There are no wrong notes
You never say anything
Even though you always ask "Why?"
MESSAGE NAOKI - DONE
Looks like he made a song.
Guess you're not gonna listen to it.
Well, I'm guessing that they're at Naoki's place in the mountains right now.
Shouldn't we go and get 'em?
I'm done caring.
Well, I can go alone then.
Because I do still care.
Well... I thought you were going?
Thought it through again, I guess.
As a member of the band, the best thing I can do now
is to make sure that the member having the toughest time is supported, right?
The toughest, huh? Who's that?
Sensei!
Sensei! Sensei!
Sensei!
- Did you get the orders out? - Yeah, yeah.
Make sure I get it before the meeting.
- Yes, this is Uto. - Good idea.
Thank you.
We're honored that Ishikawa Pharmaceutical would offer to sponsor the show.
Uh-huh.
You told them to come end of the day?
Yes, and we hope that he'll also see it as a beneficial career move.
I like the sound of this one, Ichidai.
Uh... You think?
Hmm.
But let's change up the synth.
Got any '80s distorted guitar here or...
This'll do.
Okay. What do you think now?
He's so impressive, isn't he?
He's got talent.
There's a spill there.
- What? Wait. - He's looking right at us.
Hey.
- Tell me what's so funny over there, huh? - What? Nothing's funny.
- Why are you laughing at me, huh? - Mr. Isagi--
Let me go!
Listen, about the new song.
Whoa, dude. Get it together.
Oh, leave him be. Let's go.
That new song.
We're not gonna put his name on it.
You release it as my song that I wrote.
This is an announcement from the event organizers.
Unfortunately, due to inclement weather,
we are forced to cancel today's live concert.
- Come on, you gotta be kidding me! - We thank everyone who came.
- Please be careful as you leave the event. - Naoki. Naoki, you have to listen!
I promise, it's a method to get your music out there.
It's fine. I'm not faulting you.
Then why are you trying to leave me?
Don't look at me like that.
Don't look down on me 'cause I did what I had to!
Listen, Naoki. If you leave now, I will never forgive you.
Because you're meant to spread your wings at my side!
- Mr. Isagi, please control yourself! - Let go!
Let go of...
It's gonna be okay, Ichidai.
I was a burden on you, and now you're free.
But wait!
Hey!
You're not going anywhere!
What happened?
Uh...
Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you.
It's almost done.
Huh?
Before long...
...the shadowy nightmare of that day ends.
He is stable for now, but
I think it's best we keep him for observation.
Sure.
His music making will be difficult moving forward.
Will he die for his music? Or give it up and live?
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
You understand what you did, right?
I was being stupid and selfish.
I'm sorry.
Selfish and stupid, huh?
It's borderline manslaughter.
Sho, isn't that taking it too far?
No, it is.
Listening to his nonsense, letting him write through the night.
All the while knowing he could die.
Then...
I'm leaving.
TENBLANK's better without me.
Akane, no.
- I think-- - I'm leaving too.
Huh?
TENBLANK's time is over.
Oh, God. I'm so sorry.
Akane!
Hold on, Akane!
Akane!
Come on, wait!
I'm sorry, but I'm not ready to be consoled.
Akane, come on. Wait, will ya?
I'm furious.
Furious with myself!
I'm such an idiot!
You're so kind, Kazushi.
You've always made me feel better and for that...
you have my deepest appreciation.
I got to be a part of this band. I got to play in TENBLANK.
Maybe one day I'll see you.
Wait a sec.
Lately, I've been working in live show production.
Hmm.
That's how I heard about all of TENBLANK's recent issues.
I figured Genji would know, so I asked him about it.
You gonna have a drink?
No, I'll pass. I drove, after all.
Ah, go on. Just say you hired a driver.
Or you could even use parking fees as an excuse.
The pick in your mouth is a poor replacement for a cigarette.
You know that Kazushi hates tobacco
and you don't want to make Naoki any sicker.
The truth is, you're really a smoker who's barely holding it together.
Or doing your best to, anyway.
What are you trying to say?
