A group of students were gathering around the bulletin board and it showed an announcement that Saionji was being expelled.
"Hey! Did you hear about Saionji?!" A student asked.
"I did! What the heck did he do?! Getting thrown out of school…?!"
"He was a fool." About a few steps away from the bulletin board, Miki and Juri were leaning against a pillar.
"Without any permission from End of the World, he tried to have a personal duel for possession of the Rose Bride. Is there no limit to his shamelessness?" Juri wondered.
"I thought he's try this eventually, but it's just like him to have actually done it." Miki said.
"In the end, he turned out to be the clown of the student council."
At the entrance of the school, Saionji, in his regular clothes, stood to the side with Saya and Touga who has to wear a cast for his arm and bandages around his torso.
Saya looked down to the ground, letting her bangs cover her sad eyes as Touga said, "I'll work hard to get your expulsion reversed."
"I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you; especially you, Saya." Saionji pulled a familiar book and gave it to Touga.
"The exchange diary you kept with Anthy? I understand. I'll take care of it for you."
Saionji turned to Saya and noticed a tear ran down her cheek. Saionji put his bag down before walking towards Saya and pulled her into his arms. He felt her tears staining his shirt, but he didn't care about it at all.
"Don't worry, I'll come back. Once I do, you'll be the first to know." She nodded before they both pulled apart.
He grabbed his bag and walked away. "I'm sorry. I'm putting you out right up to the end, Touga."
"Don't worry about it. We're best friends, aren't we?" Touga asked.
Once Saionji was gone, Saya wiped the tears out of her eyes and said, "Touga, go on and start the meeting without me. Someone wants to meet with me in the rose garden and said it was urgent."
"I understand." He said with a kind smile.
Once she was gone, Touga walked to the incinerator and threw the exchange diary in the fire, watching it burn.
"If it cannot break its' egg shell, a chick will die without being born. We are the chick. The world is our egg. If we don't crack the world's shell, we will die without being born. Smash the world's shell!"
"For the revolution of the world!"
Juri and Miki were sitting at a table while Touga stood in front of the table and placed an enveloped letter on the table.
"A new letter from End of the World has arrived. The date of the duel is near." Touga explained as Juri reached out for the letter.
"If we follow the sequence, it's your turn next, Touga." She stated.
"Touga's wound still isn't healed. I'll go in his place." Miki announced.
"You're no match for Utena. I'll go in your place! This time I'll beat Utena Tenjou!" Juri stated.
"I'll go. Please stay out of this, Miss Jury."
"What?!" Juri glared at Miki.
Touga looked over his shoulder and said, "Don't be hasty, you two. There is another Duelist."
Miki did his stop watch routine before exclaiming, "That's impossible!"
"End of the World has chosen another person besides us and Utena? You're saying there's someone else who deserves to be a Duelist?" Juri asked.
A slap was heard inside of the rose garden; inside was an angry Nanami and Saya who was on the ground as her left cheek was turning red.
"It's your fault my brother got hurt! Your fault!" Nanami shouted as Saya sat up a bit.
Nanami glared at her. "Why don't you say something?! Why did my brother have to get hurt on your account?!"
"I'm sorry. If I'd been more careful, none of this would have happened. I'm sorry." Saya said.
"You're not getting off that easy. Saying you're sorry won't heal my brother's wounds!"
"Nanami!" A voice called out. "Nanami."
Nanami turned around to see Touga standing right behind her. "Big Brother…"
Touga walked towards the fallen Saya. "My wounds aren't worth this much trouble. Besides, it's a knight's duty to help a lady in distress." He grabbed Saya's hand and helped her up.
"Touga…" Saya mumbled, either of them didn't even noticed Nanami was clutching her fist at the sight.
"As long you're alright, I'm satisfied." Touga said.
"I won't forgive her." They turned towards Nanami. "I absolutely will not forgive her!" Nanami shouted before leaving the rose garden.
"Don't worry about it. Even Nanami will change her mind eventually. She'll eventually realize that it wasn't your fault."
Saya was lying on her bed, looking through the photos of her, her brother, and Touga during their childhood and school years.
"Maybe I shouldn't be in the student council if I can't even protect my friends." Saya sighed as she placed her head on her forearms, covering her face.
Her door opened and someone entered the room. The person closed the door behind them before sitting on the bed next to Saya.
"What's wrong? You're down in the dumps." She heard Juri's voice.
"And I want to stay there. Because my best friend got hurt saving me."
"I wonder if he's alright."
Saya looked up a bit. "That's what I'm worried about, too. Maybe I should go visit him after water polo practice. I still haven't thanked him for saving me."
"You must be hungry." Juri said.
"Thanks, but I'm not really in the mood for anything right now."
"Really, not even for this?"
Saya looked up to see Juri holding up a box of a chocolate and vanilla marble cake. Saya stood quite for a brief moment before she said, "Curse you for knowing my weakness." Juri chuckled before they both sat at her small table.
