Episode 18 – Mitsuru Modokashisa (Mitsuru's Growing Pains)

Miki: Somewhere unknown to us, new duelists are mobilizing against us.
Juri: Have we been abandoned, then?

Miki, Juri and Nanami are in the Student Council area with umbrellas.

Miki: Maybe Ends of the World is having second thoughts.
Nanami: What are you talking about? We, the Student Council, set the rules for the academy. All we need to do is clamp down hard on the newcomers.
Miki: It's not that simple.
Juri: He's right.
Nanami: What is it? You two look so grim. ...Don't tell me it happened to you too, Juri-sempai.

Juri remembers her spirit sword coming out of her chest and blushes.

Nanami: Oh, my! Really? Then, what was it like? Did it hurt?
Mitsuru: Nanami-san!

The three of them look to see Mitsuru standing on the balcony.

Mitsuru: Since it's raining, PE will be in the gym today. It looks like you'll be playing basketball, so I brought your basketball shoes.

He notices everyone staring at him.

Mitsuru: Um...
Miki: This place is off limits to everyone but those with council business.
Nanami: Look, I'm the Student Council president now.
Juri: Even so, you'd better be cautious.
Miki: As long as our opponents are invisible, we are at a disadvantage.

Miki and Juri both leave.

Nanami: What is with those two?
Mitsuru: Nanami-san, what were you talking about?
Nanami: Tsuwabuki-kun, that's none of your business. It's grown-up stuff.

Nanami exits, leaving Mitsuru standing in the rain.

Title card: Mitsuru's Growing Pains

Anthy, Utena and Chu Chu are in the rose greenhouse. Chu Chu is watching a snail crawl up the wall.

Utena: Man, it's raining hard. I bet the roses would like to see the sun too.
Anthy: That's true. Roses are sensitive to seasonal changes, after all.

Chu Chu starts riding on top of the snail. Utena looks out from the greenhouse and sees Nanami and Mitsuru.

Utena: Nanami and Tsuwabuki-kun? Tsuwabuki-kun really manages to hang in there. If that were me, I couldn't live that way more than three days.
Anthy: I'm sure he can do it because he loves her.

Chu Chu is tackled by a frog.

Utena: I guess so. But I would be nice if she appreciated him.

Mari: It's not like she appreciates you or anything.
Mitsuru: Huh?

Mitsuru looks up from his seat in the locker area to see Mari standing over him.

Mari: You are so messed up!
Mitsuru: Oh, it's you, Mari.
Mari: Carrying her things, making her schedules, running her errands... Youre nothing but her manager! Do you think you can get a girl's attention just because you've been nice to her?
Mitsuru: It's not to get her attention.
Mari: Then why?
Mitsuru: I'm happy just to be allowed to be with Nanami-san.
Mari: Man, you're bent. You should have a more normal romance.
Mitsuru: Don't be so stuck up. We're only one year apart, after all.
Mari: One year or not, older is older.
Mitsuru: (standing up) You're no different.
Mari: Say that again?
Mitsuru: You're childish right down to your body.

Mari slaps Mitsuru.

Mari: Idiot!

She runs off. Nanami has been watching.

Mitsuru: What's with her?
Nanami: Tsuwabuki? Who was that?
Mitsuru: Oh, nobody, nobody!

Nanami: So, Tsuwabuki, don't you have any friends?
Mitsuru: Friends?

Nanami and Mitsuru are walking in the rain. Mitsuru is carry Nanami's things and her umbrella.

Nanami: Well, you always come with me to the junior high school building.
Mitsuru: Does that bother you? Nanami: Oh, I didn't say that... You're so uncute, for a child.
Mitsuru: I... I'm happier when I'm with you, Nanami-san.
Nanami: That girl is cute, though.
Mitsuru: Wh-What's cute about her?
Nanami: Is she your girlfriend?
Mitsuru: Just a friend, that's all.

Mitsuru returns to his dormitory with several bags of food. Mari sees him with them.

Mari: What's this for? (looking in the bags) Are you having a party or something?
Mitsuru: Don't touch that? This is for Nanami-san's lunch tomorrow.
Mari: All this?
Mitsuru: Something wrong?
Mari: You have no idea.

