Sitting outside, Natsu doesn’t feel like going back inside. Suzuka comes out and calls out to him. He smiles asks how’s the first training, going smoothly? After looking at him, Natsu sighs and comments that his personality is really terrible. Suzuka says, is that so.
Natsu tells him that honestly speaking, he basically feels that this won’t work at all. “The alternating four musicians’ performance is depending on some who couldn’t play it out...
...Spending a lot of time practicing might perhaps enable them to play it but it is impossible when it takes a long time to practice just one bar of music. It would be more efficient to change the 8 bar musician [<- Kouta/Atsumu?]”
Suzuka smiles and says, is that so. “I understand then let’s change it. *Natsu looks surprised* If at the end of the training, your opinion hasn’t changed then, let’s switch [the musician/s]. Wait until the last day, then I’ll listen to your opinion again.” Suzuka goes back inside.
Natsu wonders what was that about. He recalls Chika saying that Suzuka thinks that they can play it well. Natsu mutters that from how he sees it, Suzuka arranged it as he pleases. Natsu goes back in to see the other three playing.
Then, Chika looks irked and exclaims, ah-wrong. Kouta asks if it is wrong. Chika says that it should be, it always feels sad somewhere... He thinks that he knows that it is wrong. “But was it Kouta who played fast just now? Or was it Yoshinaga? *scowls* Or I played it wrong?”
Natsu asks them what they are doing. Kouta welcomes him back. He tells him that just now they are practicing that part by themselves. Chika says, afterwards, they discovered something. “Depending on ourselves, we totally don’t know which part we played right and which part we played wrong...”
Recalling their serene expressions, Natsu comments that their expressions look so cool yet they are saying that... Chika curses and says that like this, they basically have no way of practicing properly. Kouta cries out for Akira to come back.
Natsu goes back to his place and says that just now, at that fourth beat part, the fifth koto [Kouta] is being drawn away by the fourth koto [Chika] so he even played the eighth rest. “From there on, it started to go wrong.” They look surprised at him. Chika asks how did he know.
After sitting down, Natsu says that it is nothing. “If it is simply tempo, then I’m still able to-- *notices Chika and Kouta starting at him* ...ah-- *smiles* Sorry, am I being too arrogant...” Kouta suddenly holds his hand tightly. Together with happy Atsumu, Kouta tearfully exclaims, “Savior!!!”
Scowling Chika exclaims, what, if he knows then say it earlier! “If we made a mistake then tell us!” After a pause, Natsu asks if he thinks that is alright. Chika angrily asks how can it be alright. “It simply sucks to death that you are taking the lead even if you have just started learning!!!
...I know that much. But, compared to that kind of thing, it irks me more that [we/I] can’t play it well and it is always a waste of time [to be like this]. *points at Natsu* But, you’re not allow to use too technical terms! We’ll trouble you in explaining things to make it a bit understandable!” After a pause, Natsu says, ...okay.
Somewhere else, after Michi played, Akira asks him to play louder. “With that, your sound will be covered up by Adachi’s...” Michi exclaims in disbelief since he is already playing very loudly.
While playing a bit, Michi says that he isn’t weak but how can he use his strength in playing koto. “Darn, I couldn’t play it out.” Sane asks if he’ll play it a bit softly so that the sound would be more balanced-- Michi exclaims for him not to do that!! “Until the official performance, I’ll do my best to play it!!”
After looking surprised, Sane smiles and says, okay! Akira tells Michi that it is absolutely no problem as long as he can skillfully control his strength. “Gambatte!!” Sane exclaims that generally, just pull out his manliness! Michi exclaims, okay!
At another side, Takezou and Hiro are practicing. After playing a wrong note, Hiro exclaims that she made a mistake again, sorry!! Takezou says that he also played wrong, sorry. “The fingering here is so difficult.” Hiro exclaims the pressed sound, too! [<- pressing the strings?] “I couldn’t play it well. I must practice it.”
