Skip to main content

E19 - Confrontation

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
[00:01] ---
    My older brother would run back home
    from school in the afternoon.
[00:06] ---
    He would dash straight to his koto
    and play his favorite pieces.
[00:13] ---
    Mom would soon join him and the room
    would be filled with fun sounds.
[00:20] ---
    I liked that gentle time.
[00:25] ---
    I really loved it.
[01:59] ---
    "The Tsubaki School
    First Performance of the Year"
[02:00] ---
    "The Tsubaki School
    First Performance of the Year"
    "#19 Confrontation"
[02:03] ---
    "#19 Confrontation"
[02:07] ---
    Keishi's performance really does
    put adults' to shame.
[02:10] ---
    You two must be so proud
    to have such an excellent heir.
[02:15] ---
    Oh, well, um...
[02:21] ---
    Akira. Did you like your
    brother's performance?
[02:24] ---
    Yep! I loved it!
[02:26] ---
    Since I received a passionate encore from
    my cute sister, I'll play another piece!
[02:30] ---
    A song by the rock band that I'm so into
    right now, with my special arrangement!
[02:36] ---
    Yaaaay!
[02:41] ---
    I'm so exhausted! Grandma's
    scolding always takes forever!
[02:45] ---
    It was a great performance, though.
[02:47] ---
    I know, right?
[02:48] ---
    Yep!
[02:49] ---
    Will I be able to play like you?
[02:56] ---
    You'll be able to play a lot
    better than I can... Akira!
[03:04] ---
    "First Place" "Best Performance Award"
[03:04] ---
    "First Place" "Best Performance Award"
    Keishi really is amazing! He gets first
    place in every competition he's in.
[03:09] ---
    I saw your brother on TV the other day.
    I wish I had a big brother like him!
[03:15] ---
    I'll enter a competition, too!
    I'll be a genius, too!
[03:19] ---
    I'll get first place in a competition
    and shine like Keishi!
[03:25] ---
    "Participation Award"
[03:26] ---
    Participation Award...
[03:28] ---
    When Keishi gets first place...
[03:32] ---
    What's wrong with Akira?
[03:34] ---
    She's feeling down because
    she didn't get first place.
[03:37] ---
    Akira! Let's play the koto together!
[03:39] ---
    No. I'm a failure as your sister.
[03:43] ---
    Akira...
[03:45] ---
    Keishi. How can I be first place like you?
[03:51] ---
    You know, I was practicing backflips
    with my friends the other day.
[03:55] ---
    What?! That's dangerous!
[03:57] ---
    I failed many times and I
    even injured myself a little...
[04:00] ---
    ...but I kept trying to do it, and I did it!
[04:06] ---
    Mom! I'll enter the next competition, too!
[04:09] ---
    I'll keep entering them until I get first place!
[04:12] ---
    Since then, I've participated
    in many competitions.
[04:16] ---
    I wanted to catch up with Keishi.
    I wanted to shine.
[04:21] ---
    But what I started seeing after working hard
    and becoming more skilled
[04:25] ---
    was not me shining like my brother
    but his true self and talent.
[04:32] ---
    I came to realize that he
    really was a true genius.
[04:36] ---
    But still, he practiced and
    worked harder than anyone.
[04:43] ---
    So I thought, "It's okay that I'm not
    a genius. I can still work hard."
[04:50] ---
    Akira has been working hard lately, huh?
[04:53] ---
    She finally got second place the other day!
[04:56] ---
    I hope she can get first place soon.
[04:58] ---
    It'll be fine. I'm sure she'll--
[05:05] ---
    Akira! Grandma!
[05:09] ---
    Keishi...
[05:18] ---
    Then, all too suddenly and unexpectedly,
    our parents were gone.
[05:28] ---
    "Dojima"
[05:29] ---
    "Dojima"
    What?
[05:30] ---
    What did you just say?
[05:32] ---
    I said I decided to quit college
    and start working!
[05:35] ---
    But aren't you gonna succeed
    the Tsubaki School?!
[05:39] ---
    Forgive me, Akira.
[05:40] ---
    I'm quitting koto.
    I'll leave the Tsubaki School to you.
[05:48] ---
    W-Wait a sec!
[05:50] ---
    Why are you quitting koto?!
[05:53] ---
    Hey! Keishi!
[05:57] ---
    Why...?
[05:58] ---
    The income from the Tsubaki School alone
[06:00] ---
    is nowhere near enough
    to support the two of you.
[06:04] ---
    But Keishi is good enough to perform--
[06:06] ---
    Things aren't easy in this industry.
    It'll take a while
[06:09] ---
    before he can start earning money.
[06:11] ---
    Then I'll quit high school and work!
