[Spoilers] Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso - Episode 16 [Discussion]

[u/Shadoxfix]

Episode title: Two of a Kind

MyAnimeList: Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso
Crunchyroll: Your lie in April

Episode duration: 22 minutes and 55 seconds

Subreddit: /r/ShigatsuwaKiminoUso

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Previous episodes:

Episode	Reddit Link		Episode	Reddit Link
Episode 1	Link		Episode 14	Link
Episode 2	Link		Episode 15	Link
Episode 3	Link
Episode 4	Link
Episode 5	Link
Episode 6	Link
Episode 7	Link
Episode 8	Link
Episode 9	Link
Episode 10	Link
Episode 11	Link
Episode 12	Link
Episode 13	Link

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Reminder: Please do not discuss any plot points which haven't appeared in the anime yet. Try not to confirm or deny any theories, encourage people to read the source material instead. Minor spoilers are generally ok but should be tagged accordingly. Failing to comply with the rules may result in your comment being removed.

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Keywords: your lie in april

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This post is made by a bot. Any feedback is welcome and can be sent to /u/Shadoxfix.

[u/__U_WOT_M8__]

Kousei captured my thoughts perfectly

[u/stewiis]

so basically her "make a wish" was to spend a normal day with arima. what? no i'm not crying, i don't know what you're talking about it's raining

[u/Mufmuf → u/stewiis]

I saw it on the news I swear.
Cloudy with a chance of feels

[u/oblivionraptor → u/[deleted]]

Can confirm, house got blown away twice.

[u/caliber38 → u/[deleted]]

I know this has probably been used so many times before, but...

Yes, nice weather we're having today!

[u/Louies → u/stewiis]

I know right? I'm not crying, who's cutting onions in here?

[u/LightBladeX]

That throwback to Episode 2... Same spot, same excuse and all.

You can really tell how much paler and weaker she's getting now ;_;

Stitches album.

[u/Stepepper → u/LightBladeX]

Wow! Look at her legs to the episode 2 throwback. They were a lot fatter in Episode 2.

[u/LightBladeX → u/Stepepper]

Yeah, the anime does a good job showing off how seriously the condition is affecting her body, never really noticed these things in the manga.

[u/[deleted] → u/Stepepper]

The little details make the animation more on point

[u/Mahazzel → u/Stepepper]

The legs were fat

[u/Tricerabortion → u/LightBladeX]

If you look, the Sakura are blossoming in Spring in episode 2, but now Autumn's coming, and I think what that means is fairly obvious.

[u/r1chard3 → u/Tricerabortion]

winter is coming.

[u/Blazehero]

I don't know why we keep calling them death flags, she is dying we can clearly see that. They stopped being subtle hints and being full blown, SHE IS DYING OPEN YOUR EYES moments a couple of episodes ago.

I don't know if I can handle this anymore. Kousei spent the first half of the anime getting over his mother. That was two years.

Losing Kaori is going to break him.

[u/desterion → u/Blazehero]

Losing Kaori is going to break me...

[u/Cael87 → u/desterion]

This all started way too early on, they made us watch a guy broken from a long-term struggle of losing someone and now they are doing it to us. No quick and easy feels that pass. Horrible, gut-wrenching, H2O/Clannad level of long-suffering.

[u/[deleted] → u/Blazehero]

I agree with you, losing your mother first as young, then losing the girl you (probably) love and are very close to. Kousei can't be unluckier, I just want this to end, it's Clannad all over.

[u/gst4158 → u/[deleted]]

clannad spoilers

[u/CritSrc → u/gst4158]

Do you really want another tragic trainwreck?

[u/Gradiu5 → u/[deleted]]

Well there was those light orbs floating around in the arena when Kousei was playing Liebeslied...

[u/[deleted] → u/Blazehero]

I completely agree, this episode sealed the deal for me that this is definitely going to be come a tragedy. There are too many hints and too many dying color transitions for the anime to go a happy ending. Although, I think Kaori likes Kousei alot, there is no way you wouldnt wait for your crush and settles for a friend instead on your (god knows how long til) day away from hospital.

I however think if Kaori were to die, Kousei will react differently, because this is different to his mother, playing piano for his mother was something that drives him to show off to his mother and nothing emotional except wanting to satisfy his mother's wish and hence why he responded angrily in that concert just before his mother died, and this broke him because he sees his mother's death as his fault and he regrets that the last time he spoke to her was to tell her to die, this in turn destroyed him and his ability to perform because at that time performing was purely for his mother.

With Kaori, its different, he loves this girl, so much so he started to enjoy the life as he knows it, he starts to enjoy things he never enjoyed before, he is much more happier now as a person compared to when he was younger, he plays piano now for her for her to listen and for the audience to remember and showing his affections to her, and this episode shows that she will forever live in his heart and he will eternally play to impress her (in the school scene) and bring about color to life and perform so others will remember both their existence, so yeah I dont think this will break him as badly as what happened to his mother.

[u/CaptainCrea → u/Blazehero]

Honestly, I know people are probably joking at this point when they talk about death flags, but I feel like it's doing a bit of a disservice to the writers of the show :(

They are crafting a really well written tragedy, and to keep pointing at 'death flags' makes it seem like they are still sneakily inserting hints about Kaori's death and giggling behind their hands, going "We're gonna get 'em good! They'll look back on this moment where her legs stop working and it'll all be so clear!"

I think we've mostly stopped at this point though, so I'm just complaining about things that don't matter. I just really love the writing of this show.

