Heroes are powerful.
They walk off alone in the final scene.
He was just like that too.
My hero was just like that.
Was that good?
He was disqualified when he stopped.
Only scattered applause. A confused audience.
Understandable.
Only one person matters to me.
Did it reach her?
I hope it reached her.
There will now be an intermission.
A competition is—
A competition is a sacred garden of music.
Under no circumstances is it a place to find yourself.
Still the same prickly old geezer huh?
And he's escalated with old age.
God help us.
Hey Mr. Mediocre!
Ms. Seto?
It's Hiroko remember?
S-Sorry!
You cut your hair.
For a second I didn't recognize you.
A woman changes hairdo every time she finds a man.
Besides it's been two years.
Who's the stunner?
Somehow I think I've seen her before.
Damn you Kousei keeping her from me.
I thought you were my friend!
She's that lady who was always with Kousei's mom.
Hiroko Seto. She's Japan's leading pianist.
Hello Koharu.
Since she was classmates with Arima's mother Saki Arima in college
it makes sense that they would know each other.
Here there are all these Kouseis that I know nothing about.
Hiroko everyone's staring!
Hey Hiroko. Hold him.
How do I do that?
Support his head.
Gently now.
Isn't he adorable? His name is Kousei.
A future pianist?
No way that's such a demanding job.
He's my treasure!
You've got to make him a pianist!
But—
Kousei's a genius.
...me. Help me.
Kousei. I'm sorry.
Mom.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
You got so big Kousei.
You smell like cigarettes.
All right our nostalgic reunion is over now.
Your friends are glaring at us with the scariest faces.
Whoops! Busted!
You're staying for the results right?
No. I'm out of the running anyway and I'm not here for results.
You sure did bomb extraordinarily!
That's really harsh.
Even so you should be there when the results go up.
It's important.
By the way which one is it?
The girl with the long hair? Or with the short hair?
Which one are you in love with?
It's not like that.
You can't lie to me.
Your piano was singing it out.
It sang "I love you."
Are you unaware? Or are you pretending not to notice?
Your hidden emotions. The you that you've never known.
The piano drags out everything in a pianist.
Brace yourself.
All right see you soon.
It's not like that.
This is just gratitude.
After all she's—
She's the girl who likes my best friend. And I'm Friend A.
We will now post the names of those who cleared the first round of the preliminaries.
Maiho Music Competition Qualifiers Takeshi Aiza
Found my name!
Where?
What happened to Arima?
So Arima's name isn't listed...
Emi Igawa
Heroes don't succumb. Heroes don't crumble.
Just as expected. I stopped playing midway.
No way!
I did it! There's my name!
Failed again this year.
I'll work hard for next year.
This was my last chance.
I'm so bitter.
I'm so bitter. So bitter.
Takeshi.
What was up with that performance?
What have you been doing all this time?
My goal is Kousei Arima.
Flip-flopping between playing styles like that.
Such a train wreck of a performance!
Where did the almighty Arima go?
The solitary pianist. Where did my hero go?
Heroes are made of super alloy. Heroes never lose.
You knew that if you stopped playing you wouldn't make it past the prelims.
And yet...
Why do you have that look on your face?
Heroes always win no matter what.
This is like—
Like you're a mere human.
I see. So it was a train wreck.
I guess I turned in another sloppy performance.
Rumor has it that Arima can't hear the notes.
He really can't hear the notes.
I wasn't being lazy about it.
I practiced until I passed out. I gave 100 percent.
You're just you no matter what.
And if I still gave a sloppy performance then...
that's who I am now.
That's everything I've got.
Mozart said "Go on a journey."
I have no idea what lies ahead.
But we've taken the first steps.
We're still in the middle of our journey.
That's right.
I'm a musician just like you.
That's why I'm moving on.
He's changed.
I'll bet he's found a reason to play.
His playing—
For just an instant you could see a mischievous child peering out.
Say something to him Tsubaki.
He's depressed because he lost for the first time ever.
You go talk to him! You're a man right?
I'm fine okay? I'm totally cool with this.
R-Right.
A competition is a sacred garden of music.
It's not a place to find yourself.
What was up with that performance? What have you been doing all this time?
I—
- A robot. - The Human Metronome.
His mother's puppet.
