Original subtitles

[crowd cheering and applauding]

[excited cheering and whooping]

[playing "Fight the Good Fight"]

[singing in Japanese]

[crowd chanting]

What? Wait. You're firing me, aren't you?

Teddy Merry has to be a dudes-only band.

It was the agency's one condition. We have no choice.

Our sound's aggressive. You get it, right?

We gotta think about the band's image now.

I'll make changes. I can look edgy. Let me dye my hair.

-And shave off my eyebrows. -Get a clue.

[crowd chanting]

[man 1] Look, honestly, I've always hated the way you play.

Your sound is weighing us down.

-Let's roll. -[man 2] Yeah.

-[song ends] -[crowd cheering]

[thunder rumbling]

[man 1] Yeah, go, go. Oh shit.

-[man 2] Let's get outta here! -[woman 1] Please don't run!

Please don't run, it's dangerous!

-[man 3] Oh, man! -[laughter]

[woman 1] Please, don't run!

-It's slippery. -[man 4] Attention!

We have an announcement from the organizers.

Due to the bad weather, we have to cancel today's concert.

[man 5] Are you kidding me? Nobody cares if it's raining!

[yelling and booing]

[man 4] Everyone who came today,

try to leave in an orderly fashion, please!

Please walk slowly. No pushing, please. Thank you.

-The asphalt is slippery, so no running. -[man 6] Come on, let's go!

-[yelps] -[thunder crashes]

-[man 4] Walk slowly. -[man 6] Let's go.

-[woman 2] Thank you. The exit's this way. -[man 4] Be careful.

-Please don't run. Walk slowly. -[woman 2] This way.

-Walk straight ahead to the exit. -[man 4] Don't run.

[woman 2] Walk slowly, please.

Be careful not to forget anything.

[thunder rumbling]

[crowd sounds fade]

[thunder continues]

[sounds return]

[woman 2] The exit is to the right.

Please walk slowly and watch your step.

[thunder crashing]

[raindrops splash loudly]

[woman 2] Walk slowly.

No running. Thank you.

Walk slowly, watch your step.

[rattling]

[thunder crashes]

[sounds fade]

[playing snare drum]

[sound resonating]

[thunder crashes]

[thunder rumbles softly]

[playing fast rock drum solo]

[man 8] That girl's crazy.

[playing jazzy melody]

[thunder crashing]

[drummer] In that moment, there was only sound.

The rain. The scenery.

Even me.

The lines between everything became blurry.

I realized…

"This is it."

"I was born to merge with this sound."

Without a doubt, this sound…

[music intensifies]

[both stop playing]

[drummer] …it was a gift from the gods.

[piano playing uplifting theme]

ALL-GIRL BAND BAND MEMBERS WANTED!

[playing rock music]

Okay, okay, okay. Thank you.

Th… that's enough. Thank you very much.

Uh, yeah, that's all we need to hear for the audition.

We'll… we'll contact you once we've reached a decision.

-[rock music playing on speakers] -[entry bell jangles]

I'm back.

Oh, hi, sweetie.

[drumming along to piano on recording]

[phone ringing]

[stops drumming]

[sighs]

Hello?

[man] Uh, is this Akane Saijo?

Thank you for coming to our audition earlier today.

Yeah.

And, uh… uh, let's see.

Uh, unfortunately, it wasn't a good fit this time.

Huh?

Goodbye.

[gasps] No, wait.

AUDITION: LAST CHANCE MUST PASS!!!

Can you tell me what I did wrong?

[poignant music playing]

Um… [sighs]

Well, your drums. They… they just don't know how to listen.

They lack sensitivity.

-Bye. -[hangs up]

[rock music playing on speakers]

-♪ I don't believe it… ♪ -[ringing]

♪ We better get this done… ♪

Hi, this is Vermilion.

[silence]

[woman] Akane!

Can you do a delivery for me?