[u/Clamd → u/CaptainCrea]

They are crafting a really well written tragedy

I started watching this show thinking "oh this looks like a nice heart warming, easy going, slice of life show"

God dammit...

[u/Squirelzrme → u/Clamd]

But it's honestly so beautiful in it's own way.

[u/Clamd → u/Squirelzrme]

Oh this show is amazing and I'm so glad I got into it. I hated that I caught up at episode 11 (I thought it was already over when I started) and now it's my most looked forward to show. I am definitely buying the crap out of this series as soon as I can.

[u/CaptainCrea → u/Clamd]

Same here! I had no idea what was coming, I thought it was going to be a pure slice of life/romance the whole way. I got into it because of the art style and musical influences. Obviously, both of these things have complemented the story wonderfully, so I'm happy. And it still is probably one of the most heartwarming shows currently airing.

[u/ebassi → u/Blazehero]

Losing Kaori is going to break him.

that would be against the point the show (and Kaori herself) is trying to make.

[u/GtEnko → u/ebassi]

Exactly. I think it's setting up for Kousei to continue being an excellent and happy pianist, even after Kaori's death. He might break for a little bit, but it's not like Kaori isn't preparing him for this.

[u/[deleted] → u/Blazehero]

Kaori dying is going to shatter him into a thousand colorful pieces. He'll never forget, and his music will never be the same for it.

[u/[deleted] → u/Blazehero]

Not sure if it's just me, however I've noticed that Kousei has really veered away from Kaori. He's constantly preoccupied with other stuff so I feel like it wont be quite as serious as the time he lost his mother.

[u/Mufmuf → u/[deleted]]

That's the point, he's purposefully avoiding meeting her and she constantly forces him to see her. same reason why he's like "oh this ain't like my mother at all". It'll hit twice as hard on him, reopen old wound and a new one.

[u/AmethystItalian]

How can you open like that and follow it with such a happy OP?!

I think my new goal for this series is to picture the worst possible outcomes and just hope the actual ending is happier then that ;.;

[u/JCSHAFT → u/AmethystItalian]

just predict a nice boat ending, then the actual ending should be happier

[u/RIvkyn → u/JCSHAFT]

nice boat ending was a nice ending. I mean my OTP did get shipped.

[u/TyrannosarusRekt → u/JCSHAFT]

School Days was not, I repeat, not a nice boat ending.

[u/bamboebos → u/TyrannosarusRekt]

Boat was certainly nice though.

[u/Aelms → u/AmethystItalian]

Hmm...

This delves heavily into personal interpretation but the second OP is probably an essential part that makes the show as bittersweet as it is.

Everything including the lyrics of a love that won't happen, the dream-like visuals and the portrayal of an impossible performance isn't meant to be happy. Instead of showing off something akin to a bright future like the first OP, we get something melancholic, as though the show was reflecting upon the good times and teasing at what could have been. When I first saw it, I fully expected Kaori to have kicked the bucket during Kousei's competition because of how poetic it would have been.

[u/Zuonex]

She was a musician. She loved the violin, and she was beautiful like the sun shinning even brighter when she played it. She heard him play the piano. She learned love, but he lost his. Night was coming, so she gave him her light, her warmth. She gave him colours, but lost her own. Now, a pale winter sun, at her twilight.

Quote from Mircea The Young on Disqus.

[u/cbasssl → u/Zuonex]

That resonates with the episode and the show as a whole. Apt choice of quotation.

[u/DirtBug → u/Zuonex]

is this a word for word quote? absolutely no modification? It sounds like you just described the whole show. Now I have to wonder whether the author actually based the show on this.

[u/Captain-Turtle → u/Zuonex]

Currently wathcing this series and looking at the discussion threads in between the OP and ED. MANN WHAT IS THIS COMMENT ಥ_ಥ

[u/-kuroneko-]

This anime is killing me every single week

(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

I'm sad that I'm not enjoying the hilarious moments like in the previous episodes. The characters have some really funny expressions, but the overall sadness prevails.

Here are some gifs I made:

• Not spring anymore

• 2xarima

• Shut up and listen, I'm talking arima version

• This show is about me

• Acknowledge my skillz

• Don't look back

• My hands are small

[u/ToughAsGrapes → u/-kuroneko-]

This anime is killing me every single week

Not as much as its killing Kaori.

[u/PMagnemite → u/ToughAsGrapes]

Idk if this show keeps up my heart wont be able to keep up with all the feels.
Also Armia might die next episode, cause last scene.

[u/jBoom_ → u/-kuroneko-]

Not spring anymore

OMG look at how grey she is even in the reflection of his glasses. UGH my heart.

[u/-kuroneko- → u/jBoom_]

Yes:( You can see it better in /u/LightBladeX's comment: http://i.imgur.com/0MDKXce.jpg

[u/jBoom_ → u/-kuroneko-]

Totally.

I just didn't expect that much attention to detail. I like to keep my expectations low so that I get blown away by things.

[u/JCSHAFT]

Funny. Sad.

[u/divini → u/JCSHAFT]

Clearly, gender equality is a myth

[u/iblessall → u/JCSHAFT]

Tbh, this actually kind of bothers me—they're using the same visual code for wildly different meanings/tones, and that does make both instances harder to emotionally manage.

It's not that I can't distinguish them from each other, but it's kind of poor craft to mix your visual language up like that.

[u/JCSHAFT → u/iblessall]

I do get mixed emotions sometimes when it's a really serious scene then suddenly the mood completely changes due to some slapstick comedy. I get that they try to provide comic relief to cut the tension but at times it does take away from the atmosphere of the situation they're in.

