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Summary:
Nina remembers when she was young and Sergay gave her a birthday, September 7th. In his office, Sergay recounts Nagi telling him that his job is to search for the real princess. With the queen’s birthday coming up soon, Sergay checks his appointment book and remembers that it’s the same as Nina’s.
At school, Arika’s friends are surprised to hear that Arika is now placed 29th after their last exam. Eristin is now in 30th place, but Arika is gung-ho about everyone doing their best. Watching from above, Natsuki worries to Shizuru about the Aswad group’s technological advances and the data that was taken by John Smith. Of course, Shizuru promises to stay by Natsuki whatever happens. Back with the girls, Erstin mentions that Nina’s birthday is tomorrow. The girls want to throw a party, but their fun is interrupted by Miss Maria. Arika and Nina later return to their room holding presents – Nina gets a gold chain from her father while Arika got an entire box full of random stuff from her benefactor, both as birthday presents, both from Sergay. After reading the attached note, Arika realizes that her birthday is also tomorrow. When Nina learns that Arika shares her birthday, she remembers the Sapphire that Arika wears and makes the connection that maybe Sergay picked that birthdate for her because of Rena.
The next day, Mashiro learns that she has an upcoming marriage interview with a neighboring prince and starts plotting an escape. Arika and Nina are at the train station when Nina spots a young kid who reminds her of herself when was young and living on the streets. Nina leads and passes off the child to a train station employee, but then realizes that her watch and chain are gone. She sees the kid go running with it in his hands, so she chases. The two catch him, but he throws the chain into the canals, where it drops onto a passing boat. Arika has to hold Nina back from jumping into the water to chase after it. In her motorcade and at an intersection, Mashiro, dressed as a queen, bolts out of the car and runs away with Mikoto. Nina and Arika track down the man who was driving the boat, but unfortunately, he tells them that a crow carried the watch and chain away. When Arika tries to find the crow by climbing up trees, Nina tells her that it’s enough. After Arika calls Sergay by his name, Nina is once again reminded of Rena and how Arika, who Nina considers to be Rena’s daughter, has the same birthday. She feels that it’s all a lie and remembers Sergay giving her the watch piece for one of her earlier birthdays.
In a telephone booth, Mashiro has changed back into her normal clothes. She sees Mikoto jumping after a crow, but Mikoto falls well short of her target and lands squarely on Mashiro’s face instead. A mysterious man arrives and pulls Mashiro and Mikoto into the nearby alley. Immediately after, a familiar hand reaches down and picks up the watch and chain that the crow dropped. Back in the woods, after Nina says that Sergay only paid attention to her before Arika showed up and then starts crying, Arika realizes what kind of feelings Nina has for him. Arika asks Nina if she likes Sergay, but Nina doesn’t directly answer, instead countering by asking if anything happened when Arika was with him during the hiking exam. Arika claims that nothing did, but Nina doesn’t seem to believe her. Much to the girls’ surprise, Sergay appears behind them with the watch and chain. He presents it to a overjoyed Nina, wishing her a happy birthday. Nina doesn’t remember that it’s been six years since he met her, and Sergay tells her that September 7th is the anniversary of that day. Nina is in tears because she now knows what the significance of her birthdate is.
Meanwhile, under the city with no Mashiro, Aoi and Sakomizu greet the prince, who also has a very familiar face.
Ok, I thought this would be a boring filler-ish episode, but it’s not. There’s quite a bit of Nina development and drama this episode, centered on her birthday and her relationship with Sergay, but there’s also bits of humor here and there (Mikoto vs. the crow). Nina spends most of the episode angsting about Arika and Rena’s connections to her father, and getting quite jealous. Because of that, Arika now knows that Nina likes Sergay and will probably act more consciously around him.
We also get the introduction of two characters from Mai-HiME, Takumi and Akira (dunno if those are still their names). What’s interesting is that both have that three flame symbol on their clothes, signifying a connection already. From the preview, we see that Akira is still a girl with her chest still wrapped up. I’m guessing that this isn’t all just a coincidence and that she and Takumi are involved or will be involved together in some way. I do have to say that I find it creepy how Takumi drags Mashiro and Mikoto into that alley. The preview also shows those two spending time together, and Arika dressed up pretty and spending time with Akira.
Closing Thought: If Nina had looked over at the handwriting on the note Arika’s patron wrote her, then Sergay would be exposed. 🙂
woaaaaaaaah ! takumi , akira !!!!
mm… who are we missing now besides Mai and something other than a bird version of Alyssa?
look forward to the review in a bit 🙂
The rapist.
I am hoping he will end up with Shiho as his otome. Now thats a match made in hell.
Where the heck is the bloody raw >.>
And no that wasn’t a request just frustrated how long it takes for the Mai-Otome raw to get on BT >.>
I think the only other person that hasn’t made an appearance besides Mai, is probably Kanzaki Reito
No, that picture of him just doesn’t cut it. And when he comes back he better be just as evil as he was when he was being controlled by Kokyuu no Kimi (Obsidion Lord or whatever)
Reito is the cybor Rado
The one that Shizur fought in one of the earlier eps.
They have the same VA.
Whoa. Nina episode, and a GOOD one. Some very funny comedy elements and lots of great SD, but heavy heavy on the foreboding drama.
