E24 - Beyond the Right Answer

Source: Crunchyroll
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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] ---
    When I open sheet music,
[00:04] ---
    sounds rise up glowing
    and create a path in the darkness.
[00:08] ---
    I just move forward following that light...
[00:13] ---
    So that I won't go off the path
    and get swallowed by the darkness,
[00:15] ---
    I just follow the path faithfully... faithfully.
[00:19] ---
    That's the only way I know
    to play the koto right now.
[01:55] ---
    "#24 Beyond the Right Answer"
    What? Advisor for the koto club?
[01:59] ---
    Ten years ago... The first year
    after I graduated from college...
[02:02] ---
    After becoming a math teacher,
    my dream job,
[02:05] ---
    I suddenly became the advisor
    for a club I'd never heard of.
[02:07] ---
    "Koto Club"
    The world of music was completely
    unknown to me, not to mention the koto.
[02:13] ---
    Oh, I see! I'm becoming interested!
[02:17] ---
    What? You haven't even heard
    a koto performance yet.
[02:20] ---
    Yeah, but koto sheet music consists
    of a combination of 13 numbers,
[02:23] ---
    from one through kin, and symbols, right?
[02:26] ---
    It looks like math, so I thought
    it looked interesting.
[02:29] ---
    Huh?
[02:30] ---
    I casually started learning
    about the world of koto.
[02:33] ---
    Okay, I'll first listen to pieces called
    "classics." There's a lot to learn!
[02:40] ---
    What I found there...
[02:42] ---
    ...was a delicate, meticulous world
    that seemed to be perfectly calculated.
[02:47] ---
    It was indeed a math world that
    I loved, with infinite potential
[02:50] ---
    contained within only 13 strings.
[02:55] ---
    Wow... I'm listening... to math right now!
[02:59] ---
    After that, I was rapidly
    sucked into the world of music.
[03:03] ---
    And... finally, I started creating pieces.
[03:06] ---
    They were unpopular among the students,
    so no one played them, though.
[03:11] ---
    Maybe teenagers like modern music after all.
[03:14] ---
    But I like classics the most.
[03:18] ---
    The number of sounds, how they're
    assembled, and their timing...
[03:21] ---
    They're beautiful and efficient.
[03:23] ---
    Even after I was transferred
    to a different school, I kept creating pieces.
[03:27] ---
    And then... I ended up in Hakuto's koto club.
[03:32] ---
    We got many new first-year
    members this year.
[03:35] ---
    Someone may play my pieces...
    I guess I'm just kidding myself.
[03:43] ---
    What?! This is my piece!
[03:52] ---
    My piece... My world is coming to life?!
[03:56] ---
    Yeah! This is how I wanted it to be played!
[03:59] ---
    This is the perfected version of my piece!
[04:04] ---
    Who are you?
[04:05] ---
    Oh! Um... I'm Yamamoto,
    the koto club advisor!
[04:08] ---
    If I remember right,
    he's a new member named Kanzaki...
[04:12] ---
    I'm the one who wrote
    the piece you were just playing!
[04:17] ---
    Oh... I found the sheet music
    on the shelf there, so...
[04:21] ---
    You didn't want me to play it?
[04:22] ---
    I-It's not like that at all!
    Actually, I'm really happy that you did!
[04:27] ---
    Thank you for playing it!
[04:30] ---
    If you'd like, you can play other--
[04:32] ---
    No thanks.
[04:34] ---
    What?! Why?!
[04:36] ---
    My sound is boring. I hate it.
[04:45] ---
    Suzumori!
[04:46] ---
    If I remember correctly,
    Kanzaki is your cousin, right?
[04:49] ---
    I wanna ask you something.
[04:52] ---
    Both of Mio's parents work,
    so he often spent time at my place.
[04:57] ---
    My mom was learning koto,
    so we started learning with her, too.
[05:02] ---
    I think we were around six then.
[05:04] ---
    I see. So you two have been playing
    the koto for a long time, huh?
[05:07] ---
    No wonder you guys are so good.
[05:09] ---
    Not really... But Mio is special.
[05:12] ---
    Mio can "see" sounds.
[05:15] ---
    What?!
[05:16] ---
    It's like he knows the right answer as to how
    he should play or express the piece.
[05:22] ---
    That's an incredible talent!
[05:24] ---
    Yes, but Mio seems to hate it.
[05:27] ---
    He says that the right sounds are boring.
[05:30] ---
    The set-in-stone sounds are no fun.
    So he hates his own sound.
[05:35] ---
    He's been searching for
    the "sound beyond the right answer."
[05:41] ---
    Kanzaki!
[05:43] ---
    Is it true that you can see sounds?!
[05:47] ---
    Yeah. So what?
[05:48] ---
    I want you to play the pieces I create!
[05:51] ---
    When you played my piece the other day,
    I was very... very moved!
