I love this scene too.

AnythingGoes: But the images show Utena in the sunlit talking while Anthy is paying deep attention to that. And Utena ceasing talking and looking to Anthy with confidence and some tenderness. BUT WE ARE NOT REVEALED WHAT UTENA ACTUALLY SAID.

What did Utena said? Why we are not allowed to hear it, while we were allowed to hear the previous statements of that conversation? What, if anything, is so precious for Anthy that she is not going to reveal to Akio or the audience?

I've always thought that since this scene is shown Anthy pov it just reflects that at this point Anthy has stopped listening. She's gazing at Utena in wonder (not understanding her, being inspired by her but not understanding that feeling). She's not listening to Utena anymore - she's thinking about what has just been said:

Anthy: It's just a memory now.
Utena: Maybe you are right, but I was expecting something more...

AKA there is a memory between them, between Anthy and Utena, of two small girls, one in horrible agony and the other reaching out to her in a princely gesture. Neither remembers it clearly, Anthy because she's dead to hope, and Utena because she's suppressed it in her search for the mystery prince. It's very like the case of the sunlit garden (which is a symbol of childhood Utena and Anthy's first meeting in any case, as indicated in the opening song). Miki remembers his relationship with Kozue as being different, intimate, meaningful - Anthy points out that only exists in his mind now. Utena points out it had a concrete beginning, the twins once did have something special, and therefore...could possibly again.

When Utena says she was expecting something more she is talking about hope for Miki and Kozue, but more importantly and more essentially she is talking about her latent memory of meeting young Anthy. It's more than latent memory to her...deep down it's her reason for everything she's done in her life to that point. The look they share is similar to Utena later dipping her fingers in the water in the garden and Anthy bending down to ask if she's alright, another moment of "almost remembering their connection"/"admitting their connection".

Anthy catches something of Utena's hope and determination. And stares at her in wonder, not understanding how someone can feel that way. And sensing that Utena feels that way because of HER.

spoon: but it could have been something of that nature, especially since Akio immediately goes into whether Anthy has romantic feelings for Utena or not...which is obvious that she does to where I believe the question on Akio's part was rhetorical.

Which shows that Akio interprets Utena's words as Anthy herself did in the broken-down garden...as a statement that there is something more between Utena and Anthy, or should be.

I'm really in love with your interpretation, sharnii. And how that scene links to the opening song.. I never saw that before, but its amazing. You know, every Student council duelist has some kind of them.. miracles for Juri, eternity for Saionji, the miraculous "power" for Touga, and the sunlit garden for Miki.. yet each of these themes goes back to relate to Utena and Anthy, our main characters.

I also love that Anthy would hide these "little" things from Akio.. in her own way it shows a bit of quiet rebellion.. or perhaps it is something she is still trying to figure out herself, but she knows that it means something, and she just doesn't feel like sharing it with Akio. Its easy for Anthy to act oblivious.

It's so beautiful.