Totsuhara University Hospital
it would be extremely dangerous.
Not only that but...
Even if all went well...
Yes I understand. At least I think I do.
I've talked about it with both my mother and father.
My mind is set.
I want to have the surgery.
Music Preparation Room
Kaori Miyazono [calling]
You're off.
I just started practicing this song okay?!
You don't feel threatened! You're slacking off!
You've got the étude too you know! You have your back against the wall!
Don't you get that?
Sure I get it! Don't talk about it you'll make me panic!
You were already short on prep no thanks to flirting with that first year...
I was not flirting with her!
What kind of convo is this?
He's fighting with the phone.
Call Ended
Jeez!
Kaori! Are you ready?
Oh no! Just look at the time!
Oh man I only got a C.
Maybe I'll try for an easier school.
Hey Tsubaki. How'd you do on your mock exam?
Scored a B.
Entrance Exams - Pre-Test Results
What that bumbling gorilla?
What that muscles-for-brains?
I only asked her because I was sure she scored lower than me!
But she's Tsubaki!
I rule! Bow down before me you dullards!
That's love.
Totsuhara University Hospital
She's not here.
What's up with that?
She's the one who said I had to check in regularly!
Don't tell me...
She took a turn for the worse...
What should I do? Should I wait for her?
If I ask the nurse...
Hey it's you Arima!
Mr. and Mrs. Miyazono?
I-It's been a while...
Are you here to visit Kaori?
How nice!
Well yes but I can't find her anywhere.
Then I know where she must be.
Keep going slowly now...
Put your left foot out.
She says she doesn't want to lose her stamina or muscle strength.
She says that she wants to play the violin onstage again.
Rehabilitation Room
Let's take a break Kaori. You're trying to do too much at once.
It's no big deal. Violinists have more stamina than you think!
This is all thanks to you Arima.
Kaori had given up. She'd thrown in the towel.
And now she's starting to walk again.
One sure step at a time.
I haven't done anything.
No I guess not.
All you did was try very hard.
And it struck a chord in Kaori's heart.
I want to have it.
The surgery.
Even if it gives me only a little more time
even if there's only the slightest hope
I'm willing to cling to anything.
There was a boy that I met in April.
He cried and vomited and struggled so hard it was unseemly...
But onstage he shone like a star
and his life seemed like a gorgeous rendition of a melody.
I made a promise with that boy.
He said "Let's perform together again."
That's why I...
I want to struggle as hard as I can.
No matter how unseemly...
or futile it may be.
I'm going to struggle
struggle and struggle
struggle like there's no tomorrow!
Because I'm one of them too.
If I just give up in despair
I can never face my parents who gave birth to me and raised me.
Because it's my life.
If I just give up now
I'll feel sorry for myself.
Seeing you devote your heart and soul to music
Kaori's graying heart got its color back.
So thank you...
Kousei Arima.
Library / New Books
He's been playing the piano all through the night. Every night these days.
I know the competition's coming up soon but it's right after the school festival.
He's going to break down.
Will he do okay on his entrance exam? That Kousei...
That's Arima's entrance exam preparation.
Huh?
Listen up. To get into a music-oriented high school
though they test on regular subjects achievements trump all else.
Those schools burnish their reputations by admitting the top performers.
Since Arima hasn't competed in the last two years
he's sorely lacking in terms of achievements.
And now the Eastern Japan Piano Competition is coming up in December.
It's got a long history and cachet like no other.
So for the school there's no better advertisement
than admitting the cream of the crop from that competition.
In other words to get to the top of the heap at the Eastern Japan Piano Competition
is the same for Arima as passing an entrance exam.
It's like hitting a walk-off homerun see.
So why don't you stop being jealous of music and root for him?
I am not jealous...
It's better than having him flunk and head overseas right?
Now might be my only chance to be near him...
Arima must be exhausted practicing so late into the night huh?
I'm sure he'd love a late-night snack.
I-It's not like...
It's not like I'm doing this because Kashiwagi told me to!
Kousei?
Kousei you're so light!
Huh? A Tosa dog?
Oh it's you Tsubaki. Was I asleep?
Don't sleep like you're dead!
You've been playing non-stop?! You're pushing yourself a little too hard!
The mandatory Bach piece... The Bach piece...
Your room's a total mess! Would it kill you tidy up?
You're so bothersome!
Are you showing up at the competition with that hairdo?
All right! Ready to go!
H-Hey...
Are you sure you can do this? Don't you need a license?
Just leave it to me.
I always cut my own hair when I need a little trim.
You mean your bangs right?
I'll go to the barbershop.
I know you're too lazy to go!
Enough with the whining! Accept your fate if you're a man!
P-P-P-P-Please proceed!
Aren't you cutting too much?
Don't worry! I used to do this for you when we were kids remember?
The competition's coming up soon so I'll make you look like a stud!
You make it sound like I usually look bad.
Kao—
Will Kao be coming?
What does Kao say about all this? Kao...
Don't be jealous of music.
But of course I am...
All I can think of is Kao.
I'm such... a horrible girl.
Tsubaki?
I'll do my best.
I don't know what the results will be
but I'm going to give it my best shot.
The sound of the scissors ringing in my ears.
His stiff hair.
A scene of little significance passes me by.
Where's my rice ball?
Huh? Aren't you on a diet?
What's that supposed to mean?!
If this moment is precious for Kousei as well
that would make me so happy.
