02x01 - Those Newly Come of Age

[bunniefuu]

That noise just now...

It sounded like it came
from this way, didn't it?

The door to the hallway
leading to the entrance is open.

To think that someone
who would violate the rules

of Shadows House might
be in the children's wing.

This is the Star Bearer Barbara.

Is someone there?

Show yourself, and come quietly!

A scorch?!

Mistress Barbara, please stand back.

Barbie, be careful not to
let it get in your mouth.

What is this? There's so much of it.

Those Newly Come of Age

All living dolls must gather
in the great hall immediately!

What? I wonder what could have happened.

Are you certain it wasn't a veiled doll?

I've never seen a doll like that.

And lately, the number
of scorches has been increasing.

I must inform Edward.

That transgressor?

He is still the warden
of the children's wing.

Is there any possibility
that it was Lord Edward?

He would hardly repeat
the same transgression.

He's only just received his
punishment for the prior incident.

Entering the children's wing unbidden,

and receiving only a stern caution for it...

It would be good if this
made him a little more docile.

It doesn't matter who it is.

No trespassers will be tolerated.

It may have been Warden Edward,

but the ones who keep watch over
the children's wing are us, the Star Bearers.

Whether they are intruders or traitors,

we will eliminate every single one.

All is for the sake of the Shadows family.

What is all this?

Hurry up and get in line!

Stop dawdling!

Earlier, a suspicious figure wearing
a robe appeared in the great hall.

Anyone who knows anything must report it.

If you fail to report, you will
be dealt severe punishment.

That is all!

Hey, Sunshine.

Y-Yes?

You wouldn't happen to be involved
again this time, would you?

If you are hiding something,

it won't end well for you.

Master Robe?

Yes, because it seems the
suspicious figure was wearing a robe.

Is everyone calling it that?

No, I gave it that name!

If it happened to be a shadow,
I didn't want to be rude,

so I added "Master" to make "Master Robe."

I see.

A suspicious figure appearing
in the children's wing...

It couldn't possibly be Edward, could it?

Perhaps he hasn't given up yet.

Don't worry. You have Kate with you.

Yes, Mistress!

Still, to call all of you out
in the middle of the night...

Even considering the urgency,
that was quite high-handed of her.

Yes, I was surprised.

Especially given that you and Kate

have passed our debut
and so have come of age.

But the Star Bearers stand above us,
even though we've come of age, right?

Yes, that's true, but still...

It doesn't mean that they're
allowed to do anything they please.

Oh! And Barbie also...

Did she say something to you?

Yes.

She said, "You wouldn't happen to be
involved again this time, would you?"

"If you are hiding something,
it won't end well for you."

You were called out so late at night,

and told something so hateful...

But I...

I was happy that you were
waiting for me, Mistress Kate!

Then allow me to say it again.

Good night, Emilico.

Good night, Mistress Kate!

Barbara's surveillance will only
grow more strict from now on.

Kate has few allies.

Ricky and Lou's brainwashing
likely hasn't been broken yet.

The only one who has been
completely released from it is Shaun.

Lovely rose, Kate.
Gerbera in full bloom, Louise.

Today we shall once again
begin our orientation.

You shall be taught how
to live a proper life in the main house.

Yes, thank you.

Yes, indeed!

Louise is a favorite of Sarah's.
They are difficult to approach.

Your movements are quite stiff.

There's no need to be so formal here.

That's right!

Becoming someone who is of use
to our Lord Grandfather

is a goal all children should strive to achieve.

And you've come of age.

You can now freely move around
the main house and look where you like!

Every day should be full of brilliant color!

That is Maryrose's personal preference.

Study in the library!

Admire the plants in the conservatory!

Nurture your heart in the music room.

And in the dance hall,
Maryrose herself will instruct you.

To improve oneself is a child's job.

Enjoy it.

Come, let us trust each other,

in our lives here at Shadows House!

Well, that seems fun, doesn't it?

Would it be wrong
to read books in our rooms?

That would be fine.

In the room for each pastime,
however, there is a notebook,

and the rules say to record
the time you've spent there.

If you do not make enough entries,

you will be seen as a worthless shadow
with no intent to improve yourself.

She spoke of freedom and pastimes...

But this means that we will not be afforded
much time to move around on our own.

Everything is set up so that even children
who know nothing can keep watch on each other.

Kate must tell John this.

John—

Have you finished your orientation as well?

Yes.

We've covered the main points.

That is splendid.

Both John and Patrick are acting coldly.

Could they have been re-indoctrinated?

In that case, a letter would only
bring Kate unnecessary trouble.

It would expose my rebellion to the enemy.

Could Kate even pass them letters...

when we're surrounded by so many people...

Are we already under observation?

Since we're in different groups,
it won't be easy to speak with them.

