Regret and Progress

Synopsis

In sectional practice, Tachibana—placed in the same group as Ritsuko—was irritated by members who wouldn't take the initiative. Ritsuko senses that Tachibana is constantly conscious of Sakuma, her senpai from the same middle school. Tachibana tells Ritsuko how she took over as president from Sakuma in their middle school's orchestra—a regular gold-medal winner at competitions—and shares the bitter experience and regret of seeing her passion and sense of responsibility fail to reach the results she'd hoped for. Tachibana and Ritsuko play in unison. Off in the distance, Sakuma was striking the timpani.