Kono Oto Tomare [Chapter 78 - Crossroad]

[Free Talk: This is the last scanlation of this Chinese group for this series. Apparently, a Chinese company has bought the Chinese rights for the comic. So, if there are no other groups/individual who are going to scanlate this, this might also be my last summary for the series. And, we’ll just have to wait for the English scanlations.]

Beep. In the Line group chat, “You have a new message.” It is from Michi apologizing that he cannot go to the morning practice. Shouta asked if everything is alright. Michi replies that everything is okay. “After I bring my younger sister to kindergarten school, I’ll be passing by the hospital.”

Kouta replies, is that so. “I hope auntie gets well soon. Then, see you later😖” At the hospital, Michi holds a couple of bags to his mother. He tells her that these are a change of clothes and other things that she’ll be using.

With her right leg in a cast, Michi’s mother says ‘otsukaresama’ and it’s a great help. Michi asks if he’ll leave the toothbrush and things for washing here, over this side. His mother says that it would indeed be convenient to put it over there.

Michi says that this is the hospital of Tetsuki’s father and he didn’t imagine that he’ll be under his care in this kind of way. Michi’s mother tells him to send her regards to Tetsuki. Michi says okay.

After a pause, she asks if there’s no problem with breakfast and did Hana cry. Michi admits that she cried terribly and An was the one who made breakfast. His mother says is that so... “You also have morning practice today, right? I made you unable to go.”

Michi assures her that it is okay. “By the way, do you still need anything?” She says no, thanks. After a pause, his mother says, “...Michi, sorry. Right now is a crucial time for your club, right? *Michi looks at his smiling mother* Even if the doctor SAID THAT, but your old mom can quickly get well from this little fracture!”

Michi tells her not to force herself and during this time, she should properly rest. “...Also, I still haven’t told you but in the club, I can play considerably well so it is okay to take a little break.” Looking apprehensive, his mother says, is that so...

While the guys are having lunch at the rooftop, Sane exclaims in disbelief that Michi’s mother has to be hospitalized for a month due to a complex fracture!!? Michi sheepishly says yes, and it’s quite a headache.

“Besides, it is even at the hospital of Tetsuki’s dad... By the way, does a fracture really heal that long... It also looks quite serious since I heard that mom’s situation will last for long time.”

Sane is that so, quite serious... Kouta says that it is fortunate that she didn’t hit her head. Michi says that too... Looking at Michi seriously, Tetsuki asks how will he handle the things at home. This somewhat startled Michi.

Tetsuki tells the others that Michi’s dad rarely comes home due to work so what about household work and also taking care of his siblings. Kouta exclaims that’s right!

Michi says that he talked about it with An yesterday. Chika asks, An? Michi says that he still hasn’t met her. “She’s my oldest younger sister and she is currently in third year junior high. An will be in charge of breakfast and sending Hana-chan...

She’s my youngest younger sister to go to kindergarten. Dinner... I’ll think of a way regarding that... As for the others... Honestly speaking, I also don’t know what to do. Before, it is basically my mom who did the household chores, all by herself...

Saying that is quite embarrassing because aside from cooking [<- maybe very basic or it is a wrong translation ^^;] and sending my younger sister to school, I still don’t know how to do the other household chores.”

Sane nervously says regarding dinner, can he cook. “Can’t you ask An-chan to do it?” Michi says that she is an examining student. “She wants to take a test to get into a good school... so after school, she still has to go to cram class...”

Kouta says, “...Eh but...like that, Michi...what about...the club...?” Everyone looks surprised as they look at stumped Michi. Michi sheepishly smiles. 

He says in short, in the following month, practice would only be during noon and less than an hour after school. “The situation is probably like that! Ha ha ha, ah...I really don’t know what I should do...” Then, he sees Sane’s distraught and tense expression.

Noticing that Michi is looking at him, Sane snaps out of it. Looking away, Sane quickly says, is that so! “But at least, it is not like you totally couldn’t come to practice! That’s great!” Michi says yes, that’s right. Then, he looks tense.

Michi stands up and tidies up his things. He tells the others, so since he didn’t do morning practice, he has to quickly make up for it by practicing this noon. Sane says okay.

After Michi left, Sane confesses for being quite awful. “...Just now, it is possible that my face has ‘isn’t that really terrible’ written all over it. How can I be like that... And it is even seen by Michi... At this kind of time, how can I continue to compel him to...”

Chika says what about it. “Just now, I ought to also have that kind of expression. The fact is, it is indeed very terrible so what should be done. ...besides, compared to anyone else, he ought to clearly know about it.”

At the hallway, Michi stops walking and clenches his fist. He tells himself that it will be alright. “It will be alright. It isn’t like I totally do not have time for practice. In short, there will be a way. I’ll definitely think of a way.”

