02x06 - Night Sky

[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

Night Sky

Master John and Mistress Kate
must be at the meeting of peers by now.

I wonder if they're all right.

Master John, in particular.

I'm sure they're fine!

There are five days left
until the rejoicing party.

Let's work hard to fill in the map!

This is a nighttime expedition!

This seems to be a garret.

There are quite a few places
that aren't in use.

I wonder how long this house has been here.

If we go out here, I think
we can get up on the roof.

Emilico?

You always go straight for the
most dangerous places, don't you?

Shaun...

Do you ever want to go outside?

Outside of Shadows House?

What's wrong? You seem down.

I feel sort of unsettled and depressed.

I keep thinking about how I'm human
and wondering what that means.

What will change if my human
memories return completely?

I don't remember anything right now, so...

I'm the same. And you're right.

Outside, huh?

If we came from the village,

then if we did leave the house,
would we be able to go back there?

If we went back, would we be happy?

Here at the house, we aren't
given much time to sleep,

and cleaning is an enormous task.

Compared to the shadow masters',
our meals are meager.

But life in the village
might be much the same.

I wonder what we all
used to do. Don't you?

I think you and Ricky must
have been born to wealthy families.

You already knew how to
read and write, after all.

No, Ricky was...

He was probably a nouveau
riche type, don't you think?

My family was a little more secure...

Commissioned merchants, maybe?

Oh! Commi-Shauned merchants!

That sounds like something
Master John would say.

I'm good at needlework,

so maybe my work had
something to do with sewing.

Oh, but I'm strong, so maybe I grew crops?

Baking bread would be nice, too!

Or birdwatching...

Birdwatching for work?

Oh, I just can't decide!

It isn't as though you can choose.

Lou seems like she'd be a gardener.

You only think that because you saw
her in the garden with scissors, right?

I can't really imagine what Lou was like.

She doesn't have enough
personality of her own.

She was probably
the shopgirl everyone went to see!

That's a haphazard way of thinking.

Stay in Shadows House as a living doll...

Or go outside as a human...

Which will lead to happiness?

Speaking of which, I wonder
why we're called "living dolls."

If they're bringing in children
from the village,

then they could simply say that the
children are humans serving the house.

If they did that, then the lack of
memories would raise questions.

Oh, that's true.

And this way, no matter how we're treated,
we think it's because we're dolls.

It's to make us less aware of our own lives.

Say...

We were made to believe that we were
created in the image of our shadow masters.

But the opposite is true, isn't it?

The shadow masters
were created in imitation of us?

But I don't think that's true.

They eat and everything, after all.

Even if they look like us,

their voices and personalities
are different, aren't they?

I don't mean that they
are objects which were made.

The shadow masters are raised
in imitation of the humans at their sides.

And I'm certain that they
are influenced by those humans, too.

Master John once told me something...

that there isn't much difference between
how much he remembers and how much I do.

He lived in his rooms
for a while, then I came.

Maybe interaction with humans is what
brings their consciousnesses forward?

If that's true,

then we don't know if the shadow masters
are the same age as we are.

Interaction?

The goodnight kiss is a rule set
by Shadows House, too.

Maybe it's necessary
for them to become more human.

Why Rum failed the debut was a mystery to me.

When Rum had the will to do something,

she had the strength to overcome anything.

That's right.

Mistress Shirley never said a single word.

Maybe she couldn't speak because
Rum was too timid for them to interact much?

So she couldn't become more like a human?

Shadow masters like her fail the debut,
and then they are dealt with.

With their masters dead,
they're made to wear mourning clothes!

What's this all of a sudden?

The veiled dolls.

The clothes they wear are mourning clothes.

Living dolls who have lost the sources
of their names and roles as faces...

That could be what the clothes mean.

Then Rum is somewhere
among the veiled dolls!

Let's go and unveil them all, one by one!

We can't!

Suspicious behavior like
that would be reported immediately!

But one day, we will make
certain to rescue Rum.

After talking this through,
now I'm certain.

My name...

is John.

What?

Keep this a secret from Master John.

When you consider the relationship
between living dolls and shadows,

doesn't it seem natural to give
the human's name to the shadow?

Then that means I was Kate?

Oh, I can't remember.

Why don't we try calling
each other by those names?

Kate.

John!

What are we doing?

It doesn't feel right at all!

Ricky was Patrick.

Lou was Louise.

Rum was Shirley.

Not saying "master" or "mistress"
makes me feel a little uneasy.

I like Emilico, the name
that Mistress Kate gave me.

Mistress Kate...

The fact that living dolls are humans...

Where did she get that knowledge from?

When you were brainwashed, Emilico,

the effect didn't seem
to extend to her at all.

There are too many mysteries.

There are a lot of things she hasn't told
me yet, so as not to overwhelm me.

I'd like for her to tell me,

but I know that Mistress Kate
has a lot to think about.

I don't want to add
to her burdens if I don't have to.

Emilico, you and Master John
really do love Mistress Kate.

