Believe in miracles and they will know your feelings…
"Oh, that…That wasn't my sword. The only person who took care of my sword was Saya. I knew she was the one who really polished my sword, not you."
Shiori stayed silent. She wondered how he could have known that she was lying. Could it have been Saya who ratted her out? If not her, then who did?
"Your performance was amusing. You have a talent for ad-libs." Ruka said, leaving Shiori completely broken on the inside.
"Tshuchiya…!"
Believe… in miracles…and they will know your…
Unfortunately, those same words Shiori always keep saying…she's slowly losing her belief from those words. Ever since the Ruka lost the duel with Utena and Ruka already knew about her lies, Shiori hoped, even prayed, that Ruka would look past all of her lies and continue to be with her…but…
"Tsuchiya, wait! Please!" Shiori cried out as she and Ruka were surrounded by the entire student body at the academy, watching the event taking place.
Upon arrival, Ruka announced to her right then and there that he's breaking up with her. Just as Ruka was about to walk away, Shiori dropped her school bag and grabbed his right arm with both of her hands. She doesn't want to believe that he's leaving her, after she practically gave herself to him; mentally and physically, which is something she never did with her previous boyfriend.
"You're all I want! You're all that I have now!" Shiori exclaimed, completely ignoring everyone that was watching her make a spectacle of herself.
"Would you please let go of me?" Ruka asked, not wanting anything to do with her or any more of her lies.
"I don't know what I'll do without you! So…please believe me!" Shiori cried out while pulling on his arm, hoping to convince him to give her another chance.
"What should I believe?" Ruka asked.
"What…?!"
"What do you want me to believe?" Ruka asked more clearly.
Among the crowd was Saya, Touga and Saionji watching the scene with neutral eyes. All three of them knew that Ruka was going to break up with Shiori since he hates when people lie, be it a big or small lie. What they did not anticipate was Ruka publicly dumping her and humiliating her.
"T-That you, more than anyone…!" For some reason, Shiori couldn't say those three words to him. Why couldn't she? "More than anyone else…I…" She just couldn't say it. She felt that she truly does love him, so why aren't the words coming out of her mouth?
She was so deep in her thoughts that her tight grip on Ruka's arm was lacking to the point that he pulled his arm out of her grip and walked away.
Shiori snapped her head towards Ruka and cried out, "Tsuchiya! Tsuchiya!" Knowing that he was completely ignoring her, Shiori dropped down on her knees in despair. Tears started to overflow her eyes and run down her face as she wrapped her arms around herself and cried her heart out.
Feeling a presence from afar, Saya turned her head to side to see Juri amongst the crowd as well, but she was walking away.
'Juri…'
Several days have passed since the public breakup between Ruka and Shiori. Since that day, Shiori hasn't been attending her classes or even school in general. She claims to be sick, but everyone knew that she's hiding from everyone.
"Looks like she's not coming today." A female student pointed out.
"Of course she isn't!"
"Exactly. How could she face anyone?"
"The whole school's talking about her. It's common sense."
It's true. The breakup is what everyone is gossiping about. Some believe that it was too harsh on Ruka's end while others believe that Shiori overacted. There are a few students that don't really care about it and just moved on to other things.
"All right everyone! That's enough practice for today. Go ahead and hit the showers." Saya announced to the swim team.
"Yes, Captain!" The swim team climbed out of the pool while congratulating each other for a good day of practice.
Once everyone left for the locker room, Saya felt a pair of eyes staring at her. She turned her head towards the door to see Utena standing there along with Anthy. Saya sighed to herself knowing what Utena wants to talk about.
"It's about Juri and Shiori, isn't it?" Saya asked while walking towards the benches and grabbed her towel.
Utena walked towards Saya and said, "Yes. I was wondering if maybe you can talk with Juri about checking on Shiori."
"I could, but I really shouldn't." Saya responded, taking Utena completely off guard by her response. She thought that Saya would jump at the chance to help her friends.
"But why?! I thought you and Juri were friends!" Utena exclaimed.
"We are, but I'm not going to put myself in this kind of situation. This is between Ruka and Shiori, it's best that everyone else just stay out of it, including Juri." Saya stated.
