Utena never believed people really sleepwalked.  These days, though, it's hard to tell when she's asleep.

She wakes from a dream and finds herself outside, or leaning against the door to Akio's bedroom, or in bed with her arms wrapped tightly around Anthy (and how awkward that had been).


One day when her loving schoolgirl fans greet her exuberantly, she thinks, I want to rescue every last one of them.

It's the kind of thing she'd never tell Anthy.  It's the kind of thing she feels like she can tell Akio.

She doesn't.


He serves her some tea while waiting for Anthy to finish watering the roses.  His eyes penetrate her.  

"Something has been bothering you.  Should I worry?"

She wants to tell him about the sleepwalking.  

Instead she says, "It's strange, but I suddenly realized I don't like tea."


The next morning she wakes up in her bed and Anthy is the one who's not there.