As a result, even when they are being polite and curteous, they may offend for the simple reason that they do not see why the truth should hurt. Even if they understand the need for discretion, a common phenomena is not being able to fit in socially, and other people "feeling" a certain difference, a certain alieness to them. Some of the best scientists and mathematicians in the world have been drawn from the ranks of Aspergers, as well as a few philosophers: Einstein, Tesla, and Nietzsche are examples of Aspies. I refer you to the excellent "Asperger's syndrome: A guide for parents and professionals" by Tony Attwood for further information.

     A crucial point about Aspies is that they can possess a strong moral code and sense of justice. This does apply in Mikage's case, and is one of the reasons that Professor Nemuro falls from grace to become Mikage. Justice is a two-edged sword; it isn't altruism or charity. It means loyalty to those who have shown you kindness and are important to you. Consider how Nemuro reacts to Tokiko - he devotes himself to a project that did not mean much to him, visits her brother to cheer him up, and tries to offer her the best that he can. Justice, howeve, also means anathema to those that have done you wrong. The one hundred duelists were planning on discarding Nemuro after his work was complete. Akio seduces Tokiko infront of Nemuro's eyes. Very well then - kill the duelists and sabotage Akio's plan - just deserts delivered to both at once. Of course, Akio may well have forseen this and planned it - he probably did - but that is irrelevant; what is important is that Mikage believes that it fullfils this purpose.

     An objection here could be that this is not justice, as the punishment is way out of proportion to the crime. This is another Aspie characteristic - it isn't the action itself, so much as the fact that the action violates the principle in question. Injustice is injustice - degree is irrelevant.

     Aspies are also fairly egocentric. This does not mean that they are spiteful or vicious. It simply means that they do not really concern themselves with other people, and so are simply unaware of others needs. Even when an Aspie does concern himself with a human being, even in a genuine way, it can be difficult for them to realise what is expected of them. One case study of a wife of a man with Asperger's related how upon coming home from a trip, it would take a day or more before her husband realised that he should ask her about it. The key point is not that the Aspie does not love, but that he is unsure how to express or to act on that emotion. Consider how Nemuro tries to win Tokiko. His actions are noble, yet clumsy. He's no Akio, not by any standard. Later on, when Tokiko confronts him as the building burns, he genuinely does not see why she would be repulsed by his actions. His actions open the possibility for saving Mamiya - who's life should logically be more important to Tokiko, her brother's or the lives of one hundred strangers?

     Killing the students is also a product of Mikage's extreme intelligence. His genius allows him to see the logical conclusion of certain principles, but he has not challenged those principles themselves. To explain this fully: most moral traditions characterise good and evil as "selflessness vs. selfishness", or sacrificing yourself to others or sacrificing them to you. Now, if you are a man who does not naturally feel any connection to his peers - another Aspie characteristic - and if you have been told that the best way to help someone is based on anothers sacrifice, and if you have goals that mean a great deal to you - then you may well decide that sacrificing others to yourself is the logical, the correct, the right way to proceed. To phrase it more succinctly: If the only alternative to suicide is murder, what will you choose if the potential beneficiaries/victims are people you despise?

     Mikage is also an honest man. That is, he largely believes in the truth. What, exactly, do each of the Black Rose duellists recieve if not truth? Does Mikage not tell Utena the truth and not lie to her or decieve her (which, let's face it, isn't that hard to do)? And why does Utena go ballistic at him? It's not that he's manipulated so many - and I am using the word advisedly here. It's that he has shown Utena a very uncomfortable truth about the world, one which she does not want to acknowledge come hell or high water. She wants Mikage to be a Devil, she wants him to be the evil man manipulating others, causing them to fight her. What she doesn't want to face up to is the unpleasant fact that Wakaba does resent her, that roots of hatred can and do spread below the surface. Up until now, she has lived in a fantasy life of clear-cut boundaries: I am the prince, this is my loyal friend, this is my princess, Juri and Shiori should just make up, it's not that big a deal... etc. etc. ad nauseum

     Mikage blows a hole clean in that. And the worst bit is: he's right. Facts are facts, no matter how much one might wish it differently. Denying facts doesn't make them go away - and Utena finds this out at the end when her "Princess" runs her through with a sword.

     Of course, where Mikage's honesty breaks down is with himself. Yet another Aspie characteristic; they do occaisionally build fantasy worlds in which they live. Yet this isn't so much outright dishonesty as telling the truth about things that haven't happened. Mikage genuinely believes in his memories. Of course, like Utena, it is this failure to see reality as what it is that brings Mikage down at the last. Yet another similarity between the two master duellists.

     Mikage's relentless analysis and focus show itself in his dueling style. His dueling style is - pay careful attention - a combination of almost all the Student Councils styles: The initial broad strokes that Utena finds so hard to parry are Juri's style, the heavy sweeping strokes towards the end are Touga's. The exception is Nanami's style; perhaps this is because Nanami used two blades, while Mikage uses one. Or perhaps if you can combine the skills of Saionji, Touga, Miki and Juri, who the hell needs Nanami? Note too that he knows Utena's moves very well, and if it were not for certain people shoving their oar in, would certainly have cut the rose from her.

     One final Aspie characteristic that Mikage shows is emotional alienation. Some Aspies have said that they do not feel emotions as have emotions happen to them. Consider the scene when he is in the elevator contemplating the tear.

     In closing, some high-functioning Aspies do not consider their condition a defect, but rather the next step in human evolution. With the demand for mental work being higher than it has ever been, they might be right. So, one could conclude by saying: 'I've seen the future of the human race and it looks like Mikage!'

     While every Utena fan worth his salt knows the connection between Utena and Herman Hesse's Demian, virtually seems to know the extensive connection between the Black Rose Arc and Hesse's more extensive novel _Das Glassperlenspiel_, the Glass Bead Game.

     The game in question is described as being played by an elite group of intellectuals in the kingdom of Castalia, several centuries in the future. While it is set in the future, the entire book seems to have an air of timelessness, and the era isn't particular relevant. What is relevant is the nature of the game. _Das Glassperlenspiel_ is the ultimate game. The closest anyone can make of it is that it is extremely aesthetic, and steeped in allegory and parallel.

     Developing and playing a well wrought game is considered the height of perfection in Castalia. For example, one game might base itself on the mathematics of planetary motion, and draw connections to a Bach fugue. Furthermore, the game has strong religious elements, although "mystical" would perhaps be a better phrase. By proceeding through analogy, by manipulating the symbols the players hope to develop an insight into the totality, into God.

     The paralells with Utena should be obvious. Steeped in aesthetics? Saturated with symbolism and allegory? Manipulation and trying to reach God? Furthermore, in the two episodes involving Mikage's past, he is seen working at a blackboard, which is covered in the symbols of the I Ching, having trouble solving the formula. This exact scene is found in _Das Glassperlenspiel_, where Josef Knecht is working on the game that will make him Magister Ludi, the master of the game. I will not belabour the obvious parallel with Mikage.