Fruits Basket (Episode 49) – Here You Are

With all of their tasks finished, the student council is planning an end of year party, but Machi doesn’t want to come. Talking of the end of the year, that means it’s time for Akito’s banquet…
What happened?
Machi has spent her entire life focused on being better than Kakeru. It wasn’t her choice, but her mother drilled it into her effectively draining her enthusiasm and making her feel empty inside. That must have made it even more frustrating when Kakeru flipped out and forced his mother to withdraw him from the competition to become heir to their father’s business. Despite Machi’s feelings towards Yuki, he’s been able to stump her twice with what should be simple questions. She finds herself going to the year-end party and ends up at the mercy of Kakeru’s games.
Also, Shigure and Yuki are going to Akito’s banquet this year and so that Tohru isn’t left at home alone with Kyo, Shigure arranges for them both to stay with Shisho. At the banquet, Akito is pleased that Yuki had decided to return to her side. However, Yuki ends up talking about how he’s trying to improve himself and no longer blames others for the things that happen to him. This enrages Akito and she lashes out hitting him with a bottle. The banquet draws to a halt as Hatori checks on Yuki’s injury. Momiji also delivers a copy of Tohru’s school play to Kureno!

What did you think?
I was pleased to see Yuki really coming out of his shell and the play fighting with Kakeru seems like something that would never have happened when we started the series. As much as Tohru has changed Yuki’s perspective on things, Kakeru has been the real catalyst. It feels like Yuki has a real friend for the first time and not someone that idolises him. The mocking and fights feel realistic for close friends that understand and respect one another. It’s interesting to see Machi’s perspective on things too and it appears to be rubbing off on her too. Maybe she’ll get there next season.
Seeing Yuki’s growth in the way that he spoke to Akito was good too. It’s great to take ownership of what happens to you and not seek to blame others. However, I do hope that he doesn’t go too far. Akito is absolutely to blame for what happened to him and hitting him with the bottle in this instance. Everyone is responsible for their own actions and to assume that someone’s reaction to something you did was your fault is another dangerous path to walk down.

What have you learnt?
It’s taken a while to get here, but I think it’s been worth it. Yuki’s personal growth has been interesting and feels like a natural thing rather than the usual turnaround in one episode or scene. He’s had to work for it and face some personal demons. It helps to have supportive people around him and even those that push back (I’m talking to you Kakeru). I will definitely bear this in mind when I’m working on my own stories. There are lots of different ways to bring characters out of their shells and the journey is part of the story.

Other reviews in the series
- Season One
- Episode 1 – See You After School
- Episode 2 – They’re All Animals!
- Episode 3 – Let’s Play Rich Man, Poor Man!
- Episode 4 – What Year Is She?
- Episode 5 – I’ve Been Fooling Myself
- Episode 6 – Perhaps We Should Invite Ourselves Over
- Episode 7 – Spring Comes
- Episode 8 – See You When You Get Back
- Episode 9 – Yuki Was My First Love
- Episode 10 – It’s Valentine’s, After All
- Episode 11 – This is a Wonderful Inn
- Episode 12 – You Look Like You’re Having Fun
- Episode 13 – How Have You Been, My Brother?
- Episode 14 – That’s a Secret
- Episode 15 – I Wouldn’t Say That
- Episode 16 – She Said Don’t Step on Them!
- Episode 17 – This Is for Uo-chan!
- Episode 18 – What’s Important Is…
- Episode 19 – I’m So Sorry!
- Episode 20 – I Can’t Believe You Picked It Up
- Episode 21 – I Never Back Down from a Wave Fight
- Episode 22 – Because I Was Happy
- Episode 23 – You Look Well…
- Episode 24 – Let’s Go Home
- Episode 25 – Summer Will Be Here Soon
- Season Two
- Episode 26 – Hello Again
- Episode 27 – Eat Somen with Your Friends
- Episode 28 – Shall We Go and Get You Changed?
- Episode 29 – I Got Dumped…
- Episode 30 – Wait for me, tororo soba!
- Episode 31 – Are you really this stupid?
- Episode 32 – Let’s Start the Watermelon Splitting Contest!
- Episode 33 – Well, It’s True
- Episode 34 – My Precious…
- Episode 35 – Who Are You?
- Episode 36 – All Mine
- Episode 37 – You Cried for Me
- Episode 38 – Sure Thing
- Episode 39 – I Should Just Die…
- Episode 40 – See You Later
- Episode 41 – Ask Him For Me
- Episode 42 – You Will, I’m Sure of It
- Episode 43 – Do You Wanna Kiss?
- Episode 44 – There’s Just No Way!
- Episode 45 – Are You Okay?
- Episode 46 – There Was, Definitely
- Episode 47 – That Isn’t What I Want
- Episode 48 – It’s Cinderella-ish
- Episode 49 – Here You Are
- Episode 50 – I’m Different Now
- Season Three
- Episode 51 – I’ll Hold Another Banquet
- Episode 52 – That’s an Unwavering Truth
- Episode 53 – I Hope It Snows Soon
- Episode 54 – I’m… Home.
- Episode 55 – I Mean… You Know, Right?
- Episode 56 – It Was So Foolish
- Episode 57 – That’s Right, It’s Empty
- Episode 58 – I’m Disappointed in You
- Episode 59 – What’s Your Name?
- Episode 60 – I Just Love Her
- Episode 61 – Goodbye
- Episode 62 – You Fought Well
- Episode 63 – See You Again Soon
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Fruits Basket’s strength always there with its emotional drama and character development. This episode is good since we get to see Yuki slowly taking that step, no matter how small that may be, it’s an effort worth taking note.
Agreed. It’s been slow and steady, but that makes it that much more believable. Can’t overstate just how much it of an effect Kakeru has had on him. Sure, Tohru laid the groundwork but Kakeru brought him out of his shell.