What time does the competition start?
It's 3:20 now!
What? It's just about to start!
It's okay it's okay!
I'm fourth anyway.
That's cutting it close!
Main Hall - Information
We're here! Just made it!
I got us programs.
Hey thanks.
Number eleven was last year's Honorable Mention huh?
What about the Audience Award?
I wonder if she'll be able to play well?
That Mr. Kazama's leading the judging panel huh?
It's a good chance to catch his eye.
It's like a different dimension in here.
Everyone here's like a celebrity.
This tension before the competition starts is the same everywhere huh?
Even I'm starting to get nervous!
You're not even competing Tsubaki.
Well.
I'm going this way.
Good luck!
We'll be rooting for you okay?
Okay! I'll do my best!
The auditorium's this way huh?
Right.
What's wrong?
N-No.
It's nothing.
This is your workplace.
Second Annual Towa Music Competition Violin - Junior High Division
It's smaller inside than I thought.
Don't compare it to a stadium!
I haven't been here since sixth grade when I came to cheer on Kousei.
I haven't felt this kind of atmosphere in ages.
The dryness of the air...
The scent of dust...
Those seats over there are open.
Hey isn't that Arima?
It's Arima.
Arima. You mean that pianist?
He's all grown up now.
You mean the youngest kid to ever win the Saiki Competition?
But I thought he was overseas?
What's he doing at the Violin Competition?
Hey.
Ex-celebrity!
The classical world sure is small!
You purposely didn't tell me that we'd be coming to hear her perform!
Because...
if you knew about it you wouldn't have come.
So I kept it on the down-low with all my might.
So the piano only makes you feel lousy then?
We will now begin the preliminary round of the Towa Music Competition
Violin Section for Middle-schoolers.
Beethoven. Violin Sonata No. 9.
The Kreutzer.
Huh? He's asleep already?
It's been a while since I heard a live performance.
What can I say?
I feel restless.
It's the same song over and over. Boring!
Well that's the set piece. And you're the one who brought me here.
But it's a pretty big turnout huh? I'm a little surprised.
This is a newly-established major national competition that's starting to get some notice.
The sponsors are kinda quirky.
Normally the preliminary round would be Bach or Paganini numbers played solo
but in this contest every number features an accompanist. That's pretty rare.
The winner gets the right to play on a Guarneri owned by the sponsors in a recital.
Guarneri? Kabanini?
He's off.
Doesn't he stink?
You got this.
You got this!
That's too bad. He had started off so well.
He made two or three mistakes.
Is he one of Mr. Sato's students?
No wonder then.
Midway through he started flailing with his bow. Guess he panicked.
Head Judge
Still what consistency.
That was raw but the overall level was high. He played it well.
You're absolutely right Mr. Kazama!
Well it got interesting after he messed up. At this rate I'm going to fall asleep.
Now then who's next?
Hey! Kao's up next!
Hey wake up Watari!
Oh crap I messed up.
- I've been waiting for this yo! - You look so pretty!
This is making me nervous.
My music.
Will it reach them?
Elohim Essaim. Elohim Essaim. I implore you.
So cute!
This is—
This is the same song right?
No question it's the set piece the Kreutzer.
But—
This is blasphemy! Both the tempo and the dynamics are all over the place!
She's even ignoring the pianist and going off on her own!
She might as well be picking a fight with the composer!
It's the Kreutzer but this piece is no longer Beethoven's.
This piece.
There's no denying that she owns it.
She's ultra-violent her personality blows and she leaves the worst impression.
But—
She's beautiful.
Kao you're gorgeous!
Kaori you're the best!
Aha now that was stunning.
An overwhelming personality refusing to blindly obey the composer.
Though I'm sure it's not Mr. Kazama's cup of tea.
During a serious competition!
What she has is on a whole different level.
How on earth is this girl not famous?
This is amazing. They're still buzzing about her.
It's like a concert venue! You think she'll win?
But what a shame. What a crying shame.
This is a competition after all.
There's no way she'll win or even place.
Too many deductions.
Not playing the way the score's written is a total taboo.
But why? You saw how everyone loved it!
I could see it if this were a recital but no way in a competition.
But that's probably not what she's seeking.
I wonder how she can seem so happy while she's performing?
We will now take a fifteen-minute break.
Number four was totally awesome!
Was that allowed?
Kaori Miyazono right? I know her name now!
I think I'm a fan!