"But Shiori's really taking this hard!" Utena exclaimed once again.
"Again, this is between Ruka and Shiori. No one has the right to interfere." Saya said before turning around and walking towards the locker room.
"You can't possibly mean that! A friend of Juri's is being treated like this and you're going to do nothing to help?!" Utena shouted in anger. "You could at least hear her side of things since Ruka is your friend!"
Saya grabbed the door handle and said, "And because Ruka is my friend, I'm not going to get myself involved when it comes to his relationships. I suggest you leave things alone." Saya opened the door and walked inside before closing the door behind her, leaving Utena alone.
"This is Tsuchiya. I'm not in. Please leave a message."
Shiori clutched the phone in her hand tightly when she heard Ruka's voice message once again. Ever since she locked herself in her room, away from the world, she's being trying to call Ruka in the hope that she can talk with him and explain why she did what she did and hopefully get back together again. But that can't happen if he's screening her calls.
"You're there, aren't you? I know you are. You could at least hear me out!"
The tone on the phone beeped, accepting her message.
It was another night as Akio and Touga were out on the empty streets once again in Akio's car, only this time, Ruka was sitting in the backseat in his train of thought.
Touga looked over his shoulder and said, "So, your deeds couldn't match your words, either."
Ruka chuckled and responded, "Quite right. But I was expecting it."
"You what?" Touga questioned.
"Utena Tenjou is a dangerous opponent. My skills were no match for hers. Still, I have a reason to win this, no matter what." Ruka firmly stated.
"Is that another scheme you're dreaming up?" Touga asked.
"There are no miracles…That's what she always says…"
"Juri?"
Juri stood outside of Shiori's dorm room and was a bit surprised to see the state she was in. Shiori's hair was a bit messy and heavy bags under her eyes, she was even still wearing her night clothes.
When Shiori answered the door, hoping that it was Ruka, she was disappointed that it was Juri. She didn't even fully open her door, instead a chain lock was holding it.
"So, it's you." Shiori sneered. "What do you want…?"
"Shiori…"
"Did you come to laugh at me?! You and Miss Saya must be really happy now!" Shiori shouted.
"Saya…?"
"More and more you disgust me! Did you expect me to come crying to you for help?!" Shiori calmed herself before saying, "Well, too bad! I'm not going to do what you want! And you can tell Miss Saya to stay away from Ruka, he's mine!"
That day when Juri went to visit Shiori played through her head on repeat as she was making her way towards the pool room. She was hoping to see if Saya would know where Ruka might be since he wasn't in the fencing room.
Suddenly, she stopped in the hallway when she noticed some movements in the rose garden. She turned her head and was a bit surprised to see Ruka and Saya in the rose garden. She couldn't hear what they were so she got closer to the entrance, making sure that neither one of them would notice her.
"Are you serious?" Saya asked.
"Of course, I am." Ruka said with a smile. "Throughout my time resting in the hospital, you were what kept me going."
"While I'm…flattered that you feel this way about me…but…" Saya looked away from him and towards the roses as she continued, "For you to tell me about how you feel after you broke up with Shiori. Some would say that you broke it off because of me, that I was the cause of everything."
Juri's eyes widened when she heard what Saya had just said. Could it be true? Was Ruka really in love with Saya this whole time and was just using Shiori? What was the point of being with Shiori if he didn't feel anything towards her? There are many questions that are popping into Juri's head, she almost missed Ruka speaking.
"Are you saying that maybe I should take her back?" Ruka asked.
"You know that I can't answer that, only you can." Saya responded. "The real question is…were you really happy with Shiori?"
Ruka was silent for a moment before he walked towards Saya and pulled her in his arms, catching her off guard.
"Ruka?"
"I really wasn't. She is spoiled, pushy and self-centered. Not to mention a liar. She's the opposite of you. You're kind, compassionate and selfless." Saya's cheeks turned slightly red from Ruka's words.
"To be honest, whenever I was with Shiori, I imagined that she was you." Ruka placed a hand under her chin and lifted her face to show his eyes filled with love. "I know that this is sudden, but…I would be most honored and happy if you'd be my girlfriend."