She does have a mysterious charm to her.

It's not like I don't understand
why you feel that way.

This starry sky! I remember seeing it!

But here at Shadows House,
I've never seen it before!

So, it's a memory from when I was human.

Come on! Shaun, you should
take a good look, too!

I am looking. I remember it, too.

Why did I feel so at a loss?

The reason this sight moves me is
because I'm a human, not a living doll.

I never want to forget this feeling!

If Ricky and Lou could
see this starry sky, too,

I just know they'd
recall their old memories!

And one day, so will Rum.

Yes.

Next time, all five of us will be here!

Now, we'll fill in the rest of this map!

You two really are entertaining.

Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?

Don't worry.

I am not your enemy...

Though I am not your ally, either.

Then, what are you?

I don't have my glasses,
so please don't get too far ahead of me.

Shaun! It's...

Over there!

There's nothing there.

That happened?

Yes, Mistress.

It's not our enemy, but it isn't an ally.

That's what it said.

I don't understand. What could it be after?

How strange.

I thought I'd be able to
sleep a little longer.

Ow!

All right, everyone!
Hurry to the great hall!

What? The shadow masters?

We will now begin our rejoicing party.

Hooray!

No...

We should still have four days left!

Should I spit it into my
clothes like last time?

But...

It's no good.

The shadow masters are watching us.

What do I do?

I can't think straight.

This time, the representative is...

Mia!

To serve the Shadows family is
the pride and joy of every living doll!

What did you just say?

Rejoicing party!

And Star Bearer shadow
masters were there, too!

Mia was the representative today!

I drank the coffee!

It was incredibly bitter!

But I am now filled with enthusiasm!

I am going to clean!

All so that I can be of use
to you, Mistress Kate!

S-Sit down!

You have to spit up that coffee.

I'll bring some water.

There's no need!

I must begin cleaning at once!

Do as you're told!

I will clean!

I can't subdue her with brute force.

Rolly!

Rolly! Rolly!

Soot rope! Soot powers!

Now...

Drink the water and spit it up.

I spit up the water!

This is no good.

No, wait.

Something is strange.

Think this over logically.

I've made a mess!

I must clean!

Honestly, just be quiet!

Oh, it's dark! Is it night already?

Night? Time to sleep?

Just now, when Emilico
said the coffee was bitter,

her expression said she didn't like it.

At the debut, once the
brainwashing came into effect,

she thought it was delicious.

And she won't do what I,
a shadow, tell her to do.

Before, she was overly obedient.

Does she possess her own will this time?

Was it different from the usual coffee?

Now, she's really fallen asleep.

It's amazing she can sleep in that state.

The brainwashing coffee served
at the debut and rejoicing parties...

I'm certain it must be made
in Lord Grandfather's wing.

When the coffee carafes broke,
the Star Bearers were greatly shaken.

That's what Emilico said.

In which case, I can't imagine they'd be
able to immediately procure more.

What Emilico and the others drank
this time was most likely ordinary coffee.

In short, by holding a rejoicing party...

the living dolls were given
psychological peace of mind.

It was just a clever scheme
the Star Bearers devised.

Did they mix something that can
manipulate minds into the coffee?

No, that's not it.

There were shadows
at the rejoicing party...

Does that mean that every living doll there
was being controlled with soot mind powers?

The power probably has
the effect of heightening emotions.

Emilico and Shaun haven't been brainwashed.

Their emotions have
simply been stirred up.

Still, it will have an effect on those
who are already loyal to the house.

Someone with enough soot
to manipulate everyone's emotions...

If it's true that Barbara
can't control soot,

then the only one who possesses
that power is Benjamin.

Powers that act on emotions must certainly
have an effect outside the designated range.

She's sleeping
in an incredibly odd position!

If I let her sleep for a time,
I'm certain the effects will abate.

Then, today we're working separately.

Right! See you later!

I did think that the coffee seemed
somehow different than usual.

But trust Mistress Kate
to have figured it out.

John thought we'd have to
exchange blows again.

Still, the Star Bearers
really got us, didn't they?

To think they'd try something so soon.

But the fact that the Star Bearers are
thinking about ways to tide us over

means that they're in a situation where
they can't ask the adults for more coffee.

And, even with this great a disturbance,

not a single adult has appeared.

Do you think news of Master Robe

or the phantom disturbance
has reached the adults?

I don't think so.

If it had, it would be unnatural
for them to show no reaction at all.

As we thought,
the house is split in two,

even down to the flow of information.

And that is why it has proven so difficult

to obtain information
on Lord Grandfather's wing.

But it also makes it easier

to hide information
about the children's wing.

Right, then!

To live up to Kate's expectations,
John and Shaun will do everything they can!

Yes, Master!

John, keep our secrets
and act at your discretion.

Acting at John's own discretion!

It's a sign of her trust in him!

To begin with, John can use fixing the wall

as a pretext to interact
with the research team...

and obtain incredible
amounts of information!

