02x04 - Potential Suspects

[bunniefuu]

In the face of sadness, we shall smile

To live is to be a marionette

Once your heart gets into the swing...

Would you like a coffee?





I can't seem to dance very well

Pain and resentment, and sadness, too...

Mix them, knead them...

And then a good night kiss

Shall we Dance? We shall dance

Despair and desire. This is the life!

Shadow Life!

Don't puzzle over things unnecessarily

Let's become one

How nice [How nice] How nice [How nice]

Humans... Being human... It's so nice

Potential Suspects

Barbara, how is your health?

It poses no difficulty.

And we are in no position
to be discussing it.

The source of the phantoms
is definitely the soot pipes.

As we suspected, the door
to the soot-crushing room was left open,

and both of the veiled
dolls assigned full time

to the soot pipes have soot sickness.

Soot is sent here through the pipes
that run through every room,

so a lot of scorches come through here.

After being set loose,
they combined to form a phantom.

After a great cleaning,

the scorches are sent to Lord Grandfather's
wing to be crushed and disposed of.

Given time, scorches will regenerate,
so it's done before that happens.

They chose the precise time when there'd
be the maximum number of scorches.

This is your fault, Susie!

Entrusting the coffee to others
was the worst possible choice!

Susanna...

The one who favored the twins
was you, wasn't it?

Susie simply abided by your opinion.

If we're pointing fingers,

then you and Barbie
bear responsibility as well.

Neither of you were there at all!

Let's not fight.

Not among fellow Star Bearers.

Please excuse us.

Gil and Eve from the first-aid team,

here to report!

Two living dolls are seriously ill.

Ten have contracted light soot sickness.

Teams in which all members are healthy are

the first-aid team, the research team,

Doug's team, and Belle's team.

And the one who brought the
scorches and started it all...

Rosemary. What is her testimony?

She is still unable to speak.

We will return to the washing room.

Will we report this to Edward?

We couldn't possibly.

We allowed the coffee carafes
to be broken by rebellious forces.

A great number of living dolls
have been stricken with soot sickness.

We won't be able to grant them
any coffee for an entire week.

And we don't know the motives
behind these crimes.

It is unlikely that we will be
able to remain Star Bearers.

And once our Star Bearer status is gone,

there is no guaranteeing
that we'll be allowed to live.

No, what is even more unforgivable...

is that as Star Bearers who watch
over the children's wing,

we were entrusted with the
incredibly precious coffee,

and we have betrayed
Lord Grandfather's love for us!

And that is precisely why we
must put things right ourselves.

First, we will quell the
chaos in the children's wing!

The twins will be punished immediately.

How we deal with Rosemary will be decided
once we've heard what she has to say.

And that troublesome intruder...

Blast it! This is infuriating!

Before word of this reaches the adults,

we must come to some consensus
about how to deal with it.

Future patrols of the soot pipes
will have to be more stringent.

But why did this phantom disturbance
occur in the first place?

Someone is trying
to bring down the Star Bearers.

The twin Belles were merely expendable
perpetrators, don't you think?

We will discover the true culprit
and dispense with them.

It is just as Edward said after all.

Be wary of Kate.

Everyone has been called
to the Star Bearers' meeting room.

Has there been some sort of development?

Everyone, we have resolved this affair.

The recent incident was caused by
Isabelle and Mirabelle's living dolls.

And as for the reports of the
much-rumored mysterious figure...

In this matter as well,

we have confirmed that those same
living dolls are the culprits!

As such, the two pairs

have been assigned soot-pipe
cleaning as punishment.

This puts an end to this matter.

Any further talk of phantoms
will not be tolerated!

They've been sent to the soot pipes!

That's what they deserve!

Such discerning judgment.

That's the Star Bearers for you!

Cleaning soot pipes...

For a shadow, that is the ultimate disgrace.

Indeed.

And after repeatedly
contracting soot sickness,

the twin's living dolls will end
up destroyed, don't you think?

You are dismissed!

So the twins have been given a punishment,
and the matter brought to a close...

Kate,

do you have anything to say
regarding the phantom incident?

What do you mean by this question?

I believe we were not
to speak of it anymore.

What an impertinent attitude.

Just answer the Star Bearers'
questions honestly.

Kate has nothing to say.

You don't suspect Kate of something, do you?

And why would you think that?

Could it be because you've done
something suspicious?

Now, Oliver thinks highly of you.

It's only that, at this rate,

Edward will get angry with—

Quiet, Oliver!

Edward?

So that's what this is.

He's putting pressure on the Star Bearers.

Does he still suspect Kate of rebellion?

He's quite persistent.

Emitting soot like that...

means you must be feeling guilty
about something. Right?

Speak of what you know while you still can.

In short, there was never any chance

the Star Bearers would think highly of me.

You seem to be quite at your wit's end.

Kate is aware that Edward hates her.

He went to the trouble
of committing an offense

and came to the children's wing...