Takezou tells her that they play it one more time. Hiro says okay. Hiro thinks that the melody is really beautiful when her and Takezou as well as Satowa and Chika’s parts blend together... “I absolutely do not want to play a single wrong note!!”
She tells Takezou that they start from the top! Takezou says okay. Akira passes by Satowa and asks if there is anywhere she has a problem with. Satowa says that it feels that it is very difficult to play the sound that she wants. Sitting down, Akira says, ‘she wants...’, is that so.
Satowa tells her that it is really difficult to play that kind of ‘merely depending on one sound [/tone], it can completely change the mood’. Akira slightly sweatdrops and says at that time, Satowa’s sound thoroughly defeated her. Flustered Satowa is at a loss over what to say.
Akira giggles and apologizes over her little prank. “You want to be able to PLAY OUT THAT KIND OF SOUND AS YOU WISH, right.” Surprised Satowa exclaims, yes..! Akira says, of course, it isn’t easy but she believes that Satowa can definitely do it. “Let us practice from the start.” Satowa say, okay!
Looking at the two, Michi comments that it feels that the conversation over there is in some other dimension... Sane says that they first do their best in playing well the goal in front of them.
Using a cellphone as a metronome, Chika and others are practicing. Natsu tells Kouta that this isn’t the time when he should join in, Atsumu’s glissando is played too early and Chika shouldn’t force himself to match with the others and just do it according to the beat.
The two apologizes while Chika curses. Natsu tells Kouta that after the glissando, he always plays that note slow. Kouta apologizes and exclaims, one more time!! Natsu shouts to Atsumu that his tempo is too fast!! Atsumu apologizes and says that he’ll trouble him, one more time!
Looking frustrated, Natsu mentally curses them jerks for totally not playing the sound that he wanted. As they shout ‘one more time’ to him, Natsu thinks that they obviously couldn’t play it well but where do they get that physical strength. “I’m getting really tired since I’m putting my attention in this whole group. *Atsumu made a mistake* So, I’ve said, DO NOT PLAY THERE!!!”
Everyone is startled when Natsu plucked his string too strong. Kouta nervously calls out to Natsu. After snapping out of it, Natsu smiles at them and apologizes for playing that a bit too strong. Atsumu says that startled him and he’s quite strong. Natsu apologizes.
Chika notices something. Kouta is puzzled when Chika suddenly stands up and goes to the other room to ask Michi to give him an adhesive bandage. Kouta asks if Chika is injured... Then, he notices something. He screams that Natsu’s finger is bleeding. Atsumu also screams.
Looking at his hand, Natsu says that this isn’t much and it is simply a bit of crack on his nail. Aghast Atsumu protests that it looks quite painful. After Chika thanks Michi for the bandage, he pulls Natsu’s hand to him and tries to put the bandage on his finger.
Natsu says no, he’ll do it himself. Chika tells him to quit being noisy. Natsu felt that it hurts since Chika is holding him tightly. Then, he notices that the bandage has a picture of a female rabbit mascot. Michi timidly says that is given to him by his younger sister. Natsu is speechless.
Scratching his head, Chika apologizes for their practice being a bit wild. Kouta looks surprised as he looks at Natsu who isn’t reacting. They were interrupted by Isaki who calls out to them that lunch is ready so get ready to eat.
She is all sparkling and everything. Behind her, Suzuka looks gloomy and exhausted. Sane and Michi scream in excitement over this. Takezou tells them to move their instruments over to this side of the room. Atsumu notices Natsu carrying his instrument.
Atsumu quickly offers to move it for him because his finger... Carrying up the instrument, Natsu smiles and says there’s no need, it is really okay. Atsumu apologizes to him because he always wasn’t able to play well.
While Chika and Kouta watches them, Natsu smiles. He thinks that it is really annoying. He tells Atsumu that even if he were to say that to him, but he [Natsu] also... Atsumu says no, but he’ll definitely be able to practice until he can play it well. Natsu looks at him.