I’m a big Nina fan. I dig this girl. I think that she has some issues, but she’s a real class act. However, this episode so sets her up for the mother of all heartbreaks that it’s almost painful to watch. The day on which she finds out that Sergey is Arika’s secret benefactor is the day her world shatters to pieces. And the day will come, without fail…
Looking at the last pic of akira, it makes me wonder. Is that her in the opening sequence? you know, the person that’s shown right before you see enemy troops set ablaze? The person that’s seen as a shadow say for the eyes. https://randomc.net/2005/10/06/mai-otome-01/
the one that’s on the bottom left of the opening sequence and surrounded by flame. or it might be Mai, looking at the emblem you never know.
The preview.. oh man… Takumi get his MACK on with Mashiro! That playa! 😉
I think its mai….
thats been confirm by the character designer as mai
almost forgot
RAW IS OUT
Ok, so it is Mai then. Judging by the emblem I woulda thought so, but looking at the build, I thought Akira. I mean, Mai’s chest would not fit that kinda build. It would’ve been more “hour-glass-ish”. The skinny build made me think Akira.
not alot of action in this epi but alot of info … no bad
LoL! Arika looks so cute when she’s young. =D
Fun episode… not as good as 10, obviously, but I was never expecting it to be 😀 Good development and thanks for the translations.
Have to say though, I love that new piece that’s reminiscent of HiME Hoshi/Ensei’s style. Didn’t like it when it first appeared in Episode 6 but now I’ve heard more of it (and it sounds like Hoshi ga Kanaderu Monogatari) I love it. Roll on the OST!
wait. a. minutes. akira is supposed to be the prince?? or takumi really the prince?? but akira? oh boy. confoosed.
Nice episode, a lot of plots.. not stereotype at all. I love the pic with Nina shivering in the snow. so cute.
anyone know what’s the “that day” that omniscient mentioned?
P/S: didnt sergay know that arika “probably” show the letter to nina. he should have change the way he wrote. on the other side, was that written by him or did he asked the guy in previous episode to write for him , so not to be exposed.
When I said “that day” I was referring to the day he met her, which was stated in the first part of that sentence.
YAY! Good ep! Interesting how Arika got all those gifts but Nina got only a necklace. Can’t wait for the next episode! Arika w/ hair down ftw!!!!~~
You know, Sergay might be having Yamada write the stuff to Arika as well. ^_^
In regards to the potential Arika/Nina/Sergay thing…
Isn’t this very reminiscent of Mai/Shiho/Tate in Mai-HiME? That is, if they decide to go that route.
oh i just remebered a character we havent seen yet in Otome.. the guy who saw natski’s privates and fell on her in one of the episodes.. he practiced stick fighting thingy…anyway u think they will brong him back??
and plus im having this baaad idea about mai.. i think she is gonna come into Otome as a vilian..kinda like try to get back at seregey for doing something
“Closing Thought: If Nina had looked over at the handwriting on the note Arika’s patron wrote her, then Sergay would be exposed”
It was shown in one of the earlier episodes that Sergay gets someone else to write the letters for him.
amazing plot lines , this episode ^^
little Nina looks so adorable.
hmmm , Mashiro bolts frm an audience with a potential suitor , but he chances upon her anyway .
frm what i gather , Akira is prolly serving as Takumi’s Otome , much like before . thus we have Arika standing in as Mashiro and Akira taking the place of her master ^^; , Takumi still goes by TokiHa tho 「鴇羽巧海」
i wonder how things will go next month , since i haven’t bought my copy of NewType Jan ’06 yet …
JT, that guy has made a appearance in ep2. he has a eye patch but thats him.
As for the Nina and Shiho obsession, I say no. Nina isn’t as big a crackpot as Shiho was in MH and no approach Shiho in Mo except maybe Tomeo.
oh ok xellos thnks i problly missed him
I bet- I bet Takumi is the real prince and he ran away just like Mashiro did. So they’re putting Akira out as a faux prince (maybe she’s an otome?). Though the obvious flaw in this theory is, all heads of state know what each other look like.
The series really needs to give Arika her blue gems back…
Interesting how Sergey drew an ant next to the words “Nina’s Birthday” to remind him that Arika also shares the same bday as Nina & Mashiro. I can’t wait to read Omni’s summary for Episode 11 next wk 🙂 Takumi, the prince ran away from the marriage interview & bumped into Mashiro who laid flat on the floor then dragged her into the alley XD *lol* It’s funny how Mashiro’s Otome and Takumi’s Otome ended up having to stand in for their Masters. I can’t wait to see the comedy & thanks for your weekly screenshots ^_^ Keep the Gd Work!
There’s supposed to be a new op or new ed coming up soon.
Natsuki + Shiho = Nina
Weird combination.
good i want a new op and ed …especially an ending!! this one just sux
I believe that Takumi is the prince and ran away! just like mashiro did! So Akira is standing in! Just like I believe Arika is going to do for mashiro (thats why she is wearing the dress)
So in the end, mashiro and takumi(the real prince) do meet, and actually like eachother
Sugoi!
Takumi
This is one of the saddest episodes I’ve seen so far. Because it tells about Nina’s past and I really felt sorry for her that she was all alone in the snow on a cold night when she was little. She would do anything to keep that birthday gift which is a watch necklace. I’m so grateful that Arika did her best to get it back. This episode also tells how Sergay met Nina six years ago.