Tokize has finished their performance. The audience looks stunned. Teary-eyed Tsukaji has fallen back into his chair. He looks at the side to see Komaki puzzled over why tears are falling from her eyes. Kinoshita and Mashiro are in tears. Kazusa looks flustered.
The judges look serious though Kai looks surprised. It is very quiet in the auditorium. Chika and Takezou are tense and puzzled. Sane thinks that this is strange when they have already finished playing. Michi thinks that there is no single applause.
Kouta wonders if there’s anything wrong. Michi mentally whimpers. Somehow, Satowa also looks tense. Takezou whispers to the others that it is such an awkward silence so quickly get their instruments and get off the stage. Chika says ah, okay.
As they all start to carry their instruments and leave, they hear someone clapping. Taishin is surprised to see Mio standing up and clapping. This caused him to clap, too. Soon, everyone started to clap, too. Fujimoto and Kagari are slightly flustered as they clap.
Looking reluctant, Wakaba is also clapping. Smiling Shizu is clapping. Crying Takezou’s mother claps along with the father. Kouta is puzzled why they are clapping right now. Satowa looks at the audience and looks tense. Doujima watches on. Her lips tremble. And, she is also clapping.
At the hallway, Sane says that the timing of the applause just now is very strange. Hiro says after all, it happened after that awkward silence. Kouta tearfully asks if their performance is so bad that people doesn’t know how they should evaluate it. Chika asks how can that be possible.
Takezou nervously smiles and says that he thinks that their performance today is their best until now. This made Kouta call out to him. Then, Akira, together with Suzuka, meets up with them and says, good job on their performance. Kouta tearfully calls out to their coaches. He suddenly hugs Akira tightly and wails if their performance is very terrible and what are they to do.
Sane quickly pulls Kouta off Akira and exclaims not to have any apprehension, so please directly tell it to them. Everyone looks tense as they wait for Akira to say something. Surprised Akira asks why they are so uneasy. She happily smiles and says that obviously, their performance is so good. This relieves everyone.
Akira asks Suzuka, isn’t it so. Suzuka tells them that he can assume that it can be considered as so-so. “Hey, you’ll block people if you stay here so quickly move aside.” This shocks everyone. Kouta exclaims that in the end, it isn’t much! Hiro calls Suzuka an idiot and what does he mean by so-so.
Sane shouts for Kouta to calm down for Akira praised them. Michi[?] exclaims that he’ll only listen to what Akira said. Akira rushes after Suzuka and says how come he couldn’t say the truth and isn’t it good to honestly praise them.
Suzuka says that he is always speaks frankly. “Just knowing how they come here today, I feel that this degree of performance today is inevitable.” Akira looks slightly surprised. Takezou seems to have overheard it that he smiled. Hiro looks at Satowa and asks her what’s up since she looks lost in thought.
Snapping out of it, Satowa says no, after it ended, it seems like she’s daydreaming. Hiro says ah, is that so, she also seems like walking unsteadily. “—but, next, we’ll only have to wait for the result.” Satowa looks surprised and says, yes.
Back at the auditorium, Tsukaji blows his nose. As tears keep on falling, he curses for Tokize High played really well. Komaki asks why she is crying, it’s so scary, what is this~~ Tsukaji says who would know that Satowa would appear and beside, the others’ ranking is also high..!!
Tsukaji looks at his flyer to check who their coach is. He is shocked to see the name of Akira. “What..!? Dou..Doujima Akira? It is unexpectedly that Nationals champion, Doujima Akira!!? The person who ‘replaced’ Houdzuki since she violated the rules..!! These two had collaborated already!!? *flustered and trembling* What the hell is going on!!!”
Sparkling with tears, Tsukaji says that it seems like he’ll have to publish a special issue [/column]. Tsukaji exclaims that he’s nose-bleeding. While Mio seems to be in dreamland, Taishin thinks that it is really such an amazing performance.
“Not just the performance, but the musical piece is also so perfect. In order not to let Kanzaki appear too prominent, the central idea of the piece that I composed is to maintain the balance. But Tokize’s piece--... displayed the different sound division [/groups]’s individuality...
...Ah, darn it... Obviously, today is the last day... *looks flustered* I obviously ought to stay away from composing for a while but my hand is already itching to compose a piece.”
Crying Isaki calls out to Tetsuki and tells him that the tissues aren’t enough. Tetsuki informs her that his are already used up and how long she is going to cry-- They were surprised to see Mashiro sobbing ala waterfalls. This made Isaki ask her if she is alright.
Mashiro apologizes. She says that actually, she is just too moved. Isaki shouts for tissues from Tetsuki. Tetsuki tells her that he just said that they are already used up. To his irritation, she calls him useless.
Fujimoto and Kagari are looking at Kinoshita who is wiping her tears. Irritated Fujimoto asks up to when she is going to cry. Even if the performance is forceful[?]..it can be considered as amazing.. She asks didn’t he say before that they are like a randomly assembled group.
Fujimoto admits that he said that. Kinoshita says that from the start, she thought that it is just like what he said. That is they were a randomly assembled group, but... She thinks but they [Tokize] have gone through a lot of things and also went forward with all their strength so...
Kinoshita says that she thinks that it is good if she also put in more effort, and she definitely can also do a lot of things...! Fujimoto wonders how come she noticed that after the performance. Looking away, Fujimoto says tsk, what, it isn’t like starting right now is too late already. This puzzles Kinoshita.
Fujimoto says that even if he said that today is their last onstage [competition?] but they are second years so they’ll definitely find a place to play. “In short, isn’t it fine for us to work hard and first do it for next year’s welcome gathering of the new students.” Kinoshita looks surprised. Fujimoto asks Kagari, isn’t it so.
