BF Plays Four Days At Ohtori 2
ON SEPTEMBER TWENTY-NINTH, TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHTEEN
A ROLEPLAYING GAME COMMUNITY REUNITED TO RE-ENTER A WORLD OF ROSES
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Our Hero, Kaori Fujino, has been at Ohtori Academy for a day and a half. In that time, she has danced, flirted, showered, and shared a bed with a lot of REALLY, REALLY RIDICULOUSLY GOOD-LOOKING PEOPLE.
We're up to the second evening, and Kaori is just coming home from a long day of classes, clubs, shopping, slumming around town, and being given a hard time by Chigusa Sanjouin.
Mysteriously she is being housed in the East Dorm with Utena Tenjou and Anthy Himemiya, which has made her a Person Of Interest to the student council.
At the same time, someone has challenged Utena to a duel to take place on the 25th -- some of the student council think it's really Kaori, though Utena believes in her innocence.
Chigusa is a mysterious transfer student who transferred in the day after Kaori, and seems to have some connection to the fifteen-years-ago-it-burned-down Chalk-White Fencing Hall, which Kaori was able to find as though it were still new and in use, but in modern Ohtori is just a ruin.
We love Juri Arisugawa and have taken every opportunity to fence with her, shower with her, and play video games with her.
(There are a lot of important details from the 2017 playthrough: read the recap!)
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO:
It's the evening of the 23rd. Kaori walks in the front door of her new home, the East Dorm, and is greeted by Utena and Anthy. Too much dinner has been delivered to the East Dorm tonight, and there's no way the three of them will be able to finish without inviting another person.
CHOICE! A: Touga or B: Miki or C: Juri or D: Chigusa or E: Saionji
The Cs have it!
Kaori (obviously) suggests they call Juri. S-since there's only girls here, of course, and a boy would ruin the mood! Juri is surprised but accepts the invitation, which Utena makes sure to clarify was REALLY from Kaori, throwing her under the ship^H^H^H^Hbus. What a wingman. Kaori gets her back by making things awkward: she asks if Juri and Utena have already Dueled. Then she realizes that she's stepped in it: since they HAVE already Dueled, but Anthy's still with Utena, that means Juri lost.
Kaori's gotta fix this poor dinner atmoshere!
CHOICE! A: Utena is strong orB: Juri is weak or C: It is all about luck
The As have it!
Kaori compliments Utena for defeating such a talented opponent -- pretty slick, girl! Utena's embarrassed but Juri modestly doubles down, a class act. Or at least someone who believes that winners are winners and losers are losers because things like miracles don't exist.
After dinner, Kaori retires to her room, which now has actual furnishings. Last night there was no bed so she had to sleep with Utena. "Well, it's good that I have a bed now... but it's also kind of a shame," says Kaori, who is profoundly honest with herself. But she doesn't feel sleepy. Who is it that she has on her mind?
CHOICE! A: Utena or B: Juri or C: Touga or D: Miki or E: Saionji or F: Chigusa
The Bs have it!
Kaori is, naturally, still thinking about Juri. She decides to go outside and get some fresh air, at which point reality, which has been reading her mind, provides her with her crush. They run into each other out by the fountain. Juri's in sleepwear, a fabulous robe, which makes this whole nighttime excursion worthwhile on its own.
Juri reveals that she can't sleep because she's thinking about Chigusa, who challenged her to a duel at Fencing Club earlier that day, and when Juri turned her down, raised the stakes by revealing she'd stolen Juri's locket. Juri reveals that Chigusa also already challenged Saionji over in Kendo Club, and won. Juri's baffled that she's never heard of such a skilled person before; when Kaori brings up that Chigusa was out of school for three years, Juri contradicts her -- Chigusa wasn't in Fencing Club when Juri was in middle school, either.
Juri goes on to say that although Saionji seems to suspect Kaori is the mystery duelist who challenged Utena by note, Juri herself is of a different opinion. She thinks Kaori's innocent, and is certain Chigusa is involved in all these mysteries somehow. "She has the scent of a Duelist... unlike Utena Tenjou."
We see the creepy, through-a-dark-mirror Chigusa strip more roses from each of the Duelists' hearts.
Then, the next morning (the morning of the 24th), Kaori walks to school with Utena and Anthy, and they all run into Wakaba. Wakaba is also flush with the gossip that Chigusa challenged and beat Saionji in a duel. As though summoned by her name being said, Chigusa shows up on the sidewalk, Kozue hanging off her arm. They say good morning but when Kaori says it back, Kozue's snotty: "Hm, I don't want to hear such an informal greeting from you. Let's go, Sanjouin-san. As you said, she's such an unpleasant girl." They bail. Kaori is uncomfortable, Utena is uncomfortable, Wakaba accurately summarizes the situation as "they were radiating hate waves" and Anthy is zen about how no one can understand why people hate other people. Kaori remains upset by the idea that Chigusa hates her.
