Episode 19: A Song for a Kingdom Now Lost

Shinohara Wakaba's old flame, Kazami Tatsuya, returns to the school and gives her the courage to tell Saionji how she feels.

This is a summary of episode 19 of the anime series Revolutionary Girl Utena.  You are welcome to link to it, but not to repost it elsewhere.  For more information, and other episode summaries, see the index.

The episode starts with Wakaba dreaming about a prince in her own past.  Then we see her feeding Utena a cute lunch she's prepared; Utena comments that Wakaba will be a good wife for someone.  Just then a boy walks up, introduces himself as Kazami Tatsuya, and presents Utena with a love letter, which Wakaba grabs out of her hand.  As Utena is explaining that she doesn't do boys, Wakaba suddenly announces that she recognizes him - he's the Onion Prince!  He barely remembers her.

Later, Wakaba (who still has the letter, and refuses to give it to Utena) tells Utena that she'd better stay away from this Tatsuya; he's a playboy.  It comes out that her actual grievance is that he transferred away from school, years ago, without telling her.  When other little kids made fun of her, calling her an "onionhead," he was the one who stood up for her, and she's been in love ever since.  Wakaba returns the love letter to Tatsuya, saying he's not Utena's type, and expressing her hurt that he doesn't remember her better; but when he insists, she agrees to introduce him to Utena.

The student council meet briefly, to commiserate about being in love with inappropriate people.  (Miki - Himemiya.  Nanami - Touga.  Jury - Shiori.) Similarly, Utena and Himemiya meet with Akio and tell him the story of Wakaba and Tatsuya; Akio makes cryptic comments about hoping Himemiya will find her own prince soon.  Then Wakaba makes good on introducing Tatsuya to Utena (Chu-Chu apparently falling in love with Tatsuya at first sight) and Utena tells him to pay attention to Wakaba's feelings.  Wakaba runs off in tears, and after she leaves, Tatsuya explains that he was paying attention to Utena only to get close to Wakaba anyway.  Utena finds a note in her locker that at first glance looks like a Black Rose challenge, but turns out to be from Wakaba saying "Utena, you're mean!"

Tatsuya and Wakaba have a heart-to-heart, silhouetted in front of the setting Sun.  He convinces her to be honest about her feelings.  She thanks him, and when it looks like they're about to kiss, she runs off, to tell her "prince" how she feels.  It evidently isn't him.  Tatsuya takes a Black Rose interview and pours out his frustrations, but arrives at the conclusion that it'll be all right because love will triumph in the end.  Mikage comments that Tatsuya is a truly good person, and sends him back to the surface unzombified.

Wakaba rushes home, breathlessly announces "I'm back!" to someone who is standing in front of the window, he turns, and we see that it's Saionji.

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