And so, we’ve come to the last of the Black Roses.

At last, we get an idea of what’s actually going on at Ohtori Academy…

Akio: And so, we’ve come to the last of the Black Roses. But the question is whether he, himself, will fight.

This episode mainly delves into Mikage’s backstory — but of course, he’s working closely with “End of the World.”

Meanwhile, the Student Council has finally begun seriously investigating the Black Rose Duelists.

Nanami: Really! Just who are these people?! They trick ordinary students into attacking Utena Tenjou one after another!

Juri: You seem irritated. Is it because they’ve targeted your friends and even your dear Touga?

Nanami: You’re well-informed as always, I see. But if your information lines are that good, I wish you’d use them to figure out who we’re fighting here!

[…]

Juri: I thought the Rose Crests could only be possessed by those chosen by End of the World.

Mickey: Then End of the World must be moving in the shadows.

Fun fact: “Mikage” can be translated as “honorable shadow”…and as we’ll discover this episode, it’s not his real name.

Nanami: But if you consider the situation, it’s obvious whoever it is has End of the World’s backing.

Mickey: In any case, what’s obvious is that whoever it is is on this campus!

Then Utena finally runs into Mikage…

Mikage: Utena Tenjou-san…

Utena: How do you know my name?

Mikage: It’s nice to meet you. I’ve had my eye on you for a while now. I’m Souji Mikage, from the high school section.

Utena: Mikage…? As in the genius who runs the Mikage Seminar?

Mikage: What do you think, Utena Tenjou-san? Would you consider joining my seminar? […] This isn’t about academic prowess. What my seminar is always after is those with individualistic personalities. You’re more than welcome to just come and visit.

And naturally, Utena is curious about Nemuro Memorial Hall…

Mikage: You must have heard the stories about this building. […] The story that 100 boys died here is completely true. There was once a man called Professor Nemuro. There was a fire here. He and his students were trapped inside and burned to death. They rebuilt Nemuro Memorial Hall soon after. Still…that was a long time ago.

Then Utena goes up to Akio’s room, only to find him away…

…because he’s delivering a letter from “End of the World.”

Mikage: It’s you. We’re only partners in business. I have no reason to obey your orders.

Akio: Yes. That’s been our contract. Ever since that time…

Student: It doesn’t vanish immediately, does it, Professor Nemuro?

Nemuro: What doesn’t?

Student: The snow, Professor.

And this is when we confirm that Mikage actually was Professor Nemuro, in another life. He was a high school student back then, too, but became known as “Professor” for his genius. And if it makes no sense that he’d still be a high school student years later…shockingly, that will actually get an answer!

But anyhow, Nemuro notices that all the other researchers in his building wear the Rose Crest on their ring finger, but accepts the explanation that they’re merely “fashionable”.

Student A: So, that’s Professor Nemuro, the genius…he really doesn’t know what’s going on here.

Student B: So it seems. And yet that man vouches for his intelligence.

Student A: Nemuro’s paper was interesting, but the man himself is pretty dry. Pretending to be uninterested in anything is the mark of inexperience.

[…]

Nemuro: Yes, I was a living computer back then…computers were superior machines, but machines by themselves lack purpose. I was a dry man passing dry days. And it was also true that I didn’t really care much about the details of my research then. The project I was involved in wasn’t really progressing, but I didn’t care.

Then he meets a woman named Tokiko Chida, a representative of the school board…

Then he visits her house. And the director of this episode, Hayato Date, was evidently instructed to make things as obvious as possible, as there are LITERAL POINTERS to objects like the butterfly in Tokiko’s house. After all, this was supposed to be a TV show, but it turned out so dense that people are still studying it 30 years later!

Nemuro: The job assigned to me is proceeding on schedule. I can’t guarantee that it will be completed, though.

Tokiko: I know you’re not the type of man to take orders from someone else. Genius is a gift from God. It can’t be tied down to mundane things.

Nemuro: I’m no genius.

Tokiko: Why are you working on this job?

Nemuro: Purely for business reasons. Although I think I’ve already done more than my contract called for. We’ve assembled 100 extraordinary boys here at Ohtori Academy, and they’re proceeding with the project. They spread rumors that the research is to revolutionize the world. That it will allow them to attain eternity. To attain eternity…it sounds like we’re building a perpetual motion machine. People should show more humility, and be grateful for what God has already granted to them.

And then Nemuro takes an interest in Tokiko’s teacup, because of course he does. But the meeting is interrupted by Tokiko’s little brother.

Tokiko: Didn’t I tell you to spend the day resting?!

Mamiya: But I’m a little worried about the roses.

Tokiko: Get back to bed at once!

Mamiya: In a moment…

Tokiko: What I hate most is people who don’t care about themselves!

And this seems to be Mikage’s co-conspirator/rose bride…

Mamiya: I’m Tokiko Chida’s brother, Mamiya. I’ve wanted to meet you, sir.

Nemuro: You must have heard some interesting stories about me. How I’m like a living computer, right?

Mamiya: I read your paper. You’re the first person I’ve ever respected aside from my sister. My sister came to Ohtori just to meet you.

It turns out that Mamiya is very sickly, however.

Tokiko: It’s for his sake. That’s why I’m involved in this. I should just give up. That’s what the doctors all say. But…if the project succeeds…

Nemuro: It has nothing to do with medicine. Even if it succeeds, it won’t cure your brother’s illness.

