Episode 11: Things That Disappeared from Yasuna's Eyes

THINGS THAT DISAPPEARED FROM YASUNA'S EYES

EPISODE 11 OF THE ANIME

Previously
During the Summer Festival, Yasuna and Tomari came to a mutual agreement that neither one would do any heavy shipping with Hazumu, allowing Hazumu to come to a decision on her own about who to have an intimate relationship with. The tenuous agreement holds out, as Yasuna and Hazumu go on a 'date' to an aquarium and amusement park. Yasuna restrains herself from becoming intimate with Hazumu and making it look like they were a real girl-with-girl dating couple. But when Tomari sees Hazumu tending to Yasuna at the train station, she assumes that Yasuna is kissing Hazumu, instead of being in distress, as she actually was. Tomari misunderstands, and decides that 'tit-for-tat' is called for. Hence, she kisses Hazumu as Yasuna looks on from a distance.

Episode Overview
To get back at Yasuna, late one night Tomari kisses Hazumu, as Yasuna looks o from a distance. But it is Tomari who misunderstands; Yasuna did not break the trust between the two of them. But now the trust is as good as dead, and Yasuna confronts Tomari. At that moment, Yasuna loses her recognition of everyone, as they all become fuzzy images of gray, even Hazumu. Yasuna is taken to the Camp Infirmary, then to a hospital. See is in serious trauma. Back at home, Yasuna can't even see pictures of Hazumu, or anyone else. Hazumu is deeply grieving for Yasuna, and ignores Tomari. This stresses out Tomari, and she cries on Ayuki's shoulder. Ayuki then tries to teach Hazumu an object lesson while they are both on the rooftop garden, but with mixed results.

The Space Alien announces that he is ending his research on Earth, and will be shortly returning to his home planet in the repaired spaceship. Jan Puu takes the message with much difficulty and remorse. When Yasuna is a little better, she meets with Tomari on Mt. Kashima. There, both girls 'lay their cards on the table'. Tomari relinquishes Hazumu, saying that Yasuna needs Hazumu more than she does. Both girls try and patch up the rift that had been between them. That night, none of the three girls get any meaningful sleep.

This Episode's Story
With the night perfect for it, Tomari goes in for a kiss. The fireflies are startled, and light up the night with their neon glow. The kiss is very long, very sweet, and very passionate. So long, in fact, that as Yasuna comes upon the train station, and from across the railroad tracks, she can see Tomari and Hazumu locked in that emotional and enduring kiss. Yasuna is shocked to her very core being. She wonders to herselfWhy ? WHY ?? As the kiss progresses, Yasuna's mind and heart is slowly and painfully shredded into little pieces. " LIAR !!! ", Yasuna whispers to herself, as she grabs her necklace emblem with her closed hand ! With the kiss now going into overtime, Hazumu innocently opens one eye, and sees Yasuna across the railroad tracks, standing and watching the two of them kissing. Hazumu breaks off the kiss, as Tomari notices Yasuna for the first time. Yasuna now has her head down, looking at the sidewalk.

" Why ? I trusted you ! WHY ??? ", painfully bleats out Yasuna. Tomari merely shouts out that she also trusted you, Yasuna ! With her fists clenched, Yasuna turns and runs down the steps, across the railroad tracks, and up the steps to Tomari. There, she addresses Tomari and violently slaps her in the face, almost knocking her down. Yasuna shouts that she thought that Tomari was the very first female friend that she could trust. She continues shouting that she wanted to be Tomari's loving friend, too. At the sound of that comment, Tomari forcefully slaps Yasuna in the face, a tit-for-tat. Yasuna's necklace breaks, and the emblem falls to the train station platform. Yasuna bends down and puts her hand to her rapidly reddening cheek.

" Why were you hugging and kissing Hazumu this afternoon ? ", barks out Tomari ! Yasuna turns to look up at Tomari, but only sees a fuzzy image and dark outline of her face and body. Yasuna is again shocked to her soul, as her face contorts into one of horror and fear. She turns to look at Hazumu, but Hazumu's appearance turns into a fuzzy, unrecognizable dark image. Yasuna takes a few steps back, says that she does not want this to happen, and unexpectedly faints. Hazumu steps forward and grabs Yasuna to keep her from falling onto the cement platform.

Yasuna is taken to the Infirmary at the Campgrounds. The doctor on call tells Tomari that she needs to be transferred to the University Hospital in town. Hazumu is by her bedside. Tomari comes in. Tomari says that the doctor said that Yasuna only had a case of light shock, and that her mother is coming to get her. Hazumu says that she will stay by the bedside until that happens.

The next morning, Yasuna is sitting in the back of a taxicab, with a blank expression on her face, and saying nothing. Her Mom gets in the cab, and it leaves. Tomari and Hazumu see the cab off. Later that day, Hazumu is watering the flowers at school. The camp sessions are all done, the camp is over, so Tomari is merely sitting on a bench at the train station, waiting. She notices the emblem that came off of Yasuna's necklace, laying on the cement platform. At the University Hospital, Mom is told by a nurse that Yasuna's condition is getting worse. Mom tells Yasuna that she is going to take her home now. By the time that Mom and Yasuna get to their home, Hazumu is already waiting for them on the sidewalk. Mom invites Hazumu into the home, and serves tea and cookies to the both of them in Yasuna's bedroom.

