The Japanese drama series Sounds of Winter continues its unique storytelling format with Episode 4, which focuses on another important person from Ayana’s past. This time, viewers get to see the university boyfriend who not only broke her heart but also unknowingly inspired her to become the successful novelist she is today.
The episode brings together past and present timelines, showing how old relationships can leave lasting marks on a person’s life and career. Unlike typical romance dramas, Sounds of Winter builds its narrative by introducing a new character in each episode, connecting them to Ayana’s journey as a writer and as a woman navigating love and friendships.
Episode 4 Introduces Kobayashi Niko, Ayana’s University Ex-Boyfriend
Sounds of Winter Episode 4 introduces viewers to Kobayashi Niko, played as a best-selling author in the present day. But years ago, he was simply Ayana’s boyfriend during their university days. The episode reveals that Niko is actually the person who inspired Ayana to start writing seriously .
The present-day storyline shows Ayana at a book event where she is answering questions about her novel. During this event, she comes face to face with Niko, who is now a successful author himself. Their meeting brings back memories of their time together, and the episode smoothly transitions to 2019, when their love story first began.
How Ayana and Niko First Met in University
Back in 2019, Ayana first noticed Niko in a university club, where he sat reading a book. She felt an instant attraction toward him. After learning from a friend that he attended the same university, she found a way to get closer to him .
When they officially met, Ayana showed her honest and straightforward personality by telling him she had read his novel but did not find it interesting. This honest approach somehow worked, and the two started spending time together because of their shared interest in books and writing.
Their connection grew naturally, and eventually Niko asked Ayana to become his girlfriend. She agreed, and for a while, things seemed good between them.
The Painful Breakup That Changed Everything
Despite their connection, the relationship did not last long. Niko made the decision to break up with Ayana, and his reason surprised her. He explained that to write novels that are truly interesting, he needed to be alone. Being in a relationship, he said, made him feel emotionally unstable and affected his writing .
Around this time, Ayana had started writing her own stories and even won a writing competition. Niko admitted to her that he felt envious of her natural talent. His honesty about his jealousy, combined with his decision to end things so he could focus on writing, left Ayana confused and hurt.
She found his reason for breaking up silly and difficult to understand. But she respected his choice and decided to move forward with her life without him.
Present Day Meeting Brings Closure and Understanding
Years later, when Ayana and Niko meet again at her book event, they take time to catch up. The meeting is not dramatic or angry. Instead, it feels like two people who once mattered to each other acknowledging their shared past.
After their conversation, Ayana takes one of Niko’s novels home with her. Reading it, she finally understands why he made the choices he did all those years ago. She realizes that he truly needed to be alone to focus completely on his writing, and she respects the path he took and the sacrifices he made to become the successful author he is today .
However, Ayana makes it clear to herself that she does not want the same kind of life. She understands his choice but chooses a different path for herself, one that includes relationships and connections with people while still pursuing her writing career.
The Episode Connects Past Lessons to Present Life
Sounds of Winter Episode 4 does more than just tell a love story from the past. It shows how Ayana’s experiences with Niko shaped her understanding of love, creativity, and the choices people make for their dreams.
The episode also continues showing Ayana’s present life with her current boyfriend, Yukio. These scenes suggest that her past relationships and the lessons she learned from them help her navigate her current relationship better. She understands now that love does not have to mean giving up your dreams, and being with someone does not have to hold you back from growing as a person .
What Makes Sounds of Winter Different From Other Dramas
Sounds of Winter stands out from other Japanese romance dramas because it introduces a new character in every episode. Each episode merges both past and present timelines, showing how different people entered Ayana’s life and left their mark on her .
Previous episodes introduced viewers to Ayana’s ex-boyfriend from her school days and her admirer Kotaro. Episode 4 focused on her university boyfriend Niko. Alongside these romantic connections, the drama also highlights Ayana’s friendships with Wachi and En-chan, which adds more depth to her story.
The drama explores how all these relationships, both romantic and platonic, contributed to making Ayana the person she is today. Her career as a novelist, her understanding of love, and her approach to life have all been shaped by the people she met along the way.
Upcoming Episode Will Focus on Another Character
Sounds of Winter Episode 5 will continue the pattern by introducing a new character. The upcoming episode will focus on Tsukuda Takeshi, played by Hosoda Kanata. Takeshi was Ayana’s admirer during her university days .
The episode will likely show how they met, what brought them closer, and what Ayana learned from their connection. As with previous episodes, viewers can expect to see both past memories and present-day reflections on how this relationship affected Ayana’s life.
The drama continues to show Ayana’s present days with her boyfriend Yukio, and future episodes will probably keep exploring how her past experiences help her handle her current relationship.
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Sounds of Winter Episode 5 Release Information
Sounds of Winter Episode 5 was released in Japan on February 11. The episode aired on NTV at 10 pm JST and is available to stream on TVer for viewers in Japan .
For international audiences watching on Netflix, the episode will become available on February 20. The drama follows a weekly release schedule, with new episodes airing every Wednesday on NTV in Japan and arriving on Netflix every Friday for global viewers.
Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India can watch the series on Netflix starting February 20. The platform typically releases new episodes at midnight Pacific Time, which translates to early morning hours in the UK and late morning in India and Australia.
The series continues to build its unique narrative, with each episode adding another layer to Ayana’s story and helping viewers understand how her past shaped her present.
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