That Sunday I—
You might fall come down!
I'm going to be a pianist!
At the top of the jungle gym
I chose a future as a pianist.
I abandoned all my other infinite possibilities and chose that one.
Come back! Come back!
Welcome.
Now where are your manners?
How do you do? I'm Yuriko Ochiai.
What's your name?
I want...
Hmm?
...to be a pianist that makes even more people want to be pianists!
Will I be able to play the piano like that too?
Come back!
If you wish for it hard enough I'm sure that the music will respond to you.
The piano will listen to you.
Can I play it?
Of course.
That's the only kind of sound I can make.
But the sounds that boy made...
were just like sunflowers.
Kousei Arima whom I yearned to be like.
Every great performer played the piano for the first time.
Even Mozart even Beethoven.
Even the person who made you think "I want to become a pianist."
What will you pour into your piano playing?
What wish will you ask it to grant you?
I...
I want to play the piano like that boy.
I want to stand on the same stage as him.
That way I just know...
that I'll be able to see what he sees.
Let it ring. Let it ring. My piano!
Let it ring.
Is that girl for real?
That was insane.
Good job. You were amazing!
BACKSTAGE
I—!
What? What? A love confession?
Sorry.
I'm gonna go change.
Before you catch a cold.
Just spill it already!
Right now there's no need for words.
Because I poured all my feelings into the piano.
There will now be an intermission. Judging will resume in fifteen minutes.
Did you see that girl who just left?
What a pile of medication.
- I just saw a cutie! - What's the matter Tsubaki?
The closer it gets to Kousei's turn my stomach—
It's so much easier to deal with my own matches!
It's not like you're the one who'll be playing Tsubaki
so just sit back and relax!
- I know but is Kousei gonna be all right? - I see a hot cougar!
He could be quaking in his shoes after that amazing performance.
That's not happening.
Because he's a man!
We will now resume judging.
Thump thump. My heart's pounding even harder than before.
Arima's choice of piece today is Chopin's Études Op. 25 No. 5.
Inconceivable!
Till now Arima's always showcased his ability to play difficult pieces without a false note.
That's why I challenged him with my Op. 25 No. 11.
I'm sure Takeshi did too.
But the song Arima chose to play today can't be considered a difficult piece.
It's inconceivable.
How did you pick out Kousei's piece?
It landed on 25-5.
You used a pencil to decide?
A pencil.
It didn't matter what piece he played.
As long as he entered the competition.
It really didn't matter at all.
Kousei Arima.
Please get ready.
All right.
Just by placing himself in this particular space he's sure to feel stimulated.
There's no way he won't feel provoked.
The other pianists won't let him hang back. They won't allow him to stop.
After all Arima's a musician.
This is so strange. Is it because it's been two years?
My heart is pounding.
It's so hot and so violent.
Is it because I watched those two perform?
Without holding back grasping with both hands shaking my soul to its very core.
Look! This is who I am!
Watch me!
I'm the same as you.
I'm sure the clock's hands will move.
Time will start flowing again.
Kao?
I never knew that music could be this colorful and even had a scent.
Are you ready?
I believe that he'll take a step forward.
So music can make your blood boil this hard.
Here he is!
It's Arima.
Arima.
Now even I'm nervous! I wanna go to the bathroom!
Here he is at last huh?
Are you ready for your journey?
Let's go play dodgeball!
You can just dodge all the time okay?
Tsubaki. I'm in the middle of a lesson with my mom.
What? Not again?
How'd you get that welt?
I was in a hurry and I bumped my arm.
You really are a klutz.
Kousei hurry back now!
That scared me!
Sorry my mom's calling me Tsubaki. Ask me another time?
Okay then good luck!
Chelsea
Sit yourself down.
All right let's begin Kousei.
No running in the halls.
Okay!
I brought you your laundry Mom.
Oh Kousei.
How did it go? The Nagai Memorial Competition?
I got first place.
Here's the certificate.
But Haydn's given you such trouble.
I practiced a ton!
Good for you.
That makes me feel better.
