Blog for running commentary. I guess.

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Main blog @paradizetobefound

I guess I will be posting more involved live-reading/watching stuff here.

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Episode 5

The second part of the two-parts mini-arc.

Yay.

National level fencers.

Miki's humble, helpful and gentle demeanor create this harmless and innocent image. He is also quite harsh on himself when it comes to excelling in things.

"Your play is usually more forceful" seems to imply that his 'perfectionism' also comes with a more controlling side though.

With Juri talking about his 'raw' energy I also sort of wonder if this 'forceful' manner and quiet are a result of him restraining himself a lot. Yes, something like it, maybe they are setting up characterization of someone who has a certain need for control, I think.

What does she mean by 'your technique is not suited for a real duel' though.

Hm?

First the preparations for make-up exam. Now minor help with her routine stuff.

It really is about his found memories of the past.

So they smile at each other and conveniently Chuchu who was hanging out with Utena (supposedly) slides in.

Yeah. Utena seems pretty supportive of (presumed) Anthy's dating life (as in, if Utena thought Anthy got together with someone nice, she would be like "congrats ^^")

She is making kind of assumptions about what Anthy wants or needs though.

Piano. The piece. Miki yearning. But does he really see Anthy?

So, they were twins and they created a song together however he had lost ability to properly play it (in a way that he feels is right).

Can be taken as an indicator 'we have been playing that well' but also might indicate that he puts value in that.

First we have Utena who is coping with her parents' death and uses her knight/prince larp combined with willful ignorance (I do suspect part of her 'airheadness' might be a sort of willful ignorance, it might be helping with her keeping up the prince/knight self-presentation despite certain degree of pressure not to do that.)

Second we have Miki who clings back to his (likely idealized) memories of the 'simpler' life of a child playing piano with his sister and seeks to recreate them.

Why are both of them positioned against a bird cage.

A way too small bird cage (but like, it is clearly a symbolism thing , I suppose the questionable animal husbandry here serves the purpose whether intentional or not)

He is excited about possibility of gaining recognition. She is intimidated by prospects of being the center of everyone's attention.

Unexpected but normal.

So she had to play alone. But couldn't. I suppose for her piano was a thing she simply liked doing and something to share with her brother. WIth him pressuring her into going to concert, failing ill (and thus 'leaving her to wolves')- whatever security she had had was lost.

(Ah yeah, the normal obvious observations). But like, it's one thing if he was suddenly ill. He pressured her first without meaning to (because he was too caught up in his own excitement, as normal for children (and many adults too but I digress, kids kind of have not that many experiences comparatively and so might simply be yet to know to anticipate possible consequences). So because it was already decided there would be concert and both will be attending, adults refused to reconsider pulling her out once it became apparent Miki would not.

So like, once again, we are left with a girl who now cannot enjoy piano (according to Miki's words. Maybe she started again later but without Miki) and got put through the hell of 'being in front of people who are watching you and expecting you to perform well' when she was not ready to do that. lovely.

.. and both Anthy and Chuchu are staring at the... I forgot the name of the thingie. Give me a minute- a metronome. ... Did they zone out?

Okay, though I am also curious to hear more about your sister. Did you talk about it with her? How did she cope otherwise?

Okay.

She has a point, you know. (wait a minute. So the last shadow theatre section was about boy dumping a girl after finding out her 'true self' due to disappointment. initially the repeated joke with Nanami's evil plotting seemed like what the play was referencing. At the same time there was all this setup about Miki projecting his memories of childhood's joy at her (... wait, if he is sort of blushy about Anthy and it is treated as a 'crush' and it is because of his fixation on playing piano with his sister, can it be considered- forget about it). Are they directly stating now what the shadow theatre about pro-wresting girl was really about.)

On the other hand, his strange denial and blush make it also seem like he is in fact explicitly not considering Anthy in this light (dating) because it is about his fixation. Like, Anthy is not registering as an actual other party here to him but because of the way it looks like and the way his current behavior towards a girl is interpreted, he feels embarrassed over the assumptions (and they also kind of pull him out of whatever fantasy he has).

Probably a load of nonsense.

[this-user-is-always-bored]

you can be assured that the show will refuse to forget about it.

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This... sounds foreboding. Well, I will find out when I find out, huh?

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Also have just noticed that only in Miki's memory Kozue's hairstyle resembled that of Anthy. Which,,,, is interesting.

