Sound! Euphonium 3

Kumiko starts the new school year carrying real authority for the first time, not as the eager underclassman who followed orders, but as the club president who has to set the direction and own every outcome. Kitauji’s concert band is flooded with new members, and the mood is a mix of excitement and nerves as the seniors try to keep standards high without crushing the newcomers. Their aim is blunt and heavy: reach the national stage and win gold. That goal turns every rehearsal into a test of leadership, because talent alone does not create unity, and small cracks become loud when auditions and section balance come into play. Into that pressure walks Mayu Kuroe, a transfer student whose presence instantly shifts the internal temperature of the club. Kumiko sees the warning signs early, because Mayu is skilled but cautious, and she hesitates to step into the group’s rhythm. Instead of forcing her, Kumiko chooses a softer approach, giving her room to breathe and a reason to commit. Outside the practice room, school events and public performances keep stacking up, so the band has to learn how to stay disciplined while being constantly on display, and Kumiko has to learn what kind of president she is when kindness and competition pull in opposite directions.