Fruits Basket (2019) 24
フルーツバスケット 24
Furuba episode 24

Story Summary/Synopsis

Tohru is introduced to SOHMA Kazama. He is addressed as Shihan by Yuki and Kagura, while Kyo addresses him as Shishou. As such, Tohru addresses him as Shishou-san. Kyo acts aloof to his old guardian and leaves. This amuses Shigure and Kagura, who explain that Kyo doesn’t want to show happiness in front of Yuki.

Meanwhile, Kazama goes to Kyo’s room. Kyo is unhappy when he learns that he has to stay at Shigure’s home. He finds the environment not to his liking. Later, Kagura goes to get a futon for Kazama, only to overhear him speaking with Shigure. Kazama states that he’s going to force Kyo to face his true form in front of Tohru in the hopes that she can help heal him.

That evening, Kazama summons Kyo outdoors to confront him. Kyo is not happy when Tohru shows up, having also been summoned by Kazama. In an instant, Kazama removes the protective beads Kyo wore, forcing him to transform into the cat spirit’s true, vile, horrible smelling form. Kyo flees, causing Tohru to chase him. Despite the overwhelming stench, Tohru gets to Kyo. He rejects her, injuring her and knocking her into the nearby water.

Kyo recalls how his mother pretended to care and love him, but never accepted him for what he truly was. Meanwhile, Tohru decides she won’t let Kyo go, lest she never see him again. She confesses her fear and horror at his true form. However, she wants him to count on her for support as she counts on him. Kyo returns to human form, then hugs Tohru to turn into cat form. With that, Tohru brings him home to a relieved Kazama.

Thoughts/Review

And so with Fruits Basket (2019) 24, TMS winds down the end of season one by adapting chapters 32 and 33 of the source manga.

Changes to the Source Material

While TMS was fairly faithful to the source manga material in Fruits Basket (2019) 24, there were some changes. The biggest change was downplaying Tohru’s revulsion over the stench and sight of Kyo. In the manga, Tohru not only gets sick, but continues to gag a lot. And she even reflects on how vomiting doesn’t help. So in this regard, the manga’s version of Kyo’s story makes Tohru’s attempt to approach Kyo have more meaning.

Also missing is a flashback scene of what I believe is Tohru as a child. I was hoping the anime would put that moment into better context, but alas, that was not the case.

While not a change per se, I did appreciate the anime adaptation more clearly showing how initially, Tohru was going to leave Kyo, then deciding to return. That’s in the manga, but it is much more forceful in the anime.

FUNimation

FUNimation continued their inconsistent Japanese honorific usage. I was so happy when the subtitles showed Shigure addressing Kazama as “Kazama-dono.” However, a little later, they drop the -dono honorific ’cause “reasons.”

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

I have to say that Fruits Basket (2019) 24 really knocks it out of the park. Not only is it very faithful to the source manga, but it really captures emotions of Kyo’s story.