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Now I wonder if episode 4 shadow theatre might have been about both Miki projecting on Anthy and his idealized image of his own childhood memories.

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Episode 5

Ah, her side of the story.

Neither probably are too reliable of narrators (they were little kids, memories do get smudged over time).

But her saying "I wasn't that good at playing piano, I didn't even like it"

So... another boy thought that it was her who was good at piano and he sent her a letter...

Back then Miki was always playing with her and in his memories 'both were good at it' but possibly he simply remembered it that way due to generally enjoying spending time with his sister. Plus there were adults mixing them up and creating an additional feedback of 'your sister is also a prodigy'

A school recital... so it wasn't even that serious?

... okay.

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Episode 5

Hello, Wakaba. What sort of important things we will be learning thanks to your wonderful presence.

Do not tell me you are intending to publicly challenge her to a duel. Is the whole 'keeping it under wraps' really just a ongoing joke they are playing?

Ah yeah, normal Utena. "Anthy's in the music room- wait, you mean me? Oh, I am studying :)"

According to internet, white rose in japanese flower language should mean innocence, silence, devotion. Huh.

Yeah, she is not happy about it.

Why pirates this time?

Ah. "You have everything you want except this one thing. That's why you are still a pirate"

And just before the captain's true desire is named-

A failure!

... so caught up in a desire to posses that 'treasure' that even the opportunity to acknowledge what was truly sought after is gone?

The magic door!

The song sequence!

... woah. Here goes the promise of 'protection'.

I mean. Yeah.

Unlike previous time where Saionji was unambiguously disliked at least by Utena (I think Anthy is not too found of him either due to very obvious reasons but like. It isn't really that explicitly stated.)

Wait, this duel has a different song.

The fencer. So far Utena is more on a defensive.

I do not know the entire situation but probably? Either way, what does her being free do with you 'seizing' her? Are you intending to set her 'free'? How?

Or maybe we are just coating a way simpler desire in a noble goal that aligns with one's moral standard? I mean, you didn't really ask Anthy what she wants. (I mean, not like Utena seems to ask Anthy that all that much either, I think?)

Well.

It's bad to get distracted during the duel.

And now the image is no longer sustainable.

... I mean.. being someone's guiding light is quite a burden. Don't you think? A huge responsibility.

Is this her way of saying 'we can still get along'

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Episode 5

Alrightie. Thinking back to Anthy, I do wonder if she is sort of like, disinclined to interact with people at all beyond bare minimum that is required of her. Very perfunctory for most part.

She also feels like a sort of an airhead but in a very different vein to Utena. I am not too sure how to better describe it yet.

A new character?

... is this his sister?

"were you hoping to play with me".

But this probably answers the question on why he did not tell much about his sister herself - they were not on good terms apparently?

But like, a lot of time has passed. I won't be surprised if it is not really about the piano for them to still have this "playing together again - not playing together again"

It's him again. Up to that playboy nonsense.

... Do you think about making out with Miki, too?

Thank you for the jumpscare, Anthy. The atmosphere was getting too awkward.

"seize" in such a context... (where it can be constructed to imply a person)...

(Touga why are you making me furious so tenaciously)

Anthy, are you... ok?

Miki, why are you repeating this twice.

Just like him and his sister!

Ah yeah, now it is just spelled out directly.

And the thing is - his sister is not tragically dead or something. She is right there. She is just no longer like that girl from his memories.

Utena (or any duelist champion) hypothetically saying 'if you'd like to' would not solve the main problem, but, like,,,

I thought Touga and Saionji have said it multiple times.

I wonder if internally she thinks something along the lines of 'what part of me not having personal life due to the rose bride thing you do not grasp'.

Why is Miki suddenly imagining Touga lying seductively on a pink bed as he is saying this. Why. This is not how the scene went.

Why are you imagining Touga being sexy.... whyyyy....

.. I suppose... he can both sexualize and be sexualized....

"Ah yeah, I will protect Anthy from a scenario I have imagined so that she keeps doing a thing that conveniently happens to be what I want from her". Like, in certain sense he means well but also is too caught up in his own world in a sense?

He really is rather childish in that way.

I really do not understand her thoughts.

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Episode 5

Anthy really zoned out so this question must have looked like it was coming out of nowhere.

Why did he suddenly look so shocked.

