The autumn he was twelve, piano prodigy Kousei Arima suddenly found himself unable to play the piano after his mother's death. Kousei quits the piano and resumes a normal life with his childhood friends, and meets an intriguing girl on a date.
Kousei goes to the concert hall to watch Kaori play her violin. Her performance of the `Kreutzer Sonata' is completely different than that of the other contestants. Ignoring what the sheet music calls for, she makes the piece uniquely her own.
On his way home from school, Kousei runs into Kaori and he goes with her to a café as Watari's substitute. In the café is a piano, and Kaori orders Kousei to play it, but his performance doesn't go as planned.
Kousei and Kaori play together in the contest. Although they start off quietly, just as the melody changes, Kaori unleashes her true colours and she starts playing the violin with her whole body. In order to keep up, Kousei must play precisely.
Kaori has been hospitalised, following her performance in the competition. As they stopped playing at one point, they have been disqualified, and Kaori's lack of response is making Kousei feel even worse about it.
Kousei is in shock after he hears a recording of himself. Without giving a thought to Kousei's feelings, Kaori informs him that she's already chosen his piece out, Chopin's `Étude Op. 25, No. 5', and sent in his submission form for a competition.
Natsuki Hanae
Kōsei Arima
Risa Taneda
Kaori Miyazono
Ai Kayano
Nagi Aizato
Ayane Sakura
Tsubaki Sawabe
Mamiko Noto
Saki Arima