Between the White and Black Keys (白鍵と黒鍵の間に)

Between the White and Black Keys

Let's forget our resentment and just break up like this...

Turn off the lights first.

- What... - What are you pretending for!

Can't you play properly?

Why can't your playing match my singing?

Now I can't Sing or dance. Just making them laugh at us.

Who do you blame for all this?

I just looked at the score for this song. How could I play it as soon as I came up...

It's a folk song, why is the score so complicated?

What do you mean?

I've been singing this song for years, it's a longtime favorite.

Where did you get this score from? So many notations, who can understand them?

Hey Shina!

We have a pianist here who thinks my arrangement and composition are not good.

Are you trying to pick a fight?

- What fight? It's Koharu's score... - Hiroshi.

Don't think just because you have a formal education, you can be so arrogant here.

This is not a school, understand?

- Do you think this is a concert for you? Do you understand? - He doesn't understand.

Music can't be confined to the score!

Music is about feeling!

Blues, jazz, they're all like this, understand?

Look at how you're dressed, don't talk about jazz. You're just ruining jazz music.

Shut your mouth... just play your piano properly.

These guests, some of them came all the way from Tsugaru, Aizu, you know,

just to flirt with women, be indecent, and be handsy!

They didn't come to listen to music, understand?

Oh my... I might as well be handsy with you.

Isn't that enough for you?

I said no jazz!

This guy even had rings on his hands and he punched me.

Are you okay?

Still not working.

I can't see the stars...

Not the ones in the sky,

but the ones in my heart.

You're quite poetic, Keisuke.

If you can't see the stars, it's not real jazz.

"I don't care"

That's the title of a Charlie Parker song.

But did Charlie Parker really think like that?

- Hiroshi. - Huh?

Don't you play jazz?

What am I even doing?

Too stiff...

When playing the piano, you have to relax and remain composed.

- "Remain composed"? - Yes.

It's hard to explain in a few words..

But this is just the level of playing around in a cabaret.

- Cabaret? - That's right.

In a cabaret, there are not only musicians, but also painters...

dancers, performers, and even poetry reciters.

What Teacher is talking about is in the past.

In a cabaret, there are people from all walks of life. It's because they can meet various extraordinary people that everyone is happy.

And the atmosphere in the cabaret can really give birth to many budding art forms.

When I was young, I witnessed it myself.

So what the teacher is saying is outdated, that's how New York and Paris were a long time ago.

Tokyo today is not like that.

Mr. Takumi, actually what I want to do is jazz.

In all of Japan's music schools, you can't even touch the basics of jazz.

You should go to a cabaret and gain some experience.

Hiroshi-kun, the teacher is just joking, don't take it seriously.

Ah, teacher, are you serious?

If you think going to a cabaret would help me, Teacher, then I will definitely go.

Then go.

I could tell right away...

You used to play jazz, didn't you?

I wouldn't dare say that.

And it's not "used to" play jazz, I'm just starting out and want to keep working hard in the future.

Oh, so Sensei, you're still young!

I see that all you play is nostalgic music like Boogie Woogie.

I thought you were the reincarnation of Jimmy Yancey!

Dressed like this, I feel embarrassed.

But I also love Jimmy Yancey so much.

It's such a pity... a genius like Jimmy Yancey...

Until he passed away, he didn't even have his own piano.

It was still the era of Babe Ruth then.

He had to lower himself to work odd jobs on the baseball field to make a living.

You're right, but that's what they call "greatness hidden in plain sight".

How do you interpret what you just said?

It means that real talent

lies dormant in places like baseball fields and small cabarets, right?

It's so complicated.

This is what Chinese poets say, it can't be false.

You, this guest, really know a lot.

Do you think I'm too cryptic because I'm in this line of work?

No, no, that's not what I meant.

Of course, I understand.

This is called "equality in the face of music," right?

Right?

I deeply agree with you!

But... why do you think humans are like this?

Throughout history, this world has never been without war.

Why can't people be tolerant towards each other?

Why are there people who don't know how to show compassion for the weak?