Your achievements are the best medicine for me.
I'll take first place again. If it makes you better.
I'll take first place as many times as you want.
So...
What's the matter?
Is he standing still?
Don't waver. Don't be afraid.
Dammit it's overpowering me!
We're all afraid.
Go on!
There's Kousei under the spotlight again.
He's back.
The invincible one the pianist who's a breed apart.
The Kousei Arima that I looked up to...
He's back. His unmatched accuracy.
His playing like a mirror image of the score.
The stainless steel-like piano inaccessible to the rest of us.
This is the Kousei Arima of two years ago.
I can hear the notes.
My fingers are moving. I can play the score exactly as I've memorized it.
I can play on the strength of my muscle memory.
How does the real you want to play this?
This is no different than how I've always played.
That's how it should be.
A musician should be a mirror that reflects the score.
Otherwise you can't win.
You're going to get first place for me again aren't you Kousei?
You were playing the piano this morning again?
I came to buy food.
Since my dad's away on business it's for me and my mom.
It's all egg sandwiches!
Your diet is going to be unbalanced.
Well she won't let me use a knife.
I'll bring you something to eat.
We have some leftovers from last night.
How's your mom doing Kousei?
My mom said she hasn't been feeling well.
She's going to be hospitalized soon.
But why?
I'm sure...
it's all my fault.
What?
Oh nothing.
My mom got mad because I couldn't play the way she told me to and she ruined her health.
So I'm gonna take first place
and make her well again.
1st: Arima Kousei
Kousei Arima - The Piano Prodigy
Arima's in first again?
The Human Metronome huh?
Just go overseas already!
Bland and innocuous.
He's so in my way!
He's nothing but his mother's puppet!
Shut up shut up!
None of you know what you're talking about.
I'm the only one who's on Mom's side.
Next time my mom's coming from the hospital to see me perform.
So your mom's recovered now? That's great!
I bet it's all thanks to that visit from handsome me.
And my candy erasers!
Well I don't think Kousei's mom knew what to do with them.
The entrance on the left side facing the audience.
A spot where I can see her. That's my mom's special seat.
Mom's here today.
Right. Thanks.
So you see
in order to make Mom well again
in order to make her happy
I'm gonna play my very best as a gift!
What are you doing Saki?
What was that performance?
How many times have I told you to review the score?
- Damn you! - Stop it Saki!
- Too harsh. - Arima played so well.
I'll go grab a staff member.
You make mistakes because you're drowning in your own emotions!
You're not going to bed until you can play that part.
Why can't you even play an easy piece like that?
You're so worthless!
I'm in the middle of a lesson with my mom.
What?
Messing up the same part!
That kid's covered with bruises.
That's why he always wears long sleeves.
Who'd be that harsh with a kid?
She's a monster.
How dare you throw that score. You should be ashamed of yourself!
All I wanted was for you to be happy.
Even when I wanted to play with Tsubaki and Watari even when you hit me
I put up with it so much and kept practicing.
All I wanted was for you to get better.
All I wanted was for you to be happy.
And yet...
I wish you would just die.
That was the last time I said anything to my mom.
Kousei?
Are you going to compete in the final?
Since I did get through the prelims.
I know it's awful. My mom just passed away
and here I am worrying about the competition in a few days.
It really is awful.
Are you okay?
Sure I'm okay.
Because that's how I was built after all.
I can't remember my mother's face that day.
It's like there's a big black hole peering back at me.
His mother just passed away didn't she?
How can he play the piano like nothing happened?
He's not off by even a fraction. It's business as usual with him.
He's a demonic chip off the old block!
The entrance on the left side facing the audience.
A spot where I can see her.
That's my mother's special seat.
This is...
This is my punishment.
That's right this is your punishment.
You understand that don't you? My darling darling little Kousei.
The notes...
Huh?
The sound of the piano... I can't hear it.
He's starting to unravel.
About Arima
rumor has it that he can't hear the notes anymore.
Episode 9 Resonance
Episode 10 The Scenery I Shared with You