[inhales shakily]

Sure. [sighs]

♪ You, you said you… ♪

Here. The customer specifically requested you.

-Requested me? -Yeah.

[Akane] Hmm.

Hey, wait a second.

You'll never guess what a writer friend told me.

I heard Sho Takaoka…

he's forming a new band right now.

Really? With who?

Naoki Fujitani.

Naoki Fujitani?

Yeah, that guy who was struck by lightning at the festival three years ago.

He kinda just disappeared after that. I always wondered if he was all right.

PUBLIC PLAYLIST NAOKI FUJITANI COMPOSITIONS

Who would have thought he would be forming a band?

[poignant music playing]

Is something wrong?

-[Akane] Hmm? -You okay?

Uh…

-It's just that… -Yeah?

Uh, the manager said I wasn't the drummer they wanted.

Mmm.

Hmm.

Your support through this…

I'll never forget what you did.

I should thank you.

Are you giving up for good?

Mm-hmm. I decided that today was the last audition.

Sweetie, are you sure?

Honestly…

these last three years,

I gave all that I had.

Mmm.

And that's why…

I don't regret it.

I see. It's okay, it's okay.

[rock music playing]

[chaotic sounds]

[Akane] Right now, at this exact moment,

all kinds of new sounds are being born.

Many people accept them with open arms.

The dream I carry…

[silence]

…the one beating in my heart,

it's about to disappear,

without anyone knowing.

-[horn blares] -[heavy metal music playing]

[music stops]

[birdsong]

Is anybody there?

[leaves rustling in the wind]

[gentle music playing]

What?

TO AKANE SAIJO

They know my name? How?

Uh…

[leaves rustling in the wind]

[piano softly playing melody from festival]

TO AKANE SAIJO: I'M BUSY WITH SOMETHING, SO PLEASE COME IN

[music becomes louder]

[soft piano continues]

[soft piano continues]

[thinks] That sound.

I've been looking for it for a long time.

[soft piano continues]

[Akane] That sound.

It's the one I've longed for.

I never stopped looking.

And it's in front of me.

Right now.

[piano music continues]

[stops playing]

[resumes playing more intensely]

[silence]

[gentle, uplifting music playing]

[gasps softly]

[music fades]

[gasps]

[rock guitar music playing from speakers]

[man] Who are you?

[Akane] Oh, uh, your curry.

[music stops]

You're Sho Takaoka.

-[music resumes] -Hmm?

Oh, I'm not a stalker. I swear.

-I just came to deliver the curry. -Ah! So you're here.

Naoki, she's here.

Earth to Naoki!

I heard Sho Takaoka, he's forming a new band right now.

[Akane] Really? With who?

[woman] Naoki Fujitani.

The Amadeus of the rock industry,

who debuted as a composer at just 14 years old.

[Sho] Ah, I'm afraid we lost him.

He gets in this mode where he blocks out everything.

[man] Is this the song? It's in a whole different direction.

Oh, don't you like it?

I don't think the keyboard is gonna work now.

[Naoki] Mm-hmm. That's why I tried…

[playing jazzy melody]

-[Naoki] Dig it? -That works.

Let me see.

Then I can go….

[Naoki] Nice.

More chaotic, Kazushi. Don't stop there.

More.

Sho!

[Sho] What's up?

-[Naoki] The final touch. -[Sho] Yeah?

I need you to enter for just four bars with a thin veil. Eighth of an inch.

Like a lemon-flavored candy that's not too sweet.

[Sho] Uh-huh, I'll give it a go.

[playing prog rock style riff]

-[music stops] -[Naoki] Nice.

Mm-hmm, not bad at all.

One thing. What about drums?

[drums playing]

I was thinking something like that.

[rock music playing]

[Akane] Four sounds that should have never met.

A genius musician shrouded in mystery.

An artist who's been out of the spotlight,

even though he's created a string of hit songs.

Naoki Fujitani.

A master guitarist who's worked with supergroups in Japan and overseas.

