Ep 7. Lesson 7

As Nodame Cantabile season 2 continues, Episode 7, titled "Lesson 7," focuses on the characters as they prepare for their respective performances. Chiaki is conducting the Rising Star Orchestra, which has its first performance coming up soon. Meanwhile, Nodame is preparing for her first piano competition.

As expected, Chiaki is fully focused on the upcoming performance of his orchestra. He is constantly striving to make sure everything is in order and the orchestra members are on the same page. However, things are not going smoothly for him as some of the members are unable to pick up on his cues and this is starting to worry him.

On the other hand, Nodame is also dealing with her own set of problems as she struggles to focus on the piano competition. She is feeling unmotivated and uninspired, so to get out of this rut, she decides to play a duet with Chiaki. Initially, she is hesitant to take on this challenge, knowing how hard a task it is to keep up with Chiaki's skill level, but once she agrees, Chiaki pushes her to her limits.

As the episode progresses, we see that despite their personal issues and challenges, both Chiaki and Nodame are pushing themselves harder than ever before. Chiaki is pushing the orchestra members to work together as one, and Nodame is pushing herself to be a better pianist. As their struggles continue, the two turn to each other for support and encouragement.

The episode also showcases the rivalry between two of Nodame's classmates in the piano competition. Etou and Mine are both highly skilled pianists, and their rivalry is further fuelled by Nodame's indecisiveness towards whom she would like to have more as her friend. The viewers can see how Nodame struggles to stay neutral and be there for both of her colleagues without hurting or favouring either of them.

Lastly, the episode ends on a positive note as the Rising Star Orchestra and Nodame both perform well, much to the relief and pride of Chiaki and the other orchestra members. Having overcome their individual issues, Chiaki and Nodame both feel much more confident and inspired. As the credits roll, we are left eagerly anticipating the next episode, as well as the future performances of both the orchestra and Nodame.

Overall, episode 7 of Nodame Cantabile season 2 is a beautifully crafted episode that showcases the characters' struggles and their ability to overcome them with diligence and hard work. Each character is given their time to shine and grow, and the relationship dynamics between them are beautifully presented. The pacing is just right, and the music adds to the overall charm of the anime. It is an episode that would leave the viewers inspired and motivated to strive for their best.