It’s been a pretty intense run of episodes the last few weeks on Fruits Basket, with #14 at the apex. This was something of a step back – still emotional but more in a wistful sense. It also provided an interesting juxtaposition of the adults and the youngsters in this narrative, and though their perspectives are certainly different, the problems they have to deal with as a result of the curse are ore similar than it might first appear.
The premise this week is somewhat recycled – the main trio off on a trip to a Sohma property – though to be fair at least Shigure makes note of this. Instead of Momiji rounding out the gang this time it’s Shigure and Hatori, and understandably things are considerably less lively this time around. That’s all the more true since Kyou and Yuki are thoroughly downcast after the events of last week’s B-part, though Tohru has no idea why this is (theoretically neither do we, but the hinting has been so broad even new viewers should have a pretty good idea).
Shigure half-kiddingly suggests that he invite Ayame along to liven things up, though surprisingly it’s Hatori who actually does so. In fact, the reason that Shigure has suggested this little Golden Week trip, apart from that it’s an opportunity to further torture his editor, is that Kana-san is getting married (as we saw earlier) and he wants to spare Hatori the discomfort of being around the estate while this is going on. As the kids take off on a jaunt down to the lake (can this really be the first time Tohru has ever seen a lake?) the adults settle down for tea and regrets on the veranda.
Hatori, perhaps after Momiji, has the most poignant tale of suffering among any of the Sohmas. I would rank what’s happened to Momiji as even more tragic in itself, but the icing on the cake for Hatori is that he’s forced to be the instrument of his own fate. In fact it’s he who’s Akito’s weapon in exerting influence over the family – surely someone as sensitive as Hatori is carries considerable guilt over his role in wiping out so many memories (including those of Momiji’s mother). Individually – including in the sad tale of his own relationship with Kana – these acts are defensible. But collectively, they paint a disturbing picture of the Sohma family and his role in it.
An interesting twist comes at the end of the episode, as we learn that Mayuko-sensei is a close friend of Kana. In fact it was she that received the wedding photo which Ayame gives to Hatori – Ayame himself refused to attend the ceremony out of loyalty to Hatori. He refuses to accept Hatori’s fate as Hatori has, as being for the best – but then, these two are very much opposites in terms of personality so it isn’t surprising. Both the adults and the kids are wrestling with the past – and the past is always a looming presence in Fruits Basket. Even for the youngsters, it’s seemingly impossible to ignore that presence and focus on the future.