Tokiko: But…it may allow you to “attain eternity,” right? Sorry for crying like this.

Nemuro: No…I almost feel like this is the first time I’ve seen a person cry.

Tokiko: Do you have someone who’s important to you? Or perhaps it’s not possible for a genius to love another person.

This is the first time Nemuro’s connected with another human being…and it’s with someone who’s desperate to grasp eternity for someone she loves. And thus, for the first time, Nemuro finds a stake in the work he’s doing, because he wants to help Tokiko…but never actually tells her that.

Nemuro: The snow in this garden just isn’t melting, is it?

This is the second reference to the snow, the world clinging to winter for a little while longer before life can bloom.

Mamiya: They’re sugar-preserved roses. My sister made them. These dried flowers, too. She doesn’t like to see flowers die…This way, even short-lived flowers can last a bit longer. But, I wonder if the flowers like being made to last longer. Nothing in this world is eternal. Although, a heart that longs for eternity could be considered beautiful.

Nemuro: You don’t believe that I or your sister will succeed?

Mamiya: I deeply respect you both. And I appreciate what you’re doing.

It seems as if Mamiya is prepared to die, but Tokiko isn’t ready for that, seeking to preserve him for just a little longer.

Then Nemuro finally meets “End of the World”…

Nemuro: Outsiders aren’t permitted in here!

Akio: There are no outsiders here. Aside from you, of course. That is the first step towards the power to revolutionize the world. And then everything will begin from there…

Then he hands Nemuro a letter with some sort of instructions…

Nemuro: Ridiculous! I can’t possibly do this! Isn’t that the ring everyone here wears?

Akio: The Rose Crest. It symbolizes a contract made with me. […] Yes. I’ve made contracts with all 100 boys who work here.

Nemuro: That’s insane…what contracts? Why have all these contractees been brought together like this? And even if we do attain eternity, it won’t make her happy…

Akio: “Her,” you say? I give this Rose Crest to you. If you desire eternity, put it on your finger. Your only option is to revolutionize the world. The path you must take has already been prepared for you.

Note that ALL of the Duelists wear their rings in the spot where the wedding band would go…and marriage is sometimes described as a contract. In that sense, you could describe Utena’s ring as an “engagement ring”…

And then Nemuro spies Akio making out with Tokiko, which naturally makes him decide that he has to revolutionize the world! Even though neither Nemuro nor Tokiko have expressed feeling for one another (never mind the fact that she’s an adult and he’s still a student!).

And then, ~somehow~ the hall is on fire.

Tokiko: Is it true?! You did this?! You were behind this?!

Mamiya: Yes...

If it seems like a wild twist that the fire was Mamiya’s doing…just keep that in mind.

Nemuro: They had a contract. Ancient creatures died and became the fuels we mine, like oil and coal. Without a sacrifice like that, our energy-based civilization would have been impossible. Such sacrifices are always necessary…

Tokiko: What are you talking about?

Nemuro: This is the first step towards the task you have. One day, the path to eternity will be opened from this school. […] Mamyiya did the right thing. I, too, now wish to grasp eternity with my own hands…

presumably because he wants to keep tokiko, not because he has real investment in mamiya’s wellbeing

because now he’s sporting the ring

And then a familiar face wanders onto campus…

and into the shadow play

Scientist: It’s finished! Science has produced an all-purpose robot!

Robot: Robots-do-not-age. Robots-do-not-tire. I-shall-catch-monkeys.

Note that “Mikage” met Utena when he caught Chu-Chu, a monkey…

Scientist: You are superior to humans!

Robot: Robots-are-superior. I-catch-many-monkeys.

Scientist: You will never be troubled.

Robot: Robots-are-never-troubled. When-I-see-a-monkey, I-catch-it-quickly. Robots-do-not-feel-lonely. I-have-the-monkeys-for-company. Robots-keep-working-on-and-on. I-have-caught-many-monkeys.

Tokiko: But it breaks my heart to see you like this now…

Unlike Utena, Tokiko’s well aware what this play represents: Nemuro trapped in a cycle, so far disconnected from his original motive for “grasping eternity”.

Then she visits Akio.

Tokiko: This school’s changed a lot. I just saw Professor Nemuro over there.

Then Mikage sees this…

Utena: Look, you don’t have to do what this mysterious guy tells you to do!

Anthy: No, it can’t be helped. Because I am the Rose Bride.

Utena: Don’t be stupid! What I hate most are people who don’t care about themselves!

and this naturally reminds him of tokiko

Tokiko: He’s just like you. He hasn’t aged a bit since then.

Akio: So long as they stay in these gardens called schools, people will never become adults.

Tokiko: There’s something wrong about that.

She’s aged, because she left the school to become part of the real world, and subsequently got married. But this is how Ohtori Academy functions: As long as students remain at school, they never grow up, no matter how many years have gone by in the outside world. Tokiko seems to have been gone around ten years…and who knows how long the school has existed before then?

Akio: What brought you here today?

Tokiko: I came to visit my brother Mamiya’s grave. Say, you must know, don’t you? That for a plant to bear fruit, its flowers have to die.

Tokiko was forced to accept that change was inevitable when her brother died…but then again, if Mamiya was dead all along, who’s Mikage’s co-conspirator?

Until next time…