[05:57] ---
    It was like the world I pictured started
    moving exactly the way I wanted...
[06:02] ---
    It was quite a shock!
[06:04] ---
    It's not good enough for it to
    "start moving exactly the way" you want.
[06:08] ---
    I have to go "beyond that"...
[06:10] ---
    ...or I'll never be able to be
    moved by my own sound.
[06:16] ---
    I'll make a piece that will allow you
    to go "beyond that"
[06:21] ---
    because I want to hear your
    "sound beyond the right answer," too!
[06:26] ---
    So... would you entrust
    that talent of yours with me?!
[06:32] ---
    No.
[06:33] ---
    What?!
[06:34] ---
    You scare me.
[06:34] ---
    Kanzaki!
[06:37] ---
    And so, here we are.
[06:39] ---
    Oh, no... I-I-I'm so nervous!
[06:42] ---
    You're the advisor.
    You should act like one, jeez...
[06:45] ---
    By the way, you're quitting your
    teaching job after the qualifier, right?
[06:49] ---
    What?! H-H-How do you know that?!
[06:52] ---
    Everyone knows it. You're the only one
    who thinks no one knows.
[06:56] ---
    What?!
[06:57] ---
    You're taking over your family's inn, right?
[06:59] ---
    We also know you couldn't come
    to the traditional music festival--
[07:02] ---
    not because you got the flu,
    but because your dad collapsed.
[07:06] ---
    Are you really going to quit?
[07:12] ---
    I made the decision after
    giving it a lot of thought, so...
[07:15] ---
    I see...
[07:21] ---
    Grand Master. Let's go home.
[07:24] ---
    No performance so far was that good.
[07:27] ---
    At this rate, we can't expect much
    from Satowa's school, either.
[07:37] ---
    I'll go outside and get some fresh air.
[07:42] ---
    I don't want to be here even a minute longer.
[07:48] ---
    You should hear their performance, too!
[07:50] ---
    You're the only one who cannot
    always face the koto, Grandmother!
[07:55] ---
    I know what she said, but I no longer can...
[07:59] ---
    It's too late.
[08:03] ---
    Oh, you came, too, Grandma?
[08:06] ---
    Keishi!
[08:10] ---
    Hey. We need to go
    in five minutes. Get ready.
[08:14] ---
    Aaaahhh! I-I-I-It's time!
[08:15] ---
    Oh crap! Oh crap!
[08:16] ---
    What am I gonna do? I can't breathe.
[08:18] ---
    C-C-Calm down, Kota. Take a deep breath.
[08:21] ---
    You calm down.
[08:22] ---
    Hozy... Hozy...!
[08:24] ---
    H-Hey, guys! After leaving this room,
    we can't speak loudly,
[08:28] ---
    so do you wanna form a circle?
[08:29] ---
    Yeah! That's a good idea!
[08:31] ---
    I wanna do it!
[08:32] ---
    It'll give us power!
[08:33] ---
    Oh, Mr. Takinami and Miss Akira, if you'd--
[08:35] ---
    No way.
[08:36] ---
    I'm okay.
[08:38] ---
    Oh, it's kinda embarrassing.
[08:40] ---
    This is fun!
[08:43] ---
    Whoa... I feel...
[08:45] ---
    ...the warmth from the other guys...
    It kinda calms me down.
[08:52] ---
    Hey, four-eyes! Say something!
[08:54] ---
    Oh, yeah. Of course.
[08:57] ---
    Um... I want to continue playing
    with you guys for a little while longer.
[09:02] ---
    I don't want today to be
    our last day playing together!
[09:04] ---
    So let's play with all--
[09:06] ---
    What was that for?!
[09:07] ---
    Hey! Stop saying depressing stuff!
[09:09] ---
    Say something to get us fired up!
[09:11] ---
    If you're gonna do it, say something
    you usually can't with all your might!
[09:15] ---
    Shout it!
[09:18] ---
    We're gonna go to nationals for sure!
[09:23] ---
    Yeah!
[09:31] ---
    Oh... Finally, Hakuto is next.
[09:33] ---
    The school who won last time, right?
[09:35] ---
    Yep.
[09:36] ---
    If they give a performance that's
    like the right answer like last time,
[09:39] ---
    Tokise can win.
[09:42] ---
    But if it's different from last time...
[09:48] ---
    "Hakuto"
[09:51] ---
    Okay, guys! Do your best!
[09:53] ---
    You don't have to tell us. We will!
[09:56] ---
    The pieces you create are plain,
[09:58] ---
    but we'll prove that...
[10:01] ---
    ...they're actually amazing!
[10:03] ---
    We'll get the ticket to nationals
    as a farewell gift for you.
[10:06] ---
    Look forward to it!
[10:21] ---
    Program number 12. Hakuto High School.
