Kosei’s return to the stage as Kaori’s accompanist was a complete disaster. He couldn’t hear the music, he lost track of the tempo, and they stopped and restarted the piece. But it did accomplish one thing: It reminded him of the thrill of playing for an eager audience. Now Kaori’s demanding Kosei enter a piano competition solo, but he’s terrified that, alone on the bench, the ghost of his abusive mother will paralyze him yet again…
By Naoshi Arakawa