Kamiyama High School - Class 2-A

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

1

Tsukasa

Listen

What do I have in common with Thorpe...? Why does he look up to the stars...?
2

Tsukasa

Listen

Ugh! The more I think about it, the less I understand him!
3

Teacher

Tenma, how many times do I need to tell you? Keep it down!
4

Tsukasa

Listen

*Gasp*
I-I'm sorry!!

Sound Effect: Play

5

Tsukasa

Listen

*Sigh*
Miyamasuzaka
6

Tsukasa

Listen

We only have a few days left until our show opens... And I'm not about to become the reason why it's going to suffer in terms of quality...
7

Tsukasa

Listen

More importantly, a star's supposed to be able to be a shining example for others to follow! “Good enough” just isn't good enough in my book!
8

Tsukasa

Listen

And yet, I'm unable to participate in practices right now...! All I'm doing is just...! Argh! Get it together, Tsukasa Tenma!
9

???

Listen

Tsukasa...?
10

Tsukasa

Listen

Hm? That voice...
11

Tsukasa

Listen

Toya!
Fancy seeing you here all alone. You're not with Akito today?

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

12

Toya

Listen

Akito unfortunately has to take supplementary classes today... But we still have to practice later as a team, so I have to go on ahead without him.
13

Toya

Listen

Anyway, is something wrong...?
You seem to have quite a bit on your mind.
14

Tsukasa

Listen

The truth is, I'm having trouble getting into character for our next show...
15

Toya

Listen

Getting into character...?
16

Tsukasa

Listen

Yes. We're doing “A Pianist Named Thorpe” with me as the protagonist, but I've been holding up practices because I'm having trouble understanding my character's personality...
17

Toya

Listen

“A Pianist Named Thorpe”...?
That's a very famous story. I remember reading it over and over again because of how much I liked it.
18

Tsukasa

Listen

What? Is that true?
Wait, that means...!
19

Tsukasa

Listen

(Toya has a talent for dissecting and understanding these kinds of stories. He's also known me for a very long time.)
20

Tsukasa

Listen

(He might be the one who can give me a hint...!)
21

Tsukasa

Listen

Toya, please!
Will you help me with understanding my character?!
22

Toya

Listen

What?
23

Tsukasa

Listen

I'm currently trying to discover what Thorpe and I have in common, but so far I've had no luck...
24

Tsukasa

Listen

However, you're familiar with both me and this story. You may be the key to solving this puzzle!
25

Toya

Listen

What you both have in common...?
Yes, I think I can help you with that.
26

Toya

Listen

Also, I'm very interested in seeing how you portray Thorpe...
27

Toya

Listen

Alright, why don't we find somewhere to sit down and chat?
28

Tsukasa

Listen

Toya...! You're a model gentleman...!
I promise to pay back this debt!
Cafe

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

29

Toya

Listen

A very cute cafe.
With many female patrons, I see.
30

Saki

Listen

Welcome!
Huh...? Tsukasa? Toya?
31

Toya

Listen

Saki?
32

Tsukasa

Listen

Yes, this is where Saki works!
33

Saki

Listen

Yay! Thanks for visiting, you guys!
Lemme show you to your table! Over here!

Sound Effect: Play

Sound Effect: Play

34

Toya

Listen

Okay, I'll have a coffee.
No milk or sugar.
35

Tsukasa

Listen

I'll have some iced tea!
Oh, can I get a lemon slice with that?
36

Saki

Listen

Coffee and iced tea!
Coming right up♪

Sound Effect: Play

37

Tsukasa

Listen

Alright...
Let's get down to business...
38

Tsukasa

Listen

What do Thorpe and I have in common? Does anything come to mind?
39

Toya

Listen

Right.
Mind if I take a look at your script first?
40

Tsukasa

Listen

Of course!!
41

Toya

Listen

Oh, this sounds very tricky...
42

Toya

Listen

My impression going in was that you two didn't have much in common, but reading this script may've only made that worse...
43

Tsukasa

Listen

You think so too, Toya...?
Hmm... Even though I'm looking for just one thing...
44

Toya

Listen

What if you took the opposite approach instead? By seeing how you both contrast, you may end up discovering some surprising commonalities.
45

Tsukasa

Listen

Ah! That's a great idea!
Let's see how we differ!
46

Tsukasa

Listen

First... We take on challenges in remarkably different ways!
47

Toya

Listen

I agree. In your case, Tsukasa, you like to do absolutely everything in your power to overcome an obstacle.
48

Toya

Listen

And you wouldn't take out your frustrations on little animals like he does here. You'd probably take what needs work and keep hammering away at it.
49

Tsukasa

Listen

Y-You think so...?
I suppose you might be right...
50

Toya

Listen

Also, you'd never turn away a sick animal. There's no way you could ever do anything cruel to someone with an illness.
51

Toya

Listen

Tsukasa, you're also...
52

Saki

Listen

Thanks for your patience!
Here's your coffee and iced tea...
53

Toya

Listen

...someone who likes to stay positive and upbeat while taking charge of things. You're very honest and are quick to apologize when you think you've done something wrong.
54

Tsukasa

Listen

Yes! That's right!
Hah hah hah hah!
55

Saki

Listen

Hey, keep it down...
You're gonna embarrass me in front of everyone...