Kagari agrees for anyway, she’s quite idle and it isn’t like she cannot accompany them in playing. Kinoshita is moved to tears as she calls out the two’s name. Fujimoto scolds her for being annoying since she’s crying again. He complains that he really hates girls who cry at every turn. Kagari laughs over Kinoshita for being super annoying.
At the parking lot, a man puts the koto in the van. He asks Suzuka if these are all of it. Suzuka says yes, thanks. In the van, Shizu tells everyone good work and today’s performance is really amazing. After the van left, Suzuka looks at his watch.
He says that all of the performance is already over, and they’ll have just some time before the final results. He asks them what they want to do, and if they want to go back to the auditorium. Someone says that he’s thirsty. Someone suggests that they buy a drink.
Satowa gathers her courage and apologizes to them. She asks if she can leave for a while. “...Ac..actually, it seems that my mother came to listen... Perhaps, she had already gone home but I want...rather, I should go and find... *everyone looks at her in surprise.* I’m sorry, this is a private matter--”
Chika grabs her arm to pull her. He shouts what is she doing, and how come she didn’t say it earlier!! Satowa looks surprised. Teary-eyed Hiro scolds Satowa that regarding this small thing of tidying things up, she should have left it up to them!! The trio shouts for Satowa’s mother not to leave yet.
Takezou apologizes to the teachers since they are going back. Suzuka asks if it is necessary for all of them to go. Akira calls out to Suzuka and tells him that they are going too. Suzuka goes, ha. There are already a lot of people in the main building. Sane says that it is all noisy [and crowded]. Takezou says that it isn’t sure that she’s in this hall.
Chika suggests that they split up to search for the mother. Hiro asks him if he knows what Satowa’s mother look like. To her shock, Chika exclaims that he doesn’t know but he’ll just try to look for someone who looks like a head [of a koto group].
Satowa exclaims that it’s kimono, she’s wearing a kimono. Hiro says that’s a good clue. The plan is upon finding Satowa’s mother, they are to keep her from leaving then contact the others through LINE [internet messaging app] They say okay.
Hiro exclaims that they are to send a text if it is for Satowa. Soon, everyone is looking around the building and even the parking lot. Satowa goes back in the auditorium and recalls where her mother was seated. There is no one there. Just then, Takezou sees Satowa leaving the auditorium. This is his cue that her mother isn’t among the audience.
Somewhere else, Chika keeps on looking for someone in kimono. He finds one and instantly grabs her to say, “Houdzuki’s mo..” Upon seeing that it is a chubby woman, Chika apologizes for the mistake since he thinks that she seemed like Michi’s mother. As he runs off, the woman wonders if he was flirting.
Chika thinks that this is so troublesome but she ought not to have gone home yet. After recalling all the times of knowing who Satowa is, how she lived and fearing to listen to her performance before, Chika looks determined and continue to search. Satowa is also running around and looking around.
She thinks, not here..and it seems that she had really... There’s a message from Hiro. She apologizes for Satowa’s mother isn’t at this side either. Satowa thinks that the last one that they still haven’t searched yet is just the backstage. She looks around but her mother isn’t there. Her steps slow down as she passes by the practice rooms.
She wonders what she is doing for her mother has no business in coming here. “In the end, what am I expecting---” She looks surprised when someone calls out to her, “Satowa.” Satowa recognizes the voice that she slightly turns to confirm it.
From the corner of her eye, she sees a familiar figure of a woman in a kimono. She recalls the awful expressions her mother had after she first played Tenkyuu before. She looks away. Just then, Chika sees the one in kimono. Takezou also notices her that he suddenly stops running. He caused Hiro to bump into him.
While Satowa had become very tense, Chiharu says, “...it’s great for I was afraid of whether or not, I had missed you... I’ve been looking for you for a long time. --I have heard the performance. *bites lips* --I’m sorry... *bows down in aghast*...
...–I know...the things that I have done to you had caused such pain that it cannot be taken back. I also clearly know that it is an unforgivable thing. *holds up head* ...so, as matters stand, I have no right to say this kind of words, --but, can you give me one more chance and let me properly talk with you.”
Satowa looks flustered as she starts to tear up. She asks, “—this time around, have I already conveyed my feelings? *trembling* This time, there’s no error [/mistake] with the method, right? *turns around*, Mama, this time, I--” She sees her teary-eyed mother with a smile. This surprises Satowa.
Tears start to fill up her eyes and continuously fall down. Satowa covers her eyes and kneels down on the floor. She sobs loudly which flusters her mother [to see her like that]. As everyone happily watches, Chiharu holds out her arms and gives her daughter a tight hug.
Comment: Did you cry, too? That is such a moving reconciliation scene. It makes me realize why Satowa is tense about the outcome of their performance when she ought to know if it was amazing or not. After all, she did play that same piece before with her utmost effort but to her dismay, she failed in conveying her feelings and intention to her mother. This time around, with everyone’s help, she finally did it. ^^
The first part can really be unnerving for performers especially amateurs. After giving it one’s everything and feeling that one has played really well in one’s whole life, there is only silence. They underestimated the effect of their performance on ordinary people. =P
As expected, their performance pulled people’s hearts and inspire people. They also proved themselves to those who underestimated them. It would be hard for Taishin to temporarily give up composing after this especially since he seems to like a challenge. It is nice how they get to inspire the trio to keep on playing in some other ways even if they goofed up this performance.
So, next, it would be the results. Will they go to the Nationals as the champions or will only perform with others koto players? Given everyone’s reactions to their performance, I’m really inclined to think that they’ll win this. Scans by 二次元秘店汉化
Quote of the day:
Reconciliation heals the soul. [It is] the joy of rebuilding broken relationships and hearts. If it is healthy for your growth, forgive and love ~ Mama Zara (KushandWizdom)