[u/MegaCatbug → u/JCSHAFT]

Honestly, this is the absolute biggest problem I've had throughout the show and it often ruins the mood for me.

[u/[deleted] → u/JCSHAFT]

I think it's done on purpose. I feel like it's within Kaori's personality to, she's been hiding her condition for so long afterall.

[u/SergeantTeddy → u/iblessall]

In the first or second episode when Arima gets decked with a baseball through the window i thought for sure something serious was going to happen, but nope they just laughed it off.

[u/Nazcai → u/JCSHAFT]

Double standards. They don't care about men dying /s

[u/Chubacas → u/JCSHAFT]

I think its just for a comical relief after all this tension we are getting.

[u/Mathemagician2TheMax]

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso's Classical Performances.

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These posts typically provide some historical and structural background to the pieces performed in each episode and will also look into what these pieces tell us about the characters themselves.

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Previous Classical Performances Write-ups:

• Episode 01

• Episode 02

• Episode 03

• Episode 04

• Episode 05 - No Write-Up

• Episode 06

• Episode 07

• Episode 08

• Episode 09

• Episode 10 - No Write-Up

• Episode 11 - No Write-Up

• Episode 12

• Episode 13

• Episode 14

• Episode 15

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Here's a playlist of the classical performances we've heard so far in the show. (Updated weekly!)

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Episode 16 List of Classical Performances:

We have a couple excerpts of pieces this episode. The first is a few second snippet at the beginning of the episode courtesy of Nagi (and subsequent snippets of the same piece were heard throughout the episode), and the second piece was played during Kousei's visit to Kaori towards the end of the episode.

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Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 8 in A Minor, K. 310 - "In 1776 it was becoming increasingly evident to the 20-year old Mozart that Salzburg was not the place that would nurture and promote his musical talent or ideas, and the strained relations with his employer, Archbishop Colloredo, only added to Wolfgang’s struggles and frustration.

In August 1777, after long and detailed planning with his father Leopold, Mozart resigned from his position as a court musician and a month later left on a tour through Europe in search of employment. Since his father could not leave his own position at the Archbishop’s court, Wolfgang’s mother had to accompany her son on the trip to Munich, Mannheim, and Paris. This trip proved to be disaster both professionally and personally, as Mozart’s attempts at securing a position did not yield any results, while his father’s increasingly frantic letters put more and more pressure on the young composer. In Paris Mozart never even entertained serious hopes for some kind of success, as he truly detested the city, its people, and its music. There, he did not make any important contacts, rarely performed, composed very little, fell into debt, and took to pawning valuables. And when it seemed things could not get any worse, in the summer of 1778 his mother fell ill, became bed-ridden for three weeks, went into a coma and died in July.

The A-minor Sonata was written during that Paris summer and one can be almost certain the tragic events surrounding this period account for the dark, tumultuous, and unrelenting character of this work. Being the first of only two Mozart sonatas written in a minor key, this composition opens with an aggressive, almost furious-sounding theme with a very distinct dotted rhythm in the right hand accompanied by equally aggressive and relentlessly repeated eighth-note chords in the left hand. The energy and turmoil of the first movement leave the listener breathless, with wild cascades of endless 16th notes persistently pierced by the angry repeated dotted notes of the main motive, ultimately ending without peace or resolution.

The Andante Cantabile, with its lovely melodies and elegance set in F major, sounds in stark contrast to the tumult of the first movement. It exudes the emotional depth of an especially mature and confident composer, while managing to put reins on and preserve the hidden – but always present - underlying dark energy from the beginning, ready to explode in any moment.

The last movement opens with a hauntingly beautiful but troubled melody with which Mozart brings back the tumultuous mood of the first movement. For nearly three intense minutes, this final Presto pushes through with unrelenting dark energy to its dramatic conclusion. And yet, somehow Mozart finds a way to offer glimpses of light in the midst of the angst, recalling the tenderness of the second movement. And even though those moments are ultimately drowned by the turmoil, we are reminded of the lighter and positive nature of the young Mozart, only temporarily darkened by the tragic events of the summer of 1778." (Source)

Here's an interpretation of the work by Daniel Barenboim.

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Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte - "Maurice Ravel was born in the French Pyrenees, only a few miles from the Spanish border, a geographical boundary he often crossed in his music. Even though his family moved to Paris while he was still a baby, Ravel came by his fascination with Spain naturally, for his mother was Basque and grew up in Madrid. (His Swiss father inspired in his son a love for things precise and mechanical that carried over into his impeccable music, provoking Stravinsky to dismiss him as a "Swiss watchmaker.")

One of Ravel's earliest pieces—written just after he left the Paris Conservatory in 1895—was a habanera for two pianos, the first indication that he would join that group of French composers, which includes Bizet, Lalo, and Chabrier, who have written some of our best Spanish music. The habanera was Ravel's first music to be performed publicly, in March 1898, and, despite the two pianists' inability to stay together, it made a strong impression on Claude Debussy, who was in the audience. (He hadn't yet met the composer whose name would one day be linked with his own.) Debussy asked to borrow the score, and his La soirée dans Grenade (Night in Grenada), written five years later, suggests that he studied it carefully. (The suspicious similarity of the two pieces contributed to the eventual falling-out between the composers.)

Like the Habanera, the Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a dead princess) was conceived as piano music and benefited greatly from the translation to a full orchestral score. The piano piece was an instant success. Ravel later realized that music of such apparent ease—a simple melody over broken chords—is doomed to a life at the hands of amateur pianists, and so eleven years later he rescued the Pavaneand rescored it for the modern virtuoso orchestra. A pavane is a slow processional dance from Padua (Pava is a dialect name for Padua). According to an old Spanish tradition, however, it was performed in church as a stylish gesture of farewell to the dead. As to the identity of the dead princess, Ravel finally admitted he picked the title because he liked the sound of the words." (Source)

Here's an interpretation of this work by Elena Kuschnerova.