Saya and Juri each took a piece of the cake and had a cup of tea to the side.
"Say, Saya. There are a lot of roses in bloom, now. Why don't you pay him a visit?" Juri suggested.
"Juri…"
"There's nothing wrong with bringing flowers to a sick person."
Saya smiled and said, "Thanks."
Saya got into her classroom and noticed that Touga wasn't sitting at his desk.
"Touga's not here today?" She wondered.
"Yeah, we got word that he'd be out today." One of the students replied.
"Hmm…"
"But why don't you go see him at the party?"
Saya looked at the student. "Party?"
"The one being held at the president's home tonight. He may be blowing off schoolwork, but he'll definitely be there." The student announced.
'So, it's that time of year again huh?' She thought to herself before walking towards her desk.
"Happy birthday, Touga! Here, this is from both of us."
Saya arrived at Touga's house to see a lot of people there; there were Touga's friends, his fan girls, the student council, Utena, and Anthy.
"Hey Saya. You came to see Touga?" Utena asked.
Saya smiled and said, "Of course, I wouldn't miss Touga's birthday for the world."
"That's very nice of you." Anthy said while holding a large box in her hands.
"By the way, Anthy, thanks for letting me pick some roses from your garden."
"I hope he likes them."
"Well then, I better go see him. Wish me luck." Saya said as she pulled a small bouquet of red roses and walked towards Touga who was sitting on a chair and not wearing any bandages.
"It's really about time you told us. Who's this other Duelist?" Juri asked Touga.
"Please, this is my birthday party. You don't have to bring up End of the World when we're having fun." Touga said with his closed hand supporting his chin.
"The duel is scheduled for tomorrow night."
"Relax. The stage is set." Touga looked up and noticed Saya stood in front of him. He stood up and said, "Saya. I'm so glad you could come." He walked towards her and noticed the roses. "What's that?"
Saya blushed a bit before she said, "Don't get me wrong. I'm just here to see how you are. I still haven't thanked you for what you did."
Touga started to laugh a bit before sitting back down on his chair.
"What's so funny?!"
"Sorry, forgive me. I was just thinking that you look so cute looking like that."
"Don't insult me."
"Oh no! I'm very satisfied that you actually came." Touga said with a smirk.
"What do you mean by that?"
Before he could say anything, Nanami walked up to Saya and slapped the roses off her hands; catching everyone's attention. "How low will you sink?! Do you really think giving him these will make him forgive you?!" She shouted.
"Nanami, that's enough!" Touga shouted.
"Brother, you're responsible, too! And she's the reason you got hurt!"
"No, I…!"
Anthy stood in front of Saya and said, "Please don't be angry with Saya. This was all Saionji's…"
"Shut up!" Nanami slapped Anthy across the face; luckily Anthy didn't let go of the box she was carrying. "You're the cause for all of it!"
"Stop it! What are you doing?!" Utena shouted as she kneeled by Anthy.
Nanami turned her attention at Saya and shouted, "I absolutely won't let you have him! I absolutely won't let someone like you have my brother!"
Everyone in the party gasped.
"Is that true?!"
"Saya and the president?"
"Touga and Saya?!"
"No! There's nothing between Touga and me!" Saya shouted, but no one listened to her.
Touga and Saya were sitting at a table outside while Nanami was somewhere else outside.
"It's my fault for being so close to her. It may just be me saying it…but Nanami really does have a big brother complex." Touga said.
"When you think your brother is the world's greatest man, every other guy just becomes a waste of time." Saya stated.
"Did Miki say that?" Touga asked as he took a seat really close to Saya.
"Maybe."
"He likes to talk. I remember another birthday party I had. Nanami said she had nothing to give, so she found a kitten for me."
"A kitten?"
"The kitten disappeared suddenly one day, but it was the present I loved the most. But you know what?"
"What?"
He looked up at Saya. "Seeing you come to my birthday party every year is the best present any guy could ever ask for."
Saya's cheek turn red as Touga placed a hand gently on her left cheek. They both leaned in, as their lips were getting closer.
Just when their lips were about to touch, they heard a voice. "Excuse me."
They pulled away and looked up to see Anthy and Utena. "We forgot to give this to you before."
Touga took the box and opened it to see a cute mackerel tabby cat with a bow around its neck. He picked up the cat and it began to play with his hair, which made him laugh with joy and Saya smiling at the sight.
"Come on, cat, cut it out!" Touga laughed as the cat continued to play.
"You don't like cats?" Anthy asked.
"Far from it! Thank you. It's a wonderful present." Nanami appeared out of nowhere and stared wide eyed at the cat.
A little Nanami was outside and stood in front of the house tree."Big Brother! Help me pick some apples!"
While Touga was sitting at a table, playing with a cute black and white kitten. "Sure…In a minute."
