This, my dear, is called fanservice.
Lots of official artwork of Utena is like that.

Touga x Saionji x Loli-Utena would be the worst fan service EVER.

....Actually, I'm curious as to why you think Touga's presence makes sense, but not Saionji's. I can only associate it with that one scene.


I'm leaning in Kael's direction, they were both there with her coffin thing when she was little, and it probably is what changed both of them into what they are today.

Both Saionji and Touga still talk about it, and it obviously changed them. (Like when Saionji saw Anthy in a coffin and FREAKED.)



And Razara, you're so silly and cute.

The reason that artwork exists is because the memory of young Utena in her coffin came between Touga and Saionji, preventing them from... uhhh... 'fully exploring' their friendship.

No, honestly, if you look at the text of what I said without the implication, that's what I think.

Well, let's look at the body language. It's rather strange that Saionji is not playing to Utena, he's just looking off into space. His eyes aren't on Utena at all, in fact, he looks rather nostalgic. That's Saionji, alright. From the scene, he wanted her out of the coffin, though he didn't know what that meant (layers upon layers..... argh, Dune!) he wanted to do the princely thing (though by proxy) by telling the adults. His treatment of her is also strange. He's usually cold, gruff, stand-offish. There is perhaps a bit of tenderness.

Touga isn't playing to Utena, either-he's playing to Saionji. He's got his eyes on the prize as usual. He doesn't look thoughtful like Saionji, but he's relaxed, he knows-at least in this picture-what's important: an uninterested girl or the young man who wants to stand beside him as a man?

Utena seems to be almost sleeping... or expecting a kiss, not knowing what it is. She seems to be puckering up for one, anyways...

What is strange is that by the position of her leg, it would seem her body is facing Saionji, her back to Touga. Where she pushes away Touga, she is shown as trying to understand Saionji a bit more later on when they have tea.

...and perhaps the Kashira girls are really aliens.

I always saw it in the terms of it's DVD, it's the final episodes this is cover art for.

Saionji is the first of the Student Council Members Utena duels, and Touga is the last, and together they represent the duels and the series coming to an end, or coming full circle.