Kate would like to ask after their
current situation at the very least.

To keep the other shadows
from becoming suspicious,

it must be a casual conversation.

If Kate were Emilico, she would
simply ask and that would be all.

At times like this, Kate envies her.

Kate! Regarding our engagement!

John wanted to speak more on the subject.

What are you talking about?

Back at the debut...

Kate is glad that John is an honest
and straightforward idiot.

What?

If we're speaking of engagements,
shouldn't you have proposed to Louise first?

Just look at how beautiful her face is!

You're such an idiot.

Back then, our ranks hadn't
even been decided yet!

And it's not like John picked
her based on her face.

Idiot—?

You are the last person
Louise wants to hear that from!

Louise would refuse you anyway!

All of you! Stop interrupting John!

Basically, Kate,

John wanted to say that there's
no hurry for you to reply.

John plans to take this time to show
you everything that is good about him.

So... for now, if we could just...

Honestly. All right, Kate understands.

What a relief that John is still John.

It seems that everyone was just nervous.

You're all so ridiculous.

Go ahead and lose your
hearts in a love affair.

In that time, Patrick will
become an outstanding shadow.

John...

Ah, so you're all here.

Star Bearer Susanna...

We'll be having a special lesson.

Those who were brilliant and are now
newly come of age, this way please.

Just our peer group?

This may be an important chance.

Susanna simply loves this lesson!

Dear little Kate and John and Louise
all seem like they will be brilliant,

so I can't help but be excited!

"Dear little"?

All of you children are so adorable!
Susanna will pat you all!

Stop it! We're not babies!

It's a habit of Susanna's.

Emilico, that expression is not
correct for Kate's right now.

She's a strange one.

But we can't afford to relax our guard.

We must proceed in such a way
that Susanna will not discover us.

Patrick wasn't invited
to this special lesson.

And, to be honest, I can't
read what Louise is thinking.

Kate is a little worried,

but it seems John is the only
one to whom she can pass a note.

A special lesson?

Could it be something about soot powers?

To think that all of Master Patrick's peers
have awakened their powers...

What you have just seen of John's powers...
Do not ever speak of it.

During the debut,
I was ordered to keep quiet.

I want to tell Master Patrick about it!

But...

The rules of Shadows House are absolute.

From here on, the living dolls
will take a different path.

Susie! Susanna will leave them to you!

This is the training room.

We will now begin a lesson on soot powers.

As you are able to control soot,
you may consider yourselves chosen shadows.

May Kate ask a question?

What is the reason for hiding soot powers
from those who have not awakened them?

Those are the rules here.

Right now, our Lord Grandfather wants
to find those who excel at soot powers.

Lord Grandfather wants...?

I suppose I shouldn't try to ask why.

Let us use our powers
to polish ourselves even further,

right here in this training room.

Furthermore, this place collects soot.

It's two birds with one stone!

The soot from shadows is treated
and turned into soot coal.

It's a very important source
of energy for Shadows House.

Large quantities of soot are produced
whether one has powers or does not,

which can increase your
value here tremendously.

Each shadow has a different soot volume.

A different amount of soot
they carry within themselves.

It isn't as if we can
produce infinite amounts.

Controlling soot in particular
consumes tremendous amounts of soot.

It's important to take note of
how much soot you can use in a day.

Keeping it inside will only
cause you suffering,

so make sure to come here
regularly to release it.

Shadows really are amazing!

And even among them, John is amazing!

That's right! Let us give praise!

Dear little John! Dear little John!

And next, we'll talk
about your power's range.

Look at this.

John has fallen asleep.

Perhaps a practical lesson
rather than theory.

Dear little John!

Susanna has an assignment for you.

Destroy that wall from where you're standing.

Destroy?

Susanna has heard about your power, John.

They say it's amazing.

Kate! This will be dangerous. Stand back!

Say something to Louise, too!

Sure, and Louise.

Huh?

John is super weak!

Soot has a range, you see.

The stronger a physical power is,
the shorter the range tends to be.

In John's case,

the furthest he can maintain solidity
is about two meters.

You knew that and made me
do it anyway, didn't you?

Now, what is all of this?

Louise can't do anything
like this with soot.

John's has a physical effect,

but yours, Louise,
works on the mind, doesn't it?

You're using soot to control
your face, Lou's, loyalty.

Though, it won't work on shadows.

Considering the coffee,

I'm not surprised a power like that exists.

That type of power also has a range,

so if you're too far apart,
the effect will weaken.

Once you are able to control soot,
the effect should stabilize.

Next, Kate.

You have a physical type, too,
but it appears to be different from John's.

Kate, this is your task.

Move the pen from the cart on the right
to the table on the left.

They're very far away,
but I will prove that I can do it.

