She chose this for herself.

shiori’s back

Juri: They’re thoughts I’ve never been able to put into words. But…my heart is always whispering them, just as yours does to you…

It’s unclear who she’s referring to here — or what, really. She’s either thinking of Shiori or the person we meet this episode, but those thoughts would change wildly depending on the person in question. One thing that is clear is that these must be the titular “whispers in the dark”.

Anyhow, in fencing club, a mysterious stranger shows up to duel Juri.

…and barely beats her.

Ruka: I thought you’d have improved while I was gone, but I guess my hopes were too high.

Juri: I thought it was you, Captain.

[…]

Ruka: Please, you’re the club’s captain now, aren’t you, Arisugawa?

It turns out Juri was technically filling in for this guy all this time, Ruka Tsuchiya, which she explains to the student council later.

Nanami: So, what’s he doing back here now?

Ruka: I’m hurt, Nanami-kun. Is that any way to speak to an upperclassman who’s been away sick?

Nanami: Ruka-senpai…!

Ruka: I’ve finally made it back to school after being out for so long with my illness.

Ruka: End of the World seems to be upset with you. He complains that you’ve lost all your nerve.

Juri: You’ve been chosen?

Mickey: So, you’re going to challenge Tenjou-san now?

Ruka: Whoa! Whoa! I’ve only just recovered.

Nanami: Well then, what are you planning to do?

Ruka: Good question. I’ve been away from the Academy for a long time. For now, I think I’ll indulge myself in some normal school life.

That’s what he appears to do…and suddenly, the fencing club gets a whole lot more popular with girls. Including Shiori, who meets him by his locker…and picks up his sword.

Ruka: I see. So, it was you. Someone polished my sword every day while I was gone. I’m glad. It was you, right?

Shiori: Yes. I just wanted to help you. So, every day I polished the sword.

Ruka: Thank you. You’re a very kind person.

And then he kisses her, seemingly beginning their relationship. To be clear, Ruka’s clearly not the same captain she “stole” from Juri, but it is a very similar situation, isn’t it?

and naturally, juri’s upset about it

So she takes him aside for a little chat.

Ruka: I’m glad. You still remember this place. It brings back old memories. I taught you all my fencing moves here. From the moment you joined the club, your talents shone brighter that anyone else’s.

And now that he’s here, it takes on his color, implying that he’s in control now (alongside the way in which she was all but forgotten in the scene with the fencing club). She even offers to cede control of the club back to him, although he insists that she’s still the captain.

Juri: I don’t know what you’re after as a Duelist. However, […] keep your hands off Shiori!

Ruka: Why?

then she flashbacks to everything that happened the first time

Juri: Shiori’s…Shiori’s…an old friend of mine.

Ruka: I see. I read you loud and clear. However, I think you have a few misconceptions. […] I’m just living a normal life right now. I’m free to fall in love with anyone on campus, aren’t I?

It’s just so painful to see Juri pining after Shiori when Shiori only wants a “normal” (heterosexual) romance. And at this point, it seems like she’s forgotten Juri’s feelings about her in the first place (and even when she DID know, she just kept hurting Juri anyway).

But when every girl in school seems ready and willing to date him, is it really a coincidence that he chose Shiori?

And of course, this comes up in Utena and Anthy’s conversation.

Utena: Ruka Tsuchiya…he’s even better with the sword than Arisugawa-senpai. And this amazing guy has returned to the fencing club.

Anthy: You seem concerned by something, Utena-sama.

Utena: Yeah. For some reason, my heart’s pounding.

She probably doesn’t know that he’s a Duelist yet, but it’s concerning enough when a masterful swordsman shows up out of the blue…

Then Shiori and Ruka meet up that night for a little tryst.

and he looks straight at juri, who of course followed them

Juri: He knows…he knows everything.

So the question now is, why? He’s clearly using Shiori to get to her, but to what end? And recall that he’s always framed with white roses…

Naturally, she’s losing sleep over this, so she talks with Shiori the first chance she gets.

Shiori: Oh, Juri-san! What’s that look for?

Juri: Shiori…it’d be better if you didn’t go out with him. I know this must come as a surprise. But…I’m just worried about you. You can’t trust him-

Shiori: Juri-san! You really are…the worst.