It was common knowledge among the student council that Anthy is currently 'engaged' to Utena.

Their conversation is truly circular - 'I am your bride' - 'please do not call yourself my bride' - 'but I am your bride'.

"I am perfectly fine with hanging out with you but I do not want to be a part of this strange bride nonsense" saga continues.

I do wonder what it sounds like to Anthy.

... I did not expect something like that to be said so soon. (looks at the episode list). Either it is a throwaway line or it will be examined later. (checks the total number of episodes again) probably a lot.

If it turns out this is a secret passcode for the elevator to work correctly-

But also, hm. Caged birds and eggs. I wonder if breaking the shell is simply not enough. Whatever this means beyond a possible metaphor for reaching adulthood. (I know cracking an egg has another meaning at least nowadays but I will have to check when and from where this specific meaning was born)

Oh look, an apple. Sitting on a chair. Like a person. Like a representation of a person.

... huh.

Uhum.

Wait he even used a similar turn of phrase to Utena?

Like this?

"Ah so it is because you have a crush on her"

(like, his current action is impulsive as it doesn't seem like he has spent much time thinking about what Utena has said - and Utena frankly probably didn't either. But still, it is interesting how quickly it is chalked up to just holding affections. And interesting that in a council where 'yeah we are duelling for a right to have Anthy as a bride' is the foundational principle, it seems to be assumed that holding affections for Anthy is, like, an outlier. If I am not overthinking it. Will have to recheck this quick thought)

Who has cut the apple.

[p2bfound-run]

Episode 5

The second part of the two-parts mini-arc.

Yay.

National level fencers.

Miki's humble, helpful and gentle demeanor create this harmless and innocent image. He is also quite harsh on himself when it comes to excelling in things.

"Your play is usually more forceful" seems to imply that his 'perfectionism' also comes with a more controlling side though.

With Juri talking about his 'raw' energy I also sort of wonder if this 'forceful' manner and quiet are a result of him restraining himself a lot. Yes, something like it, maybe they are setting up characterization of someone who has a certain need for control, I think.

What does she mean by 'your technique is not suited for a real duel' though.

Hm?

First the preparations for make-up exam. Now minor help with her routine stuff.

It really is about his found memories of the past.

So they smile at each other and conveniently Chuchu who was hanging out with Utena (supposedly) slides in.

Yeah. Utena seems pretty supportive of (presumed) Anthy's dating life (as in, if Utena thought Anthy got together with someone nice, she would be like "congrats ^^")

She is making kind of assumptions about what Anthy wants or needs though.

Piano. The piece. Miki yearning. But does he really see Anthy?

So, they were twins and they created a song together however he had lost ability to properly play it (in a way that he feels is right).

Can be taken as an indicator 'we have been playing that well' but also might indicate that he puts value in that.

First we have Utena who is coping with her parents' death and uses her knight/prince larp combined with willful ignorance (I do suspect part of her 'airheadness' might be a sort of willful ignorance, it might be helping with her keeping up the prince/knight self-presentation despite certain degree of pressure not to do that.)

Second we have Miki who clings back to his (likely idealized) memories of the 'simpler' life of a child playing piano with his sister and seeks to recreate them.

Why are both of them positioned against a bird cage.

A way too small bird cage (but like, it is clearly a symbolism thing , I suppose the questionable animal husbandry here serves the purpose whether intentional or not)

He is excited about possibility of gaining recognition. She is intimidated by prospects of being the center of everyone's attention.

Unexpected but normal.

So she had to play alone. But couldn't. I suppose for her piano was a thing she simply liked doing and something to share with her brother. WIth him pressuring her into going to concert, failing ill (and thus 'leaving her to wolves')- whatever security she had had was lost.

(Ah yeah, the normal obvious observations). But like, it's one thing if he was suddenly ill. He pressured her first without meaning to (because he was too caught up in his own excitement, as normal for children (and many adults too but I digress, kids kind of have not that many experiences comparatively and so might simply be yet to know to anticipate possible consequences). So because it was already decided there would be concert and both will be attending, adults refused to reconsider pulling her out once it became apparent Miki would not.

So like, once again, we are left with a girl who now cannot enjoy piano (according to Miki's words. Maybe she started again later but without Miki) and got put through the hell of 'being in front of people who are watching you and expecting you to perform well' when she was not ready to do that. lovely.

