Sound! Euphonium – Season 3 Episode 5 Recap & Review

Twilight for Two

Episode 5 of Sound! Euphonium Season 3 starts with Kumiko confronting her father about a new fish he obtained. Then, Kumiko’s father asks Kumiko about her plans after high school. Kumiko’s unsure yet so her father tells her to speak with Mamiko (Kumiko’s sister) if she’s having trouble deciding. Next, Kumiko visits her high school and asks Tsubame and Hazuki about their after-high school plans. 

Tsubame says she wants to attend college while Hazuki isn’t sure about what she wants to do. Next, Kumiko discusses the subject with Kousaka on a subway train. Kousaka suggests Kumiko attend a music school like Mizore did. Kumiko argues against that idea. She doesn’t know if she can make a living off music nor can she see herself as a working adult.

Kousaka questions Kumiko further about this and reveals that she plans to become a professional musician. Before Kousaka and Kumiko part ways, Kumiko tells Kousaka that she wants to make an executive decision regarding the upcoming auditions for the national competition. Later, we see Kumiko, Kousaka, and others discussing the audition fiasco in a separate classroom. 

Kousaka says she wants to wrap up the audition process by the end of June. Shuuichi suggests selecting band competition members in July. He argues that selecting candidates early led to them performing poorly last year. Kousaka agrees and insists they conjure a plan to make all the band members treat practice seriously.

Kumiko tells Kousaka and Shuuichi that Mayu’s former school held auditions for each competition. Kumiko and the others present this plan to Taki and Taki says he’s okay with this strategy. Kumiko relays this format news to her band members. Kanade asks Kumiko if they’ll be choosing new soloists for each competition. Kumiko confirms Kanade’s suspicions. Kanade learns she and others will select members based on their improvement and skill. 

Next, Midori shares insight about upcoming competitions with Yayoi, Suzume, and Kaho. Meanwhile, Hazuki asks Motomu if he’s gunning for a contrabass solo part for one of the competitions. Motomu tells Hazuki he’s not interested because he knows Midori’s trying out for that role. Hazuki chops Motomu on his head and urges him to try out for a soloist role.

Meanwhile, Kumiko and Kanade confront Mayu about the auditions. Mayu says she’d forfeit a role if she could. She doesn’t want to steal a Kitauji High School veteran’s spot for the competitions. Kumiko and Kanade warm Mayu up to the notion. Mayu departs somewhere to practice. Simultaneously, Kanade asks Kumiko about a soli piece that features a euphonium and trumpet musician playing together.

Kumiko confirms she and Kousaka will be playing that part. Also, Kumiko doesn’t like that Kanade says Mayu may steal that opportunity from her. Regardless, Kumiko mentions the audition’s rules again to Kanade. Later, Shuuichi asks Kumiko to chat with him outside. There, Shuuichi confronts Kumiko about Motomu and his previous drama with Ryusei High School. 

Kumiko tells Shuuichi Motomu is fine now and that they shouldn’t worry about inviting him to the Agata Festival. Shuuichi thanks Kumiko for clarifying things and vows to invite Motomu to the Agata Festival. Shuuichi departs and Mayu arrives seconds later, startling Kumiko. Mayu tells Kumiko that she couldn’t find a spot to practice. Additionally, she asks Kumiko to share details about the Agata Festival. 

Then, Mayu asks Kumiko if she’d like to go to the Agata Festival with her. Kumiko tells Mayu she has plans with others. However, she doesn’t mind if Mayu hangs out with Kumiko and her friends another time. Next, Mayu asks Kumiko if she can practice the soli part with her. Mayu mentions that she knows how to play the trumpet. Kousaka hears Kumiko practicing for the soli part from afar. 

Then, Kumiko reflects on her experience with Mayu while cleaning a piece of her instrument. Kousaka appears and confronts Kumiko about playing the soli part with Mayu. She tells Kumiko several underclassmen gossiped about it. Kumiko retaliates. She lets Kousaka know that someone invited Kousaka to the Agata Festival. Kousaka tells Kumiko she turned that girl down for specific reasons. 

