Episode 20 – Wakaba Shigereru (Wakaba Hath Flourished Verdantly)

Girl 1: Hey, have you heard the rumor?
Girl 2: What rumor would this be?
Girl 3: The one about Saionji-sempai?
Girl 1: Yesyesyesyesyes.
Girl 2: Oh.

Several students are looking at a notice posted in Ohtori Academy.

Notice: Senior High, grade 11, class A, Saionji Kyoichi. The above named has been punished by expulsion for flagrantly violating the academy’s rules of conduct. Provost, Ohtori Academy.

Girl 1: Did that really happen?
Girl 3: What are you talking about?
Girl 1: So that’s it. No wonder I haven’t seen him around this past month.
Girl 2: But why was he expelled?
Girl 1: I don't know... I kind of admired him for a while, though.
Girl 3: Huh? What's so good about him?
Girl 1: What are you saying: Weren't you the one buying pictures of Saionji-sempai? Weren't you the one looking to steal a kiss off of him?
Girl 3: Stop that, already!
Girl 2: Ah, but Saionji-sempai was dreamy...
Girl 1: I wonder how he's doing, wherever he is.
Girl 3: Really...

Wakaba is walking down a street. She notices two cups with sheep on them.

Wakaba returns to her room. She turns from the door and sees Saionji sitting under the window.

Saionji: Welcome home.
Wakaba: I'm home.

Title card: Wakaba Hath Flourished Verdantly

Wakaba: Did anyone come by?

Saionji: No. You're late coming back, aren't you?
Wakaba: Oh, sorry. I just stopped to do a bit of shopping.

She takes out the two cups she had seen earlier and sets them on the table.

Wakaba: Here. I thought you could use these.
Saionji: I'm sorry. Even though I promised to leave soon, here I am, still dragging my feet.
Wakaba: Would you like some coffee?
Saionji: Although I've been expelled with nowhere to go, no friends, and no money, and as miserable as I am, having come back here, you gave me shelter, as brave as Joan of Arc. However, I can't just stay here indefinitely, presuming on your good will. So, before I cause you any inconvenience, (stands up) I'm leaving.
Wakaba: Wait, Saionji-san! Don't worry about that. I'm just happy to be able to help you. Now, let's make the best of it. I'm sure you'll be back at the academy soon.

Saionji sits down again, overly emotional.

Saionji: Wakaba-kun!
Wakaba: (putting cup on table) Drink this, it'll calm you down.

Saionji starts to take the cup, but grabs Wakaba's hands instead.

Saionji: Thank you, Wakaba-kun!
Wakaba: (trying to get out of his grip) Oh no, that's...

She pulls her hands out, and falls over on the floor from the sudden lack of tension.

Saionji: I'm sorry! Please excuse me. In spite of myself, my shameless behavior...
Wakaba: (embarrassed) Um, your coffee...is going to get cold...
Saionji: Oh...right...

He takes the coffee and drinks it. Wakaba stares at her own cup.

Wakaba: Um, if it's all right with you, I, um...

Someone knocks on the door suddenly.

Girl: Wakaba! It's me let me in!

Saionji runs off and hides.

Wakaba: Wait a second!
Girl: (as Wakaba opens door) What’s wrong, Wakaba? Are you busy?
Wakaba: No, not really.
Girl: You’re all sweaty, though.
Wakaba: Well, I'm not feeling well.
Girl: And was it my imagination, or did I hear you talking with someone in there? Something like "thank you" and "sorry". What was that?
Wakaba: Oh, well, I was just praying. You know, to the gods.
Girl: Praying?
Wakaba: Hey, I'm a rather spiritual person, you know.
Girl: Oh, spiritual?
Wakaba: (sweating) Even I think it's kind of abnormal! (laughing nervously) Do you want to come in?
Girl: No, not today.

Wakaba closes the door and walks back into the room, sighing. She sees Saionji is missing.

Wakaba: Uh, Saionji-san?

Saionji crawls out from under the bed.

Wakaba and Saionji are sitting at the table, talking and laughing.

Wakaba: (thinking) This is my secret. A secret between he and I... Between just the two of us. Saionji-san... I've always, always admired him. But he was always out of reach for someone like me. Yes, he's completely out of my league.

Wakaba remembers when her love letter to Saionji was posted on the bulletin board at Ohtori.

Student: (reading letter aloud) "And so, I was dancing with you in my dreams, Saionji-san... You were smiling so gently. You must think I’m an idiot." So it says.

Wakaba: (thinking) But now... But now....

Utena is playing basketball. She notices Wakaba passing by.

Utena: Hey Wakaba, my game is on now! Come and watch!
Wakaba: Sorry! I've got things to do! Good luck, though!

Wakaba passes by a group of people playing volleyball.

Girl: Wakaba? Do you want to play volleyball with us?
Wakaba: Sorry, pass!
Girl: What, again?

Wakaba passes by Suzuki, Yamada, and Tanaka, who are doing some kind of experiment.

Tanaka: Oh, Wakaba-san! We’re doing an experiment on psychic phenomena and...
Wakaba: PASS!

