anime episode summaries

Festival

Koyuki performing alone.At Greatful Sound, just before Beck’s live, Chiba and Ryusuke get into a fight. Ryusuke tells Chiba that since he didn’t see the dream, maybe he wasn’t meant to be in the band. With that, Chiba runs off. Ryusuke disappears, too, with Leon Sykes. Things are starting to look bleak for Beck. The rain starts pouring and with Yoshito in Belle Ame on the first stage and Malcolm (a famous US rock star) on the second stage, it seems pretty impossible to gather the most number of people out of the three stages. Taira, Saku, and Koyuki look for Chiba but to no avail. The three start feeling depressed. The time comes for Beck to perform but there are still no signs of either Ryuusuke or Chiba. Taira says it’s possible that Beck may back out. When Koyuki learns that there are about 500 people waiting for them at the third stage (still a far cry from the audience at stages 1 and 2 though), he borrows Jewel’s guitar (yes, that Jewel), goes up on stage alone, and starts singing The Beatle’s “I’ve Got A Feeling.” Saku joins him shortly. Taira prepares to go on stage, too. Two more episodes before this series ends!

Koyuki and Saku get into the same school Chiba is in (Chiba is actually at the top of his class!). Some guys from the music club bully Koyuki but Chiba saves him. Koyuki plans on buying a telecaster and works hard to earn money for it. Koyuki befriends the owner of the guitar shop, a skilled guitarist himself who vowed never to cut his hair until his band goes pro.

Dream

Beck’s CD.Mit-chan shows Ryuusuke a copy of Beck’s CD cover. Izumi-chan clears up with Maho the misunderstanding about her and Koyuki. Izumi-chan bids Koyuki farewell. Maho-chan and Koyuki make up. Ryuusuke suspects Erica Blige was killed by her boyfriend Malcolm. No record label wants to sign Beck because of Ran’s influence. Beck resolves to record the best CD. His teacher tells Koyuki that since his grades are failing, he has no chance of getting into his school choices for high school. Koyuki develops a fever but it subsides after he dreams of all the famous rock stars (Sid Vicious, Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, etc.) picking up the trash after Beck’s concert. Beck finishes their first CD.

(more…)

Ciel Bleu

Ciel Bleu performing.Beck reads about Erica Blige’s death in the papers. Koyuki tells Saku that he hasn’t seen Izumi-chan nor Maho-chan since that day. Tanabe volunteers to be the vocalist (he’s a horrible singer though) for Koyuki’s band at the school festival (Tanabe is trying to score with the ladies). Tanabe names the band Ciel Bleu (French for blue sky) and while they’re practicing, Hyodo and gang comes in, trying to cause trouble. Saku tells Hyodo he’s a fan of Hyodo’s father and Hyodo punches him. Beck worries about financial matters. During the school festival, Ryuusuke, Taira, and Chiba show up to see Ciel Blue perform. Chiba meets Rikiya in the bathroom and he tells Rikiya about Hyodo’s blackmailing (i.e. asking Koyuki to pay Y50,000 for Rikiya’s guitar). Ciel Bleu plans on wearing their DyBre shirts on stage but Hyodo’s gang rips their shirts up so they have no choice but to go in their PE clothes.  Hyodo’s band plays first. Hyodo is good, as usual, but Ryuusuke comments that Hyodo’s playing lacks feeling and is all technique. Ciel Bleu goes on stage next. Hyodo’s gang works up the crowd to boo Ciel Bleu. Ryuusuke grabs a microphone, climbs a table and tells everybody to shut up. As soon as Tanabe saw the crowd booing them, he backed out and Koyuki has no choice but to sing in his place. Ciel Bleu starts playing and soon, the crowd starts cheering for them. Hyodo leaves the gym, only to meet Rikiya who then beats him up. After the performances, the awards are give and Ciel Bleu wins as the best band (Tanabe gets to hold the trophy). Rikiya makes Hyodo apologize to Koyuki and return his money back. Koyuki and Hyodo both win as best guitarist but since there is only one trophy, Koyuki shares it with Hyodo.

Koyuki? Sing? Whaaaaaat???Face

Beck performs on stage, with Saku and Koyuki, of course. Koyuki is nervous but Maho-chan cheers him on. Taira-kun is not pleased because the crowd is stuck to the walls. After the show, Koyuki is disappointed because his sucky guitar playing brought the whole band down. Maho notices the pick she gave Koyuki tied around his neck. Beck has a new song, a ballad, but Chiba’s voice is too punk for it. Koyuki volunteers to sing the song. When asked, Ryuusuke says the song has a tentative title, "Face," and that it’s about Maho. The rest are impressed with Koyuki’s voice. Taira changes his mind about Koyuki joining Beck and declares that their band will make it big someday.
Caught in the act.There’s a funny segment in which Chiba worries about being kicked out because Beck has a new vocalist but Ryuusuke assures Chiba that they’ll keep him because he keeps the audience hyped up.

At the music room in school, Koyuki and Saku are practicing DyBre’s latest song when Hyodo and gang enters. Koyuki and Saku leave. Hyodo recognizes the song. At Saitou-san’s place, Koyuki invites Saitou-san to Beck’s live set but Saitou refuses because he only likes the old British rock bands. Koyuki bribes him with Momoko-sensei and Saitou-san changes his mind.

On his way to Beck’s practice, Koyuki runs into Rikiya. Rikiya destroys the pick Maho gave Koyuki. Koyuki protests and Rikiya punches him. Chiba and Maho arrive at the scene. Chiba fights with Rikiya and wins. Apparently, Chiba was also bullied when he was young that’s why he took up karate. Maho calls the rest on her phone and the other band members arrive. Rikiya recognizes Ryuusuke from Serial Mama. Koyuki laments about Eddie’s pick but Maho promises to give him another one when Eddie comes to Japan. Beck practices for their live set. There is news about DyBre on the papers.

