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Gundam Wing Television Show:

In the anime New Mobile Report Gundam Wing, they first encounter each other in "Episode 02: The Gundam Deathscythe". They do not officially meet, but Trowa catches Catherine's eye when he shows his lack of fear when it came to the lion. In any case she observes him to be different from most. Nothing else is really to be noted.


"Episode 06: Party Night", Trowa returns in time for his performance with Catherine at the circus. It is obvious she has taken a shining to him when she distracts the Ring Master from getting onto Trowa for disappearing on them.

When they start their act, Catherine talks him through it only to find such isn't necessary. Instead she notices something no one else does. She realizes he is fearless and finds his eyes are dead and void. It is enough to shake her.

Her worry for him is apparent but he brushes it off. Still, she has come to notice him more than before. She tries to lighten the mood and tells him to smile more. Perhaps she is just taken to him because he is new and also so young. In any case, she does show she cares about him some.


In "Episode 07: Scenario to Bloodshed", despite they know each other little still, Catherine already trusts Trowa. When the Ring Master is livid about Trowa disappearing again, Catherine reassures him he will be back. Despite her confidence, she still shows concern about him when she is alone.


"Episode 09: Portrait of a Ruined Country" Trowa brings Wu Fei back to the circus to recuperate. Catherine checks on them. She makes sure they eat and acts somewhat motherly to them. As she leaves she simply makes observation of Trowa and what sort of friends he attracts.


Catherine continues her motherly ways when it comes to Trowa as seen in "Episode 12: Bewildered Warriors". She helps him take care of Heero for a month. Trowa still sees her the same way as always, but her affection for Trowa is still apparent. She is happy when she first hears Trowa laugh due to Heero.
Catherine also shows she really tries to make Trowa belong at the circus. At the end of the episode, Trowa decides to take responsibility of making a good act to impress OZ soldiers. Catherine easily backs him up with her approval and rests her hands on his shoulder affectionately. By now, he might see her as a friend or something like one. Perhaps he already gains the feeling of something like a home by then with the circus.


It is in "Episode 13: Catherine's Tears" does Trowa truly notice her feelings when it comes to him though. It took a long time, but she made her impact. He brings his Gundam out when his time to perform comes up. Catherine is the first to suspect something is wrong. Soon enough he works to destroy the OZ base. While everyone else evacuates, she remains.

She remembers the first time they performed together and realizes he intends to die there. Her feelings for him are strong. She asks him what he is doing. Trowa tells her to keep away. Whether this shows he cares for her just as much, I do not know. I doubt it though. His expression is stern right then.

Still, when a Leo pops up and aims for Catherine, he quickly acts to protect her. Whether it is due to his cause to protect lives or because by then he has come to see her as a friend is unknown. There is a chance though that by then he has protective feelings when it comes to her like how she does for him by then.

Catherine cares about him enough to not run even after that. She approaches his Gundam and in turn he opens the cockpit. She enters and punches him. She then lectures him. Even though he never knew his parents, dead or alive it would make them sad to know he cared so little about his life. Catherine made him realize that.

It would make her sad and others who know and like him sad should he die. She soon cries and he in turn comforts her. He cannot self-destruct. She has shown him she and the others care about him.

As a side note, in Japanese dramas slapping people you know usually only occurs between people who care about each other. In fact in one drama a man responded to a girl who told him he didn't care about her with, "Would I slap someone I don't care about?" Well, Catherine punched Trowa to bring him to his senses. I wonder if that reflects how much she worries, cares and is affected by him. This is semi-joking, mind you. Still though, she certainly and literally knocked sense into him.

After that he goes off with Heero and Catherine make sure to show her disapproval of such. She blames Heero for the cause of Trowa's "habits". Despite that she lets Trowa go with him.

When alone with Heero Trowa is still thinking of how he actually made a woman cry over him. He tells Heero he admires him because he is certain Heero wouldn't have been stopped by the tears of a woman. In that, it shows that Catherine truly has an affect on him now.

The Ring Master is sure Trowa is gone for good after that. Catherine believes otherwise. She will let him wander, but she is certain he will return. She says he is a "child of the circus". Again, no romantic feelings seem to show.


"Episode 25: Quatre vs. Heero" does leave question about how important Catherine is to Trowa. He doesn't think of her at all when he has a great chance of dying. Instead he focuses on Quatre. I only note this because of a "proof" of his affection for her is used later on in this uses a situation similar to this.


Trowa finally appears again in "Episode 35: The Return of Wufei". He wanders the streets under pouring rain. He has amnesia. To his luck he runs into Catherine. Now, what can be speculated upon is the possibility he was somehow drawn to her by the luck of fate. After all, Catherine is part of a traveling circus. Out of all the people looking for him, he winds up meeting Catherine first. Still, though, there is the unknown as to what sort of force could have caused this... the feeling of family and trust or something more.

