Is the Rumored Ri That Mother's Daughter

Heading toward the house, Tohru crosses paths with Ritsu Sohma, the monkey of the Chinese zodiac, a nervous figure known for dressing in women's clothing, apologizing without end, and sinking into deep gloom. Once the two reach the residence, Ritsu hands Shigure a few gifts and prepares to slip away rather than risk being any bother. Tohru insists on serving tea before the departure, but when she accidentally shatters one of the cups, the mishap throws Ritsu into a spiral of self-blame.

Reaching out to keep Ritsu from treading on the broken shards, Tohru instead triggers a transformation into the monkey and cuts herself in the process. Overwhelmed, Ritsu climbs onto the roof intending to end things, and only Tohru's pleading talks the visitor down, though a near tumble from the edge leaves a twisted ankle. Ritsu ends up lodging at the house for three days under Hatori's care. Days afterward, walking home from school, Tohru meets Ritsu again while the latter carries a bag of jelly buns meant for Shigure. Seated together on a park bench, they speak openly about the cross-dressing, the constant apologies, and the sadness beneath them, and Tohru offers comfort by insisting that everyone holds a reason to live that they must go out and find.

This twenty-third entry of the 2001 series compresses chapters 43, 44, and 45 of the manga into a single introduction for the anxious monkey. It keeps the original opening theme For Fruits Basket alongside the ending song Chiisana Inori.