During club meeting, Takezou says is that so...then that’s really quite hard for him. Michi apologizes and says that he also knows that the present time is very crucial. Takezou says that it is alright, if it is a month— Suzuka interrupts by telling them that it won’t be just for a month.

“After going out of the hospital, things won’t immediately go back to how it used to be. She has to temporarily depend on a cane to walk and has to do physical therapy [/rehabilitation exercises]. You have to be psychologically prepared that for at least two months, you won’t be able to undergo the same level of practice with the others.”

Everyone becomes tense about this. Natsu looks somewhat sad. Hiro exclaims that it will be alright. “It goes without saying that our club really exceeds the number of practice! Before, wasn’t it said that compared to practice time, we are going to emphasize on quality! In short, there will be a way!”

Suzuka says because there is no way so saying to improve [practice] is with the prerequisite that they ensure their amount of practice time. Takezou calls out to him. Hiro is surprised by that.

Suzuka tells him not to run away upon encountering this situation and on contrary, they’ll just going around in circles. “Sakai, honestly speaking, in accordance with your amount of practice from here on, I think that you won’t be able to play the ‘Ai’ part that you’re responsible for.” This stuns Michi and causes Takezou to call out Suzuka.

Suzuka calmly tells Takezou that based on their usual amount of practice and the level of the composition, it is basically impossible to suddenly improve one’s level. “I think that it isn’t possible to play it if you were to decrease the amount of practice.”

Sane and Kouta protest about Suzuka’s way of saying and he shouldn’t say that at this time. “You know that Michi cannot ensure the amount of practice, so you plan to abandon him--”

Suzuka says that he doesn’t plan on abandoning him, he has a suggestion. “Until now, except for classes, you spent most of your time in the club and practicing as if your life depended on it. Right now, you suddenly have to do household chores along with dealing with kids which you haven’t done before...

...Basically, I cannot imagine how tiring it is to have so many responsibilities. So, Sakai, I’m going to change your part into a solo. Primarily, I’ll revise the difficulty to play and the difficulty to understand the part.”

After a pause, Michi asks if he is saying that only his part would become simple [/easy to play]. Suzuka says that’s right, that is what he meant. Michi recalls during summer training when Chika said that for Suzuka to give each of them a part, it is because he thinks that it is a piece that they can play.

Michi says that he doesn’t want the piece to change. Suzuka says that he’s afraid that showing off until the end will just end up in playing it messily. “It is better to change it and make it a bit easier--”

Flustered Michi shouts, “Who knows!!! Right now, it is still hard to say!! It’s possible that my family’s situation, in fact, the problem isn’t that big. My mom also said that it is possible that she’ll recover earlier than expected. I haven’t tried it yet so don’t say anything yet [/that’s how it is]. *bows while clenching fist* ...let me...do it...”

Everyone looks tense and sympathetic. Chika calls out to Michi and says, here. He gives Michi the koto and tells him that they don’t have a lot of time so quickly start practicing. Michi exclaims, okay. Kouta and Sane say yes, it is useless to just keep on talking!

While the others prepare to practice, Takezou tells Suzuka that he’ll think over Michi’s situation and also properly ponder over their method of practice so please... After a pause, Suzuka scratches his head. He relents and says, fine. Atsumu is relieved by that while Natsu is in deep thought over it.

Comment: At first, I was wondering why there is a special focus on Natsu regarding Michi’s situation. Then, I remembered that it is probably the same kind of situation Natsu had all his life. Aside from chores, he also has to have a part-time job so he doesn’t have much time for club activities.

He can definitely relate to what Michi is going through but then, it isn’t exactly the same situation. Unlike Michi, Natsu can easily learn how to play with the group. So, was he thinking about not giving in that much persistence/dedication to continue with club activities/playing music? Or, maybe not having this kind of club members?

Or perhaps, thinking that they are all naïve to think that Michi can still do it given the circumstances. After all, this is like expectation vs reality. Can it really be done? Suzuka’s suggestion is the quite logical and practical. Being young and idealistic, it is understandable why Michi and others doesn’t want easily give up.

I guess the best compromise is to put in a time limit to see if Michi can still catch up before switching to making his part easy to play. Somehow, I wonder if that will affect their chances in winning the competition. Though, in a way, the consolation would be they get to play all together one last time.

On a side note, Chika has been reacting quite well in both instances. He immediately stopped Sane’s guilt trip and break the intense moment on making an important decision by going to practice. Just like Michi, I’m surprised that it can take a month’s hospitalization for a fracture. I always thought that if one’s in a cast, one can go home and just have check-ups. ^^;

And, I guess in this chapter, we know how rich Tetsuki is. I wonder if he or the others can help with the household chores. Like, someone helping with the laundry, someone cooking extra and share it with them for dinner...those kind of stuff. Scans by 二次元秘店汉化組

Quote of the day:

Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of. ~ Charles Spurgeon