[10:25] ---
    "Katakago."
[10:26] ---
    I've hated my own sound all this time.
[10:30] ---
    It's the right answer,
    but something is missing.
[10:32] ---
    It's not wrong, but it's somewhat boring.
[10:35] ---
    I've been searching for
    this missing something...
[10:38] ---
    But...
[10:43] ---
    Thanks...
[10:44] ---
    Thanks to all of you,
    I can finally go to the other side...
[10:56] ---
    What a deep first sound...
[11:14] ---
    Is this a classical piece...?
[11:17] ---
    No, if I remember right,
    it should be an original piece.
[11:21] ---
    What a tranquil space...
[11:25] ---
    It's like if I exhale, people might hear it.
[11:29] ---
    Frankly speaking, it's very plain.
[11:32] ---
    It doesn't have the lively feeling
    of high school students, either. But...
[11:36] ---
    Again...
[11:38] ---
    It's not like it's got momentum,
    nor does it have a catchy melody,
[11:43] ---
    but his sound just flows into my head.
[11:46] ---
    I can't take my eyes off of him.
[11:51] ---
    A performance that's as if it's
    the right answer to the piece...
[11:57] ---
    This is, indeed, incredible. This isn't
    a performance by high school students.
[12:02] ---
    But that's thanks in large part
    to the piece itself.
[12:11] ---
    The solo and the three other parts...
[12:13] ---
    How the sounds are placed
    and intertwined is impeccable.
[12:17] ---
    Though it seems the difference in ability
    between the guy in the center
[12:20] ---
    and the rest is quite big,
[12:22] ---
    the piece was solidly calculated
    so that it's well-balanced
[12:26] ---
    while making the solo stand out.
[12:29] ---
    The tempo that makes
    people feel comfortable...
[12:32] ---
    The pauses that draw you in... To think
    someone could create a piece like this...
[12:37] ---
    How scary...
[12:41] ---
    It's true that their level is quite high.
[12:44] ---
    It's not just the piece.
    It's amazing that they can express it.
[12:49] ---
    But after hearing that performance
    by Himesaka, something is missing.
[12:57] ---
    I'll quit the koto.
[12:59] ---
    What?! Why? You liked how
    the koto sounded, didn't you?
[13:04] ---
    I like the sound of the koto. But when I play,
    it becomes a sound I don't like.
[13:09] ---
    When I play, the sound of the koto dies.
[13:13] ---
    It dies?
[13:16] ---
    Listen, Mio. I don't understand it much,
[13:19] ---
    but no one can play the sound
    they want from the start.
[13:25] ---
    Really?
[13:26] ---
    Yeah, I think...
[13:27] ---
    Then when will I be able
    to play the sound I like?
[13:30] ---
    That... probably depends on
    how much effort you put in.
[13:34] ---
    Effort?
[13:35] ---
    Will playing a lot do? If I play all day long,
    will it become a sound I like?
[13:41] ---
    A sound that's free and independent
    from everything, like water and wind...
[13:47] ---
    A sound with life...
[13:49] ---
    It'd make me happy if I could
    create a sound like that...
[13:55] ---
    But after a year, three years,
    even five years...
[14:00] ---
    In all that time, I was never able
    to play a sound like that.
[14:03] ---
    Mio, I think you're thinking too much.
[14:05] ---
    You're very good. Have confidence.
[14:08] ---
    Would you like to participate
    in a competition?
[14:10] ---
    Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
[14:12] ---
    Hey, Mio. Everyone praises your sound.
    They say you're very good. So--
[14:17] ---
    I don't care about "everyone."
[14:19] ---
    I just want to create
    the sound I like by myself!
[14:23] ---
    Mio...
[14:25] ---
    I feel kinda upset.
    I don't know what to do.
[14:30] ---
    I can always see the sounds, but they
    never lead me to the place I wanna go...
[14:38] ---
    I'm tired...
[14:40] ---
    I'm exhausted.
[14:41] ---
    I'll...
[14:43] ---
    I'll make a piece that will allow you
    to go "beyond that"
[14:46] ---
    because I want to hear your "sound
    beyond the right answer," too!
[14:50] ---
    It was a shock... like a dazzling light...
[14:59] ---
    The sound changed?
[15:01] ---
    You create pieces by calculating?
[15:03] ---
    That's right!
[15:04] ---
    I don't like calculated sounds.
[15:07] ---
    Then I'll make it sound
    uncalculated by calculating!
[15:14] ---
    How's this piece?
[15:16] ---
    It's fine.
[15:18] ---
    I'll rewrite it!
[15:20] ---
    What?
[15:21] ---
    I promised you I'd make a piece that
    will allow you to go "beyond that."
[15:25] ---
    So the piece has to be
    something you want to play!
[15:32] ---
    You can only play the sound
    the way you see it?