"R-Ruka, I-I…"
"RUKA!" Both Ruka and Saya snapped their heads towards the door to see Juri standing at the opened door with the harden glare that it could kill anyone. "Who do you think you are?!"
"Juri!" Saya exclaimed with widened eyes. "T-This isn't what-"
"You were just using Shiori this whole time?! You bastard!" Juri shouted in anger.
Ruka pulled Saya out of his arms and stood in front of her. "You don't control me. Saya didn't know anything about how I truly feel until now."
"What gives you the right to hurt Shiori?!" Juri shouted once again.
"You don't need to know."
"God, what a cruel bastard you've become!"
Ruka narrowed his eyes towards Juri and asked, "And what about you?! Presuming to order others around!"
Juri yelled out in anger as she charged towards Ruka with a clutched fist.
"Juri, don't!" Saya shouted.
Ruka wasn't too surprised by her anger and caught her fist in his hand. Juri used her free hand to clutch another fist and swing towards Ruka, but he caught that fist as well.
"I think I know what's going on." Ruka pushed Juri away from him and said, "Are you jealous because you have certain feelings for me…or perhaps Saya?"
"What…?" Saya muttered.
"Who would want an asshole like you?!" Juri shouted.
"You weren't this angry when I dated Shiori. However, I don't blame you if you do have feelings for Saya. Afterall, she's a special girl."
"What I say or how I feel is none of your concerns!"
"It would be better for you if you stop denying how you truly feel."
"That's enough!" Saya ran and stood in the middle of her friends. "This is getting ridiculous! You guys used to be friends, or at least respected one another. Now you two are going to let this thing get in the way of that. Because if it is, I don't want any part of this! You two need to figure this mess out on your own!" Saya stormed out of the rose garden.
Juri snapped her head towards the door and called out, "Saya!" But Saya didn't listen as she disappeared from the corner of the hallway.
"I've changed my mind. I'll take Shiori back." Juri snapped her head again towards Ruka with a hardened glare. "You hate me more than you can stand, don't you?" Ruka asked, more like stated, but Juri didn't give him a response.
Silence filled the rose garden as they stared at each other until Ruka broke it by closing his eyes and making his way towards the door, walking passed Juri.
"Wait." Ruka stopped as Juri declared, "Ruka…I challenge you to a duel."
Once school was done and evening was set, Ruka and Juri both agreed to have the duel at the secluded area with no witnesses.
"If I should love, I'll do whatever you want. But if I win, you and Shiori-" Juri was cut off by Ruka who said, "Understood. You don't have to say it…"
They each got into a fighting stance and Juri started the duel by charging towards Ruka.
Night came and the duel between Ruka and Juri ended with Ruka as the winner. Juri sat on the ground instead of the bench while burying her face on top of her knees and Ruka was standing off to the side.
"From the moment you joined the fencing club, your distinction was clear. Even covered in dirt, your brilliance still shone through." Ruka stated. "Your potential was far beyond mine."
Juri lifted her head and turned away before responding, "You're exaggerating."
"Is that so?" Juri stayed silent. "There's someone I'd like you to meet." Juri turned her head towards Ruka who brought a hand up to his ear and cupped it.
"There…Can't you hear it?" Ruka asked. "If your soul has not truly given up…then you can hear the sound…that races through the End of the World!"
Suddenly, the loud sound of engines filled the area.
"W-What's that sound?!" Juri shouted. Suddenly, a bright light shined behind her, causing her to snap her head towards the light.
"We've been waiting for you, Touga. Say your line, please."
"Come! Come with us! Follow us to the world you seek!" Touga shouted with his arms wide open, and his shirt completely unbuttoned to reveal his bare chest.
Suddenly, a familiar red car came to a screeching stop in front of them.
Juri slowly got up with surprised eyes as Ruka ordered, "Go on. Get in." Touga walked towards the car and opened the doors. "You said you'd do whatever I asked."
Driving on a familiar empty road, Akio was driving his car with Ruka sitting in the passenger seat and Juri sitting at the back-passenger's seat while the wind brushing against their skin and hair.
"Where are you taking me?" Juri asked/demanded.