Wakaba continues running back to her dorm.

Wakaba: (thinking) The new me is special. Yes, thanks to this secret I carry, I'm special now.
Saionji: Welcome home. You're kind of late.
Wakaba: I'm home.

Utena is sitting in class.

Teacher: ...therefore, it seems likely that something like this will appear on the next test.

Utena is looking at Wakaba, who is struggling to stay awake.

Teacher: Okay, next question. Let’s see, who will do this one...
Wakaba: (raising hand) Me!
Students: Me! Me! Me! Me! Me!
Teacher: Well then, Tenjou-san...
Utena: Yes!

Saionji is in Wakaba’s dorm room, looking outside. There is a note and some money on the table from Wakaba.

Note: Dear Saionji-san, I left some lunch money for you.

Meanwhile, Wakaba is excelling in all her classes at school. Utena is watching her, curious.

Utena is stretching at the end of the school day. She watches Wakaba get ready to leave.

Wakaba: Something the matter?
Utena: Huh?
Wakaba: Well?
Utena: ...Um, did something good happen to you recently?
Wakaba: Not really, why?
Utena: Oh nothing, it just seems that you're full of life lately. And...
Wakaba: And what?
Utena: Uh, you've gotten prettier, somehow.
Wakaba: What? Oh, stop that, Utena!
Utena: No it's true, it's true, I tell you.
Wakaba: (leaving) Sheesh, again and again, nothing but lies.
Utena: It’s true, I tell you...
Wakaba: Bye, Utena!

Akio: Oh? Wakaba-san?

Utena and Akio are in a different part of Akio's office.

Utena: Right. She's completely different now.
Akio: Like the goddess who leaves her name to the stars in the heavens... Is that how it is?
Utena: But how did she become so pretty all of a sudden?
Akio: You don't understand, do you? You, living out your predestined fate...
Utena: Huh?
Akio: There are special people in the world. And they are always noticed. For example, like yourself...
Utena: Me?
Akio: Listen... You're not particularly self-conscious, correct? That is a special quality you carry from birth.
Utena: Oh?
Akio: Most people are but a single person among multitudes. However, given the slightest chance, they will shine with a light they never had before.

Wakaba and Saionji are in Wakaba's room. Wakaba notices Saionji working on something.

Wakaba: Hey, what's that you're making?
Saionji: It's a secret.

Utena: I just wanted Wakaba to be happy for a long time.

Wakaba: How much sugar would you like?
Saionji: Here.

He holds up a carved leaf to Wakaba’s hair.

Akio: It could even be said that, for many people, their special time lasts but briefly.

Saionji sits Wakaba in front of a mirror with the leaf in her hair.

Saionji: It's not finished yet, but for what it's worth, this is my gift to you as thanks for your sincerity.
Wakaba: Oh, really... This is enough for me...

Wakaba: Student Council President Kiryuu still hasn't been to school. In his place, Nanami-san is Acting Student Council President. It looks like Miki-kun is doing his best to assist Nanami-san. Arisugawa-sempai is the same as usual. That's the impression that I get from the Student Council as a whole.

Wakaba and Saionji are in Wakaba's room.

Saionji: Hmm, I see. By the way...
Wakaba: Yes?
Saionji: Well...
Wakaba: Ask me anything.
Saionji: (looking away) Okay. Um... How's Anthy?

There is a long pause as Wakaba gets a strange look on her face.

Wakaba: Himemiya-san?
Saionji: Well, I was just asking...

Wakaba is in the supermarket, holding a package of meat in her hand. She presses hard on the plastic as she thinks.

Wakaba: (thinking) Saionji-san wants to return to the academy. When he's finished living with me, he'll probably forget all about me.
Girl: That’ll be 2,060 yen.

Saionji is in Wakaba's room, working on the leaf. He stretches and looks out the window.

Saionji: Evening already? You're in an enviable position, Saionji Kyoichi-kun.

He turns away from the window and sees Mikage sitting in the room.

Saionji: You... Mikage!
Mikage: It's been a while.
Saionji: When – I mean, how'd you get in here?
Mikage: The Black Rose Society is privy to even the smallest secrets in the academy. But all that aside, Saionji-kun... Imagine, you, who once served as Student Council Vice President, now reduced to freeloading with a female student.
Saionji: I don't mean to idle here indefinitely. Eventually, I will return to the academy, no, even the Student Council.
Mikage: Oh? And how will you do that?
Saionji: Well...
Mikage: What do you plan to do about your current state, having wasted your time?
Saionji: Well...
Mikage: Well what? You could do something, had you a bit of our power.
Saionji: What?
Mikage: We are distressed by the future prospects of the academy. Your talent is very precious.
Saionji: I see. So that's how it is. What should I do instead?
Mikage: Well, you see, there's one item I want from you. A trifle, really...

Wakaba is walking down the street. She passes Anthy going in the opposite direction. Wakaba stops short as she realizes Anthy is wearing the leaf Saionji made.

Wakaba is sitting in the elevator at Nemuro Memorial Hall as it descends.