If I'm a robot. If I'm a puppet.
I'm so bitter!
I missed my chance at becoming a star.
Kousei?
What's up?
What's up with these emotions? Something's moving me!
Run!
That's right. Just like Tsubaki Watari and you...
I'm a person!
Kousei's out of his mind!
Hold up!
New: Summer Berry Tart 450 yen. Please try it!
I'm home!
Welcome home Kaori. How was Arima?
He was extremely entertaining!
What do you mean by that comment?
Details later!
There's a letter for you.
What could it be?
I'm going to get changed. I'm drenched with sweat!
Towa Music Competition Executive Committee
Kousei!
Are you up? You've been resurrected!
Zombie? Zombie?
Ms. Seto? Good morning.
What's going on?
I kept calling but you weren't answering!
I'm here out of worry you little punk!
Hey aren't those the clothes you were wearing yesterday?
Would it kill you to bathe? The filth!
Want me to give you a wash just like old times?
I'll wash by myself! I'll undress by myself too!
Growing up on me dammit!
You were playing all night until you passed out huh?
Hiro...
Look at you.
Boys will be boys after all.
Here you go Ms.—
Hiroko you take your coffee black right?
Don't hold it where it's hot.
Is Takahiko still away on business?
Ever the hovering parent I see.
Will milk be okay for you Koharu?
Well it has been two years.
To tell you the truth I never thought you'd take up the piano again.
Neither did I.
So what made you turn to the piano again?
It's almost summer vacation.
Nein! There'll be no breaks for us.
Two days ago an invitation from the Towa Hall office arrived.
An invitation?
Towa Hall. As in that competition you and Kousei played in?
Is that by any chance the gala concert?
Bingo!
"Gala concert" refers to...
a special performance held to commemorate something.
In this case it's a recital to mark the achievements...
of the winners and other top performers at the Towa Music Competition.
So if it were a sport it would be like an exhibition match?
A-plus!
And as the promoters' choice we've been invited.
Myself...
and you.
So the almighty duo is back in business!
What are you gonna do?
What will you do?
Is our song for the gala concert set?
I want to do this one.
But this is—
Kreisler's Liebesleid.
Love's Sorrow.
Kousei.
We're playing this at the gala?
Normally you'd do something more major more showy.
This one's really subdued.
That's okay.
We're just the throw-ins anyway.
No one else would play this song
and a chill piece would make us stand out more.
These galas are all about standing out right?
Kreisler Love's Sorrow
Let's do something else. Something cooler!
Sorry.
As someone who dropped you
I don't deserve to be a violinist.
I'm sorry.
Please bear with me for just a little longer.
That small tiny back.
She looks like she'd crumble away at my touch.
All right.
Let's do this.
What made you turn to the piano?
One day in April
I met a weird violinist.
Totally outrageous. Self-righteous.
But the smile she shows to someone she likes is angelic.
After she kicked punched and dragged me up on stage
I saw on that familiar stage a sight that I'd never seen before.
I want to see that sight again with my own eyes one more time.
That made me think...
I want to become a weird pianist!
I see.
Ouch! Ow...
Then who else but me to serve as your guardian?
Hey what's with that horrified reaction?
Uh no...
Please. Teach me to play the piano.
Doryo Bridge
Come on will you take this seriously?
I am. We played together for the first time. That's about what you should expect.
Are you really into—
Look look!
They're pretty huh?
Did you squash it?
So ephemeral and weak.
But it's shining with all its might.
Thump thump like a heartbeat.
This is the light of life.
Uh testing testing.
How was your first competition in ages?
I felt it there...
that everyone has something deep in their hearts.
For some it might be hostility.
Aspirations hopes the desire to show off.
Thoughts of wanting to reach out.
Feelings for one's mother.
We all had our personal emotions to lean on.
Maybe it's not possible for someone to get up on stage empty-handed.
What about you?
What did you have in your heart?
What did you lean on?
I had you.
I'm going on a journey.
The applause raining down.
Pursuing that moment when my music reached them.
Pursuing that sight of her with her back to me.
Until one day
I've pulled even with her. Until that day comes.
Let's go home.
"You know I’m not always going to be around to help you."
Episode 11 Light of Life
Charlie Brown.
Episode 11 Light of Life
Episode 12 Twinkle Little Star