Guitar strings sure are scary.
They're thin and tough, and I'm scared I'll cut my fingers.
You got that right! If you're not careful, you'll slice your fingers to the bone, and blood will spurt out everywhere!
Mio, why did you scream?
I-I can't stand all that gory talk!
Don't worry Mio, I'm fine.
See? I'm not really bleeding. I'm perfectly okay.
Your fingertips will toughen up the more you play and practice,
so I can almost promise you that you won't be doing any bleeding.
Here, check it out!
Wow, Mio, you're right! They're all squishy!
Squishy, squishy, squishy...
Squishy, squishy...
Um, are you about done?
No, let me squeeze them some more!
TRIPPIN' OUT
It's really noisy Never ending girls talk
I can't wait until the bell rings at the end of class
Even if I'm late,
leaving early is a
No no!
study
hard
I'll
after
School
My heart won't stop thumping
Why is it going on full throttle?
Hope
Desire
Suffering
Wrap them all up with a ribbon
I'll gather lots of data
and I'll put it all in a new type
I have a photo album without guys
and a diary written with love
If I cut my skirt by 2 centimeters,
I can fly
Further than yesterday,
I'll reach a higher octave
than the day before
Jumping
out
It's beautiful Never ending girls life
I'm looking forward to the daily concert
Even if I get up early,
going to bed early is a
No no!
Fight with all
W
e've
got
Hooray
It's splendid
Never ending
Girls talk
The afternoon
tea time
is perfect
My unrequited
L
O
V
E
will be defeated
But here I go!
I'll
sing
for
you
After school
I know I'm supposed to practice, but I have absolutely no idea where I should even start.
Here.
Huh?
You should probably start yourself off by learning all of the chords.
Wow, thank you!
Um, could you please teach me how to read musical notation first?
You don't even know that?!
Special Training!
See you!
Bye bye!
See you tomorrow!
Let's see...
A "C" goes like this, and this is a "D"...
Yui!
Nodoka!
What's that? A new kind of greeting?
The thing is, I had them teach me a bunch of guitar chords today!
Sounds like you're really working hard.
Speaking of which, you're heading home a lot later than usual today.
Mm, I spent the afternoon in the library studying for our midterms.
Ah! We've got midterm exams?!
Is that a chord too?
Oh, wow... It's time for midterms already?
And here I was all set to buckle down and really practice my guitar...
Oh, come on now, Yui. It's not like you've studied for a single test since middle school.
Oh, yeah, that's right!
Well, I guess it's all good, then!
Um, I wouldn't exactly say that...
Sign: Preparation Room
We're finally free of all those tests!
It's terrible, the way they suddenly got harder once we got into high school.
That's for sure.
And I... see someone who's having an even harder time than we did.
Did your tests go that badly, Yui?
Seems I'm the only one in my class who has to take a make-up...
E-Everything will be fine!
I'm sure it's just that you didn't really study properly this time.
Mugi's right! Just study real hard, and you'll ace that make-up test easy!
Actually, I didn't study for it at all.
I take back my words of encouragement, you flake!
I don't get it, Yui. Why didn't you study?
Oh, I really had planned to, but I... come on, when you study for a test, don't you ever end up fixating on everything but studying?
Ah, I know what that's like. Like when I gotta clean up my room and stuff.
I practiced on the guitar when I was taking a break from studying, and I couldn't put it down.
In the end, I didn't get any studying done at all.
But...
my time wasn't wasted, 'cause I learned a whole bunch of chords!
How about applying those powers of concentration to your studying, huh?
You're a big talker. How did you do, Ritsu?
Huh? Who, me?
Passed with flying colors, thank you very much!
You know, this doesn't really fit with your character...
When you're a brilliant renaissance girl like me, everything comes quite easily to you!
Yeah, but I was always under the impression that you were just like me!
Who was it that showed up on my doorstep in tears the night before the exam?
Hey, she doesn't need to know that!
Now that's the Ritsu I know.
I don't wanna hear that from somebody who flunked the test!
How about the two of you? How did you do on your tests?
Here.
Oh, well, you know, how it goes sometimes. I just made a bunch of dumb mistakes. That's all!
Have a heart, please say something!
On another day...
Thank you for your time.
Oh, look at that! It's sweet bean jelly!
They said I'm banned from all club activities until I pass the make-up exam.
Wow, Yui, that's pretty harsh...
Well, then, is it okay for you to even be here?
Oh, sure, it's okay. I'm just here to eat sweets with my good friends.
Oh, right. Then everything is fine!
How do you say that it's okay?!
If you're banned from participating in clubs, that means our club will be back down to three members.
No way, are you saying that we'll--
We won't meet the minimum requirement.
We'll be... disbanded?
When is your make-up test?
One week from today.
A week from today, huh?