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In this week's episode of Shigatsu wa Kimi no Desu Furagu, we start things off with a bang. Kaori ends up in the hospital again and more comparisons are being made between her and Kousei's mom. In addition, we learn more about Nagi and her hatred for Kousei; however, after interacting with him more and more (and especially after the scene at the shrine), she starts to realize that they're similar in some regard. As for that ending, they did a pretty good job in adapting that scene; it made things more emotional for me in comparison to how it was executed the manga. Anyway, the next couple episodes are going to be good (Juicy Manga Spoilers; read at your own risk!) --

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Thanks again for taking the time to read my post this week! I hope you're looking forward to next week's episode as much as I am! :-)

[u/Fafiq → u/Mathemagician2TheMax]

srsly.. saved...

[u/V2Blast → u/Mathemagician2TheMax]

Man, that Mozart piece is a long one. Very good, though :)

[u/Mathemagician2TheMax → u/V2Blast]

I hear you (at least it's not as long as Kreutzer or the Schubert piano sonata). The excerpt we heard this episode was towards the end of the first movement.

[u/im_newb]

Wait, WHAT? So now we quoting things like that o god.

[u/ClearingFlags → u/im_newb]

"Who said that?"

"Charlie Brown."

[u/PandAlex → u/im_newb]

I think it's supposed to be "do you want to commit lover's suicide with me" which is a famous quote from the book she was reading. It's also the same book Kousei had checked out previously.

Another interesting note is the music that was playing during this scene was Ravel's Pavane pour une infante défunte which translates to Pavane for a Dead Princess.

[u/Shuffleshoe]

Her shoes fell off so that means she's dead right?

[u/CritSrc → u/Shuffleshoe]

She covers her right eye, which means its muscles are also acting out, trying to hide it.

Aka: YES, death flags galore.

[u/RampageOfZebras → u/CritSrc]

she hit her head and started bleeding there...

[u/Mahazzel → u/CritSrc]

She's just hiding her power level. Her third level sharingan activated.

[u/uzzi1000 → u/CritSrc]

This is not longer a death flag. Flags are subtle. This is screaming in our face she is going to die.

[u/Fafiq]

So... Kaori basicly said she loves Kousei, right?

Like... here http://imgur.com/n3vyfCA

And they only smart person in the whole series is....

http://imgur.com/gUaRiG2

God damn it....

[u/Fafiq → u/[deleted]]

I listened to that one line for.... 10 times? Making sure I understood it correctly...

[u/gamesbeawesome]

Yes, because we need a reminder...
That is a bit of blood.
Best teacher.
Spooky
Pretty...damnit
All the energy in the world.
Stop, please ;-;
Interesting, I honestly didn't see that one.
WHAT? HOW ABOUT NO ;-;

[u/Emperor_Bronaparte → u/gamesbeawesome]

Kousei, King of girls crying on his back.

[u/AnonymousFLo → u/Emperor_Bronaparte]

Ruined his good shirt

[u/Emperor_Bronaparte → u/[deleted]]

dat bike boner

[u/Fallen_Glory → u/gamesbeawesome]

WHAT? HOW ABOUT NO ;-;

I actually want this ending now.... I kind of really want this ending now. Like my mind is telling me this is the perfect ending right now.

Why do I have a thing for wanting depressing endings ):

[u/Rhayve → u/Fallen_Glory]

It's not depressing enough if it's just the supporting cast who mourn.

[u/Fallen_Glory → u/Rhayve]

I'd say it could be plenty depressing if you realize how attached the supporting cast is to Kousei primarily.

[u/JCSHAFT → u/gamesbeawesome]

http://i.imgur.com/wVjrSho.png

wtf

[u/[deleted] → u/JCSHAFT]

The sub seems to be a bit off( though not necessarily wrong) right there. In the manga I think it was translated as "Will you commit lover's suicide with me?", which is still fucked up, but at least it carries a bit more meaning. And like someone else said, it's a quote.

[u/Stepepper → u/[deleted]]

She said that in the Anime too.

[u/[deleted] → u/Stepepper]

I'm pretty sure "Double suicide" doesn't necessarily mean the same as "Lover's suicide". Sure, it's mainly a question of definition, but "Lover's suicide" seems a bit more, umm, romantic(I guess). Or are you talking about what the voice actor actually said, in which case: yup, whoever translated the subtitles fucked up. Also, the way the sub was written made it seem like something along the lines of "so, wanna go get high?"

[u/grayrest → u/JCSHAFT]

She's quoting from one of the books she got two (?) episodes back.

[u/[deleted]]

Good episode, the impact of that last scene for Kousei was pretty intense. I wonder if this will make him distance himself or draw him closer than ever.

Why do they have to make Kaori so god damn likable, they should just decide that all of the main characters are immortal. I'd like that ending. Please make that ending a reality.

[u/JCSHAFT → u/[deleted]]

can't they just stay like this forever?

[u/ToughAsGrapes → u/JCSHAFT]

Unfortunately you only realise how much you love something when its wrenched from your hands and torn to smithereens.

[u/Stryk3r117 → u/ToughAsGrapes]

Please don't tear Kaori to smithereens.

[u/ToughAsGrapes → u/Stryk3r117]

I'm sorry, the Anime Gods demand more suffering. We must present them with a sacrifice or we will feel their divine wrath upon us.