After some fabulous panning shots of Ohtori Academy, we fast-forward to gym class, where they're playing soccer out on the sports fields using random teams. Kaori and Utena are on one team, Chigusa on the other. Chigusa steals the ball from Utena and bears down on Kaori, determined to dribble past her.
CHOICE! A: Slide or B: Get out of the way
The A's have it!
Kaori contests Chigusa's possession of the ball and... unexpectedly... wins it?? But Chigusa gives her an evil look, and Kaori suddenly collapses, unable to breathe, and falls unconscious. She wakes up in the infirmary. The nurse tells her that Chigusa carried her here from gym class, and explains that Chigusa fouled her with her elbow so harshly that it knocked her out. "It was probably an accident; in soccer, it's rare for people to go that far for the sake of victory." Kaori remembers Chigusa's expression, and is sure that Chigusa hurt her on purpose. The nurse releases her to go back to class.
Kaori walks across campus and passes The Chalk-White Fencing Hall, which is inexplicably beautiful and whole again, and NOT a ruin. She sees Miki go in, but when she tries to follow him, the door is locked. Chigusa emerges, mysteriously tells Kaori that she's "too early," then slams the door in her face again.
Regardless, Kaori, who has previously been called insane for claiming there was A Chalk-White Fencing Hall here at all, rather than the ruin that everyone else has seen, decides to show it to someone else immediately, in order to prove her sanity. But who?
CHOICE! A: Utena or B: Juri or C: Touga or D: Saionji
The As have it!
Kaori resolves to go consult with Utena... but before she gets more than a few steps down this path to hope and clarity, is INTERRUPTED BY NANAMI KIRYUU and her three flunkies. They haven't met yet and Kaori doesn't know who she is; Nanami has Aiko/Keiko/Yuko correct this outrage immediately. They also tell Keiko Nanami's grade, astrological sign, blood type, birthday, and sex. And they also earnestly tell her that she'd do anything for her brother Touga Kiryuu, even commit murder... "but she's a person who, even if she were to commit crimes, would never personally sully her hands. THAT'S NANAMI KIRYUU-SAMA!!!"
The four of them start to get their bullying on, presumably upset that Kaori danced with Touga at the Masquerade Ball that first night, but Utena intervenes with AWESOME HEROIC SOUNDTRACK MUSIC. Nanami et al flee. Utena checks on Kaori to make sure she's okay, then reveals that she was sent to bring Kaori to a special Student Council meeting.
So up they go to the Chairman's Tower. It turns out that they're meeting up because Miki has disappeared suspiciously. Kaori tells the group that she saw Miki follow Chigusa into The Chalk-White Fencing Hall, the one that everyone else sees as a ruin. No one is rude but no one seems to really believe her, either. In her continued quest to prove her sanity, she still really wants to bring at least one other person with her to prove that The Chalk-White Fencing Hall exists--!
CHOICE! A: Touga or B: Utena or C: Saionji or D: Juri
The Ds have it!
Kaori approaches Juri about what she said a few minutes ago, and Juri reveals that she'll be investigating Chigusa tonight. She warns Kaori not to get too involved and walks away, so there will be no further investigation of the ruins at this time.
SMASH CUT: COOKING CLASS!! Everyone else already has a partner so Chigusa and Kaori get paired together. Chigusa has a wonderful smile, and Kaori relaxes a little. But it's a trap -- Chigusa gets Kaori to taste her chocolate sauce, but has snuck a tack into it, and Kaori injures her tongue. Chigusa laughs as Utena rushes Kaori to the infirmary.
Back in class, Wakaba brings Kaori her share of the cake they all made. Since Kaori's tongue is injured, she decides she should give her cake to someone else...!
CHOICE! A: Utena or B: Juri or C: Touga or D: Saionji
The Ds have it!
It's Saionji's lucky day... He asks if Kaori made it by herself.
CHOICE! A: Tell the truth or B: I made it with Anthy
The Bs have it!
Saionji gets VERY excited. You can just hear the desperate hope in his voice.
SMASH CUT: CHAIRMAN'S PENTHOUSE. Akio is lounging around in front of his projector. "It seems that the Evil Queen has finally started to move in earnest. One more day until the duel. How many Duelists will she be able to draw to her, with her poisoned apple? Anyone's heart is disturbed when their own precious thing is taken from them. Their heart is disturbed, and their nobility lost... Yes, even them... It will be interesting to see if any of them can hold onto their hearts."
