Kono Oto Tomare [Chapter 54 - Starting Line]

Chika calls out to Isaki and Tetsuki while Takezou calls out to Mashiro. Isaki congratulates them for being able to advance to the Nationals and they are all so amazing. “That performance is really quite splendid---” Putting his hands on her shoulder, Kouta thanks her. Surprised Hiro asks if that is Chika’s aunt, she’s so young and she only heard rumors about her [/maternal aunt].

Isaki looks at Chika. Chika proudly says, “Ah, what about it, Isaki. Didn’t I tell you that we’ll get into the Nationals--” To his surprise, Isaki suddenly hugs him and exclaims, “Well done! *pats his head* You strived hard. You’re amazing!”

This made Chika blush that he immediately pushes her away and tells her to stop that, stupid. Isaki tells him not to be shy. Tetsuki teases Chika by laughing and repeatedly say, ‘amazing, amazing’. This made angry Chika to want to elbow Tetsuki who angrily tries to push him away.

At the side, Tetsuki says that Mashiro also came. Mashiro exclaims of course, and furthermore, it turns out that they know Isaki whom she was sitting with... “Congratulations, Takezou. It’s so incredible that you’ll get to advance to the Nationals. It’s really so amazing!! Thank you for enabling me to listen to such an awesome performance.”

Takezou calls out her name and they happily talk with each other. Hiro looks at them and smiles. Satowa calls out to Hiro and happily tells her that she feels that until now, this is her happiest and most blissful day until now.

After calling out her name, Hiro happily exclaims, yes, for her too! While the others are happily chatting, Suzuka says that is the end of that. Akira says yes, good work. She comments that from start to end, he looks quite capable [/this is a piece of cake’] and it’s really amazing.

Suzuka asks if she is kidding for he was always anxious that he is breaking into a cold sweat. “In case those guys use that kind of performance and wasn’t able to advance into the Nationals, then it will be because of my arranged piece.” Surprised Akira asks how can that be...

Suzuka says that in the end, a lot of people also think that ‘easy to understand’ piece is a frivolous piece so I can heave a sigh of relief from the bottom of his heart. Akira laughs and says that this is the first time she heard of his weakness [/soft side].

Suzuka asks how come she looks happy about that... While Akira tries to say, no--, someone calls out to her. She turns around to see her brother, Keishi. Thinking that he came, Akira was at a loss over what to say. Keishi approaches her and holds her shoulders.

He shouts, “So amazing!! Advancing to the Nationals!! Ah, geez-- *wipes tears* It’s no wonder it’s Akira who taught them [/brought it out]!” While saying ah, no..., Akira wonders what to do for it is too sudden that she couldn’t think of what to say--...

Seeing Suzuka behind her, Keishi calls out to him and asks if he is Tokize High’s teacher. He introduces himself as Akira’s older brother and thanks him for taking her of her sister [/yoroshiku]. Suzuka greets him and introduces himself as Takinami, the adviser and he was the one who is under the care of his younger sister.

Keishi is surprised when Sane, Michi and Kouta appear behind Suzuka and asks if he is Akira’s older brother, and they look quite the same! Keishi admits that he was quite startled when he saw them on stage since there are a lot of guys among them! “Everyone looks quite happy!”

Kouta exclaims, yes, they are very happy-! “But then, Akira-chan sensei’s style is super Sparta [/strict].” Keishi exclaims is that so. Akira shouts wait... Keishi tells her that it turns out that her style is super Sparta. Embarrassed Akira exclaims that it is very ordinary!

Looking at her, Sane says, “But, if it wasn’t Akira-sensei who had coached us, I feel that we have no way of advancing to the Nationals. *smiles* Thank you, Akira-sensei. *the siblings look surprised* ...what. *blushes* I said that so formally that it feels quite embarrassing.”

Kouta chuckles and says that it is really great that Akira taught them. Michi agrees. The three are surprised when Keishi suddenly hugs them. Aghast Sane tells him to wait, older brother, is this the time when they need to be hugged by the brother?

Keishi says that he is substituting for Akira in giving them a hug. Kou tearfully exclaims that it will be good if Akira was the one who came and hug them! Keishi angrily shouts, “In your dreams!” Aghast Akira wonders what this situation is.

Keishi says, “I listened to your [plural] performance today... Your timbre is frank, bent on gentleness and it’s also very warm. Each sound conveyed out your love for koto. ...Akira, thank you for telling me to come here today. It is really quite great that I was able to listen to your ‘current timbre’.”

Akira looks surprised. She recalls how he playfully patted her head when they were young. He says, “...ya, thank you, brother.” This made Keishi look surprised and turn towards her. He sees Akira blushing who tensely looks back at him.

She is surprised when he happily smiled. He quickly rushes back to Akira and shouts, my cute younger sister!! This made Akira says, wait, stop! The Himesaka group is still at the auditorium. While Kazusa is still sitting on the chair, Fumi tells her that they should go.

