Nodame is in deep trouble as her train of thought is robbed at an unfortunate moment. She leaves the competition hall disappointed as well as Chiaki who had hoped she would goto Europe with him. The New Year's concert is around the corner and Chiaki has yet to inform the Rising-Star Orchestra of his pending departure from Japan as well as his replacement conductor, Matsuda. Sakuma also shares his reasons as to why he had helped Chiaki throughout his past 2 years starting from his Rachmaninoff performance. The pieces performed in this episode are Petrushka by Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune by Claude Debussy, Carmen Fantasy by Pablo de Sarasate, and Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche Op.28 by Richard Strauss.
途中で止まったピアノを即興で弾き続けたのだめだったが、当然コンクールは失格。「一緒にヨーロッパに留学しよう」と言ってくれた真一に対して、のだめは思わずきつい言葉をぶつけ、くやしさを紛らわす。そして、のだめは逃げるように郷里へ帰省してしまう。お正月、家で一度もピアノを弾かないのだめを家族が心配する。一方、Ｒ☆Ｓオケは、主要メンバーを入れ換えてニューイヤーズコンサートを行う。すでに海外への留学を決めている真一は日本での学生生活最後のステージに挑む。
도중에 멈춘 피아노를 즉흥적으로 계속 치지만, 당연히 콩쿠르는 실격."같이 유럽으로 유학가자"라고 말해 준 신이치에 대해서 노다메는 무심코 심한 말을 하게 되고, 노다메는 도망치듯 고향으로 귀성해 버린다. 설날 집에서 한번도 피아노를 치지 않는 노다메를 가족들은 걱정한다. 한편, R☆S오케는 주요 멤버들을 교체하며 새로운 콘서트를 진행한다. 이미 해외 유학을 결정한 신이치가 일본에서의 학생 생활 마지막 스테이지에 도전한다.
Nodame media improvisa su camino a través del resto de la pieza. Ella se pone generoso aplauso, pero todo el mundo sabe que tiene ninguna posibilidad de conseguir un premio. Chiaki intenta animarla pidiéndole que llegará a Europa con él.