But we have music.

No matter when... music can always console the human soul!

Music has also saved me many times.

This is the difference between humans and animals!

Humans have music, poetry!

This guest...

It would be great if there were more guests like you in this shabby shop!

- Do you think people in this line don't talk sense? - No, no, that's not what I meant.

- Excuse me, can I request a song? - Sure.

Sensei, can you play movie soundtracks?

Um, do you want to listen to "Moon River" or "The Happy Yellow Handkerchief"?

- Or do you want to listen to "Merry Christmas on the Battlefield"? - I want to listen to "The Godfather"!

You want to listen to "The Godfather" theme?

This song really fits the current era!

It also fits my current state.

No!

Play a different song!

Oh, but this guest specifically requested this song...

I told you not to play it!

Why are you touching their hands? Those are piano-playing hands!

Sensei...

Are your fingers... okay?

Then... play for me.

Only that song... absolutely cannot be played!

I can't continue in a place like this.

A small cabaret is not enough.

I want to join a band at a nightclub.

Will Keisuke come with me?

Anyway, just change your outfit, put on a suit.

This isn't just a performance at a livehouse. It's serious; there are actually people supporting the event.

Joining a brass band would be great, you can join in the fun.

You're not doing it either?

That…

Let's have the opportunity to collaborate again.

Hmm, definitely in the future.

What's wrong, Aiko, do you like listening to saxophone?

I do like it.

But every time I raise my hand to greet that guy, he ignores me.

I heard that women like to sway their hips when they listen to saxophone.

Hey! You just touched me, didn't you!

Sorry, I didn't touch you yet.

Ugh, Miki, you're such... You're the one who gets excited when you see a horse's butt.

- You pervert! - Oh, it hurts, it hurts...

It hurts so much, it hurts so much. Against bullying!

Aiko, don't slack off at work, or you won't be invited to the year-end party later.

Yes...

There's a call from Shuihai Caberet Hall...

- Someone played that song. - What song?

It's the chairman's song, a young pianist played that song in the cabaret!

This is trouble.

Miki...

All the bands in Ginza should have been instructed in advance, if you don't figure out a solution, it's over.

Even if you say that...

Our nightclub and their cabaret deal with different groups of people.

This matter is not unrelated to you and me!

We're in the same boat, based on our identities, if the chairman is unhappy, we'll be in trouble in no time.

Right.

- Ah, you're here - Hello, boss.

You seem to be free.

Get me a beer.

Young man... you look unfamiliar.

Where are you from?

I used to work at a cabaret called Shuhai.

What instrument do you play?

- I play the piano. - Oh?

I'm the band leader at Slowly Nightclub,

they call me Miki, the Pervert.

- Ah, you're from Slowly Nightclub? - Yes.

Oh, so you're here.

Miki, see you later.

Are you just looking for work?

- Ah, I'm here to find a job... - Are you the one who played "The Godfather"?

How did you know?

It's not just me who knows, it's already causing a stir everywhere.

- Do you know what song that is? - Huh?

It seems like people in the underworld quite like that song.

It's not "quite like,"

the only person in Ginza qualified to play that song is the most powerful person in all of Ginza.

Those lowlifes who drink alone in cabarets are not qualified.

Ah... but I already played it.

The only person qualified to play that song is the pianist at our nightclub.

Who is your pianist? Is it the person who just left here?

Just remember, that person definitely isn't you, it's for the sake of your life.

Otherwise, if something really happens, those uncles and grandpas will definitely come looking for you on their flying clouds.

They'll definitely invite you for tea... it's super scary.

Got it?

Shima?

Hey, Shima,

are you still alive?

You are...

It's Minami, long time no see.

What's wrong with you?

Minami...

How are you doing?

Are you okay? Should I call an ambulance for you?

You...

That piece of music... it's not something to be played casually.

You should have told me that before.

I told you that before!

Hey, there's a zombie in the intersection over there.

- Call an ambulance. - Zombies?

Um... can your Slowly Nightclub hire me?

- Sure. - Huh?!

Let's talk when our pianist quits.