Okay, then.
Will you let me come back and be the manager of the band again?
I'm willing to apologize.
I know I can make it work for you guys.
You're like a kid.
Well, something tells me adults aren't exactly invited
to the TENBLANK children's show.
You know, aren't you the one acting like a kid?
- Sulking around like a teenager. - What?
You thought you understood Naoki better than anyone else.
Now that's Akane, and it's getting to you.
You'll regret it if you run instead of facing it.
Trust me on this one. I know.
NAOKI FUJITANI DONE
NEW A 1 ITEM
The way you play guitar isn't just crazy, it's almost cruel.
Come on. Hold up, Longlegs.
You can ask all day and night. It's still no.
How do I say this? Your guitar kind of pisses me off.
Can I say that I hate it, even?
But that's not true, 'cause I love it.
I can't ignore it, but I don't want it to go away.
The only way out of this is together.
Huh?
Once I realized that...
I could write this new song.
I'll have you know,
this is the first time I've written a song for a specific guitarist.
You wrote it... for me?
Go on.
Come on now, I'm not gonna--
- And why not? - I know your talent better than anyone!
Hey! Wh... what the hell?!
There's a song I could hear
Since before I was born
Though it had everything
It had no shape or form...
You asked me to join a band and no one else has. So...
you're the only one on Earth.
And that's the truth, Sho.
Nameless emotions
Coalesced to make me
If that's true...
Then there's nothing to fear
There are no wrong notes
With just that unwavering truth
I thought I could live In this cruel world
Tell me why you never
Say anything, even though
You always ask "Why?"
- Tell me why! - My work has nothing to do with the sound!
- It doesn't matter what I've done! - You know you're the heart of this song.
- How can you say that? - Enough!
I'm telling you to do this on your own!
I won't be continuing on.
You're saying TENBLANK's days are officially over?
That's the end.
...break through the stillness
Today, too The city breathes out fresh sounds
Merging as one
Among the countless melodies
I heard your voice cut through
What?
What are you doing out here?
Well, I could see you in your car, Sho.
Oh, get in! Hurry!
What happened with the hospital?
You must be soaking. Here.
Hey, come on.
Come on, dry yourself off.
Let me get the heat on.
You listened, didn't ya?
All right, Sho.
I've thought it out and...
I think in this world, I can make you happy.
Am I right?
Huh?
So, for the rest of my life...
Sho, you're the only guitarist I want.
This a proposal, or...
What is this feeling inside me?
I might use it all up
Before I even understand it
A break from the rain.
Yeah.
Since we're out here, how do you feel about me singing on that corner?
- Wanna hear the full chorus? - Here?
I wonder if my music can make you cry again.
Moved to tears, maybe once, but that's all I'm giving.
Huh? I will draw those tears out. I won't stop singing till you cry like a baby.
Sounds like a TV show.
- Prime time. - Friday at nine.
Will you, though? Sing till I'm in tears again?
That I will.
Okay.
Then I'll never cry again.
New B?
Huh.
That's not meant for you.
I'm not letting anyone listen to that.
Nobody?
There's someone you'd like to hear it.
Yes?
- Afternoon. I'm from Vermilion. - Coming.
I have your curry delivery here.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas.
- Yay, curry! - Thank you. Say thank you!
- Thank you so much. - Thank you.
It looks delicious. Did she wish you a Merry Christmas too?
- Yeah! - How fun!
And we get to have this tasty curry. Let's dig in!
I finished up those deliveries.
Oh, thanks! Good to be back!
- Welcome back. - Nice to have you back, Akane.
Another order came in for the Christmas special?
You can call it a night. I'll take care of it all.
That's my line. Come on, shouldn't you two be on a date?
Akane, he's here every day, isn't he?
- Right? - We're fine.
But on Christmas, that's what you do.
And by that logic, don't you have somewhere to go, Akane?
- Hmm. - What are you saying?
Your order.
Make this delivery
to Naoki Fujitani.
Not you too, Momoko.
It's over. I quit TENBLANK.
Hey, Akane.
