Kono Oto Tomare! 2nd Season

When I open sheet music,

sounds rise up glowing and create a path in the darkness.

I just move forward following that light...

So that I won't go off the path and get swallowed by the darkness,

I just follow the path faithfully... faithfully.

That's the only way I know to play the koto right now.

"#24 Beyond the Right Answer" What? Advisor for the koto club?

Ten years ago... The first year after I graduated from college...

After becoming a math teacher, my dream job,

I suddenly became the advisor for a club I'd never heard of.

"Koto Club" The world of music was completely unknown to me, not to mention the koto.

Oh, I see! I'm becoming interested!

What? You haven't even heard a koto performance yet.

Yeah, but koto sheet music consists of a combination of 13 numbers,

from one through kin, and symbols, right?

It looks like math, so I thought it looked interesting.

Huh?

I casually started learning about the world of koto.

Okay, I'll first listen to pieces called "classics." There's a lot to learn!

What I found there...

...was a delicate, meticulous world that seemed to be perfectly calculated.

It was indeed a math world that I loved, with infinite potential

contained within only 13 strings.

Wow... I'm listening... to math right now!

After that, I was rapidly sucked into the world of music.

And... finally, I started creating pieces.

They were unpopular among the students, so no one played them, though.

Maybe teenagers like modern music after all.

But I like classics the most.

The number of sounds, how they're assembled, and their timing...

They're beautiful and efficient.

Even after I was transferred to a different school, I kept creating pieces.

And then... I ended up in Hakuto's koto club.

We got many new first-year members this year.

Someone may play my pieces... I guess I'm just kidding myself.

What?! This is my piece!

My piece... My world is coming to life?!

Yeah! This is how I wanted it to be played!

This is the perfected version of my piece!

Who are you?

Oh! Um... I'm Yamamoto, the koto club advisor!

If I remember right, he's a new member named Kanzaki...

I'm the one who wrote the piece you were just playing!

Oh... I found the sheet music on the shelf there, so...

You didn't want me to play it?

I-It's not like that at all! Actually, I'm really happy that you did!

Thank you for playing it!

If you'd like, you can play other--

No thanks.

What?! Why?!

My sound is boring. I hate it.

Suzumori!

If I remember correctly, Kanzaki is your cousin, right?

I wanna ask you something.

Both of Mio's parents work, so he often spent time at my place.

My mom was learning koto, so we started learning with her, too.

I think we were around six then.

I see. So you two have been playing the koto for a long time, huh?

No wonder you guys are so good.

Not really... But Mio is special.

Mio can "see" sounds.

What?!

It's like he knows the right answer as to how he should play or express the piece.

That's an incredible talent!

Yes, but Mio seems to hate it.

He says that the right sounds are boring.

The set-in-stone sounds are no fun. So he hates his own sound.

He's been searching for the "sound beyond the right answer."

Kanzaki!

Is it true that you can see sounds?!

Yeah. So what?

I want you to play the pieces I create!

When you played my piece the other day, I was very... very moved!

It was like the world I pictured started moving exactly the way I wanted...

It was quite a shock!

It's not good enough for it to "start moving exactly the way" you want.

I have to go "beyond that"...

...or I'll never be able to be moved by my own sound.

I'll make a piece that will allow you to go "beyond that"

because I want to hear your "sound beyond the right answer," too!

So... would you entrust that talent of yours with me?!

No.

What?!

You scare me.

Kanzaki!

And so, here we are.

Oh, no... I-I-I'm so nervous!

You're the advisor. You should act like one, jeez...

By the way, you're quitting your teaching job after the qualifier, right?

What?! H-H-How do you know that?!

Everyone knows it. You're the only one who thinks no one knows.

What?!

You're taking over your family's inn, right?

We also know you couldn't come to the traditional music festival--

not because you got the flu, but because your dad collapsed.

Are you really going to quit?

I made the decision after giving it a lot of thought, so...

I see...

Grand Master. Let's go home.

No performance so far was that good.

At this rate, we can't expect much from Satowa's school, either.

I'll go outside and get some fresh air.

I don't want to be here even a minute longer.

You should hear their performance, too!

You're the only one who cannot always face the koto, Grandmother!

I know what she said, but I no longer can...

It's too late.

Oh, you came, too, Grandma?

Keishi!

Hey. We need to go in five minutes. Get ready.

Aaaahhh! I-I-I-It's time!

Oh crap! Oh crap!

What am I gonna do? I can't breathe.

C-C-Calm down, Kota. Take a deep breath.

You calm down.

Hozy... Hozy...!

H-Hey, guys! After leaving this room, we can't speak loudly,

so do you wanna form a circle?

Yeah! That's a good idea!

I wanna do it!

It'll give us power!

Oh, Mr. Takinami and Miss Akira, if you'd--

No way.

I'm okay.

Oh, it's kinda embarrassing.

This is fun!

Whoa... I feel...

...the warmth from the other guys... It kinda calms me down.

Hey, four-eyes! Say something!

Oh, yeah. Of course.

Um... I want to continue playing with you guys for a little while longer.

I don't want today to be our last day playing together!

So let's play with all--

What was that for?!

Hey! Stop saying depressing stuff!

Say something to get us fired up!

If you're gonna do it, say something you usually can't with all your might!

Shout it!

We're gonna go to nationals for sure!

Yeah!

Oh... Finally, Hakuto is next.

The school who won last time, right?

Yep.

If they give a performance that's like the right answer like last time,

Tokise can win.

But if it's different from last time...

"Hakuto"

Okay, guys! Do your best!

You don't have to tell us. We will!

The pieces you create are plain,

but we'll prove that...

...they're actually amazing!

We'll get the ticket to nationals as a farewell gift for you.

Look forward to it!

Program number 12. Hakuto High School.

"Katakago."

I've hated my own sound all this time.

It's the right answer, but something is missing.