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

56

Tsukasa

Listen

In the end, we only realized just how much we differ...
57

Toya

Listen

Yes...
Fifty things at that...
58

Tsukasa

Listen

*Sigh*
I really am the polar opposite of Thorpe...
59

Tsukasa

Listen

Especially the scene where he looks up to the stars the night before the contest. I still can't wrap my head around that...
60

Toya

Listen

The stars...?
61

Tsukasa

Listen

Yes. He knows the contest is creeping up on him, but his eyes wander toward the stars in the sky... I just don't understand...
62

Toya

Listen

...
63

Toya

Listen

I don't think his eyes are wandering.
64

Tsukasa

Listen

Hm? What do you mean?
65

Toya

Listen

In this story, Thorpe looks up to the stars whenever he incurs a setback...
66

Toya

Listen

I feel like there's a hidden meaning behind him looking up to the stars like this.
67

Tsukasa

Listen

A hidden meaning? Such as...?
68

Toya

Listen

That I can't really say...
69

Toya

Listen

Setbacks...
When he's facing a massive hurdle...?
70

Tsukasa

Listen

Hang on...
Ten years ago
Tenma Household - Living Room

Sound Effect: Play

Sound Effect: Play

71

Little Saki

Listen

Wow...!
72

Little Tsukasa

Listen

How's that?! A performance fit for a star, I'd say! Mom taught me how to play that!

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

73

Little Saki

Listen

That was amazing, Tsukasa!
I wanna try playing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” too!
74

Little Tsukasa

Listen

You do?! In that case, I'll teach you!
That way, we'll both be able to play it!
75

Little Saki

Listen

Yay!
You're the best, Tsukasa!
76

Mother

Hehe. Alright, Saki, let's take it one step at a time so you can learn to play four hands with him.
77

Little Saki

Listen

Okay!
*Cough*
78

Mother

Oh, maybe we shouldn't today...
You did just get back from the hospital.
79

Little Saki

Listen

No! I wanna play!
I wanna play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!”
80

Little Tsukasa

Listen

Oh...
81

Little Tsukasa

Listen

I know...!
I can teach you while you're in bed!
82

Little Tsukasa

Listen

There are some good finger drills you can still practice, so we can give some of those a try!
83

Little Saki

Listen

Really?
84

Little Tsukasa

Listen

Yes, but we'll start tomorrow.
For now, you need to get a good night's rest!
85

Little Saki

Listen

Grr... Fine...
Why can't it be tomorrow already?
86

Mother

Okay, let's get you back to bed.

Sound Effect: Play

87

Little Tsukasa

Listen

Alright...!

Sound Effect: Play

88

Little Tsukasa

Listen

(I have to practice lots if I'm gonna teach Saki how to play this!)
89

Little Saki

Listen

*Sob*
It hurts so much...

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

90

Mother

Saki...?!
Saki, are you okay?
91

Father

I'll get the car!
Keep an eye on her while I do.
92

Mother

Okay...!

Sound Effect: Play

93

Little Tsukasa

Listen

Good morning! Saki, let's practice... Huh? Mom, where's Saki?
94

Mother

So... Saki came down with something last night and is at the hospital now.
95

Little Tsukasa

Listen

What?! She's back at the hospital?!
Is she okay?
96

Mother

Yes. Fortunately, your father got word this morning that it's nothing serious.
97

Little Tsukasa

Listen

Oh... Thank goodness...
98

Little Tsukasa

Listen

(But that means she's gonna be really sad again...)
99

Little Tsukasa

Listen

I wish we can play the piano together soon...

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

100

Little Tsukasa

Listen

Turn here and...
“Haha! I am the great hero, Pegasus!
Here to vanquish all that is evil!”

Sound Effect: Play

101

Little Tsukasa

Listen

Who could that be?
Hello, this is the Tenmas!
102

Mother

<Tsukasa, is that you? I'm sorry to disappoint you like this, but Saki still isn't feeling well so she needs to stay a little longer.>
103

Mother

<Your father will be home soon, so please try to be patient for just a bit longer.>
104

Little Tsukasa

Listen

Okay, got it...!
I'll be good while I wait!
105

Mother

<Hehe. Thank you for being such a wonderful big brother. We'll talk again soon.>

Sound Effect: Play

106

Little Tsukasa

Listen

They're gonna be gone really long again...
107

Little Tsukasa

Listen

No, I'm a star! This shouldn't bother me at all! Saki probably feels worse because she doesn't get to be home...!
108

Little Tsukasa

Listen

So...
...

Sound Effect: Play

109

Little Tsukasa

Listen

Saki... At this rate, you won't ever get a chance to catch up to me... Please, come home soon.
Next Chapter: Looking For Stars