Fumi stops calling her when she notices that Kazusa is trembling. Biting her lips, Kazusa thinks that from the time she heard Tokize’s performance, she already have a premonition within her heart. “That person... [recalls Chika saying, that’s right!]

...Always until the end, firmly believed in their timbre, but I--... *tightly closes her eyes* I cannot cry. I cannot cry, I cannot cry, I cannot cry, I cannot cry, I cannot cry...! *remembers Hozumi* I have no right to cry.” 

Noticing this, Wakaba calls out to Kazusa and says up to when she plans to stay there. “You’re not the only one who is quite frustrated---” Hozumi gently calls out to Wakaba [to move aside/stop that] then she goes to call out to Kazusa who becomes startled.

Kazusa recalls her promise that they’ll definitely go and play in the Nationals together. Hozumi bends down to Kazusa and starts to call her name when Kazusa interrupts by saying, “..ry. I’m sorry…!!! Sorry. Sorry. I’m sorry. *everyone looks surprised as flustered Kazusa is clenching her fists* I’m sorry. SORRY. Sorr...”

Hozumi smiles and exclaims, “What are you saying! There is nothing for you to be sorry about, isn’t there? You made us listen to such a wonderful timbre. Everyone who were chosen, and us who have assisted, together, we worked hard together. *holds Kazusa’s hand*...

...Thank you for giving it all your full strength. It is alright. It is fine to start once again from here. From here, it is okay to create [/do it] once again.” Meanwhile, Hakuto group have all gathered at the hallway. Taishin says, “---I’m sorry everyone. Everyone strived hard with their practice but my ability isn’t enough... Truly...very sorry.”

Aragaki shouts for him to wait, don’t be like that and why is he apologizing! “It would be better that we apologize. From the start, we even talk big about saying that we’ll use the eligibility to get in the Nationals as our farewell gift. In the end, we weren’t able to achieve that, sorry...”

Taishin exclaims for them not to say that!! “For everyone to be able to perform the piece that I made like that, I’m very happy just with that. So really, thank you everyone... It is simply, if I’m more ability in coaching...”

He looks up and stops talking. It made everyone look back to see Mio crying. This freaks them out especially Aragaki who shouted, “Mio!!? What is this!? Ah, could it be that you’re crying because you’re quite frustrated!?”

Mio says, “Today, I basically wanted to win. I really wanted to win.” Aragaki says that’s quite unexpected that he is really concerned about winning or losing. Mio says no, he wasn’t. This made Aragaki angrily shouts that in the end, he wasn’t.

Mio continues to say, “But, whether it is sensei, or you, club president, today is the already the last time. If I were able to do it earlier a bit like today, this kind of performance, perhaps, the outcome would be different...

...Perhaps, everyone would be smiling right now. *slightly bows down* ...I’m sorry.” This cause Aragaki and others become teary eyed. Aragaki says, “Wait... Darn, why would you sudden say that kind of words? Don’t be like that, normally, you would simply be listless and wander around...

...For you to say that kind of works, it is us who should apologize for we have totally depended on a first year, on your performance!” Taishin notices that everyone starts to cry. He bites his lips and shouts that it is forbidden for everyone to apologize.

Aragaki shouts what he is saying when obviously, he was the first one who started to apologize!? Aghast Taishin exclaims, about that..! “That’s right!! Okay, I also won’t apologize again!” Aragi shouts, really—what!?

Taishin shouts, “Because!! Regarding today’s performance, in which part does everyone have to apologize for!? In all our performances, today is everyone’s most amazing one!! I’ll make today’s performance as my life’s honor!!!” This made everyone look at him.

Mio says, “The first time I saw the music sheets that sensei wrote, I felt that it is like the starry sky [/heavens]. It’s so beautiful. *smiles* I really like sensei’s piece. It’s really great that I [we] am able to play sensei’s piece.” Taishin’s closes his eyes and bites his lips. Then, he says, “Thank you.”

Walking outside at the streets, Tsukagi curses and complains that he didn’t think that he’ll cry like that during the preliminary competition. Tsukaji says that is true for it startled her since he totally won’t stop crying. Tsukaji angrily shouts back that didn’t she also cry.

She says but, it felt that she can understand now what he said before the competition. Tsukaji is puzzled so she says that it is the preliminary competition is all high schoolers. “Youth’s collision! It’s really like that. *stretches arms* Ah-- It would be good if I can do a bit of something during high school---”

Tsukaji says that right now isn’t too late yet. “Even if you’re an adult, if you are like the today’s them [youth], giving it all your strength and enjoying the moment, you can also brightly dazzle...

...It is only that there are actually a lot of adults who merely forget their initial intention, and blindly believing within themselves that ‘I’m already powerless’. Isn’t it strange...