I'm putting myself in your hands!
Hey! You're early today.
Don't you have to wait for your friend with the glasses today?
He's not coming today.
Right now I think he's in the thick of it!
24th: 10AM Exam Room B
Is number four Kashima here?
Um... want some?
Mmmmm!
Right? This egg salad sandwich is light on the mayo and light on the salt
which brings out its sweetness to the max! The eggs are free-range and farm-fresh...
N-Nothing's coming up but gastric juices.
Why the...?!
Emi... Arima...
Huh? Oh sure...
After I just hurled...
Yum!
Oh!
Right? This egg salad sandwich is light on the mayo and light on the salt
which brings out its sweetness to the max!
It's the ultimate egg salad sandwich capturing the splendid taste of the egg itself!
It would be even better with a thick slice of ham.
It's hard to pick ones without extra mayo too.
Makes you crave some tea huh?
But a cutlet bowl is a real man's meal.
The florentines here are delicious too.
If we're having tea I'd rather have scones.
- The best milk is Moo Moo Brand. - The best kind of tea is Darjeeling!
Wow they're really getting into it.
See the chemistry?
Number eight Takeshi Aiza. Please get ready in the wings.
All right then I'm heading out.
I wish I could fire off a cool parting shot but I can't seem to think of anything.
I guess...
It's because we're musicians.
We gotta express through music right?
Oh man what an anticlimax.
All my nervous energy is gone.
Now I feel like something's off.
They always get in my way.
All right let's go.
Are you ready?
Is your mind ready?
Okay let's go!
Let's go!
Takeshi Aiza!
This is the stage where I'm parting ways with you.
Ever since I was a kid I hated being bored.
Konnyaku?
I'll get you Class Elephant!
It's Takeshi from Class Giraffe!
My mother who grew pessimistic about my future and the Aiza family's reputation
made me take all kinds of lessons including judo and flower arrangement.
One of them was...
Wow!
Piano.
You should have him learn from someone who's more of an expert.
If I win I get a toy superalloy robot!
Piano's a breeze!
Just watch.
Emi.
Arima.
All at once I'll demolish you!
Let's go. Takeshi Aiza!
Chopin's Étude Op. 10 No. 12.
Go! Takeshi!
Brother...
I'm so lame it's humiliating.
I've disappointed my audience. I've made my kid sister worry.
And my rivals are throwing me their support.
So humiliating...
I'm no different than when I was a kid.
I lost again!
Brother!
Darn it! How could I... Whoa!
How could I lose to that cold-blooded expressionless girl and that sissy four-eyed jerk!
Darn it...
Darn it!
I'm not gonna lose next time!
Wow!
He raced all the way up without stopping!
He's so cool!
Why didn't I see it before?
I thought I was the one who understood you better than anyone else.
But when I saw you for the first time in two years...
We're still in mid-journey.
I'll bet he's found a reason to play.
If I still gave a sloppy performance then that's who I am now.
I think I kind of get it now. It was always like this.
You were the one who expanded my world.
You've grown so much more than I expected.
The scenery that I'm looking for and the sights that you wanted to see.
They're different huh?
Immerse yourself. Immerse yourself.
Deeper and deeper.
Come on Takeshi!
Contrary to appearances he's a solid pianist.
Try to really understand the composer's aim.
Follow in your predecessors' footsteps
and experience the feel of blood and sweat-soaked score sheets.
No need to become Kousei Arima.
You're the one Takeshi Aiza who belongs to that line of pianists!
Now this is...
Takeshi's piano.
How cheeky. Are you going to push every inch of your intent through?
Hmph! You little punk with that shallow jerk on retainer...
How dare you project such sensuality?
Go!
Move forward!
It's not just allies who support each other.
From your rivals you learn and gain so much.
Until the day you meet again...
Just knowing they exist helps you to withstand the loneliness.
Those who compete even if they're enemies help each other out.
I've been waiting for this day for two years.
I don't feel the slightest shred of boredom!
Now I something I can devote everything I have into!
I'm not gonna lose next time!
I'm gonna demolish you!
I have amazing rivals I can compete against with everything I've got!
I'm so lucky.
Welcome home my hero!
Bravo!
He's back in full force!
Brother!
Arima's competing too. Which one am I supposed to cheer on?
My tragedy. What a cliché!
I see that a troublemaker's been awakened...
Chopin just smiled...
Takeshi!
Um...
I still have one more number to play.
Good job.
You were good. Especially the Chopin.
The second piece was really hard. What was up with that whole atmosphere?
You created that atmosphere yourself didn't you?
You should've played the Chopin piece second.
Did I reach them?
Was I able to reach them with my music?
Like you guys?
Don't even think about messing up here got that?
'Cuz I'm so gonna destroy you in the final round!
Don't make me laugh. After that shaky second piece!
What the...?
You'd better dial down the bravado.
You know what they say. All bark and no bite.
Dammit both of you!
You'd better not have made a move on my kid sister!
Of course I haven't!
Then make one! You think Nagi isn't hot?!
Whaaat?
See ya my mirage...
Thanks for everything up to now.
See ya my hero.
Thanks for everything up to now.
There's the results!
I see my name!
Really?
Final Contestants Aiza Takeshi. Emi Igawa. Arima Kousei.
Hmph! What a gloomy-looking bunch.
Arima's next to me!
Episode 19 Goodbye Hero
Episode 20 Hand in Hand