Hazumu says that she knows that Yasuna was frightened. Yasuna lashes out at Hazumu saying that she can't see anyone, not even you, Hazumu ! Yasuna berates Hazumu for being lukewarm in her feelings to both herself, and Tomari ............. that always made her, Yasuna, uneasy and unsure of herself. Hazumu eventually leaves the house. Yasuna, sitting at her desk, notices that even the pictures of the friends, and other people, too, are now only fuzzy images. She looks at the drawing of Hazumu that she did. Fuzzy! She tries to draw a new picture of Hazumu from memory. Even her memory is all fuzzy ! Yasuna bursts into tears, wetting her drawing paper. She falls to the floor, curled up into a heap, and loudly weeps.

Walking home, Hazumu blames herself for everything that has happened. Tomari is waiting for her in front of her home. She only wants to talk, but Hazumu walks right past her. With Hazumu's back to her, Tomari pleads with her that she, Tomari, still loves her. Hazumu, looking away, tells Tomari that she is only concerned with Yasuna right now, not her. Tomari becomes upset, saying that she is serious. Hazumu, without saying a word, goes inside the house and slams the front door shut ! Tomari runs away to her favorite place, sitting on the 55 gallon drum at the side of the river. As she reviews everything that has happened recently, she begins to cry. Ayuki just happens to be walking by the river, coming upon the tearful Tomari. Tomari bemoans the fact that she has only Ayuki as a friend now, and asks to cry on her shoulder. Tomari abjectly and painfully cries her heart out, with Ayuki hugging her like a mother ! Late that afternoon, Yasuna is still in her bedroom, but sitting on her bed and listening to a music CD. Pictures and papers are scattered all over the floor, but she does nothing.

Next morning finds Hazumu and Asuta working the flower bed on the top of the school building. Asuta asks about Yasuna, but Hazumu only says that 'something came up'. Hazumu asks if Asuta is doing anything this afternoon ? She will treat him. Asuta now suspects that something is not right. Hazumu only says that she doesn't want to be alone. Ayuki sees the two of them from a nearby window, and knows that she needs to do something. Now! Asuta notices two plants growing in a flower pot meant only for one, and asks what to do about that ? Hazumu says that only one flower plant can grow. Suddenly, Ayuki shows up, and to teach an object lesson, grabs one of the plants and uproots it, throwing it on the floor. She looks directly at Hazumu, and says---

" This is what you have to do, isn't it ? "

Ayuki then tells Asuta that she wants to speak to Hazumu in private, and to please leave. This he does. Ayuki uses the plant anthology to teach Hazumu a lesson in human nature. If both plants are to remain, they will both die. You give them the same love, but they both end up dying. Then you blame yourself for the deaths, because you couldn't choose. You cry, but the tears are not meant for the plants themselves. Your tears are for the fact that you didn't get any flowers from the plants, now dead. Both Yansua and Tomari, either one was ready to be turned down by you, but you couldn't choose. You never told either one anything substantial, because you were afraid. Hazumu says that she never meant to hurt anyone. But if that is the case, she will forsake love to all. Ayuki matter-of-factly states that she is disappointed in Hazumu, and leaves. Asuki eventually comes by, but Hazumu is in no mood to go anywhere or do anything.

Tomari is in the Infirmary at school. She passed out and collapsed during track practice. Apparently, Tomari has gotten little or no sleep for a few days now. Resting on the bed, Tomari tells herself---how can she sleep with all of this happening ? Meanwhile, Yasuna has talked to her grandmother, asking if she can move in with her for a while.

Also meanwhile, the Space Alien is packing his things to be ready to leave earth. Jan Puu is so disappointed. When Hazumu enters her bedroom, Jan Puu jumps up and cries on her shoulder. The Space Alien says that his work here can't go on because there are not any good results from his research. He goes on to say that Yasuna Kamiizumi was his test subject, to see if her negative social condition would be changed by the love of another girl. But nothing improved, she actually got worse. Why Yasuna ? Because her condition was so like the people that inhabit the planet where the Space Alien came from. He goes on to say that his people lost the ability to communicate with one another, being so wrapped up in themselves. They also lost the ability to differentiate between other people. They all looked the same to one another. Everyone could only see a fuzzy image of others, just like Yasuna couldn't see males. Would love of others be a cure for that condition ? But you, Hazumu, did not choose who you would offer love to, so Yasuna got worse. There is no point in staying here ! But can Yasuna actually be cured by the love of another girl ? That remains unanswered.

That evening finds Yasuna and Tomari together on Mt. Kashima, at the very place where Hazumu was transported to from the alien spaceship. Yasuna tells Tomari for the first time about her malady of not being able to see males clearly. And now it is worse, I can't even see females, or you or Hazumu. If Hazumu sees me like this, she won't leave my side out of pity. But that is not what I want. After a long pause, Tomari tells Yasuna to stop lying. You actually want Hazumu by your side, don't you. Then she confesses that Hazumu needs you much more than me. Right here is where we both took care of Hazumu on that first day of her new life. Tomari states that she had the whole range of emotions since that happened, but she is glad that Hazumu is going to go to you, Yasuna. The two girls then shake hands in agreement.

At 4 AM, Hazumu is lying in her bed, still awake. Also at 4 AM, Yasuna is sitting at her desk, thinking about all that has occurred, also unable to sleep.

Episode Lookback and Commentary
It was actually Tomari who broke the agreement of trust that Yasuna and herself had between the two. Tomari made the misunderstanding that Yasuna had kissed Hazumu, when in actuality, Hazumu was tending to a very frightened and disoriented Yasuna on the train platform. Then Tomari thought that she would repeat what Yasuna had done with Hazumu, namely a long, slow kiss. But Yasuna did nothing of the sort !