All because he could not stand
the outcome of Kate's debut.

Doesn't this seem like
an unjustified grudge?

Your plan is to frame Kate as the culprit
to curry favor with Edward

and send her to the soot pipes, is it not?

If you think that will resolve
everything, then you're naïve.

The current Star Bearers...

Do you know how you're thought
of in the children's wing?

They say that compared
to Christopher, you're all far inferior.

You little...

Haven't you ever looked
at yourselves objectively?

You may have been anxious about
living up to Christopher's example,

but in reality, all you've done
is whatever Edward says.

You are only letting him manipulate you.

The fact that you have your eyes on Kate...

means that you think that the twins
aren't the only culprits, correct?

If Kate were in your place...

She would be able to truly
resolve this matter!

We will overlook your intemperate
comments about the Star Bearers.

You will not be granted
any special authority.

Refrain from any unpardonable actions
which might set a bad example for others.

If you are able to discover the true
perpetrator in spite of all this,

you shall receive great recognition.

Blast it! This is infuriating!

Why must everything be so troublesome?

If this fails, then we need only point
to Kate as the culprit.

No, Benjamin.

That is the problem.

Soot stalactites?

The mark of one with high soot volume.

Shadows with high quantities
of soot cannot be dealt with carelessly.

Oh, it's all so troubling.

Is Kate a traitor...

or is she...

You did it, Mistress Kate!

If you can find the culprit,

you'll be so much closer
to becoming a Star Bearer!

You're right.

Persuading them went well.

Oh!

I need to go to the toilet!

I won't be back for a while!

Earlier, I snapped

and ended up saying all
of those things to the Star Bearers.

The future seems bleak.

Kate needs to think things through.

What was the meaning behind
the phantom disturbance?

Is it someone who has a grudge against
the Belles, who have now been punished?

Or could it be a grudge
against the Star Bearers?

Was it arranged by someone who wants
the position for him or herself?

But could it really be so simple a motive?

Someone is trying to fly the flag of rebellion against Shadows House...

There's someone other than Kate.

The most important facts are
that the coffee carafes were broken...

and the sighting of the mysterious figure.

The individual that Emilico
and the others call "Master Robe."

The Star Bearers concluded
that the Belles were responsible...

but it seems worth
considering the possibility...

that it was someone
in the children's wing...

If that's the case,

then it would have to be a non-Star-Bearer
who has been here a relatively long time.

Emilico told me...

that it was an incredibly
large phantom.

Could it be the doing of a shadow
with a high soot volume?

It couldn't be...

At that moment, Barbara just
happened to not be present.

They say that she can't control her soot.

But if it was Barbara,

then she may have had other reasons
for entrusting this to Kate.

And if we're speaking
of high soot volume, John...

No, it couldn't be him.

Mind control powers
can't manipulate shadows,

but it might be possible
to control scorches.

Isabelle, Mirabelle, Louise...

This is no good.

Everyone is starting to seem suspicious.

There is still far too little information.

Speaking of which,

it might be worth reviewing
Emilico's "don't fret" notebook.

Emilico?

Yes, Mistress?

That was quick!

Were you back there this whole time?

Hm?

Emilico, what is this map?

That is a map of the main house
that Mia drew for me.

It was very helpful

on our late-night patrols after
the first phantom disturbance!

Mia contracted soot sickness, didn't she?

Yes.

Shall we pay a visit to see how she is faring?

May we, really?

Yes.

And there we might find some sort of lead.

Open this! Open it now!

Open it immediately!

It's soot sickness! Isabelle...

...and Mirabelle's faces have...

That was fast.

It hasn't even been ten minutes
since you entered.

To the washing room!

Now, continue!

Wait! I can't yet!

Do you intend to spend
more than a year cleaning?

No! I don't want to go back!

This place is in quite an uproar.

Do you require aid?

No.

We're on an investigation under
special orders from the Star Bearers.

Please allow us to speak with the
living dolls who are being cleansed.

Huh?

They said they weren't giving
you any special authority.

Yes, well, the Star Bearers
will likely forgive Kate this much.

Mia?

Mia, are you all right?

I tricked you!

Thank you.

Did you come to see how I'm doing?

Yes!

Honestly, I've had enough of
being seriously ill!

They keep telling me
to rest, just to be safe.

All while Mistress Sarah waits in her rooms.

Oh, and listen to this!

Drinking the water was really—

Mistress Kate?! Please, forgive me!

It's quite all right.

The important thing is
that you're all right.

Kate was told that you once
drew a map for Emilico.

Kate apologizes for taking
so long to thank you.

Oh! No, it's fine!

But to have another phantom wreak havoc...

Mia, on the day of the disturbance,

did you notice anything strange?

I was attacked by scorches
almost immediately, so...

Honestly!

Thanks to Doug, I wasn't able
to help with the phantom at all.

That's Rosemary's voice!

It's another fit!

Eve, administer the remaining two sets
at three-minute intervals.

