During the soccer regional tournament, RyÅta misses the soccer goal on his last kick, also costing his team the game. With the day of the piano competition approaching, a troubled KÅsei collapses from exhaustion during physical education class and is carted to the infirmary. Kaori later walks with KÅsei to the park, where he says that he is trapped in Saki's shadow. However, Kaori believes that KÅsei is himself, giving him comfort and support. On the day of the piano competition, KÅsei enters the concert hall and walks past a boy and a girl awaiting his arrival. A flashback reveals that Takeshi Aiza and Emi Igawa were piano prodigies who were jealous of KÅsei since he always bested them in every piano competition during their childhood. As the piano competition begins, KÅsei sits in the hallway, scared out of his mind. As Takeshi is called up onto the stage, KÅsei recalls Kaori telling him to be confident in himself.