Revolutionary Girl Utena (少女革命ウテナ)

- Once upon a time many years ago,

there was a little princess and she was very sad,

for her mother and father had died.

Before the princess appeared a traveling prince

riding upon a white horse.

He had a regal bearing and a kind smile.

The prince wrapped the princess in a rose-scented embrace

and gently wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Little one," he said,

"growing up alone in such deep sorrow,

"never lose that strength or nobility,

"even when you are a young lady.

"I give you this to remember this day.

"We will meet again.

"This ring will lead you to me one day."

Perhaps the ring the prince gave her was an engagement ring.

This was all well and good, but so impressed was she by him

that the princess vowed to become a prince herself one day.

But was that really such a good idea?

Oh, he's late.

How long does he expect me to wait here?

I'm going to start the new term by being late.

Wakaba.

What are you doing, waiting for someone?

- Yes, I'm waiting for my boyfriend.

Boyfriend?

Oh right, I think she ditched you.

She left the dorm really early this morning.

Oo.

She's going to pay for this.

- Ms. Utena Tenjou, do you really intend to go around

wearing that weird getup this semester as well?

Weird getup?

Weird.

- Well, it's certainly good enough

for all the boys in this school.

You, my dear, are a girl.

You should not be wearing a boy's uniform.

Oh.

My.

- I don't see any rule in here that says

a girl can't wear a boy's uniform.

So it's no big deal.

Well, I guess that's that.

See ya.

My word.

I think she's trying to make a fool of me once again.

Great.

She kicked our butts.

- Ms. Utena, you can use my towel.

Sure, okay.

- Come on, Tenjou, if you join my team,

winning the regionals will be a sure thing.

- Excuse me, I happen to be a girl.

I don't want to get all covered with smelly boys' sweat.

- [Basketball Player] Oh come on.

You act like a guy anyway, Tenjou.

- That's Ms. Tenjou to you.

- Well, why do you wear that uniform?

To be a prince.

Huh?

- I want to be a noble prince who saves princesses.

- What's that supposed to mean?

The scent of roses.

Why does the scent of roses

always make me think of the past?

Huh?

What's going on here?

This doesn't look good.

Huh, lovers' quarrel.

They should do that where no one has to see it.

Wait a minute.

That's going too far.

Thank goodness.

Utena.

Wakaba, you're heavy.

- This is for ditching me this morning,

so deal with it.

Oh yeah, sorry.

Oh, it's Saionji.

Saionji?

- Don't you know about Saionji?

- What is he, famous or something?

I recognize the guy in front of him.

That's Touga Kiryuu, the student council president.

Yup.

And the guy next to him

is the vice president, Kyouichi Saionji.

And the girl?

- Oh, that's Anthy Himemiya.

Anthy Himemiya.

- Yeah, she just kind of keeps to herself

and takes care of the roses.

I have her in one of my classes this term.

Hm.

So is Saionji going out with Anthy or what?

What?

No way.

Someone as cool as Saionji would never fall for her.

They're just both on the student council, that's all.

- So, that's the type you usually fall for, huh?

Oh wow, are you jealous?

Don't worry, you'll always be my true love, Utena.

You're way cooler than any of those guys.

- You called me out here on short notice,

my dear council members.

- Saionji, we who wear the Rose Seal are all chosen members.

- And we don't want you to forget

the most important rule we must follow.

- Saionji, your treatment of your bride recently

is causing us some concern.

Oh, is that so?

- True, you are currently engaged to her,

but that doesn't mean you are free

to treat her as you please.

- As he pleases. - As he pleases.

- So don't abuse the bride, Saionji.

The student council exists by the will of End of the World.

If they learn of this, they won't let it go lightly.

Mind your own business.

The bride and I are just a couple of lovebirds, that's all.

We really don't need you meddling in our affairs.

Lovebirds?

Yes, it's true.

I will do whatever Master Saionji tells me to do.

See what a nice couple we are?

And if you're so concerned about the rules of the Rose Seal,

then you may follow them and duel with me for the bride,

my fellow council members.

- Don't forget, a new duelist will be here soon.

- I look forward to seeing who will challenge me.

- Oh, it's so pretty, a Rose Crest.

Is that our school's crest, Utena?

Sure looks like it.

Yeah, it does.

Who gave it to you?

A handsome prince.

Huh?

Yeah, he said to me,

"This ring I give you will lead you to me one day."

What do you mean?

- I remember him saying that to me when I got it

but I was so young at the time.

Ah, I really can't remember it too well.

I remember.

When I was a little girl, I used to believe my mother

when she'd tell me that I was a beautiful princess

from the Onion Kingdom.

- 'Cause you've always had such a huge forehead.

What's this?

What is that?

- Someone tacked somebody's love letter

up on the board.

Love letter?

Okay.

Let's see here.

And so I dance with you in my dreams, dear Saionji.

You smile at me gently.

I guess I'm just a fool.

Oh man.

You guys are the fools.

There's nothing lower than what you're doing.

What's wrong?

It was tacked up.

- Real men wouldn't stand around gawking at it.

Huh?

Wakaba.

Wakaba.

Wakaba, you wrote this, didn't you?

- That Saionji guy's going to pay for this.