Ep 14. Footsteps

Kosei is still struggling to find his way back to the piano after spending so much time away from it. Tsubaki tries her best to encourage him, but their conversation is cut short when they bump into Takeshi Aiza, a talented pianist who used to be Kosei and Kaori's rival. Takeshi challenges Kosei to a performance in the upcoming competition, which only adds to Kosei's pressure and anxiety.

Meanwhile, Kaori's health takes a turn for the worse and she is hospitalized. Kosei visits her and tries to cheer her up, but she can tell that something is bothering him. She encourages him to play the piano for her, but he can't bring himself to do it just yet.

As the competition draws closer, Kosei watches Takeshi's performance and starts to doubt his own abilities. He feels like he's lost his touch and doesn't know if he'll ever be able to play like he used to. However, his friends and loved ones remind him of how much he's grown and how far he's come since the death of his mother.

The day of the competition arrives and Kosei takes to the stage, still feeling unsure of himself. However, as he starts to play, something clicks and he is able to connect with the music in a way he hasn't before. He pours all of his emotions into the performance and the audience is captivated.

After the competition, Kosei visits Kaori in the hospital and plays for her. She is moved by his performance and tells him that he's helped her find a reason to keep fighting. As Kosei leaves, he hears footsteps behind him and turns around to see Takeshi. Takeshi congratulates him on his performance and tells him that he's always been a fan. He also admits that he's been trying to recreate the sound that Kosei produced during his performance, but he can't quite capture it.

The episode ends with Kosei walking away, feeling more confident in his abilities and closer to finding his own sound.