You're not drumming anymore.
You've given up music and TENBLANK.
Ask yourself, are you really okay
with giving that all away?
So you're not coming back?
I can't.
If I rejoin the band,
Sensei and I could go running off again.
Taking away the one thing that he cares about above all
might not kill his body, but it will kill his spirit.
We literally took his music away 'cause...
our egos told us we wanted him to live.
If even for just a little longer.
But you understood that from the start. Didn't you, Akane?
Right?
And that's why you two ran off.
- Yeah, but-- - Here.
Catch.
Huh?
He's written a new song.
You should listen.
- No, I can't! - I love you, Akane!
Or so I thought.
Sorry.
What?
We're about the same age.
We kept getting closer, and so...
I've never had any experience with love.
So I...
I was confused.
The sound you're doing, I don't like it.
What?
Whatever, I was just telling you the truth.
That's what I think.
What was that song?
This one's not for the band, is it?
I knew it!
It's got your name just written all over it!
It's really good. Can I hear it once again?
- Pretty please! - Forget it.
I feel like I can't breathe.
Kazushi.
Let's set the record straight.
'Cause I...
I love your drumming, Akane.
It's 'cause you're scared.
This new song. It's a new sound, one that came from somewhere outside.
It's a sound that came from thinking about...
about Akane.
And that's why you're afraid to share it with us.
Hmm.
It's a hurtful sound too, though.
Do you really think I can't handle getting hurt?
Even if it's from you?
You're usually all unwavering conviction,
but then you go and hit the brakes at the strangest things!
See, I...
I want to carry you with our sound.
So you can't...
you can't just vanish on us, okay?
INCOMING CALL NAOKI
What? You actually answered? Why did you answer?
What? Am I not supposed to?
No, I didn't think you were...
Anyway, it's fine.
The thing is, I called you today because I actually have a favor to ask.
I can't.
Yeah... I figured you might have to refuse,
so I've got a little trick up my sleeve.
A trick?
Oh, it's snowing.
Huh?
Wait, where are you right now?
Well, I can see Tokyo Tower.
- Tokyo Tower? - Yeah.
And also a Christmas tree. It's a big one.
And it's beautiful.
Oh, tell me that you're not outside!
Go get warm somewhere. You gotta get out of the cold.
You know why I love this weather?
The snow and the air make sound feel close.
But anyway, let's not forget, I've got a trick.
Back then,
I made a song to persuade Sho to join the band.
And what a song it was.
Like Brahms and Clara Schumann. That level, right?
Hello. Take a flyer.
I was able to convince him.
I'm not saying it was the song that did it, but...
we made a song together in the mountain house, you and I.
I watched you sleeping there on the floor
and the notes just flowed right out of me.
And then I wrote another song.
Now it was my first time making music like this.
So it's gonna take some courage, but... will you let me sing it?
Why are you doing this? I can't.
- Oh! - Watch where you're going!
Excuse me.
Here it goes!
I thought I heard a familiar song
But it was just The sound of your laugh
I tried to brush it off As merely chance
But then your sound Filled the spaces within me...
Sensei. I just can't stop
making these mistakes.
As eternity Looked upon us with pitying eyes
You smiled in such a mysterious way
You calmly rearrange the order
Of things that are important to me
There's a song in this world That only we can hear...
GOD, THANK YOU FOR TENBLANK
I'll do anything to share this life
And keep that melody going
I get worried when I can't hear...
It could take a moment.
Or an eternity.
But this sound will rise above it all.
Transcend space and time.
To land square within my heart.
This is the sound
that expresses...
the love he has for me.
As eternity looked upon us With pitying eyes
You smiled in such a mysterious way
You calmly rearrange the order
Of things that are important to me
Akane?
Or is it Santa Claus?
I lied to you. I'm sorry.
I said...
I said that I couldn't fall in love.
I want every last part of you.
The Akane who's normal.
The playing hard on the drums Akane.
Hold nothing back, okay?
I want all of you.
I feel the same.
When I think about you...
...I get dazed.
All my feelings get confused.