Sho Takaoka.

A maverick of the music world who went viral on the internet as a solo artist.

Kazushi Sakamoto.

And me, an unknown drummer whose dream was about to be over.

Akane Saijo.

These four unlikely sounds that Naoki Fujitani somehow brought together,

they're about to resonate into one story.

[music fades]

[man] Well, that's our time.

Have a good rest of the day.

Ah! [chuckles]

-Just how sleepy are you, girl? -Huh?

You were sleeping like a moron during class.

I think it's safe to say you stayed out all night.

Mm-hmm. We didn't get any sleep. We kept going all night.

What?

Yeah, it was crazy. I hurt everywhere.

Wait. Akane… [laughs]

I need all the juicy details.

All night long, I put everything into it, and then it still wasn't what they wanted.

Ah, hit it and quit it?

Every song we rehearsed.

-Huh? -What?

[friend] What? You got invited to join Sho Takaoka's band?

Mm-hmm.

Whoa.

Huh. Why'd they choose you?

I don't know.

Well, it's clear that someone was paying attention to all your hard work.

[Akane] Right.

I need to know. Is Naoki Fujitani weird in real life?

[Akane] Is he weird?

[scribbling]

-[Akane] Wait. -[friend] What?

[trumpet practicing]

-[Naoki sighs] -[Akane] Um…

Uh, hello?

[Naoki] Huh.

Akane, it's you again. Where you going right now?

Where, uh… I was going to help at the restaurant.

So, is that urgent?

[Akane] Huh?

[birds chirping]

[gentle music playing]

[horns beeping]

-[horn blaring] -[bird squawking]

-[bell clanging] -[engine roaring]

[gentle music resumes]

[seeds shaking]

[birdsong]

This thing's super interesting.

I found it on the ground.

[soft rattling]

[wind gusts]

[soft rattling joins gentle melody]

Right?

[Akane] Ah!

It is!

[shaking seeds rhythmically]

Hey, Naoki?

Naoki!

Where are we going?

Oh, right.

Oh. I'm sorry.

I'm not good at certain things.

My mind was wandering into composer mode just now.

Once that happens, my memories become blurry.

Ordinary stuff, trivial stuff, everything becomes so difficult.

Must be really challenging.

[shaking seeds]

-[door opens] -[shop bell rings]

[woman] Welcome!

Hello. I'm his manager, Kai.

Nice to meet you.

How's it going, Kai? Oh, right.

This is our drummer, Akane Saijo.

-The final-- -Let me stop you right there.

It's not your choice. The office thinks

having you on vocals and Sho on guitar is enough to gather interest.

The agency policy is to use session musicians,

or digitally created tracks if you want.

Knowing that, you pushed us to get Kazushi in and we conceded.

And it's only because Kazushi has a following

and we can say he's a rising star.

We convinced the record label to take a chance, on a known talent.

They agreed that having the three of you could sell quite nicely.

Now you want me to tell them that you're adding a girl who's an amateur?

The concept, the project, everything will have to be redone from scratch.

-[Naoki] Is that the only problem? -[Kai sighs]

Did you hear what I said? Were you listening at all?

[Naoki] I heard all of it. But here's my point.

Using this policy that the agency has,

our sales will be "quite nice," just like you said.

That's exactly why I'm arranging this my way, so our sales are off the charts.

I guarantee you I'm not wrong.

[Kai] I would like to take you at your word on this, Naoki.

But your confidence alone won't work to convince the higher-ups at the company.

Anyone can say they're confident before the fact.

I hear what you're saying. We need to prove it to you first.

Hmm. It's a deal.

Let's do that.

[dramatic music playing]

What? Oh.

Wait up. I'm coming too.

Miss Saijo.

Uh, yes?

There's one thing you need to know.

The sound of a genius makes ordinary people uneasy.

[shop bell rings]

-What? -The concert's one week away.

Uh, Sensei, slow down. What happened to our plan?

This wasn't what we talked about.

