It’s a shame you can’t simply change who it is you love.

We turn to consider Wakaba, the most normal person in the cast, but she’s hardly immune to the flaws that the rest of the cast fall prey to, either.

Wakaba: I prayed for our meeting and waited so long for it. Meeting you is the reason I was born! Isn’t that so, my prince?

Naturally, Wakaba’s roses are the color of her hair (brown), and although that’s actually the color of dead roses, in this case, it clearly just signifies her plainness (because we know by now that it’s the black roses that actually signify death). Note also that this shot is harkens to the imagery of the ED, where Utena and Anthy are wearing similar (if differently colored) dresses and embracing their prince(s?).

Wakaba says that something nice happened to her, but Utena seems to buy the explanation that it was just being able to make a delicious lunch for her beloved Utena-sama.

Utena: Wakaba, you must be the most normal girl I know. You’re gonna make someone a nice wife.

Wakaba: You bet I am!

Tatsuya: Excuse me. How do you do? I’m Tatsuya Kazami. Second year, class D. Tenjou-san, please read this!

and then wakaba just snatches his love letter

Utena: Wakaba! Sorry, don’t take it personally, okay?

Then, after some thought, Wakaba remembers him.

Wakaba: I just remembered! You’re the Onion Prince!

Utena: “Onion Prince”?

Wakaba: C’mon, it’s me! Wakaba Shinohara, from elementary school!

Tatsuya: Um…Wakaba?

Wakaba: It’s been ages! I didn’t know you were in this school! I thought your name sounded familiar. I was, like, wondering “Is this deja vu?” But we have met before…

The scene ends with a pink rose frame, seemingly implying that it’s Utena who thinks that Tatsuya is Wakaba’s prince (as indicated by the white roses) – but she literally calls him a prince, so it’s not hard to see why.

Utena: So, what’s up with Mr. Onion Prince?

Wakaba: What are you so upset about?

Utena: I wanted to give that letter back to him!

Wakaba: Uh, I can give the letter back for you!

Utena: I can’t let you do that. That’d be pretty crass on my part. I’ll return it-

Wakaba: N-never mind about it! That guy isn’t someone you should be concerned about! Still, watch your step. He can be a pretty smooth talker!

Utena: That’s an awful thing to say…

Wakaba: Oh, he’s always been like this! Just chasing after girl’s butts all the time! He’s a total playboy! […] Guys like him give men everywhere a bad name!

Utena: Do you really have to go that far?

Wakaba: He’s cruel. […] He’s…he’s just cruel…because…because he transferred away without telling me.

Utena: Wakaba…

Wakaba: Once upon a time, he was my prince…

Classmates: Nyah! Nyah! Onionhead! Onionhead!

Young!Wakaba: Shut up! You look like pumpkins and daikons! I have the Onion Prince to protect me!

Tatsuya: Huh…?

Evidently, she would drag him in whenever her classmates were teasing her, probably just because he humored her.

And this also informs how she perceives him, seeing as she must not have known him since, like, fifth grade. I imagine “playboy” was extrapolated from him expressing interest in another girl, when Wakaba seemed to consider him “hers”.

Wakaba: Well, it was a long time ago.

Utena: Your prince, huh? […] Actually, don’t you feel fate had a hand in all this?

Wakaba: That can’t be it.

Because, of course, Utena’s held onto feelings for a prince she met when she was young, so she assumes Wakaba does, too.

Then Wakaba returns Tatsuya’s letter the next day.

Wakaba: Here. She wanted you to have it back. First of all, you just aren’t Utena’s type, Tatsuya.

I mean, fair enough. He’s neither a noble prince or princess!

Tatsuya: Well, after all that weird stuff you said about me…[…] You called me the “Pumpkin Prince” or whatever in front of her!

Wakaba: It was Onion Prince…

Tatsuya: Well, either way…!

Wakaba: How dare you! How dare you…that’s something special to me. Maybe you don’t care about it, but it’s an important memory for me!

But she reluctantly agrees to reintroduce him to Utena.

Then we check in with the student council, and they’re facing the same problems as ever.

Juri: I’ve noticed Miki always seems to think about the same person when he plays the piano.

Mickey: Juri-san! Please don’t tease me like that!

Nanami: You don’t have to think about her every time you play, do you?

Mickey: I envy you, Nanami-san. Your desires are met by a kid in elementary school.

Nanami: You shut up! That’s just play, you hear? Play! There’s only one person that I truly love! And that is why our love is eternal. Big Brother…

Mickey: So, all other men are just bottom-feeders to you, huh?

Juri: There’s only one person that you each truly love? It’s a shame you can’t simply change who it is you love. You’d both be much happier. As would I…

because juri knows better than either of them how much love can hurt

and of course utena brings up the wakaba situation with akio

Utena: I wonder if he really is the prince Wakaba was going on about before.

Akio: What are you referring to?

Utena: Oh, I mean, recently, my friend was reunited with a childhood friend. Neither of them is being very honest with the other, but I was wondering if he’s the prince she’s been waiting for.

Akio: What a wonderful story!

Utena: Oh, sorry. I’m monopolizing the conversation, aren’t I?

Akio: I don’t mind. However, Tenjou-san, the contents of a person’s heart are veiled, as though with thin silk. You may think you can peer into it, but you can’t really. And people seldom understand the princes other people keep in their hearts. Still, I am a bit jealous when I see young people in love. I hope you find your own prince soon, Anthy.

Anthy: Yes, Big Brother.

and this is just infuriating for so many spoilery reasons

But Akio is at least right that it’s hard to see who someone loves unless they just tell you (and sometimes not even then!).

Then Wakaba arranges Tatsuya’s reintroduction to Utena.

