WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Fruits Basket Season 2, Episode 10, "Who Are You?" now streaming on Crunchyroll.
The new Fruits Basket episode "Who Are You?" finally answers the question of who Akito Sohma is. Well, not entirely; there's still significant details explaining this complicated antagonist's psychology which have not yet been revealed in the anime. However, both anime viewers and Tohru Honda herself gain a much clearer understanding in this episode both of what Akito wants and why the other Sohmas have been so seemingly resigned to put up with Akito's abuse.
Momiji, bless his heart, may prove very well to be the bravest member of his family. The whole summer vacation arc has been his attempt to make Tohru and his fellow Zodiac members happy, and even Akito's surprise appearance hasn't been able to put a stop to the fun. When Akito comes over one night wanting to speak to Tohru, Momiji is ready to protect Tohru, even if it means getting beat up.
Of course, Tohru can't let Akito keeping physically abusing Momiji, so she comes outside to protect her would-be protector and have the conversation Akito so wants to have with her. Many of the details in this conversation are things the audience was already aware of but Tohru is finding out for the first time: that Akito wants to keep the Zodiac members at the Sohma family compound, that Kyo is likely going to be placed in solitary confinement following his high school graduation.
The biggest reveal in this conversation, for both Tohru and for those who haven't read the manga, is what Akito's actual role in the Zodiac is. It's not the Rooster as Tohru had speculated; Akito finally introduces the actual Rooster Kureno to her. No, Akito's role is that of a completely different character in the legend of the Chinese Zodiac: the god that invited all the animals to the banquet.
As "god," Akito does not see the Sohma family's predicament as a curse like everyone else, but as a "blessing." Akito wants to exercise the power of their position to create a new "eternal banquet" where nothing changes for the Sohmas. Change upsets Akito, a point further demonstrated in a scene where Akito lashes out at Shigure for no longer being as close as they used to be. Tohru, who not only is helping the Sohmas change for the better but embraces these changes, is Akito's natural enemy.
While revealing this information to Tohru, Akito gets violent, ripping into the flesh of Tohru's cheek and leaving massive scars. It's a frightening experience, but Tohru's spirit remains strong. She and Momiji might have to wear bandages on their faces the next day, but that's not gonna stop them from enjoying the big fireworks finale to their vacation, nor is it putting a damper on Tohru's determination to save her friends from the curse.
New episodes of Fruits Basket Season 2 premiere Mondays at 1:30 p.m. EDT on Crunchyroll. Dubs of these episodes are released three weeks later on FUNimation.