Anyway, Catherine is obviously delighted to see him. It is when she realizes his state does she suddenly show shock and worry. While what her feelings for him are uncertain in terms of category, it is obvious she cares for him.

Later on it shows she brought him back to the circus. She decided to pose as his sister. She is still as protective of him as ever if not more so. Some of her feelings might simply due to hating war and having known Trowa for a while, but she really seems to feel a bond to him. Catherine doesn't like the fact he's lost his memories, but as she sees it, at least with such an issue he doesn't remember his time as a pilot and will not be involved with fighting.

One thing to note though is the fact she decided to pose as his sister. Her decision to do that could have been to gain his trust, since as he wasn't certain, he'd most certainly feel more at ease if she was indeed a relative.

Despite that she could have assured him she was a friend and knew him instead. Her words could have been backed up later after leading him back to the circus since others would have recognized him without her needing to inform them about Trowa.

Another option was to tell them they were in a relationship. He would have certainly trusted her just as much if she had told him they were a couple or even married. She didn't though. If she did have feelings for Trowa, she could have resisted such an opportunity because she knew to trick him into a relationship like that was wrong. On the other hand, she could have really seen him as similar to a younger brother.

Based on this, I am inclined to think the latter. During his time at the circus, before he lost his memories, she saw him as the little brother she never had the chance to have. She sees him as family. By telling him that they were siblings, she was able to have such a relationship with someone and Trowa would agree to it. Thus, her obvious affection for him in previous episodes can be determined as sisterly feelings.

At the end of the episode, Trowa hears the word Gundam. His suppressed mind tries to remember, but instead sends him into a spell. He feels cold in effect of his time drifting in space for so long. Catherine witnesses this and promises silently to protect Trowa.


In "Episode 36: Sanc Kingdom's Collapse", Duo discovers Trowa at the circus. When his act is over, Catherine and he rest. He looks to her for reassurance as to whether his performance was good. She reassures him. He replies, "Good..."

Observing such, he apparently wishes to please. Perhaps he wishes to please Catherine? He did look to her for approval. In turn, he obviously considers her important. The question is whether is it due to his belief she is his sister or because he naturally hopes to please others.

Well, Duo soon arrives backstage and finds them. He is unaware of Trowa's amnesia and approaches him as usual. Catherine soon pushes him away from Trowa. She keeps true to her promise. She intends to protect him from his painful memories and from war. With that she makes Duo go away. With how Trowa looked terrified and lost, he likely was grateful for Catherine's intervention.


Quatre learns Trowa is alive from Duo and goes to find him in "Episode 38: The Birth of Queen Relena". Trowa still doesn't remember his past and thus doesn't remember Quatre when they meet again. Catherine soon sees what is going on and goes into protection mode again and reacts to Quatre much like how she did with Duo.

She makes sure Trowa leaves when she confronts Quatre. She tells Quatre that Trowa is her little brother and is like family with the members of the circus there. Now, if Catherine wanted otherwise, why does she make sure others know of Trowa as her brother? She could have left that part out.

Anyway, she appeals to Quatre's softer side by telling him she doesn't want Trowa to suffer anymore. She believes he will suffer more should he go back to fighting. She then sends Quatre away, telling him Trowa is happy there with the circus.

Sadly, not all of her beliefs are true. Trowa sticks close and listens to their conversation. He wants to regain his memories. Also, he seems strongly bound to Quatre. Out of the familiar people he has encountered, his mind tries to remember Quatre the hardest. Trowa even feels he knows Quatre and knows his presence even feels familiar.

Why Quatre is noted in this is to compare importance. Catherine had to tell Trowa her name and he didn't respond to her presence intensely like he did when it came to Quatre. Why he responds to Quatre is unknown, but his connection is stronger with him.

In light of that, if one is to say Trowa loves Catherine romantically, what does that imply here when it comes to Quatre?

Well, later one the Colony they are visiting is attacked. Trowa is slow to respond when a light fixture comes loose. Catherine notices and throws herself at Trowa to push him out of the way, thus showing she is not above sacrificing herself for him. In turn Trowa begins to react to the familiar occurrences. He begins to feel coldness again and tells Catherine he is scared. Catherine responds to him compassionately and holds him in reassurance. Though she knows him not to be her little brother in truth, she treats him as though he is.

Eventually Quatre arrives and Catherine is livid as well as upset when she learns what is going on. She doesn't want to lose anymore people important to her. Trowa's protective instincts rise when she beings to cry. He no longer shows fear as her emotions gave him strength. He tells her he'll protect her, his sister. Remember all this time that is how he knows her.

Well, the Colony continues to be attacked. Trowa starts off to join Quatre. Catherine catches up to him and soon realizes his intentions. She tries to convince him not to go. He goes. Before he leaves though, he looks at her affectionately. He promises to come back to her, his sister. He then goes to Quatre.

