As Tohru says goodbye to the Sohmas, she remembers a little game she once played in school: Fruits Basket. She was dubbed the “rice ball”, when you were supposed to have the name of a fruit.

Tohru: The “fun game” played out right in front of me, and I waited for Rice Ball to be called. I waited and waited…that’s right. Ever since I was little, I’ve never given things enough thought. After all, a rice ball could never be part of a fruits basket.

She’s always been just a little odd and a little slow, not realizing when she’s being teased or tricked.

After she leaves, Yuki and Kyo separately ponder what Tohru means to them. Tohru, meanwhile, is struggling to feel at home with her aunt and cousins (read: they don’t like her).

Her aunt informs Tohru (and everyone else in the house) that she hired a detective and discovered Tohru’s seemingly sketchy living arrangements with three young men.

Cousin: Tohru-chan, with the men in that house…did you do anything indecent?

Grandpa Honda to the rescue!

Grandpa: Don’t you people know how to do anything other than ridicule others? I apologize for this, Kyoko-san. Don’t take it personally. They’re just nasty by nature.

Recall that Kyoko was Tohru’s mom.

Grandpa: They’re my family and where I belong. If they say some things I don’t like, I can tolerate it. But there’s no reason you should have to live here and put up with their insults. […] Enduring unpleasantries isn’t like you, Kyoko-san. You would flourish more in a place where you can spread your wings. Katsuya [Tohru’s dad] was saying the same thing. I feel sorry for you having to stay in this house, Kyoko-san. So if there’s somewhere else you would like to go, feel free to leave.

Tohru: You feel sorry for me? But I really have nothing to complain about. Mom loved me so much, and I have two dear friends. I have so many blessings. (Internally) And yet…I want to go home […]. I didn’t expect to feel this lonely after leaving the Sohma house. […] The truth is, I didn’t want to leave there at all. (aloud) I wanted to stay. With Sohma-kun, Kyo-kun, and Shigure-san. I wanted to stay in that house.

Yuki: I see. Then come back home.

And then Kyo comes in and fairly drags her out.

Kyo: If you didn’t want to leave us, you should’ve said so! […] We heard every word back there!… I think it’s okay to say what you want. If it’s, like, every single day a guy would blow his top, but in your case…once in a while, it’s okay to complain or speak your mind. You don’t always have to keep your chin up.

Tohru: Home…I want to go home. I want to go home where all of you are.

This is the first time Tohru has really broken down (certainly the first time we’ve seen her cry in front of anyone else), and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Kyo draws it out of her.  Also, this is the first time Yuki and Kyo have really managed to cooperate on a something, which highlights another reason why I love this series: Rather than producing more tension between them, Yuki and Kyo are actually united by their love for Tohru.

 

I’m home, with my new family.

Until next time…