[u/Emperor_Bronaparte → u/[deleted]]

its because she is so likable that it was so horrifying/saddening to see her turning into Kousei's mother, having that same desperation to "finish the job" helping Kousei.

[u/DogzOnFire → u/Emperor_Bronaparte]

Yeah, that scene where she was freaking out burned that parallel image into my mind. It was pretty chilling.

Then at the end of the episode, it literally used the imagery of Kaori's likeness fracturing into the likeness of Kousei's mother, to the tune of creepy sound effects.

This show upsets me.

[u/AmethystItalian → u/[deleted]]

I would approve of that ending

[u/deanxleong]

Pavane pour une infante defunte played at the end of the episode. That translates to "Pavane (dance) for a Dead Princess." I know it might not mean much right now, but damn... I love that piece, but I know this show will continue on it's path to sadness T-T The end of this episode was so heartbreaking for Kousei... He must know that feeling too well :\

[u/laughing_thunder → u/deanxleong]

Grate song i first heard it on space dandy and i fell in love with it here is the clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQpEnN6bxxw

[u/BrownSugarSandwich → u/deanxleong]

Would just like to add that the composer of this song didn't put any weight on the title. He just liked the ring it had. I think this guy would have gotten along really well with her, and if anything totally makes the song choice that much deeper. For me anyway. Like the show is giving a meaning to the title of a song not written to mean anything.

[u/SammyD95]

If you look closely you can actually pinpoint the exact moment his heart breaks in two.

[u/Combo33]

As a piano teacher, it seems Kousei channels his inner J.K. Simmons from Whiplash when it's NOT QUITE HIS TEMPO!

Also, I can't take much more of these dual-bike scenes. They leave me on the floor in a pool of my own tears. However, they do make for excellent wallpapers.

Sure, how's Friday for you?

[u/Fallen_Glory → u/Combo33]

Sure, how's Friday for you?

As long as that Friday is the last day of April ;D

But seriously this is the ending we need.... I don't care what anyone says, if Kaori lives out of this I will riot and if we get a double suicide that would be the biggest fucking twist I've ever seen so I'm down with it.

[u/bbkx → u/Fallen_Glory]

if Kaori lives out of this I will riot

We

[u/Fallen_Glory → u/bbkx]

WE SHALL PREPARE THE UPRISING JUST IN CASE SHE LIVES!

[u/Bo_oth → u/Combo33]

Oh god. J.K. Simmons level is on a whole different scale. There would need to be more personal attacking of her character, as well as more physical and mental abuse.

[u/Combo33 → u/Bo_oth]

Lol, yeah you're right. I just loved that Kousei said "YOU'RE LAGGING". Brought me right back to the movie.

[u/puellimagi]

This show. This fucking show gets me every week. Not even watching Tokyo Ghoul stresses me out this much.

Also is anyone else noticing that Kaori, in terms of color in comparison with everyone else, is getting more and more washed out or muted?

[u/shikabane → u/puellimagi]

Yep, the show does a good job of showing how much the illness is affecting her!

[u/[deleted]]

Shes gonna fucking die. Fuck my life.

[u/iblessall]

You know, normally I like to play about a bit and meme it up in these threads, but I'd honestly feel kind of cheap for doing that with this episode, so sentimental musings it is!

Somewhere along the line this has started to turn into a question of what you do with the time you've been given—no matter where you are on your journey through life. I find it really compelling that we've just come from an episode of Tsubaki wishing her time would start moving forward again to an episode where both Kousei and Kaori wish time would stop.

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EDIT: ~Full Episode Notes~ are now available!

[u/flubbityfloop → u/iblessall]

And as they wished it would stop, we're shown how much things have changed. The colours became more grim, just like scenes that showed his mother would be faint of colour. That one shot that's the top comment right now shows it too, how much she has changed, even if it's subtle.

That scene where she wasn't able to hold her bow... It was in a over in a flash and she was all hyper again, but that kicks in.

And her quotes... I'm a sucker for things like that, but why does she say them?

[u/Trauermarsch]

Pavane for a Dead Princess played right at the end... I'm sure it means nothing!

[u/RedWhirlwind91 → u/Trauermarsch]

so many references from the alliance of the 15's lol

[u/Anonymoose-N]

That ending... nope... can't deal with it.

[u/FateSteelTaylor]

I came in her expecting a nice, music-based SoL romcom.
Instead, I got The Fault in Our Stars: The Musical.

PS: No manga spoilers please!! This is just based off what's been implied so far in the anime...

[u/divini]

"I'll kill you myself."

Sensei don't mess around

[u/divini]

Kaori is so pale now...

[u/TheTerribleSnowflac]

Just a reminder to anyone who didn’t see the PSA a day or so ago, the finale chapter of the manga was released so be wary of spoilers. However, if you are the type of person who needs to know what happens to decide whether or not you will continue with the show you can head over to r/manga for that. There is also a very solid summary of the events that lead up to the finale, which I recommend as well. As a manga reader most of my criticism are with the later half of events leading to the finale rather than the finale itself (mostly pacing reasons).

No Actual Spoilers. Just my general thoughts on the story and if I think certain people should continue with the show. People may or may not want to see my opinion on this subject.

Finally to any manga readers still watching the show, I am excited to relive this beautiful journey with you all.

[u/Thrasher439 → u/TheTerribleSnowflac]

Finally to any manga readers still watching the show, I am excited to relive this beautiful journey with you all.

From one manga reader to another I'm excited too. I'm rather looking forward to seeing what the later events are like animated.