So, upon viewing this episode, his time spent as her "little brother" has really opened him up to her affections to the point he shows her affection as well. Still, no romantic feelings are indicated by either, thankfully. They do see each other as siblings right now, you know.


Trowa battles in a Mobile Suit out in space in "Episode 39: Trowa's Return to the Battlefield". There was another argument by fans of the pairing of Trowa and Catherine when it comes to this episode. The situation used is similar to the previously mentioned episode 25. It is noted that when Trowa was about to be shot down by a mobile doll the word he utters is Catherine's name. The argument notes it is odd for a person to "call out fondly for their sister at the second of their demise".

The thing is Trowa still doesn't have his memory back. Also, he was certain he would die and thus would be unable to fulfill his promise to return, which was worded, "I promise I'll come back alive, Sister." He thought of her that moment with regret that he wouldn't be able to keep his promise. How the word "fondly" came to mind is also beyond me since there was nothing fond sounding about his tone.

Well, after that Quatre manages to save him, thus Trowa regains his chance to keep his promise to his "sister". Therefore, romantic connotations do not seem to truly exist in this scene.


In "Episode 43: Target: Earth" Catherine and the circus are on Colony L3's C421. She tends to the lion Trowa usually looks after. She notes the lion must miss him. One could speculate she is merely reflecting her feelings. Even so though, what she feels for Trowa never give indications of romantic.

Eventually the forsaken members of OZ use the Colony she is on as a shield. When Trowa learns Catherine is on that Colony he soon takes action. He uses what Gundam suit is available, which is Wing Zero. He arrives in front of the Colony and fights off OZ's Taurus Dolls. While the ZERO System begins to affect his brain, he keeps thinking of his purpose there. His thoughts are, "Please be all right, Sister..." Therefore, his main reasons are fueled by wanting to protect his family, specifically the one he knows to be his sister.

The Zero System shows him multiple possibilities in his future. While the Zero System shows Catherine as part of his future, it is in semblance of the chances of him killing her during his battle and not that she is his future. Still, he is horrified at the image he saw his sister killed by his own hand after all.

Well, with Quatre's help he eventually gets a grip and his memories return. He first sees when Wing Zero shot its twin buster rifle at Heero for less than a second. He remembers his time looking after Heero for less than a second. Then he sees the time Catherine hit him for less than a second. Finally he sees the time he first met Quatre for three seconds. Slowly, everything becomes clear for him again.

Again it is noted of his reactions. In his memories, his memory of Quatre was the longest. Heero was the second longest if you combine his memory of protecting Heero from Wing Zero. Catherine's is shortest. While proving nothing officially, it is interesting.

Nevertheless, looking at how he remembered those times when thinking of the people he wants to protect... it gives question to whether it gives indication that they are the three people he wants to protect most.

Well, now that his memories have been found, he remembers his priorities. He tells Quatre, "Let's go. Catherine's waiting."

Some note the fact that he goes back to calling her Catherine rather than "Sister" once his memory returns as being significant as to how he sees her. In Japan relatives are given titles that more or less states who they are in the family, in this case someone would address their sister as "Sister" rather than by their given name. In turn when a man calls a woman by her name in Japan he sees her as a woman and not as his relative.

While, yes, when he goes back to calling her Catherine it shows he no longer saw her as his sister but as a woman he cares for, it doesn't necessarily mean he has affections beyond friendship for her. Sure, he couldn't bring himself to call her "Sister" anymore, but why would he? He went back to how he was and he knew that they weren't known to be siblings. They didn't grow up together and neither knew of each others family history. Thus, I still find the reason to be ambiguous. It can still go either way.

Well, the Colony is saved. Despite that, Trowa doesn't automatically go to Catherine. It is actually Catherine who goes to merely look up at the Gundams. Still, Catherine seems to accept Trowa's fighting more. Her thoughts are,

"I believe in you. Don't let this miserable war continue any longer. And somehow... create a world of peace."


In "Episode 49: The Final Victor" Trowa talks to Dorothy as he works to disable White Fang's Mobile Dolls. His words are,

"As I fought, I slowly killed my heart. That's why my heart has been empty for a long time. Perhaps as a human I have no worth, but I must stay alive."

"Because I have a place to go back to."

Well, he still thinks he has no worth, but he lives because others want him to. In light of that it is hard to determine if he lives simply because Catherine wants him to live or because he doesn't want Catherine hurt should he not live, which in turn shows he deeply cares for her. It is likely the latter, but still such is not certain.


So far there are some ambiguous scenarios that might hint at something more than sibling-based feelings between the two. The series mainly points to family when it comes to the two of them though. Trowa mainy speaks of a place to belong to as well as call home. Catherine speaks of family. All possible romantic connotations meanwhile are extremely vague and appear to be the sort only seen when one is looking.




Sources:
Trowa & Cathrine: The Promise of Love. Debunking Sibling Belief: Episode 39 and name addressing.



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