to not worry about messing up
and just enjoy playing.
I'm kinda pep talking myself right now, too.
What's with that?
Thanks, Takezo. I'm feeling a little better now, too.
Me too! Me too!
Kudo, let's hurry and set up the bridges.
Okay.
Wha--
Kudo, come with me a sec.
What are you doing, Takinami, you bastard?! Let me go!
"#13 Kuon"
Hey!
"#13 Kuon" Why do I have to go to the bathroom with you?!
That's not why I brought you here, idiot.
Ugh.
Don't "ugh" me!
You're not performing today.
Go to the first-aid station right now and have them tend to your hand.
Huh?! Stop messing with me! This is nothing!
Are you stupid?
It has nothing to do with whether you're okay or not.
It'll be my responsibility as the advisor if you go out there and something happens.
Who cares about you! I'm performing!
You have nothing to worry about anyway.
I'm not gonna force responsibility on someone else
for something I decided myself.
That's lame.
Getting hurt just before a performance is pretty lame itself, Kudo.
Shuddup!
It's not like this performance is a preliminary for the nationals.
It's not really a big deal if you skip out on this performance, right?
Kurata's playing first koto, too.
We can have him do the duet part alone and we'll just cut your solo.
Problem solved.
We can do today's performance without you.
So that's how it's going to be.
Come on, hurry up and go to the first-aid station.
I'll tell the others.
Like I said...
My hand's fine, so I'm gonna perform.
To think you were this passionate about club activities...
Or is it that you're just drunk on excitement--
I like playing with them!
I'd hate to be the only one... looking from the outside in!
I'll beat you up if you tell the others about my hand.
We can do today's performance without you.
...without you.
Damn it.
What is it, Kurata?
It's bad taste to wait for people outside the bathroom.
Stop playing around.
So you were listening?
Then I leave this thing with Kudo to you.
It's a pain in the ass.
Are you testing us, Mr. Takinami?
You're always saying things that rub people the wrong way on purpose.
My bad.
I can only say what I think.
If this was really about protecting yourself,
you didn't have to bring him here.
You could have taken him directly to the first-aid station yourself.
I didn't think of that.
I'll do that next time.
I have no idea what that guy's thinking.
Kudo...
What should I do? What's the right thing to do?
I like playing with them!
I'd hate to be the only one... looking from the outside in!
This is bad... It's gotten more swollen than it was before.
It feels like the pain level is like five times higher, too.
I... might be an idiot.
Not only that,
but "I'd hate to be the only one looking from the outside in"?
What was that? So lame. I was acting like a kid.
What's up?
Don't "what's up?" me!
Where the heck are you, Chika?!
We've already moved the instruments to the tuning room!
We're gonna play once through and then tune!
Hurry up and get here!
We can only use this room for 30 minutes!
Play once through...
Uh, sorry, Sane. The thing is...
Isaki's breakfast this morning didn't agree with me.
What?!
I'll be there for the actual performance.
Wai-- Hey!
He hung up...
What did Chika say?
Ah, he said he's taking a dump...
--Huh? --Disgusting...
His breakfast apparently didn't agree with him or something.
What?
Is he going to be okay?
Then I leave this thing with Kudo to you.
Ugh, damn it.
I can't put any strength into it.
It means Gen's koto is finally going to see the light of day.
I'm sure Gen is very happy too.
I wanna play this properly.
Ah, damn it.
Chika, what are you up to? It's almost time for our performance!
This is stressing me out.
Shouldn't we go see if he's okay?
Yeah, but...
I wonder if Chika's okay...
He might really be in bad shape.
Don't you think, Hozy?
He lacks spirit if he's going to get sick just before a performance.
It's okay to admit you're worried, you know?
I-I'm not worried about him!
I'm worried about the performance!
Why do I have to do this?
Stop complaining.
Kudo's hand must be pretty bad.
Maybe I should stop him from performing...
...but...
I like playing with them!
That made me so happy!
It made me want to perform with everyone at all costs.
But... if I really consider what's best for Kudo...
I'm sorry, everyone--
I shouldn't be telling you this right before the performance,
but Kudo is--
My bad!
I'm sorry for being late.
Chika!
Honestly, man! What do you think you're doing?!
Even my stomach started hurting, you idiot!
My bad...
I was worried about what we'd do if you didn't make it for the performance!
Playing without you would be out of the question after how far we've come!
Honestly! Do you know how much you had us worried?!
I'm glad you made it, Chika!
Do you feel all refreshed now after getting everything out?!
Hey, Mittsu!
Hey, Kudo.
Without you, our last practice was half-baked, you know?
Missing just one person can completely change a performance,
so don't let a little stomachache get to you.
Everyone from Tokise High School, please quiet down.
You will perform in ten minutes, so please move to the waiting area.
Oh, yes! Sorry!
Crap.
Kudo...
Let's make this... our best performance yet!
Of course.
Hearing the school before us play makes me even more nervous.
Crap, my heart's going crazy.
Kurata.