.. and both Anthy and Chuchu are staring at the... I forgot the name of the thingie. Give me a minute- a metronome. ... Did they zone out?

Okay, though I am also curious to hear more about your sister. Did you talk about it with her? How did she cope otherwise?

Okay.

She has a point, you know. (wait a minute. So the last shadow theatre section was about boy dumping a girl after finding out her 'true self' due to disappointment. initially the repeated joke with Nanami's evil plotting seemed like what the play was referencing. At the same time there was all this setup about Miki projecting his memories of childhood's joy at her (... wait, if he is sort of blushy about Anthy and it is treated as a 'crush' and it is because of his fixation on playing piano with his sister, can it be considered- forget about it). Are they directly stating now what the shadow theatre about pro-wresting girl was really about.)

On the other hand, his strange denial and blush make it also seem like he is in fact explicitly not considering Anthy in this light (dating) because it is about his fixation. Like, Anthy is not registering as an actual other party here to him but because of the way it looks like and the way his current behavior towards a girl is interpreted, he feels embarrassed over the assumptions (and they also kind of pull him out of whatever fantasy he has).

Probably a load of nonsense.

[p2bfound-run]

Episode 4

Nanami after the horrors (her plan backfiring)

... heh. That's where he went.

... I suppose Nanami either can cook or has someone who knows how to cook helping her. Because Chuchu really liked it.

Yeah, it is awkward, I suppose. At this point it is not just Nanami finding trouble snooping around someone else's room (and Utena with Miki barely paying attention).

Yeah. Though it is dinner (not very good option, but not exactly the worst). I wonder if she picked something sweet because she herself may have a sweet tooth?

So Nanami did snap. I mean, it was no secret that Nanami was pissed about the attention Anthy was receiving.

"I thought you said you wanted to be friends with Anthy". Like, yeah. That's really a mean-spirited thing to do (pretend to be friendly while having ill will).

When Miki approached Anthy like this, I was curious about how exactly they are going to interact. For Utena is must look like Anthy might finally be getting more friends (they have known each other for what, a few weeks tops?) through Miki. Miki seems to have his own motives but is trying to be friendly (well, he looks better than Saionji and Nanami but it's not like it is a high bar to pass). What Anthy thinks though....

... Himemiya has vacated the premises when the conflict actually started emerging.

Yeah, Utena is really trying to get Anthy to interact more with other people.

Octopus' life was saved (can someone... put it in the water... how is it still able to breathe?)

Hm. The piano. That song. That's what causes Miki to decide pushing for the duel.

So that really was his sister, the sunlit garden. .. Does he want to return to the innocence of childhood when she was by his side? What happened to her though?

I wonder if Anthy did try playing to calm herself. Though it is a bit funny how it is precisely now and like this that she has decided to play this specific piece. Coinscidences much?

---

The next episode preview oscillating between "hey, why don't you play for Miki - Wait, Miki, you cannot force Anthy to play for you!" is... comedic. Or would have been if not for Anthy's :) I am Rose Bride and whatever by 'groom' tells me is law.

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Episode 4

She... even said it out loud.

Like. If it wasn't for the previous episode, she would look like a bumbling villain of the week that is too prone to self-sabotage to be truly threatening.

She is ultimately a teenage girl though. Teenagers tend to fumble a lot.

Back to math! Yay.

This is actually funnier than what I expected.

Anthy is a sort of person who can safely keep that many snails in a pencil-case that shouldn't be able to fit them in.

And did Anthy *know* what Nanami wanted to do? Because it would be a really funny coincidence if she really just happened to keep snails instead of, well, doing whatever weird reality-warping trick she has but nobody seems to address properly for some reason.

Poor snails.

It gets better.

Yes

"Instead of giving an expected reaction they are just trying to study"

A snake.

... Nanami, I would rather not risk it.

Neither pencil-case nor desk are good habitats but like, someone like Anthy could make it work, probably.

...

it's a mongoose. Poor constrictor.

Just how many 'pets' does Anthy actually have.

They say a joke repeated twice gets less funny. It gets funnier if it is done right.

Did I just try to imagine how Utena discovered all these little friends of Anthy? Maybe.

Miki thinking it is adorable... he-he.

I mean, if this is about not fitting the image, then one must first find out what the image is supposed to actually be about, I think?

Also, amazing how instead of valuing beauty-sleep Nanami had spent the night hunting for snakes.