And what was the plan? I forget.

[jazzy music playing]

[sighs] Forget about it, I guess.

Can you tell us why we suddenly have to play on an outdoor stage

in front of 3,000 people?

I happened to see a venue we could book immediately at the Yaon concert hall.

It fell out of the blue.

-[Sho] Pretty shit gig, if you ask me. -Ooh, you really think so?

You got us opening for OVER CHROME. Are you for real right now?

[Kazushi] And being ready for a concert in a week is impossible.

-What about the songs? -The songs are right here.

Here.

For you.

You too, Akane.

In the blink of an eye, I'll have another song for us.

Rehearsal, then we'll dial them in for the concert.

-I don't know. -You may be all right doing that.

Is she gonna be all right, though?

[silence]

[uplifting music playing]

Club jazz was born from acid jazz, where a DJ mixes music…

[music continues]

Stop. Stop. Mm-hmm.

It's too rigid. Try again.

Stop! One more time.

[uplifting music continues]

Okay.

[Kazushi] Hey, that's mine.

[Akane] Uh, sorry.

You think you'd know someone's cup by looking at it.

The design on it's very unique.

Right, I'm sorry.

-Sorry for the wait. -Thank you so much.

Thank you for your patience.

[Kai] What?

Okay.

Yes. I'm sorry.

[Sho] There.

Oh.

He can't feel the temperature of the room when he's deep in thought.

Oh.

I know what section you mean. This fourth bar right here?

Right. Less of a bouncy feel.

-A sharp edge, like figure skating. -[Kazushi] I'm with you on that.

Akane, you added some arrangements to that part, right?

Oh, I don't know. Did I?

What you did was different than the sheet music.

It's better that way. Do your version instead.

[music fades]

[playing slow riff]

[music fades]

[steady rainfall]

[piano playing "Für Elise" by Beethoven]

[playing jazz arrangement of "Für Elise"]

Oh.

[continues improvising]

-[applause] -[woman 1] Incredible.

-[man 1] Amazing. Wow! -[woman 1] You must be a pro.

-[Kazushi] It was nothing. -[man 2] What a surprise.

[man 1] You're so good.

-Oh. -[man 2] That guy's crazy.

[Akane] Here you go.

That was the coolest version of "Für Elise" I've ever heard.

-Thank you. -[sighs] You're amazing, Kazushi.

Sensei and Sho are so incredibly talented too.

When you play your instruments, you lose yourselves.

You're all so talented.

It almost feels like I'll never be as good.

[chuckles]

I completely agree.

[poignant music playing]

What?

Your sound has a lack of sensitivity.

It drags down the sounds that surround it.

Your drums don't stand a chance if they can't tune into everyone else.

If you're not as talented, then step down.

It's only right. I'm begging.

The truth?

The sound you're doing,

I don't like it.

[phone buzzing]

NAOKI

[buzz of excited voices]

[band playing "Turbulence"]

-♪ Yeah, this is the brand-new era… ♪ -[cheering]

♪ Yeah, what do you wanna scream? Come on ♪

[in Japanese] ♪ Ah, kick up a fuss and switch it up ♪

♪ Disastrous, it's a furious turbulence ♪

♪ Play a deep-deep-deep and killer tune Ignite a mental fire like a fool ♪

-♪ Damn it! Damn it! ♪ -♪ Dummies all around me ♪

-♪ Be crazy, crazy ♪ -♪ It's our brand-new era ♪

-♪ Damn it! Damn it! ♪ -♪ Expose the dark around me ♪

♪ I don't need no love or dreams, okay? ♪

-[cheering] -♪ Now shake off any doubt ♪

♪ Ain't no good or evil here… ♪

Sensei.