Mitsuru starts unpacking the food at a table. Mari takes a chocolate bar and starts eating it.

Mitsuru: Hey! You can't just go and eat food somebody else bought!
Mari: No matter how hoard you work, she'll just eat all the good stuff and run.
Mitsuru: How do you figure that?
Mari: Woman's intuition. She's like a black widow, creeping around you, slowly driving you crazy.
Mitsuru: You just don't know Nanami-san's good side.
Mari: Yes I do! I'm telling you, it's woman's intuition! She's like a black widow.
Mitsuru: I'd be satisfied if she ate anything of mine.
Mari: That's perverted!
Mitsuru: How is that perverted?
Mari: You'll know when you're grown up!

Mari gets up to leave, putting the chocolate bar on the table.

Mitsuru: Hey! Take this!
Mari: I don't want anymore. You eat it.
Mitsuru: Do grown ups even eat chocolate?

Mitsuru starts to eat it, then stops.

Mitsuru: Isn't this an indirect kiss?

The next day, Mitsuru walks quickly down the halls of Ohtori Academy, carrying Nanami's lunch.

Girl 1: Where are we going to eat lunch?
Girl 2: Well, it's raining outside...

He gets to the courtyard and sees Nanami standing on the other side.

Mitsuru: Nanami-san! Today, I have your favorite, fried chicken with asparagus and bacon.

He reaches Nanami and sees her talking with Mikage.

Nanami: What is it, Tsuwabuki?
Mitsuru: Uh, your lunch...
Nanami: I won't be needing it today. This is Mikage, as in the "Mikage Seminar".
Mikage: Good afternoon.
Nanami: I'm just thrilled to have been invited to the seminar.
Mikage: The pleasure's all mine. My attempts to woo you have been worthwhile.
Nanami: Well, if you think someone like myself would be of any use...
Mikage: Then why don't we get something to eat, and discuss it in more detail?
Nanami: All right.
Mikage (to Mitsuru) If you like, you may attend the seminar too.
Nanami: Oh, no need. After all, Tsuwabuki's just a child. So, shall we go?

Mitsuru is in the library, reading at a table with piles of books on it. Anthy and Utena see him.

Utena: Oh? Tsuwabuki-kun, what's going on? Such serious books you have out.
Mitsuru: Utena-san, what does it mean to become an adult?
Utena: Huh? What does it mean? Well, that's... I think it's a lot of things. You might say it's a matter of experiencing all kinds of things.
Mitsuru: All kinds? So, if I experience all kinds of things, I can become an adult?
Utena: ...I guess.
Mitsuru: So, do you have all kinds of experience, Utena-san?
Utena: Uh, well...
Anthy: At our age, we're adults in all kinds of ways. Wouldn't you agree, Utena-sama?
Utena: R-Really?
Anthy: Yes.

Utena: Is it weird to dream about my prince?

Utena and Akio are sitting in Akio's office.

Akio: Huh?
Utena: I mean... After an underclassman asked me, I wondered whether I'm an adult or a child.
Akio: How do you feel about it?
Utena: I don't know. First of all, I'm not even sure of the difference between an adult and a child.
Akio: Hmm... As a star ages, it loses some if its brilliance. You might say it's the same with people.
Utena: You're the brightest one around right now, aren't you, Mr. Chairman? Getting such a pretty bride...
Akio: I guess I am.

Mamiya and Mikage are standing around the glass cube with the black rose inside.

Mikage: Mamiya, what if you were to go outside occasionally?
Mamiya: The rain depresses me. It's more peaceful in here.
Mikage: Won't such a disgusting scene be played, unwatched in the darkness?
Mamiya: (pause) By the way, has the next duelist been chosen?
Mikage: It's just been noted: a deeply jealous queen and her retainer.
Mamiya: It's just a child.
Mikage: Until last night, he was quite a tough flower bud, but given the chance, he will burst open easily.
Mamiya: You're a wicked man.
Mikage: Beautiful as you are, you cannot capture the Rose Bride.
Mamiya: I see.