...

Now we are on octopedes. octopi.

... like it is a comedic segment. It is a testament to how stubborn Nanami is that she doesn't recognize the clear pattern. Because she already has a plan running.

Like, I do not think she doesn't expect it.

.. it is a balloon.

I find it mildly amuzing that Utena is not in favor of all these pets in closets and giant balloons but also seems more exasperated. Like, it is just a fact of her life now. "Can you please tell her to throw it away? No? Okay. Suppose I am living with a giant octopus balloon now."

Aaaaah. Earlier Chuchu was scribbling in Utena's notebook when she wasn't looking (as Anthy was sitting properly studying with Miki). Now after some silly events Anthy herself is scribbling a small paper animation. ... Oh. She was bored. She was hiding that she was bored doing homework and wanted to have some harmless fun.

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Episode 4

The whole... mansion...

(she also cooks.. does laundry...)

Wha---

Utena, please, do some helping.

...

I mean.

"Must be nice living with perfect girfriend/wife material". Okay. I mean, it is nice when there's someone else to do domestic chores.

The show really stresses the gender roles a lot.

So far Nanami is kind of like this "mean popular girl" archetype. Good at social game. Vicious. Prone to petty (due to reasons rather than impact) violence that is indirect just enough for her to be able to 'claim' some 'innocence' on the matter.

Like, she is 'girly' and she is 'vain' and the show does show scenes where she seemingly ticks of the flags of 'shallow and attention-seeking'. A girl that is girly but she is also girly and social in a 'negative' way because she is explicitly 'self-serving' in how she is girly and social and how she tries to weaponize those.

And people like this do kind of exist (mean, utilizing social expectations and roles and accepted and unaccepted conduct) but also in fiction such an archetype, is, well, an archetype. It serves a purpose. Idk what to say on this point here. But somehow I did start thinking about it bc Nanami is the current antagonist and she feels like she 'is' the source of Anthy's problems but also she doesn't 'feel' like a 'final boss' character and perhaps something can be said about how she is explicitly making Anthy's life miserable in school but also maybe it would be a mistake to think that removing 'Nanami' from the equation would fix Anthy's life in fundamental way - like, another Nanami can always appear and maybe the problem is that a person can be ostracised just like that without much ability for recourse and the fact nobody helps beyond saving her in the moment (even by openly critiquing the rumour mill) or the fact that. there's this Rose Bride business. Idk.

...

Also is it a specific snail species?

... Has she ever been introduced to the concept of "chewing the props". Because she is kind of overdoing it. By a slight margin but still.

Snails are cute though. ... plus there are many creams that use snail mucus. Of course, the problem is that live snails (that you find outside) are frequently in possession of such fun stuff like, for example, parasites, some of which can have negative effects on human health. Also, some snails are, like, full of toxins and are venomous. But this one is unlikely to be that. Like, it is a super-normal snail, I would have even been sure they were trying to do the roman snail if not for stripes. I think. I am not a snail expert.

Also Nanami somehow managed to sneak one in fast enough not to be seen. These girls have finesse.

The problem is that... the snail looks too big for the snail-case. I would think Anthy is capable enough of safely fitting it there. Anthy could do all sorts of things, I think. But like, normally it shouldn't fit.

... the line from the Shadow Theatre Play, The exaggerated scene. Is this... Nanami's imagination?

... it is.

Objectively, you are a weirdo who picked up a random snail away from its snail-business just to put it into a girl you dislike's pensilcase. To make a scene. That's commitment to a goal that is simply not worth the amount of effort even from perspective of normal pettiness. You either must somehow really think Anthy That Threatening or your level of petty must exceed any sane parameters.

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Episode 4

Hello, Touga..

Hmmmm....

Are they setting up for Miki seeing Anthy as a way to 'fix' whatever he feels wrong about his performance as a pianist?

So, something has happened in the past?

childhood innocence?

The girl from flashback seems to have a hairstyle similar to current Anthy. He did say 'reminds me of someone' but I do not think that a superficially (from afar) similar hairstyle alone is enough for that.

And they are depicted with two butterflies btw.

These looked like Pieris brassicae. The enemies of the cabbage.

It feels both like he plays along with the conversation and also mayhaps doesn't think that Miki might be actually able to 'recover this light' via (projecting someone else's image on) Anthy.

Or maybe I am overthinking it.

