Hailey the competitor, Rodrigo her coach, and Thomas the judge are in Tokyo for the Fukusoft Conducting Competition. Others somewhat unexpectedly there at the event are Gloria, who wants to ensure that nothing threatens Fukumoto's funding for the orchestra, and Betty, who has been Fukumoto's companion since they met. Betty may be an asset and in turn a hindrance for Gloria when it comes to "Fuku". Gloria may find she has other problems in Sadako, the competition's head judge. In being a newbie to conducting competitions, Hailey doesn't want her association, professional or personal, with Rodrigo to overtake what others may see in her. And Rodrigo inches ever closer to having to perform the now completed Requiem whether he wants to or not, in the continuing unspoken battle he has with Fukumoto and now Fukumoto's new prodigy, WAM. Rodrigo will find that he has to fight other battles in Japan in the belief by some that he is dead.
—Huggo