Go Chiba-kun!
Beck practicing.

Night Before LIVE

Saku in his element.Koyuki and Saku are excited about DyBre’s new album. During homeroom period, Koyuki’s class is deciding on the representatives for the swimming intramurals. Hyodo and gang nominates Koyuki in almost all the events (50m butterfly, 200m medley, 100m backstroke) while insulting Saitou-san as well. Koyuki doesn’t mind though. Koyuki and Saku watch another Beck set. Ryuusuke does some mad DJ scratching techniques with Lucille. Saku also praises Chiba’s charm and Taira’s funky bass work. However, he mentions that the current drummer, Toudou-san (Ryuusuke’s bandmate from Serial Mama), is the one holding Beck down. Over dinner, the band worries about their financial situation.

During the intrams, Hyodo and gang are surprised Koyuki is winning in swimming and that their class is cheering him on. Saitou-san is coaching him furiously (wearing spandex trunks, of course). Hyodo’s lackeys (I guess some of them are from the other sections), who are apparently competing, too, resolve to defeat him in the other matches. Koyuki wants to give up because of fatigue but Maho-chan shows up wearing a bikini, offering to help him stretch. While stretching, Maho tells Koyuki that Toudou-san is quitting and that Beck may disband without a drummer. To motivate Koyuki, Maho promises that she’ll do anything Koyuki wants if he wins. Maho-chan cheers him on and although Koyuki bumps his head into the gutter, he wins anyway. Hyodo looks pissed. After the intrams, Koyuki finds Saitou-san teaching Momoko-sensei how to swim.

Koyuki and Saku see Toudou-san leaving Ryuusuke’s place. Ryuusuke sees Saku reading a drumming magazine. They ask Saku to play drums (and he’s good!). Ryuusuke and Taira discuss about letting Koyuki and Saku join Beck. Taira doesn’t mind Saku joining but he thinks Koyuki isn’t good enough yet. Ryuusuke says chemistry is the most important aspect of a band, even more than technique. Chiba tells Koyuki and Saku that Beck’s going to have another live set soon. Beck practices some more.

More screenshots:

Beck’s last set with Toudou-san
Maho helping Koyuki stretch.

I love Ryuusuke’s shirts.
Koyuki and Taira practicing.

Announcement within the School

The 2 fangirls return to Japan safely and they show Ryuusuke a blurry picture of the dog they saw in New York. Ryuusuke burns up the picture. At a Buddhist temple, Koyuki wishes to be in a different class than Hyodo for the new school year. Koyuki practices guitar some more. The seniors graduate, including Izumi-sempai. On his way to work (at Saitou-san’s place), Koyuki runs into Momoko-sensei. Koyuki introduces her to Saitou-san who seems to be smitten with her. Unfortunately, she sees Saitou-san’s secret porn stash. Since working is forbidden at Koyuki’s school, Saitou-san tells Momoko-sensei that he’s just Koyuki’s swimming and guitar instructor (awww how nice!)

Ryuusuke: "You can play, right?"The new school year starts and Koyuki seems to have run out of luck since he’s classmates with Hyodo again. Hyodo tells him that Rikiya found out about the Jaguar and he’s asking for 50,000 yen. Saitou-san shows Koyuki his prized Gretsch White Falcon tells Koyuki that he (Saitou) will lend it to Koyuki if Koyuki would help Saitou out with Momoko-sensei. Koyuki runs into Ryuusuke and Ryuusuke invites Koyuki to the studio for a practice session. Ryuusuke asks Koyuki to play with him (he brought the Saitou-san’s White Falcon). Ryuusuke notes Koyuki’s improvement and good music sense.

Koyuki convinces Saitou-san to get rid of his porn collection so that Momoko-sensei will like him. Koyuki, under disguise, sells Saitou-san’s magazines to raise money for Hyodo. Koyuki is about 500 yen short when he hands Hyodo the money but Hyodo pockets Koyuki’s hard-earned money anyway. Koyuki sees Rikiya (he graduated already) in school, expecting him to beat him up, but surprisingly, Rikiya ignored him instead. Koyuki joins Beck for another practice session. Ryuusuke notices Koyuki and Maho-chan getting closer and he gives Koyuki a condom. Maho invites Koyuki to her house (a big one at that!). The condom Ryuusuke gave Koyuki falls out and Maho sees it and she beats Koyuki up (lol!). On his way, Koyuki runs into Izumi-chan at sees her with a boy and Koyuki seems pissed afterwards.

Koyuki and Ryuusuke jamming.The next day, Koyuki sees his locker filled with trash. Nobody in class would talk to him, too, even his buddy Tanabe. He then sees Hyodo smirking at him. Koyuki passes by the Announcement Room and plays one of Dying Breed’s songs over the school’s sound system. Koyuki gets scolded by the teachers but Koyuki tells Momoko-sensei of a movie in which an innocent man in prison plays a song over the prison’s PA and how the other prisoners felt freedom with that one song. On his way home, a transfer student approaches him and tells him DyBre’s 50 Cent Wisdom is an excellent song. He introduces himself as Sakurai Yuuji. Koyuki tells him not to talk to him anymore since he’s targeted by Hyodo. The next day, Saku approaches Koyuki with bruises on his face (he was approached by Hyodo’s gang and got beaten up) and hands him a CD with DyBre’s live set in Germany. The two talk about music and Eddie Lee and Koyuki invites Saku to Beck’s practice. Taira tells Maho-chan that Ryuusuke plans on including Koyuki to Beck.