Piano Forest (ピアノの森)

At the beginning of that summer, I went to live with my grandmother in this town in the countryside.

We'll return as soon as your grandmother gets well.

Yeah.

Really, it's a shame you have to change schools at such an important time like this.

I'll be fine, really.

If she heard you say that, Shuuhei-san, your grandmother wouldn't have to worry anymore either.

Oh, that's right!

They just finished tuning the piano in the lesson room yesterday.

Then I can start today?

Yes, we can start your lessons!

Yeah.

You simply must become a fabulous pianist just like your father.

It's a forest.

You're right! It's a big forest, isn't it?

A piano?

What's wrong, Shuuhei-san?

Did you hear a piano just now?

A piano?

I didn't hear anything.

I see.

Was it just my imagination?

Piano no Mori The Piano Forest

Today, I'd like to introduce you all to a new friend.

Amamiya Shuuhei-kun.

Now, Amamiya-kun, will you introduce yourself for us?

Yes, ma'am.

I'm Amamiya Shuuhei and I came here from Tokyo.

My special skill is that I've been learning to play the piano since I was four years old.

My dream is to become a pianist.

Everyone! Quiet down!

Plays the piano he said, even though he's a guy.

That's right.

A transfer student shouldn't stand out.

If he stands out...

Amamiya Shuuhei-kun.

What is it?

Do you know about the piano in the forest?

Piano in the forest?

You know there's a huge forest near the school, don't you?

Oh, that forest.

There's been a broken piano in that forest for a long time.

Of course, since it's broken, you can't get any sound out of it.

However, when night falls, for some reason that piano...

Tum! Tum! All on its own, the piano goes tum, tum!

The dead body of a man was found nearby.

Rumor says his spirit appears night after night and plays that piano.

Amamiya-kun, there's a challenge to test your courage.

Go into the forest and play it — the ghost piano.

Huh? Th-That's impossible.

I can't play a broken piano.

Of course you can play it! After all, you've been learning the piano since you were four years old.

Yeah, this is what happens to you when you stand out.

Understand, this is an initiation.

An initiation to prove whether you're really a man or not.

Either you go and play the ghost piano in the forest...

Or else you'll have to show us your penis.

It's gotta be one or the other.

There it is. Kinpira's "Show me your penis."

This is just a simple test of courage. You can't refuse.

Even if it doesn't make a sound, you can still say that you played it.

It won't make a sound anyway.

Right, right!

It's a piano, so it produces sound.

Amamiya, don't worry. You can get sound from that piano.

Stop making stuff up, Kai!

When I did my test of courage, I couldn't get any sound out of it.

Well, that's because you were shaking in your boots the entire time, Kinpira.

You were too scared to play the piano.

Maybe you should have to show it to everyone.

Your itty bitty...

I'll kill you!

...penis!

How dare you say that!

Ouch!

You lying bastard!

Damn you! Damn you! Damn you!

That piano...

...can't make a sound!

It's not a lie!

It's my piano, so I know for sure!

Your piano?!

Tell me, Kai.

How can a poor family like yours afford to buy a piano?

Oh, I get it. You stole it. I forgot that your entire neighborhood is filled with thieves.

Or maybe one of your mother's clients bought it for her?

Tell me the answer, Kai!

Someone threw it out, so I took it.

I will tell you something, Kinpira.

I have lots of things you can't buy with money.

For example: a giant penis!

Stop saying shit to make fun of me!

You should shut up yourself.

Your breath reeks because your brains are all rotted!

You bastard!

Get him, get him! Do it!

What's going on? Finish cleaning up and go home.

It's "Funeral" Ajino!

Do you have something to say?

What should I do?

I want to go home, but my legs aren't responding.

If you don't, then head home.

Uhm, is the legend about the piano in the forest really true?

The story about the piano in the forest is a lie.

It was just made up. It's like one of those "Seven Wonders of the School".

I-I see. Goodbye.

Ichinose Kai

Hold it, Ichinose!

How many times do I have to tell you? If you get into one more fight...

I won't listen to what a liar has to say!

Liar?

Even though the piano in the forest is broken, it can still produce sound.

Because it's my piano!

Your piano?

Don't talk like you know everything! Especially when you're wrong.

Amamiya!

Uhm, you're Ichinose-kun, right?

Just call me Kai.

Say, Amamiya, do you want to go now and see for yourself that the piano in the forest can produce sound?

Huh? Now?

Yeah. Come on!

H-Hold on.

Wait up, Kai-kun!

You're slow, Amamiya!

You run slow, don't you?

Kai-kun, why did you save me back there?

Save you?

You know, when we were cleaning.

You play the piano, don't you?

Yeah.

I do too.

You do too?

That's why I'm really glad now!

Let's go!

Wait a second!

I can't afford to injure my hands.

I should be okay with these.

But, are we really going to be able to find the piano inside this huge forest?

We'll find it! I go there every day.

Even with my eyes closed...

Amamiya, you must be my good luck charm.

Look! The piano's in a good mood today as well.

I-It's a piano.

This is the piano in the forest?

I can't believe it'd be here.

It's so beautiful, like it's on a stage!

It's the first time I've ever seen anything like it.

It's even more beautiful at night.

Okay, Kai-kun, I'm gonna play it.

You can be my witness.

So it really is broken. There's no sound.

That's not true. It makes sound!

But, listen.

Try and play harder.

Let me show you.

It's never not made a sound.

Not even once.

See?

Wh-Why?

Why did it make a sound?

How did you get it to produce sound?

Tell me, Kai-kun!

I don't know.

Since it's my piano, maybe it only opens up its heart for me.

I suppose it must need some special style of playing.

Kai-kun, will you play some piece of music for me?

Then maybe I can figure something out.

Guess I have to.

Kai-kun...

Amazing!

That was amazing, Kai-kun!

I don't know how else to say it but that was amazing!

D-Don't be silly! You're so dramatic.

I'm serious!

Not only am I surprised that you can get sound out of it, but you can really play!

You're making me feel uncomfortable. That's the first time I've played for another person.

There's no reason to feel uncomfortable. You could play for anyone without embarrassment.

Hey, who are you taking lessons from?

Lessons? I've never taken lessons.

Not even once?

It's just like Kinpira said, my family is poor.

I'm not cut out for formal lessons anyway.

K-Kai-kun.

If it's okay,

will you come and play my family's piano?

Huh? Your family's piano?

Oh, I see! You have a piano inside your house!

It's in the lesson room. It's a grand piano too.

Wow! You have a lesson room in your house?!

Amamiya, your piano is awesome!

Eeek! Kai-kun...

I can move my fingers incredibly quickly.

It's like I'm under a spell.

K-Kai-kun, you need to play softer, like you usually do.

Huh? I always play this way.

What the heck happened to Kai-kun?

Kai-kun, I get it. This time try playing a bit more slowly.

Slowly?

Yes, that's it, Kai-kun! Just like that...

Don't let your mind drift.

There you go. You can play just fine when you try.