[06:14] ---
    Don't be ridiculous!
[06:16] ---
    You're the only one who can
    succeed the Tsubaki School now!
[06:19] ---
    Come to terms with that!
[06:20] ---
    But to think that Keishi would quit koto...!
[06:22] ---
    Keishi...
[06:24] ---
    Keishi entrusted everything to you!
[06:27] ---
    Are you saying that you're
    going to betray his wish?!
[06:33] ---
    What...? Why is Keishi the one quitting?
[06:37] ---
    Why...?
[06:39] ---
    "Mizu no Hentai"?
[06:41] ---
    That's right. Technique, singing, expression...
[06:45] ---
    It's an unsurpassed masterpiece on all counts.
[06:48] ---
    I'll have you focus on this piece
    for the next two years.
[06:52] ---
    What?
[06:53] ---
    Your current ability is nowhere near Keishi's.
[06:57] ---
    Many of the disciples are unhappy, too.
[07:01] ---
    So I'll intensely retrain you from
    the basics using this piece.
[07:04] ---
    After your ability has improved,
    I'll have you get first place
[07:06] ---
    in the competition that attracts
    the most attention in the koto industry.
[07:10] ---
    Then no one should have any more complaints.
[07:13] ---
    First place...
[07:14] ---
    Understood? Work hard...
    on behalf of Keishi as well.
[07:20] ---
    On that day... my days of devotedly
    facing the koto started.
[07:26] ---
    I worked frantically...
    so that I could replace my brother...
[07:31] ---
    ...and so that the choice he made
    wouldn't become a mistake.
[07:34] ---
    I heard that girl from Hozuki will
    also be in the upcoming competition.
[07:38] ---
    What? Isn't she still a middle school student?
[07:41] ---
    She is. What a conceited girl...!
[07:44] ---
    Hozuki is the parent school that
    the Tsubaki School belongs to.
[07:48] ---
    The Hozuki heir was a girl
    who was also called a genius.
[07:53] ---
    I've heard her performance before.
    It was indeed incredible.
[07:57] ---
    Perfect... No flaws... Hard to approach...
    It was a performance like that.
[08:05] ---
    Akira. The competition is today, right?
[08:08] ---
    I can't get away from work today
    to go see your performance.
[08:12] ---
    That's okay.
[08:13] ---
    A-Akira... Um...
[08:14] ---
    Sorry. I have to go.
[08:17] ---
    If I get through today,
    I'm sure something will change.
[08:23] ---
    I'm sure the light is waiting
    for me! I'm sure...!
[08:27] ---
    Entry number 5. Akira Dojima.
    "Mizu no Hentai."
[08:39] ---
    She's good.
[08:45] ---
    --# In Oyamada... #
[08:48] ---
    --What a player... She puts such care
    into every single note she plays.
    --# In Oyamada... #
[08:53] ---
    --Both her singing and
    koto technique are so pure.
    --# In Oyamada... #
[08:57] ---
    --Every single note is beautiful.
    --# In Oyamada... #
[09:01] ---
    I wonder how much she devoted herself
    to playing the koto to get here...
[09:05] ---
    --# ...in the fog... I thought... #
[09:08] ---
    --It's okay that I'm not a genius.
    I can still work hard.
    --# ...in the fog... I thought... #
[09:14] ---
    --Then someday, I will...
    --# ...in the fog... I thought... #
[09:17] ---
    --I will be able to get there, too!
    --# ...in the fog... I thought... #
[09:22] ---
    # ...someone was making
    their way through... #
[09:40] ---
    I did it... I was able to give
    my best performance ever.
[09:47] ---
    I did it!
[09:49] ---
    That performance pretty much
    sealed first place for you.
[09:52] ---
    That's not really...
[09:53] ---
    Entry number 13. Satowa Hozuki.
[09:57] ---
    "Yaegoromo."
[09:59] ---
    The Hozuki girl...
[10:01] ---
    It's amazing that she can play
    "Yaegoromo" at her age.
[10:04] ---
    But it's okay. I know her performance.
    Even if she's a genius...
[10:20] ---
    A single note was all it took...
[10:23] ---
    The technique and expression I had attained
[10:25] ---
    in the two years I devoted
    myself entirely to koto...
[10:28] ---
    Her single note crushed them all.
[10:31] ---
    Wh-What's this piece?!
    This isn't "Yaegoromo"!
[10:35] ---
    This will get her disqualified!
[10:38] ---
    I realized then... that no
    matter how hard I worked,
[10:42] ---
    I would never be able to reach that place.
[10:47] ---
    The best performance award
    goes to Akira Dojima.
[10:51] ---
    See! Akira! They called you.
    Stop being dazed and go up already!
