Sound! Euphonium – Season 3 Episode 7 Recap & Review

Summer Fermata

Episode 7 of Sound! Euphonium Season 3 starts with Kumiko discussing notes she wrote in her, Kousaka, and Shuuichi’s notebook. One of them hopes Taki will help them and the others prepare for the next competition. Kumiko questions how they can keep everyone motivated so that they can excel at the next competition. Later, she announces that auditions for the Kansai Concert Band Competition will take place on the first day of camp. 

She, Shuuichi, and Kousaka highlight other important details for their bandmates to remember and hope they claim victory at the Kansai Competition. Later, Satsuki helps Suzume and the other Tuba players out in the bass section clubroom. Eventually, Kumiko arrives and learns Mayu’s not in the room because she wants to practice by herself. 

Next, Kumiko and Kousaka discuss their Bon Festival plans at the train station. Kumiko teases Kousaka about it briefly, much to Kousaka’s annoyance. Kousaka begs Kumiko to visit the pool with her at the festival. Kumiko tells Kousaka she’s okay with that. She wasn’t on board with the idea before because she thought Kousaka was busy with entrance exams and other things. 

Kumiko asks Kousaka if she can invite Mayu and others too. Kousaka tells Kumiko she doesn’t mind. The next day, Kumiko asks Mayu if she’d like to go to the pool with her, Kousaka, and others. Mayu tells Kumiko she’d love to go. Kumiko visits the bass section to discuss this pool outing with Kanade, Hazuki, and the others. Kanade says she and Ririka plan to attend a college information session. She wonders if Kumiko is interested in it and Kumiko says she’s not. 

Despite being a second-year, Kanade says she wants to attend this college event. Kumiko questions if she should go. Then, Kumiko and the others visit a different room and go through old knickknacks. Suddenly, Natsuki and Yuuko arrive, much to everyone’s surprise. Natsuki and Yuuko greet Kumiko and tell her she’s done a great job as president. 

Kaho introduces herself to Natsuki and Yuuko and Kanade tells Natsuki Kaho’s better than her at the euphonium. Natsuki doesn’t doubt that, much to Kanade’s surprise. Later, Natsuki and Yuuko catch up with Kumiko and Kousaka. Yuuko feels she and the others made a great choice electing Kumiko, Kousaka, and Shuuichi as the band’s president, drum major, and vice president respectively.

Additionally, the four chat about the Kansai Competition and the rival schools Kumiko and her team must face. Yuuko and Natsuki promise to cheer for Kumiko and the others at Nationals if they make it there. Next, Kumiko, Hazuki, Kanade, and Ririka split into groups and explore the college information sessions event. After that, Kumiko and Hazuki visit a restaurant to discuss their experiences. 

Hazuki says she wants to attend a junior college that’ll allow her to attain a nursery school teacher license. Hazuki tells Kumiko why she wants to pursue this career and notes Michie as one of her influencers. Hazuki suggests Kumiko become a teacher. Kumiko’s unsure about that idea and ponders this discussion while heading home. Kumiko arrives home and notices her sister Mamiko is there. 

Kumiko and her family discuss Kumiko’s problem with finding a career path after her final year of high school ends. Then, we arrive at the pool and witness the first-year band members compare their physiques to their higher-up bandmates’ builds. Kumiko and Kousaka arrive and the girls marvel at her physique. The other girls, Kousaka, and Tsubame leave to complete their respective objectives, leaving Kumiko alone with Mayu. 

Kumiko and Mayu discuss Mayu’s companionship with Tsubame and how the first-years look up to her. Mayu feels it’s no big deal as she wants to make everyone happy. Mayu tells Kumiko she lacks preferences and is fine with anything. Kumiko reflects on Mayu’s words and compares Mayu’s current train of thought to the way Kumiko felt during middle school. 

Mayu opens up more about herself and how she perceives things to Kumiko. Eventually, Kousaka and Tsubame return with drinks. The two didn’t know what to get Mayu, so Tsubame asked Mayu to select a beverage. Mayu asks Tsubame what type of drink she likes. Later, Mayu takes a group photo of Kumiko and the other girls. Hazuki and the others confront Mayu about her camera and Mayu reveals her father gave it to her. 

Next, Mayu reveals she has many Seira High School photos at home. Kumiko confronts Mayu and asks her to take another photo. This time Kumiko wants Mayu to be in the photo because she wants to rekindle this moment with her. The next day, Kumiko and the others visit the bass section to observe the photos Mayu took at the pool. Hazuki asks Mayu what happened to the photo she took of herself with everyone. 

Mayu tells Hazuki it didn’t develop properly. Next, Mayu asks Kumiko why she invited her to the pool event. Mayu brings up their future audition and plans to give it her best shot. The episode closes with a shot of a facility. 

The Episode Review

Sound! Euphonium Season 3 has been on a roll as of late. Although it’s a bummer the canon films couldn’t capture the magic of Seasons 1 and 2, Season 3 has given audiences exceptional content to observe (as of this writing). Not only are the main characters a delight to follow, but the new side characters have been a treat to watch. That said, Mayu has left many audiences mixed, in a good way. 

Early on many perceived her as this devious rival to Kumiko. Yet, the more Season 3 progresses, the more fans realize Mayu might be the one who’s internally hurting the most compared to other new additions Season 3 introduced. From her possible photo-development lies to her condescending discussion with Kumiko at the pool, many fans will walk away from episode 7, hoping Mayu receives more support.

While Kumiko’s kind gesture was a great step in that direction, we’re optimistic this season will explore Mayu further and give fans the answers they seek about her true life experiences. Overall, this was another great outing for Sound! Euphonium Season 3. While it’s a bummer we didn’t get to see Hazuki and the others perform at the Prefecturals, this episode offers meaningful content that’ll make some folks look past that.