[15:35] ---
    Yeah. I don't know how to play
    the other sounds.
[15:39] ---
    The sound I can see glows
    and becomes a path.
[15:42] ---
    But the area around it is pitch-dark
    and there's nothing there.
[15:46] ---
    If I go off the path, I'm gonna
    fall into the darkness for sure.
[15:51] ---
    The moment you go off the path, though,
    I think a new path is created.
[15:57] ---
    And then, this time,
    you will become the path!
[16:05] ---
    What's this unnerving feeling...?
[16:07] ---
    Hey, hey, hey...! The solo part has
    been repeating only one sound.
[16:12] ---
    And... just how deep is he
    going to dive with it...?
[16:18] ---
    I don't quite get what Mr. Yamamoto said.
[16:22] ---
    They're disorganized.
    Their sound is messy.
[16:25] ---
    If I go off the path, I bet I'll be just like--
[16:39] ---
    What...? What's with this sound...?
[16:42] ---
    Their feelings are flowing into me...
[16:44] ---
    ...even though I don't know
    anything about these people.
[16:47] ---
    Everyone's smiling. They're happy and alive.
[16:50] ---
    It's as if they themselves are the sound...
[16:53] ---
    You will become the path!
[17:12] ---
    Clearly...
[17:13] ---
    ...there's something happening... right now...
[17:23] ---
    Mio...
[17:50] ---
    Hey...!
[17:51] ---
    What's going on?!
[17:56] ---
    I'm getting dragged into it!
[18:04] ---
    Ahh... Amazing...
[18:06] ---
    This is amazing...
[18:08] ---
    Within only 13 strings,
    they're creating a boundless universe!
[18:13] ---
    Hey, Mio!
[18:15] ---
    This piece isn't just yours!
[18:17] ---
    Don't forget about us!
[18:19] ---
    I'm sorry, Club President.
    It's just that I'm having fun.
[18:23] ---
    I'll take you guys with me... anywhere...
[18:27] ---
    There are only 13 strings.
[18:29] ---
    But even so, I can now go wherever
    I want, to the ends of the earth...
[18:44] ---
    I heard that Mr. Yamamoto is going
    to quit teaching after the qualifier.
[18:48] ---
    His dad collapsed.
[18:52] ---
    Let's make sure our last performance
    for him is a good one.
[19:01] ---
    Hey, Kanzaki. Do you know what
    kind of flower a katakago is?
[19:06] ---
    No, I don't.
[19:07] ---
    It's a flower that can't bloom
    one year, three years,
[19:12] ---
    or even five years after budding.
[19:20] ---
    Even so, it keeps growing
    little by little every year
[19:25] ---
    and finally blooms after
    almost ten long years.
[19:32] ---
    Say, Kanzaki...
[19:38] ---
    It's been ten years since we
    came to know the koto, huh?
[21:32] ---
    It was like something awakened
    in him at the end...
[21:37] ---
    So you can play the koto like this too, huh?
[21:40] ---
    Oh, crap. I'm getting nervous again
    after hearing Hakuto's performance...
[21:44] ---
    Seriously! Why do we have
    to play after Hakuto?
[21:47] ---
    Rhythm... Rhythm... I hope I can
    stay together with everyone else.
[21:51] ---
    I hope my fingers move okay!
[21:56] ---
    Everyone is so nervous.
    I have to say something.
[22:01] ---
    What?
[22:05] ---
    We'll be fine. We don't have
    to worry about anything.
[22:09] ---
    We'll be fine if we just play
    like we always do.
[22:11] ---
    Takezo...
[22:18] ---
    Because we've practiced...
[22:20] ---
    ...more than anyone for sure!
[22:28] ---
    If our club president says so,
    then it must be true!
[22:30] ---
    Hey, Kudo!
[22:32] ---
    You'll be fine.
[22:34] ---
    You survived my tough lessons.
[22:38] ---
    So please play to your heart's content today.
[22:41] ---
    Miss Aki...
[22:43] ---
    Tokise High School.
    Please proceed to the stage.
[22:46] ---
    Okay!
[22:47] ---
    Don't forget.
[22:50] ---
    What's important isn't
    going to nationals itself,
[22:53] ---
    but why you want to go to nationals.
[22:55] ---
    Don't forget that.
[22:57] ---
    Why...
[22:59] ---
    ...do we want to...
[23:01] ---
    If you lose in the next qualifier,
    they won't be able to go to nationals.
[23:06] ---
    So to them, it's their last chance.
[23:10] ---
    I don't want it to end yet.
[23:12] ---
    I wish it could go on forever.
[23:15] ---
    Next year won't work for you guys!
[23:18] ---
    Next year... will be too late.
[23:21] ---
    We're gonna go to nationals for sure!
[23:38] ---
    Next time, "Tenkyu."
[23:41] ---
    "#25 Tenkyu"