Next, Kousaka asks Kumiko if she has any plans for the Agata Festival. Kumiko says she doesn’t. Kousaka asks Kumiko to stop by her place during the Agata Festival. Before we receive Kumiko’s response, we flash forward to Kumiko’s student-teacher meeting with Michie. Michie confronts Kumiko about her after-high school plans. Although Michie tells Kumiko it’s normal for third-years to not think about their futures, she warns her not to be lazy. 

Michie hands Kumiko a college pamphlet and asks her to skim through it. Kumiko confronts Michie about her career choice. Michie says she became a teacher because she wanted a stable job (at first). However, she grew to appreciate and love her teaching job. After Michie offers Kumiko advice, Kumiko returns to the bass section clubroom. 

Suzume and Yayoi confront Kumiko about her Agata Festival plans. The former suggests the bass section all hang out at the Agata Festival. At the same time, Suzume tells Kumiko Mayu is attending the event with Tsubame. However, Mayu says she’s on board with the “bass section Agate Festival meetup idea” if Tsubame can tag along with them. 

Kumiko tells Suzume and the others that she has plans. Suzume wonders if Kumiko’s doing something with Shuuichi but Kumiko shoots that down. Suzume asks Motomu if he’d like to go with them, but Motomu says he’ll be doing something with Shuuichi and other guy band members. Kanade chimes in and says she’s doing something with Ririka. 

Eventually, the day of the Agata Festival arrives. Kousaka meets with Kumiko and the two head to Kousaka’s place. Meanwhile, we cut away to Mayu’s group taking photos at the Agata Festival. Motomu’s group is nearby so they decide to interact with Mayu’s group. Mayu takes a photo of both groups. Later, we cut away to Kumiko and Kousaka in Kousaka’s room. 

Kousaka asks Kumiko how things went between her and Michie. Kumiko says things went well but she’s still unsure about her future. Kousaka brings up the music school idea but Kumiko’s unsure if she wants to go that route. At the same time, Kumiko is not fond of attending an ordinary college either. Kousaka plays their selection piece via her radio. Kousaka and Kumiko share their opinions of the piece’s meaning. 

Then, Kousaka asks Kumiko to accompany her to her studio. She wants to practice the soli part with her. The two visit Kousaka’s studio and play the soli part. While they’re doing that, we receive a montage of everyone partaking in Agata Festival activities. After that, Kousaka tells Kumiko she wants to play the soli with her and Kumiko shares the same sentiment.

Later, Kumiko and Kousaka navigate through a lone path. Kousaka questions Kumiko about several things. Ultimately, Kousaka fears that after high school concludes, they won’t see each other again. Kumiko questions if this is the reason why Kousaka’s been insisting she attend music school. Kumiko teases Kousaka about that idea and laughs.

Nonetheless, Kumiko tells Kousaka that their companionship will remain intact regardless if they attend different institutions. Kumiko argues that she and Kousaka have a special connection and Kousaka agrees. The two head to the Agata Festival because Kumiko wants to check out the food stalls. Later, Kumiko returns home and places a new goldfish in the fish tank. 

Kumiko tells her mother that the goldfish represents her final Agata Festival before high school ends. The episode closes with a shot of three desks. 

The Episode Review

Kyoto Animation Studios continues to deliver a quality experience with Sound! Euphonium Season 3’s storytelling, imagery, and animation. Additionally, this chapter gives Mayu’s character more spotlight. Like previous chapters starring Mayu, this one alludes to there being a future conflict between her and Kumiko. At the same time, Mayu might be stepping on Kousaka’s toes, too.

Not only is Mayu a wonderful euphonium player, but this chapter reveals she’s an exceptional trumpet musician. Therefore, Kumiko and Kousaka may have to watch each other’s backs and perform well during the audition tryouts. Otherwise, we may be in for another verbal rumble similar to others established in previous Sound! Euphonium seasons and films.

Mayu aside, this chapter delves into issues concerning adulthood and future planning. Like Kumiko, many high school seniors struggle with establishing a proper endgame for themselves. Having said that, many people who are or have experienced this roadblock in their lives will relate to Kumiko’s complications with it all. Regardless, it’s reassuring knowing that Kousaka and Kumiko’s friendship will continue after their high school years are upon them. 

Overall, this was a beautiful, tense, and thoughtful episode of Sound! Euphonium Season 3. It contains enough content to make folks ponder and many juicy details to get them excited for more drama and music-centric content.