A man that knows how to please women
"There's a part of love that you can't control."
Utena realizes she is falling in love with Akio, an engaged man, and struggles with the idea that she is betraying both her prince and Akio’s fiancée. Akio himself moves in to make his relationship with Utena a physical one, and all the while, Anthy looks on with an inscrutable expression.
"The Barefoot Girl" provides examples of:
- First Kiss: The episode starts with a discussion of this trope between Wakaba and Tatsuya (who's now officially Social Circle Filler.) Utena, listening in from a distance, think to herself that she must have had her first kiss with her prince, but based on her reaction this thought is causing her pangs of conscience.
- Glass Slipper: Utena's shoe ends up getting left behind in Akio's car. When Akio goes on a drive with Touga later, Touga finds the shoe and likens it to a fairytale princess' glass slipper.
- Happy Marriage Charade: Kanae and Akio aren't married yet, but in her appearance this episode, Kanae is displeased with him from the moment she walks in — there is trouble in paradise.
- I Kiss Your Foot: Akio pays a lot of attention to Utena's foot when he puts the moves on her; though the visual language of foot-kissing is there, he doesn't actually kiss her foot. As deeply uncomfortable as that is, it gets even worse when he comes on to Mrs. Ohtori in the exact same way. What would be an act of submission in most cases is actually a sign of dominance here, showing how he uses sex to secure compliance from the women around him.
- Inconvenient Attraction: Utena is conflicted about her feelings for Akio, certain that it is a betrayal of her prince, and of Anthy, and it is morally wrong since Akio is promised to someone else. But her resistance, symbolized by three lit candles, are no match for his charm and subtle encouragement.
- Involuntary Dance: The shadow play is based on the concept of The Red Shoes, but wearing the shoes and dancing until you die is not presented as a moral failing, precisely. Instead, it is part of a False Dichotomy — the play has no middle ground between complete indulgence and complete abstinence.
- Ironic Echo: Wakaba cheerfully calls "Ba-ha-hai!" when she rides off with Akio, and Utena repeats it glumly once they've left. The echo reaches the level of this trope when Anthy does an ominous Callback to it later in the episode, her glasses gleaming as she waves goodbye to Utena and her brother. Anthy knows that for her, there is danger ahead.
- It's All About Me: Kanae's mother is having an affair with Akio, and she makes it clear that her husband's failing health means nothing to her.
- Mrs. Robinson: Mrs. Ohtori, who shows up to try and remind Akio that his role as acting chairman depends on her family's connections and his engagement to Kanae. Akio quickly turns the tables and subtly reminds her that she's fucking her daughter's future husband while her own husband is sick and possibly dying.Akio: By the way, how is the chairman?
Mrs. Ohtori: [with barely constrained frustration] ...who cares about that man?! - Never Heard That One Before: Utena is a little snippy about Wakaba paying a visit just in time for tea. Wakaba pays Akio the exact same compliments that Utena did moments before she showed up, and Utena snarks after each one about how she just just said the same thing.
- Pragmatic Villainy: While basically everything that Akio does around Utena falls under this trope, Akio's decision to indulge Wakaba is a particularly strong example. It fuels Utena's jealousy and gives her a false sense of security around him.
- Real Men Cook: Both Utena and Wakaba comment about how rare it is to find a man who can bake a cake. Akio breezily suggests they should save the praise until they sample it. The audience never learns how they reacted to it.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Akio uses his authority to bail Utena out of another lecture from the vice principal and the guidance councilor, who both fawn over him. As he ushers Utena away, he politely discourages the teachers from hassling Utena in the future.
- Sexy Discretion Shot: When Akio has sex with Mrs. Ohtori, who is Ready for Lovemaking, the camera shows only his removing her shoe and falling on her knees just before the curtains close down.
- Ship Tease: After Utena hurts herself, she leans on Anthy as they walk to the infirmary together. Anthy puts a hand on Utena's chest to steady her. Utena almost confides her recent troubles to Anthy, but then Akio pulls up in his car and kills the moment.
- Too Unhappy to Be Hungry: Anthy points out that Utena didn't eat much at dinner. Utena replies that she didn't have much of an appetite. Considering how conflicted she feels about sharing a kiss with Akio right before they went in for dinner, it's not surprising.
- Twisted Ankle: While playing basketball, Utena is distracted by the sight of Akio's silhouette watching her from a distance. It causes her to come down from a jump awkwardly and injure herself.