Nanami, d-don't you have studies? Social life? Duties of student council member (I thought you were one)? Or are you so efficient at managing your time that you manage to fit the eavesdropping hobby right along with your other activities? But also it feels like stalking is a sort of thing that is just 'normal' in their family.

I am sorry but this is golden. Like, at this moment it feels like she is reacting to an implication that 'it is surprise that you have had a boyfriend' but then it is spun around to reveal that it is part of the story. Like, "He discovered the real me (that doesn't match the expectation of what she should have been)". Being left after being blamed for not turning out what other wanted you to have been in the first place.

So like. Miki seems to 'see' someone else in Anthy (and Anthy generally projects this soft-spoken and gentle and reserved image). The Shadow-Play scene is that the girl was into pro-wrestling. Is she implying that Anthy secretly has a more violent/wild side to her that she represses?

Ah, so he started to come over to study together/tutor.

That's nice. Also retrospectively it seems like he was fixing Anthy's paper because he was preparing. As in, he just takes it very seriously.

I do feel like tutoring is something he is not doing out of goodness of heart though (Juri did say it is unusual for him after all)

But back to the frame. Nanami. Who tailed him. And whom he seems to be reluctant to refuse.

.... exceptional.

Nanami frowning at his immediate denial.

"Is she your girlfriend?" It is a very funny question because it implies that Utena at least doesn't consider him 'her' boyfriend or Anthy's (until of course you assume a level of social maneuvering that seems uncharacteristic for how Utena conducts most of time. By that I mean if one was to assume it is just a way to fish for information which Utena is clearly not doing but something someone more paranoid might assume).

The magics of Rose Bride Labor.

[p2bfound-run]

Episode 4

Am I off-topic?

(their conversation makes it sound like Juri is more grounded than Miki)

Ah, so it was her test.

I am kind of curious that he took her paper and then wrote out where she messed up - is it simply both being that introverted (since usually it is more pragmatic to basically do something together since you can better adjust your explanation to another's party actual problem)? How did he go exactly about fixing the mistakes? Or did he plan to talk about it later?

And does Anthy have problems in academics?

Utena, why does it have to be a boyfriend-

Do you really want one?

Utena, when someone is popular in school, it is not unusual for people to either know them or have easy time figuring their identity out. You are just good at dodging social circles.

Also he is in the duelling competition.

Utena has dealt with precisely one person from this category and she is already so done with them. It is almost comedic. But then again, he could have found a different way to introduce. Like, I am also in the student council.

Chuchu?

So he actually does tutor her (now)?

Yes, she has a beautiful smile.

And a very pleasant voice.

Was -I- charmed? Maybe.

(is Utena back on her "Anthy clearly doesn't have enough friends")

(Chuchu just wanted to help! Or have fun. Or maybe it was because of Utena's earlier reaction to the fact Miki was in student council-)

(I checked the episode list and apparently it is part one of the two, suggesting Miki will also have two episodes devoted to him. Just like Saionji). I am leaving this screenshot just in case.

... wait, is Miki trying to communicate with her about his favorite music piece?

So, it looks like due to Saionji nonsense Utena had no time to properly prepare. This might also explain why Anthy may have troubles academically (like, we see that she likely spends a lot of time tending to the garden but like, that's the school garden and if she can just randomly end up overseeing duels any night instead of -sleeping- or at any point she might have to deal with a new duelist champion or that someone random might just decide to attack her at any time - yeaaah)

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Episode 4

Priorities.

Has something happened for him to have such a conclusion or is it a trait of his character? He didn't assume that whoever did the tuning must have done it wrong for any reason or that the tuning was messed up later.

... wait, did he simply change the subject to dodge her question (and avoid a presumably unpleasant topic)?

... ah.

that's cute. why this piece and who is that person and why them.

what is missing? what is wrong?

is she perhaps some sort of romantic?

Sounds like some sort of paradise as it is occasionally conceptualized (things never change so you never have to experience the pain of having to grow or adapt, no fear of tomorrow taking what you love away, no fear of losing your way of life or anything). Basically, the place of eternal peace.

Eternal peace... is a sort of place only accessible when you die,.

Why is Anthy's photo here?

... wait. so it might in fact be the paradise (the garden of Eden?)

Hello, Wakaba.

Somehow I do not think Utena is listening- oh, she does. She just appears nonchalant.

