Jeez, that was pretty bad.
Is he really Polish?
They failed Adamski and let this one through?
It's finally Shuhei's turn.
Y-Yeah.
He'll be okay, right?
He'll keeping moving forward and get to the final, right?
Don't worry.
I'm certain he'll make it.
Of the 30 who got into the second stage, 12 will proceed to the final.
He only needs...
He only needs to reach the final.
Then he can uphold his reputation even if he doesn't win.
I will not lose.
So I have to make it to the final.
The merit of your playing is you, Amamiya.
You breathe life into the piano.
Don't worry, Adamski.
I will give the piano my everything.
My hands are sweaty.
My legs are shaking.
But I'm fine.
Ever since that day, those words Adamski spoke to me
have saved me countless times from the anxiety that haunts me.
Sonata in B minor, Op. 58,
Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61.
Shuhei Amamiya, from Japan.
Kai...
Are you in this hall?
Sorry about that!
Same here. Sorry.
Huh? Adamski?
Kai, I'm sure you've come to hear me play.
I'm not playing for everyone else.
This time, I want you to hear me,
so I will play from my soul.
His playing... has changed.
What a smooth introduction.
Beautiful, even.
Amamiya...
Kai, I want to engrave this
deeply, deeply, deeply
into your memory.
This sound and feeling of unity...
I've become one with the piano.
This sensation...
Kai, did you already know...?
Even back then...?
No, further back...
Just how far back had you already...
discovered this feeling?
Right now, I am undoubtedly
connected to the piano by my very soul.
This is Amamiya's...
first time really playing.
I guess I was worried for nothing.
What a beautiful Chopin.
Dear, it seems Shuhei has finally blossomed from his shell.
I've never heard him play like this.
He's never been so immersed in his music.
He worked for years to achieve this.
So why... do I feel so uneasy?
Brilliant.
It's a splendid fusion of lively rhythm and melancholy.
It's nothing like his performance in the first stage.
What poignancy.
This is wonderful, Yoichiro.
He may have, just now, awakened to his true pianist self.
And on this stage!
But it didn't have to be now.
To change in this moment, of all times.
This is a competition!
I can hardly believe it.
As if his technical perfection weren't enough already.
Competitions sure are intimidating.
They let you watch pianists mature right before your eyes.
Granted, this may allow him to take a great leap forward.
But there is also risk involved.
It's not a given that he'll be able to keep his balance until the end.
Shuhei, this is dangerous.
Don't fall any deeper into the music.
Shuhei, don't lose yourself to the performance.
Calm down.
Dad...
This is incredible, Dad!
This sense of oneness with the piano.
He's playing too quickly and too loudly for the start.
Perhaps this momentum is left over from the previous piece?
Well, it's entertaining in any case.
This feeling!
I've never played this way before!
A bit too fast, perhaps.
But the passages are precise, and the notes are beautiful.
I've never heard him so absorbed before.
And it even sounds great.
But this is a competition, and mistakes aren't tolerated!
Did I play a wrong note?
But this sound...
This is my sound!
I can't let it go now.
Amazing.
That's the way. Don't mind the mistakes.
The tempo is back to normal.
I never knew being connected to the piano was such bliss.
Yes.
Continue like that, Shuhei.
I never expected him to overcome his block and learn such an important lesson on stage like this.
To be completely honest, I didn't care for you at first.
Such a typical second-generation pianist.
Uninteresting style and focused entirely on technique, or so I thought.
But you were the most diligent of all my students,
and you desired my teachings more than anyone.
That's why I spent this past year telling you over and over the one thing you truly needed to do.
Put your heart into it!
Shuhei, this is the first time I've genuinely wanted to coach you.
Kai, are you listening?
This is my own playing.
My very own Chopin.
Kai...
Is my music reaching your heart?
Amamiya, I'm...
so happy I met you.
I got to live in the same time as you,
I got to hear this playing,
and I'm so happy.
I will...
...never...
...forget this.
Now I know I can love my own playing.
Look at that expression...
I see.
He just felt the joy of a pianist for the first time.
I knew this day would come.
I've eagerly awaited it.
But why today?
How did that come across to the judges?
