Starting this year, the band holds auditions for members participating in the competition. First-year Hazuki has a chance, too. The bass section does everything they can to encourage her.

The competition performance is "only" 12 minutes long. It's both a blink of an eye and an eternity. The Concert Band members bet their entire youths on this competition. And Kitauji High School Concert Band's performance begins.

Having won first place at the Kyoto competition, Kumiko and the band are preparing to compete in the Kansai competition. A shadow looms over them when an old member, Nozomi Kasaki, enters the picture.

The high school Kitauji fanfare begins its intensive summer camp before the Kansai competition. Kumiko is still trying to find out more about Asuka's refusal to reinstate Nozomi and intends to respect her promise to the girl.

It's the school festival at Kitauji High School. Kumiko's sister insists on quitting college, while Taki reveals some things about his past with his wife.

Taki's deadline for Asuka draws near. She refuses to admit that she wants, more than anyone, to compete in the Nationals.

With the competition over and the third-years graduating, Kumiko is left to sort through her feelings: Is it a love of concert band, of the euphonium, or of something else?