Listen to me Kousei
and play it again and again and again.
That's how you're going to perfect it.
Just what the score calls for
just as the composer intended
perfectly and precisely.
You're off again! How many times do I have to tell you?
No bed until you can play it!
Take a good look at it!
It's all there in the sheet music!
Arima is number one again?
Well his mother is a direct disciple of Mr. Hashimoto.
I bet there's sheet music plastered onto his glasses!
Plus they'll hide the bruises.
He practices seven or eight hours a day every day!
When does he get to play?
Most people couldn't stand a life like that.
He really is like a machine.
None of them know what they're talking about.
I'm the only one who's on Mom's side.
Go!
But will you be okay? What about practice? Have you rehearsed together?
No worries! We'll figure it out! Because we rule!
Don't underestimate us jocks! I can make time for you to rehearse!
Wait shouldn't you guys be in school? And whose bike is this?
Don't sweat the small stuff!
Just barely but safe!
Kousei!
TWITCH
We're here!
We made it!
Let's do this!
Thank you both! We'll be going then!
Kousei your shoes! Sneakers aren't gonna cut it!
- Hurry! Hurry! - Mine are better than sneakers.
Tsubaki Watari.
Thanks. I'll be going now.
Get out of here moron!
We're cutting it close. Run!
Slow down a little.
Move!
You think Kousei can pull this off?
Spring will be here soon.
Huh? It's almost May when the cherry blossoms scatter.
Yeah. But I just know...
that spring will come.
Second Annual Towa Music Competition Violin - Junior High Division
Next number twelve Nashida. Please get ready.
All right! Your goal is to go out on top!
Y-Yes ma'am!
Oh boy so much pressure!
I-I'll do my best!
This is beyond crazy. I should have spent a lot of time practicing this
memorizing it with my whole body
fine-tuning it to the point where I don't need the sheet music anymore.
But I'll practically be sight-reading while accompanying someone else.
And on top of that—
She's an insanely out-of-control violinist!
I'm ready!
What tempo should we use? Take-no-prisoners maybe?
This is crazy it's reckless!
No way can I turn in a decent performance like this.
Do I look good in this dress?
It's brand-new.
If I just man up and back out of this it won't sting as much.
At this rate we'll only humiliate ourselves.
Ignoring me?
What?!
So did that calm you down?
What's the big idea all of a sudden?
Look at me.
Look up and look at me.
You're always looking down.
That's why you're imprisoned inside that cage of music scores.
Don't worry I know you can do it.
You were listening to it all during lunch break right?
The sheet music was always somewhere in view right?
I know you and I can do it.
Mozart's telling us from the sky "Go on a journey."
"A man away from home need feel no shame."
Let's go out there and shame ourselves like crazy!
Together.
Number fourteen Kaori Miyazono
please get ready to go on.
Let's go!
Listen Kousei.
Just what the score calls for. It's all there in the sheet music.
Natural. Bizarre.
When I'm with her it's like I'm on a roller coaster.
It's like this girl herself is the journey with no clear destination.
You're freedom itself.
No I'm not.
Music is freedom.
This silence belongs to us.
Every single person here...
is waiting for us to start producing sounds.
Come on let's go on a journey.
Saint-Saëns is waiting for us!
Here they are!
My Kaori!
- Hey the accompanist is a kid too. - Hm?
Wait could that be—
I've been waiting for you Kaori Miyazono.
She's got a different accompanist. A kid at that.
What are you doing?
I can't set my chair just right.
Hurry it up you slowpoke. Adjust it with both hands!
He somehow looks familiar.
It's Arima. The pianist.
Arima?
I see. So that kid's Kousei Arima huh?
That's right. He's grown up since then but that's the face of the pianist Arima.
Kousei Arima.
So they know each other? Actually why is he accompanying her?
Finally got it right.
Jeez!
Huh. Synthetic and all-natural. Talk about a mismatched couple!
What kind of performance do you have planned?
Elohim Essaim. Elohim Essaim. I implore you.
