Sophist Boy Has Captured The Prince

On her way to work Tohru crosses paths with Hiro, a boy who wields cutting words like a blade and resents her time with Kisa. His prickly behavior hides a deeper guilt, and once the sniping gives way, the day turns into a gentle lesson about admitting one's own faults and caring for others.

Hiro snatches Tohru's notebook from her bag, throwing her into a panic since it holds a photo of her late mother. Kyo, Momiji, and Kisa join her to confront him over his attitude, and after returning the notebook, Hiro confesses that his jealousy stems from how deeply he cares for Kisa. As the group spends time together, Kyo grows irritated at how Hiro treats Tohru.

The root of Hiro's behavior surfaces: he adores Kisa and wants to shield her, blaming himself for failing to stand up for her when she was bullied at school. Tohru leads the children to a playground and treats them to crêpes from a nearby stand, then lifts Hiro's spirits by telling him it takes courage to own his shortcomings and that his constant care for Kisa is something to be proud of.

The episode draws on chapters thirty-seven and thirty-eight and carries Justin Cook's English direction with a script by Jeremy Carlile and John Burgmeier, opening on For Fruits Basket and closing with Chiisana Inori. In the manga these events fall after Kazuma reveals Kyo's true form to Tohru, placing them at a different point in the timeline.