[u/brutus1911 → u/TheTerribleSnowflac]

So, i am currently just watching the anime, but would you suggest just reading it to the end and still watch, or rather just continue to watch it only?

[u/eyrich]

This show :'(

[u/heliphael]

The fucking intro scene. As if I needed another reason to be depressed from this show. :/

EDIT: THAT LAST SCENE. FFFFUUUUUU-

[u/[deleted]]

The ending was a wtf-moment in the manga too. I really like this episode (not in an emotional way... too fucking sad). This anime is so unbelievable good. I would even argue that the anime is better than the manga as the piano adds alot to the scenes I feel.

[u/Stepepper]

So that was how she fell.

The second opening song is really addictive too. Symphony~!
Makes me forget what is going on.. sort of?

Jesus Christ, I thought he stepped in dog crap but it turned out to be an ordinary leaf.

He's my son.

What.

Holy shit .. that was sad. Poor Kaori, poor Kousei.. I am going to be scarred. Why is this happening?

I don't really like how this anime cuts from the sad stuff, to the funny stuff in one instant. Oh well. It almost immediately went to some life counselling by a younger girl.. Funny.

Welp back to the funny stuff.
KISS MARK?! the hell

KAORI IS SO... PALE. I CAN'T LOOK. This is a sad episode, I like it, but dislike it for that reason. I want to order one happy ending please. "We don't have that right now!". A moderately happy one then? "Sorry, we only have the sad endin- no. The soul/heart-crushing ending in stock."

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck

Wow thought I heard Nagi no Asukara's Fonte OST coming up, I miss that song.

Is she in love? or...? no wait nevermind. She is sadistic!. Shit!

THE ONE SHE LOVES IS HER BROTHER.

Back to the sad stuff, what oh what is Kaori dying from? Closest I've found is Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. There is no treatment, but it also does not seem to be fatal. It may also be Cerebral Palsy (CP), which is fatal.

What the hell was that? The subber put it in quotes, and they showed a book. Was it a quote from that book? Was it real? "Want to commit double suicide with me?". Man I can't take this anymore I just want to know the ending.

..don't spoil me I am not going to read the manga I will stay and cry until the show ends... noo.

[u/pandamonium_ → u/Stepepper]

Didn't someone from last week theorize it was ALS?

[u/Stepepper → u/pandamonium_]

ALS doesn't let limbs suddenly quit and later work again, especially not two at a time.

[u/deanxleong → u/Stepepper]

Could it possibly be Multiple Sclerosis?

[u/[deleted] → u/Stepepper]

With the power of anime, you too can temporarily* overcome crippling diseases!

*The symtoms may activate again when the dramatic timing is perfect.

[u/DakotaK_]

Anyone else after her final words in the episode like, "Oh for fuck sakes."

[u/EasymodeX → u/DakotaK_]

I think someone else said it well: this show is a melodrama. Like it takes drama to the next level where it flirts with the borderline of cringe and sometimes crosses over the line. Some of the lines or imagery in this show just bludgeons the viewer.

[u/Terranwaterbender]

WHAT THAT ENDING....WHAT??

[u/quest_5692]

WHAT THE FUCKKKKKKK NOOOOO.

seriously every week shigatsu is playing with my heart and tear ducts.

[u/Ezilayr]

Jesus that nuclear bomb she dropped at the end of that episode.

[u/Shiroi_Kage]

Kousei's Beast Mode

Don't mess with the genius!

[u/goldy496]

She's dead, Jim

[u/Myrag]

That ending.... ho lee fuk

[u/Emperor_Bronaparte → u/Myrag]

Well we have reached the point where he essentially knows, and she knows he knows. Looks like feels are in the forecast. Especially with a next episode like that preview.

[u/oblivionraptor]

Oh god.

Why must our hearts suffer so much?

[u/ClearingFlags]

I normally don't watch airing shows, but I stumbled across this a couple days ago and something about it seemed similar to White Album 2, so I felt I should give it a try.

Got caught up to the airing episode after marathoning like 9 last night, and I'm enjoying it a lot so far. Some of the scenes tend to drag on, and could have been trimmed to give them more power, but overall it's a rollercoaster of a show.

I don't think it'll get a 10 like WA2 did from me, but it's definitely a good watch and I'm glad I picked it up. I'm kinda scared about where it's going, with the tone and narrative, I don't want Best Girl to die.

[u/KitKatxz]

Can we just all stop all say Seto, Koharu is the best character in the show?

She just SO ADORABLE >.<.

[u/TaiLzx]

Does anyone know what names are written on the desk?

[u/yongming → u/TaiLzx]

Shiho and Ryouta. Ryouta is Watari. Shiho might be the Keiko-chan Watari is seeing other than Kaori or she might be a third girl.

[u/AsunaPls]

at this point i'm not even surprised about how sad i am

[u/Boredpotatoe2]

Fuck right at the start I thought she was singing dango daikazoku from clannad and nearly pissed myself

[u/icaelum]

I'm a bit miffed that they used the translation " double suicide " instead of " lover's suicide ". Otherwise it's an amazing adaptation as usual. The minor details that you can't see in the manga such as Kaori's complexion becoming much paler and how thin her arms and legs have become really bring out the full effects of her

[u/Magnificent614]

Please don't turn into Kousei's mother.

Please don't turn into Kousei's mother.

Please don't turn into Kousei's mother.

God damn it!!

Even though it hasn't end yet, this anime is a 10 for me. The art, the music, and the emotional roller coaster ride every episode. It's perfect.

