hontou ni sou omou?

It’s the end of the world. Himeko launches off in Ame no Murakamo with Souma (mounting Tsubasa sword power boost) riding shotgun. After several Big Robot fight scenes and running a gauntlet of chains, mirrors and projectile weapons, Himeko finally comes face to face with Chikane. The most romantically worded sword fight ever occurs but Himeko refuses to really put up a fight until provoked with Chikane’s coldblooded destroying of the whole world. MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD. In the ensuing melee, Himeko runs Chikane through with her sword.

This heavily mecha and Souma part was heavily blah but it was nice to see Souma understanding how important it was for Himeko to have a heart-to-heart talk with Chikane. I agree with Stripey’s sympathetic reading of Himeko’s and Chikane’s motivations. The former just wants her friend back and the only thing on the latter’s mind is saving her from her previous incarnation’s fate.

The sword fight was just wow - largely due to Chikane’s declarations to Himeko relayed with such an intense mix of mad passion and bittersweet tenderness - I just had the feeling that Chikane has kept these words bottled up inside her all this while. And although it is a relief to finally get them off her chest, she must have also hated the context in which she was doing it. This whole situation was made better with Himeko’s reaction of confused horror, given that she probably could not fathom how someone see placed on a pedestal could see her this way and want her so badly. With hindsight, we know that let-me-count -the-ways-I-love-you declarations were sincere while the reasoning of wanting to destroy the world that was coming between the two of them was the cover story.

Finally goaded into believing that this person standing before her is no longer the Chikane she knew and loved, Himeko fights back. Was impressed by her expression of anger and sadness as she attacked Chikane and finally her shock at actually landing the killing blow. The way Chikane was distracted by the kaiawase or sea shell (thanks to Chalcahuite for pointing this motif out) was a dead giveaway that she wasn’t really Evil and still cared a great deal for Himeko.

The preview narration for Ep 12 was also the best for the whole series. For once, Himeko didn’t sound teary or end with the rather pathetic refrain of “What should I do, Chikane-chan?” The words themselves were affirmative with a sense of finality and delivered with a tenderness and serenity that really marks the growth of her character.