Summary
Among the finest middle school pianists featured in the narrative, Emi Igawa holds a status comparable to Takeshi Aiza. She is renowned for playing with raw emotion, a trait that leaves her vulnerable to being thrown off her game by even the slightest sense of discomfort. Before the main events unfold, Emi and Takeshi are seen sitting together, venting their frustrations about the emotionless demeanor of Kousei Arima after losing to him in a piano competition. The surrounding crowd highlights that Takeshi and Emi stand head and shoulders above the rest of the competitors, which only serves to make Kousei appear more invincible for defeating the two. While Takeshi views Kousei as a rival who pushes him toward greater heights, Emi harbors different motivations. She was originally inspired by Kousei’s passion and pure innocence during his first performance, which led her to study under Yuriko Ochiai with the goal of mastering musical expression. Throughout the story, Emi aims to challenge the boring playing style of the old Kousei, hoping to rediscover the true Kousei once again.
