Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16: Tohru barely escaped detection.
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Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16 Review – Best In Show

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Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts

Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16 – Quick Summary

In Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16, “Ask him for Me,” Tohru Honda made a startling discovery: Arisa Uotani had met Kureno Shouma, one of the Shoumas, over the summer! Because of that, Tohru made it her mission to let Kureno know of Uotani’s affection, though Uotani tried to dissuade her. Unfortunately, despite her most brave attempts, Tohru couldn’t find a way into the family compound. She literally ran into little Momo Shouma in the street, who offered to help Tohru find a way in. But what Tohru learned from their brief encounter did something that no other encounter, even the one with Akito Shouma, did: it exposed her to a tragedy so profound that it nearly broke her. Can she pull herself back together to fulfill her mission? Or will that open her to even greater harm?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

Best in Show Moment for Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16

Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16: Momo and Momiji's story broke Tohru.

Tohru has endured a lot. Maybe too much. Momo and Momiji’s tragedy broke her. Fortunately, Momiji is good at healing. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Setup: Tohru’s Mission for Uotani

Over the last 41 episodes, Tohru has gone through a lot. By the time she confronted Akito in Season 2 Episode 10, she had come face to face with the enormity and tragedy and pain of the Shouma curse. She came away changed but resolute. She determined to confront the curse and bring it to an end.

But as much as Tohru is an irresistible force of goodness, she isn’t an Over Powered (OP) character. She’s a courageous young woman who wants to do everything she can for her friends. At the same time, there are limits to what she can withstand, and in this episode, she ran smack-dab into one of those limits.

It started when she was trying to work up her courage to enter the Shouma compound. She ran into Momo — literally. Momo offered to help Tohru find a way in. As they worked their way through a hole in the wall and got closer to Momiji’s room, Momo told Tohru that she adored Momiji. He looked exactly like her own mother, and when she had told her mom and dad about the resemblance, her dad forbid her from seeing Momiji anymore.

Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16: Momo wanted a big brother.

Momo’s Papa said she couldn’t see Momiji anymore. Momo couldn’t accept that. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Do you remember the heart-breaking episode 14 from season 1, when Tohru learned that Momiji’s mom had snapped under the strain of having to raise a Zodiac child? Hatori had erased her memory of Momiji, who now could only occasionally glimpse his mother from afar. In spite of it all, he still wished her well. That only made the tragedy feel even more poignant.

Fruits Basket isn’t content with merely breaking our hearts. That episode was only the beginning of our understanding of Momiji’s burden, and we learned more about it in this episode at the same time that Tohru did.

Delivery: The Curse Finally Shatters Tohru

Momo had been attracted by the sound of Momiji playing violin. Even though her parents had told her there was no resemblance, Momo was a smart kid. She knew that Momiji looked just like her mom, and she wanted a big brother. She wanted someone she could play with and practice violin with (08:10). So, as payment for having shown Tohru how to get into the compound undetected, Momo asked her to tell Momiji about how she felt.

Tohru adores Momiji, and for good reason. He might be the most kind and gentle and accepting person in the whole series. She already carried a burden of pain having discovered his past with his mother. Now, she learned the tragedy was even more robust. It seemed to break her. When she tapped on Momiji’s window, her eyes were downcast. He invited her in, and she couldn’t even speak.

Tohru noticed that he played the violin, and Momiji said he’d had to give up his teacher because Momo had started going to the same one. He couldn’t risk Momo learning more about him, because he didn’t want to hurt his father.

Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16: Momiji has had to learn to forgive more than his fair share.

Momiji shouldn’t have to accept that his Father forbids him from seeing his sister to maintain family peace. But accept it he does, with grace and good will. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

“He doesn’t want me to destroy the happiness he desperately rebuilt,” Momiji said with a sad smile (09:42). Her voice trembling, Tohru said that Momo had led her here, and that Momo had always been watching him. “And she wants to ask you to be her big brother!”

It was too much for her. Tohru, the unfailingly cheerful young woman who had put herself between Akito and Yuki Shouma, the young woman who was determined to break the Shouma curse, herself broke. She fell to her knees. Tohru didn’t give up, exactly. She just couldn’t go on. The pain was too much for her.

Momiji, just by being Momiji, helped her stand again. That in itself was a beautiful moment. But the show having the courage to show Tohru falter and fall to her knees was a powerful, affecting moment of drama. It’s one of the moments that I started this site to look for, and in this episode, I found it.

Or found another. This show’s a pretty rich vein!

What did you think of what Kureno was holding in his hand at the end of the episode? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!

Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16: Other Posts

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5 thoughts on “Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16 Review – Best In Show”

  1. Pingback: A Sunny Q&A - simplymk

  2. Ah, poor Tohru. It’s likely going to get worse for her. I’m not sure she’s aware of what she might have triggered. The rooster’s someone isolated even from the other zodiacs… Also, whatever career choice she’ll be making, ninja isn’t it. If I had a kindergaten, I’d totally hire her, though.

    Her breakdown this episode shows how little this sort of family constellation exists in her worldview. I’m not sure she’s prepared.

    Reply

    1. ” Also, whatever career choice she’ll be making, ninja isn’t it. If I had a kindergaten, I’d totally hire her, though.”

      Good point on both counts!

      I thought for sure she’d be caught several times. Not sure what would have happened to her, but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be pleasant.

      “I’m not sure she’s prepared.”

      It doesn’t seem like she is. But she really wants to be! This is good stuff.

      Reply

  3. Interesting to note how tohru told momiji why exactly she wants to meet kureno while when kyo asked she didnt say the true reason. Shows how much trust there is between momiji and tohru, i feel like they understand each other so well, i love their bond.

    Reply

    1. “Interesting to note how tohru told momiji why exactly she wants to meet kureno while when kyo asked she didnt say the true reason.”

      I hadn’t considered that! You’re right. She wouldn’t tell Kyou at all.

      Ever since season 1’s 14th episode, I think Tohru and Momiji have been really close. It’s like those two are the counter weight to Akito and Yuki.

      Reply

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