Hibike! Euphonium S3 — Episode 11 — 10 Second Anime

After Kitauji passes to the Nationals, Kumiko and Reina attend a concert. A fateful reunion decides Kumiko’s future.

Episode 11 — “Orchestra to the Future”

Hmm.

Mirroring past relationships to emphasize current ones is the hallmark of Hibike! Euphonium. Reina’s audition for a trumpet solo against a popular senior ended the first season’s drama to fix Kitauji’s concert band club’s competitive attitude toward regional competitions and national ambitions. An oboe and flute duet provided the story of friendship and separation between a talented introverted musician and her extroverted musical hobbyist. Then, last week, we saw how a friendship between trumpet and euphonium players continues after high school. Notice all the parallels between Reina and Kumiko’s connection and those past characters and storylines.

Since Hibike! Euphonium’s first episode this season, Reina has pushed Kumiko to join her in pursuing a musical career. Was Kumiko’s hesitation a sign of her signature procrastination? No. Kumiko single-mindedly followed the path of molding Kitauji’s concert band into a meritocracy with instant willingness and wide-eyed awareness of its emotional pitfalls. Kumiko only procrastinates when she doesn’t know how to answer, not that she doesn’t know the answer. Mizore Yoroizuka’s clear, straightforward answer that she had never thought of Kumiko as a musician showed Kumiko how to answer those who wanted her to attend music school. Kumiko loved music but wasn’t a musician.

How will that affect Reina’s friendship with Kumiko? Again, Hibike! Euphonium’s mirroring reassures us that friendship persists even beyond physical separation. Kaori, the trumpet player, is roommates with Asuka, the euphonium player. Nozomi still supports her best friend Mizore at music college. Asuka, the relationship savant, predicted Reina would attend school overseas in an offhand joke. Kumiko and Reina could have the most challenging circumstances to keep their friendship alive. But Kumiko has the most tenacity to achieve her goals after she ends her procrastination. Kumiko and Reina will be okay no matter what.

Heh.

Kitauji won gold, but was it fake gold? No! They continue to the Nationals! Will it be a fluke like Hibike! Euphonium’s first school year for Kumiko? Taki-sensei thanks Kumiko for her speech because he shuts down emotionally in those situations. Taki’s late wife was the loud, friendly one in their relationship. He needed her complementary energy. Ho. Kumiko didn’t need a guidance counselor. All she needed was to chat with Taki-sensei. I see her future now. High school band adviser and music teacher. Look at KyoAni’s food porn. Midori received a confirmation letter from her college of choice. Hazuki and Kumiko are left-behind buddies. Kumiko is still procrastinating. But Reina will go to America for music school! Left behind! Midori will forever be Hibike! Euphonium’s wisdom fairy. More KyoAni food porn and a metaphor for friends going separate ways.

How about listening to Mizore’s university orchestra for perspective? Aw. Reina apologized for her angry attitude about handling the concert band’s frustration. OMG. Kumiko sounds like Asuka with fake petulance! Hug it out! Kumiko acted like this because she visited Asuka and Kaori. Aw. Reconciliation is nice to see.

Practice starts again, and Kanade is adamant that Kumiko plays the euphonium solo with Reina. Kumiko plays “Hibike! Euphonium” so much that Mayu and Kanade want to play it with her. The eye catches hint that Mayu still wants to forfeit the solo part. Please stop already! And the Tuba section takes its turn.

Kumiko won’t budge on the meritocratic mindset of Kitauji. And she expects Mayu to adhere to that or quit altogether. Aw. Kanade is overprotective of Kumiko in her passive-aggressive way. Kumiko has fought too many emotional fights about seniority to give her perspective now. She’s the president. She owns her policy.

Girlie formal dress for an orchestra venue. Mamiko gets to play with Kumiko’s hair. Kumiko tells her she’s not going to apply to music school. Probably. Yup. KyoAni uses Hibike! Euphonium’s scene of Kumiko dressing like a “grownup” to emphasize adult perspectives and leaving childhood behind. Look how not-grown-up Satsuki and Yuuki are. Nozomi is fine. Reina feels happy seeing her seniors maintain their friendship after graduation. Harsh. Mizore never saw Kumiko going to music school.

Clarifying for Kumiko. She made up her mind and closed off that hope for Reina. KyoAni puts this conversation at a crosswalk. Heavy-handed symbolism. Ack. Reina freaks out. No contact after graduation! Reina can’t bear the idea of distance causing her friendship’s death through a thousand cuts. Hug. They’ll always be friends. She won’t change. She won’t let their relationship die. Kumiko’s transformation as her generation’s Asuka is complete. She is the rock to which everyone can lash their hopes.

And the last round of auditions begins for the Hibike! Euphonium cliffhanger.