♪ With your scars as evidence Turn the dark to radiance ♪

♪ Embrace the voice You always believed in ♪

[in English] ♪ Hey, turbulence Get me, get me higher! ♪

[Japanese] ♪ I'm lookin' through The shadows for a sign ♪

♪ The memories I ripped from my mind ♪

♪ You who felt the same pain Been maligned ♪

♪ Stand together now and bring the fight ♪

♪ Kick up a fuss, and switch it up Disastrous, it's a furious turbulence ♪

♪ Play a deep-deep-deep and killer tune Ignite a mental fire like a fool ♪

-♪ Damn it! Damn it! ♪ -♪ Dummies all around me ♪

-♪ Be crazy, crazy! ♪ -♪ It's our brand-new era ♪

♪ Damn it! Damn it! ♪

♪ Expose the dark around me Give it to me, I'll devour your scream ♪

[cheering]

[vocalist] Yeah!

[sighing]

[sighs]

-[sighs] -Great show tonight.

[man] Chill out, Toya.

We don't want any trouble here.

[Toya] He's the one who's asking for it.

What's your deal? Are you trying to screw with our concert?

You're the one who said we could play.

Means a lot. We're excited.

[Toya] Yeah, right.

So you're not gonna cry when OVER CHROME wrecks you guys, right?

Of course not. The fans will choose who they like.

[gentle music playing]

I have no intention of fighting with you. Promise, Toya.

It just so happens to be this is how it all shook out.

You know how it is.

I just want to get on that stage and play my music.

You don't have anything stopping you, though.

Your presence alone draws a crowd.

So stop trying to make us part of your drama.

I don't want that.

[Toya] Hey, you.

[Akane] Huh? Yeah?

[Toya] Are you confident?

-[music intensifies] -Huh?

Enough to guarantee his music won't be sabotaged because of you.

Do you think you got the guts to rise to the occasion?

Go ahead, answer.

-[gasps] -You can't even answer.

[Akane] No.

You're not being fair.

It's true, I admit.

I don't have confidence now.

[scoffs]

[Akane] But…

I'm full of ambition.

Huh?

Well, music is sound born of nothing.

It's a moment in time, and then it's gone.

I'm saying that I can have confidence. I can get there.

Huh?

Whatever.

We're gonna wipe the floor with you.

[Akane] Excuse me. Sorry.

Sensei.

[gasps]

[fast drum solo playing]

[panting]

[phone ringing]

Yes? Hello.

Hey, Akane. It's Sho.

Hi.

Naoki isn't back yet. Do you know where he went?

Huh?

It's true. I don't have confidence now.

Huh?

[Sho] Hello?

I think that… Sensei might have got mad at what I said.

-Huh? -[panting]

It's because I couldn't say I was confident.

[poignant music playing]

[panting]

[gasps]

Sensei!

[sound of rainfall fades]

[emotional music intensifies]

[splashes echoing]

[Akane, muffled] Sensei.

Are you okay?

Sensei, can you hear me?

Sensei! Sensei!

-[resonating] -Sensei!

-Are you okay? -Ah! That's it!

[music stops]

Akane?

What are you doing here? What's going on?

That's what I was going to ask. What are you doing out here?

Huh?

What?

[wind gusting]

[gentle song in Japanese playing]

I had this song.

It's been floating around in my head the past few days.

I finished it. I even have the arrangement all worked out.

It's the greatest thing I've ever written.

I was thinking I could die and leave this song as my final work.

So I didn't let you down?

Let me down?

Did you forget what happened before you wrote the song?

Oh…

I'm having trouble remembering.

I went to see Toya's concert earlier.

Wait.

Remind me why you're here, Akane?

[music stops]

That's a relief to hear.

[music resumes]

I apologize.

For Miyako.

And for how Toya treated you.

They're completely wrong when they talk about your sound.

They can only see what's on the outside.

They care about things like status, age, and career.

They have no say when it comes to the music our group makes together.

The way I see it…

when in the face of narrow-minded thinking like that,

I think it's time that we create a new sound.

Let's show the naysayers that we aren't afraid.

Anyway.

You should know that I'm glad that you're full of ambition.

