"Open Up Your Heart"

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"Open Up Your Heart"
Episode information
Series	Boys Over Flowers
Episode	45
Air date	July 20, 1997
Director	Ryo Tachiba
Script	Yumi Kageyama
← Preceded by	"You're Not the One"
Followed by →	"Hurricane Approaching"

"Something precious is standing right before you. You can just reach out and grasp it. But you don't even try. How can you possibly understand how I feel?"

—Rui to Tsukushi

"Open Up Your Heart" (素直になれば? (すなおになれば) , Sunao ni Nareba?) is the forty-fifth installment of the Boys Over Flowers anime adaptation. The episode aired on July 20, 1997 in Japan. It was followed by the forty-sixth episode, titled "Hurricane Approaching," on July 27.

Tsukushi Makino learns that her family are moving away and leaving her to live on her own. Meanwhile, she still feels awkward around Tsukasa Domyoji. His mother later decides to implement a new plan to do something about Tsukushi.

Plot

Tsukushi Makino is dropped off near her home. She finds herself thinking of Tsukasa Domyoji and Shigeru Okawahara, saying "When I saw that, it felt like something shattered inside me." Tsukushi then enters the apartment, walking in on her family in the midst of packing. Her mind immediately thinks her parents are having loan problems and are now running from debt collectors. Chieko Makino assures her "We didn't tell you to keep you from worrying." She then explains that a friend of hers from the country has offered them a live-in job. Tsukushi is surprised by the revelation, trying to imagine her father as a fisherman. He, however, seems enthusiastic about it, declaring "A fisherman's life is wild and romantic."

Chieko tells Tsukushi that they will send her money for her tuition, leaving the rent and living expenses for her to pay. She then says "That should make things easier for you," which Yasukichi follows with "We really were a burden on you." Seeing their smiling faces, Tsukushi is nearly moved to tears. Susumu Makino suddenly shouts "It's so unfair! I want to stay in Tokyo, too." His mother informs him that he will attend junior high in the country until his graduation. Tsukushi finally realizes that she is being left behind. Chieko tells her that she has to remain at Eitoku Academy, explaining "If you leave now, you'll never get back in again!" Her parents assure her that they will return when they have earned enough money.

After asking Tsukushi to buy tape, Chieko says "I'm a little worried about leaving you all alone." Tsukushi becomes emotional, though her mother is only concerned that she will not invite Tsukasa to the apartment. In a daze, Tsukushi starts to really consider her situation and thinks that it may actually be good for her. She then starts imagining her peaceful future, but a vision of Rui Hanazawa interrupts her fantasy by saying "You feel bad because it was Tsukasa." Tsukushi shakes it away and returns to her musings, only to imagine Shigeru on top of Tsukasa. She closes the imaginary door, despite knowing that if she faced it she would "learn something important." Being stubborn, Tsukushi refuses to open the door.

At work, Tsukushi tells Yuki Matsuoka the news. She confides in Yuki "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared, but I think I've come to accept it." Yuki promises to be there for Tsukushi to if she needs her. The following morning, she says goodbye to her family before heading to school. There she meets Kazuya Aoike. They then see Sojiro Nishikado and Akira Mimasaka approaching with Tsukasa. Tsukushi tries to hide, but is forced to face the guys since she is clearly visible. Akira and Sojiro tease her about what happened at Shigeru's villa. She accuses Tsukasa of telling them, but they reveal it was actually Rui. Their teasing turns to Tsukasa, who becomes irritated and leaves. Tsukushi watches his back and clutches her heart.

Tsukushi goes to the emergency exit, where she finds Rui. She confronts him about telling Sojiro and Akira everything. In response, Rui says "You like to stuff everything inside of you like that, huh?" and starts criticizing her for ignoring her feelings. She tells "What about you? You came running back from Paris... from Shizuka." Realizing she has said something hurtful, she tries to apologize. Rui tells her that she has "something precious" but she refuses to grab it. After he leaves, Tsukushi remembers the door thinking "It's too late." Later, Nishida informs Kaede Domyoji about Tsukushi being at the villa with Tsukasa and Shigeru. She declares "It seems we'll have to put a stop to that girl."

Cast and characters

Character Voice Notes Akira Mimasaka Yuta Mochizuki Chieko Makino Rumi Watanabe Kaede Domyoji Mika Doi Kazuya Aoike Yoji Ietomi Nishida Hitoshi Honma Rui Hanazawa Koji Yamamoto Shigeru Okawahara Emika Sato (Flashback only) Sojiro Nishikado Yoshihiko Akaida Susumu Makino Takayuki Inoue Tsubaki Domyoji Chiho Okawa Tsukasa Domyoji Naoki Miyashita Tsukushi Makino Maki Mochida Yasukichi Makino Nobuaki Suzuki Yuki Matsuoka Kanako Tobimatsu

Other Shizuka Todo (Mentioned) Additional voices Daisuke Kishio (child) Miyuki Nikaido (child's mother)

Staff

• Script: Yumi Kageyama
• Director: Ryo Tachiba
• Animation director: Tomoko Ito

Notes

• The episode is taken from chapter one hundred and twelve of the manga.
• Chapter one hundred and twenty-one was published on the same day that this episode aired.
• Scenes from "Declaration of War!," "The Ordinary Duo!," and "Please Believe Me!" are all reused in this episode.
• The eleventh DVD of Viz Media's anime release was named after this episode.

External links

• "Open Up Your Heart" at the official website
• "Open Up Your Heart" on Toei Animation

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"You're Not the One"	"Hurricane Approaching"