Ruka's response was to push one of the buttons on the radio, but instead of music it was something else.
"Tsuchiya, you're the only one for me."
It was one of Shiori's many voice messages she left for Ruka and continued in a repeat a couple more times before stopping.
"Do you really enjoy hurting her as much as you seem to?" Juri asked. "Are you playing with Saya's heart too?"
"Never. I truly do love Saya in this life and the next." Ruka stated sincerely. At that moment, Juri almost believed him, but she didn't want to let her guard down.
"If we could perfect your latent abilities, no one could beat you. I bring out those abilities in you. If you and I join forces, we can defeat Utena Tenjou…and then gain the power of miracles!" Ruka suggested.
"Is that why you've been after Shiori, Saya and me like this?" Juri wondered.
"For miracles to occur, you need a sacrifice." Ruka stated.
"You coward! You want this miracle power that badly?!" Juri shouted.
"You're the one who yearns for miracles!" Ruka shouted back.
"Shiori and Saya aren't tools for you!"
"Believe in miracles and they will know your feelings…Weren't those your words?" Ruka asked, silencing Juri for a moment.
"You seem to be misunderstanding something. I don't need my feelings to be known. And even if I gained the power to work miracles, all I desire is to release them from you. That's all. I won't let you keep doing this. For that, I'll go along with you." Juri stated.
Ruka leaned his head back and looked up at the night sky before saying, "It's decided, then."
"I reveal the End of the World. To you now, as well…" Akio shifted gear, causing the car to speed up at a fast speed which made everything around them pass in a blur. Without giving any warning, Akio hopped out of the driver's side and landed on top of the hood of his car before sitting on top of the hood while the car was still driving as if Akio never left the driver's seat and drove off to who knows where.
"Miss Arisugawa…You too, now…?" Utena asked with uneasy eyes as she stood in front of Juri who was looking out of the school window.
"After school, in the Dueling Arena." Juri simply ordered.
"Juri!" Utena exclaimed, not believing that Juri wanted to duel with her again.
"Time for the main event, Utena Tenjou." Ruka declared.
The dual bells rang through the air which caused Saya to stop in her tracks shortly after walking out of the kendo room.
"Looks like Juri decided to duel Utena…just like Miki, Ruka…and my brother." Saya thought out loud before sighing to herself and walked towards the Dueling Arena. "This really shouldn't come as a surprise to me anymore."
Upon arrival at the Dueling Arena, Saya rode the gondola to the balcony with a view of the Dueling Arena. The doors opened as Saya walked out and pulled out her opera-glasses to see Juri standing in front of the same red car with Ruka stepping out with her.
"Ruka?" Saya was a bit surprised to see Ruka in the dueling arena again. "But he already fought, what's he doing back? Unless…he's representing as Juri's Rose Bride."
Juri walked towards Ruka and stood beside him. "Do it." Juri muttered. Ruka gently brings Juri's head against his chest and used his free hand to hover over her chest.
Anthy placed a hand on Utena's cheek and glided it down to her chest when suddenly a bright ball of light appeared on Utena's chest under Anthy's hand.
"Rose of nobility…Please…Come forth!" Anthy changed before part of a sword's handle appeared from the ball of light. Anthy removed her hand from the ball of light, causing the handle to follow, revealing itself to be the handle of the Sword of Dios.
Ruka, surprisingly, was able to do the same thing as Anthy was doing; he was able to summon Juri's Rapier from within her chest.
"I guess that proves that even student council members can be considered a Rose Bride to a duelist." Saya said.
Utena leaned back as the sword was being pulled out with Anthy's help. "Grant us the power to bring the world revolution!" Both Utena and Anthy shouted at the same time as the sword was pulled out completely with Utena standing upright with the sword landing in her hand and Anthy leaning back against Utena's free arm.
Once the dual bells rang again, the red cars began to shoot out from the ground around the area.
Both duelists got into a fighting stance, waiting for either one of them to make the first move. Utena made the first move by charging towards Juri, but Juri moved out of the way with her sword, moving Utena's sword.
