Strawberry Panic!

A Beginning (1x26)

: 25, 2006

The Etoile elections have started. During the dance before the final announcement, Nagisa imagines herself dancing with Shizuma rather than Tamao. After reliving her memories of the past year, Shizuma makes her final decision about her relationship with Nagisa when she tells Nagisa she loves her in the middle of the ceremony. The two end up 'eloping' just before the announcement of who won the election, with Tamao's somewhat sorrowful blessing. Tamao is still in love with Nagisa, and hoped that if they became Etoile together that their friendship could grow ever stronger. Amane and Hikari go forward together to an apparently happy future as the new Etoiles. Shizuma and Nagisa embrace, kiss, and lie down together on the grass. After the ending credits, the music fades to sad silence as Nagisa, seemingly feeling bad for leaving Tamao alone earlier, returns to her room and she and Tamao, who still is sad, greet each other through their closed door.