Kono Oto Tomare! 2nd Season

"Teachers' Room"

"Teachers' Room" Mr. Takinami. Um... About the title of that piece...

"Tenkyu" "A bow in the heavens"... "Tenkyu," huh?

Yes. I originally thought of "Rainbow," but I thought it might be too obvious.

Why "Rainbow"?

I-I thought that the rainbow that comes after the rain

is kind of like our smiles... since there are seven of us...

"Hahaha! Seven club members"

"Hahaha! Seven club members" "Rainbow (a bow in the heavens) Seven colors...?"

A rainbow with seven colors, huh?

That's good.

On second thought, I'll change it!

Wait, wait. I really think it's good. But I want to change just one character.

From "bow" to "cry." This is still read "Tenkyu," so...

"Ten (sky) kyu (bow) kyu (cry)" From "bow" to "cry." This is still read "Tenkyu," so...

"The heavens cry"? So this piece really does give off a sad impression?

I didn't say that.

Tenkyu with "cry" is the rain that falls even when there's no cloud.

This is just my impression, but I think it's like the rain that falls from a clear blue sky.

People cry for different reasons, right? Not just when they're sad.

It seems like you understand this piece a lot better than I do.

If I didn't, that'd be a problem.

Unless I understand it better, I can't give you guidance, can I?

The title has been decided.

But what they still seriously lack is...

Mr. Takinami. Do you have a minute?

"#18 Their Determination"

"#18 Their Determination" Oh? Are you gonna be sitting behind me, Kurusu?

What?! You're sitting in front of me?!

I feel kinda bad that even our seats are close.

It's like we're constantly together if you count our club time.

"Seating Rearrangement" No, not at all! Rather, I'm happy!

What?

Y-You know, it's easier to discuss club activities this way!

I'm happy in that sense!

Oh, yeah, you're right.

Th-That was close. Good thing he's dense.

Wow...

Thank you, God! I'll work hard on club stuff! I'll work super hard!

My name is Dojima. I'm from Ikuta Style Koto Hozuki School.

We heard that the daughter of our grand master is a member of your koto club.

So if there's anything we can do, we definitely would like to be of help.

"Koto Club"

"Koto Club" "Tenkyu"?!

Wow... It sounds kinda pretty. The rain that falls even when it's sunny?

Oh, Mr. Takinami.

What, not everyone's here yet?

Ah... Kudo and the others are on cleaning duty, so--

Hello, Satowa.

M-Miss Dojima... Why...?

You know her, Hozuki?

I am Akira Dojima from the Hozuki School. Nice to meet you.

Starting today, I'll be giving you koto lessons.

I appreciate this opportunity.

What?! K-Koto lessons?

And she's from the Hozuki School?!

Hey, Suzu! What's the meaning of this?!

This? It's exactly how it sounds.

That's not what I meant!

Whooooa! Chika! I'm gonna beat you today!

In your dreams!

Whoosh!

You idiots...!

So cool, we fell over like dominos!

Mr. Takinami. What're these students doing?

Oh, I'm sorry for the commotion.

They're koto club members, too.

You're kidding, right?

No.

Mr. Takinami, who's this lady?

Starting today, she's your koto teacher.

Huh?!

On top of that, she's from the Hozuki School.

I thought you were going to give us guidance, Mr. Takinami.

I will... I'll give you musical guidance on the piece as a whole.

But what you need the most right now is to improve your technique.

No matter how outstanding one's musicality is or how deeply it can touch people,

if their technique is inferior, they can't win in a competition.

And unfortunately, I can't teach you koto.

But we've got Hozuki. If she teaches us like she has been, then--

I want her to focus on her own practice.

It's quite a burden to teach others while you're playing.

You lose quite a bit of practice time for yourself, too.

Or did you guys think that Hozuki doesn't need to practice or something?

So, if you get it, then start practicing already.

I'd like to know your abilities, so I'll just watch today.

It's true that it's better to have a koto teacher.

But why does it have to be Miss Dojima?

What do I do if she's trying to pull something on the club?

If something happens to the others because of me...

Hozuki.

You don't have to worry about anything.

It'll be fine, so practice as much as you'd like.

Mr. Takinami...

Now, you guys, too.

This is the sheet music for the piece they're practicing right now.

Thank you very much.

I've never heard of this piece before.

It's an original piece, so...

I see... Then first I need to learn about this piece, too.

"Koto Club"

So what do you think after watching their practice?

Well... I'm disappointed that their skill level is lower than what I expected.

It seems that Satowa has been teaching them until now,

but her teaching must have been quite sloppy.

Huh?!

You sound pretty arrogant, but are you really that good?

What do you mean by "that good"?

Can you play better than Hozuki?

I think teaching and playing require totally different talents.

But well...

Satowa played the original piece, "Tenkyu," and was disqualified

in the National Koto Competition.

And I'm the one who won first place in that same competition.

Is that satisfactory to you?

"Nishina Instruments"

Arrrgh! Who does she think she is?!

"Is that satisfactory to you?"

She ticks me off!

I don't like her, either!

I bet she's planning to mess up our club, just like I was before!

Kurusu. Calm down.

--If I remember correctly, --Huh?! How can you be so calm, Kurata?!

--the first-place person in that year's competition played "Mizu no Hentai." --Huh?! How can you be so calm, Kurata?!

--"Mizu no Hentai"? --Doesn't her attitude tick you off?!

--"Hentai"...? --Doesn't her attitude tick you off?!

--It's about water changing its form to things like fog or clouds. --She kept saying irritating things with a serious look!

--You have to sing too and it's technically hard. It's a very difficult piece. --Argh! She makes my skin crawl!

You sing, too, while playing the koto?

In that competition, if no one is worthy of first place, then no one receives the award.

In other words...

Her ability has been proven.

In which case, she's perfect for improving our skills.

Mr. Takinami said it'd be fine, too.

But what if this decision is wrong...?

Hozy! You don't have to force yourself!

If you don't like it, it's okay to say so!

You don't have to think that this is for the best for the club or anything!

Ahh... Once again...

I'm always being saved by them...

There's no longer time to hesitate

or shrink away from Miss Dojima and her grandmother.

So to them, it's their last chance.

Let's use her to the fullest.

What?

Miss Dojima's ability has been proven.

Mr. Takinami said it'd be fine, so I'm sure she'll teach us properly.

Let's learn as much as we can from her as long as she teaches us properly.

But if she doesn't...

...we'll just have to show her the door.

Whoa... It's the dark Satowa!

Are you really sure, Hozuki?

Yes. I also think improving our technique is necessary, so...

Okay.

Kurata! What're you--

Continuing this discussion will get us nowhere.

Let's try a lesson with her first.

Otherwise we can't make a decision.

But would Chika accept that?

He's still practicing, so I'll go get him.

It's quite a burden to teach others while you're playing.

Her teaching must have been quite sloppy.

I'm disappointed that their skill level is lower than what I expected.

Chika! Why don't you take a break?

We've been talking about Miss Dojima, and--

Hey, don't tell me you're asleep while play--

Chika...

Akira. How was the koto club?

Most of them haven't even mastered the basics.

There's nothing to be concerned about.

Still, the only way to be certain is to nip it in the bud now

no matter how small it is.

Make sure they clearly understand the difference between their abilities

and that of a serious koto player.

And make her aware that there's no longer a place for her to play the koto.

Understood.

How stupid...

Today, you'll first practice how to play a single note firmly and carefully.