Am I feeling love? Or is it admiration?
Or maybe even fear?
And I might feel it all at once.
So I guess you could say there's nothing separating us.
And I don't ever want us to separate.
Oh.
The song. We forgot it.
I'll continue singing.
Instead of embracing
We quietly cried our hearts out
No one taught me how to live
Even if I'm mocked
For being clumsy
This is the life I chose
I want to feel this feeling.
Sensei's heart, inseparable.
Until the end of time.
I get worried when I can't hear
The clamor of your life
I realized I'll never go back To the way I was
Before I knew you...
Kazushi. You doing okay?
Does it look like I'm doing okay?
It's too good. I feel like I'm losing it.
He beat me at every turn.
Oh, get out of my face!
It's times like these...
...when you least expect it,
you can do fantastic work.
So let's get to it.
Okay. Enough!
Hey.
Here.
I made some sheet music for each of our parts.
The moment I touched it, it slipped away
Even if that's what
It means to live
I don't want To go along with that anymore
Oh
Oh...
Welcome back!
And we're back.
... as it came closer
There's something only I can do
That eternity can't
There is a sound I want to let ring
There's someone I want to hear it now
There's a heartbeat I want to make tremble
We're home.
At long last.
Mr. Isagi, we have a problem! It's Yukino!
I got the tea! I know you all might not believe it, but get this!
But it's true. All of my hit songs up till now, every one,
were not written by Ichidai.
No, Naoki Fujitani wrote them all.
Crazy, right? The industry dark side exposed!
- Actually, Isagi's just a talentless hack! - Wait!
The only thing he's good at is lying and business deals.
Really, that's all he's got.
I'll be honest, I tried.
I tried to make it work at first.
It was... impossible. I couldn't.
Not after I met artists who were serious about their creations.
There was simply no way to avoid it.
I wasn't honest about the art that I say that I love.
But now the truth is out there.
- What is she saying? Shut her down! - Okay.
Someone from the agency's calling me!
I can't! I'm gonna ignore it.
"If you say that, won't you get in trouble?"
"Won't you be chased out of the industry?"
Probably!
Good news is,
if I have to leave the industry,
then I'm gonna be here to live stream the end of Isagi too.
All right, that oughta do it!
The last boss is defeated. It's over!
- Damn that girl! - Buh-bye! Thanks for watching, everyone!
- Good night! - Shut up! Shut the hell up!
Shut up!
LIVE VIDEO ENDED 112,867 VIEWERS
That was great.
This is ridiculous.
- Hey! - Whatever! Two hours...
Please don't cancel. The contract-- Please, listen!
- Damn it! - Yes, I'll check in with Isagi now.
Mr. Isagi, there are some reporters--
Get them outta here! Don't tell me you still can't find her?
We can't get in touch with Yukino. Or Natsume either.
Shit.
What's going on?
Please be patient.
I want a refund.
This is ridiculous!
Let's do this!
Come on!
Hold on, hold on, hold on! Z-OUT's not gonna play either?
What's going on?
"As true lovers of the art form of music,
sadly, it would be against our standards
to perform at a festival organized by a desecrater of the art."
"We offer sincerest apologies to our many fans and friends."
Yo!
- Yeah! - How long are we gonna wait for a show?
- Seriously? Don't blame them. - It took an hour to get here.
- Come on. - This is stupid.
It's a contract!
The audience has started to leave.
Mr. Isagi!
Clear out! Make way! Coming through!
- Come on, make space for the buses. - Huh?
TENBLANK?
I expected nothing less, Miyako.
Even though it's the day of the festival,
you were able to get so many people out in no time at all.
I suppose that's the kind of influence TENBLANK has.
I made the announcement, and the rest is inertia.
Miyako.
You asked me before if you could come back and manage the band.
I'm guessing that hasn't changed?
Actually,
I don't think I want the same thing anymore.
What?
I'm not going to return.
That's because I know that if I play it smart, I can steal them from you.
If that's how we're gonna play, then get ready. Let's see what you got.
It begins here.
TENBLANK's legendary rise.