"But I can't reach them. Please, Big Brother?" Nanami pleaded.
"Be quiet. I'm playing with the cat now."
The little kitten nibs Touga's finger, but Nanami took it the wrong way and smacked it on the head. "Bad cat!"
Touga picked up the kitten and glared at Nanami. "Stop that! He was just playing!"
"But…!"
"Go away!"
It was your fault. Because you came between Big Brother and me. Big Brother is mine and mine alone!
Nanami stood in front of Utena and threw a yellow rose at her. Utena stared at her while Miki and Juri watched what was happening.
"Stop it, Nanami! Do you understand what you're doing?!" Miki exclaimed.
"You won't run from a fight, will you, Miss Tenjou? Since I can't fight Saya, I'll fight you instead." Nanami said.
"If you cause trouble, you'll end up getting expelled like Saionji." Juri explained.
"I don't care." Nanami said with a glare.
"The school has rules that must be followed." Touga said before giving Saya the cat, asking her to hold it for him. "Nanami, give me your left hand."
Nanami gave him her left hand, which he slid a rose crest ring in her ring finger. Everyone who was outside was shocked, except for Touga.
"Big Brother…"
"Did you forget, Nanami? The only ones allowed to duel in this school are those who wear the rose seal. Now show us your power as one who has been chosen by End of the World." Touga said.
"You mean Nanami is also a Duelist?!" Miki was surprised as much as Juri was.
"The arena, tomorrow night. Be ready to accept this duel." Touga said to Utena.
Utena arrived at the arena to see Touga, Anthy, Saya, and Nanami who was wearing a black and yellow dueling outfit with a yellow rose on her chest. Nanami stood in front of her while Touga and Saya watched from the side.
"You're determined to do this?" Utena asked while Anthy placed a white rose on her chest.
"You and Saya are both eyesores, always hanging around my brother! I challenge you, Utena Tenjou!" Nanami shouted.
"Rose of the noble castle. Power of Dios that sleeps within me. Heed your master and come forth!" Anthy chanted and leaned back slightly as the bright light on her chest began to glow.
Anthy leaned into Utena's arms; a handle of a sword came out of their chest. "Grant me to power to bring the world revolution!" She shouted, pulling the sword out all the way and got into a fighting stance.
The bells rang, signaling the duel has begun; Nanami made the first move with her Scimitar by charging towards Utena who dodged the attack by moving to the side.
'She's fast!' Saya thought with wide eyes.
"Don't underestimate me! My brother has always been the most important thing in my life!" Nanami said while trying to attack Utena but she keeps blocking them. Nanami clashes her sword with Utena's sword as she adds pressure to the sword.
"I know everything there is to know about my brother! Of course I know about sword fighting as well! You could say that my martial art is my brother's martial art! My ring was given to me by my prince! My prince will lead me to victory!"
"No, he won't!" Utena pushed Nanami's sword away in the air and cut Nanami's yellow rose off, causing the bells to ring.
"The battle's over." Utena said.
"The battle's just begun." Nanami pulled out a dagger out of her sleeve and did a fast attack on Utena, luckily Utena dodged it.
"Nanami, don't! The rules say you lose…when the rose is knocked from your breast!" Anthy shouted. Touga and Saya didn't do anything, but watch.
Nanami grabbed her other sword and said, "I don't care!"
Nanami kept on trying to kill Utena with her swords while Utena was blocking her attacks.
"Stop it, Nanami! This fight's meaningless!" Utena shouted as she backed up to one of the stone walls.
Right when Nanami was about to stab her, Touga shouted, "That's enough!"
Nanami's dagger stabbed the stone, breaking the top part of her sword and the braid in her hair was cut.
Little Nanami was out in the rain at a river with a taped box in front of her. Nanami pushed the box into the water and watch it go with the current with a glare on her face.
It's your fault. You came between Big Brother and me.
A crow flew by just as Nanami was about to go home. She watched the crow before she turned her head to the box with a worried look on her face. Her eyes widen when she saw the box opening and the cat fell out of the box and into the water.
Nanami's bangs fell on her face as she looked up, glaring at Utena.
"Nanami…" Utena mumbled.
Nanami pointed her chipped dagger at Utena and said, "I'll win, Big Brother! I still haven't lost!"
Touga chuckled and said, "You silly girl." He pulled his sister to his arms. "I'll protect you, Nanami, you don't have to fight anymore."
Nanami dropped her arm before crying into Touga's arms. "Big Brother! Forgive me. Big Brother, forgive me!"
Touga rubbed her head, comforting her. "It's alright. It's alright now."
Saya smiled at Touga. "Once in a while, you really do act like a big brother." She said.
"I can't ignore a damsel in distress. It's the nature of being a prince." He said before walking away with his sister.
Saya noticed that Utena had a shocked look on her face, but didn't know why. Instead, she just went back home.