Well, with that much time, it's okay for me to come here every day, right?
That's not much time at all!
Yui, if you don't pass your test next week, the Light Music Club might very well cease to exist.
Yeah, you're right.
I wanna keep doing fun stuff with you guys, so I'll work real hard!
Okay, time to study. Let's do this!
How did I let this get so messy?
Wow, it's that late?
I have to bathe and get to bed!
Sign: 6 days until the make-up
Meetings sure aren't as worthwhile without Yui here.
That hasn't seemed to affect your appetite.
I know, Mio, those two things have absolutely nothing to do with each other!
I wonder if Yui's devoting herself to her studying?
Oh, I'm sure she's doing fine.
For x² - y², it's subtract y² divided by x. So, x = y² / x
x² : x squared / : divided by = : equals
See, I can do this if I set my mind to it!
This is x²y - 4y, so I start by factoring out the y, leaving me with (x² - 4).
( ) : the sum of
Sign: 3 days until the make-up
Yui's studying has to be coming along well, right?
You know, I've been wondering that, too.
All right, now I'm really getting worried, guys!
Hey, I know, why don't we all send her an encouraging text tonight?
Good idea!
I'm gonna send her as soon as I get home!
Oh, hey, it's from Mio.
Mio-chan / (no title) / Have you been studying properly? Unpreparedness is your greatest enemy.
Message received.
It's from Mugi-chan!
Sorry for bothering you so late at night. Do your best, but don't overexert yourself.
I have tasty snacks waiting for you.
Thank you so much, Mugi-chan.
It's from Ritchan!
Take my yell!
Sign: 2 days until the make-up
No matter how harder I try, I just don't have the focus that I need.
Book: Even a monkey can do it!! 5 Minute Concentration Training
But with this, I'm gonna be just fine!
All right, I'll use this book to boost my concentration for the first five minutes.
It's no use! I just can't read this!
No, no, no, no!
The problem is that I always give up before I even start!
And that's why I need you to help me, Mio!
Top: Preparation Room Bottom: The day before the make-up
You mean that you didn't do any studying at all?
I just couldn't do it!
But if you don't get a passing grade, we'll--
That's the last thing I want to have happen!
We'll have to have a cram session tonight.
You mean it?
Listen, if you have Mio teaching you, you're gonna pass your exams for sure!
She's really great at cramming information into your head!
I'm gonna teach her normally, darn it!
My dad had to go away on a business trip, and my mom decided to go with him, so we don't have to worry about disturbing anyone.
Hey, didn't you say that you also had a little sister?
Mm, yeah, and I'm pretty sure she'll be at home tonight.
Well, if she's home, won't we just be a bother to her?
Yui's little sister, huh?
Big Sister!
Little Sister!
Big Sister!
I think we'll be pretty safe on that score!
Come in, everyone.
Thanks having us over.
Hi, welcome home, Sis.
Oh, are these your friends?
It's a pleasure to meet you.
I'm Yui's sister, Ui.
Thank you for looking out for my sister.
Here are some slippers for you.
So polite and mature!
Sign: Yui's Room
Hard to believe two sisters could be so different.
Different how?
It's almost like your little sister managed to get all the good traits in the family.
What?!
Excuse me. I brought some tea if anyone would like some.
And sorry, I'm afraid these are the only snacks we have for you.
She really is polite and mature!
So, what grade are you in, Ui?
I'm in ninth grade.
Just one year behind us!
Taking your entrance exams?
Just about.
Do you know which high school you wanna go to?
I'd like to go to Sakuragaoka if I can manage it.
But I'm not sure if I'm a good enough student to get in.
You sister managed to get in, so I'm sure you'll do fine.
Join us, join us!
You just gotta get your sister to help you study, that's all.
Yup!
I, uh... I'd rather do it all by myself.
Boy, she shot you down!
Why? I can study just as good as anybody!
But you know, my sister can do anything once she sets her mind to it.
Definitely polite and mature.
All right, we don't have a lot of time, so this is gonna be concentrated.
Page 20 in the book.
This expression.
What do you get when you expand it using this one?
Here.
Oh, I get it.
Oh, manga!
Would you shut up!
Yeah, my feet are asleep again.
Poke.
Ritsu!
It's no use, I just can't concentrate anymore!
Come on, now, Yui. It's only been 30 minutes since we started working.
Yui, when you're done studying, we can all eat this cake that I brought,
so hang in there a while longer, okay?
Attagirl, Mugi!
How can I get back in there?
Oh, hello, girls! I see y'all hard at work.
Well, that didn't work.
Yay! It's me, everybody!
I needed an entrance with more impact.
That's it xxx all present! I am cop...!
Shut up!
This is so great!
Cake like this makes life worth living.
Boy, what kind of life do you two lead, anyway?