There is an awkward pause. Atsumu repeats that he’ll do his best... Natsu turns around and says, ya. Atsumu just looks at him. Chika and Kouta look at each other. Soon, curry with rice and some salad are served on the table. They exclaim that it smells really good, and looks really delicious!!
Isaki says that she made a lot so they can go eat as much as they want. Sane exclaims, Thanks!! Chika says that obviously Isaki made this yet he never thought that it would look really good. Isaki angrily asks, wha-?
Then, Atsumu sits near Chika. Chika looks at him and asks if he doesn’t know what is called ‘sense of distance’... Atsumu goes eh. Isaki laughs her head off and exclaims that this is really good because unexpectedly, there is someone who would be so close to him! Chika angrily says that she talks too much.
Takezou asks if everyone is already gathered. Someone shouts, gathered!! Takezou says then— “Itadakimasu!!!” The trio exclaims that it is delicious. Chika is surprised after eating a spoonful. He asks Isaki if she really made this. Isaki asks what is it.
Chika exclaims that this is so delicious that it is simply a miracle...!!! Scowling Isaki mutters that about that...Suzuka helped her a little...tiny bit... She is frustrated over what happened.
Flashback: At the last part of cooking, Suzuka angrily shouted that is enough. “Geez, I’ll take over from here! Give me the ladle!” Isaki shouted, ha!? End flashback.
Suzuka says yes, that’s right, he simply helped a little bit. Michi shouts for another serving. Hiro calls out to Natsu and offers to give him some salad. “Give me your plate.” Smiling Natsu says no thanks, he doesn’t have much appetite.
Hiro exclaims is that so, is he alright? Natsu says yes, and it is just a bad situation since he wasn’t able to touch a girl even once today. Aghast Hiro says ah, is that so. She angrily thinks that she really shouldn’t care about him.
Chika notices Atsumu looking flustered as he watches that. Chika tells him not to glance around and just eat properly. “You have to support your body until the end.” Atsumu says o..okay. Chika says besides, the probability for Isaki to be able to make this miraculous food is once in a lifetime. This made Isaki hit him on the head.
Soon, everyone helps out in cleaning things up. Then, they rest a bit as Natsu is by himself on his phone. Soon, they all practice together as Akira guides them. Suzuka watches on. That night, Hiro jumps on to the futon and exclaims that she’s so tired.
Satowa says that it has been a long time since they played the whole day like this. Hiro agrees and says that she is going to fall apart!! Isaki exclaims but everyone looks so happy and doesn’t it feel that the current mood of the club is quite good? “Those two new students also look like nice kids!”
Hiro asks wha— “Is that how you see it? For me, I still feel that Momoya is quite worrisome. It feels that the gap is so strong.” Isaki asks if it is no good if there’s a gap. This puzzles Hiro.
Isaki continues, “Ah-- I'm saying that perhaps, you feel that gap makes one feel cold. But you have to know, each person’s social distance is different. *Satowa and Hiro look surprised* It’s alright. Anyway, those two new members are guys. It’s okay to just let the other rough guys go and take care of them!” Hiro goes, eh—
At the guys’ room, Michi is snoring in his sleep. Beside him, Natsu is listening to drum playing using his cellphone. He wakes up upon hearing a thud. Natsu is aghast over Michi putting his foot on him. Natsu sits up and pushes Michi away from him.
He totally couldn’t sleep. He recalls the practice earlier and how everyone reacted. He puts his hand on his face and thinks that it is bad... Then, he notices that Chika and Kouta aren’t in their futons.
Outside, under the bridge, Chika is holding a make-shift koto. Kouta calls out to him and says that it turns out that he’s here. He smiles and says that it is the opposite of last year. Chika says ya. Kouta asks when did he come here. Chika says just now.
Kouta says is that so, today we-- Both of them says, “are really unworthy senpai-s.” They look at each other. Chika says that even if Natsu knows the melody [/rhythm] but they also shouldn’t totally depend on him for practice.
“Needlessly to say, I even half-forced and drag him to come. We are wasting Momoya’s time. Our goal is to become number 1 in the Nationals. Unexpectedly we are even holding back a kouhai who just entered the club. It really sucks.”
