Ep 2. Summertime

In episode 2 of Kids on the Slope, titled "Summertime," we see Kaoru Nishimi experiencing his first summer in Kyushu after moving to live with his relatives. As he tries to adjust to the new environment, he finds himself drawn to a girl named Ritsuko Mukae, who he has known since childhood. Ritsuko is a classmate of Kaoru's and is the daughter of the owner of the record shop where he has been spending a lot of time.

With summer comes the summer festival and everyone in town is excited about it. Kaoru's grandfather suggests that the three of them should attend the festival together. Kaoru is initially hesitant because he feels awkward about being seen with his grandfather, but ultimately agrees. When they get to the festival, Kaoru and Ritsuko are separated from the rest of the crowd. During their time together, Kaoru learns that Ritsuko has started dating a boy named Junichi Katsuragi, who is the captain of the basketball team, despite not being interested in him romantically.

The two of them later meet up with their friends Sentaro Kawabuchi and Seiji Matsuoka. The four of them head to the beach where Kaoru, who has never been to a beach before, finds himself awkwardly trying to fit in with the others. Sentaro tries to teach Kaoru how to swim but he is too scared to be fully immersed in the water.

After their day at the beach, they all go back to Ritsuko's house where they sit on the balcony and listen to music. Kaoru begins to play the piano and invites Sentaro to join him on the drums. The two of them start to jam and Matsuoka, who is watching from the sidelines, is impressed by their skills. He invites them to join his band and perform at the upcoming summer festival.

While they are practicing for the festival, Sentaro finds out that Kaoru has a crush on Ritsuko and immediately becomes angry. He accuses Kaoru of being selfish and only thinking about himself. Kaoru, who is hurt by Sentaro's outburst, decides to quit the band and stop playing music altogether.

Meanwhile, Ritsuko is struggling with her feelings for Junichi. She has agreed to become his girlfriend even though she is not in love with him. Her mother, who can sense her daughter's unhappiness, suggests that she should break up with Junichi and follow her heart. Ritsuko takes her mother's advice and ends things with Junichi, much to his disappointment.

The episode ends with Kaoru and Sentaro's friendship being tested as they both struggle to deal with their feelings for Ritsuko. The summer is coming to an end, and they must figure out how to navigate their complicated feelings before they all head back to school.

"Summertime" is an emotionally charged episode that explores themes of love, friendship, and self-discovery. It shows the complexity of teenage relationships and the struggles that come with growing up. The episode also features beautiful music performances that add to the overall ambiance of the show. Kids on the Slope is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys coming-of-age dramas and meaningful storytelling.