Given (映画 ギヴン)

She paid you?

Wait, no. Don't get the wrong idea. This is just her thing.

Akihiko?

He used to be pretty wild,

but I think he's calmed down quite a bit now.

Yo, we take a right up here.

Kaji-san.

It's not that you've actually calmed down.

You just don't do stuff like that in front of Haruki-san, right?

I knew you wanted to go all-out to learn more about music,

but I didn't think you'd actually come to this concert with me.

Thank you very much for the ticket.

No worries. I didn't pay for them, anyway.

Huh?

Apparently, he's taken a liking to you.

I'm pretty sure I've seen him before.

Damn it, I told him to brush his hair...

Um...

So why is the guy with the violin the only one standing?

That's how violin concertos work.

Ugetsu was the first genius that I ever encountered.

His talent was aggressive.

Back then, there was still something like aspiration in my music,

as well as something resembling confidence.

But that all ended the day I met Ugetsu.

Ever since that day, I've hated him.

Kaji-san.

I...

I... want to write songs.

<Inbox

Sender: CAC Admin

To: given

Second screening results

This email is being sent to the artists and groups who passed our first screening to notify them of the results of our second screening.

Result of second CAC screening:

Your entry has been confirmed for the final screening. Visit the URL below: Please access this link, fill out the necessary information, and confirm all rules.

Whoa...

We made it through the second screening...

Second?

Screening for what, now?

Our entry for CAC!

Huh?!

CAC? What's that?

Countdown-Fes Amateur Contest!

It's a super huge rock festival held at the end of the year.

There's a slot where amateurs get to play with the pros!

When did we even apply for that?

Uh, we talked about entering when we decided on our band name, remember?!

Wait, when did we even get through the first screening?

You never mentioned it!

I definitely told you they cleared our application!

So how many screenings are there?

The third one coming up is the last one.

They'll be judging our performance live.

A live performance?!

Why are you so happy?!

Do you understand how big a deal this is?!

Ue. Down, boy.

I wanna do it.

With what? The one song we have?

But it makes me happy.

Seeing all the comments, I mean.

Don't they make you guys happy?

To be honest...

I'm ecstatic.

Same.

Good. Because...

I really want to do this.

Karaoke Plaza

Mafuyu, you said you wanted to write songs, right?

Yeah.

Our first song gave me some personal closure, basically.

So for our next one, I...

Seriously, what ?! Don't just give up in the middle of your thought!

I do have something I want to say.

Just say it, then!

Another time.

What?!

After hearing his performance, I realized two things.

The first is that you can make emotions resonate through music.

The second

is that I think Kaji-san is the same as me.

I'm... home.

Are you here, Akihiko?

I'm back in Japan for the first time in ages, and you're in bed before me? Seriously?

Hey, so how was the Tchaik concerto?

Akihiko.

It was probably so good, it made you hard.

Aki—

What? Are we doing this today? That's rare.

You never get tired of this, do you, Akihiko?

I'm pretty sure Kaji-san is also in love with someone he can't replace...

and it's unrequited.

Akihiko! Someone's here!

Akihiko!

Yeah... Just one more minute...

Uh, if you don't answer it now, they're gonna leave.

Who is it?

Oh...

Ah! You're the vocalist kid!

The hell am I looking at right now?

Shh.

Yeah, that sucked.

So the 6-bar progression after the hook...

The "lala lala lala" part...

I think you didn't know what to do, so you brought down the intensity.

I bet it's supposed to be more like, "Lala lala lala..."

Those are the emotions you wanted to sing, right?

Mafuyu, is that your new song?

Yes. That's all I've finished so far, though—

Yeah, yeah, got it.

I've got plans with Haruki.

Keep Ugetsu company for me.

Huh?

A-Are you sure it was okay to just leave him there?!

Sure.

W-Wait, you have a roommate?!

I do.

But, man... Mafuyu's gotten so much better, it's scary.

Everything he's kept bottled up inside is finally free,

so it's probably just all overflowing.

R-Roommate?

He actually had the balls to show up at my place unannounced, so yeah.

I swear, geniuses just end up losing sight of everything else.

He has a roommate...

And then there's Uenoyama.

I know he's taking remedial classes, but only for two subjects, right?

I know, right?!

Being average at that school means you're already super smart!

He's pretty much a borderline genius himself. He's got what it takes.

So, Akihiko...

I know this might not be the best way to put it, but you're different.

You were in orchestra in college, so you're actually a really good violinist,

and you can play the guitar and bass.

But... like, you're super talented overall, but you don't excel in any one thing.

Wait, was that a diss?

No!

It's sorta cool being a jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none, you know?

Meanwhile, I'm the dictionary definition of mediocrity.

But...

I was just thinking that must be hard sometimes.

You're the peacemaker.

Huh?

That's why everyone loves you.

Uh, what?

Nothing. Just saying you're way more popular than you think.

Uh, I'm not actually popular with anyone!

Hm... There's nothing here.

Um, Uge... tsu-san, are you and Kaji-san...

Oh, sleeping together?

We're not exactly together anymore.

Huh?

I met Akihiko in high school.

And my first love was so much fun.

He spoiled the hell out of me, and I became more cowardly.

But...

Around the time we graduated high school

and I started working as a violinist, I suddenly realized...

that we were suffocating each other more than anything else in this world.

Akihiko.

Hm?

Let's end this.

With Akihiko around, I don't have any freedom with my music,

and my existence overall was causing suffering for him, too.

And I think you know the rest.

We both spent two years being desperate,

and somehow, we just keep crawling back to each other.

Why did you tell me all this?

Well, I don't have any friends.

Maybe I just wanted someone to understand.

Even just a little bit.

I'm not very expressive,

so I'm pretty sure Akihiko thinks I'm the worst piece of shit ever and hates my guts.

I love Akihiko to death,

and even though I'm the one who dumped him, I haven't been able to let go.

I've been trying to get rid of him at every opportunity,

but that still hasn't worked out, either.

All this time... I've been waiting for him to finally leave me.

Well, anyway. I'm gonna head out, too.

The place is soundproof, so make yourself at home.

If you liked that story,

go ahead and use it as inspiration for your new song.

Right around the time we first started living together,

and he tried to give me my first gift...

For some reason, I hated them so much

that I said I didn't want them and knocked one out of his hand.

It was just a mug.

I should've just said I was happy.

I want to stay by his side.

I want to stay by his side.

I want to stay by his side.

Even so... I love music.

But now... I'm sure nothing will surpass that.

He's just seriously such a great guy.

Ugetsu Murata

I'm bringing home my new boyfriend.

So you'll have to find a different save point today.

Mm? What?

What do you mean?

Okonomiyaki