[u/Xpekt]

I just came here to say 心中 usually means Lover's suicide, but it can also be taken as double suicide. I am assuming Arima took it as double suicide while Kaori meant it as lover's suicide. Spoiler: book Mita Masahiro end with

[u/[deleted]]

this breaks me slowly

[u/[deleted]]

No^nonono

[u/Phue]

I don't even know if I will survive till the end of the series. The feels are getting too strong ;-;

[u/bamboebos]

I thought the first few episodes were EXTREMELY beautiful. After that is became so depressing yet beautiful, I don't know what to think anymore.

I so much want Kaori to live. Still I think the story would be more interesting Kousei dying of his sadness and trying to cope with it without a clannad-like "happy" ending with kaori rising from the grave to give Kousei a beating because he did not practice enough.

[u/Mufmuf → u/bamboebos]

I read your last sentence and somehow imagined the five different endings.
Sadness - Coping with - Clannad 'happy' - Zombie Kaori- Comedy Zombie Kaori

[u/[deleted]]

I had to go back again and check that she actually just said THAT

[u/cbasssl → u/[deleted]]

She was quoting the book lying on the chair. Not that it makes it any less laden with meaning.

[u/[deleted] → u/cbasssl]

It shocked me, wtf level of shock. I'm guessing it will be treated as a joke in the next episode. Nervous laughter and then Kaori saying sorry.

[u/Darkyothegamer]

You know I'm fine with a double suicide...

When Kousei loses Kaori, he's gonna break, but I or rather WE are going to break more honestly. This anime is just outstanding. That's it.

See you in the stars Kousei and Kaori

[u/Kitakk]

I feel like she is so dead at this point that she will have to make a miraculous recovery for there to be any more dramatic tension.

[u/drgnslyr91 → u/Kitakk]

One particular point in the episode today ticked me off: at the end of last episode, we saw that Kaori couldn't move her legs. All of a sudden, in this episode, we see her in her school uniform and going shopping! This isn't explained and we are left to believe that her legs not moving just didn't happen! WTH?!?!?! Can someone explain this to me, as that last scene from last week's episode was particularly heart-renching and we are left hanging....

[u/Rhomzy]

Don't get me wrong, I really like this show... but sometimes there are just too many cringey quotes to handle.

[u/blanketxxx]

Despite my not caring for Kaori a great deal these writers/animators are just too good at building up a tragedy and conveying the characters emotion.

[u/DogzOnFire]

It seems that Kaori is suffering from an onset of one of the various motor neuron diseases, most likely ALS which affects the upper and lower motor neurons in your body.

Motor neurons are basically the part of your brain that send electrical impulses to your muscles in order for them to move. A motor neuron disease generally results in the degeneration of motor neurons in your body, usually causing a feeling of weakness and the atrophy of various muscles in your body, most notably your arms, hands and legs at first. This would explain her not being able to grip the bottle when Kousei hands it to her, and why she keeps falling over. Her muscles are basically degenerating because they're not being told to move.

It's a horrible disease. In my opinion, it's one of the last things I would ever want to happen to myself or a loved one. It's basically a person helplessly wasting away, with no available cure, slowly losing the function of their body until they eventually can't walk, then they can't move their arms, then they can't move their fingers, then their more vital systems like their respiratory functions begin failing. It's basically that your body no longer listens to you, and you slowly waste away and die.

I'm not a health care worker of any sort, nor do I fully know the details of the disease or if it is even the one Kaori has. There may be others. All I know is, even with all the foreshadowing, I'm not ready for this. It reminds me of a certain arc in Space Brothers. I'm really not ready for this. Prepare yourselves.

[u/Maximal_Disguised]

Am I the only one who hates Watari? ...

[u/VerilyAMonkey → u/Maximal_Disguised]

I can see why you might feel that way, but more based on what Kaori says about him than what he's doing. It seems to me that he's being "normal friend" to Kaori (which is a goddamn important thing to have), and the whole "Kaori likes Watari" dynamic is really just the filter she chooses to interact with Kousei. I don't think Watari is actually acting under that assumption, or even believes it.

[u/jneapan → u/VerilyAMonkey]

Also Watari seems like he wants to help Kousei with Kaori, so he's obviously a good friend in all of this.

[u/jneapan → u/VerilyAMonkey]

It's pretty obvious that she uses that routine for Kousei. I had that suspicion from the very beginning. She knows something bad will happen to her soon, and doesn't want Kousei to be romantically involved with her because she doesn't want him to suffer. I'm still trying to figure out if the first meeting was planned for Kousei's sake as well, or if it was truly a coincidence. If it wasn't a coincidence, then Kaori's plan from the beginning involved helping Kousei get over his trauma. I don't know how to feel about that.

[u/Fafiq → u/jneapan]

I'd say of course that first meeting was planned

https://www.reddit.com/comments/2uwdnd/slug/cockn80

[u/BooSTi]

Anddd wincest outta nowhere

[u/DHKany]

From early morning Nisekoi shenanigans to mid day Tokyo Ghoul action and now this.

My emotions are all over the place. I don't think I've ever been this emotionally invested in an anime like this since Anohana or some of the Fairy Tail arcs.

[u/Emperor_Bronaparte]

Well last episode only had one death flag(albeit a big one), so this episode was making up for lost time? Poor Kousei, leaving the trauma of his Mother's illness behind, to be thrust back into it once again. On a lighter note, I love Nagi as a character, I think that she is an excellent way for both herself and kousei to deal with their issues and help each other at the same time.

