The Anthem of the Heart 2017

As a young girl, Jun Naruse, Kyoko Yoshine was very excitable and talkative. She loved fairy tales and was always excited about the castle on the hilltop, which in reality was a love hotel. One day, she saw her father leaving the love hotel. Not realizing the significance, she exposes his infidelity. Her father blames her for the family conflict that follows. While she is crying, she imagines a fairy egg that curses her by sealing her words, so she won’t hurt people again. As a result of her “curse,” Jun is not able to speak and suffers stomachaches whenever she tries to speak.

Years later, in high school, her homeroom teacher Kazuki Jōshima, Yoshiyoshi Arakawa signs her up as a member of the Community Outreach Event along with three other classmates: Takumi, Kento Nakajima the shy computer music researcher; Natsuki Nitō Anna Ishii, the cheerful cheerleader and honor student; and Daiki Tasaki Kanichiro Sato, the former baseball team ace who has a broken elbow. When she goes to the committee’s room to reject her position, Jun hears Takumi singing and is captivated. She then tells Takumi about her past using her phone, and requests for him to turn her words into a song. In this way, Jun learns that though she cannot speak, the “curse” doesn’t affect her if she sings. Her class decides to perform a musical for their school festival based on the story of her experience narrated in the form of a fairy tale.

While discussing the musical, Daiki has a falling out with his teammates. Jun intervenes, which leads to another stomachache, but this improves her bonds with the other committee members. Misunderstanding Takumi’s concern for Jun as a sign that he is falling in love with her, Natsuki tells Takumi that she will cheer them on, despite Natsuki’s feelings for Takumi. The next day, Daiki makes amends with his teammates. As they spend time together preparing for the musical, Jun starts to develop feelings for Takumi, while Daiki starts to develop feelings for Jun. Daiki asks Takumi about his relationship with Natsuki, having heard rumors that both of them were dating during middle school, but Takumi denies this since Natsuki had told her classmates that they were not dating when she was asked. Natsuki also tells Daiki that she currently has a boyfriend.

On the night before the musical, Takumi asks Natsuki about the boy she’s dating currently, leading Natsuki to finally reveal that the boy she’s referring to is none other than Takumi himself before she accuses him of falling in love with Jun. Takumi reveals that while he is concerned about Jun, he is not in love with her and he has always regretted not trying to convey his feelings for Natsuki during middle school even when he was aware of her feelings for him at that time. Unbeknownst to them, Jun overhears their conversation. Heartbroken, she runs away and meets the fairy egg, who reveals that she has worsened the curse by trying to convey her feelings for Takumi. Jun doesn’t show up on the day of the musical, leaving Natsuki to fill her role while Takumi frantically goes searching for her.

Takumi finds Jun at the love hotel that has been shut down. To his surprise, she can talk normally. Jun angrily lashes out at Takumi as he tells her that the reason she is unable to convey her words is not because of the fairy egg’s curse but because of Jun’s fear. Wanting to hear her voice once more, Takumi allows Jun to lash out all of her anger and frustration until she is satisfied. Jun confesses her feelings for Takumi, but it is revealed that Takumi is still in love with Natsuki, to which Jun replies that she knew. Takumi expresses his gratitude for Jun because before he met her, he was unable to say what he truly felt and only went along with everyone else. This convinces Jun to perform in the musical. Jun and Takumi arrive just in time before the final scene, allowing Jun to sing and convey her feelings to her mother who finally understands what she has been through. As the musical ends, Jun realizes that the fairy egg was actually nothing but imagination that she created to have someone she could blame for her condition, and now she decides to open up her heart, coming to terms with her past.

As the movie ends, Takumi and Natsuki reconcile their relationship, while Daiki finally confesses his feelings to Jun.