Kids on the Slope

All Blues (1x12)

: 22, 2012

Graduation is at hand for Kaoru and Ritsuko, and there is still no word from Sentaro. While studying at Ritsuko's house, Kaoru tries to get more intimate with her, but she rejects him after he tells her he is happy that Sentaro is not there to get between them. Kaoru apologizes to her, but he reveals that he is leaving after graduation to go to college in Tokyo. After graduation, he stands outside the record shop and tells Ritsuko that he's happy he met her. On the day of his departure, he is seen off by his aunt, his cousin and Mukae. Just as the train starts leaving, he sees Ritsuko running along the train, and they manage to exchange one last glance before he leaves town for college. Eight years pass, and Kaoru is a resident doctor. One day, he meets Yurika and she shows him a picture of a friend's wedding on a small island, and he recognizes Sentaro in the photo. He rushes to the island, and learns that Sentaro is now a priest in training at the local church. Kaoru sees Sentaro's drums in the church, and starts to play Moanin' on the church organ. Sentaro hears, and goes to the church to join in on drums. The priest arrives and scolds Sentaro for playing the drums without permission, and Sentaro and Kaoru run out of the church and down the slope. Near the bottom of the slope, they reunite with Ritsuko, who is holding a postcard from Yurika about Sentaro's whereabouts.