Starting this year, the band holds auditions for members participating in the competition. First-year Hazuki has a chance, too. The bass section does everything they can to encourage her.

The competition performance is "only" 12 minutes long. It's both a blink of an eye and an eternity. The Concert Band members bet their entire youths on this competition. And Kitauji High School Concert Band's performance begins.

Having won first place at the Kyoto competition, Kumiko and the band are preparing to compete in the Kansai competition. A shadow looms over them when an old member, Nozomi Kasaki, enters the picture.

Nozomi finally meets Mizore. She learns, the hard way, why Asuka had been keeping her away.

Asuka's mother wants her to quit the concert band. This upsets everyone -- including her mother.

With Asuka back in the competition, the orchestra is just about set for the Nationals. Meanwhile, Kumiko tries to understand why Reina is upset at her.

The Prefecturals are coming up and that means the first of many auditions for the members of the concert band. Mayu is still hesitant to audition despite reassurance from the others. Some of Taki's choices for the competition confuse members.

The concert band receives its Kansai competition results. Reina and Kumiko see Yoroizuka perform with some of their senpais. However, Kumiko and Reina's relationship becomes precarious as she continues to insist she won't go to music school.

Taki decides that the band will choose the euphonium soli player by voting on one final audition. Kumiko then decides that they should choose based on sound alone, and so the two of them audition anonymously.