After jumping to the conclusion that it's her brother Touga, Nanami is saved from a runaway horse by a 10-year-old 4th-grader Mitsuru Tsuwabuki, whom she takes as a servant and bodyguard.
In the Rose Bride's body, Utena fights off Anthy's bullies and Saionji's advances while Nanami goes on a long journey to find a cure.
After defeating all of the Student Council members, another obstacle appears before Utena with the opening of the Mikage Seminar.
But once people reveal their problems and inner turmoil to Mikage, he uses his powers to put them under his control, turning them into Black Rose duelists and sending them to fight duels against Utena in the Arena.
Mikage's victims included Kanae Ohtori, Kozue Kaoru, Shiori Takatsuki, Mitsuru Tsuwabuki, Wakaba Shinohara, and Keiko Sonoda.
After being forced to fight even her best friend to protect Anthy, an enraged Utena challenges Mikage in order to end his schemes once and for all.
After being expelled from the Academy for injuring Touga, Saionji is given permission to return to Ohtori, and he immediately challenges Utena to another duel.
Touga discovers his true feelings for Utena, and in order to protect her, he brings Saionji as his "bride" to fight her one last time, afraid of what could happen to her if she becomes the final victor.
Despite Touga's warnings, Utena decides to go with Anthy once more to the duel stage in order to meet the prince from her past, only to discover that the arena is an illusion created by Akio to steal her heart's sword.
Anthy, however, is complicit in her brother's schemes and literally stabs Utena in the back, allowing Akio to take her sword.
When they touch, the entire duel stage crumbles and Utena is attacked by the Swords of Hatred which had previously ensnared Anthy.