Kouta says yes. “If we can first properly play it, then the burden on those two would decrease a lot.” Chika says, in short, they must first practice the ensemble part well. “Even if I really don’t get it when all four of us are playing together but I should be okay if it’s just two people.”
Kouta exclaims for real!? Chika says, “Also, Kouta, you are always drawn by someone so first pay attention to the sound I’ll make. I’ll absolutely do my best in playing without going astray and without making any mistakes.” After looking surprised, Kouta says, okay!
Back in the room, Natsu thinks that those two still haven’t come back. “Where did they go? ...forget it, it doesn’t matter.” He looks at snoring Michi and recalls their conversation. He had told Michi that he never once felt happy ever since he started playing.
Michi had asked him why he still played. Recalling a man in a suit giving him drumsticks, Natsu thinks, “—that is simply, because someone gave that thing to me, that’s all. It is just that and there is no other reason.”
Back under the bridge, holding his cellphone that has a metronome app, Kouta sets it to 60 bpm. He asks if this speed is okay. Chika says yes. Kouta comments that when Natsu joined the club, he didn’t see him looking happy.
Chika comments that no one has seen him looking happy. Kouta sweatdrops and says yes, that’s right... “Momoyan’s view towards the club and also on the side of how he connects with others are definitely different from us.”
Chika says of course and there is also nothing bad about being different. “There’s also no need for anyone to take the initiative to match up with someone.” Kouta says, “—But, it is rare for us to be able to be like this, to pass such short few days together...
...So, I still hope that Momoyan can be a bit happy in his own way. *Natsu opens the window and looks at the moon* It’s possible that I’m the only one who thinks about it, but look at this word ‘happy’. Doesn’t it make you feel happy just by hearing it!?”
Chika says, ...is that so, it probably can. Kouta tearfully exclaims that he’s so half-hearted [in saying that]-!! Chika says that it’s will be alright. “Because there is someone like you around who thinks of him.” Kouta looks surprised over that.
Chika says okay, enough talk, let’s quickly practice. Kouta comments that their make-shift kotos are all tattered. Chika says after all, they always use it. “Okay, let’s start from the top.” Kouta says okay. Chika says that he’ll join him in the middle so don’t get drawn away. Kouta says that he’ll do his best!!
Comment: And, I’m sure Suzuka will prove to Natsu that he is right about this grouping. In just one day, Natsu’s calm and smiling front has already down a crack. Well, of course, part of it is because of frustration over their performance.
Because of Michi, he wondered why he is playing. Even if he is a realist that it is impossible that they’ll learn to properly play in a short period of time, I think that it is still something that Chika and others know that they are irking Natsu because of their poor performance.
They aren’t too clueless about it. Chika and Kouta are going to do something about it in order for this situation not to continue. They even knew that Natsu isn’t really happy or anything even as he keep smiling like that. I’m not sure if it is a big thing that others need his help here and Chika helped him with his injury. I mean for him to have that kind of social interaction.
Natsu kept that ‘wall’ up during lunch time. Because of Isaki’s conversation with the girls, I wonder if Hiro will change her perception and attitude towards Natsu. I get a feeling that Natsu is in for a surprise the next day. ^^ This group can easily adjust to people and win people’s hearts ^^ And, that is their strong point.
Michi’s performance will progress in this chapter in terms of playing louder. Like most of them, Michi doesn’t like it when others ‘go easy’ on them for their convenience. Satowa wants to attain Akira’s strength with her kind of note playing.
It is interesting though that there is some kind of duet between the ‘would-be’ couples in the group. ^^ Possibility of some romance will happen while playing it later on? And, it is thanks to Suzuka that they have a delicious lunch ^^ Were the two at it too during dinner? =P Scans by 二次元秘店汉化組
Quote of the day:
Getting along well with other people is still the world's most needed skill. With it...there is no limit to what person can do. We need people, we need the cooperation of others. There is very little we can do alone. ~ Earl Nightingale