# E19 - Confrontation
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/GRKKDKGWR/confrontation)
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(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"