Arima why do you want to perform at the school festival?
She's feeling very down at the moment so I want to knock some sense into her.
That's when I got the feeling
that something might change.
Let's go.
Okay.
Nagi!
Wow!
She's cute.
Arima!
No way!
That boy!
It's Kousei Arima!
With Aiza's little sister?
Isn't he her big brother's rival?
But didn't he retire?
Elohim Essaim. Elohim Essaim. I implore you.
What's that?
Hey who knows?
Okay good. Couldn't have gotten off to a better start!
Nagi...
You've got to be kidding me. In the short time that I hadn't seen her...
she's gotten incredibly good!
Nagi do your best!
I was all stiff from nerves
but my fingers are moving.
I can hear both my own playing and Arima's playing too.
All that practice didn't lie.
I'm not concentrating.
I can still hear the sound of the piano.
It's in my way.
It's in my way so...
Get out of here!
Just now... the sound...
The sound... changed?
Kousei...
What are you doing? What are you thinking?
You're supposed to be supporting me...
So why are you dumping all this pressure on me?
Liar! Fraud! Moron!
This is totally different from the way we practiced!
Both the rhythm and this aching sense of atmosphere...
Every last thing!
This is Kousei Arima - Pianist!
The tempo's starting to take off.
He's playing the bass but he's starting to consume the melody.
What are you going to do Nagi?
Are you going to let Kousei have his way with you?
Come on settle it!
Bring it!
Nagi!
She's not giving in!
Amazing!
Aiza's kid sister is competing with him!
No matter how he goads her or how he drags her along in his wake she's keeping up.
Was she always this good?
Calling
That's right Nagi. You're the star of this stage.
Don't even give him an inch!
That's right in a waltz...
The melody shifts to the bottom part!
You're not getting away!
Listen closely!
Respond simultaneously!
Grab onto Kousei Arima!
Two months ago I would've been left behind.
All that time didn't go to waste.
The time I devoted to playing the piano is paying off now!
He's got a heart of steel!
He's like a robot isn't he?
Like a superalloy robot huh?
You're wrong about that.
Kousei Arima is no superalloy robot.
He doesn't have a heart of steel.
After all...
when I touched it his hand was warm.
Every moment we spent together it felt so nostalgic.
As the bass line player he's magnificent.
He knows her personality he's grasped her habits he's goading her
leading her on and backing her up.
He's putting his partner in the zone.
He's accelerating her growth!
Those roasted sweet potatoes we shared sure were good!
Those pork buns we had on our way home... they sure were good!
Without a doubt this waltz is theirs.
I only started playing the piano because I wanted my dear big brother's attention.
An ulterior motive.
Brother
for the last few weeks I've been peering into the abyss just a little bit.
I cried I vomited
I went without food or sleep to immerse myself in music.
And it was painful so very painful to look my powerless self in the eye
that I wanted to run away.
You felt the same way didn't you brother?
It's important to play for someone else.
But you know what? That's not what I want to see!
Don't lose your way! Don't struggle! Step on it! Actions not words! Don't stop!
It's not in you to lose your way.
Run up those stairs like you're skipping lightly.
Just like the old times let me chase after you!
My hero!
I see. Just like Nagi saw herself in you
you've been seeing yourself in Nagi haven't you
Kousei?
Unlike everybody else I don't yearn to become a pro
and I'm not prepared to dedicate myself to music
but there are people who will listen.
There are people I want to play for.
There are people that I love.
So I want to be here. Is that wrong?
Isn't that a good enough reason to want to play for now?
What am I doing here?
What am I doing looking up at the stage from the audience?
I'm supposed to be up there aren't I?
Emi and Nagi... why does your playing move people?
Arima!
It's about to end. Ah it feels so weird.
I'm exhausted but I want to go on playing till I collapse.
Did I play it right? Was I able to confront it with sincerity?
Hey Arima.
Why are the sounds you make so colorful and beautiful?
It's so beautiful that...
I think I'm gonna cry.
Go on acknowledge them!
Oh right.
All the months of agony
screaming suffering and struggling...
Amazing!
Bravo!
Marry me!
- Aiza! - Nagi!
There's a moment when you're rewarded for all that.
Music just might transcend words.
Arima? Do you think it reached him?
Yes. It reached him. I'm sure.
What about you Arima?
Were you able to knock some sense into her?
Yes. I think so.
Unforgettably.
Huh?!
No fair!
I'm Christine. The girl who yearns to go onstage at the opera house.
What are you going to do Takeshi?