We haven't introduced
ourselves yet, have we?

Evelyn, in charge of cleansing.

Kate.

You want to hear
from the patient, is that right?

But that is not possible at the moment.

She's being given the very best treatments.

We can only hope that she doesn't break.

Rosemary is sure to return
to her former self.

Yes!

I trust that she will!

Of greater concern

is that Rosemary was the
instigator of the incident...

and how the Star Bearers will
ultimately deal with her.

If we find the real culprit,

then she won't be disposed of, right?

And neither will the Belles!

What did you think
of Mia's condition earlier?

She was as spirited as ever!

Yes.

It isn't to be underestimated.

Kate had hoped that the brainwashing
effects of the coffee might have weakened.

But that doesn't seem to be the case.

Coffee has been accumulating
within her over a long period of time.

This brief interruption produced no change.

Yes, she was just as she always is.

That's right!

The Star Bearers' meeting room
was on the third floor, right?

The map that Mia drew for me only
showed up to the second floor.

True.

And it only showed the main house.

That's it.

We will take this as an opportunity to
create a floor plan of the children's wing.

This is the site of the incident.

If a shadow took advantage of

the disturbance to hide somewhere
and control the Belles,

it is unlikely that they would be noticed.

Now that Kate thinks about it,

Kate's room is being watched.

To be treated as the culprit
in the face of that...

It's too much, isn't it?

It really is!

Oh, it's Kate!

We heard that your face played
an important role in the great cleaning.

That's impressive.

Oh. Well, thank you.

You guys.

Don't make a living doll's
work the topic of conversation.

Oh!

It is unbefitting of a shadow.

Please don't tattle on us
to the Star Bearers!

They complimented me.

Kate is happy that there are some
who hold Emilico in high regard.

Have you been well, Kate?

Why are you coming from a place like that?

That's John's room!

Calling out loudly
to stop you would be bad, right?

It's better not to do anything
that might draw attention.

If you think that what you
just did won't draw attention,

then Kate has nothing more to say.

Interesting.

And impressive as always, Kate!

Right!

John will lend his strength
to help solve this case!

I'm so happy to have you
with us, Master John!

What?

You didn't move your mouth at all!

I didn't want anyone to think that a face was
speaking on its own while we were outside,

so I practiced!

Incredible!

Shaun, John wants you to do that, too!

John has no idea what you're saying!

Mistress Kate, while
we're speaking of this...

On the day of the phantom disturbance,

I spotted a suspicious figure.

Was it, perhaps, the robed figure?

Yes.

Ricky and I chased it,
but it escaped us almost immediately.

Is someone watching us?

It's possible that they're monitoring us.

Those two are engaged
or something, aren't they?

To go on a date at a time like this...

They seem quite sure of themselves.

John really is just an
encumbrance, isn't he?

Mistress Kate!

Kate is exhausted!

But this is an impressive result,
wouldn't you say?

As always, you're amazing, Mistress Kate!

The areas we weren't able to access were...

the ramparts and the
Star Bearers' residential wing.

Most of it was locked.

And we haven't yet gone to the area
where Star Bearers are often found,

the third floor of the main house.

Huh?

Speaking of the third floor
of the main house...

It has an external stairway connected to it.

What? Are you going there?

Now?

Heights are meant to be reached, right?

Wow!

What a wonderful view!

This is dangerous.

So, part of the third floor is outdoors.

It's fun seeing the map get filled in!

Wait... The three of you...

You're too quick.

Mistress Kate!

Kate!

John will lend you a hand.

It's too late now!

You used soot for that?!

What a pleasant breeze.

After John proposed it,
Kate came here unwillingly,

but it's a nice change of pace,
so it might have been for the best.

Mistress Kate, why would
there be a cabin there?

It's quite large, but John
has never noticed it before.

It doesn't look maintained.

It's quite overgrown.

Let's go and check it out!

We may be able to make
a secret base for ourselves!

That sounds like fun!

Are you all right, Mistress Kate?

The door is rusted shut. It won't budge at all.

Stand aside!

John will wrench it open for Kate's sake!

Being precisely in the path
of the window frame saved us!

John! You truly are just...

He was the only one to suffer from this.

Please forgive him.

Honestly.

It's because he does
everything by brute force.

Huh?

What?

You...

We're so sorry!

We didn't know this belonged
to the research team!

Olly...

Traveling through a jumbled labyrinth...

Over and over

This lonely utopia...

I have no more need of it

A vanished smile

Promises are lies, too

Everything is pointless,
isn't it? And yet...

Even misshapen as I am, I keep searching...

For shadows of recollection

Roses whose love has rotted...

Lock their feelings away

That silhouette from back then...

I've kept on chasing it...

Even if pale, frozen thorns

Pierce my heart over and over

Until I can take that hand

Again and again

I'll wish on a star

Next time,

Next Time

A Midnight Meeting of Peers

"A Midnight Meeting of Peers."