You remember what I said.

That's good enough for now.

I'll hear you say you're confident one day.

One thing I know for sure,

we'll do great things together.

[sighs]

Okay.

[music stops]

[splashes echo]

[song resumes]

[song continues]

[music fades]

Wow, that was great.

The aggressive drums really keep the energy up.

-[chuckles] -[panting]

That's the sound Akane brought us.

-[laughs] -[Sho chuckles]

[thud]

-[Akane] Sensei! -[Sho] What?

Is he okay?

Yeah, he's okay.

-Open the door, Kazushi. -[door opens]

[Sho] Thanks.

[thunder rumbling]

[man, echoing] Naoki.

Listen to me, Naoki.

I won't let you leave me.

You're not going anywhere!

[gasps]

Are you doing okay, Akane?

Yes. I'm doing good.

You're good at staying cool, Akane.

It's a rare strength of mine.

[Naoki sighs]

On that day…

it started to resonate again.

Alongside your drum.

That vital sound inside of me that had broken and stopped.

It was alive again, before I knew it.

[playing together]

[Naoki] The sound I can't make on my own.

I went looking for it.

That brought me to see Sho.

Next, I found Kazushi.

TO AKANE SAIJO: PLEASE COME IN

Then, I searched for you, Akane.

[piano playing gently]

I was called to you by your sound.

I listened for it.

[silence]

[excited chatter]

[gentle piano music playing]

[woman] Guitars are all tuned up.

[man 1] Five minutes till showtime.

-[man 2] Okay. -[man 3] Copy.

OPENING ACT: FUJITANI BAND

[man 1] Band members, please get ready.

[sighs] Okay, Saijo.

-Let's go. -[Akane] Yeah.

-[woman] It's so great. -[man] The merch is awesome!

[gentle music continues]

[music fades]

-[woman 1] What? -[woman 2] Who are these guys?

-I didn't know there was an opener? -[man 1] I don't know them.

-I thought this was a real concert. -[woman 2] Nobody asked for an opener.

[woman 3] Hang on, isn't that Sho Takaoka?

[woman 4] He must be helping out?

-[man 1] Get on with the concert already! -[man 2] Yeah!

What do we got here?

You look like a mummy down there.

[Naoki sighs] Ah, Toya. You look so cool.

Could you at least act like you're not a weirdo?

Otherwise, it's no fun giving you shit.

[chuckles] Mmm.

[grunts]

Watch this.

This will be a performance like no other.

-[man 1] Who's arriving? -[man 2] A producer, Mr. Isagi.

[suspenseful music playing]

Sorry, sir. May I check your pass, please?

Let them in. Forgive him.

-[Isagi] Yeah. -This way, please.

Actually, I want to sit with the audience today.

[staff member] What?

I have a friend here, and it's her first time playing.

Of course. This way, please.

[man 1] Is OVER CHROME gonna play or not?

[man 2] We came for Mahiro! Mahiro!

Get off the stage already.

Can you even play the drums?

Like I said.

I knew how this would go.

[woman 1] Get OVER CHROME on the stage!

[woman 2] This is taking too long.

-[man 3] We never asked for you. -[man 4] If you can't play, go home!

[woman 3] Come on, already! OVER CHROME!

[sounds fade]

[quiet music playing]

[Akane] The fear

of not being wanted by anyone.

I've felt it before.

It's similar to the fear I've felt since I started playing music.

[footsteps echoing]

[Akane] But now, I'm not afraid anymore.

Because I know

that all this time, I was wanted…

by his sound.

[Naoki] Nice to meet you guys. We're TENBLANK.

TENBLANK.

[Naoki] On guitar, Sho Takaoka.

On keyboard, Kazushi Sakamoto.

On drums, Akane Saijo.

On bass and vocals,

Naoki Fujitani.

[band playing "Matrix"]

[music fades]

[uplifting, quirky music playing]

[music fades]

[gentle, emotional music playing]