Even as she lost her way and suffered
big-bro complex and all Nagi climbed up that stairway.
How long are you planning to sit around twiddling your thumbs?
Are you content?
I—
Didn't you get anything from that? From Nagi's performance?
Are you planning to just sit tight here?
It's over!
That was a great duet you played!
Nagi!
That was amazing!
It didn't move me one bit okay?
Satsuki? Komugi?
I'm not the one who's amazing.
You really are an ultra-sadist.
Hiroko.
Isn't music fun?
Huh? What are you talking about?
Isn't it too thrilling for words watching somebody grow?
I get it.
That's why you placed her under my wing.
Ms. Seto!
How was it?
You know what ever since you guys started coming over
I've been enjoying myself like there's no tomorrow!
Hey Arima!
Huh?
You're Bushi... Aiza...
It's Takeshi! Ta-ke-shi!
Ouch! Ouch!
Damn you don't grab hold of my kid sister!
Kid sister?
Let me introduce him. This is my big brother.
Huh? But your last name's Aizato...
Oh please!
I introduced myself properly remember?
"I'm Nagi Aiza!"
I said it right didn't I?
You did.
She did.
I see. So I misheard you.
I'm glad you're so dense.
Never mind that! Why the hell were you playing a duet with Nagi?!
Well I... I asked Nagi as a favor...
None of that "Nagi" business!
You mean "Takeshi's little sister!"
Don't you dare look at her as a woman!
I'm a dead man...
Hey cut that out brother!
What's this? You defending Arima?
I mean how'd you get to know Arima anyway?
He's looking after me here.
He's teaching me all kinds of things!
All kinds of...?!
He's giving me all these precious experiences!
Experiences?!
- Dammit! - Brother?!
December.
The Eastern Japan Piano Competition will begin.
And that's where I'm gonna give you a beatdown got that?!
Arima!
Brother...
Bring it on! I'm gonna do it!
Flaunting something like that before my eyes...
How can I just let that go unanswered?!
Oh man. December's gonna be a pain in the butt.
One-tenth... even one one-hundredth... Did my feelings get through to him?
Did my music reach him?
You did well.
Thank you... very... much!
Kuromi School Festival
H-Hey! Aiza!
Huh?
Miike?
What the heck?
He's never even said a word to me before.
What the heck is going on here?
A-Aiza... Wh-Why were you playing a duet with Kousei... Arima?
Do you know Kousei Arima?!
Kousei Arima?!
Don't you dare say his name so lightly!
I'll rip your hair out you damned midget!
What kind of relationship do you have with him?! Tell me!
So do you have his contact info?! His email address too?!
Of course I do! Yesterday we had taiyaki together!
It was so yummy that taiyaki!
Arima
You know his email address... The taiyaki was yummy...
No fair!
You knowing Arima... that's so unfair!
What was that?
Totsuhara University Hospital
I messed up again!
Hey.
Is he your boyfriend?
Boyfriend?
No no not at all.
He's what you call a jackass!
He's a jackass!
Jackass!
What do you mean a jackass?!
Well you are!
Making a violinist who can't play the violin listen to this...
It's your fault that I miss it now.
I can't commit double suicide with you.
You're so heartless.
Well look when we went shopping I was the one who carried your bags.
You always take the initiative. You only tell me things after the fact.
You walk in front of me
and I'm always behind you.
What I always remember...
is seeing you from behind.
At this rate it wouldn't be double suicide it'd be me following you.
So please give me one more chance.
Please give me another chance to stand by your side.
Please perform with me one more time.
But... I...
You're not a princess.
You're the daughter of a cake shop owner who loves canelés
and you're not the heroine of a novel.
No way am I ever gonna play Ravel.
So let's perform together one more time.
Besides you're the one who said it.
“Do you think you'll be able to forget?”
You really are cruel.
I thought you knew that. I'm a jackass.
The air is chilly and as dry as can be.
The laundered sheets lend a gentleness to my surroundings.
Such a cruel boy.
Telling me to dream one more time.
I thought I was satisfied because my dream had come true
and I'd told myself it was enough.
Yet here you are watering this withered heart again.
Hey!
You're making her cry!
What a vile jackass!
- No no that's not what this is. - Enemy of women!
- No no that's not what this is. - How dare you jackass?!
Boys aren't supposed to bully girls!
I'm greedy so...
I'm just gonna dream again...
Of waltzing with you someday...
I just might.
Episode 18 Hearts Come Together
Episode 19 Goodbye Hero