Your face is totally frozen.
A song dedicated to the virtuoso violinist Sarasate.
Saint-Saëns's Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso.
All right that was a good start. I can hear the notes too.
I'm glad we're doing this song.
There are some parts where I could go off-key
but if I listen closely to the violin and keep an eye on the sheet music...
technically it's not a difficult song.
Kousei's playing the piano again.
Kaori Miyazono.
In a complete departure from her previous performance she's being docile here.
Out of consideration for Arima maybe?
And now she's showing her true colors!
Awesome!
The notes.
They're vanishing.
The sound of the piano.
I can't hear it!
Huh? What's going on?
Huh? The accompanist.
The sound is out of sync.
Kousei!
The accompanist who never played a false note who played with such stunning precision
is starting to unravel.
I can't hear like I'm at the bottom of a dark sea.
There's no one here. It's dark. It's dark.
It's dark. At the bottom of a dark sea...
I'm going to be all alone.
He's pounding on the keys but this isn't the accompaniment is it?
This accompanist sucks.
Too bad I did like the violin.
In spite of your inexperience you were holding your own till now.
What got into you all of a sudden Arima?
The piano is destroying this performance!
Dammit dammit dammit!
I'm pounding the keys so hard!
So why?
Why is that I can't hear my own playing?
Probably a smart move. A deduction's inevitable
but if he keeps on playing it could affect the violinist.
Lousy piano playing!
Don't mess it up for her!
He shouldn't have played from the start!
Sorry. If I keep playing like this...
If I play I'll only make trouble for you.
No way! Now even the violinist's stopped playing!
Are they disqualified?
Not disqualified but—
This is unheard of!
It's over for them.
Why did she stop?
She didn't have to accommodate that awful accompanist.
And she was so cool.
Don't worry.
I know you and I can do it.
I hereby appoint you as my accompanist.
You still have to play!
But I want you.
I'm going to play with everything I've got.
So that the people who've heard me will never forget me.
I'm a musician.
Again.
Maybe there's only a dark road up ahead.
But you still have to believe and keep going.
Believe that the stars will light your path even a little bit.
Come on...
let's go on a journey!
Are they allowed to start over?
It's allowed as long as it's within the time limit
but nothing after they stopped will count.
This competition is over for that girl now.
Then what exactly is she playing for?
What are you doing Kousei? Are you gonna make Kaori play by herself?
Kousei.
For you—
For you I'm casting about for an excuse again.
I know you and I can do it.
There was resolve in your eyes.
So what was it that you saw in me?
But you have me.
Look up and look at me.
Look at me.
Brace yourself.
Now we're talking!
Kousei!
He started playing.
But they still sound out of sync.
What are you going to do Arima?
Focus. Focus.
Focus!
Both the sound and the notes are disappearing like nobody's business.
All week long the sheet music was always where I could see it.
All during my lunch breaks I listened to it.
Whatever I have inside of me draw it out!
Focus focus focus.
Focus!
Listen Kousei.
You mustn't play so violently.
The piano is you.
If you touch it gently it will smile.
If you pound it with force it will become enraged.
Touch it like you're caressing a baby's head.
All right again.
Twinkle twinkle little star.
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high.
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle twinkle little star.
How I wonder what you are.
If you can't hear the sound
then imagine it!
Play it with your whole body!
Draw out what Mom left me!
Hey come on Friend A...
don't you dare try to steal my thunder!
Are you kidding me?
Wow Kousei! Kao! You're amazing!
She's beautiful.
Well this is outrageous. They're both out of control. It's like a brawl.
And the audience is entranced by this brawl.
Of course he's not used to this. He's not an accompanist.
He's a soloist just like her.
She moves me. With such power
like the pounding of my heart.
I can hear your sound.
You're here.
April will be ending soon.
Bravo!
You were great middle school duo!
That was awesome!
Encore!
During a serious competition!
The dry air-conditioning
the scent of dust.
I—
I'm going on a journey.
Episode 4 The Journey
Episode 5 Cloudy Skies