Hibike! Euphonium

Synopsis

Picking up immediately from where episode 7 left off, Kumiko denies being romantically involved with Shuuichi, relieving both Hazuki and Sapphire. Around this time, the Agata festival - an event closely associated with romantic interest - is to take place, and the concert band members work out whom each of them is going to the festival with. It is revealed that Gotou Takuya and Nagase Riko are dating when Natsuki mentions they will be going to the festival together. Later on, Shuuichi asks Kumiko to go to the festival with him, which creates a love triangle between Shuuichi, Hazuki and Kumiko. Kumiko's attempts to ignore Shuuichi fail when he misinterprets her actions as an opening to talk, and the whole effort ends with Shuuichi going to the festival with Hazuki, while Kumiko inadvertently ends up going with Kousaka Reina. The day of the festival arrives. Sapphire and her little sister see Hazuki off before Shuuichi arrives; at the same time, Kumiko and Reina ignore the festival altogether and climb up Mount Daikichi with their instruments. Meanwhile, at the festival, Hazuki confesses her feelings to Shuuichi, but is rejected and thereafter declares her support in getting Shuuichi together with Kumiko instead, mentioning that a tuba's role is supporting others from the sideline. Back with Kumiko and Reina, the latter divulges her interest in spending more time with Kumiko, stating that Kumiko's distant personality - nothing like the 'nice girl' she presents herself as - is attractive to her. Reina reveals that she has no interest in fitting in, but rather wants to be something special, which is why she plays the trumpet. The day ends with the two of them playing a piece from their middle school concert band repertoire atop the mountain, leading into the day of the auditions.