Utena: All right then. I’m willing to do someone a favor.

Wakaba: What’s that mean?

Tatsuya: Hi! Sorry I’m late.

Wakaba: What kept you? You expect us to wait all day?

because of course wakaba’s still upset with him

Utena: Oh, let me introduce you. This is Anthy Himemiya. She’s my roommate.

Tatsuya: Hello. How do you do? I’m Tatsuya Kazami.

Anthy: Hello. My name’s Himemiya. And this is Chu-Chu.

Tatsuya: Hello. I’m Tatsuya Kazami. Pleased to meet you, Chu-Chu.

Wakaba: What, are you hitting on the monkey now?

Tatsuya: What’s that supposed to mean?

Wakaba: You haven’t changed a bit since I last saw you!

Tatsuya: Would you stop saying that in front of everyone?

Wakaba: Well, it’s true! You always get all lovey in front of girls!

Tatsuya: I don’t mean to. And why do you keep accusing me of that, anyway? It’s weird!

Wakaba: I’m just…never mind…it’s nothing!

Tatsuya: What’s with you?

Wakaba: It’s nothing!

Tatsuya: If you’ve got something to say, then say it!

Wakaba: I said it’s nothing, okay? Go on! You wanted to talk to Utena, right?

So he asks if Utena’s dating anyone at the moment.

Utena: No, I’m not, but a long time ago, a prince gave me this ring. I’ve never forgotten him.

Tatsuya: A prince, huh? It must be nice to have a dream like that.

Utena: It looks to me like there’s a princess next to you who’s thinking about her own prince. Right, Wakaba?

Utena: You dream about your Onion Prince, don’t you?

Wakaba: You’ve got it wrong! My prince is…my…my prince is…my prince is…

Utena: Why not be more honest with yourself, Wakaba?

Wakaba: I said you’ve got it wrong! Ooh… Utena, you’re so mean!

I mean, props to Wakaba: She knows Utena’s type. But Utena doesn’t necessarily know Wakaba’s type.

But after she runs off, Utena prods Tatsuya to be honest.

Tatsuya: The truth us…ever since I transferred into this school, I’ve known that Wakaba was here. She hasn’t changed a bit from when I knew her. The times when she seems happiest…Tenjou-san, it’s when she’s with you. I figured, if I could just be with you…

Utena: …then you could be with Wakaba, right? And so you wrote me that love letter.

Tatsuya: I’m sorry. She’s so shy at heart. I used to think she called me the Onion Prince to make fun of me. But I was wrong.

Utena: Yeah, I guess I didn’t understand this, either. I guess people can’t understand the princes other people keep in their heart. There’s something to be said for telling her how you feel, though.

And thus, he runs off to find Wakaba.

And rather than finding a note challenging her to a duel in her locker, Utena is just met by this irritable note from Wakaba.

Utena: I wonder if this is going to work out. […] Tatsuya-kun and Wakaba.

Anthy: Don’t worry. Romance either happens or it doesn’t.

Then he finally catches up to her.

Tatsuya: There’s someone you like, isn’t there?

Wakaba: What are you…?

Tatsuya: You’re in love with your prince, aren’t you? Look, when things are important, you should be honest.

Wakaba: I-I’m always honest.

Tatsuya: Your prince, huh?

Wakaba: What about it?

Tatsuya: Nothing. I was just wondering if you wanted to know how your prince feels, too. […] But, perhaps, just like you finally realize how you feel, your prince realizes how he feels, too.

Wakaba: Can a childhood friend really know that much?

Tatsuya: Of course.

Wakaba: You’re right. I finally realize it. I really do love my prince. And maybe, if God’s on my side, my prince will finally turn around and notice me. Maybe I…maybe I can finally find happiness, too…

Tatsuya: You see? You understand already. You’ll find happiness.

[…]

Wakaba: Well, do you promise to keep this a secret?

Tatsuya: Sure! If you’re embarrassed about this, we can keep it a secret.

Wakaba: I still don’t really believe it, but I’m finally going to find happiness!

Tatsuya: Yeah…

Wakaba: I hope you hurry and find happiness with someone, too!

Tatsuya: Yeah, I’ll find happiness with someone-

Wakaba: Well, I’d better get going now! I can’t keep him waiting forever. […] Who do you think? My prince! See you!

Tatsuya: “My prince”…? Huh…?

I love how that’s the same response he gave when she made him her Onion Prince.

and then he goes to nemuro hall to receive counsel, as per usual

Tatsuya: Well, I’ve heard the rumors. How, when things go wrong, you can come here and be counseled. There’s this girl I’ve liked for a long time. She’s like a princess to me. But…she left me to see another guy. I’m sure he’s just stringing her along. She’s so innocent, and…! I’m sure he’ll do this and that, and maybe he’ll even do something like that to her! But it doesn’t matter. No matter how she’s tarnished, she’ll come back to me in the end. Because I love her! That’s right. Love must win out in the end! I know I can make you happy. I’ll do anything for you! I…I…! Why am I no good?!

Mikage: You are a truly good person. That’s why the path you must take does not lie here. Leave now. This is no place for someone like you.

Notably, this time, the butterfly stays as it is through his whole spiel. It’s not so much that he’s better than the Black Rose Duelists, but he recognizes that he’s the one who has to change rather than the world around him (or the object of his affections). Because Mikage can’t exploit someone with so little arrogance. Tatsuya does genuinely love Wakaba, so he doesn’t want to control her, even if it means she might be taken advantage of by someone else. He’s content with the world as it is, and that’s why Mikage can’t use him.

And Wakaba runs on home…

Wakaba: I’m back.

Saionji: Welcome home.

Next time: Wakaba flourishing…