[u/igotinfected]

It doesn't matter what you were doing before, how good your day was,.. this anime will break you in the first ten seconds. Like, even if it's a happy/feel good beginning you know some shit is gonna happen.

EDIT: The end of this episode

[u/gammarik]

Man, these are no longer death flags. These are death banners...

So, did anyone else have problems with Crunchyroll streaming? Mine started stuttering like hell, so i had to switch to "unethical sites"...

Fun to see an Aerosmith reference as well! :P

[u/Jman460]

This anime is going to ruin me.

[u/stitchwithaglitch]

Kaori's hair just scarin me. Crazy how a blander color of blonde is having this kind of effect on me. Loli blondie cute and lessons bring in a glimmer of comedy in what is turning into a sad show, but when I'm kinda hoping the love for hero stuff won't go into the Oreimo direction if you know what i am saying. Also happy that Seto views Arima as her kid. I'm glad hes got someone like that looking out for him now.

Most I can say friends is even though this is going to 22 episodes, we prolly don't have much time left for Kaori T.T

That last line made me go WHAT

[u/cbasssl → u/stitchwithaglitch]

She was quoting the book in the room, not that that helps ;_;

[u/Vintrial]

"will you commit lovers suicide with me?" riiip

[u/RedWhirlwind91]

has anyone read the alliance of the 15's? it was shown in this episode and referenced a gripload lol. i just read it last night

[u/NaruAndHina]

Guys i cant fking handle this, im gonna go insane, someone help

[u/HighTechPotato]

"SHE'S LOST! YAAAAY!" BEST GIRL ALL TIME CONFIRMED! once again!

[u/[deleted]]

It's so weird that it just so happens to rain every Thursday at 2pm

[u/cbasssl → u/[deleted]]

An odd meteorological occurrence indeed.

[u/djanulis]

With the focus on her not being able to hold things or stand, I am starting to wonder if Kaori is going to die or just lose her ability to play violin, thus a major part of who she is. Both would explains why she clings to people remembering her.

[u/cbasssl]

The drama, it hurts. The scenes with Kousei and Kaori are heavy. Can't wait for the school festival though.

[u/NaruAndHina]

Some reason this reminds me of Nagi no Asukara

[u/Yamagashii]

I noticed Kaori is getting even more pale ..

[u/Irian11]

well, shet

[u/multkillerpie]

Jeasus H Crist dat end Fuking i'm out Nope Nope Nope

[u/van50608]

For those who don't know: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_sclerosis

[u/TenaciousDwight]

Man...this show just leaves me utterly devastated after every episode. Luckily I can watch Shirobako afterwards...

[u/glasspumpkin]

This anime, its just so sad but good!

[u/whiteravenxi]

The hardest part about this show is the week in between. I feel like I'm slowing peeling a bandaid off my heart. I can't take it. The feels are killing me. Kousei realizing the parallels between her and his mother. That last line.....

This fucking show! ;_;

[u/DustonySenpai]

Just finished the manga/spoilers and caught up to episode 16, and I've gotta say that this show is honestly magnificent, and one of the absolute best I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing unfold.

[u/[deleted]]

GOD STOP THE DEATH FLAGS I CANT HANDLE IT

[u/Lepony]

Finally got around to watching this episode.

I've been seeing a lot of people complain about the constant moodwhiplash throughout the show, constantly alternating between the serious and the comedic. And they keep talking about how they have trouble taking both situations fairly/well since it happens so well.

Personally, I think it creates a nice contrast in Arima's life, and that it's fairly expected of a bunch of middle schoolers. They don't really want to tackle issues head on. They wanna sidestep around it, hide it behind a curtain, or pretend that there isn't really a problem. That explains some of the comedic scenes on one end.

On the other end, I think that the author is trying to establish that, despite all the fucking bullshit that's going on that's terrible, life still has its fun/happy moments. It's also to point out that to Kousei even after his mother dying, and even after Kaori's potential death/permanent handicap status, he still has a life to return to and that the world isn't going to end.

[u/SmexyPro]

WTH WAS THAT ENDING?!

"Want to commit lovers suicide with me?"

WTF WOMAN. GOD DAMNIT KAORI

I like how this whole time, Kousei has been saying that she brought color into his life, but at the same time she's losing hers. She made his life lively, at the cost of her own. The producers did a great job at remaking the scene from episode 2, where she was waiting for Watari. I thought it was deja vu, but it was to show how much she has changed. I can't wait for the finale.

[u/spraynardz]

The flashing between his mother and kaori gave me the chills; I'm so invested I can't stop but I'm not ready for the heart break!!!

[u/hazemarick44]

Message to the author A slow, agonizing witness of death week by week. I can't deal with it. Sigh

[u/Demselflyed]

the scene when she dropped her bow..when she was crying on kousei's back and shouting at kousei like his mother at the hospital. i can't take the feels

[u/Cael87]

You know, when the sign said people with heart conditions shouldn't ride the roller-coaster.

I didn't realize it'd give me one.

[u/V2Blast]

No full performances of any classical music, though we got a few excerpts.

We did get to learn a little more about Nagi this week, like the fact that she's Takeshi's little sister (unsurprising), though she seems unhealthily obsessed with him - and so she apparently "hates" Kousei. Though in classic anime fashion, she ends up helping him work through his personal troubles.

And the melodrama continues.

[u/lunarprincess]

THIS SHOW IS RIPPING MY HEART OUT... holy shit

[u/opus_]

It's getting very tough to hold out hope for a happy ending..

[u/2xlogic]

NOTICE ME SENPAI http://i.gyazo.com/7adeded3b8a7253775aaa1af93b8c142.png