"Don't you agree, Anthy?"
Anthy takes off her glasses. "Yes, brother." She approaches him on the couch, and the shades drop, first blackening the room, then filling it with a planetarium's worth of stars...
Through the mirror darkly, Chigusa takes some more roses from her Duelist victims.
SMASH CUT: AFTER SCHOOL. Kaori is even more tired than she was yesterday, and debates what to do now that class is over.
CHOICE! A: Chat with Utena or B: Fencing Club or C: Kendo Club
The Bs have it!
Kaori trots back off to the Fencing Club, as one does. Someone there is doing well against Juri. But that might be because she's already beaten 20 people in a row... oop, make it 21. The only person who could give her a proper fight right now is Miki, and he's still missing.
CHOICE! A: Join the practice or B: Go somewhere else
The As have it!
Kaori suits up and gets in the ring. She perceives that Juri's upset, that something's wrong for her to be pushing herself so hard. No one else in the club wants to die, so they're reluctant to step up...
CHOICE! A: Spar against Juri or B: Make Juri take a break
The As have it!
Kaori knows she's no match for Juri, but still wants to help her out, so she lets Juri spar with her for almost an hour, until they're both too exhausted to continue. Afterwards, they hit the showers again. Kaori again asks Juri what she'd do if she won the Duels and got the Power to Revolutionize the World. Juri is silent, and Kaori apologizes for being too intrusive. But Juri's cool about it, and explains yet again that she's trying to disprove the existence of miracles. It becomes more clear, this time, that she's fighting to DISPROVE something because someone has broken her heart. Kaori thinks this is just too sad.
Afterwards, a teacher calls for Kaori by name on the intercom, so she heads to the office. It transpires that the police(!?!?) have called. It turns out they found something of Kaori's that she must have dropped while she was in town. Kaori heads down to the police station in town to retrieve her lost item, unsure of what it could be...
...IT'S A VERY POISONED APPLE.
And half of a violently torn-up picture. At a glance it looks like a photo of Kaori in her school uniform, but it's actually Kaori's mother from when she was young.
Kaori asks the policemen who brought in the items, and from his description it was obviously Chigusa, yet again. After making sure that she's all right, the police let her go. Kaori's in town anyway so she might as well go somewhere...
CHOICE! A: Cafe or B: Cake Store or C: Classical Cafe or D: Japanese Teahouse or E: Game Center
The B's have it, but the Cake Center is closed (because Miki got eaten).
AGAIN! A: Cafe or B: Japanese Teahouse or C: Classical Cafe or D: Game Center
The As have it!
Kaori finally goes to check out the Cafe Magnolia, which Utena told her about some days ago by now. It's pretty upscale, so she decides to only have tea, which is... exactly what Utena is already doing! That, and she came to buy Kaori her own teacup for the East Dorm, to match hers and Anthy's, because Anthy thought Kaori might be feeling left out. Aww. Then it's Kaori's turn to explain why she's there...
CHOICE! A: I came to drink tea or B: Tell about the incident
The Bs have it!
Kaori relates her scary story of the picture and the poisoned apple. Utena shows a little sympathy and suggests that next time Kaori bring her along. "I'll open the box first for you. That way, even if it's a time bomb or a razor, you won't have to worry." Kaori thinks this is a slightly fucked up attitude but decides not to press. Maybe this is what it takes to survive in the environment of Ohtori Academy...
By the time they get home, dinner is ready. Kaori goes to drop up her stuff in her room first, and discovers that her room has been completely trashed. All her belongings are strewn everywhere. She screams and the other two girls come running and offer to help her clean up. Kaori is distressed to notice that someone has stolen her father's fencing saber, which had been standing against her bed.
SMASH CUT: The Chalk-White Fencing Hall. Touga has been called out here by Chigusa, and wonders if it's for a date. He questions how he doesn't remember her from three years ago, since they would have been in the same class. Chigusa says that she was hoping to save him for last, but she supposes there's no helping it, prince. "Prince?" asks Touga. "Yes," confirms Chigusa. "You so resemble my prince..." They fade to black.
Meanwhile, back in the East Dorm, Utena has reported the vandalism and theft to the school and is confident that the culprit will be caught. She suggests that after dinner they take another look around just in case Kaori left her saber on the roof or somewhere, because that kind of thing happens all the time. Thanks Utena... Kaori is desolately silent.
Anthy puts forth a new crisis: they are out of soy sauce. As they're having fried shrimp for dinner tonight, this is a considerable problem, and they decide to borrow a cup of soy sauce from someone while inviting them to dinner at the same time! Utena leaves it up to Kaori who to invite...
CHOICE! A: Touga or B: Chigusa or C: Saionji or D: Juri
The Ds have it!
Juri's over for dinner a second night in a row. She brings along Chu-Chu, who seems to have stolen Kaori's father's saber and taken it to Juri's place in order to learn some fencing. Anthy scolds Chu-Chu but says that he denies having wrecked the room; this is believable, he's so tiny. Everyone heads in to have some fried shrimp with (Juri's) soy sauce. Dinner conversation is about both the possible culprits and their motives for trashing Kaori's room. "There are all kinds of things that a woman can lose," Anthy reflects ominously. Juri is concerned for Kaori. Kaori decides to try to make a little small talk:
CHOICE! A: I'm too scared to sleep or B: Next time I'll take 'em or C: They were after my body
The As have it!
Kaori expresses fear about the criminal still out there, and Utena offers to let them sleep together again. Juri muses that three girls in one room is almost like a class trip.
SMASH CUT: SHADOW GIRLS
"I wonder, I wonder, do you know what I wonder?" "Night is the best time to perform fairy tales!" "Long, long ago, in a certain place, there was a prince, a princess, and an evil queen." "Hmm, hmm." "The evil queen grew rich through her powerful magic. She had status and fame, too." "Ahh... I'm so jealous!" "But, the only place her hand couldn't reach was the prince's heart. Therefore..." "Hold on a minute!" "What is it? We're just getting to the good part!" "You're doing great, but I can't see your performance at all." (The wall is dark, because it is nighttime; no shadows have been cast.) "Oh, no!!"
Meanwhile, back in the East Dorm, Kaori originally at least makes an effort to sleep in her own bed, but insomnia plagues her. She wonders what she should do, if there's anything she CAN do, all by herself. Back at the masquerade, the masked mysterious person who was presumably Chigusa, told her that she would disappear... could that be true? What if it is? Maybe before she disappears tomorrow, she should go talk to someone...
CHOICE! A: Utena or B: Saionji or C: Juri or D: No one
TIE between Utena and Juri!
RUNOFF VOTE! A: Utena or B: Juri
The Bs have it!
Kaori remembers that Juri said she was going to duel Chigusa tonight, and goes to check it out. She assumes they'll be at The Chalk-White Fencing Hall, but when she arrives, it's a ruin again. Chigusa taunts Juri for showing up, then realizes it's Kaori instead. Kaori demands that Chigusa return Juri's stolen locket, and declares that she'll take it by force if she must. Surprised and amused by Kaori's conviction, Chigusa tosses her the locket and bails.
Juri arrives, confused to see Kaori at the ruins instead of Chigusa. Juri is amazed that Kaori got the locket back, and doubly so when Kaori says she didn't have to make any devil's bargains to do so. Accepting its return, she warns Kaori not to get in too deep. She encourages Kaori to live a normal life, chatting with her friends, studying, and falling in love, because such a life would suit her. Kaori counters by wanting to know why Juri tried to handle Chigusa alone -- she wants to help Juri with her problems. Juri warns her a final time not to get too involved, and leaves...
Through her dark mirror, Chigusa strips roses from the hearts of the remaining few Duelists again.
The next morning -- the morning of the 25th -- dawns bright and clear, with chirping birds. While walking to school, they see Saionji, who is strangely subdued and winds up wandering off in the wrong direction, towards The Chalk-White Fencing Hall. Kaori continues to class, where Chigusa is absent. She goes to the ruins (which are ruins) and spots Saionji's green uniform cord in the dirt, though there's no one else around.
Kaori returns to class, and Chigusa shows up late, claiming she'd been ill. From her desk behind Kaori's, she observes that Kaori went to the fencing hall too late. At lunch, Utena informs Kaori that the school cancelled afternoon classes today, so they're out. Kaori reminds Utena that she has a duel today, and that if Utena loses, she'll disappear. Utena is pretty casual about the whole thing; we don't know if the disappearing thing is true, and if she wins there's no problem, right? Kaori decides she wants to hang out with someone else.
CHOICE! A: Touga or B: Saionji or C: Juri
The Cs have it!
Kaori goes out to find Juri but runs, literally, into Mikage(!!) instead. He drops all his papers, but reassures an apologetic Kaori to think nothing of it. He tells her that if even one last person she can speak to should disappear, she's welcome at his place. Have fun with that next playthrough, Kaori!
AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE PRESENT
WELCOME
TO THE GRAND CONCLUSION OF
REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA: FOUR DAYS AT OHTORI!!