At the start of the duel between Ruka and Juri, Juri did exactly what Utena just did. She charged towards Ruka, but like Juri, Ruka moved out of the way with his sword and moved Juri's sword.
Juri turned around and held her sword in front of her.
"Hidden feelings, huh?" Ruka asked.
Juri charged towards Ruka again, but Ruka moved again and pushed Juri's back, causing her to fall on the ground.
"How painful they must be…" Juri got up on her feet but was caught by surprised when Ruka made his move. Juri kept dodging his moves until…
Juri's sword got close to Utena's face which made her close her eyes. Utena opened her eyes slightly as Juri just stared at her.
"Juri, don't hesitate!" Ruka ordered from the side.
Juri started to attack again and kept on attacking with Utena blocking each one as fast as she possibly could.
Ruka and Juri stopped for a moment as Juri breathed heavily.
"Juri, she's a fool!" Ruka shouted. "She doesn't realize that you get miracles only by standing on the sacrifices of others! Yet miracles only come to people like her!" Ruka went for another attack. "Don't you find that unfair, Juri?!"
The lights from the castle began to shine down on Utena as each car's headlights turned on and shined up at the castle. Utena let out a battle cry and charged towards Juri.
"JURI!"
Utena's blade didn't destroy Juri's rose…but instead it came in contact with Juri's locket, breaking the chain and leaving Juri in shock.
Saya let out a surprised gasp and covered her mouth in shock while Utena was rolling on the ground until she came at a complete stop. She watched as Juri's locket came in contact with the ground and shattered into many pieces, beyond repair.
Juri stumbled on her feet as she clutched onto her now bare neck where her locket used to be. Something inside Juri completely destroyed her on the inside when she didn't feel her locket anymore. Juri breathed heavily as she looked up at the grey sky, her back facing Utena.
Once she got her breathing back under control, she used her free hand to pull her rose off her chest and dropped her arm before releasing her grip and letting the rose fall to the ground, catching Utena completely off guard.
"Juri…Why?" Utena whispered.
The bells rang, concluding the end of the battle before the grey sky started to rain, as if it was crying for Juri. No one in the arena was even trying to block the rain, not even Saya as her hand covering her mouth dropped.
Ruka walked towards Juri and stood behind her before he said, "Juri…It'll be all right…" Juri didn't say anything or even acknowledge him since…she doesn't want to show anyone the tears that were being washed away from the rain.
"It'll be all right, Juri…" Saya repeated Ruka's words, even though she knew no one could hear her.
"Oh? Juri's the club's captain again?" Nanami asked as she and Miki were watching Juri train the fencing team from above.
"Yes. Tsuchiya hasn't been coming to school lately." Miki stated.
"I see. And he'd just recovered, too. Well, he'll be sorry if he gets expelled for poor attendance."
"Look! I think that girl's hurt!" Miki pointed out when he sees one of the members was on the floor clutching on her right leg in pain and Juri and the other members surrounding her.
"Well, with Juri in charge, there's nothing to worry about." Nanami said.
"Which reminds me, I noticed that Saya has been out for a few days too." Miki stated.
"Really? Wonder why? N-Not that I care or anything!" Nanami stuttered.
"Who knows. I just hope it's nothing too serious."
Juri and the fencing team were able to get an ambulance to bring the injured girl to a hospital that was near the school. Juri even offered to go with her as moral support. During training, when the girl took a step forward, somehow her leg buckled which caused her to twist her ankle and fall on her leg a tad too hard. Luckily, the injury wasn't too bad, but she'll have to be on bedrest for a while.
"Sorry. And we have the regionals coming up soon, too." The girl apologized to Juri who was standing next to the hospital bed.
"Don't worry. Just concentrate on letting that leg heal." Juri reassured her.
"I'm really sorry to cause trouble for you, especially now."
"Don't be." Juri said before nodding her head towards the girl and walked out of the room. Once she closed the door, she turned around and started to walk away until a couple of nurses walked by.
"Hey, did you hear?" One of the nurses asked.
"Yeah, that patient died yesterday." Juri stopped at her tracks and listened to the conversation.
"Poor guy! And he was really cute, too."
"And in the hospital, he kept saying how much he wanted to go back to school again."