A filmstrip runs in a dark theater. On the screen are clips of various couples kissing. Mitsuru is studying the clips intently.

Mitsuru: So if I get a lot of experience, I'll become an adult.

Mari sits down beside him.

Mari: What are you doing?
Mitsuru: You again?
Mari: What are you doing?
Mitsuru: Watching all kinds of things. So I can become an adult.
Mari: You can become an adult by doing that?
Mitsuru: Yes.

Mari starts laughing hysterically.

Mitsuru: You've really been annoying me lately. Why are you following me around?
Mari: Why are you trying to copy others? It's obvious that someone who's had one real kiss is more of an adult than someone who's simply seen a million kiss scenes.
Mitsuru: One real kiss?
Mari: Ah, this is getting bad. I mean, you're not stupid, but you have a weird way of thinking. There's something called "practice". Don't you even know that?

Mitsuru puts his hand on Mari's. She looks at him, blushing. He makes exaggerated kissing motions with his lips. She slaps him and leaves the theater as Nanami walks down the hall.

Mari: What are you, stupid? You've got no delicacy at all! You really are a child!

Mitsuru walks out of the theater as Mari runs away.

Nanami: Why, that little...

Mitsuru is sitting on his bed in his room, having thrown the remains of Nanami's lunch away. He remembers things others had said earlier.

Nanami: Oh, no need. Tsuwabuki's just a child, after all...
Utena: You might say it's a matter of experiencing all kinds of things...
Anthy: At our age, we're adults in all kinds of ways. Wouldn't you agree, Utena-sama?...

He picks up the chocolate bar Mari had been eating earlier. He starts to eat it, but throws it in the trash instead. Someone knocks on his door.

Mitsuru: Coming...

He opens the door to find an angry-looking Nanami standing there.

Mitsuru: Nanami-san!
Nanami: What were you doing in the A/V room?
Mitsuru: Eh? Why?
Nanami: I saw you and that girl in there together.
Mitsuru: That's all Mari's-
Nanami: I knew it. What were you doing with your so-called friend? You really do like her, don't you, Tsuwabuki?
Mitsuru: And what if I do?
Nanami: Huh?
Mitsuru: In short, I don't like bitter things, or serious seminar discussions, and Mari's been making a fool of me lately, saying children don't understand. (pause) Why couldn't I have been born in the same year as you, Nanami-san? I want to be an adult as soon as I can, to become a man and do all the fun things.
Nanami: Silly boy. You don't need to do that. I like you the way you are now.

Inside Nemuro Memorial Hall, the door to the elevator closes with a sign on the doorknob: "Occupied".

Mitsuru sits in the elevator. A large glass picture is mounted on the wall with a butterfly inside.

Mitsuru: 4th grade, A class, Tsuwabuki Mitsuru.
Mikage: (over intercom) Well then, please begin.

The elevator shakes and starts to move down.

Mitsuru: Well, actually, it's about Nanami-san. She's very pretty and trustworthy, and I've admired her for a long time.

Mitsuru looks at a picture in his lap of Nanami and himself. Only his head is showing beside Nanami.

Mitsuru: Even though she was using me a bit like a servant, just being with her was happiness. But... But...

The picture on the wall has changed to a cocoon. The elevator shakes again and descends faster.

Mikage: (on intercom) Deeper. Go deeper.
Mitsuru: It's just that... Somehow, I'm not satisfied by only being near Nanami-san. Then, my friend Mari starts sticking her nose in here and there, and they both look down on me.

The picture on the wall has changed again to a caterpillar.

Mitsuru: She laughs at me, the child. I want to become an adult! I want to become an adult and wreck the world!

He smashes his thumb into Nanami's face on the picture.

Mitsuru: I want to... I want to... I want to wreck the world!

The picture on the wall has changed to a leaf. The elevator slams to a stop. Mikage stands in the elevator behind Mitsuru.

Mikage: I understand. I suppose you have no choice but to revolutionize the world. The way before you have been prepared.

Mikage stands next to the wall of coffins. Mitsuru looks out from the elevator.

Mitsuru: Where...

Nanami walks into the theater, which is still running clips of kissing couples.