John, you'll be in the way where
you are, so move over there.

Louise, you go over there,

and Kate will go... here.

No, a little more to the left.

How precise!

Susanna simply wants
to see how much you can do, so...

It's all right if you fail, you know?

You can move objects without touching them?

Kate doesn't have much strength,

but Susanna sees that she
has precise control at long distances.

This is difficult...

That's John's fiancée for you!

It requires intense concentration.

Please refrain from saying such odd things.

S-Sorry...

You said there was no hurry
for Kate to reply, didn't you?

In that case, please don't use
that word at every chance you get.

John just... wanted to compliment you.

Oh, she's angry with him!

The words that make you happy
are not words that make Kate happy.

Now, now, don't argue.

Kate passed it to him!

As Kate worked on her task
with her right hand,

she used soot emitted from her left hand
to slip a letter into John's pocket.

Kate also arranged our
positioning accordingly...

so that it would be in Susanna's
and the veiled dolls' blind spots!

Emilico...

Are you hungry?

We will be provided a light meal soon.

It's a privilege for those
who have come of age.

Shaun, will you bring it here?

Oh! I'll help, too!

You're such a good girl.

But it will only require one of you.

Susanna wonders what you passed to him.

Allow Susanna to demonstrate
the basics of soot powers.

Your senior, Susanna, is capable
of much more advanced skills than you are.

Hmm, this is...

Well, Susanna can't pat you
for this, can she?

Do you have some kind of secret,

Kate?

Oh, dear. Releasing so much soot like that...

But it's no good, you know.

It disappeared!

It's just like a magic trick!

The letter Kate slipped
into John's pocket...

No, before worrying about that...

Kate is certain she passed it
without Susanna seeing.

How was Kate discovered?

Allow Susanna to ascertain the contents.

Oh, no!

Emilico, your finger is bleeding.

I'm sorry. I'm very clumsy, you see.

But an injury like this won't
cause any problems for me.

I'm on the first-aid team.

Wait right there. I'll bring the first-aid kit.

Oh, I'll clean this up.

I'll fetch a dustpan.

Thank you!

Oh! I can speak privately with Lou now!

Breaking this dish was very lucky!

Lou...

Aren't you sad that Rum failed?

Don't fret over trivial matters.

But, but, we living dolls need
to look out for one another, right?

The Shadows House rules are strange.

Don't fret over trivial matters.

Everything is for the sake of Shadows House.

Lou... Do you hate me now?

What are you talking about? Of course not.

Emilico, you suddenly
say the strangest things.

I'm going to tidy this up.
The injured should rest.

How amusing this is, Kate!

What's written here is truly amusing!

However...

What need was there for you
to pass it to him in secret, I wonder?

You have taught Kate something.

Everyone, look closely.

There is a thin sheet of soot
enveloping Kate, and you as well.

It must have been there since
we entered the training room.

Huh? Whoa, you're right!

This is so creepy!

Could it be that Susanna's soot
has a sense of touch, like hands do?

Susanna, you asked what Kate passed him.

Does that mean that you
didn't know it was a letter?

To think that a student
would test Susanna's powers.

Kate is very sorry, Susanna,

for doing something so insolent.

Star Bearers truly are impressive.

That is absolutely the correct answer!

Susanna loves little ones with a
deep desire to learn about soot!

Susanna will pat you lots and lots!

By the way, this is where Susanna hid the scalpel.

That's scary!

It's just like a magic trick!

Somehow, Kate managed
to smooth everything over.

Oh, Kate.

Are you absolutely certain you
want to pass this to John?

If you've seen Kate's
behavior up to this point,

Kate is sure you understand.

Oh, well, yes. Susanna supposes that's true.

It was a letter to John?

From Kate?

Read it in your room after
you've calmed your heart.

Susanna will pat you later.

What?

Get out!

Were we just given orders by a living doll?

Barbie is special.

Barbara is sometimes unable
to speak, you see.

Is this all you've got?

And you say you're planning
to help support the Shadows family?

John doesn't understand any of this.

She's helping her emit soot.

Poor Barbara can't control her soot.

Susanna told you that emitting large amounts

of soot greatly increases
one's value, didn't she?

That is the reason Barbara
is the leader of the children's wing.

Barbara emits sixty percent of the soot
Shadows House produces in a day.

Sixty percent?!

More than all the soot produced
by every other shadow combined?

With that volume of soot,

simply containing it must be very painful.

However...

Barbara, who serves
the Shadows family so earnestly,

is incredibly beautiful.

We should all continue to train.

I am certain that anyone can become
someone of service to our Lord Grandfather.

We did it, Mistress Barbara!

With this, I am now officially
Mistress Barbara's face!

Next Time

The Best Star Bearer

Next time,

"The Best Star Bearer."