"He apparently knew how sick he was. But he still insisted on leaving the hospital."
"There must have been a girl in the fencing club that he loved."
"Not in the fencing club, but a girl in the swimming club. He kept calling her his mermaid princess." Juri's eyes widened when she heard a familiar nickname.
"That reminds me. He used to say something a lot. He wanted to give the power to grant miracles to the friend of the girl he loved. He wanted to free her from something."
"Free her? What's that mean?"
"Who knows?"
"I wonder if the green-haired girl was the one he fell in love with, since she came to visit him every day when he was remitted."
"She must be since his face lightens up whenever he sees her."
"It's so tragic but so romantic that she stayed with him until the very end."
"Yeah."
Once the nurses walked away, Juri was left alone in the hallway. 'So…he was telling the truth. He truly fell in love with Saya.'
Knowing what she needed to do, Juri walked out of the hospital and began walking to the person who needed her.
Saionji stood by the stairs as he looked up with a sadden expression on his face. He wished he could go up and do something, but he didn't know how.
"Hey." Saionji turned his attention towards the entrance door to see Touga walking towards him with the same sadden expression. He looked up at the stairs and asked, "Why don't you go up and see her?"
Saionji looked back up and responded, "I wouldn't know what to say. I can't imagine what she's going through right now."
The entrance door opened again, grabbing the boys' attention. They turned to see Juri entering before placing her school bag on a nearby table.
"Hey." She greeted.
"Guess you heard?" Touga asked.
Juri nodded her head 'yes'. "How's she doing?" She asked.
"Hard to say. She hasn't come down yet." Saionji responded.
"How long have you two been standing there?"
"…A while." Saionji responded.
"I just got here myself." Touga responded as well.
"…Maybe we should go her." Juri suggested.
"What if she wants to be alone?" Saionji asked.
"She may say she wants to be alone, but…" Juri trailed off.
"Right now, she needs us." Touga finished.
Saionji sighed to himself before saying, "Right." He started to walk up the stairs with Touga and Juri following behind him.
Once they made it to Saya's dorm room, Saionji didn't even bother knocking and just opened the door. When they entered inside, they saw Saya crying on her bed with her back facing her friends and brother. She's been crying ever since she said her final goodbyes to Ruka. They all knew that Ruka was going to die eventually, but it didn't make the pain hurt any less.
Saionji climbed on top of the bed and lay next to her, wrapping an arm around her, bringing her closer to him. Juri climbed into bed next and laid in front of Saya with her back against Saya's chest. Juri grabbed a hold of Saya's right hand and brought it around her body, holding her hand in a tight grip and interlocking their fingers together. Despite leaving not much room for Touga to join, Touga didn't mind as he walked around bed and sat on top of a pillow that was above Juri. He gently brought Saya's head up and rested it on top of his lap while grabbing her free hand and, like Juri, held it in a tight grip and interlocking their fingers together.
No one said a word as everyone in the room was comforting Saya just by being there for her and letting her cry her heart out.
Saya couldn't say anything as she was overwhelmed with sadness, but she knew what her friends and her brother were doing, and she welcomed it. They didn't have to, but she appreciated it.
Are you well? The next time we meet…there's something I'll want to ask you.
Meanwhile, outside of the dorm house, Shiori stood outside and could hear Saya crying through the opened window. While she was sad to hear that Ruka died, it made her realize something. During her depression stage, she thought back on her and Juri's relationship. Despite all the things she had done to hurt Juri, Juri was the one that truly cared about her all this time. She finally realized that the reason that she couldn't say 'I love you' to Ruka was because she was in love with Juri and didn't even realize it until now.
As much as Shiori wants to talk to Juri and possible start their friendship again, maybe even lead it to something more, she knows that Saya needs Juri now…and she's okay with that. Shiori closed her eyes and turned around before walking away.
What did you hope to gain…by pursuing the power to grant miracles? And who did you hope to help by getting it?
Back in Saya's room, sitting on Saya's nightstand were a couple of pictures. One was of her, Saionji and Touga and the other…was a picture of Saya, Juri and Ruka when Juri became an official member of the fencing team.
I pray that those feelings reach her.