[10:57] ---
    What? That girl isn't first place?
[10:59] ---
    You dummy. She got disqualified, remember?
[11:02] ---
    Oh, that's right.
[11:05] ---
    Wait, what kind of piece did
    the first-place person play again?
[11:09] ---
    "Second Place"
    "Outstanding Performance Award"
    "Third Place"
[11:12] ---
    "The 36th National Koto Competition
    Best Performance Award"
[11:13] ---
    Will I be able to play like you?
[11:25] ---
    Disqualified?! That's BS!
[11:27] ---
    After giving that performance?!
    Don't mock me!
[11:31] ---
    "Participation Award"
    Don't insult me!
[11:54] ---
    I thought the light was waiting for me.
[11:58] ---
    But what I found there was...
[12:01] ---
    "The 36th National Koto Competition
    Best Performance Award"
[12:01] ---
    "The 36th National Koto Competition
    Best Performance Award"
    ...an even deeper darkness with no exit.
[12:12] ---
    A short time after the competition,
[12:14] ---
    I heard that girl was excommunicated.
[12:17] ---
    This is a perfect opportunity.
[12:20] ---
    The heir of the Hozuki School is gone.
[12:24] ---
    You can take that position!
[12:27] ---
    That grand master of Hozuki isn't
    capable in the first place.
[12:30] ---
    And look at the state her daughter,
    their only hope, is in.
[12:33] ---
    The school is just an empty shell now.
[12:37] ---
    Yeah...
[12:39] ---
    What's with her?
[12:41] ---
    I wonder why she doesn't get it...
[12:43] ---
    Ever since Keishi left, the Tsubaki School
    has been the empty shell.
[12:50] ---
    How have I been playing the koto
    up until now? How have I been facing it?
[12:56] ---
    When talented people are rapidly
    moving away from koto...
[13:00] ---
    ...why is someone like me still hanging onto it?
[13:04] ---
    It hurts... It hurts... I'm exhausted.
[13:09] ---
    I don't care anymore.
[13:14] ---
    I joined the koto club at my high school.
[13:19] ---
    Please...
[13:21] ---
    What? A school club?
[13:23] ---
    Talent, a big house, an outstanding future...
    She threw everything away.
[13:28] ---
    What's her problem?
[13:29] ---
    How far will she go to insult
    someone who's serious about--
[13:38] ---
    I just wanted to know what it was
[13:40] ---
    that you wanted so badly
    that you threw everything away
[13:42] ---
    and even messed things up
    for those around you.
[13:47] ---
    I want to know its value.
[13:50] ---
    That's all.
[13:54] ---
    Just kidding. I'm sorry.
    I carried the joke too far.
[13:58] ---
    Please forget it.
[14:06] ---
    The value...
[14:08] ---
    Just a single note...
[14:13] ---
    That's all it takes.
[14:15] ---
    You don't need to hear it.
    You don't need to know.
[14:20] ---
    You no longer need the light...
[14:23] ---
    ...because you're not capable
    of handling it anyway.
[14:35] ---
    Well then, I'll start with the 17-string part.
[14:39] ---
    Start from the beginning.
[14:43] ---
    That's not good at all.
[14:45] ---
    The sound isn't clear. One more time.
[14:50] ---
    This boy is very quick to learn.
[14:55] ---
    He absorbs what I teach
    as fast as I can teach him.
[14:59] ---
    This boy is a typical hard-working type.
[15:02] ---
    I think he's got good intuition,
    but he's almost pitifully...
[15:06] ---
    ...ordinary.
[15:11] ---
    Mr. Takinami is cruel to have
    these two play the same part.
[15:19] ---
    Well then, next is the second koto part.
[15:21] ---
    Okay.
[15:27] ---
    Stop there.
[15:28] ---
    You're not putting the right
    pressure on the string.
[15:30] ---
    Press harder.
[15:33] ---
    Harder. That's only raising
    the note by a half step.
[15:38] ---
    But I can't do it any harder than this.
[15:42] ---
    Your arm is open and shoulder is raised.
    You can't press hard like that.
[15:47] ---
    Try not to press with just your arm.
    Put your weight on it.
[15:52] ---
    Close my arm and put my weight on it.
    Don't raise my shoulder.
[15:59] ---
    Good. Let's move on.
[16:02] ---
    "Nishina Instruments"
[16:06] ---
    Argh! Dammit! Since that woman
    told me about this unclear sound,
[16:09] ---
    I can't stop thinking about it!
[16:15] ---
    What?
[16:18] ---
    Wh-Wh-What're you doing all of a sudden?!
[16:20] ---
    Well, I was trying to remember
    how hard your fingertips were.