Whatever Shiori DOES remember, she understands that what she’s doing is hurting Juri somehow, and that Juri is jealous. She never cared much about Juri’s feelings in the first place.

Next, we get to the Akio car…but rather than seducing the Duelist, this time he’s seducing the “Bride”, Shiori (since this was presumably Ruka’s plan all along).

Ruka: Were you surprised?

Shiori: No, not at all.

Ruka: I figured you’d say that.

Shiori: You’re taking me to a fantastic place, right?

Ruka: Yes. You’re an adult now. Everything in the world can be ours. Yours and mine.

These two presumably have sex, which leads into the idea of sex as a sign of adulthood. As with all potential signifiers of adulthood, the actual maturity of the people involved can vary wildly (and that’s not even getting into the matter of consent). In the end, it’s just as arbitrary as anything else.

Anyhow, the next day, Anthy and Utena are in the greenhouse.

Utena: Always so pretty. Er, the roses, I mean.

girl, if you feel the need to clarify at this point, you’re already down bad

But of course Ruka has to barge in.

Ruka: Utena Tenjou-kun? We met before.

Utena: Yeah. I saw your match with Arisugawa-senpai.

Ruka: Oh? These roses are really spectacular. They smell lovely.

Utena: You’re a Duelist too, huh?

Ruka: Meet me after school. In the Dueling Arena.

There’s one last thing about the duel preparation montage that I haven’t gotten to yet — Anthy’s transformation. When she sheds her school uniform, a rosebush starts to grow from it, and while I’ve heard more intelligent interpretations of that imagery, I’ve got my own. It signifies that Anthy is alive, but stuck in place — and full of thorns, despite her allure.

Anyway, Ruka shows up sporting a blue rose, even though Shiori picked a white one for him…

Ruka: If you saw my match with Juri, then you already know. I have far greater skill with the sword than you do.

Utena: We won’t know that till we duel!

Ruka: Exactly. You have unusual abilities. I may not be able to beat you.

And the duel theme plays with similar ideas as Juri’s…

Pentagram. Shaping. Pleasure. Mandala.
The reproductive cycle. Ideals and reality.
Men and women. Dignity, chastity.
Carnal pleasures, restraint.
I am tied to the dawn of creation. Seraphitus.
The two of us, androgynous. Seraphita.

“Seraphita” is a reference to a novel by Balzac, featuring the titular character who was a perfect “androgyne”, that is, able to pass for either a woman or a man. But naturally, Ruka’s theme focuses more on the interaction of two ends of a spectrum.

Ruka: Saionji and Touga aren’t amateur swordsmen. And yet they couldn’t beat you! I wonder what my chances are?

Utena: First time I’ve ever heard that during a duel!

Ruka: Really? Still, I’ve decided to fight, and I intend to win! Come on! Show me your power!

She gets winded, because he is a formidable opponent, but she won’t give up that easily.

because she has her princess to protect

Ruka: Come on, I’m barely over my illness! Take it easy on me, if you would. What’s wrong? Finished already? […] Now I see…

So she wins the fight.

Shiori: Well, I just know we’ll win next time! That miraculous power should be ours, after all. A girl like her-

Ruka: There will be no next time. We’ll just keep losing. I failed because pf my Bride.

Shiori: That’s not fair! Do you have any idea just how much I cared about you?! That’s right! I polished your sword every day! I did it only for you!

Ruka: Oh, that…that wasn’t my sword. Your performance was amusing. You have a talent for ad-libs.

Because they’ve got nothing on Utena and Anthy’s bond!

And that’s why Ruka wore the blue rose: This was a strategic duel. He might be a prince, but not Shiori’s prince. He never really trusted her (rightly, to be fair), and a union of convenience doesn’t stand a chance in this arena.

because he was always after juri

Juri: I told you before to keep your hands off Shiori!

Ruka: She chose this for herself.

Juri: Don’t say that.

Ruka: Fine. I won’t say anything more. You understand it more than any other person.

Juri: Ruka! What are you after? What are you thinking?! Ruka!

And another image from the second ED, because these two deserve all the happiness.

and juri needs help

until next time…