spoiler
Akio is still putting the moves on Utena. Juri tells Miki that Utena looks like an ordinary girl now. Miki says that he noticed that too and asks if it isn’t a good thing. Juri says that the school is changing and both her and Miki agree that the revolution is fast approaching, but Juri has an ominous feeling.
In a parody of Akio’s car scenes, Touga is on a motorcycle and has Saionji in the sidecar. It’s funny that Saionji’s helmet is barely hanging on to the back of his head – must be all that hair! Touga asks Saionji if he likes “the throbbing of the engine” and Saionji says that he “finds it rather irritating.” He says too that Touga has strange tastes, which he also finds annoying. Touga says that Saionji just doesn’t like it because he’s not driving and Saionji says that he doesn’t “like not being in control and I despise letting anyone get too deep into my heart.”
Saionji wants to know if Touga is going to do want End of the World wants and duel Utena. Touga thinks back to Akio telling him that Utena is a princess to be treasured. The scene also shows the cactus that he was holding in the last episode – endurance again? Akio laughs in the background. Perhaps he is laughing at Touga’s “endurance”.
Saionji says that it’s time “to rise from our coffins” and stands up in the sidecar, his pants open, his unbuttoned shirt and hair flying in the breeze and his helmet flapping off the back of his head. He says – “we must free ourselves from the coffins End of the World has prepared.” As Saionji continues to stand in the sidecar with his arms flung wide, Touga tells him “standing like that is dangerous” and Saionji says a very quiet “right” and sits down. Whole thing was hysterical!
Utena is in her room and wonders if Anthy is with Akio. The doorbell rings and it’s Touga, who asks Utena to come with him, saying that it’s “urgent”. Utena is annoyed, wondering what he wants so late at night, but he tells her that it concerns End of the World. He takes her to the dueling arena and she says that it feels strange to be there at night. Touga asks her if it feels “romantic” and Utena replies “no way”. Now it looks like Touga is putting the moves on Utena. Once on top, Utena looks up at the twinkling stars and the castle appears.
Touga and Utena continue stargazing and Touga gives Utena another line. Utena tells him to “just forget about all that and get to the point already.” Touga asks her if she’s in love with Akio and she wonders if it’s possible, but tells Touga that Akio is engaged. Utena gets annoyed again and reminds Touga that he was going to tell her about End of the World. Touga tells her that he can’t tell her who End of the World is, but that she’ll find out eventually. Then he asks her – “do you think it would be possible for me to be your prince?” and confesses his love for her. He tells Utena that many admire her and he may not be worthy of her, but wants to share this one moment with her. Touga kneels down in front of her and sweetly kisses her hand. Aww! He says – “if I can’t have you forever, I will forever cherish this moment of being with you tonight in my heart – a single moment is all I need.” Utena gives him his single moment and leans against him so he can put his arm around her.
Utena watches the sunrise from her room and thinks about Touga and the fact that he wants to be her prince. She looks over at the sleeping Anthy and remembers that she had once thought that Touga really was her prince, when she had first met him. Perhaps she faintly remembers him leaning over her coffin too. This might be why she was drawn to him in the first place.
Now this is interesting. Saionji meets with Touga and asks him if he’s found his answer. There is a small vase of white roses on the table – Utena’s color. When Touga tells him that he really does care for Utena, the roses are light blue – Miki’s color. But Touga says that he will duel her again and the roses are red – Touga’s color. A gunshot is heard and one red rose on the lower right is destroyed. Touga says that he must win and now the roses are dark blue – Ruka’s color. Another gunshot and the one on the lower left is destroyed. Touga says that it’s the only way he can save Utena. Now there are orange roses – Juri’s color - on the table and one on the top right is shot off. Touga continues and says “however if she wins the next duel…” – yellow roses now – Nanami’s color and the one on the top left is shot off.
Saionji finishes Touga’s sentence and says “she gains the power to bring the world revolution.” The rest of the roses are shot off, but when a close up is shown, a single white rose remains. Touga says “she’ll fall into End of the World’s hands.” There is one more gunshot, but the screen turns black. I think the shot roses might represent the earlier duelists being defeated or “shot down”. However, Miki’s color was not shot at and there were no green roses for Saionji. And since the single white rose was shot at, but wasn’t seen to be hit (since the screen went black), does it mean that Utena may be defeated or destroyed as well? Perhaps even die? Between the dialogue and the roses, this was a very ominous scene.
Utena and Anthy are sitting under a tree and Anthy asks Utena where she was the night before. Utena says nowhere are Chuchu digs up an earthworm. Yes, I looked up what an earthworm can mean – it’s usually associated with weakness and sneakiness or can represent a mean, contemptible person. Well, Utena was being a little sneaky in her answer to Anthy. And Chuchu does belong to Anthy – a mean, contemptible person? – I guess we’ll see.
Anyway, Touga and Saionji join the girls. As Saionji relaxes with Anthy, Touga has Utena backed up against the trunk of the tree. Holding her prisoner with his arms, Touga tells her that he wants to duel her again. He promises her that if she wins – “the student council will never try to take the Rose Bride again” but then he tells Utena that if he wins, Utena will belong to him forever. Utena seems hurt as she tells Touga that she thought he was better than that and I think those words hurt Touga as well – for all that he thinks he’s doing the right thing. However, Utena agrees to the duel.
As Utena and Anthy arrive at the arena in an explosion of pink petals, Touga and Saionji arrive with the car. Touga announces that “this battle will decide who will bring revolution to the world” and Utena says that she doesn’t care about that and reminds Touga of his promise to leave Anthy alone if she wins. The swords are drawn and the bells ring as the cars pop up and the duel begins. The fight is intense as the car circles the arena with Saionji as the only passenger. Utena reminds Touga of their night together, but Touga tells her that “personal feelings are forbidden in combat.” However, he grabs her hand and pulls her close to him, promising to protect her. And he had the perfect opportunity there to take her rose too!
The cars encircle them and turn their headlights on the duelists, and Anthy is ever in the background of this fight. As Touga and Utena part, the cars race around them and they must now also avoid getting hit. Anthy calls out to Utena and Utena goes to her, promising to always protect her. Once Anthy “blesses” Utena’s sword, Utena is able to slice the oncoming cars in half, protecting Anthy who is clinging to her back.
As the sliced cars fall off the edge of the arena, Saionji comes at her on the motorcycle, driving it from the sidecar, with Touga standing on the seat and both of their open shirts flapping in the breeze. Very amusing! Utena makes her final attack and the broken motorcycle also falls off the edge of the arena. The ringing bells announce the end of the duel and the winner is Utena!
Pink rose petals rain down on her and Anthy and Utena tells Anthy that they should go since Akio is waiting for them, but Touga calls out to Utena to wait. He gives her a warning against End of the World and the Rose Bride, telling Utena to never let her guard down. But all Utena says is “you just don’t give up” and leaves with Anthy, bidding Touga “farewell.” Saionji asks if it’s over, but Touga says that “it won’t be over for them until the very end.”
In their room, Utena tells Anthy that it’s great that no one will ever go after her again. Anthy agrees and there is an extremely long pause. Utena dozes off, saying Akio’s name as Anthy looks at her. Utena dreams of the witch and wakes up to find herself alone. She wonders where Anthy is and wanders into the observatory. Utena sees Anthy on the sofa with Akio, but when Anthy stands up, Utena sees that she’s naked. This Anthy looks very different. Then Anthy looks straight at Utena.
:woohoo: