Twenty-Third Duel [Video Post, Japanese]

[to_blossom]

[Three... two... one... BZZZZAP!]

OUCH! [Utena bolts upright with a shout. She was laid down on her bed only a few seconds ago, taking an afternoon nap after pulling an all-night watch for Gohl. With or without Prydain's say-so.]

[Hissing painfully, she rubs a hand against her lower back as sits up.] Geez... that really smarts. [Looking past her shoulder, the camera focuses up at her face from the side. She makes a grab toward the communicator, fingers obscuring the camera's view as she pulls it closer.]

What's it even doing there? I thought that I--... Chuu!

Eh? [Chu-Chu can be seen standing on her pillow, tilting his head curiously at her.] Did you move it there, Chu-Chu? You were probably playing with it, huh? Chuu?

Well, I guess it's not such a big deal... The shock isn't so bad, but try to be more careful for my sake next time, okay? [...] Wait. This date... [She blinks at she leans toward the camera to get a better look at the communicator.] ...It's my birthday today, isn't it? Huh. I never thought that I'd be spending it in a place like this.

[Then, as she looks up, Utena ends up staring straight at something off screen.] Wait a second, that's-... But it's only been two days! [...] Still, that scent... it's just like-...

[She runs a hand through the bangs of her hair, clearly perplexed at the growth rate of this plant and letting out an exasperated sigh.] Oh, I just don't get it!

[As she turns around to step out of bed, her foot catches on part of the cover on the floor and she starts to fall. A graceful tumble forward that lands her flat on her face and with a hard thud. The communicator, being pulled along with the ride, slides down and the viewers catch a glimpse of her plant with white roses in full bloom. The recording times out once gravity finally takes over and it tumbles over face down with a clatter.]

Comments

[mizu-isei.livejournal.com]

... [Actually paying attention to the post now.]

Also, I wish you a good birthday.

[1/2]

[to-blossom.livejournal.com]

There was. A housemate was killed right outside of Gohl.

I'm not sure if anyone figured out who the culprit was yet, or even if we have all the details. ...But... things have been pretty tense since then.

[to-blossom.livejournal.com]

What?

Oh, uh... Thank you, Fujiwara-kun.

[mizu-isei.livejournal.com]

I spoke to someone... Prydain? I wasn't sure if you and Atoli-chan were alright.

Are you going to celebrate your birthday somehow?

[to-blossom.livejournal.com]

I'm fine. Just... discouraged. This kind of thing seems to keep happening here, and it makes me so mad when innocent people get involved.

This struck pretty close to home, too.

Aah-... So much has been going on lately. I haven't really thought about it.

[mizu-isei.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean. I'd stop them... whoever's doing this... if I could, but I never seem to run across anything like that.

Did your friend come back? Is he alright now?

... Hm. [Thinking...] Is there something you wanted, maybe as a present?

[to-blossom.livejournal.com]

I could say the very same thing.

Yes. He said that he was fine, except that his head really hurts.

You mean besides going home? Mm... Let's see...

[mizu-isei.livejournal.com]

Maybe you or I will have a chance to do that. The people here don't deserve this.

I can't imagine. [Coming back from the dead, that is.]

...? [Just patiently waiting for her to think of something.]

[to-blossom.livejournal.com]

It's not a bad thing to hope for.

Mm... I can't but feel a little worried still.

That is...

[mizu-isei.livejournal.com]

I would be too... maybe keep him close by, in case that person (if it was a person) goes after him again.

That is...?

[to-blossom.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a good idea.

...This is harder than I thought.

[mizu-isei.livejournal.com]

I'm having the same problem when I try to think of something...

Maybe a birthday lunch? There's the one restaurant and a new cafe, I think.

[to-blossom.livejournal.com]

There just... really isn't anything that I could want. At least nothing that's easier to think of.

You mean Cafe Alpha? ...Mm. That might be good.