Nanami: Tsuwabuki? What are you up to, call me to a place like this? Why are you so quiet, Tsuwabuki? Say something!
Mitsuru: Now, now.. Please sit down.
Nanami: What is it, already?

Mitsuru puts his hand on Nanami's, which has a Black Rose Signet on it.

Nanami: W-Wait! That's too close, Tsuwabuki! Tsu-Tsuwabuki?

He looks at her blankly. She suddenly leans far back as a sword and dagger come out of her chest. Mitsuru takes them both.

Mitsuru: This is how I will become an adult.

Wakaba: It never fails; I bring an umbrella, it stops raining.
Utena: Why don't you just watch the weather report instead?

Utena opens her locker and finds an umbrella inside. She opens it and finds a note taped to it.

Note: To the one engaged – I shall wait for you in the duel arena this evening.

C-ko starts a skit behind a stained glass window Utena is standing in front of.

C-ko: Extra! Extra! Extra!
C-ko: Today, oh, today was my first time!
C-ko: (as father) What? And you didn't even tell your own father?
C-ko: (as mother) Where did it happen?
C-ko: (as nurse) Inside a car, I hear.
C-ko: (as father) What? Damn you!
C-ko: (as mother) Now, now, dear...
C-ko: My heart was going a mile a minute, but I don't regret it!
C-ko: (as father) You're awfully determined, for your first time and all.
C-ko: It did take a lot of courage, but if you think of it as proof of adulthood, it's not so painful. And besides, you get juice and stuff when you leave.
C-ko: (as father) Huh? What are we talking about here?
C-ko: Isn't it obvious? I gave blood today.
Utena: You can give blood when you're sixteen.
C-ko: Proof of adulthood!

Utena opens the doors to the duel arena and climbs the steps.

The arena is lined with desks, each with a clay figure holding a partially-eaten chocolate bar sitting on top. Mitsuru is standing amongst the desks, wearing a duelist outfit and a black rose.

Mitsuru: I swear by this black rose, that I shall win this duel, and bring death to the Rose Bride!
Utena: Tsuwabuki-kun, you're the one who called me out here?

Mitsuru charges at Utena and slices off small strands of her hair as she dodges.

Mitsuru: You seem to have forgotten that this is a place for dueling. Our fight has already begun!
Anthy: His eyes...they're just like the others.
Utena: Then, Tsuwabuki-kun is also...
Anthy: ...not his usual self.

Mitsuru charges Utena again, and knocks over one of the clay statues as Utena dodges.
Utena: Himemiya!
Anthy: Roses of the noble castle... Power of Dios that sleeps within me... Harken unto they master, and reveal to us...

Utena pulls the Sword of Dios from Anthy's chest.

Utena: ...the power to revolutionize the world!

The bells near the duel arena ring. Utena and Mitsuru start dueling.

Utena: Tsuwabuki-kun! Wake up! There's no reason for us to fight!
Mitsuru: I will become an adult!
Utena: What?
Mitsuru: You can't grow up just by gathering experiences. Instead, I'll destroy an adult who has, and the boy will become a man!
Utena: Who told you something like that?

Utena jumps back as Mitsuru thrusts his sword forward, and she summons the power of Dios. She charges at him and knocks his sword out of his hand. She then cuts the rose off of his chest. The bells near the arena ring again. The desks move into four squares around Mitsuru, whose Black Rose Signet disintegrates as he falls onto one of the red silhouettes.

Inside Nemuro Memorial Hall, a coffin slides backwards through the wall and is consumed by flames.

Nanami is walking up to Ohtori Academy. Mitsuru runs up to her.

Mitsuru: Good morning, Nanami-sempai.
Nanami: (staring at Mitsuru) Oh, morning.
Mitsuru: Something wrong?
Nanami: No, nothing.

Mari runs up to Mitsuru.

Mari: Tsuwabuki! You're going to be late if you keep dawdling.
Mitsuru: Sheesh...

He runs after Mari, but stops and turns to Nanami.

Mitsuru: Well then...

He runs off. Nanami looks up at the clear sky.

Nanami: My, it's getting hot...

To be continued...