Coming!
I wonder who that is?
Oh, hi Nodoka.
So, are you making any progress?
I am. Thanks for asking.
Your friends from the Light Music Club?
Let me introduce you.
This is Mio Akiyama.
And Ritsu Tainaka.
And this is Tsumugi Kotobuki.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you, too.
My name is Nodoka Manabe. Yui and I have been friends forever.
We even ended up in the same class in high school.
Yeah, we've been together pretty much since kindergarten.
We have this weird connection.
Anyway, I thought you all might get hungry so I brought you some sandwiches.
Great timing, I was just getting hungry!
Didn't you just finish eating cake?
No problem at all! Just pass them over here!
Thank you!
In middle school, I came down with a bad fever and had to miss classes for a while.
Yui came over every day to bring me that day's syllabus and homework.
I've actually never been sick a day in my life!
One day, she accidentally left one of her test papers in the daily syllabus that she brought over.
You haven't changed one bit!
But she really was a huge help to me.
Reminds me of that time, Ritsu--
No, don't tell them out!
She what? Tell us!
You're not gonna believe this, but Ritsu actually--
That can't be true!
You did it!
By the way, are you done studying?
All right, everything we've covered so far will be on the test.
In the case of the occasion x² - xy - 6y² + 2x - y + 1,
you wanna first simplify by trying to factor out the common factor of x.
Now when we do that, what we end up with is x² - (y - 2)...
and x - 6y² - y + 1
= x² - (y - 2) times (2y + 1)...
Wake up!
Please, get up!
Huh? Where am I?
Yui, stay awake! You'll die if you doze off!
I came this close to falling asleep!
Wait a minute.
Commander, I don't see Squad Member Ritsu here!
She's outside, and she's... playing!
It pains me to say it, but there is absolutely nothing I can do for her.
No!
Hey, Yui?
Oh, Squad Member Ritsu!
May fortune... smile upon you!
(x - 2y + 4)
(x - y - 1)...
Yes, I'm all done!
Well, I think you've got the hang of it now.
You'll be able to ace the make-up test.
Thanks, Mio-chan, and Thanks you, Mugi-chan!
I think it's time we called it a night.
Hey, where's Ritsu?
Oh, I lost again!
She's getting way too cozy. Wait! Lost again?
Very well, begin!
I wonder how Yui is doing?
Oh, I think she's gonna be just fine.
Isn't that thing you should worry for?!
Ah, Miss Hirasawa.
Ms. Yamanaka.
So, how did your test go?
It went...
It certainly looks like you studied hard for it.
As long as you don't give up, you're sure to succeed eventually!
Yui gets her results today, right?
Top: Preparation Room Bottom: A Few Days Later
I wonder if she was able to pass this time?
After all the studying, I'm sure she did fine.
Well, how did you do?
What am I gonna do, Mio?
You mean you failed again?!
I got a hundred!
You got a what?!
Thank goodness. Now all of your tests are behind you for the time being.
Yeah, she's right.
I couldn't have done it without you guys! Thank you so much!
Oh, well, it was nothing!
You didn't do a damn thing to help!
Let's get right down to practicing, then, shall we?
Now, you were practicing your chords while you were studying, weren't you?
Why don't you try playing something.
I have it down cold! Ask me anything! X, Y, whatever!
All right, then. Why don't you play us a C chord followed by an A minor 7, a D minor 7, and then a G7.
Sure thing!
What's the matter?
I forgot how...
It's all of the X and Y stuff I've been studying.
So you're back to square one?!
Um, let me see. Was this an X?
Wait, I've never seen that chord before.
Oh, it's brand-new. See, it's like this!
Mio, I'm positive this is an X!
But there's no such thing as an X chord!
You can play that?
Please don't say you are lazy,
because you are actually crazy
The swans are actually
kicking their legs
hard out
of sight
Being true and sincere to my instincts,
I accept that I'll be tossed around
The path ahead looks bright
That's why I
take rests
sometimes
If there's a shortcut, it's the best route
If I have wings to use, then it'll be the best
Crap, I broke a nail!
I'll fix it with glue
That's enough to give me
a sense of achievement
What's important is to take good care of yourself
If you can't love yourself, then you can't love someone else
Please
don't
say
you
are
because
you
are
actually
Skilled
hawks
hide their talons out of sight
I try to use my imagination,
but reality is a bitch
I'm still just learning,
so I'll be out of pitch sometimes
Next Episode
We're having a training camp!
Training camp?
That's right. For one thing summer vacation is almost here.
We're going to the beach?! Or maybe to the mountains?!
We're not going out there to play around!
This will be a band training camp!
We'll be practicing nonstop from sunup to sundown.
Yeah, definitely! Let's go! I've always dreamed of having a sleepover with you all.
Training Camp!