A Work of Joy

Final scene of Episode 5.

**"A Work of Joy"** is a Season 1 episode of the series Taranai Yūsu Ōkesutora. It is the 5th episode of Season 1, as well as the fifth episode of the series overall.

## Synopsis

Jodai Topomo is asked to brighten the orchestra's mood, so she reveals their next piece, "A Work of Joy". Ranai's bullying of Nancai intensifies, and a dark secret of Emily's is revealed.

## Plot

At the beginning of the episode, Ranai Yuke is shown sitting in Ms Lireste's office. Ms. Lireste is scolding Ranai for damaging school property and bullying another student, and gives her a week's suspension. She also warns Ranai that if she is caught bullying her again, she will be expelled. Ranai says nothing.

Mr. Tupunwe and Ms. Lireste meet Jodai Topomo in the next scene and tell her that the latest song, "A Tribute to Yamaka", is too emotionally damaging to the students. They say that Jodai may keep this song, but must have an incredibly happy song next to brighten the orchestra's mood.

At the next orchestra rehearsal, Jodai introduces the next piece, "A Work of Joy". This piece was composed by Fugata Wereto, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing who composed this piece in the 50s. He composed it in order to brighten people's moods after their humiliating defeat in the war, and to this day it continues to serve the purpose of brightening people's mood. The song choice is clearly a surprise to Ranai.

As the orchestra practices, Ranai experiences a flashback, back to the time when she was a violinist and played this piece in a duet with legendary violinist Kanguto Nagati. It is revealed that Kanguto had selected the piece himself because he was happy they had fallen in love. However, Ranai's violin later broke, and she found it cheaper to switch to the viola, meaning she had to relearn an instrument from scratch. Kanguto was initially encouraging to this, but later began to tire of how long it was taking Ranai to pick up the instrument, so he began making jokes about how a violist could never be as good as a violinist. The jokes injured Ranai's pride, and it was injured even further when Kanguto quit the duet because of how long it was taking her to learn and moved to Nagasaki to "better his career". This led Ranai to grow a hatred of violinists, but especially of Nancai Shen, who was Kanguto's cousin. She had been watching Nancai for months, and when she learned Nancai wanted to play the violin, she worried that she would follow in her cousin's footsteps and began bullying her in order to stop her from trying to learn.

During the breaktime, Ranai sees Nancai leave for the bathroom, and her hatred returns. Despite Ms. Lireste's warning, she follows Nancai and warns her that severe consequences would happen if she continued to pursue any musical instrument, including percussion. Nancai is scared and runs away, leaving Ranai feeling triumphant. After the break, Ranai plays "A Work of Joy" better than anyone else, leading Jodai to become passionate about the success of the song, and she congratulates Ranai on her ability. Jodai then announces that becuase of the success of this song, the orchestra would be travelling to a rural town called Kataka, which never experienced orchestral performances. Jodai says that the people of the town would love a visit from the orchestra. Tomasoto wonders where Nancai is, but does not look into it.

At Nancai's home, her sister Tokia Shen is again trying to reassure her, telling her that she would tell Ms Lireste what Ranai was doing. However, Nancai yells at her not to, as she worries about what Ranai might do.

At Taranai Boys' High School, Tomasoto is playing piano in the music room, working towards his Grade 7 exam. Husako and Edgar enter, and they attempt to give tips, despite neither of them knowing a thing about piano. Eventually, they talk for a while, and the conversation turns to girls. Tomasoto says that the brotherhood must be respected, and that if any of them were to get a crush, they must tell the others so they can help. They all agree on this.

The final scene shows Emily lying on her bed, looking shocked. She falls asleep, and dreams of her old school in America, Doleville High School. A scene is shown of a young girl being bullied by a hidden bully for being "too fat". The same young girl is then shown at her home, starving herself for days so she would not be bullied again. The next scene shows a couple being mocked by the same bully, causing them to break up to avoid being bullied. More scenes are shown, revealing that this bully also bribed the staff from stolen lunch money and ruled the school tyrannically.

Next the bully is shown at her home, writing in her diary. We find out that she simply started bullying because she believed that if she did not bully people than she herself would be bullied. She had enjoyed it for a while but was now finding it tiring. She now wants to turn over a new leaf, and asks her parents to move somewhere far away. Coincidentally, her father had recently been offered a work contract in Japan, but they were not going to accept. Since the girl wanted to move, they decide that they will accept it. The girl is the revealed to be Emily Wassen. Her face is the last thing seen before the episode fades to the credits.

## Characters

### Main Characters

* Ranai Yuke
* Jodai Topomo
* Edgar Rice
* Husako Tiwe
* Tomasoto Yeseke
* Nancai Shen
* Emily Wassen

### Minor Characters

* Ms Lireste
* Mr Tupunwe
* Kiel Pisutu
* Dakin Han
* Stanoyo Truwe
* Kanguto Nagati
* Tokia Shen
* Robert Wassen
* Helena Wassen