Alright, you wanna go to MEIKO's then?
Sure... Hm? The Open sign's not up?
Huh. But the lights are on.
Let's go take a look.
Hello.
Hm?
(The music's different from usual...
This is a classical piece...)
Oh, Akito, Toya!
Welcome!
You came just at the right time.
Would you like to join our listening party?
Listening party...?
Heya, Toya!
Long time no see!
It has been a while.
Since when exactly...?
Since the last time Toya came. He brought this CD and we all listened to it together.
Solo Piano Performance by Harumichi Aoyagi... Wait a second!
Yes, it's a recording of my dad's concert.
The day after the event, we didn't have practice and had nothing to do.
I found it while I was looking through my CD collection. I brought it here and listened to it together with MEIKO, Rin and Len.
Ah...
(He used to wince whenever someone even hinted at classical music until just recently...)
(But I guess he's really over that all now.)
Since you're here, why not stay and have a listen?
Sure, sounds good.
But it feels kind of strange.
You played jazz in the background sometimes,
but never classical...
You're right. Part of the reason I was able to appreciate this CD may've been this cafe's peaceful atmosphere.
Yeah, it does feel like you're at home here...
Oh, another piece just started!
Hm... What's this one called?
Wait... I've heard this one somewhere before...
It's a suite by Modest Mussorgsky called Pictures at an Exhibition.
Right, we listened to it in music class. We watched a video of it being performed by an orchestra too, I think...
You think?
Sounds like you weren't paying attention...
I gave that thing five whole minutes...
But that was my limit...
Still, I don't blame you. The videos they show in class are pretty low quality and don't do orchestras, or anything for that matter, much justice.
Besides, this suite was written for the piano, not for an orchestra.
Oh, really...
(It's being played by just one guy on one instrument, but it has richness and an intensity to it. I'm getting goosebumps...)
(You can tell he's a world-class pianist...
Man, Toya's dad's a legit pro.)
...
Hm? What is it, Akito?
Just realizing that you've been exposed to next-level music ever since you were a little kid...
Or maybe even since you were a baby.
It's no wonder your ears are this good.
I guess I should thank my dad for that.
Yeah...
(Since Toya stopped stressing about his dad, we're all performing better and really getting to polish our music.)
(If we keep this up, we're gonna go places...)
You look like you're in a good mood.
Not just in a good mood. I feel driven.
(Toya really went through a growth spurt after what he dealt with...)
(As his partner, I can't fall behind!)