Then, Kate will be overjoyed!

But all we've ended up
doing is fixing the wall!

John never imagined that
they'd be the only ones here.

And they're just silently
watching John work.

John has never spoken to them before.

It will be a little awkward, won't it?

They're older than you, too.

They are Master Jeremiah and Jeremy.

For today, let's just do some work
on the wall and head back quickly.

What? They're coming this way?!

That's a spirit level, isn't it?

When the air bubble is in
the center of the glass pipe,

it means the surface is level.

Disgraceful.

What does it matter
if it's just a little off?

Master Jeremiah said,
"Being off-level is disgraceful."

John is aware!

Thank you for your kind clarification.

Well, he's a difficult one to figure out.

Hold on.

Doesn't he seem suspicious?

He sleeps during the day.

That means he's active at night.

That means he's Master Robe!

A disagreeable person who finds fault
with others is likely to do bad things!

Like the culprit behind
the phantom disturbance!

He must be Master Robe!

Hey, Jeremiah!

What is that cloth for?

What are you quietly hiding here?

Those are...

John knew it! You are...

the culprit behind the phantom disturbance!

And?

"And if Jeremiah is the culprit,
what do you intend to do?" he asks.

Defeat him!

Unsightly.

"You will not be given time
to use your soot powers."

"Jeremiah is proficient
in his soot power, Spider Legs."

"You will not be able to counter it."

"You will end up in an unsightly,
groveling heap on the ground."

That is what he said.

Blast it!

His slight contained all of that meaning?

Master John, I'm sorry.

I let down my guard.

You too, Shaun?!

Don't think that you'll
simply be allowed to leave.

Stop! Don't you dare touch Shaun!

What was that? A prank?

"John, as you have a high
soot volume, and you're here,"

"we can't simply allow you to leave."

"Please let us have some of your soot."

That's what he said.

Your translation is a little late!

Master Jeremiah is tasked
with researching energy.

Currently, he is focused on scorches.

This sounds like a difficult topic.

This is valuable information.
It might be best to listen.

Really?

Well, since John gave you some soot,

tell him the details of your research.

Very well.

"Very well," is what he said.

There's no need to
interpret simple sentences!

Why do you make Jeremy
speak for you, anyway?

Less effort.

So he's just lazy!

This is our data.

Let's explain through drawings.

First, the soot emitted
by shadows due to negative emotions...

It drifts lightly upwards, doesn't it?

After it accumulates enough mass,
it falls to the floor.

And after an average of two days,
the piled-up soot transforms into a scorch.

It bears no connection to a shadow's will,
and moves solely through malice.

It is not a life-form.

Scorches, in general,
grow to about this size.

Even scorches of the same size,
however, differ in energy quantities.

It's to do with density.

If it's full of openings inside, it's weak.

If it's tightly packed, it's powerful.

When a scorch first develops,
its density is 1.

If two scorches fuse together, they remain
the same size and reach density 2.

It's simple addition.

So, when scorches meet,
do they always combine?

If they are both density 1, then yes.

They can combine the soot
of many different shadows,

so there are individual differences.

If left alone, they'll all
end up at high density.

That would be problematic.

Cleaning regularly is very important!

Regarding the recent phantom disturbance...

Before transforming into a phantom,

the scorches seemed to be density level 3.

Here, we will refute your assertion
that we are the culprits.

We attempted to create a phantom
in our experiments, but we couldn't.

No matter how high we raised
the density of the scorches,

they never grew to a larger size,
like a phantom.

Could it be that phantoms
are made with soot powers?

Right now, that seems highly probable.

Scorches get inside living dolls
and make them go berserk, right?

Why do they do that?

Soot sickness.

We know that in the stomach, they act
as parasites to control the host,

but further details fall under
the purview of the first-aid team.

However, it is possible...

that they desire a face.

Now for the main event.

Allow us to show you.

This is Master Jeremiah's invention.

A new form of energy, scorch power!

Wow!

Motive power can be obtained
from the wheel through this device,

which we then tried utilizing
for soot grinding.

What is this picture frame for?

To exploit the scorches'
tendency to move toward faces.

And to ensure it is recognized as a face,

we used Nancy without her glasses.

Poor Nancy!

But this idea is incredible!

Master Oliver praised us highly as well.

He said that it could replace soot coal and
become the house's energy source in the future!

Wow.

The whole house, huh?

Now that John thinks about it, Barbara seemed
to be suffering as she emitted soot.

If this is more efficient than soot coal,

maybe she wouldn't need
to emit as much soot?

Oliver is being so considerate of Barbara.

That means that Oliver
is in love with Barbara!

He won't cling to Kate!

Right!

Oliver and Jeremiah are no longer suspects!

And this information about scorches
will probably make Kate happy.

Later, John will have Shaun
summarize everything they said.

So this is where you were.

Oliver!

John, you are to come
to the Star Bearers' meeting room.

Did John do something
worthy of praise recently?

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

Individual Investigations

"Individual Investigations."