[16:24] ---
    Even so, don't touch me
    so casually, stupid! Perv!
[16:27] ---
    Per--?!
[16:30] ---
    Could she still be holding a grudge?
[16:34] ---
    Hey, you're fine.
[16:37] ---
    What?
[16:38] ---
    You've been kinda quiet today.
[16:42] ---
    I just had a sore throat, that's all.
[16:45] ---
    Throat...
[16:48] ---
    Here.
[16:54] ---
    You really do like strawberries, huh?
[16:56] ---
    Shut up. Got a problem with that?
[17:02] ---
    Thanks.
[17:04] ---
    Missy.
[17:06] ---
    A koto teacher I know had
    that DVD you were asking about.
[17:10] ---
    Really?!
[17:12] ---
    Thank you very much!
[17:13] ---
    Hm? What's that?
[17:15] ---
    Miss Dojima's performance in that
    competition where she got first place.
[17:20] ---
    I felt... that I should listen to it.
[17:24] ---
    I'll listen to it, too!
[17:25] ---
    Hey, let's listen to it together.
[17:29] ---
    Wow... I'm kinda nervous.
[17:31] ---
    I'm gonna play it now, okay?
[17:37] ---
    Entry number 5. Akira Dojima.
    "Mizu no Hentai."
[17:58] ---
    Is something wrong, Satowa?
[18:02] ---
    I listened to your
    "Mizu no Hentai" performance.
[18:09] ---
    I'm sorry!
[18:12] ---
    What...?
[18:13] ---
    At first, I thought you might
    be up to something.
[18:19] ---
    But after listening to your performance,
    I felt very ashamed for thinking that.
[18:25] ---
    I've never heard a performance so sincere
    towards a piece and the koto.
[18:30] ---
    To someone who gives
    a performance like that, I was--
[18:33] ---
    Please stop it.
[18:34] ---
    Satowa. Please raise your head.
[18:39] ---
    Please don't make me feel any
    more miserable than I do now.
[18:47] ---
    U-Um...!
[18:48] ---
    That time... why did you do it?
[18:51] ---
    What?
[18:52] ---
    You were good enough to win first place.
    Did you play a different piece
[18:56] ---
    to purposely get disqualified
    in order to stand out?
[18:59] ---
    --It's not like--
    --After that competition,
    you don't know how many times I heard...
[19:03] ---
    "Poor thing. Her performance was first place,
    but the disqualified one was better."
[19:08] ---
    "Poor thing," they said.
[19:10] ---
    I don't wanna hear a compliment
    from you after all this time.
[19:20] ---
    I wanted... to get my mother back.
[19:25] ---
    Sh-She was under all sorts
    of pressure and changed rapidly.
[19:30] ---
    At that time, I was invisible to her.
    My words didn't reach her, either.
[19:36] ---
    So... I threw a tantrum on that big stage
    screaming, "Look at me, Mom!"...
[19:45] ---
    ...like a small child...
[19:51] ---
    But in the end, all I did was
    hurt her and mess up the school.
[19:57] ---
    You said I wouldn't need any lessons,
[20:00] ---
    but there are a lot of things
    that I'd like to learn from you.
[20:04] ---
    So I came to formally
    ask you for your guidance.
[20:09] ---
    The truth is, I knew it even before she told me.
[20:13] ---
    That performance was not a game
    or her having fun. I knew that much.
[20:18] ---
    Ahh, that's right. She's only
    a first-year student in high school.
[20:24] ---
    She's about the same age as me
    when I could do nothing
[20:27] ---
    but be protected by Keishi.
[20:44] ---
    Oh, her long-sought-after first place
    has been totally eclipsed.
[20:47] ---
    Even though she spent two whole years...
[20:49] ---
    She'll never be able to surpass her brother.
[20:52] ---
    Poor thing...
[20:54] ---
    Where're you going?
    Do you want to escape from here?
[20:58] ---
    Even if there's an exit in this darkness,
    all that lies beyond it is...
[21:04] ---
    ...an endless series of walls
    that you could never overcome.
[21:15] ---
    Um...
[21:17] ---
    I studied "Mizu no Hentai" for two years.
[21:21] ---
    But those two years were instantly
    crushed by one single note of yours.
[21:29] ---
    What are you saying I should teach you?
[21:33] ---
    It's time... I put an end
    to all my struggling.
[23:11] ---
    Oh, Miss Dojima.
[23:14] ---
    I'm sorry to tell you this so suddenly...
[23:19] ---
    "Koto Club"
[23:19] ---
    "Koto Club"
    I'm going to quit teaching
    your koto club as of today.
[23:38] ---
    Next time, "Another Chance."
[23:41] ---
    "#20 Another Chance"