quicktoreward | [video; what's to come virus]

[The image of the dueling arena is shown again. It's crowded with many school desks, each one topped by a hair ornament shaped like a leaf. The ground is covered by outlines of bodies. Utena doesn't have a sword; she looks confused, no, not confused. Hurt. Betrayed. Anthy stands by her with a grave expression. This isn't like the duel with Juri. That had been full of decorum and rules.

A girl Utena's age stands across from them. In one hand is a katana and a black rose is pinned to her chest. She's smiling mockingly.]

I swear by this black rose to triumph in this duel and bring death to the Rose Bride.

[Anthy is urging Utena to get her sword. Utena just stares at the girl.] Himemiya...I can't. I can't fight her. To point a sword at my friend, Wakaba...

[Wakaba raises the katana, charging down the isle at Utena and Anthy. Anthy's voice is full of desperation.] The sword, quickly!

[Utena gasps--Wakaba's mocking smile is gone replaced by a snarl. There's no mistaking the hatred in her face.] That's right! I'm going to kill her! The one who stole Saionji-sama's heart!

Saionji?! [Utena doesn't draw a weapon but jumps in front of Anthy anyway. Her expression is completely shocked when the sword blade goes over her shoulder barely missing Anthy's head and slicing strands of her hair.]

Why are you doing this? You've been shining so brightly, Wakaba...why?

[Wakaba's expression is wrathful, there is just hatred in her eyes, her stance, the way she holds herself. The blade isn't lowered an inch.] You just don't understand! How could you ever possibly understand?!

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No... She wouldn't. This is a lie. It has to be!

[There's already resentment because of this. There couldn't be anything else]

Wakaba Shinohara... She's my best friend. There's no way that she would do it intentionally. This isn't like her at all.

I know we're friends and it'd be hypocritical of me to say you can't help. I wouldn't be able to stand by either.

I don't want to be treated like a princess who needs protection because she can't keep herself safe. ... Kyousuke, I don't want to have this conversation.

Alright...I'll drop it then. For all we know, this might just be the community playing games with us.

Just be safe, Utena.

Right... Just a game. That's all it is to the community. Just a game.

It's horrible, really.

At the same time, I can't really hate the community. If it wasn't for it, I wouldn't have gotten to meet so many people.

If something's controlling her, you can get through to her!

I agree with that. I wouldn't have met you, Nagisa-san, Kamina-san, Berith-san, Soryuu-senpai... But what it does can't be forgived.

I will! There's no way I'm giving up on her. The way she was fighting, though. The katana, the stance, the anger...that's the way Saionji fought me in our last duel.

You keep bringing this guy up. He was that important to her, huh?

We already can't escape it, it seems. And we have no idea who made it.

I guess the most we can do is push on through anything it puts our way.

He's still a real pain. Wakaba has a crush on him but I didn't think it meant that much...

... I guess. The style of Wakaba's fighting, though, when I look at that video. It's Saionji's style of fighting. I'd recognize it anywhere.

Does she even know Saionji?

She has a crush on him but as far as I know doesn't know him personally.

Well if she doesn't, that just makes this whole thing even more improbable! That's good!

Saionji broke her heart, anyway. That's why I started these duels. I told you about how he hung up a love letter? That was Wakaba's.

It's really improbable but... It makes me wonder: what would happen to make her choose a creep like him over her own best friend?

That does stuff to people.

Ah. So that's why you entered.

I doubt she would. The bonds of friendship run way deeper than that, I know that for a fact. I wouldn't be here right now if they didn't.

He humiliated her in front of the whole Academy! I thought she'd be over him. She said she was...

Nagisa-san. I know this is probably just the community but... It hurts. Am I not a good enough friend?

Look, Utena. You're a great friend. I can tell because you care about Wakaba-san even though the community's showing this stuff, about Himemiya-san even though she's weird, about all of your friends!

I guess you're right. Still...

[It takes Utena a while to answer. When she does, her voice is a bit slower than usual.]

You're right. Anyone else would stop being friends with Wakaba after this or at least question it.

It's not good to worry about things that might never happen. We do our best with what we have, when we have it.

I doubt it'll happen, but we'll deal with that situation when it comes.

Make sure it don't happen then!

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