Talk about a huge impact!
She's so cute.
Amazing! They're all talking about Kao. Well she was really cool wasn't she?
Wasn't it like we were at a concert? She was the only one I could stay awake for.
It was beyond lame of you to snooze from the get-go.
Well I couldn't help it!
E-Excuse me!
U-Um— Here.
Flowers for you.
We were so moved!
Wow they're so pretty! Thanks!
Oh Ms. Miyazono.
We'll be posting the results thirty minutes after the panel's done.
Oh don't mind me.
I really don't care about that stuff.
It means nothing unless you come in first.
Kao!
Tsubaki!
Bye now. Thanks for the flowers!
Sure!
The violinist who just finished performing...
comes running towards those who await her.
Weaving through the crowd
flowers in her arms.
It's just like...
a scene out of a movie.
That was awesome! You were so cute!
Thanks!
I really mean it.
Hey Friend A!
Hey hey.
What did you think?
Huh? M-Me?
Wasn't I amazing?
Well you see—
What did you think?
Not bad—
I've never seen anyone get flowers after the prelims.
Not only that but you don't even know them right?
It's not like they had the flowers ready.
So for them...
hearing your performance then rushing out to buy flowers to give to you
it's a day that'll be unforgettable.
I think it was that kind of performance.
How do you like that?
It's just like...
a scene out of a movie.
Although I only played Friend A.
We're now announcing the contestants who cleared the preliminaries.
All right! I see my name!
Huh? Number eight didn't make it?
There's my name!
I'm gonna take a picture.
Qualifiers
Chie I see your name.
The Audience Choice makes it to the second round?
Audience Choice: Kaori Miyazono
Music Preparation Room
Huh? Watari?
Man you gave me a heart attack.
You weren't in the nurse's office so I came to find you
and you're passed out on the floor! I thought you were dead!
Arima?
Use this to ice the spot where you got clobbered.
Thanks.
So? What were you up to ditching class and screaming bloody murder?
Nothing. I was just clearing my mind.
You're acting pretty strange today. Even more spaced out than usual.
Hey! Could it be that you—
You were thinking about a girl you like right?
Wh-Where did that come from?
Those idle thoughts are what defines adolescence.
Was it the timely Kaori? I get it. She was so darned cute!
Never in a million years! Besides...
She's—
You're in a supporting role. Kao likes—
She likes you Watari.
No way would she ever like me.
That doesn't matter.
It's only natural for the girl you're crushing on to be in love with someone else.
Since she's in love she sparkles like a star.
That's why people fall so irrationally in love.
I think I kind of get why you're such a chick-magnet.
You bet. There are plenty of girls that I like!
But for me it's impossible.
I'm sure.
Whether or not it's impossible
the girl will let you know.
You give good advice.
Right?
Hey Watari!
You made Keiko cry again!
C-Calm down!
What do you mean calm down?
I was gonna ditch practice today and go home with Keiko!
Seeing as I've neglected her for a while.
You're awful after all.
Watari's right.
I'm not myself today. I'm out of here.
Before I know it...
Against a screen of bright red clouds...
Against the black curtain of my closed eyes I hear the refrain...
Over and over.
Again and again.
And every time my heart—
It's like what my mother left me scatters away.
I want to hear it again yet I don't want to hear it again.
One more time.
I want to see her
yet I don't want to see her.
This kind of feeling.
What was it called again?
What do you call this kind of feeling?
Friend A.
You exist inside spring.
She's wearing our school uniform so she really is a student here.
Wh-What are you staring at?
You were gonna sneak another shot? Pervert!
I would never and I didn't!
Liar! You're gonna spread it all over the internet!
I won't I won't!
Never mind. It'll only make my popularity explode anyway.
Talk about over-confident.
Anyway where's Watari?
Watari?
I want to surprise him so I'm lying in wait.
I was gonna ditch practice today and go home with Keiko!
Think he'll be here soon?
No sign of him at all.
Watari's—
He's still in practice.
I think.
I see.
Then maybe I'll go take a peek at the soccer team.
They've got their summer tournament coming up!
I don't know if you should barge in on practice.
Yeah! Right! I don't think it's a good idea!
He may not look like it but he's pretty sensitive.
Hmm you do have a point.
If I disrupt him he'll hate me huh?
I'm appointing you as his substitute!
Episode 2 Friend A
Huh?
Episode 3 Inside Spring