...Adults are far freer than when they were young. They are in charge of everything. So as long as they wanted to do it, they can do anything.” Komaki says, ah...

She happily says that compared to that troublesome stuff, how about they think of where they are going to eat since she is already hungry. This made him hit her. Komaki whines that he’s so mean that he hit her again. He angrily tells her to quickly go back and write a report like that!!

Back at the competition venue, Suzuka says that it is almost time to leave. He asks if they forgot anything. Sane mentioned about something being tight. Michi is looking in his bag if he left his pick/s there. Chika glances at the side to see Kazusa, together with her group, walking towards the door.

Kazusa sees him and they look at each other. While Michi continues to look for his pick and Takezou is talking with Hiro, Satowa also looks at Kazusa. Kazusa looks away so Chika also looks away. Kazusa bites her lips and angrily turns towards them to shout, “Tokize High!!!”

Chika and others look back. Fumi tries to stop her but Kazusa says, “...absolutely win. You guys won over us and will advance to the Nationals. *looks at them* If you don’t bring back the champion [reward], I absolutely won’t forgive you all!!!”

Chika and others look surprised. Chika answers back, “—ah, but of course [we will].” The other Tokize members look serious. This made Kazusa smile as she walks away.

Just then, Mio’s head appears on top of Chika’s shoulder and he says that this way of cheering [/ encouragement] is really amazing. Quickly moving away, Chika screams in fright and shouts here he is again. Mio congratulates him for the getting first place even if they are very frustrated that they lost. “Gambatte [Do your best] on the Nationals.”

Then, he leaves with the others. Taishin happily shakes Suzuka’s hand. Chiharu happily looks on. Kinoshita and others also leave. Narration: “—like that, what’s left behind are so many happiness and pain.”

Going out of the building somewhere, Meiryou’s Ousuke says that Kanagawa’s representative will be Tokize. “The finals appear to have become very interesting♪” Narration: “Kanagawa’s preliminary tournament has come to an end.”

Comment: Ah, there is still the feels in this chapter. We obviously have the ‘shy-types’ this time who aren’t used to being praise and expressing their feelings among other things . Chika is the first one. It is probably slightly ‘strange’ for Isaki to say and do that to him.

It is the same with Akira who kind of patch up with her brother who has a sister complex. Hehe, beware whichever guy goes to court her =P It is probably music in his ears that Akira had called Keishi ‘brother’ again. Since he also played koto before, he knew the extent of Akira’s contribution for the group since it is Akira’s style to treasure/give importance to each note.

Unlike before, it seems that Hiro is quite happy for Takezou talking with Mashiro instead of having any jealous of that type. Satowa and Hiro confide to each other about this being their happiest day. It makes me think, brace yourselves, it will be topped later on =P

It is understandable for Kazusa to be very frustrated for failing to deliver. Even if Hozumi is seemingly the weakest one in the group, she is the one who can say the right words. Here, she made everyone want to pick themselves up again and move on after thanking everyone for what they did, and complimenting everyone’s hard work to pull off that amazing performance.

If Tokize lost, Hakuto’s dialogues would be theirs. Everyone was blaming each other for what happened. But the ‘feels’ is pulled out by Mio. After some cheer up speech from Taishin, Mio’s final line will probably be something Taishin will remember for the rest of his life along with his students’ performance. It is an amazing feat for someone who has zero background on music.

Komaki and Tsukaji’s conversation is quite good, too. Komaki pretty much symbolizes the people who dreams, wants this and that, but cannot really push through it due to other things or it’s too much work. She did mention that it is troublesome and yes, it is. After all, these kids used a lot of time and effort to pull off those kinds of performances. That is not something that can be done half-heartedly.

I’m not too sure how to take Kazusa’s ‘cheering’. Isn’t that more pressure for them? But, Chika is quite confident about it. ^^ Everyone looks so serious, too. So, they would have to show to the ‘losers’ that it wasn’t just a fluke.

Now, upon seeing Ousuke there at the end, it makes me wonder what would be the theme for their Nationals’ piece. Iirc, Ousuke has an unrequited love. It makes me wonder if that will be it and there will definitely be ‘feels’ from that. Something like, it is about an unrequited relationship.

That will fit Hiro’s current situation. I would even start imagining that there has to be some sort of love confession during the Nationals. =P ‘Unrequited’ might also fit Chika’s relationship with his father in some way. Perhaps, it is also applicable for the Doujima siblings with their grandmother. Anyway, let’s wait and see what it will be ^^ Scans by 二次元秘店汉化

What is a day well-lived? It’s a day when you have your priorities clear, and your time is spent on what is most important. It’s a day when you show kindness. It’s a day in which you are grateful. ‘This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24’ ~ 101 mottos for success by J. Richards and M.S. Fontaine.