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The first time we see Nanami in the Utena series is when she talks to Anthy, during episode 3 ("On the Night of the Ball"). Anthy had just been confronted by Keiko, Yuuko, and Aiko, and lo and behold, in waltzes Nanami, saving the day. Or so it seemed. Poor, unsuspecting Anthy was taken in by Nanami's sugar sweet words -- and led right into a trap.
Nanami doesn't understand why Anthy is liked and admired by Utena and Miki, and why Touga pays attention to her. In her mind, Anthy was just another girl, another insect that threatened to swarm on her older brother. Anthy however, even after being set up during that imfamous ball, has remained largely oblivious to Nanami's antics and constant plots to humiliate both herself and Utena. If Anthy was at all aware of anything, she sure hid it well. Of course, Anthy is really incapable of openly hating anyone -- though she has emotions of her own, she simply chooses to be a reflection of her champion's wishes and desires. When it was revealed that it was Nanami who was behind all the accidents (like the curry-switching, and the ball) Anthy didn't even turn a hair. In any case, Anthy doesn't harbour any ill feelings towards Nanami -- Anthy treats Nanami the way that she treats everyone else around her. Quietly cheerful, polite, and unassuming.
The relationship between Anthy and Nanami is somewhat akin to Nanami's relationship with Utena. The only reason Nanami had plotted to humiliate her during the ball was because Nanami felt that Anthy had been a threat for Touga's attention. Touga, being student council president and a duellist on the side, had been mentioning Anthy quite frequently, which was natural, since Anthy was the Rose Bride -- but Nanami (as usual ^_-) mistook it for other things.
Most (if not all) of Nanami's plots have been centered on Anthy. Episode 4 ("The Sunny Garden - Prelude") shows us Nanami's devious plot to expose Anthy -- what's most notable is that no matter what Nanami plots against Anthy, it never falls through. Anthy was saved by Utena during the ball, as Anthy was left half naked on the ballroom floor. Nanami's plot to plant animals in Anthy's room came up as a dud, since Anthy already had those animals -- there already were snails in her pencil case (with names like Catherine, Juliet, and Marcelina), and there already was an octopus living in her closet (albeit a big, fake one). A mongoose ate the garter snake that Nanami spent all night trying to catch. The great curry fiasco during episode 9 ("The Great Curry High Trip") backfired, making Nanami the victim (well, she was the one who had to go back to India). Divine justice happens quite frequently to Nanami, even more so when she plots against Anthy. If anything else, Nanami's efforts to hurt Anthy do nothing but backfire on her....
Then, in the Akio Saga, after Nanami learns that she may not be related to Touga, she lives with Utena and Anthy. What Nanami didn't count on was the close bond between Anthy and Akio; everyday, every meal became torture for Nanami, as she saw Anthy feeding Akio playfully with a spoon, and the affectionate banter that went back and forward between them. It was a seed that was planted inside her. Her dislike for Anthy became stronger, until the fateful night she discovered Anthy's secret. Stumbling across Anthy and Akio after one of their midnight rondezvous, Nanami witnesses the horrible truth of Akio and Anthy's relationship; a cross that only she can bear, a secret that would imprint itself in her soul. Disgusted, her dislike towards Anthy and Utena is intensified.. and with only a little manipulation on Touga's part and a drive in the Akio-car, Nanami duels Utena once more. Her reason? To prove that she wasn't like Anthy, or Akio. Unlike her love for Touga which she viewed as pure, she vehemently hated Anthy for the lecherous relationship she shared with her brother.
In truth, Nanami was just another pawn in Anthy and Akio's game, to maneuver and manipulate in the game to attain Eternity and the Revolution....
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Blonde Bombshell is © 2000-2007 Rose Panzo. Shoujo Kakumei Utena and all its characters belongs to Chiho Saito, Be-PaPas, TV Tokyo, and etc. Please do not take or reproduce the contents here without permission.