No, Wakaba, education in logical thinking and mathematics is beneficial! You cannot rely on a man to do your logical thinking! This is where you should not listen to your mother!! Absolutely Not!

Now that we are done with the joke. So, Utena apparently is (usually) good at academics, too. ... I start to understand her fan-club.

They really must want to be 'her' in some sense.

... 38?

I do love their banter.

Humming a melody.

Like, they are not showing the slap this time but also. She was just minding her business. Seeming almost carefree and happy. Why.

Nanami told them, probably.

...

Like, there is no actual information on how much Anthy and Miki even interact. At least during the ball she was specifically either with Utena or dragged around by Nanami. We see Nanami talk to Miki and then suddenly the girls are ganging up on Anthy. We hear the rumours about Anthy and all the guys supposedly being into her and somehow it is also taken as 'Anthy is evil and mean and seducing everyone' but the only indication we have of her being with anyone is her doing her Rose Bride duties. Maybe there's something we do not know about but in the current context it feels like the series is making sure the viewer can observe the absurdity of the situation.

Why is Nanami doing that. Even assuming she has a fixation on her brother (that we do not know the context and content of as of yet), now she knows that he is now after Utena. Is it because of the power trip. Is it because Anthy is already an outcast. Is it because her being supposedly an object of interest of anyone pissing her off. Does Nanami harbor an interest in Miki?

Oh, Miki to the rescue.

... an interesting pattern where people sweep in to rescue Anthy when she is in trouble but like, fundamentally nothing about her situation changes and often the damage is already done. (like when she still had to be stared at as she was left with ruined clothes before Utena swept in when in a slightly better development Utena simply wouldn't have left her side in the first place in the case where they still had gone to the ball).

Also what was the piece in her notebook.

... He does have this little kitten/puppy charm, I suppose.

Oh, so he is also a fencer and takes university courses.

Thank you, Wakaba, for your per-episode distribution of school common knowledge.

... hm.

Maybe they have found some topic they both were interested in, maybe they share some hobbies. Maybe one of them is curious about some bit of information another possesses? The reasons may come in multitudes. 《- only mildly sarcastic

"how fast is he at solving a problem?"

so he is a sort of person who spends all his time practicing, studying and etc.

so Juri and him are on friendly terms, huh.

a philosophical question. if your favored piece is one about eternal paradise, then must it be so that the transient nature of happiness as experienced by living beings eludes you? <- being pretentious

or are you just having fun.

[p2bfound-run]

Episode 4

Sometimes I wonder if these poses are meant to be symbolically relevant.

Or if the fact Nanami brandishes two swords instead of one is indicative of some aspect of characterization that will be revealed later.

Huh. Are we doing a flashforward? Or did we skip anything? The preview showed that the Blue Stopwatch boy is only about to challenge Utena.

And the piano. Hm.

Ah, So This wall is the wall of sneakily watching the duels. Not just the Touga's wall of creeping.

The fact that she is watching (instead of Touga) probably means she is somewhat close to Blue.

Saionji (at least as far as we can try to guess his motives atm) seems to have wanted Anthy due to status and ego-trip.

Blue wants her 'for himself' because the power of revolution will supposedly help him get the song back.

(like, I suppose it is normal that different people will have different motives for participating. even Utena ultimately had her motive, it just had zero to do with the promise of the magical powers of revolution. but like. Anthy is literally just means to an end here, I suppose.)

And the way Blue talks it is like he doesn't really want to fight Utena.

The boy and his piano.

Should I question the fact that I immediately assumed that she might be plotting something?

I will keep that thought in mind just in case.

... wait. so that's Miki.

was it the ball from the previous episode?

hm, they also used vinyl. I suppose it was easier for Chuchu to get a vinyl than communicating to Miki that it is high time to start playing another piece (or maybe Miki has finished his performance at this point and was resting for example. who knows)

So... there was also a competition.

[p2bfound-run]

Something something I think it may be indicative on how Utena is actually mostly undecided/unsure on what she really wants at the moment that she oscillates between claiming to want to be a prince (and acting like a knight) and yet being very hesitant to actually commit to this desire, saying that she wants a normal boy (and yet doesn't seem comfortable or happy at an idea of being with one so far, not that she is obliged to go along with Touga though)... I do not think it is a bad thing... but it feels like her internal uncertainty may cause her issues as there is already a guy who tries to treat it as an opening.