Are you really okay with this?
As the club president, I think this is the wrong decision,
but I don't regret it.
I thought this was the best thing to do,
even if it's a mistake.
I don't think you, looking on from the outside in,
would understand.
How long do you plan on being a bystander, Suzuka?
I think I can probably last long enough to play "Kuon" once through.
I'll make it happen!
In the past, I'd get completely beaten up and bleed from fights and be totally fine.
I can do this no problem.
Hey, Kudo.
You're sweating a lot. Does your stomach still hurt?
Huh?! No! The spotlight's just hot.
It's not on us yet though...
He's acting kind of strange...
Th-Th-Th-They finished.
O-O-Our turn's next. C-Calm down.
It's finally Tokise's turn, huh, Kazusa?
Yeah.
"Kazusa Vision" I look forward to seeing
"Kazusa Vision" that barbarian perform after he blew all that smoke.
And it's been so long... since I've heard Satowa perform.
But why couldn't it have been a solo?!
I don't need to hear all those unnecessary sounds!
--Why aren't I the one playing with her?!
--Such a busy girl... --Why aren't I the one playing with her?!
Ousuke!
Kou!
You've come to listen to Tokise play too?
Yeah.
We did have a practice session together after all.
You also seemed interested in them.
Yeah. I'm interested to hear what kind of sound that guy can produce.
"That guy"?
Not the girl Ootori was interested in?
Yeah. That guy that really stood out.
We've only met twice,
but he really cherishes what he loves,
so I wondered what kind of tone that kind of person would have.
Won't it just be stupidly straightforward?
You might be right...
S-Sen...
A-Are we really gonna listen this close to the stage?
Yeah. It's that idiot's turn next after all.
We're gonna pressure him from the first row!
Is everyone ready?
Y-Yeah!
This is totally different from the view from the audience chairs.
It's so bright.
This is different from the time we performed "Ryuuseigun."
Everyone here came to listen to us from the start.
I-I'm so scared. I can't even look at the audience.
It's my first time returning to the stage since that time...
I don't regret it.
I thought this was the best thing to do,
even if it's a mistake.
He's gotten pretty bold.
I really hope you don't regret this--
whatever performance this turns into.
Number 24,
Tokise High School from Kanagawa prefecture,
performing "Kuon."
"Kuon"
Number 24,
Tokise High School from Kanagawa prefecture,
performing "Kuon."
Wind?
Hold up! Until the end!
Every note is resounding so beautifully.
No wonder Kazusa has been making a fuss.
It's Satowa's... solo.
The tone quality seems a little different from before though...
All right, let me hear it--
whether you can truly keep up with Satowa.
I can do this!
This is the duet we've practiced so much.
Duet number one.
We aren't together!
Kudo!
I thought they had their duet down perfectly!
My, my.
The difference in skill level between the 17 string and the others is incredible.
It's not just that they aren't together.
Kudo's playing is so much quieter than usu--
What's with his hand? Is it bruised?
How?! Since when?!
Hozuki!
Then?
No way... What should I do?
It's because he protected me!
How didn't I notice...?
The 17 string's tempo is wavering!
It's suddenly gotten harder to play.
Whoa, so sloppy. They're all over the place.
What's... happening?!
What should I do? My decision was--
What am I doing?! What am I doing?!
This is a horrible performance because of me.
We're in this sorry state because
I selfishly decided to perform like this.
Everyone can actually play really well!
Hozuki is much better than this!
Shit... Shit!
So it turned out this way after all...
No one's heart is in it.
I shouldn't get involved after all.
I have to somehow lead everyone
while supporting Kudo's sound!
But how?!
If the power to lead people like that boy can is somewhere inside me...
We're almost at the part Kota struggles with...
What should I do?
At this rate, he'll mess up and--
What?! That was Kota just now?!
Amazing, Kota!
His timing was perfect!
Mizuhara...
I'd hate for it to end like this!
For the people that didn't abandon someone like me and came looking for me
to end their performance without a smile...
I'd absolutely hate it!
You're right, Kota.
It's not over yet!
That's right.
What am I doing...
...not believing in the decision I made until the end?!
We're almost at the second duet!
It's okay.
The notes will definitely...
...play where we want them to!
Wh-What is this?!
They're playing totally different than before!
Kudo!
After this, it's the first koto solo. First Takezo, then Kudo's.
I won't be able to hide any mistakes.
I'm not alone anymore.
The sound that believed in me... is right here.
Someone will fill in the sound I lack.
Next is Kudo's solo.
Hey, Hozuki.
Don't you dare try and "match" our level, okay?
Just play with all you've got!
That's it. I'll lead in my own way.
Of course I will.
Hozuki?
Here we go!
At this rate, the second half... is gonna liven up!
The wind, it's--
I don't understand
the meaning in continuing music when people like you
look like you're suffering.
My bad for "suffering."
But I can't quit.
Why not?
That's because...
...once I found it, I couldn't not get involved...
...with the sound that sways my heart so intensely.
"Chika"