Wakaba: No matter how much I try to be his friend, no matter how much I think about him, his heart has belonged to that girl from the start. That girl, with the face that says she alone is special, will steal everything and anything from me. I simply can't bring myself to forgive her. Whether in love, or in my studies, in the end I'm just another face in the crowd. My world is completely different from that of the special people. But... But... if he's there, if he's with me, then I am special! Just a little bit longer, and I would have been reborn. That, that, that girl... That girl...

The elevator stops abruptly at the basement.

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

Saionji: I didn't think he'd ask me to bring him that thing to grant my wish.

Saionji is in Wakaba’s room, talking to himself as he puts his Student Council outfit on.

Saionji: Of course, I knew I couldn't stay in this sort of place forever. Okay! Ready to go. Saionji Kyoichi, heading for a new era of glory... Moving out!
Wakaba: (suddenly appearing) Going somewhere?
Saionji: Ah, I was wondering who it was. I'm sorry for inconveniencing you all this time. I'm returning to the world I used to know.
Wakaba: Where is that hairclip?
Saionji: Oh, something happened, so I can't give it to you anymore. But don't worry. I plan to buy you something expensive instead, and I want to mail it to you if I can, so is this address okay?
Wakaba: Never mind. I have something much better now.

She holds out her hand to show the black Rose Signet on her finger.

Saionji: That's...

Wakaba suddenly runs to Saionji and pulls the sword out of his chest.

Utena: Hey, a sunshower.

Utena turns away from the window and opens her locker. She finds a note taped to the inside.

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 in front of.

C-ko: Extra! Extra! Extra!
C-ko: (wearing a fox hat) At last, at last, it's finally raining! Whenever it rains on a sunny day, we have to hurry and get married. That's the custom of us fox-girls.
C-ko: (wearing bunny ears) You girls are so lucky. You see, we can't get married until it snows on a sunny day. That's the code of us bunny girls.
Utena: What’s wrong with not getting married?

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

Utena looks over the duel arena in horror. The desks each have a leaf hairclip on top of them.

Wakaba: I swear by this black rose...
Anthy: Utena-sama...
Wakaba: ...that I will triumph in this duel...
Anthy: Draw the sword from me.
Wakaba: ...and bring death to the Rose Bride!
Anthy: The sword! Hurry!
Utena: Anthy... I can't. I can't fight her! To point a sword at my friend, Wakaba...

Wakaba charges through the rows of desks toward Anthy.

Anthy: Quickly! The sword!
Wakaba: That's right! I'm going to kill her! I'll kill the bitch who stole Saionji-sama's heart!
Utena: Saionji?

The bells near the duel arena ring. Utena and Anthy just barely avoid Wakaba’s sword.

Utena: Why are you doing this? You've been so radiant, Wakaba... So why?
Wakaba: You just don't understand! You couldn't possibly understand!
Anthy: Quickly, quickly, the sword!

Utena remembers a time before when she and Wakaba saw Saionji.

Wakaba: Oh, Saionji-sama!
Utena: Saionji?
Wakaba: Student Council Vice President and captain of the kendo club, Saionji Kyoichi-sama.

Anthy falls to the ground as Wakaba goes towards her. Utena stands over Anthy.

Utena: Stop, Wakaba! Stop it now! Wakaba!

Wakaba slices again and cuts some of Utena’s hair. Utena has another flashback to the same time period.

Utena: That Saionji, is he going out with that Himemiya girl?
Wakaba: No way! There's no way Saionji could ever have feelings for a girl like her. The only reason they're together is because they're in the Student Council.

Wakaba grabs Utena by the hair and points her sword at her neck.

Anthy: Utena-sama!
Wakaba: You, that girl, the Student Council members... All of you look down on me! Without a care in the world, flaunting the power you were all born with! So you can all so calmly...
Anthy: Utena-sama!
Wakaba: ...walk over everyone else!!

She draws back her sword, ready to stab Utena. Utena manages to stand up and hold off her sword.

Utena: Wakaba... Certainly there are a lot of things I don't know. But I do know this for sure. You are my precious friend. Please wait, and I will save you.

Utena turns and uses Wakaba's sword to cut off her rose. The desks move into four squares around Wakaba, who screams at the rose petals fly around her. The bells near the duel arena ring again.

Mikage drops the leaf hairclip into one of the coffins in Nemuro Memorial Hall. It slides backwards through the wall and is consumed by flames.

Mikage: I could just dismiss any useless boys, but if Saionji is such a clown, then leaving him there would have been more fun.

Saionji walks through Ohtori Academy, looking very proud of himself.

Juri: I suppose Saionji's just beaming with pride. He's awfully full of himself for someone who was expelled. I wonder if her plans to return to the Student Council, acting like that.
Nanami: Honestly, the nerve of him!
Miki: Still, I wonder how he got reinstated after being expelled.
Nanami: I heard it was at the recommendation of the Black Rose Society.
Miki: Oh?

Wakaba walks back to her dorm and shuts the door. She slowly looks around the empty room.

Wakaba: I'm home.

To be continued...