He missed notes, changed the tempo, and expressed the wrong dynamics.
How will that affect scoring?
Amamiya was saved by the break.
And here I was, ready to stamp out the reverbs from his performance with mine.
Shuhei!
You were great!
Really brilliant!
Really? Dad?
Yes, it was good.
Really?
You noticed my playing changed?
Of course I did.
But why now?
Mr. Pavlas!
Andrzej Pavlas...
The vice head of judges with whom I left Shuhei for a year.
Mr. Pavlas, what did you think of my performance?
I was just thinking, it's finally time that I compliment you,
so I was nervous coming here.
What?
You're aware I don't compliment others often, right?
Right, that's definitely true.
Shuhei, you played superbly!
It was the best you've ever played.
This marks your start as a real pianist.
Thank you, sir.
He's never complimented me before!
Mr. Pavlas!
I'm happy to see you.
Same here.
It's an honor.
You've done so much for my son.
I can never thank you enough.
Yes, really!
Your son is excellent, and I'm excited to see what he has in store.
Oh, he still has much to learn.
His mistakes during the performance really had me on edge.
Oh, is that so?
I don't think there were any major detractors.
I just hope the other judges feel likewise.
I can't take part in scoring Shuhei's performance, so I was simply enjoying the music.
It seems I can't get Pavlas to admit his true opinion.
Well, that's to be expected.
What's wrong with this man?
Does he really care more about scores than his son maturing?
Dad...
It was surprising that your father told us to head back while he stayed behind to listen to the others.
It feels like Dad cares more about the mistakes I made
than the fact that I found my own sound.
Only 12 will make it to the final.
Sophie Ormesson from France
and Wei Pang from China are probably guaranteed.
Based on reputations and achievements,
we have Aubrey Theiss from Germany
and Olesya Yushchenko from Ukraine.
That makes four.
And this makes five.
His playing isn't bad exactly,
but I wouldn't care to hear him again.
What?
Was he really that good?
He probably has noisy friends here.
A local entrant, huh?
To think I'd be subjected to so many sloppy Polish performers in a row.
This is so weird.
How did this guy make it when Adamski failed?
It really mystifies me how they passed.
Especially Gardocki just now, popular though he may seem.
Oh, he's Anna's student.
The judges can't participate in scoring their own students to prevent favoritism.
That's the rule, anyway.
Could there be truth to the rumor that judges have been colluding?
We've come all this way. They could at least put on somewhat better performances.
It wasn't worth failing for this, eh?
That's not true.
It was worth it to be able to sit back and spectate with you.
Besides, I came here to see this next performance.
I've been a huge fan of hers for a long time.
That makes six people going to the final.
Just how much talent is hiding in this competition?
Don't get too ahead of yourself just for making the cover.
There's nothing written in here to make me overexcited anyway.
Shuhei, you'll be going to the last day of this stage tomorrow, right?
Yeah.
Kai will be performing, and they get to stress me out with the results.
That's true.
Only 12 people can participate in the final.
Shuhei is probably straddling the line between passing and failing.
Dad.
Huh?
Are you thinking that I'll fail the second stage?
No, of course not.
Really?
I'd never think that.
You've been making me feel nervous all day today.
Still, though, Dad,
I can't even imagine failing!
That's right.
I mean, this was the best performance I've given in my life.
What's making me nervous
is that Dad won't say anything about it.
Not complimenting me is one thing, but it's like he's avoiding the subject.
Good night.
Good luck tomorrow.
Yeah, that's nice.
Some really nice playing.
Huh?
Kai, your phone lit up.
Who could it be?
Hello?
Oh, Dr. Nashimoto.
Right. Yes, I'm fine.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Who is this Dr. Nashimoto?
Oh, uh... he's my doctor.
You know, from when I sprained my finger.
Sprained your finger?
He's all better now.
It was about four months ago.
Kai sprained his finger standing on his hands, so I recommended a friend's hospital.
So that happened, huh...
Sorry.
I told him not to say anything because it would worry you.
Are you really okay now?
Yup! See?
I swear...
Will you be able to give your best tomorrow?
Yeah! Don't worry.
Kai, it's finally time.